Manager Lou Piniella recently named Kevin Gregg as the team's closer, allowing Piniella to use the talented Carlos Marmol in the super swingman reliever role he has become accustomed to in the last two seasons. And while I agree Marmol (right now) is best suited for being set-up man extraordinaire, I am not convinced Gregg is the best man to close out games.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the guy most suited for that role signed with the Cleveland Indians in the offseason.
Gregg was acquired in the offseason via a trade with the Florida Marlins, who probably fleeced the Cubs again by nabbing hard-throwing reliever Jose Ceda who was once deemed untouchable by GM Jim Hendry and his staff. And even though Gregg notched 61 saves in two seasons as the Marlins' closer, no one is sure how he will respond to the pressure-cooker that is Wrigley Field, the Cubs, day baseball, a fandom growing impatient and a constant reminder from the media of 101 years of suck.
After a first half in which he saved 20 games and posted a 2.60 earned run average, Gregg seemed to faulter down the stretch. In his final 26 outings, he recorded a 4.94 ERA in 23.2 innings. Outings like that in July and August might call for mob rule in the North Siders' bullpen.
And yes, Marmol struggled at times last year, but it was mostly due to being overworked ... which of course is going to be Cubdom's biggest fear from day one.
He worked the World Baseball Classic, fine and dandy, but did he get his arm up to speed for the team that needs him the most? My guess is no, especially when noting he hit five batters and posted a 4.50 ERA in WBC games. And one must wonder where his head must be, after coming into Spring Training as the No. 1 candidate to replace Kerry Wood.
Jeff Spellcheck hasn't been impressive this spring, while the team's best lefty out of the pen from last season has secured a spot in the starting rotation. So, the fate of the Cubs' bullpen rests squarely on the shoulders of a closer who is unproven in this element and a reliever who might be one nasty breaking ball away from getting shelved.
Yep, sounds like a banner year for the Cubbies already.
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