Marmol vs. Gregg

Give the man a chance to settle down with his new team and I think we will all be happy with the job he’s done at the end of the year.

Cotts is a whole other story though. I don’t know what we are going to do if he continues his ineffectiveness. We need a lefty in the pen but I don’t see Marshall being that guy. I am really excited to see Marshall start for an entire season.

Lou commented that Gregg’s leg gets sore after he has warmed up and then sits down, or after he pitches an inning and then sits down. If that continues to be the case, Gregg can only be the 9th inning closer. He goes in, pitches after his warm up, and either saves the game or not. If not, and the game goes on, someone else will have to be used after that.

but he also is not as bad as so many are mking him out to be. He is replacing a Cubs icon, that is why so many are flipping about how he does with every pitch. Lou, Rothchild and Gregg are all still learning how to work together, and this will work itself out in due time. I have confidence in Gregg, he saved 60+ in Fla, so he is not a complete schmuck as a closer.

Regarding the leg, I am sure as the weather warms, it will be stiffen up less, and that will make a difference in the performance.

My concern with moving Marmol to the closer position is two fold

1. he is new to the role, and when he gets flustered he reminds me more of a young Z with the hot head than the lights out pitcher we see.

2. Who bridges from the 6th or 7th to Marmol? (see below options currently on roster)

A. Patton who is new to baseball above A Ball
B. Guzman who I am not sold on, he has been the second coming dating back to the Cy Young talks for Prior. he is 28 with a 0-7 Record and a 6+ Career ERA in 37 MLB games. He is not lacking in talent, just cannot stay healthy and has been hit hard in the past.
C. Heilman, who has impressed somewhat, but his history says otherwise, jury is out on him personally
D. Cotts…..no comment
E. Marshall (but now who starts in his place when we need 5 starters?)
F. Luis Vizcaino see Cotts

Those who have said “Marmol should be closer” are clearly of the mind that to this point he HAS NOT been used in the most critical relief situation of the game. I think they’re wrong. If you look at where Marmol has been brought in, it has been in tight situations where a K or two is critical or to face the heart of the opposing line-up. Just because thats in the 8th over the 9th doesn’t make it any less critical.

I’m fine moving Marmol to closer if you have someone to replace the work that Marmol has done, but right now that has not emerged. Might be Heilman or might be Patton, but right now that doesn’t exist. I firmly believe that there were a few situations over the last week where the Cubs had the lead or were tied going into the 9th, where if Gregg and Marmol’s roles had been reversed, the Cubs would have gone into the 9th trailing.

For those of you worried about Gregg in the 9th with a three run lead, why are you not worried about him in the 8th with a 1 run lead and the tying and go-ahead runs on base?

that the Save stat should be eliminated in favor of the Hold. I agree with Jerry Morales above, who said the save is the most overrated stat in baseball, just look at the record set by K-Rod last season. He got same really cheap “saves.”

I am not the most knowledgeable baseball fan, but it would seem that by eliminating the save stat (or at least elevating the status of the Hold), the discussion about the closer would be virtually eliminated. The pitcher who can get the tough outs at the most critical stage of the ballgame will be valued higher than a “closer.”

and therefore, should NOT be the closer. Closer is the single most overatted position in all of baseball and the save is the single most overrated stat in baseball.

Marmol is more valuable to the team being called into the game in the middle of an inning so escape the team from a huge and potentially game changing situation (as he currently does). These situations are more important than starting the 9th inning with nobody on base, and being able to keep the other team from scoring.

Also, if a pitcher (any pitcher) pitches the 8th inning well, why not leave him in for the ninth? Most people would say, “so our closer can get the save!” WRONG. If an 8th inning pitcher is looking strong enough to go to the 9th and his pitch count is looking good, leave him be. Save the other pitcher for another game.

Finally, K-Rod was not the best reliever in the bigs last year. He just had the most save oppurtunities. Lidge was the best reliever hands down. Saves mean nothing.

Marmol is better suited to be the closer, if for no other reason that he has better control than Gregg. Walks always hurt in the late innings, but esp. in the 9th. Might as well give up a HR as walk somebody with a multirun lead in the 9th. That’s what drives me nuts about Gregg.
Further, the closer may be babied thru the year, but come October, closers are often asked to get more than 3 outs and brought in in crunchtime in the 8th. In the postseason, your best reliever should be your closer IMO. How many teams in recent years have won a WS without a dominant closer? I can’t think of many. After all, that’s our goal, and Marmol certainly fits the bill.