Bullpen Questions Hurt Cubby Hopes

     As the baseball season enters its most crucial stage the Chicago Cubs, who have been known by many as the "Loveable Loosers", look to win their first world series in over a century. While many bright spots exist throughout the active roster one crucial area looks more an more questionable. That area is the bullpen. As many diehard baseball fans realize a bullpen can direct the path of a teams' season. With injuries plaguing the Cubs yet again, including to key starters Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly, on many occasions the Cubs have had to rely on their bullpens to either keep them in the game or to keep a close lead. In July the bullpen looked like a championship calibar pen. Closer Kevin Gregg was looking like a true closer who when you are in the ninth inning and facing the heart of the opposings team's order that he could come through to record the save and the Cubs go home with a win under their belt. Sean Marshall was getting people out with amazing regularity and performing very well in his setup role. Carlos Marmol looked like he was slowly learning how to overcome some lingering control problems and Angel Guzman came in as the long reliever and doing a splendid job. On July 30 the Cubs got their left handed reliever in John Grabow and also gained a young left handed pitcher in Tom Gorzelanny who has started for the Pittsburgh Pirates but will probably spend some time in Iowa to gain experience when Zambrano and Lilly return to health.

     After the trade deadline acquisitions of Gorzelanny and Grabow many Cubs fans had high hopes on how the rest of the season looked, as the Cubs held a 54-46 record, but the dog days of summer have seemed to take its tool as they have currently lost five in a row. While starters Rich Harden and Randy Wells are pitching very well keeping the Cubs in the run for a division title, it seems no matter what pen pitcher Lou Pinella sends out doubt arises. Gregg has blown five saves this season including two back to back on the 1st and 2nd of August versus his former team in Florida where he allowed 3 homeruns agansit him. He also recorded the loss in a tied ballgame August 11 versus the Phillies giving up yet another walkoff homerun to Ben Francisco. Gregg has yielded 11 homeruns to opponents which leads all closers in Major League Baseball. Marmol has taken steps back in his quest to finding control as he has given up  nine walks in ten apperances since July 21. Aaron Heilman hasn't been the pitcher the Cubs wanted when they brought him in over the off season as he holds a 4.64 ERA. In the last three games Sean Marshall has given up a whooping eight earned runs runs. Grabow has been a bright spot for Chicago as in a Cub uniform he hasn't given up a earned run. Another problem lingers for the Northsiders as they continue to option young pitchers to Iowa and recalling various others as they continue to try to find a good nucleus of strong young arms.

     The Cubs did try and strengthen the bullpen as they signed veteran hurler B.J. Ryan but after a few sessions he believed he couldn't continue to compete at the Major League Level. So as the season rolls along and the Cubs reeling to stay in the race as they are 4.5 games behind the red hot St. Louis Cardinals one thing needs to change. The bullpen must find a way to return to its former constistency or the Cubs will stand 102 years without holding a World Series championship.