what a difference a year (and manager) makes

by huckleberry on Jun 27, 2007 4:51 PM EDT

i know the cubs are under .500, but they're on a decent streak, winning 5 in a row and going 15-10 so far this month.

the interesting thing to me is it's been greatly on the backs of players they developed. felix pie, mike fontenot, ryan theriot, carlos marmol, rich hill, sean marshall, and now today, billy petrick (who just k'ed two of three batters he faced, hitting 96 several times according to wgn's radar.

there's no way all these young guys play last year with dusty. and some while some of them have been highly touted, like pie and hill, during their minor league careers, there's a lot of what most people would look at as future journeyman-type placers. thing is they play hard (fontenot just hit a 415 foot hr, and has a single and double to go with it).

have the cubs finally hit upon the right mix of guys...a few studs in lee/soriano/ramirez/zambrano, and a lot of team player gamers?

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Eh

Personally, I think Lou likes his veterans too much as well. He refuses to give Marmol a shot at the closer now that Dempster is out. He takes away playing time from Pie to play Pagan. Hell, he even went with Eyre in the ninth inning two nights ago. Wuertz only went an inning and Lou yanked him, yet Scotty had alredy pitched 1 1/3 and promptly led me to walking out of the game after Howry blew a 3 run lead. Lou definitely gives young players who get hot a chance to play more than Dusty, but it's still not as much as I'd like.

Wow, the ninth just started and here's Marmol. It's about time. Mahalo

Matt

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 27, 2007 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Odd timing...

considering Marmol got the save today.

by DrunkIrish on Jun 27, 2007 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Which you then went on to say later in your post.

Note to self: Reading is FUNdamental!

by DrunkIrish on Jun 27, 2007 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Does...

Marmol remind anyone else of K-Rod?? I know, I know he doesnt have quite the explosive stuff but does run it up there about 92-96 and has a nice slider. Similiar deliveries also I think. Do you think he has the potential to be a top of the line closer like K-Rod??

by bryanmurphy2005 on Jun 27, 2007 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Response

Interesting point. I was watching a Cubs/Rangers game on FSN Southwest a couple of weeks ago and the Rangers announcers kept bringing up K-Rod's name as Marmol dominated their lineup for three innings.

Marmol throws very hard and has a good slider, but it's certainly not K-Rod's breaking stuff. On the other hand, Marmol might just have the potential for better control and command.

I imagine if the Cubs would like to make him their closer, he'd take to it quite well.

by mrkupe on Jun 27, 2007 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Marmol

He doesn't even have to be the closer. Put him in the 8th inning instead of the declining Howry/Eyre. Then when Angel Guzman comes off the DL slot him in the 7th leaving those two for mop-up roles. Mahalo

Matt

PS. I don't see the K-Rod comp myself. Just use the guy in some high leverage situations or where you need a strikeout and let nature take its course.

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on Jun 27, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I see Marmol as a Pedro clone who only has FB/Slider to work with. He throws from a similar arm angle and can rush it up there at 94-97. And his slider has the bite of Pedro's. If he could only develop the top RH change-up I have ever seen, then he would really be something.

I love this guy. He is definitely electric.

by So Cal Bob on Jun 28, 2007 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Marmol

As a Dempster owner who plucked Marmol off waivers, I hope he's the closer.

by limozeen on Jun 27, 2007 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

What a difference

250 million dollars makes. Hill has been awesome, don't get me wrong, but I think he'd be playing regardless of who the manager was based on his success last season. Theriot finally showed everyone that he doesn't deserve a starting job, and Pie should probably be developing in AAA.

Lou Pinella will never be mistaken for a guy who loves his rookies and young guys. It's nice to see Marmol get a chance, but I wouldn't be surprised if a veteran takes hold of that closer job by the all-star break. Lou will probably convince Hendry to trade for a "proven" closer.

by ajohnst1 on Jun 28, 2007 10:55 AM EDT reply actions