Carlos Marmol
Encyclopedia
Carlos Agustín Mármol (born October 14, 1982, in Bonao
, Dominican Republic
) is a relief pitcher
for the Chicago Cubs
.
/outfielder
. In his last season as a hitter, in 2002, he batted .258 with a .271 OBP for the Arizona Cubs in the Rookie League, and .149 with a .167 OBP for Lansing in the Low A League.
After batting .273 in 14 minor league games, Mármol converted to become a pitcher. He went 26-19 with a 3.41 ERA
before being called up to the majors and being added to the major league roster in November 2005.
, against the St. Louis Cardinals
in a relief appearance. He pitched two scoreless innings and gave up one hit while striking out three.
After Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood
was placed on the disabled list for the second time of the season, Mármol was called on to make a spot start. He joined Rich Hill
, Ángel Guzmán
, Sean Marshall
, Juan Mateo
, Ryan O'Malley
, and Jae Kuk Ryu as one of seven rookies to make a start for the 2006 Cubs. On June 11, against the Cincinnati Reds
, in his first Major League start he allowed just one run on two hits, struck out seven, and walked three in an eventual 9-3 Cubs victory.
He went on to make 19 appearances and 13 starts in the 2006 season. It was an up and down first season, and he scuffled down the stretch, posting a 6.08 ERA in 77 innings, and walked 6.9 batters per 9 innings.
, Mármol was called upon to pitch in the ninth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies
on June 27, 2007. He pitched a scoreless frame, recording two strikeouts, for his first major league save.
In his second season, he flourished in the bullpen
as a setup man and finished the season with a stellar ERA of 1.43 and struck out 96 batters in 69.1 innings. His ERA was good enough for third in the major leagues among relievers, behind only Seattle Mariners
closer J. J. Putz and Los Angeles Dodgers
closer Takashi Saito
. He received one 10th place vote and came in 26th in the MVP award voting.
for the spot, and while both he and Wood had solid numbers in the spring, manager Lou Piniella
opted for the veteran Wood to close and kept Mármol in the setup role he excelled at in 2007. With Wood suffering from a blister, Mármol was selected to replace him at the All-Star Game
, and pitched a scoreless 13th inning of relief in an eventual 15-inning National League
loss.
for the closer's role after the departure of Kerry Wood before the 2009 MLB season, but lost the role to Gregg.
In spring training in 2009 he led all pitchers in hit batsmen, with 5 (in 10.1 innings). As of August 18, 2009, he was leading all NL pitchers in hbp in the regular season, with 11 (in 56.1 innings), and his 52 walks averaged over 8 walks per 9 innings.
However, after a series of disappointing appearances by Gregg in August, and after Gregg allowed 12 homers in 56⅓ innings (the most in the majors for a reliever), Piniella announced on August 18 that Mármol would replace Gregg as closer.
He finished the 2010 campaign with 16.0 strikeouts averaged per nine innings (138 in 77 2/3 innings), breaking the record for highest K/9 ratio by a pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched, previously held by Eric Gagne's
14.9 mark over his 2003 season.
, a curveball
, and a sweeping breaking ball that moves sharply down and away from right-handed hitters. While Mármol occasionally struggles with command of his fastball
, it has excellent late movement making it tough to hit when he can keep it in the zone. Marmol is known to get himself in a jam by walking batters frequently, but he is known to gain fortunate defense to get out of it due to opposing batter's susceptibility to striking out, and their relative inability to record hits off of him.
Bonao
Bonao is the capital of Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. It is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.The city is known as "Villa De Las Hortensias" - the town of hortensias...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Minor league career
Mármol started his career as a catcherCatcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
/outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. In his last season as a hitter, in 2002, he batted .258 with a .271 OBP for the Arizona Cubs in the Rookie League, and .149 with a .167 OBP for Lansing in the Low A League.
After batting .273 in 14 minor league games, Mármol converted to become a pitcher. He went 26-19 with a 3.41 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
before being called up to the majors and being added to the major league roster in November 2005.
2006
Mármol made his major league debut on June 4, 20062006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
, against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in a relief appearance. He pitched two scoreless innings and gave up one hit while striking out three.
After Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
was placed on the disabled list for the second time of the season, Mármol was called on to make a spot start. He joined Rich Hill
Rich Hill (baseball player)
Richard Joseph "Rich" Hill is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, Ángel Guzmán
Ángel Guzmán
Ángel Moisés Guzmán is a professional baseball pitcher. Listed at 6-3 , 195 pounds , Guzmán bats and throws right-handed. He made his major league debut on April 26, .-Career:...
, Sean Marshall
Sean Marshall
Sean Christopher Marshall is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. After three minor league seasons, Marshall was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster in November . He was married to Alexis DelChiaro at the time a morning anchor at KSAZ in Phoenix, AZ...
, Juan Mateo
Juan Mateo
Juan Manuel Mateo is a professional baseball pitcher. A right-handed starting pitcher, he played part of the 2006 season in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs...
, Ryan O'Malley
Ryan O'Malley
Ryan Joseph O'Malley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Chicago Cubs in . O'Malley made his major league debut for the Cubs on August 16, 2006, against the Houston Astros. He pitched eight innings, giving up five hits, six walks, two strikeouts and no runs in a 1-0 win...
, and Jae Kuk Ryu as one of seven rookies to make a start for the 2006 Cubs. On June 11, against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, in his first Major League start he allowed just one run on two hits, struck out seven, and walked three in an eventual 9-3 Cubs victory.
He went on to make 19 appearances and 13 starts in the 2006 season. It was an up and down first season, and he scuffled down the stretch, posting a 6.08 ERA in 77 innings, and walked 6.9 batters per 9 innings.
2007
Mármol returned to the major leagues in 2007 as a relief pitcher for the Cubs. Due to an injury to Cubs closer Ryan DempsterRyan Dempster
Ryan Scott Dempster is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Dempster bats and throws right-handed. He has been both a starter and a reliever in his career.-Professional career:...
, Mármol was called upon to pitch in the ninth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
on June 27, 2007. He pitched a scoreless frame, recording two strikeouts, for his first major league save.
In his second season, he flourished in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
as a setup man and finished the season with a stellar ERA of 1.43 and struck out 96 batters in 69.1 innings. His ERA was good enough for third in the major leagues among relievers, behind only Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
closer J. J. Putz and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
closer Takashi Saito
Takashi Saito
is a Japanese professional baseball player.Saito previously pitched for the Yokohama BayStars in the Japanese Central League, compiling a record of 87–80 over 13 seasons...
. He received one 10th place vote and came in 26th in the MVP award voting.
2008
Entering the 2008 season, Mármol was in a tight battle for the Cubs closer spot that was now vacant with former closer Ryan Dempster having moved to the starting rotation. He competed with Kerry Wood and Bob HowryBob Howry
Bobby Dean Howry is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-Early life:Howry attended Deer Valley High School in Arizona,then he attended McNeese State University and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants...
for the spot, and while both he and Wood had solid numbers in the spring, manager Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
opted for the veteran Wood to close and kept Mármol in the setup role he excelled at in 2007. With Wood suffering from a blister, Mármol was selected to replace him at the All-Star Game
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, and pitched a scoreless 13th inning of relief in an eventual 15-inning National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
loss.
2009
Mármol competed with Kevin GreggKevin Gregg
Kevin Marschall Gregg is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-High school career:...
for the closer's role after the departure of Kerry Wood before the 2009 MLB season, but lost the role to Gregg.
In spring training in 2009 he led all pitchers in hit batsmen, with 5 (in 10.1 innings). As of August 18, 2009, he was leading all NL pitchers in hbp in the regular season, with 11 (in 56.1 innings), and his 52 walks averaged over 8 walks per 9 innings.
However, after a series of disappointing appearances by Gregg in August, and after Gregg allowed 12 homers in 56⅓ innings (the most in the majors for a reliever), Piniella announced on August 18 that Mármol would replace Gregg as closer.
2010
Mármol won the DHL Delivery Man Award for the month of September.He finished the 2010 campaign with 16.0 strikeouts averaged per nine innings (138 in 77 2/3 innings), breaking the record for highest K/9 ratio by a pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched, previously held by Eric Gagne's
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
14.9 mark over his 2003 season.
Pitching style
Mármol delivers with a sidearm motion from the stretch and is noted for his excellent ability to hide the ball. The slider is his most effective pitch, and he can throw it such that it is effectively three different pitches—a straight sliderSlider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, and a sweeping breaking ball that moves sharply down and away from right-handed hitters. While Mármol occasionally struggles with command of his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, it has excellent late movement making it tough to hit when he can keep it in the zone. Marmol is known to get himself in a jam by walking batters frequently, but he is known to gain fortunate defense to get out of it due to opposing batter's susceptibility to striking out, and their relative inability to record hits off of him.