Can We Stop Ignoring The Bullpen in 2013?

[dabynsky]

The Reds are making Aroldis Chapman their closer | HardballTalk

I didn't realize Marshall was doing so poorly.

He really isn't in a lot of ways. He only has one blown save, and he has given up a lot of hits. His K/BB is ridiculously good right now, and he really isn't getting hurt by the longball more than usual. His numbers will normalize, but the Cubs trying to trade this Sean Marshall would have resulted in getting even less back than we did.

[ChiSportsFan17]

I do agree that the bullpen is a big reason the Cubs lost many games; but this past week has not been good for Cubs starters.

[dabynsky]

The team as a whole isn't very good. Starting pitching is the strength of the ballclub, but even the best starters will have bumps in the road. That is why trading Marshall wasn't a big deal. Not because Marshall isn't a good reliever (despite the outcomes so far this season), but because having an elite backend of the bullpen arm doesn't matter on a team like this.