Through The Muck & The Mire: 2013 Cubs Preview - Bullpen & Outfield

This is the second of a three-part preview of the 2013 Cubs. Check out Part 1 for a quick review of the 2012 season, the offseason, and pitching staff. Next, I'll examine the ramshackle bullpen and a platoon-laden outfield.

Bullpen
Setup/Closer: Carlos Marmol, Kyuji Fujikawa
LOOGY: James Russell
Middle Relief: Michael Bowden, Shawn Camp, Hisanori Takahashi
The Annual Rule 5 Stash: Hector Rondon
Hendry Era Comp: 2010 - Marmol, Cashner, Russell, Berg, Grabow, Mateo, Howry
Future Headliners (with ETA for prospects): Trey McNutt (2014), James Russell, Rafael Dolis, and maybe Arodys Vizcaino

This year's relievers will challenge the 2010 squad for the worst Cubs pen of the new millennium. That team ended up at a 4.72 ERA, a .343 OBP-against, and a 15-27 record. Carlos Marmol & Jeff Russell are the lone holdouts from that team and that fact alone does not give me much confidence.

The End of the Marmol Era

"You have a game like that — I'm embarrassed right now."

I'm glad today's game was witnessed by no one. Well, let me rephrase that. I'm glad no one witnessed the 9th.

Love The Bomb Part III: Move Marmol

Closers generally come and go. One only need go so far as Des Moines to find the aptly-named Manny Corpas, who has floated around the minor leagues after being cut just three seasons after a late-season run as closer of the pennant-winning Rockies. Marmol has lost control of his slider and become a below-average closer. It won't take too much more for Sveum to demote him below the surprisingly strong James Russell or closer-of-the-future Rafael Dolis.

What if, instead, the Cubs struggle through the pain of a few more rough outings, wait for Carlos to regain his patented slider, and dump him on an unsuspecting contender in late July looking to run to glory with the Marmol magic? Maybe it's just the pressure of the ninth that's getting to his head and he can be a shutdown guy in the eighth for a playoff team. Hey, Scott Eyre won a World Series, right? Either way, Marmol's not doing much for a Cubs team that just had their first save opportunity in 15 games on Tuesday.

Cubs Season Preview Part II - Bullpen

Our Cubs preview moves on to the back end of the staff today, working through the delicate bullpen crew. I'll sift through those who will start out the season on the big league club and also touch on those who may make their way to the third base line at some point this season. To start the season, Sveum has the following to work with:

Closer - Carlos Marmol
Set-up - Kerry Wood
LOOGY - James Russell
Middle Relief - Rafael Dolis, 2 of Castillo, Corpas, and Camp
Long Relief - Rodrigo Lopez