The Closer Role with the Cubs
by edwzipper on Saturday, February 16th, 2008 at 07:43am
No small question, given that they seem likely to win 90+ games. According to the Chicago Tribune, Kerry Wood enters the spring as the odds on favorite. The other candidates are Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry. And, for the fantasy people among us, this note is most helpful:
“Only Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild know who will be given the first chance. The only thing Piniella has revealed is he won’t use a closer-by-committee system and that he thinks he’ll have a closer picked by the third week of Cactus League games.”
Good. One thing we crave is certainty as drafts are unfolding. A decided closer early on would be a nice gift.