How good has Cubs closer Carlos Marmol been this season? Historically good. 

As ESPN.com’s Bruce Levine reports, Marmol “is averaging 15.94 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. The Major League single-season record for a reliever is 14.98 for nine innings pitched by the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne in 2003.” 

Considering that Gagne was a ‘roided up phony of a pitcher when he set that record, it makes  Marmol’s accomplishment even more impressive.  

That slider employed by the Cubs closer is the best slider this side of White Castle. The only question coming into Marmol’s first full season as a closer was whether his lack of control would prevent him from being a successful closer.  

Well, we can put some of those fears to rest, because even though he has walked 52 batters in just over 75 innings pitched, he has generally gotten the job done. Marmol has 36 saves in 41 opportunities thus far in 2010. 

Right-handed hitters are batting just .166 against him this year. Even more impressive is the measly .132 average that lefty swingers have been able to muster.

Carlos has allowed just two hits in September, covering his last 14 appearances.  He has struck out 23 while not allowing a run this month. 

Marmol is up for arbitration this winter. How would you like to be his agent?

 

More Useless Trivia

 

For starters

In case you’re wondering, yes, Marmol has the all-time Cubs record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher. Not surprisingly, a starter holds the all-time strikeout mark for the Cubs. 

Ferguson Jenkins broke his own Cubs record when he K’d 274 batters in 1970, one more than his previous year.         

 

He’s truly a “Hit”

When Cubs rookie Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 on Wednesday. It was the 38th multi-hit game by the Cubs young shortstop. That is the most for a Cubs rookie since Mark Grace compiled 41 in 1988. 

 

Big Zzzzz…

On Monday, Carlos Zambrano moved into second place on the Cubs all-time strikeout list when he passed Charlie Root, who recorded 1,432 Ks in his career. Jenkins, of course, holds the all-time Cubs record. 

 

Power outage

And this from Chicago Cubs Online: “2010 is the first season since 1993 that the Cubs did not hit at least 75 home runs at Wrigley Field. Lou and Q’s offense managed only 74 longballs in 81 home dates.”

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