Our readers have their say

Cubs bullpen looking strong

The Cubs will give Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood an equal chance for the closer's role from the start of spring training. That's a given.

Wood has the stuff to win the position, but he's not exactly a shoo-in. Marmol is electric, and Howry has calm, calculating part of him that yields results.

Regardless of what happens, you can bet Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild will keep order in the house and ensure the back end of the bullpen is ready to go come the end of March.

Bob Richter, Lake in the Hills

Nathan would help Cubs in closer role

The Cubs should make a move to get Joe Nathan to close. The Twins are rumored to be open to trading him because they won't be able to afford him when his deal is up after this year. The Cubs have made trades with the Twins the past couple of years.

If they can package some minor-league prospects like the Twins have been known to go after, I say do it!

Andrew Ziola, Chicago

Cubs should have cut ties with Wood

I can understand what Kerry Wood and the Cubs are thinking in regards to continuing the relationship.

From Kerry's point of view, he owes it to the Cubs to stay loyal since they have already invested a ton of money into his "potential." On the Cubs side of things, they have invested so heavily, they do not want to admit failure and throw up the white flag. The thought of Wood succeeding with another organization scares the Cubs.

As much as I like Woods, he would be better off moving on to another organization to revive his career. Although I like the signing, I still feel he will break down, despite his tremendous work ethic and desire to compete. As loyal as Kerry is to the organization, the Cubs will have to be the ones to cut the umbilical cord.

Erik Karabin, Greenville, SC

Howry deserves chance to be closer

I believe Bob Howry should be given the first chance to close in 2008. Howry did a solid job last year and has proven his durability.

Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol have good stuff, but their stuff will be just as good in the seventh and eighth innings.

Is Wood going to pitch on consecutive 50-degree April afternoons? Is Marmol ready for the pressure of closing? Why fret over these questions when Howry is ready to go?

Don Hietala, Highland, Mich.

Closer not the key

I think the role of "closer" is very overrated. This stems from the abhorrent way bullpens are organized today. The most important man in the pen is not someone who can come in and pitch the ninth without giving up a run. Rather, it is the guy who comes into the crisis, or turning point of the game, whenever that is, with runners on and gets out of that inning minimizing the damage.

Kerry Wood is ideally suited for the latter, because he has a better likelihood, with this superior stuff, of getting the K(s) needed in any situation. Marmol may continue to develop into a fine closer as well, and for that reason, I think that early in the season, a "committee" approach to closing should be used. This will give Marmol some experience without the pressure of being the closer, it will give Bob Howry a chance to compete for it, and it will ease Kerry toward the back-to-back-to-back games after the weather warms up.

Gary D. Whiteley, Dallas

Wood owes Cubs

Kerry Wood has earned $35 million over the last five years and won 13 games. It's a romantic dream to see him as a legitimate closer. He's never saved a game.

If he comes to spring training and pitches three days in a row, then put him in the mix. Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry are front-runners. Wood, like Mark Prior, should be giving the Cubs a free year.

Tom Luton, Bettendorf, Iowa

What NIU needs in its next coach

What kind of coach does NIU need? In no particular order, it needs:

• Stability: I fear an "up-and-comer" would carpetbag NIU and bolt for a larger BCS conference after the first success. This is why a Joe Novak disciple might work (in addition to please the heart). A disciple may have the ability to appreciate NIU, its new facilities and its proximity to Chicago to put down somewhat longer-term roots.

• Recruiting players: The new coach must be able to recruit top local talent and midrange national talent. In the new era of limited scholarships, NIU has benefited by getting talent that used to get the love and attention from larger conference programs.

• Recruiting assistants: Develop strong support and succession plan. Coaches are hired to be fired (or quit). He must be willing to surround himself with guys who want his job, not the head job somewhere else.

• Win the MAC: Focus on the conference. Become a perennial power. National attention will follow.

Mike Schalk, Hoffman Estates