Breaking news: Chicago Cubs manager announced after the loss vs. the Atlanta Braves that there will be a changed in the 9th inning. As that means, Carlos Marmol will no longer be the closer for the Cubs. News came after Marmol blew the save vs. the Braves. Marmol came into the game when the Cubs were leading 5-4, but that didn’t last long. Marmol gave up a leadoff home run to BJ Upton that tied the game and 2 batters later Juston Upton hit the game winning home run. The Braves won 6-5 and Marmol blew another save.
Marmol almost has 3 blown saves this year, 1 officially and one lost. Marmol still cannot find the strike zone, walks way too many and has given up a lot of hits this season. Marmol being removed as closer is the right move and will only better the ball club.
Sveum cites Shawn Camp and James Russell as potential replacements for Marmol as closer. But I think the Cubs will go closer by committee, with Kyuji Fujikawa in the mix as well.
I don’t know where Marmol will pitch, but for now, I say he’ll come in when the Cubs are either losing big or winning big.
Now the question is what to do with Marmol. His trade stock is lower than ever and the Cubs won’t get anything for him. I doubt the Cubs release him. We could very well see Marmol finish the season with the Cubs and he’ll be out of the cubs organization after the season.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens, but who cares. Marmol is not the closer anymore and we can say the positively. Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!
Cut Marmol, don’t pay him after he’s cut, and let him take the Cubs to court in a “test” case. There’s got to be a historic reversal of law somewhere down the pike about the proliferation of Marmol and Bobby Bonilla types, and Jason Bay types, etc.