Marmol Not Closer Material

Carlos Marmol speaks clearly when mentioning he wants to be the Cubs closer.

And I’ll speak clearly to say I like Marmol as a set-up man vs. closer.

Why keep the most dynamic slider in baseball waiting in the bullpen for save opportunities?

Use the guy’s rubber-arm to shut down the opposition during the seventh and eighth innings presenting save opportunities for Kevin Gregg.

Closing games is more about mentality than stuff; look no further than Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.

Carlos pitches with intense emotion, too intense for closing ballgames on a regular basis.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Marmol’s flair on the mound and I love the way he sparks the Cubs lineup whether they’re leading or trailing on the scoreboard.

But, I’m afraid that emotional charge is lost if Lou only trots him out to the mound in the ninth inning.

What I’m saying is, I like Marmol for who he is as a pitcher: durable, emotional and effective.

And it’s not like the club is without a closer: Gregg saved 61 games for Florida during the past two seasons.

Plus, if Marmol’s post season numbers are an indication of how he’ll produce on the hot-seat, well, he’s in for a tough transition – 5.2 IP, 6H, 5ER and a 7.94 ERA.