MESA, Ariz. — In a game of musical chairs in the
Cubs' bullpen, the only one left standing from the start of the 2010 season is closer
Carlos Marmol.
Sean Marshall and John Grabow have switched roles, former closer
Kerry Wood has returned as a setup man and the rest of the cast is to be determined.
The only certainty is Marmol will sit in the same seat in the
Wrigley Field bullpen that he has occupied the last four seasons.
"I don't know who I'm sitting between because they change the guys every year," he said with a laugh.
Though the lack of a solid relief corps greased the skids for the Cubs' fall last April and May, an overhauled bullpen finished the season with 28 consecutive scoreless innings, the team's longest streak since 29 1/3 in 1982.
Marmol didn't allow a run in his last 16 appearances, Marshall had 10 consecutive scoreless outings from Sept. 5 on and kids such as Andrew Cashner, James Russell and Scott
Maine chipped in as well.
"We had a little less pressure on us for sure toward the end, but some young guys got to learn the hitters and what their strengths were," Marshall said. "It's awesome now that we have Woody back and Grabow is healthy. That weapon is looking pretty good in comparison to last
spring training. At least on paper."
The back end of the bullpen — Marmol, Marshall and Wood — compares favorably with any threesome in the
National League. But the key to success might be the bridge relievers who have to get the ball from the starters to the Big Three.
Jeff Samardzija has struggled the last week of camp but figures to be one of the other four relievers because he's out of options.
Grabow is the other lock, though he hasn't pitched since the first day of Cactus League play because of shoulder soreness. He's an unknown commodity after a knee injury sidelined him twice last season and forced the Cubs to shut him down for good June 29. The Cubs are hoping he can revert to his 2008 form, when he posted a 2.84 ERA in 74 appearances for the Pirates.
"I feel if I don't throw 65 to 70 games in a year, I haven't done my job," he said. "That was the frustrating thing about last year. But I anticipate throwing a lot this year. That's my goal.
"You go six years without being hurt and then you get hurt, and …you have to change things up a little bit, listen to your body more than you have in the past."
The other two spots are up for grabs, but two of the losers in the rotation battle might fill those.
If Andrew Cashner doesn't win a starting job, he's a near certainty, and Carlos Silva might have to work in long relief. Left-handers Russell and Maine also are in the mix, and manager
Mike Quade said early in camp he could take as many as four lefties because the rotation figures to be all right-handed.
Marmol's continued dominance is the key to the bullpen. And after three seasons of moving back and forth from the rotation to the pen, Marshall has found a niche and has become a bullpen leader.
"At any given moment last summer I was the oldest guy down there (at 28)," Marshall said. "So some of the guys were looking up to me, and it's good to share the knowledge I learned about hitters and help out."
If the bullpen can start out the way it finished in 2010, the Cubs should be in good shape to contend. If not, it could be another long season.
