The biggest question surrounding the Cubs this spring was answered by Lou Piniella on Sunday when he made it official and announced that Kevin Gregg, not Carlos Marmol, will be the Cubs closer this season.Gregg was brought in this winter after a trade on a one-year $4.2 million deal after saving 61 games with the Florida Marlins the last two seasons to help replace Kerry Wood, who signed with Cleveland, at the back end of the bullpen. Many of the team's fans were in favor of Marmol, but Gregg out-pitched him this spring and gives Piniella more flexibility with his bullpen as closer.
Marmol had spent the last few seasons as the primary set-up man for Wood and Ryan Dempster in 2007, and can pitch more than one inning, which no doubt played a huge role in Piniella's decision. Aside from Marmol and Gregg the team has some question marks in the 'pen with Chad Gaudin, Neal Cotts, and Luis Vizcaino, and by keeping Marmol out of the closer's spot, Piniella can shorten games considerably.
While Aaron Heilman will probably be set as the seventh-inning guy, Marmol can come in to pitch during the seventh as well and work the team out of any jam.
This will allow the Cubs to keep the rest of their arms in the 'pen fresh throughout the season, not to mention provide more rest for starters such as Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano.
