Can Cubs’ Marmol regain his pre-2011 form?
Last week, new Cubs manager Dale Sveum had to provide a little TLC for Cubs closer Carlos Marmol.
Sveum isn’t the first manager to do so. And last week most likely won’t be the last time Sveum has to have, in former manager Lou Piniella’s words, “a nice chat” with Marmol.
Such is life with a pitcher like Marmol, whose electric stuff tends to go a little haywire at times.
When Marmol is on, especially when his slider is disappearing, he’s almost unhittable.
For his career, Marmol has thrown 459 innings and struck out 599. In 2010 he struck out 138 in 77 innings. Last year the numbers weren’t quite as eye-popping as Marmol struck out 99 in 74 innings.
As the new edition of Baseball Prospectus puts it: “Marmol held opposing hitters to just a .205 batting average in 2011 while striking out 12 batters per 9 innings. That these rates were disappointing is due to various factors. First, his 2010 season was one for the ages, with 16 K/9 and .147 batting average allowed.
“Signing a new three-year contract after that great season set expectations high. Then there’s the fact that Marmol led the league (and tied for the MLB lead) in blown saves, with 10. Of more concern to the Cubs front office is the precipitous drop in velocity he demonstrated.”
Let’s head immediately to the ninth inning.
What’s the deal?
Sveum and Marmol had their talk last week after Marmol blew a couple of back-to-back leads in Cactus League games.
Last season Marmol was 2-6 with a 4.01 ERA and 34 saves in 44 chances.
“We had a nice conversation,” Marmol told reporters. “He (Sveum) told me what I needed to do. It’s nice to have a manager talk to you like that. I was myself, calmed down a little bit. It’s good to know the manager thinks about us.”
Sveum said the talk was just part of his job.
“Communication is huge, but it’s just a matter of treating these guys like human beings and understanding they’re human, no matter how much money they make or the problems they have, from the top guy to the 25th guy on the roster,” the manager told the media.
Getting back on track:
Marmol tossed a scoreless inning after his talk with Sveum. Entering Monday’s Cactus League action, he was 1-1 with a 13.50 ERA. In 4 innings, he had given up 7 hits while hitting two batters, walking four and striking out five.
Earlier this spring, Marmol said he was going to junk a cut fastball he used last season, instead relying on his slider and fastball.
Marmol has a violent delivery, making it hard to harness his pitches. If they’re out of the strike zone and hitters lay off, he’s in trouble.
That’s to say nothing of Marmol sticking pitches into the ribs of opposing batters. Over the past three seasons, Marmol has hit 29 batters.
Backup plans:
Marmol will be the Cubs’ closer come Opening Day.
Former general manager Jim Hendry signed Marmol to three-year, $20 million contract in February 2011.
The deal paid Marmol $3.2 million last year, and it increases to $7 million this season and all the way to $9.8 million next year.
That’s a lot of dough for a guy who has become a middle-of-the-pack closer in the National League.
If Hendry had entertained thoughts of trading Marmol before he was fired last year, his timing was bad, as Marmol’s value had sunk by midseason.
If Marmol can regain his pre-2011 form, he can be a useful piece to a Cubs rebuilding project, or he can become a valuable trading chip (if clubs don’t gulp at those escalating salary figures).
Marmol will need some help closing games from time to time.
Kerry Wood, the Cubs’ top right-handed setup man, has closer experience. Wood had 1 save last year while lefty Sean Marshall had 5. Marshall since has been traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cubs do have some intriguing arms in camp, such as hard-throwing right-hander Rafael Dolis. But for better or worse — and you better duck, just in case — Marmol is the man.
bmiles@dailyherald.com