Can I get a holla for Carlos Marmol?

[imb]

Marmol was amazing last year, and once Lou realized that he could put him in high leverage situations he seemed to even get better. But I definitely thought it might be sort of flukish in that Marmol is good, but not that good. Few relievers in baseball history have actually been that good. Some have had seasons that approached and surpassed Marmol's 2007, but to sustain it for more than one year? Most relievers can't do that, their performance varies too much from year to year.

 

I think it's time for my walls of pessimism to crumble. Fifty-two strikeoouts in 35 innings? Ridiculous. Fourteen hits allowed in 35 innings? These are not real numbers.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

holla

[BCVM22]

holla

[Skyballer]

How many times has the side been striken out in 9-10 pitches before. How may times a year?

Fred?

[Jon]

He's playing on rookie while everyone else is stuck on all-star.

[Tyrant]

Is there a nastier pitcher in baseball? I'm not joking, either.

[weis21]

Carlos is all that is man.

[chasinf5s]

He's playing on rookie while everyone else is stuck on all-star.

 

what a great way of putting it

[Outshined_One]

That 8th inning was surreal.

[weis21]

That 8th inning was surreal.

just as impressive as 3 strikeouts on 10 pitches is that they were all looking. From my memory, the last cub pitcher with a performance as dominating as that was ten years ago this month.

[Outshined_One]

That 8th inning was surreal.

just as impressive as 3 strikeouts on 10 pitches is that they were all looking. From my memory, the last cub pitcher with a performance as dominating as that was ten years ago this month.

 

What did Wuertz striking out the side with the bases loaded look like on a pitch by pitch basis? That was one of the best middle relief performances I've ever seen.

[weis21]

That 8th inning was surreal.

just as impressive as 3 strikeouts on 10 pitches is that they were all looking. From my memory, the last cub pitcher with a performance as dominating as that was ten years ago this month.

 

What did Wuertz striking out the side with the bases loaded look like on a pitch by pitch basis? That was one of the best middle relief performances I've ever seen.

I remember that game, but I don't think I was able to watch it. If/when Wuertz and Howry get back to their normal, reliable selves, we will have a really great pen.

[TruffleShuffle]

BP made a good point in that his home run rate (3 in almost 70 innings last year) was unsustainable for a guy who has heavy fly ball tendancies.... so his overall numbers will likely regress slightly from last year. but his stuff is scary good... hitters pretty much have to guess fastball and get the fastball if they want to hit a ball hard. if he throws the wiffle-ball slider the way that he normally does 90% of the time, hitters don't stand a chance. it could reasonably be argued that he's the most important pitcher on the team, and lou needs to do everything he can to keep marmol's arm fresh for october.

[NCCubFan]

Marmol is the best relief pitcher in baseball right now.

[shnsajax]

I really have no desire to see Marmol move to the rotation any time soon, not that it will happen anyways. He is the most valuable relief pitcher in baseball right now.

[Clem Fandango]

9 Pitches - 9 Strikes - Side Retired

 

Rarer than you think:

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml

[Outshined_One]

9 Pitches - 9 Strikes - Side Retired

 

Rarer than you think:

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml

 

LaTroy Hawkins from 2004 being on there makes me want to kill small, furry animals.

[ConstableRabbit]

9 Pitches - 9 Strikes - Side Retired

 

Rarer than you think:

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml

lol LaTroy

[Friendly Confines]

good ol Mel Rojas on that list

[UK1679666180]

Does it count seeing it at a College All-Star game with the ambidextrous pitcher, two pitchers RH'ed and one LH'ed?

 

[Chocolate Milk]

I wish I had seen his 8th today. 3 k's looking in 10 pitches?

[BCVM22]

I wish I had seen his 8th today. 3 k's looking in 10 pitches?

 

Archived MLB.TV feeds are free to watch if you register with MLB.com (also free), and yes, he was absolutely as filthy as everyone was making him out to be. Len was almost beside himself on the last strikeout; "Oh, he did it again! The slider!"

[Clem Fandango]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=marmoca01&year=2008#situa-count

 

A lot of those numbers are absurd

[minnesotacubsfan]

hip hip holla

[BigbadB]

BP made a good point in that his home run rate (3 in almost 70 innings last year) was unsustainable for a guy who has heavy fly ball tendancies....

 

If Carlos is heavy at anything, it's strike outs. And yes, it is sustainable for a guy who has heavy strike out tendencies. ;)