Barack Obama isn’t the only one with big ears and a funny last name making things happen these days.
Carlos Marmol isn’t nearly as well known as Obama. In fact, the right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic isn’t very well known even amongst Major League Baseball fans.
But if you ask any batter Marmol has faced, he will probably tell you that the Cubs reliever is anything but just another bullpen benchwarmer. Marmol is easily the best reliever, and probably the most under-appreciated player, on the North Side roster.
Marmol has been a Cub since 2006, when he was brought up for 19 games, 13 of them in the starting role. He went 5-7 with and ERA of 6.08 that year, giving up 52 earned runs along the way.
Since then, Marmol has found his niche and significantly better numbers on the mound for the Cubs in the bullpen. He pitched eight fewer innings last year than he did in 2006, but other than that, his stats looked like night and day. He had a 5-1 record in relief while posting a 1.43 ERA. He gave up only three home runs and 11 earned runs in 59 appearances.
This year—knock on wood if you’re a Cubs fan—Marmol is looking as if he’s headed toward an even better year. Marmol has a 1.13 ERA and a 1-0 record over 19 games. He is on pace to appear in about 80 games this year and see roughly 100 innings. Marmol has struck out 32 batters and given up only three earned runs to this point.
At his current rate, Marmol will strike out around 130 batters, 44 more than his outcome last year and 71 more than 2006. Strikeouts though, as most pitchers will attest to, is an over-hyped statistic. What's important is keeping batters away from producing runs.
Marmol can do that too.
Just to give an idea of how well he can keep offensive production low, he has not given up a run in nearly a month. That run was a solo shot, his only homer given up this season, against Nate McLouth in a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on April 18. But that was 10 appearances, nearly 12 innings ago.
Manager Lou Piniella, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, and all Cubs fans should be happy that they have someone to put in relief in those inevitable nail biters that will be consistently good and won’t likely give up hits and runs.
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5 months ago
Wow Matt, I really enjoyed reading this. Marmol is a very hot-topic type of guy to write about and you did a fantastic job of feeding everyones need to larn more about him. I remember his days as a starter thinking he was just another one of those no-name pitchers who was up for his "cup of coffee" at the time, but Marmol has really become THE relief pitcher in the big leagues.
Do you believe this is the year he should be the closer? Maybe a "closer" article would be something you might write about (just don't include Howry because he sucks!)
Great job again Matt and I wil post this article all around the internet so others can see it too!
5 months ago
I love Marmol! He's a great find with a great arm. I just really hope the Cubs don't wear him out so much that he gets hurt. I think he is the future closer on the team. I know you don't feel quite the same, and you think Wood should be it, but I think Marmol is the better guy in the long run. Go Cubs!
5 months ago
If I was a Cubs fan I would worry about Lou's early reliance on him. Yes, he is outstanding but he is going to have a dead arm for the playoffs if this keeps up. As for Marmol, he is this year's Pat Neshek or two years ago Scott Linebrink and there is nothing wrong with that because few teams have the luxury of a lockdown setup man.
5 months ago
I think priority number 1 is to make the playoffs. The last time Lou rested a pitcher for future playoff games, they ended up not being played
5 months ago
I don't know that i'd say "unsung hero." Every game that is on TV he gets about 5 minutes of discussion on how nasty his stuff is. He will be the best closer in baseball once he gets the role, mark my words.
5 months ago
Marmol has been the glue that has held this team together and he will be the closer of this team, mark my words.
5 months ago
Matt, great idea for an article! I agree that Marmol is under-appreciated. He is truly deserving of any accolades that come his way. He will make a solid closer some day.
4 months ago
Marmol brings the heat
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