Carlos Marmol: A Huge Failure in Cubs' Bullpen

If you're looking for someone to blame for the Cubs' bullpen failures, look no further than Carlos Marmol. Marmol has arguably been the biggest disappointment on the 2009 Cubs' pitching staff. 

Many Cubs fans and media members blame Kevin Gregg for the Cubs' bullpen failures. That couldn't be any further from the truth. While Gregg has had a few bad outings, for the most past, he has done an average job. Gregg has converted 12 of 15 saves, and has also come into numerous tied ball games and kept the opposing offense in check. 

Despite having as good stuff as any relief pitcher in the game, Carlos Marmol has been a complete failure this season. While his ERA sits at 4.08, Marmol has also done an atrocious job with inherited runners. 

While Gregg has shown us that you don't need great stuff to get hitters out, Marmol has shown us that great stuff doesn't equal a great pitcher. 

The 27-yard old Marmol has blown four saves in 35.1 innings while walking an amazing 38 batters.

Can you say "ridiculous?"

For the record, Marmol had one blown save in 2007 and just two blown saves in 2008.

So why has Marmol struggled so much this year? He can't find the plate, and he has become obsessed with his slider. During Friday's game, he threw a 3-2 slider to Gordon Beckham with a 5-2 lead.

Are you kidding me? Marmol throws between 92-95 MPH with good movement and he's throwing a slider to the leadoff hitter in the eighth inning. Can you say "cardinal rule?" Don't walk the leadoff man in the eighth inning, especially with a big lead.

On Saturday, Lou gave the ball to Marmol in the eighth with another lead, and Marmol once again gave the lead up.  

Memo to the worst skipper in the National League—give the ball to someone else in the eighth. They may surprise you, just like Marmol surprised you in 2007 when you gave him the ball. Right now, Marmol is losing games for the Cubs, and he shouldn't be in any close game until he figures out his command problems. 

While the majority of Chicago obsesses over Mark DeRosa, Kerry Wood, and the underachieving Milton Bradley, I think it's important to focus on guys like Marmol who get a pass in the city. 

Marmol has failed the Cubs in a huge way. If you feel comfortable with Marmol in the eighth inning, you need to get your head checked. 

Here's hoping that the skipper gives the ball to someone else today.  After all, if you're going to carry 12 pitchers, use all of them.

Is David Patton still on this team?