With Ryan Dempster practically blowing the Cubs game on Sep. 6 against the Dodgers and then taking a loss in Houston after entering a tied game, some fans want him replaced. They want Piniella to have Carlos Marmol closing instead.
I have to agree with the fans on this one. Dempster does have 28 saves in 31 chances this season but with each game becoming closer and closer, the Cubs can’t afford to lose because the bullpen can’t seal the deal. It’s not that Dempster isn’t a swell guy or that he’s a terrible pitcher, it’s just the plain fact that, as of late, he’s letting the opponents get awfully close to winning or actually accomplishing this feat.
On the other hand, since the loss against Houston, he has earned three saves with no blown saves. But on the other, other hand, Bob Howry was asked to finish off an outing against St. Louis on Friday. What is Piniella getting at here?
''Our bullpen, especially our short people, have really done a yeoman's job out there,'' Piniella said. ''I would like to get to the point where we give them a little more of a lead.''
Ok, he’s not anti-Dempster or pro-Marmol. He’s just out to win. And to be fair, if the Cubs would just score more runs, it wouldn't put as much pressure on the bullpen to finish off the game. I guess as long as Dempster doesn’t pull a repeat of the Dodger game, I can live with him closing.
''I feel like when I'm going right, I can get the job done every time," says Dempster.
Let's hope so.
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