Post-Marmol Closer Options

[Little Slide Rooter]

The days when Marmol Time was a joyous occasion seem like a distant memory. Marmol just doesnt seem to have it anymore. The guy withmthe electric stuff just seems like a guy these days. It's by no means that first time that a once dominant closer ran out of gas. This isnt to say that he can't be a reliable 7th or 8th innning guy for now. Trouble is, we don't have many other options, certainly not at the big league level. Maybe Dolis in time, but the last thing we need is another guy who's going to walk every other batter. Could we go back to Kerry Wood?

 

Michael Bowden did remind me of Ryan Dempsters days as a closer in his inning tonight, but i remember what those used to do to the blood pressure

 

One option that comes to my mind is McNutt once he returns from that blister. Coukd be a good spot for a guy who has difficulty keeping his pitch count down to omly have to pitch one inning at a time. And if we want to stretch him back out down the line, it worked for Wainright.

 

nobody else jumps out at me, but a few more options to think about:

 

Blake Parker: it seems like he's been closing at Iowa since the Spin Doctors were cool. He has the stuff, but also control issues. So far this year, his walks are down but so are his Ks. May as well give him a look sooner than later unless anyone actually likes watching Sean Camp.

 

Jeff Beliveau: the top relief arm in the upper levels

2011 A+/AA 74.1 IP 1.57 ERA 19/89 BB/K 0.928 WHIP

2012 AAA 9.2 IP 3.72 ERA 5/8 BB/K 1.345 WHIP. Numbers hit by 1 disasterous outing.

 

Frank Batista

2011 A+ 61 IP 20/46 Bb/K 2.36 ERA 1.164 WHIP 26 SV

2012 AA/AAA 8.2 IP 2/11 BB/K 0.00 ERA .923 WHIP

 

Alberto Cabrera: He's certainly had his issues in the past, but is off to a great start in AA

10.1 IP 1.74 ERA 4/12 BB/K .871 WHIP

 

Kevin Rhoderick: young, and had some control issues last year

2011 A+/AA 71.1 IP 3.03 ERA 43/77 BB/K 1.234 WHIP

2012 AA 9.0 IP 2.00 ERA 3/12 K/BB 1.00 WHIP

 

Kyler Burke: 24 years old, and just stRted pitching mis least season but has been great at it in the low levels

2011 A- 44 IP 2.86 ERA 18/47 1.227 WHIP

2012 A 11 IP 1.59 ERA 1/9 BB/K .971 WHIP

 

Jay Jackson: more of a [expletive] or get off the pot move than anything. Maybe he could re-invent himself.

 

You really dom't want to take some of these younger guys and throw them right into the fire like that, but we really dont't have many options. If Dolis can get his control worked out, he could be a nice option, but other than that I'm stumped.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Pickings are slim right now. There's good arms but no one you really see as a future lock down type closer.

 

Tony Zych throws really hard and his slider can be nasty at times. That's a bunch of Cubs relief arms in a nutshell, but he was a well liked relief arm in last years draft.

[A New Era]

We don't really have to worry about closer this year since this is pretty much a tryout year for everyone. I'm sure by the end of the year someone will take the next step and we'll get a better idea of who might beable to fill marmol's diminishing shoes.

[davell]

Dolis is the guy I expect to grow into it.

[Fred Hornkohl]

When your team only finds themselves in a save situation once every 2 weeks or so...... how big of a deal can it be who the closer is ???

[Guest]

Marmol since the first series of the year. 4.1 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 Matt Holliday HR

 

Last night wasn't good, but Marmol has been straightening things out.

[SouthSideRyan]

Marmol since the first series of the year. 4.1 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 Matt Holliday HR

 

Last night wasn't good, but Marmol has been straightening things out.

 

*Meatball alert*

 

I'm more concerned with his approach last night. He kept stepping off and throwing to first, just didn't look comfortable out there for the entire Holliday at bat?

[Guest]

I can't speak to that since I was only listening, but I certainly wouldn't try to say that last night was good. Prior to then though he had been just fine, the results were good, and he's getting swings and misses again.

[sneakypower]

Junior Lake

[SouthSideRyan]

Jay Jackson

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Marmol since the first series of the year. 4.1 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 Matt Holliday HR

 

Last night wasn't good, but Marmol has been straightening things out.

 

*Meatball alert*

 

I'm more concerned with his approach last night. He kept stepping off and throwing to first, just didn't look comfortable out there for the entire Holliday at bat?

I thought he looked just fine up until he hung a big, fat slider over the middle of the plate.

[El Duderino]

what does the free agent reliever class look like next year?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Marmol since the first series of the year. 4.1 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 Matt Holliday HR

 

Last night wasn't good, but Marmol has been straightening things out.

 

I don't think his career is over, I just don't think that he'll ever get back to what he was. I remember being in awe at his stuff, but now his stuff and velo is just not what it was. He relied on the swing and miss, and hitters have caught on the the fact that if they just keep the bat in their shoulder long enough they'll either get a free pass or something to hit hard.

[imb]

Junior Lake

 

fantastic dark horse pick, i like it

[Little Slide Rooter]

what does the free agent reliever class look like next year?

 

Mariano River (43), hinting at retirement

Jose Valverde (35)

Mike Adams (34)

K Rod (31)

Farns (37)

Broxton (28)

Francisco Cordero (38)

Brandon League (30)

Brad Lidge (36)

Peter Moylan (34)

Fernando Rodney (36)

Bobby Jenks (32)

Jason Frasor (35)

Octavio Dotel (39)

Juan Cruz (34)

LaTroy Hawkins (38)

 

Various others with options.

 

The big names will cost more than we should be paying for a closer. If some of the lesser names are interested in signing for cheap, we can take fliers.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

The idea of a closer and paying that man big money is overrated anyway.*

 

* Unless it's Mo Rivera.

[SouthSideRyan]

I can't believe how old...pretty much every one of those guys is.

[El Duderino]

let's bring the farns back

[Cubswin11]

McNutt? Not right now obviously but maybe sometime next year?

[Little Slide Rooter]

I can't believe how old...pretty much every one of those guys is.

 

I was pretty surprised that Jenks and K Rod were that much younger than Cordero, Farnsworth, and Lidge.

[Bote McBoteface]

Yeah i think id rather just see if marmol can figure things out. He's had stretches of much more thorough awfulness than this before and has rebounded fine. If he can, he should have enough value to either get a good prospect or get his salary off our books in a trade. If he continues to suck, maybe we lose 105 games instead of 99.

[Gmoney23]

We wont need a closer for a couple years anyways, but I wish we could have a dominant team with a dominant Marmol as closer.

 

But, I also still wish of a dominant Cubs team with Wood, Prior, Z, Guzman, and Rich Harden as our top 5 Aces :(

[Little Slide Rooter]

We wont need a closer for a couple years anyways, but I wish we could have a dominant team with a dominant Marmol as closer.

 

But, I also still wish of a dominant Cubs team with Wood, Prior, Z, Guzman, and Rich Harden as our top 5 Aces :(

 

Give me Prior, Wood, Cruz, Z, and Guzman.

[Omar]

How about instead of having a closer we just treat the 9th inning as another inning and put out whoever is well-rested and can get 3 outs without giving up the tie/lead?

[abuck1220]

wade davis