[bears9]

CHICAGO -- The Cubs' Carlos Marmol got a taste of the highs and lows of being a closer this week in the Caribbean Series.

Marmol, pitching for Licey, one of the Dominican Republic teams in the four-team series, had pitched in three of his team's five games through Wednesday, and had two saves and one blown save. Last Saturday, he faced five batters over 1 1/3 innings and struck out two while walking one in Licey's 6-4 win over Venezuela. Marmol walked the first batter he faced, and then settled down. He threw 23 pitches, 13 for strikes.

On Tuesday night against Venezuela, Marmol needed just eight pitches (six strikes) to retire the side in the ninth for his second save in a 2-1 win. Against Mexico on Wednesday, Marmol was called upon with two on and two outs in the eighth and Licey ahead, 4-1. He struck out Jorge Padilla to end the inning, but in the ninth, Marmol gave up a single, struck out the next batter, and the next batter was safe on an error, allowing a run to score.

The Official Site of The Chicago Cubs: News: Notes: Marmol gets closing experience

[azrael492]

The guy can throw. He had 96 strikeouts in 69 innings. I would really see if he could start then put him in the closers role