Game 25: Another Lead, Another Loss

Cubs 3 @ Reds 4

What Went Right

The Bryan LaHair hitting show rolls on. LaHair smacked home run number seven in a losing cause.
Geo Soto went deep for only the second time this season. Starlin Castro touched ‘em all as well.
Ryan Dempster tossed eight shut-out innings. He certainly deserved a better fate.
No errors for Castro! That’s always good news in my universe.

What Went Wrong

I know this is shocking to read, but Carlos Marmol crapped the bed and gave up another lead. I’m not sure what else to say at this point. I didn’t enjoy watching Marmol pitch at his very best, so the 2012 version is like a swift kick to you know where. I can’t imagine another team has any interest in Marmol, which means it’s going to be a very long year. I guess it was going to be a long year anyway, but you get the point.

Looking For Silver Linings

Do the 9-16 Cubs have you singing the blues? Fear not! Here’s a half-full glass of positive energy for you to choke down:

As of this writing, no Cubs have been killed in action.
Marlon Byrd is playing for another team. If that doesn’t cheer you up, nothing will.
To the best of my knowledge, Dale Sveum hasn’t used the words grit, grinder, gamer, moxie, clutch, or chemistry.
Giant chunks of Wrigley Field haven’t fallen on unsuspecting fans this year.
The towel drill is now a distant memory in Chicago.
Joe Carter isn’t a member of the broadcast team.
I haven’t heard Mike Ditka, Jeff Gordon, or Ozzy Osbourne sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” yet.
Koyie Hill isn’t the Cubs backup catcher anymore. Another fine example of addition by subtraction.
Bryan LaHair is slugging .821 (not a typo) through May 3^rd.
James Russell is finally being used properly, which means only as a situational lefty reliever.
Lil’ Tony Campana got permission from his mom to attend the field trip to the zoo. I hope he remembered his milk money.
The Cubs don’t own the rights to Delmon Young or Carl Crawford.
The Houston Astros are still members of the National League Central, so last place isn’t a lock.

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wisconsinjpc

You need to jettison your closer if every save situation, the first thing you think is “God, no! Not our closer!”
Buddy

Warm up Bob Scanlan!
Jedi

Not sure why after a day off, we used the same two relievers on back-to-back days. In fact, only Camp has appeared out of the bullpen (once) since last Saturday. Every other appearance has been Dolis and Marmol.
chet

This has become a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation with Marmol. We have to play him to trade him….yet when we play him,80% of the time, the sitaution is catastrophic thusly tearing down his trade value. If you are building for the future then you almost have to keep rolling him out there and hope he catches fire at some point, either literally or figuratively would work for me.
Doug S.

What’s Marmol thinking throughout this gasfest?…..He’s close to single-handedly killing this team. If he had a shred of decency he’d ask for a bus ticket to .Des Moines
BLPCB

Other positives: Dusty Baker isn’t our manager
Jim Hendry is no longer the GM
McJedEp has a plan and a vision for the future
BLPCB

If not for Marmol, we could be close to .500. Anyone else think the loss of Rothschild might be a factor?
Eddie Von White

We have to abandon the idea that Marmol is trade bait. Nobody in their right mind is going to nibble on an offer for him. If anything, he’s a worm drowning on the hook. We have to stop playing him and stop playing him now! Please release him, let him go. We don’t love him anymore (insert music here).
Norm Bothwell

I think its just the nature of the RP role. They are good for a year, maybe three, but usually, they have a short shelf life.
I would probably NEVER sign a RP to a 3 year deal.
Kyreal

Stop pulling out the starter when he still has the gas left in the tank to finish the game. This situational pitching crap has gotten out of control. MLB needs more complete games not less. There was no reason to pull Dempster out of that game yesterday. Allowing Carlos “I walk everyone” on the field was simply stupid. Dolis should get the shot at closing at the least, let Marmol handle special 1 batter situations only till he can get his command straightened out.
Eddie Von White

Amen brother, Amen.
Jedi

When the Yankees have a need at a particular position, there’s always the possibility of a trade.
Eddie Von White

Yes! So the ACL gods are smiling upon us.
LVCubFan

Unfortunately at the zoo, ‘lil Tony had his milk change stolen by Castro. Castro attempted to make a wish by throwing his change in a nearby fountain, but the throw was offline and ended up blinding a zebra
flyslinger2

Dempster should pitch a fit if Sveum wants to yank him for Marmol. I think Marmol delivered his resignation, written on the ball, by throwing that game away.

Unless I am missing something the starting rotation is strong and could go deeper into the games. At least another inning. I think the brain trust is missing this. I think Managers get programmed into the formula of:
5 innings -Starting Pitcher
2 to 3 – innings middle relief
1 to 2 innings – closer
They can’t see paste this and throw opportunities away.
Jedi

Maybe, but not with the Cubs right now:
Dempster 8.0
Samardzija 7.2
Volstad 6.0
Garza 7.0
Wells 3.2
Maholm 6.1
Volstad 6.0
Samardzija 6.2
Garza 7.0
Wells 5.0
Maholm 6.0

That’s the last two full turns through the rotation, Wells is the only guy who didn’t see the 6th inning, and for all but 3 other starts Sveum has sent his starter back out for the 7th. In 6 of the last 9 starts he’s let the starter at least return to the mound in the 7th.
–
My complaint would have more to do with an overemphasis on using Dolis and Marmol during these last 11 games or so.
Jedi

Marmol out as closer:
http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7890156/carlos-marmol-chicago-cubs-closer

Russell & Dolis in – and since Dolis has pitched 4 of the last 5 days I think that probably means that Russell is the closer du jour. And after today it’ll be determined on matchups.
flyslinger2

Marmol should be out. Period.
Wes

Agreed. The only way James Russell should show blanks across the board on the “Bullpen Health Report” chart above is if the previous 7 days consist of some combination of rainouts, a day off, and the rest all complete games from the starters.
If the bullpen is so weak that only 2 members can be put into use, it might be time for some new faces. But hey, “Rule 5 pick” Castillo must be kept on the major league roster…. Nevermind if he actually has any use or not……. Oh wait, someone’s got to carry the pink backpack.
Doug S.

Why do we have to trade Marmol? We GIVE him to another NL central team and chalk up some W’s in the deal.
Doc Raker

Only 1 way to rehab Marmol’s value, DL him, then minor league rehab, pray he can get people out for a period of time and then find a sucker.
Eddie Von White

“They can’t see paste this and throw opportunities away.”
I will copy and paste this and send it to Dale.
Buddy

Agreed Chet. You keep pitching Marmol, hope he gets on a roll, then deal him if possible.
Buddy

Amen to that!
Kenn

Marmol needs an attitude adjustment by going to Iowa for a stint so you can learn how to pitch again. Enough is enough.
Buddy

I really don’t think Marmol’s problems are attitude related.

Game 25: Another Lead, Another Loss

Cubs 3 @ Reds 4

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