At least me and Lou Pinella are on the same page about something and that’s wanting Kevin Gregg as closer. Lou named Gregg the teams’ closer this morning. I would like to think Pinella took my advice on my entry the other day about naming Gregg the Cubs closer, but I highly doubt he listened to me and had his mind made up well before camp.

It’s good to see the Cubs move in the right direction with just a week before the season starts….now only if the Cubs could get that lineup fixed before next Monday at Houston!

Realistically speaking if you read my entry a few days ago Marmol is the better pitcher and is well suited getting the Cubs out of crucial jams before they go on a verge of giving the lead away; and Gregg is better suited in the closer role because of his experience with the Florida Marlins. On the contrary I believe Gregg blew 9 games last season. I really don’t know the circumstances of those games he blew with a crappy Marlins team. At least with the Cubs he should have some run support if he does manage to blow a save in the ninth.

Also not to mention Gregg did have a better spring than Marmol.

But either way it’s a good Cubs news day!

Mr. Pinella,

            I heard that you were going to choose your closer today or tomorrow. Let me be the first to say that Kevin Gregg should be the closer for the 2009 Chicago Cubs. Now don’t get me wrong, we both know that Carlos Marmol is the best reliever that the Cubs have, he has been for the past three years. But why mess with success?

            Marmol’s “stuff” is absolutely dirty, possibly the sickest slider in the league. You know he has been successful in coming in from either the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth inning. Lou, why is there an unwritten rule that the closer has to be your best relief pitcher?

            There is no problem with naming Gregg your closer. Here’s a little example of how versatile Marmol is:

            Okay Lou, it’s the sixth inning and Harden is on the mound. Sorry, bad example, you know that Rich Harden can’t go that long in a game…let’s say Ryan Dempster. So the sixth inning we’re up by, uhm, a run or two against the Houston A**holes, Astros. The Astros have two on with one out with Carlos Lee up to bad with Lance Berkman standing on the on deck circle; Dempster is absolutely done for the day.

            Who do you choose Lou? This is a no-brainer, you shouldn’t have to even think about it, Marmol must come in the game. I apologize for Cubs general manager, Jim Hendry not giving you quality relief pitchers. Hell I wouldn’t want to send Neil Cotts in the game either. Marmol is your guy in this situation and any situation like this, he has always been a stud in this role, so I beg you please don’t move Marmol to the closer role.

            We are 11 days from the Cubs opening game at Houston, so just name Gregg the closer today, he has closing experience, and Marmol is the sh*t at what he does, getting you out of tough jams in the middle of the game.

            Sincerely,

                        Pessimistic Cub Fan

            P.S. You better make the right decision.

Marmol is the nastiest pitcher in the game