As the Cubs count down to the start of Spring Training, we'll take a look at different elements of the team. Today's installment: The bullpen.
CHICAGO — Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall are on the same mission this spring.
Samardzija, who compiled a 2.28 ERA in 26 games last season with the Cubs, would like to be considered for the rotation. So would Marshall. And if neither gets the spot vacated by Jason Marquis, who was traded to Colorado, there are plenty of other candidates.
It won't garner as much attention as the battle for the closer's job, but the fight for the few spots in the Cubs' bullpen may be more intense this spring than before.
Manager Lou Piniella has said he will likely carry 12 pitchers. With five starters plus late-inning specialists Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg set, that leaves five openings and lots of candidates.
The list includes Jose Ascanio, Neal Cotts, Chad Gaudin, Michael Wuertz, Kevin Hart, Angel Guzman, Randy Wells, Luis Vizcaino, Garrett Olson, Jeff Stevens, and Rule 5 pickup Dave Patton. The latter four are all new additions for 2009.
It will make Cactus League games very interesting.
"Going in, obviously, the last couple innings are covered by Kevin and Carlos," Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We'll sort through the rest of it and see what guys fit in what roles."
Both Samardzija and Marshall were ready to get on a mound at last weekend's Cubs Convention and start the competition.
"Jeff's really come along well," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the right-hander. "I think the guy could be a high-end starter down the road, I think he could be your eighth- or ninth-inning guy down the road."
What will he be in 2009?
"One, we'll do what's best for the club with him this year," Hendry said, "and two, we'll always keep in mind what's best for him. It could go a lot of different ways. The luxury of having the extra 'pen guys will let us do the right thing for Jeff.
"I think he'd be the first to tell you he has his mind made on making the club, and he's probably thinking he could make the rotation," Hendry said. "But, at the same time, he has to get through camp and show he's improved the command of his fastball and his slider. His split finger will be a knockout pitch for him no matter what role he's in. You can't count the guy out."
Last season, Samardzija did not give up a run in 13 appearances in August, and Piniella wasn't afraid to use him in pressure situations. Playing football for Notre Dame has taught Samardzija how to deal with that.
"He needs to pitch and we need to see him pitch," Rothschild said of Samardzija. "We need more information to make a better decision. You can argue stuff-wise both ways. He could be better off in a short role and letting it go, or if the pitches are developed and the command, then maybe he could start. Right now, I don't think we have enough information to make that decision."
Samardzija says it doesn't matter, but does admit he prefers starting. Part of that is because he's comfortable with having a routine.
"Coming from college and what I did in college, baseball and football, put me in a schedule-type kind of thing," Samardzija said. "I knew what I was doing every half hour kind of thing. It's tough to do that in the bullpen. Ultimately, I just want to win, whether that's helping the team in the bullpen or whatever. I'll give it a shot in Spring Training and see what I can do."
What did he learn from last season?
"You just have to be ready to pitch the whole year," he said. "You have to have fun, too."
Marshall knew this offseason he had a chance to make the Cubs rotation so he stepped up his offseason routine. He started throwing earlier, he worked on building up his leg strength and core. He trained at a facility in Tempe, Ariz., and joined another gym as well.
"That way, I could do workouts between workouts," he said.
For the year, the lefty was 3-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 34 games. He was 1-4 with a 4.15 ERA in seven starts and 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 27 relief appearances. Rothschild told him to prepare to be a starter. The Cubs also have complimented Marshall for being such a good team player and not complaining when asked to step in for last-minute starts.
"I would love to start," Marshall said. "But I had a great year last year, and hopefully I can have a great year this year and help the team out and do whatever I have to do."
When pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13 to Mesa, Ariz., it'll be the Cubs' first good look at the four new guys. Vizcaino was acquired in the Marquis deal. The Cubs will be his seventh team, and sixth in the last six years. The right-hander, who had a 5.28 ERA last season in 43 games, has a career 4.34 ERA. He did hold right-handed hitters to a .170 average, but lefties batted .372 against him.
Olson, acquired Jan. 18 from the Baltimore Orioles for Felix Pie, was 9-10 with a 6.65 ERA in 26 starts, giving up 210 hits and walking 90 over 165 innings. He will be considered for the rotation but also could be used as a swingman, similar to the way the Cubs used Marshall in 2008.
The Cubs picked up Stevens from the Cleveland Indians in the Mark DeRosa deal. The right-hander was 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA, six saves and held hitters to a .184 average in 36 relief appearances between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo. He also pitched for the U.S. Olympic baseball team that won the bronze medal in Beijing last summer.
Patton, 24, was 21-25 with eight saves and a 4.46 ERA in 180 career Minor League appearances in the Rockies system. He was originally a 12th-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
"We need to develop a seventh-inning pitcher somewhere," Piniella said. "We need somebody we can really rely on. That's going to be a bigger job than the closer."