Wood down; Marmol gets bumpy save: Cubs RP Carlos Marmol, subbing for closer Kerry Wood who was placed on the 15-day disabled before the game, got four outs for his fourth save Thursday against the Marlins, but it wasn't smooth. He threw 38 pitches in the ninth and loaded the bases, finally ending it by striking out Wes Helms on a 3-2 pitch. He walked three batters and recorded three strikeouts (Updated 07/25/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/26/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Manager Lou Piniella still has confidence in Marmol. "He's a little too excited. He just needs to calm down a little bit, make his pitches, trust his pitches, he's got good stuff," Piniella said. Marmol certainly has the stuff to become a lights-out closer if the Cubs ever need him to, but Wood doesn't figure to stay on the DL for long. Treat Marmol as nothing more than a short-term stopgap. (Updated 07/25/2008).
Marmol became the eighth Cubs player on the NL All-Star team when he was selected Sunday to replace injured Chicago teammate Kerry Wood. Marmol was picked because he was the relief pitcher with the highest vote on the player ballot. He is the only pitcher in the game who isn't a starter or a closer. (Updated 07/13/2008)
Advice
His selection was announced one day after he wasted a 7-2 lead at Wrigley Field against San Francisco in a game the Cubs went on to win 8-7 in 11 innings. Marmol, booed when he left the mound Saturday, is 2-3 with a 4.13 ERA and three saves. He had a 1.69 ERA in April and 1.93 in May, but it was 7.36 in June and 13.50 in July.
Wood down; Marmol gets bumpy save: Cubs RP Carlos Marmol, subbing for closer Kerry Wood who was placed on the 15-day disabled before the game, got four outs for his fourth save Thursday against the Marlins, but it wasn't smooth. He threw 38 pitches in the ninth and loaded the bases, finally ending it by striking out Wes Helms on a 3-2 pitch. He walked three batters and recorded three strikeouts (Updated 07/25/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/26/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Manager Lou Piniella still has confidence in Marmol. "He's a little too excited. He just needs to calm down a little bit, make his pitches, trust his pitches, he's got good stuff," Piniella said. Marmol certainly has the stuff to become a lights-out closer if the Cubs ever need him to, but Wood doesn't figure to stay on the DL for long. Treat Marmol as nothing more than a short-term stopgap. (Updated 07/25/2008).
= probable start
