Cubs' bullpen potential rests with Marmol, Gregg
Tenth in a series
Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the Cubs, Daily Herald Sports Writer Bruce Miles will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.
Q. Will Neal Cotts be the only lefty in the bullpen this season?
Miles: The Cubs are torn on this one. As much as they feel Sean Marshall deserves a spot in the rotation, they like his versatility - his ability to spot start, pitch 3 innings of relief or come in to get a lefty out.
If Marshall pitches well enough to crack the rotation, Cotts will be it.
Q. Who is going to pitch the seventh now that Carlos Marmol will essentially be moving to the closer's role and Kevin Gregg will be taking Marmol's old job?
Miles: Jeff Samardzija and Chad Gaudin are candidates to work the late innings, provided they don't make the rotation.
Both will be "stretched out" to start, and Samardzija could conceivably open at Iowa. He acquitted himself quite well last year, all things considered. Gaudin could easily slide back into that role.
Q. Who are a couple of below-the-radar guys in camp who have a chance of being key cogs in the bullpen?
Miles: Jeff Stevens, one of the players the Cubs got from Cleveland for Mark DeRosa, throws hard and certainly has a chance. He also displayed a nice breaking ball early in camp.
Mike Stanton is 41, a nonroster guy and didn't pitch last year, but if the Cubs feel they need more help from the left side, they could find a way to add him.
Either Kevin Hart or Angel Guzman could grab the long-relief role. Guzman is out of minor-league options, so the Cubs are facing a decision on him at the beginning of April.
Q. Is this bullpen, as comprised now, stronger or weaker than last year's version?
Miles: It's so hard to say. The Cubs opened last season with Carmen Pignatiello in the bullpen. Bob Howry never seemed to inspire confidence all year. The Cubs let Scott Eyre go, and he ended up with a World Series ring.
If Marmol and Gregg are good, this bullpen has the potential of being better.
Q. How much will Kerry Wood be missed for what he brought to the team off the field?
Miles: He'll be missed a lot in that regard. He was a good sounding board for younger pitchers, and even though he was a big name, he never liked drawing attention to himself. That earns you respect among your peers.
Gregg can help with the young pitchers down in the pen as the game goes from the middle to late innings. No question there's a leadership vacuum there that someone will have to fill.