Keep Marshall In The Bullpen

by neonverse1 on Jul 13, 2009 7:43 PM CDT

There has been rampant speculation that the Cubs will attempt to sign BJ Ryan, a move that, in itself, is a good idea. It would be a huge mistake, however, if adding Ryan to the bullpen were coupled with putting Sean Marshall back into the starting rotation. Why?

Well, first of all, Marshall’s splits this year show that he has been more effective as a reliever.

Second, because Marshall has been working exclusively out of the bullpen, he would need to "stretch out" his arm to be a starter again. This, then, implies that either Ryan would immediately take Marshall’s place on the roster or that someone like Jason Waddell, who was recently sent back to minors after spending time on the DL, would have to be called up as the lone lefty reliever until Ryan is ready to return to major league action. Neither of these options is a sound move. Besides, the entire bullpen would be stronger if it contained two lefties.

Third, it is very difficult to shuffle Marshall, or any pitcher, from the bullpen to the rotation multiple times. Without a doubt, Marshall has been a "good soldier" and has done everything that his team has asked of him, but one imagines that constantly shifting roles takes both a physical and a psychological toll on a pitcher. Marshall has settled into his bullpen role and should stay there.

Fourth and finally, whom do you move out of the rotation (and what will happen to this former starter) when Marshall is removed from the bullpen? One change, like this one, presupposes more changes. Pitching, to this point, has not a problem for the Cubs in 2009, and it would be wise not to tinker with it too much.

BJ Ryan’s addition to the Cubs would be great. Keeping Sean Marshall in the bullpen, with Ryan, would be even better.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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You make some great points

I really would love to have two lefties in the pen. His stats are great from the bull pen and he’s done everything he’s been asked to do from there, whether it be getting one guy out, pitching more than an inning, or the weird left field thing we saw last night.

The alarming point though that I think counters your entire argument is that it’s more important to have a good rotation than a good pen. Both are crucial to the success of a good team, but you have to start the game off right to hand it off to the pen, not the other way around. And I just am not happy with Kevin Hart in the rotation when we have a guy like Marshall available. I’m ok with not having a lefty in the pen if it means that Hart is not in the rotation.

When Dempster comes back, I think you look at Wells and Marshall and say which one of you goes to the pen. Or hopefully by that time we have gotten rid of Harden. Or, knowing this team, someone else will get injured. It’s been that kind of year.

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Jul 13, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions

You make

good points, but I think Marshall should get moved to left field. This way every time a lefty comes in, we could swap Marshall and the starting pitcher, then after the AB they could switch back.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Jul 13, 2009 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

that might

be a better use of his talents, but I agree with Jessica below — we can’t depend on Hart.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 13, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions

No

Have Sam Fuld learn how to pitch, start him everyday, and he could just come in whenever Lou wants!!! They won’t even need a lefty!!!

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 13, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Of course, you'd need as many LF as the other team has LH hitters.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 14, 2009 6:31 AM CDT up reply actions

or a pitcher

that knew how to field every position on the field.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 14, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Hart is not good enough to start

You need Marshall in the rotation.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jul 13, 2009 8:22 PM CDT reply actions

I'm all for Marshall staying in the 'pen

so long as Lou starts using him correctly.

Marshall is completely wasted as a LOOGY.

But Jessica is right, Marshall is a better starter than Hart.

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas

by Allie on Jul 13, 2009 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

I say move Marshall to LF and see what happens

We are Marshall!

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 14, 2009 7:40 AM CDT reply actions

lefties usually take longer

to hit their stride. after they do, though, they are better because they’re lefties. start marshall.

if we can find a team that wants hart (as a fifth starter, set-up guy, doorstop), trade him to them for a prospect. nothing against the guy, but if research would indicate anyone saying “start hart” is also saying “release patton”, then i give up. a fifth starter being of less importance than a seventh reliever? sheesh.

when will chad fox’ ten years be up so we can recycle his 40 man spot?

by tim815 on Jul 14, 2009 7:56 AM CDT reply actions

Doesn't matter re: Fox.

There are two open spaces on the 40-man roster right now.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 14, 2009 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions

if we bring up bj ryan

and add a catcher, that makes 40

by tim815 on Jul 15, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Exactly.

Unless adding a catcher subtracts a minor leaguer on the 40-man.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 15, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions

i guess i await the

‘trade news’. i still don’t like being that close where we’d have to dfa someone if something comes available.

by tim815 on Jul 16, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Marshall is best suited for the pen

And he is needed in the pen. Cubs will cut and paste a 5th starter until Dumpster and his $14 million contract are ready to start contributing.

$136 million payroll for a .500 style ballclub. Good work Jim.

by BLou on Jul 14, 2009 8:26 AM CDT reply actions

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 14, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

he's like the anti-Mr. Rogers

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 14, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Mrs Rogers?

thats just wrong

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 14, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Why can't he do both?

I’m not sure I buy that shuttling (or shuffling) between the rotation and the pen takes all that much of a toll on Sean. He’s been doing it for a couple/few seasons now, and he’s pretty damn good at it. In fact, unbeknownst to many, Sean has become one of the more valuable players on this team because of that versatility. He is a true swing man – and how many teams have one of his talent level?

At this point, I’d like to see Sean back in the rotation, because I think he’s earned it, but I’m pretty comfortable with whatever the organization does. A lot depends on whether Fossum is a legit possibility in the pen (seems he seriously hurt his chances with a disastrous Triple A outing the other day) and whether BJ Ryan is on his way here and for real. I’m not sure how Waddell factors into any of this. I have a weird feeling the Cubs have kind of put him on the backburner for now.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 14, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

Im hoping

That if lou uses ryan correctly he will return to his old form. He had a good era in june and it looked like he was finally finding it and then one bad outing in july did it for cedo gaston.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 15, 2009 9:15 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions