Bullpen looks to provide some strength for Cubs
It's fashionable these days to say that the bullpen is the major “strength” of the Cubs.
The back end certainly looks solid.
Carlos Marmol is a human thrill ride as the closer, but he gets the job done most days.
Sean Marshall is as steady as they come, and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry wasn't shy last year calling Marshall “the best left-handed reliever in the game who is not a closer.” That statement may have cost Hendry a few bucks this off-season, but he didn't seem to mind.
And favorite son Kerry Wood is back and hoping to build off two solid months with the Yankees last year after his trade from Cleveland.
Marshall will set up Marmol from the left side. Wood is the man on the right and the man in the clubhouse.
From there, it's all up the air, but that's what spring training is for. Let's sort out the bullpen issues.
How good is Marmol?He's very good. He saved 38 games in 43 chances last year, his first full season as a big-league closer.
The 38 saves ranked fourth in the National League, and the save percentage of 88.4 was sixth. The Cubs won 75 games, and Marmol became the first Cubs closer to save more than half of the team's wins since Rod Beck saved 51 of 89 in 1998.
What was that eye-popping stat?Marmol struck out 138 batters in just 77 innings. That figures to 15.99 strikeouts per 9 innings, an all-time major-league record.
What about the control?That's always been a bugaboo with Marmol, and it stems from a violent delivery and extreme movement on his pitches. Marmol can have trouble getting the ball over the plate, but when he does, few batters touch him.
In 2009, Marmol walked 65 and hit 12 batters in 74 innings. Last year, he walked 52 and hit eight. His walks-per-9-innings dropped from 7.91 in 2009 to 6.03 last year. Marmol's WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) fell from 1.46 to 1.18 last year. His WHIP in 2008 was a microscopic 0.93.
What makes Marshall so good?A solid curveball, which he threw about 41 percent of the time, according to fangraphs.com.
Marshall also was effective against both right-handed and left-handed batters. Right-handers hit .218 against him, and lefties batted .196.
Marshall also had a high K/9 rate, at 10.85.
His 80 appearances led the team, and it appears he's found a niche as a reliever after working at least part time as a starter each year from 2006-09.
Could we see more lefties?With the Cubs likely to open the season with an all-right-handed starting rotation, Marshall could be joined by two or even three other left-handers.
A big question mark is lefty John Grabow, entering the second season of a two-year, $7.5 million contract. After battling knee problems last year and being ineffective, shoulder tightness has slowed Grabow this spring.
James Russell, who had a nice year from the left side out of the pen last year, is being stretched out to start. He could either open the season as a long to middle reliever with the Cubs or as a starter at Class AAA Iowa. Another left-hander, Scott Maine, impressed the Cubs last year in the minor leagues and in 13 games with the big club.
Who else is there?From the right side, Jeff Samardzija is out of minor-league options, and he has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he figures to make the club. His slider and splitter need to be effective for Samardzija to succeed.
Holdovers Justin Berg and Jeff Stevens are getting another look in spring training, and they'll have to take steps forward in their careers.
The Cubs got a look last year at Marcos Mateo. He's back, and they're also giving youngster Alberto Cabrera a shot this spring along with Rafael Dolis and recently acquired Robert Coello.