News
Comfort level has relievers cruising
Chicago (47-43) at Philadelphia (51-38), 6:05 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
07/19/09 5:15 PM ET
It's taken more than 80 games, 250 innings, 35 save opportunities and 47 holds for the Cubs coaching staff to figure out the proper pecking order for the bullpen. Heading into the three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs' relief corps has a 2.42 ERA (14 earned runs in 52 innings) this month, and they rank among the National League leaders in inherited runners stranded. Not bad for a bullpen that had only one full-time pitcher, Carlos Marmol, returning from 2008. "You expect a little flux with six new guys down there," said Cubs closer Kevin Gregg, who has a 1.61 ERA in his past 27 appearances. "I think we trust each other to hand the ball to the next guy now," Gregg said. "If Sean [Marshall] comes in and pitches a lefty tough and ends up walking him, we're going to bring in Carlos behind him to get him out of that situation. It's a good feeling to know the guy behind you will back you up." Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals was a perfect example. Angel Guzman retired the first two batters in the sixth, but the next two got on. Marshall entered and got the final out. Almost the same thing happened the next inning, and Marmol followed Marshall and got the final two outs. "Everybody picked each other up," Marshall said. "Marmol was here all last year but wasn't here the full year before," Gregg said. "There's a lot of questions to be answered. I think it's harder on the coaching staff ... how are you going to use [Aaron] Heilman? How are you going to use Guzman? We have the arms to continue to use all of us in all situations. It seems like a good problem to have, but it also creates a problem -- how do you use guys to the best of their ability?" Couldn't they figure this out in Spring Training? Not really. Often, Gregg pitched the fourth or fifth innings of Cactus League games. He never threw to catcher Geovany Soto and matched up only once with Koyie Hill. Now, as the Cubs head into their second post All-Star series, Lou Piniella feels much better about the bullpen, and Gregg deserves a lot of the credit for that. "He's probably the guy who has the most experience down there, and he uses that and points out things," Marshall said. "He mentors us a little bit. He's very knowledgeable and a good guy and fun to be around and keeps us in order." Have you noticed that Gregg is in the bullpen with the other relievers right from the start? Some closers hang out in the clubhouse. Marmol doesn't go out to the 'pen until late. Former Cubs closer Lee Smith used to sleep on the trainer's table until late in the game. "You get into the flow of the game, you're part of the team, cheering your teammates on," Gregg said about being there from the start. "[Ted Lilly] or Randy [Wells] or the other guys out there, the starters, you're cheering them on -- they're cheering us on late in the game. You might as well be a part of the game in the first few innings." Gregg does have a routine that he does before every game, whether he's available or not. Part of it is maintenance for his left knee, which required offseason surgery after last season. It's responded well to the workload. Gregg totaled 3 2/3 innings in three days in Washington. "You never know [if you'll pitch]," Gregg said. "If our starter goes three innings, [Piniella] might need me to go out there, or if this game goes 15 innings, he might need me." He'll be ready. That seems to be the theme of the Cubs' relievers. "It's a fun group of guys down there," Marshall said. "Guys take pride in getting their work in. It's been fun." Pitching matchupCHC: LHP Ted Lilly (9-6, 3.18 ERA)
Lilly was pushed back from a scheduled start on Saturday because of inflammation in his left knee. He picked up his 100th career win in his previous start, against the Cardinals. The Cubs' lone All-Star representative matched his season high by going eight innings. He notched his 14th quality start this year, giving up four hits. Lilly may want to only pitch at Wrigley Field. His ERA at home is 1.86, which ranks among the NL leaders. Over his last 54 2/3 innings, Lilly has walked seven and struck out 49. PHI: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.18 ERA)
Lopez left his start on July 8 after five innings because of right shoulder inflammation. But after some rest with the All-Star break, he said he's ready to make his third start of the season in a fluctuating No. 5 spot of the Phillies' rotation. His spot in the starting staff is currently in jeopardy with the Phillies signing Pedro Martinez recently, but Martinez isn't eligible to return from his procedural disabled-list stint until July 30, meaning Lopez will likely get at least two or three more starts before a roster move has to be made. In his only career start against the Cubs, Lopez -- pitching on 11 days' rest -- gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. Tidbits
Outfielder Sam Fuld was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room on the roster for Kevin Hart, who started Sunday. ... Kosuke Fukudome's hitting coach from Japan will rejoin the Cubs Monday and be in uniform. ... WGN broadcaster Ron Santo is missing this road trip because of a kidney infection. Former Cub Keith Moreland is filling in. ... Casey Fossum gave up one run, unearned, on five hits over six innings in Iowa's 2-1 win over Nashville on Saturday. Steve Clevenger drove in the game-winner with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. ... Ty Wright, Doug Deeds and Welington Castillo each homered in Double-A Tennessee's 5-4 win over Jacksonville. Jay Jackson picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings. ... Chris Carpenter threw five shutout innings, striking out nine, in Class A Daytona's 3-0 win over St. Lucie. ... Rebel Ridling had three hits in Class A Peoria's 9-2 loss to Clinton. ... Logan Watkins had two hits in Class A Boise's 3-2 win over Salem-Keizer. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Cubs (Rich Harden, 6-6, 5.06) at Phillies (Joe Blanton, 6-4, 4.44), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 6-4, 3.36) at Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 9-6, 5.58), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Thursday: Off-day
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
