chicagotribune.com
Unhittable Marmol setting record pace
Could be 1st to allow fewer than 4 per 9 IP
By Dave van Dyck
Tribune staff reporter
10:46 PM CDT, August 31, 2008
Given another month like the one he had in August, Carlos Marmol could become the first pitcher in baseball history to average fewer than four hits per nine innings.
It may be an obscure statistic, but records back to 1956 indicate it has never been done, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.
Marmol has allowed 3.86 hits per nine innings. The current all-time leader is Eric Gagne with the 2003 Dodgers, who allowed 4.04 hits. Third on the list is Jeff Nelson with the 2001 Seattle Mariners at 4.13.
"Oh yeah? I didn't know that," Marmol said. "I guess I'm the first one, huh?"
Not until the season is over.
"I feel comfortable," he said. "I don't feel any pressure coming out of the [bullpen]. Every time I go out there, I try to make it quick."
Said pitching coach Larry Rothschild: "He's got a nice combination of pitches and is very competitive. He went through a rough spell, but he's rebounded real well from that.
"The year's not over yet. There's no sense in focusing on [the record]. It's just a question of going out and making pitches."
Unhittable Marmol setting record pace
Could be 1st to allow fewer than 4 per 9 IP
By Dave van Dyck
Tribune staff reporter
10:46 PM CDT, August 31, 2008
Given another month like the one he had in August, Carlos Marmol could become the first pitcher in baseball history to average fewer than four hits per nine innings.
It may be an obscure statistic, but records back to 1956 indicate it has never been done, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.
Marmol has allowed 3.86 hits per nine innings. The current all-time leader is Eric Gagne with the 2003 Dodgers, who allowed 4.04 hits. Third on the list is Jeff Nelson with the 2001 Seattle Mariners at 4.13.
"Oh yeah? I didn't know that," Marmol said. "I guess I'm the first one, huh?"
Not until the season is over.
"I feel comfortable," he said. "I don't feel any pressure coming out of the [bullpen]. Every time I go out there, I try to make it quick."
Said pitching coach Larry Rothschild: "He's got a nice combination of pitches and is very competitive. He went through a rough spell, but he's rebounded real well from that.
"The year's not over yet. There's no sense in focusing on [the record]. It's just a question of going out and making pitches."
Agree 100%....cubs fans are fans of Loveable losers...maybe not this year but damn if they wern't more times than they have won.
Cubs are hitting on all cylinders RIGHT NOW..but the big question is will the fans still be happy with a playoff appearance or will they be upset if they dont win the pennant this year. I mean they look to have thebest recod in the NL so of course they should win the pennant...right.
Take my team for example...The Astros... yeah they have had a bad season...but not as bad as most Astros fans knew they would be. We had big questions w/ our starting pitching and we traded the best astros closer the last few years( Brad Lidge). The Astros are a much better team than I expected and should be in the playoffs next year. The Cubs on the other hand were expected to win the division and they are are but will the fans be happy with that ...we will see.
Allowing less than 4 hits per 9 innings pitched is impressive. Very impressive but Marmol still isn't even in the top 10 relievers in baseball IMO. Coming out of the bullpen your number one roll is to THROW STRIKES. He averages nearly 4.5 walks per 9 innings pitched. He needs better command of the strike zone. I can list 7 relief pitchers I would take ahead of him easily. These rankings are not in any particular order, but these 7 are easily above Marmol.
There are more that are in the same class as Marmol but these guys below are a step above Marmol. He hasn't allowed any hits but his WHIP isn't the lowest in the league. If anyone, Cubs fans included, can tell me which one of these pitchers they would take Marmol over then I'm all ears.
1. K-Rod (Just simply better. One of the best in the game.)
2. Joe Nathan (Soft spoken and under the radar but he's a much better pitcher than Marmol. Look at his numbers.)
3. Papelbon (One of the best closers in the game with great control. Him and Bobby Jenks are the only relievers with 5+ pitches.)
4. Soria (Another small market player who doesn't get the publicity. His Whip and ERA are both lower than Marmol's and his stuff is dominant.)
5. Bobby Jenks (Has saved World Series games and holds the MLB record for consecutive batters retired without a hit or walk. Great numbers and a big game pitcher.)
6. Mariano Rivera (Do I need to say anything? Look at his WHIP if you have questions.)
7. Brad Lidge (Say what you want but he's the original Carlos Marmol. When he's going well, like he is right now, he may be one of the three best closers in the game. His big game scuffles have given him a bad name but he's one of the best.)
This is not a knock on Marmol but the hype around him is a little over the top. When he learns how to pitch he will be in the class of the names above, but until then he's a very good relief pitcher who can implode because of his control issues. Outside of Brad Lidge there is not a pitcher on the list above that has the ability to "implode". For example Bobby Jenks has never blown a 3 run save in his MLB career.
The possibility of a player imploding keeps them from that level of greatness.
There are more that are in the same class as Marmol but these guys below are a step above Marmol. He hasn't allowed any hits but his WHIP isn't the lowest in the league. If anyone, Cubs fans included, can tell me which one of these pitchers they would take Marmol over then I'm all ears.
1. K-Rod (Just simply better. One of the best in the game.)
2. Joe Nathan (Soft spoken and under the radar but he's a much better pitcher than Marmol. Look at his numbers.)
3. Papelbon (One of the best closers in the game with great control. Him and Bobby Jenks are the only relievers with 5+ pitches.)
4. Soria (Another small market player who doesn't get the publicity. His Whip and ERA are both lower than Marmol's and his stuff is dominant.)
5. Bobby Jenks (Has saved World Series games and holds the MLB record for consecutive batters retired without a hit or walk. Great numbers and a big game pitcher.)
6. Mariano Rivera (Do I need to say anything? Look at his WHIP if you have questions.)
7. Brad Lidge (Say what you want but he's the original Carlos Marmol. When he's going well, like he is right now, he may be one of the three best closers in the game. His big game scuffles have given him a bad name but he's one of the best.)
This is not a knock on Marmol but the hype around him is a little over the top. When he learns how to pitch he will be in the class of the names above, but until then he's a very good relief pitcher who can implode because of his control issues. Outside of Brad Lidge there is not a pitcher on the list above that has the ability to "implode". For example Bobby Jenks has never blown a 3 run save in his MLB career.
The possibility of a player imploding keeps them from that level of greatness.
Cubs fans come out of the woodwork only when they're winning? That is the most absurd statement I have ever heard. Cubs fans are FAR from fair weather, as evidenced by their huge fan base and constant sell-out crowds and zero championships.
You guys are completely contradicting yourselves.
Also, why would even the most die-hard fan be loud about it when the Cubs are losing? You are saying that because I didn't start threads about how sweet the Cubs were in 2006, I am not a true fan?
It's tough for Cubs fans to say anything, even when they ARE winning, because there are the typical haters that bash relentlessly.
PS asufan, you have got to be one of the slower people I have ever had the displeasure of reading. "Why would anyone be a Cubs fan"? That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I am a Cubs fan for the same reason that most people are fans of a team; my grandparents raised me on the Cubs...my great uncles used to take me to Wrigley several times a year when I was little...I grew up listening to Harry Caray call games on the radio and TV with my brother...on and on and on. The fact that you can't understand why I will be a Cubs fan, even if they don't win for 100 more years, is truly sad and a reflection of your ignorance as to what it means to be a "true fan".
You guys are completely contradicting yourselves.
Also, why would even the most die-hard fan be loud about it when the Cubs are losing? You are saying that because I didn't start threads about how sweet the Cubs were in 2006, I am not a true fan?
It's tough for Cubs fans to say anything, even when they ARE winning, because there are the typical haters that bash relentlessly.
PS asufan, you have got to be one of the slower people I have ever had the displeasure of reading. "Why would anyone be a Cubs fan"? That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I am a Cubs fan for the same reason that most people are fans of a team; my grandparents raised me on the Cubs...my great uncles used to take me to Wrigley several times a year when I was little...I grew up listening to Harry Caray call games on the radio and TV with my brother...on and on and on. The fact that you can't understand why I will be a Cubs fan, even if they don't win for 100 more years, is truly sad and a reflection of your ignorance as to what it means to be a "true fan".
Harry I think a lot of Cubs fan take shit is because the majority of their fans are not true fans. They are fans of the atmosphere. They are fans of Wrigley Field. Yes they sell out often but they don't sell out in losing seasons because they have "true" fans. They sell out because people love to go to Wrigley Field and drink. The neighborhood around the park is a great party area and a Cubs game is one big party.
A lot of fans around the country that root for the Cubs are FAIR weather fans in a way. A lot of fans want to be Cub fans when they end their drought.
In general every team has the same amount of "TRUE" fans but the Cubs and Red Sox take a lot of heat because they have a bunch of "appearance" fans; as I'd call it. They're fans of the Cubs or Red Sox because it's the in thing to do.
I feel for you because I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and I've been a White Sox fans for 30 years. The White Sox never could win anything and it was frustrating. I understand how hard it is to love a sports franchise for so long and not get anything out of it.
Although I am not a Cubs fan, and don't want them to win because of the heat I'll take from a lot of my friends, I do feel for you. And I understand where you're coming from to an extent. I'll tell you this. When the Cubs do win eventually it'll be one of the greatest feelings you've ever experienced. It sounds sad but it's true. When you dedicate so much of your life to something it feels good when they achieve the ultimate goal.
Lidge has better stuff than Valverde and has a much lower ERA. Valverde has an ERA near 4 and has blown 6 saves so far this season. Lidge hasn't blown any.
When they are both pitching well Lidge is better. Valverde is in the same class as Marmol. He can implode in games and that holds him back.
The Cardinals are getting a guy off the DL tonight that is unhittable and his name isn't Chris Carpenter it is Josh Kinney. To bad the Cardinals are so far back thanks to the bullpen. Kinney could have really helped if he didn't have a bunch of setbacks on his return.
Oh and fuck the Cubs.
Haray I like fans of their team for the reasons you explained but you have to admit many more idiots come out of the woodwork when there team is having a good season. Hell I'm a Chiefs fan and have been for as long as I can remember they haven't won shit yet I still tune into them every damn weekend and watch them get killed.
Oh and fuck the Cubs.
Haray I like fans of their team for the reasons you explained but you have to admit many more idiots come out of the woodwork when there team is having a good season. Hell I'm a Chiefs fan and have been for as long as I can remember they haven't won shit yet I still tune into them every damn weekend and watch them get killed.
I think that happens with all teams having a good season. The Celtics, Rays, Rams around 2000 come to mind.
For some reason all Cubs fans are labeled bandwagon during a good season, which sucks really bad for us REAL Cubs fans. We wait and wait and wait for some hope, and when we get excited during a good season, we get the bandwagon label...
hno:
Agree 100%....cubs fans are fans of Loveable losers...maybe not this year but damn if they wern't more times than they have won.
Cubs are hitting on all cylinders RIGHT NOW..but the big question is will the fans still be happy with a playoff appearance or will they be upset if they dont win the pennant this year. I mean they look to have thebest recod in the NL so of course they should win the pennant...right.
Take my team for example...The Astros... yeah they have had a bad season...but not as bad as most Astros fans knew they would be. We had big questions w/ our starting pitching and we traded the best astros closer the last few years( Brad Lidge). The Astros are a much better team than I expected and should be in the playoffs next year. The Cubs on the other hand were expected to win the division and they are are but will the fans be happy with that ...we will see.
Cub fans were not happy after the Bartman deal. Pressure has increased now that Boston and the White Sox have won. Harry Carey hit the nail on the head about Cub fans.
SAD:
Cubs' Carlos Marmol injured in car accident
<DL class=byline>By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter <DD>11:56 PM CDT, October 7, 2008 </DD></DL>Reliever Carlos Marmol received stitches in his forehead early Tuesday morning after being involved in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.
The Cubs had not been in contact with Marmol as of late Tuesday, but were told his injuries were minor.
According to the Associated Press, Marmol, a cousin and friend were in a car in his hometown of Bonao around 2 a.m. Tuesday when a truck hit the car.
In an e-mail to the AP, Marmol said the air bag deployed and he only suffered a cut and an "inflammation" of his forehead.
"Out of precaution they did different studies on my body, and I don't have any kind of serious injury," Marmol wrote.
Cubs scouting director Oneri Fleita spoke to the Cubs' Dominican representative, Jose Serra, who told him Marmol received seven stitches in his forehead. Serra had spoken to people who live near Marmol and reps from Marmol's winter league team in Licey, Fleita said.
"Thank goodness it was nothing worse," Fleita said.
Marmol pitched Saturday night in Game 3 of the NL Division Series in Los Angeles and left for his Dominican Republic home Sunday.
He pitched in 82 games this season, going 2-4 with a 2.68 ERA.
Cubs' Carlos Marmol injured in car accident
<DL class=byline>By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter <DD>11:56 PM CDT, October 7, 2008 </DD></DL>Reliever Carlos Marmol received stitches in his forehead early Tuesday morning after being involved in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.
The Cubs had not been in contact with Marmol as of late Tuesday, but were told his injuries were minor.
According to the Associated Press, Marmol, a cousin and friend were in a car in his hometown of Bonao around 2 a.m. Tuesday when a truck hit the car.
In an e-mail to the AP, Marmol said the air bag deployed and he only suffered a cut and an "inflammation" of his forehead.
"Out of precaution they did different studies on my body, and I don't have any kind of serious injury," Marmol wrote.
Cubs scouting director Oneri Fleita spoke to the Cubs' Dominican representative, Jose Serra, who told him Marmol received seven stitches in his forehead. Serra had spoken to people who live near Marmol and reps from Marmol's winter league team in Licey, Fleita said.
"Thank goodness it was nothing worse," Fleita said.
Marmol pitched Saturday night in Game 3 of the NL Division Series in Los Angeles and left for his Dominican Republic home Sunday.
He pitched in 82 games this season, going 2-4 with a 2.68 ERA.
