Why was Marshall pulled in the 5th?

[TB_11]

Anyone know? I know he was struggling in the fifth, but he was only at 65 pitches.

[Omar]

Rookie, bases loaded, close game, etc.

[Banedon]

He was a rookie, he was in trouble, they wanted to get him out on a positive note, and he hadn't thrown more than 4 innings in ST.

[TB_11]

He was a rookie, he was in trouble, they wanted to get him out on a positive note, and he hadn't thrown more than 4 innings in ST.

 

That's what I figured. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't something else.

[Coach C]

Well there are two sides when I think of this.

 

One, yeah, I would like to see Marshall get out of his own mess that he created. And if he did get out of the jam, then good. But what would had happened if he gave up a grand slam, or a double, that drives all the run in? Kinda hard to tell.

 

On the other side, the Cubs pen have been doing well, and I guess that Baker may had more confidence on the pen than the rookie starter, and also that Baker could have been a bit worried about Marshall's confidence being shaken. Of course, Wuertz could had given up the grand slam or that double.

 

Either way, the damange was minimum, thankfully. The pen did it's job.

[snoodmonger]

I think it was the right move. Kind of surprised he tossed Wuertz into the fire, given he hadn't thrown yet, and I think it showed. Wuertz didn't look as crisp as I've seen him. Still, I thought it was the right move by the Dustman

[soccer10k]

The pen has looked wonderfully strong so far this year. Such a huge change from the past few years. I think I'm going to be surprised when our pen blows a game this year whereas in previous years I expected them to blow it. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come for the right arms of Prior and Wood. Pen that Dusty trusts means he won't go Grady Little on us and leave the starters in too long.

[sethuel1]

I think it was the right move. Kind of surprised he tossed Wuertz into the fire, given he hadn't thrown yet, and I think it showed. Wuertz didn't look as crisp as I've seen him. Still, I thought it was the right move by the Dustman

 

I thought Wuertz looked pretty good. Got a K, and got Pujols to roll over and hit a grounder. It just found the hole on the left side.

[snoodmonger]

I think it was the right move. Kind of surprised he tossed Wuertz into the fire, given he hadn't thrown yet, and I think it showed. Wuertz didn't look as crisp as I've seen him. Still, I thought it was the right move by the Dustman

 

I thought Wuertz looked pretty good. Got a K, and got Pujols to roll over and hit a grounder. It just found the hole on the left side.

 

He hung a few sliders that didn't hurt him. He still looked good, just a bit rusty (no surprise.)

[badgercub]

The only thing that worries me is if the pen gets overused early in the season it could mean trouble later on. Good thing there have been plenty of off days early in the season because the starters need to be going a little further in the games.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think it was the right move even though I would have liked Weurtz to have pitched an inning or two before then but I think he did quite well. I would like to see some Cub pitchers get into the 7th inning to help this team too but I feel it was too early for Marshall at this point. I think he's ready to do it next time though and I like the way he (Marshall) throws as he is going to get better and better as the year progresses IMO. If he tires as the season progresses I think Guz will be to pick up the team and keep the 5th slot going strong.

[ChiCubsFan]

The only thing that worries me is if the pen gets overused early in the season it could mean trouble later on. Good thing there have been plenty of off days early in the season because the starters need to be going a little further in the games.

The good thing is we have a very deep bullpen, which we haven't had in past years. Last year, for instance, Wuertz was thrown out there day after day and it started to show. This year Dempster has so far thrown the most and he's thrown 4 innings. There are a ton of relievers around the league at or above 4 innings. But you are right, the starters need to go deeper. In 5 games so far, the bullpen has pitched 18.2 innings. That's too much. I think once we get our guys back from the DL (Prior, Wood, Miller) and they get healthy, we'll have our starters going deep into games. I really like how the bullpen has looked so far.

 

Eyre-2.2 IP, 0ER

Howry-3.1IP, 0ER

Williamson-3.1IP, 1ER

Dempster-4.0IP, 0ER

Wuertz-0.2, 0ER

Williams-3.0IP, 2ER

Ohman-1.2IP, 0ER

 

Total: 18.2IP, 3 ER. If you take out Williams (because he really isn't a middle reliever) you get 15.2IP with only 1 ER. That's about a .57 ERA. Even if you include Williams our bullpen is at a 1.45 ERA.

[ChiCubsFan]

I think it was the right move even though I would have liked Weurtz to have pitched an inning or two before then but I think he did quite well. I would like to see some Cub pitchers get into the 7th inning to help this team too but I feel it was too early for Marshall at this point. I think he's ready to do it next time though and I like the way he (Marshall) throws as he is going to get better and better as the year progresses IMO. If he tires as the season progresses I think Guz will be to pick up the team and keep the 5th slot going strong.

 

I was at the game so I probably didn't have as good of a view as everyone else, but he seemed to be getting squeezed a little bit. It seemed like there were a lot of close pitches that didn't go his way. Particularly that first inning walk to Pujols that led to the 2 run homer by Rolen. But it could just be my Cubs bias and not having a great view (although I was right behind home plate and not too many rows up). Either way, I think he pitched real well, and I'm excited to see how he does the next time out. I think Dusty pulling him when he did was the right move. If that Pujols hit was a few more feet up the middle, we get out of the inning without giving up any runs.

[TB_11]

I was at the game so I probably didn't have as good of a view as everyone else, but he seemed to be getting squeezed a little bit. It seemed like there were a lot of close pitches that didn't go his way. Particularly that first inning walk to Pujols that led to the 2 run homer by Rolen. But it could just be my Cubs bias and not having a great view (although I was right behind home plate and not too many rows up). Either way, I think he pitched real well, and I'm excited to see how he does the next time out. I think Dusty pulling him when he did was the right move. If that Pujols hit was a few more feet up the middle, we get out of the inning without giving up any runs.

 

He pitched pretty well through the fourth. He missed the outside corner against Rolen and paid for it, but aside from that he looked pretty solid. I think he retired 9 straight from them on.

[RynoRules]

I think it was the right move. Kind of surprised he tossed Wuertz into the fire, given he hadn't thrown yet, and I think it showed. Wuertz didn't look as crisp as I've seen him. Still, I thought it was the right move by the Dustman

 

I thought Wuertz looked pretty good. Got a K, and got Pujols to roll over and hit a grounder. It just found the hole on the left side.

 

I was at the game. Pujols did not hit that ball very hard - it just was in the right place.

[rjchapma]

I think it was the right move. Wuertz didn't look dominate, but he was also facing Pujols when he gave up the hit enough said. On the other hand Marshall didn't look to shabby in the game and Dusty made him look even better by getting him out of the game before to much damage was done.