2010 Opening Day Bullpen

Unless Trader Jim swings a deal, the until-Ted-Lilly-returns bullpen is set. Once bulldog gets healthy, the group will probably be joined by Tom Gorzelanny. Carlos Silva probably isn't considered a bullpen option—right, wrong or indifferent. Another wild card is Jeff Gray, who made his first Cactus League appearance this week. Once he's back on track from his groin injury, he may be tapped for big league duty.

The lefties
John Grabow
Sean Marshall
James Russell

The righties
Justin Berg
Esmailin Caridad
Carlos Marmol
Jeff Samardzija

Marmol is the closer, with Grabow and Caridad with the early grip on the late inning set-up jobs. I'd imagine Russell's job is the most in danger of being taken when Lilly bumps Gorzelanny. Any of the three righties not named Marmol are prone to be replaced by Gray.

Bullpen Stuff

Time for a quick refresher on the seven repertoires. Average speed noted in mph at a close approximation of release point (55 ft. from the back tip of home plate).

Grabow throws a fastball (91) and a tailing/sinking change-up (84), a slider (85) and occasionally a two-seam sinker instead of his standard four-seam fastball.

Marshall is best known for his big overhand curveball (73). He's actually a very balanced pitcher who throws a mix of pitches. In order of frequency, he throws a cutter (87) or his curve the most; a slider (83) that is often more like a variation on his cutter (or vice-a-versa) and a four-seam fastball (88) make up his second-tier; and a some sinkers (88) and change-ups (83) pick-up a handful each during a start.

Russell is a lesser known quantity, but, via PITCHf/x, we have seen his fastball (91) as his primary offering. He complements it with a somewhat morphing and developing group of secondary pitches, which has included a slider (83), a change-up (81) and even some curveballs (77).

By a hair, Grabow is the hardest thrower of the lefties. Marshall, with his starter innings keeping his average speeds down, is not much different. Marshall's slider and curveball have the best movement amongst the bullpen southpaws, and he has a starter's tool kit. His success in the bullpen seems to keep him there, though.

Berg throws a sinker and, well, a sinker. Seven of ten offerings from the first of our righties is a heavy two-seam fastball (92). He's not Derek Lowe/Brandon Webb territory, but he is a ground ball machine. Berg's second pitch is a slider (84) but he also mixes in a four-seam fastball (92) and an off-speed offering that looks likes like a splitter (86).

Caridad has a live arm, with hard fastball (94) and a slow slider (77). He throws a good amount of sinkers (92) and has also shown a few change-ups (85). He's small, but powerful. We'll see how he holds up.

Marmol throws his vicious slider (83) more than his hard, moving fastball (95). His slider, or slurve really, moves like Caridad's (as in "a lot") but is with a whole bunch more speed. Nasty, but wild, Marmol also throws the rare sinker (94) and the even rarer change-up (82). Except one or less of the latter a year.

Samardzija is still the best third down option in the bullpen. His utility in late innings, and in professional baseball, is still the subject of debate. The good: live, moving fastball (95) and sinker (also 95). The bad: a never ending experiment with a no longer used slider (83), a curveball that is very slider-like (82), a splitter (86) and a change-up (86). The ugly: his knock-off the of the classic Bo Jackson poster.

Whether Samardzija should be in the minors developing as a starter or in the bullpen so the big club actually gets something for his salary is a debate that will probably impact some decision making, especially when Gray is ready or if a trade is made. My hope is that he just picks a secondary pitch and focus on relieving. He could be a good late inning guy—some day. Meanwhile, Marmol will scare hitters and Cub fans alike, Caridad will be a wild card and Berg will be Berg. Walks, who knows what, and ground balls, respectively.