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| Skipper Lou Piniella endorses Carlos Marmol as the Cubs' closer for 2010, according to MLBblogs.com. Piniella said, "I think he has done enough and shown enough and we have confidence in him enough that going into spring training next year, it is his job and we will leave it at that." |
Our View: Marmol has potential to be a top-notch fantasy closer with Chicago, namely if he works on his control and issues less walks.
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| The Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Cubs have named reliever Carlos Marmol the team's new closer. |
Our View: Looks like Kevin Gregg blew one too many saves. After his implosion on Monday night, the Cubs have decided to go with Marmol. The potentially dominant righty has struggled with his control this season, but if he can throw strikes he's down-right filthy. His fantasy value instantly skyrockets as he will be handed the ninth inning duties tonight. So if he's available on a waiver wire out there, now is the time to grab him.
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| Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he has no plans to remove Carlos Marmol from setup duties despite his recent control problems according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: After pitching brilliantly to start the season, Marmol seemed to have his confidence shaken when it became apparent that Piniella's decision to have Kevin Gregg close games was an indefinite one. Even if Gregg continues to struggle, Marmol is not a candidate to close until he irons out his control problems, and is of little fantasy value unless your league values holds.
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| Carlos Marmol left the team Monday and will also miss tonight's game to be with his wife in New York for the birth of their child, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Our View: Marmol should not be missed in fantasy leagues right now while working behind Kevin Gregg on the Cubs' depth chart at closer.
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| Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg will be unavailable on Tuesday due to heavy workloads of late, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Neither pitcher is hurt. |
Our View: With both of the top-2 options for saves out of action for the day, it would appear that Aaron Heilman would be asked to close things down if the need arises. Against the soft hitting Giants it just might happen, and with Tim Lincecum on the hill it figures to be a low scoring affair.
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| Carlos Marmol recorded just one out and was charged with four earned runs while walking four, striking out none, and giving up no hits in Wednesday's 10-0 loss to Arizona. |
Our View: Marmol's knee had been giving him some problems lately, but there's no word yet if his terrible command today was related to the ailment. He has now been charged with six earned runs in his last 2.1 innings of work. Until he starts cleaning up his stat lines, keep him on your bench.
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| Carlos Marmol fared fine during his bullpen session Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He has been recovering from a sprained left knee. |
Our View: Marmol noted that he feels 100 percent. He could return to the Cubs' bullpen tonight at Arizona if he does not experience any discomfort or swelling today.
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| Reliever Carlos Marmol will throw a bullpen session on Monday and could be available as soon as Tuesday, MLB.com reports. He is currently out due to a sprained left knee. |
Our View: Fantasy owners may want to bench Marmol this week just to be safe, but it's good to know that he should be back very soon.
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| Carlos Marmol will miss at least 4-5 days with his knee injury though the possibility of a DL stint has basically been ruled out after an MRI showed only a Grade 1 sprain, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: Marmol's loss would have been be a huge blow to his owners, while those that took Kevin Gregg would likely have rejoiced. Aaron Heilman will move into the setup role behind Gregg until Marmol is healthy enough to return.
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| Carlos Marmol only recorded one out on Friday and gave up the game winning run in the eight inning on two hits before being pulled due to an undisclosed leg injury. He was tagged with the loss as the Cubs fell to the Cardinals 4-3. |
Our View: Marmol has two saves this season and looks dominant unless he's facing the Cardinals. His one blown save and lone loss of the season have come against them. Still, his fantasy value is limited due to the fact that Lou Piniella still insists on using Kevin Gregg to close.
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| Carlos Marmol worked a perfect eighth inning while striking out two as the Cubs defeated the Brewers 8-5 on Sunday. Kevin Gregg worked the ninth once again. |
Our View: Gregg allowed three base runners, including a solo home run, so it appears that Marmol's chances to become the closer got even better tonight. Marmol has not allowed a runs in 4.2 innings of work, spanning five appearances, this season.
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| Although Kevin Gregg has been named the Cubs closer, ESPN.com reports that the decision is not set in stone. Carlos Marmol has had an up and down spring, but his potential as a closer is still viewed as higher than Gregg's. |
Our View: Marmol has struck out 10 batters in eight innings this spring against just one walk. He has allowed four runs, but his movement has still impressed. Gregg will be on a short leash to start the season and the potential for 30 saves in 2009 for Marmol is still there.
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| Carlos Marmol struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth hitting of the Domincan Republic's 3-2 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday. |
Our View: Last season, Marmol tallied 114 whiffs in 87.1 innings of work. He should win the job as the Cubs cloer over Kevin Gregg. Saturday's performance increased his odds.
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| Carlos Marmol is set to leave for the World Baseball Classic Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. He will be representing the Dominican Republic. Manager Lou Piniella said, "Basically, I could tell he wanted to go but he was concerned about going. If Marmol had been our closer last year, I am sure he would have gone without even thinking about it."
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Our View: Marmol is in a battle with Kevin Gregg for the closer's role, but Piniella assured Marmol that he will have time to compete for the job when he rejoins the Cubs after the tournament. Marmol would be a solid source for saves and strikeouts if he wins the ninth inning role with the contending Cubs.
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| Carlos Marmol has decided to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic after previously stating he would be skipping the tournament, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: Marmol wants to represent his country, but would really be better-suited to stay with the Cubs as he is being pushed by Kevin Gregg for the closer's role.
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| Carlos Marmol has decided not to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, according to MLB.com. He said, "I am not going. I want to stay here and work with (pitching coach) Larry Rothschild and stay with the team. It is hard to say no."
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Our View: Marmol will be competing with Kevin Gregg for the closer's role, with the loser likely being the setup man. Marmol would be a solid source for strikeouts and likely saves if he wins the ninth-inning gig with the contending Cubs.
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| Carlos Marmol is leaning towards skipping the World Baseball Classic, according to MLB.com. He would prefer to remain in camp in an attempt to win the closer job over Kevin Gregg. |
Our View: Both Marmol and Gregg can bring the heat, so the closing job will probably go to whoever does the best under pressure during camp. Gregg has more experience with the role, as he served as the Marlins' closer during the last two seasons, compiling 61 saves. However, he did blow nine saves which tied for the most in the majors.
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| Carlos Marmol plans to represent the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: He doesn't believe pitching in the tournament will be any different than pitching in the Cactus League with Chicago. Marmol should be a solid source for saves and strikeouts as a closer with the contending Cubs in 2009.
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| According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the Cubs are going to promote Carlos Marmol to the closer role in 2009. |
Our View: Even though the Cubs traded for Kevin Gregg, they will turn to Marmol. In 2008 he was very successful in the setup role. In 82 games last year he had 114 strikeouts in 87.1 innings and also compiled an ERA of 2.68.
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| The AP reports that reliever Carlos Marmol suffered minor injuries in a car accident early Tuesday in the Dominican Republic. A truck hit a car carrying Marmol, a cousin and a friend in his hometown of Bonao near 2 a.m. Marmol said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the air bag deployed and he only suffered a cut and an “inflammation” of his forehead. “Out of precaution they did different studies on my body, and I don’t have any kind of serious injury,” he wrote.
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Our View: Marmol was gold in middle relief this season with 114 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. Kerry Wood is facing free agency and if he were to leave, Marmol would likely take over the closer's role in Chicago.
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| Carlos Marmol is expected to handle the closer's role, as it appears that Kerry Wood is headed to the DL due to his nagging finger blister, according to the AP. |
Our View: Wood's DL move could be retroactive to July 12, meaning Marmol would serve as the closer for about a week before Wood returns. He is worth starting in your fantasy lineups for that said week.
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| Carlos Marmol will replace teammate Kerry Wood on the National League All-Star team, according to MLB.com. Marmol's selection was due to him having the next highest vote total on the Player Ballot. |
Our View: Marmol has struggled recently, but at the time of the vote, he was dominating. However, he still holds fantasy value because of his strikeout rate and low WHIP.
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| The Cubs weren't able to find any issues with reliever Carlos Marmol tipping his pitches. "We thought we had found something on the plane [Thursday] night, and we looked at it further [Friday], and it wasn't much different, so we don't think that's it," manager Lou Piniella tells the Chicago Sun-Times. "The next step is we run him out there tonight if we need him and get people out." Marmol has allowed 10 runs over his last seven appearances. |
Our View: We're just going to throw this out there, but have the Cubs considered not driving Marmol into the ground? He is a brilliant setup man, but Carlos has been one of the most heavily-used relievers over the last calendar year.
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| Lou Piniella has admitted he has growing concerns about the struggles of reliever Carlos Marmol, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Piniella believes he may be tipping his pitches, and is going to study film to determine if that is the case. |
Our View: Marmol has seen his ERA go from 1.75 on May 31 to 3.75 today. He still has great strikeout numbers, and his WHIP is 0.94, so hold off on dropping him from your fantasy team. You just may want to give him a rest until he gets straightened out.
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| Carlos Marmol suffered his third loss of the season by giving up an eighth inning leadoff home run resulting in a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the White Sox. |
Our View: Marmol has been working on a mechanical flaw in his delivery over the last week, but walked one and gave up a long ball to Carlos Quentin in his inning of work.
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| Carlos Marmol believes he has found a mechanical flaw in his delivery that has contributed to his recent struggles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. In watchin videos with Cubs coaches Larry Rothschild and Lester Strode, Marmol believes he is flying open too soon and not staying on top enough with his delivery. ''I see what I'm doing good in my good games, and I think I can fix it,'' he said. ''No, not think it. I'm going to do it.'' |
Our View: Carlos has given up five runs over his last two games. Considering he gave up only three runs in all of March and April and four in May, there was some cause for concern. Hopefully he will get the problem fixed as he says he will.
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| Carlos Marmol has allowed eight runs in June, more than the seven he allowed in 34.2 innings in April and May, according to MLB.com. "I think it's just a question of release points," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Plus, I think he was too crouched spinning out of his delivery, so I think you'll see him a little taller so he can drive down as opposed to coming up. |
Our View: Forgive us if we cut Marmol some slack. Marmol has averaged 13.1 K/9 IP with a WHIP of 0.86 even with his late run of bad luck, but don't look for his struggles to continue given his dominating stuff.
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| Carlos Marmol relieved Sean Gallagher in the bottom of the seventh inning with the Cubs leading 3-1 in Thursday's finale at Tampa Bay. Marmol, facing the bottom of the Rays order proceeded to walk Willy Aybar to lead off the inning, then walked Dioner Navarro followed by hitting Gabe Gross to load the bases. Leadoff hitter Akinori came to the batters box with the bases loaded, and nobody out, and Marmol plunked him too. Skipper Lou Piniella had seen enough and yanked the Cubs reliever in favor of Scott Eyre, who took the ball and gave up a home run to Carl Crawford. |
Our View: It was the ugliest five plate appearances of the year for the Cubs, and with no one out, Gallagher no longer in line for a win and the score in favor of the Rays 6-3, it appears that the team with the best record in baseball will be swept by the upstarts from the American League.
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| Carlos Marmol pitched another scoreless inning on Thursday night to drop his ERA to 1.59 for the Cubs. Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless ninth with three strikeouts to lower his mark to 3.14. |
Our View: Marmol now has 49 K and 12 BB on the year resulting in a 4.08 K/BB ratio which is only bettered by his 12.97 K/9 mark. If there's a more dominating reliever in baseball right now, we'd like to know who it is.
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| Carlos Marmol continues to be the backbone of the Cubs bullpen. The right-hander picked up his 12th hold of the season on Monday. |
Our View: His 1.55 ERA and 0.66 WHIP of 0.66 are over-the-top good and if Kerry Wood were to suffer and untimely injury Marmol would go from setup to closer.
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| Carlos Marmol came into to the 10th inning to pick up his second save of the season after Kerry Wood blew his second save in the ninth. Wood ended up being credited with the win however. |
Our View: Marmol continues to impress with 20 K in 15.1 IP, and he lowered his WHIP to 0.66 on this night. Wood maintains his grip on the closer's role right now, but Marmol is charging hard.
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| Carlos Marmol allowed a run in his two inning outing on Friday, but he also picked up his fifth hold thanks to five punchouts on the day. |
Our View: Marmol now has 17 K in 12.1 innings with a 2.19 ERA, and he continues to show the Cubs that he will have no problem stepping into the closers role if anything happens to Kerry Wood.
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| Carlos Marmol picked up his first save of the season on Monday as the Cubs defeated the Pirates 10-8 in 12 innings. Don't go freaking out if you own Kerry Wood as this was a 12 inning game and Wood had pitched each of the past two days. Still, it just goes to show you how valuable Marmol is this season even if he isn't in the closers role as the Cubs will certainly keep a close eye on Wood's workload this season. |
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| Lou Piniella has finally realized, or admitted, that Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild needs to be supervised. Piniella told the Chicago Tribune he would take over some of Rothschild's duties during spring training, "Look, whether it's spring training or wherever, you want to play good solid game and if you lose them, that's fine. But when you get sloppy and you make mistakes ... not good, not good. The wins and losses, I told you we wouldn't care too much early in the spring, but you'd like to win once in while, too, if you're going to tee it up." The facts speak for themselves. There have been too many young arms breakdown in Chicago, and all of them have been under Rothschild's watch. It is, however, doubtful Cubs management will allow Piniella to do with Rothschild what he would really like, since the long time pitching coach has already survived the regimes of Don Baylor and Dusty Baker.
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| Bob Howry admitted on Tuesday that Carlos Marmol may be a bit ahead of Kerry Wood and him. "He pitched all winter and is probably a little ahead as far as a feel for everything. There hasn't been that long of a layoff for him," Howry tells the Chicago Tribune. The closer race remains an open competition, and it sounds like Howry is already coming up with excuses. |
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| Carlos Marmol has been superb in two spring outings and looks like the early leader in the competition for the Cubs closer gig, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Kerry Wood and Bobby Howry, the other contenders for the job, have given up a combined seven runs in three innings so far. It's still very early. Don't move Marmol up your cheat sheet just yet. |
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| Carlos Marmol will not be available out of the bullpen on Sunday against the Mets, according to the AP. Marmol pitched two innings of relief on Friday and got one out in the eighth on Saturday. |
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| Carlos Marmol recorded his first career save Wednesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning and striking out two. He's in the middle of an outstanding season, with a 1.29 ERA and 29 strikeouts (against eight walks) in 21 innings. While the Cubs have several closing options while Ryan Dempster is out (veteran Bobby Howry is still very much in the mix), Marmol's upside probably is the highest of the group. |
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| The Cubs activated Carlos Marmol from the disabled list. Marmol is expected to work out of the bullpen for now. |
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| The Cubs expect Carlos Marmol to make a couple of rehab appearances for Triple-A Iowa over the weekend, as he continues to recover from right biceps and shoulder injuries, according to the Daily Southtown. He should come off the disabled list next week and work out of the bullpen. |
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| The Cubs placed Carlos Marmol on the DL Monday because of right shoulder fatigue, according to the AP. Marmol held a 5.65 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) for the Cubs. |
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| The Cubs will re-evaluate Carlos Marmol on Monday to determine whether his injured right biceps will force him to the disabled list, according to the Daily Southtown. Assuming Marmol won't be ready to start Wednesday, manager Dusty Baker plans to go with Angel Guzman over the convalescing Wade Miller. |
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| The Chicago Tribune reports that arm fatigue likely will sideline Carlos Marmol for at least a couple of weeks. He left Friday's game with a sore biceps, though trainer Mark O'Neal downplayed the injury by saying that "it's not one of those things we're real concerned about." |
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| Carlos Marmol could miss his next start after potentially injuring his biceps on Friday, according to the AP. Marmol, who left Friday's game after three innings, has complained of biceps soreness in his last several outings. |
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| Despite the bruised right hand, Carlos Marmol is expected to make his next start, according to the AP. Marmol bruised the hand being jammed on a pitch while swinging during his last outing. |
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