His last two save opportunitys he has got the job done but looked pretty rough and got lucky! Arizona hit the ball hard off him yesterday and if not for a spectacular catch by Johnson, that game might have gotten away from us. Then today his first two batters a walk and a single. A strikeout followed by a hard liner that if it does not hit him goes into centerfield and a run scores and then who knows what happens after that. I dont know.............I just dont think Marmol is going to work out in the long run. But, better lucky than good for now.

I'll take it. He has gotten his FB back.

FB?

It was hitting 96 today. Good to see it back.

His velocity is fine, but the man simply doesn't know how to pitch for the last 2 years. If anyone offers anything, they should jump. I've seen enough of this joker. At least he has some luck. That ball that hit him would have put the tying run at second, in which he would have blow the game. We've seen this many times before. The luck part is that it didn't hit him in the head and now there's a 1 in a million chance that some knucklehead GM takes a chance on him.

Right now the scouting report is that he's going to his slider too much. He needs to get ahead in the count with his fastball. I don't know if he's shaking off the signs or bad calls from the catcher is why he's doing this.

He has been throwing the fb more.

You can't just keep putting men on base all the time. Eventually, this catches up to you. I swear it's like watching Tug McGraw pitch when he was with the Phillies at the end of his career.

That's not "right now" information.

I believe he was told to stop shaking off the catcher "or else" and the game plan is to use his FB to set up his slider.

Len (or Bob) was correct that he needs to get to strike 2 before he gets to ball 3 so that slider dipping out of the zone can be effective.

Personally, I've seen way enough of him. Given that the Cubs aren't in a pennant race, he's serviceable, but I think the heart attack rates among Cubs fans would rise appreciably if he was called on to close important games...like during a stretch run or the playoffs.

"I believe he was told to stop shaking off the catcher "or else""

You are correct, every time he shakes off the catcher he owes Bosio a box of wine

Agreed Rhinobucket, he is shaky at best. Got lucky yesterday, got today's game dvr'd getting ready to watch it in a bit. Yesterday he was 3 feet from blowing it. Reed made a great play to save his butt.

He has to throw them for strikes not just throw them. His slider is his out pitch and you would like to get guys out with it.

He has to throw his fb for strikes too. People sitting on that slider will rock him.

I'm still not ready to give up on him. I just wish he had more control and confidence in his fastball though. I also hate the way he falls off the mound so much, although it helped save the game today. The fastball tends to get away from you when you fall off the mound but it helps his slider I guess.

There are guys in the minors that never get to the pros simply because they can't figure out how to get strike 3 on a batter.

When/If this team becomes a contender, I just cant see Marmol being the guy to close out the games. Im afraid if they keep him for that, it will cost the team too much. I really think he is afraid to throw strikes. He got used to guys chasing his slider and wants that to continue.
Its another position that needs an upgrade.

Agreed and teams are now forcing him to throw strikes. That's something he either has to adapt to or watch his career end. Theo will not watch him constantly threaten leads because eventually, he's gonna start blowing games. He needs to get his poop-in-a-group this year because that's what he's got. IMO

Don't need to trade for one, need the one we "have," to start being a closer.

Then he needs to get his head on straight and adapt to the hitters like the hitters have adapted to him. They quit chasing one pitch where you got most of your outs, you need to adapt. Thats how you survive and become successful!