Cubs believe bullpen is stronger

Heilman could be key for Piniella on reworked staff

By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter

February 21, 2009

MESA, Ariz. — Either Carlos Marmol or Kevin Gregg will replace Kerry Wood as the Cubs' closer in 2009, while Aaron Heilman will replace Scott Eyre on the first page of the Lou Piniella pronunciation guide.

Piniella spent his first year as Cubs manager referring to Eyre as "Stevie Ire," a nickname Eyre eventually grew quite fond of. Now Piniella already has referred to Heilman as "Heidelman" on a couple of occasions … not that Heilman minds.

"I answer to anything," he said. "I've heard all variations—'Hellman, Heilman, Heelman'—so anything close to that, I'll answer to."

Piniella figures to be calling on Heilman a lot this season, knowing he has a workhorse to replace Bob Howry, who eventually wore down in the final season of his three-year deal. Heilman and Gregg head up the cast in a revamped bullpen, one that's looking for leadership after the departures of Wood and Howry.

After ranking third in the National League with a 3.76 earned-run average in 2007, the Cubs' bullpen dropped to eighth last year at 4.10. General manager Jim Hendry decided to overhaul it this winter, beginning with the acquisition of Gregg, a closer in Florida coming off knee surgery.

Hendry believes the bullpen is deeper than last year's, and is betting on the newcomers to help return it to its '07 performance, when Ryan Dempster was closer and Marmol and Howry were set-up men.

For that to happen, Gregg and Chad Gaudin must bounce back from late-season injuries, Heilman and Luis Vizcaino must rebound from poor seasons and left-hander Neal Cotts needs to shrug off a two-month slump that began in August.

Piniella is undecided who will be the bridge pitcher to get the ball to Gregg or Marmol, with Heilman the early favorite.

"I would hope that one of our young kids comes along to do it, and one of our veteran pitchers can do it," Piniella said. "Or two veterans. It doesn't matter to me. But that's the big question mark."

Piniella says a couple of spots are there to be won, but assuming Sean Marshall makes the rotation as the fifth starter, there's only one spot left after Marmol, Gregg, Cotts, Heilman, Vizcaino and Gaudin. Battling it out in the Cactus League this spring will be Jeff Samardzija, Angel Guzman, Kevin Hart, Jeff Stevens and lefty Mike Stanton, trying a comeback at 41.

Of the relievers in camp, the two who may have their sanity questioned most are Heilman and Samardzija, two Notre Dame alumns who spent the off-season in Chicago.

"I grew up in the Midwest, always liked Chicago, a Cubs fan, Bears fan, Bulls fan," Heilman said. "After college, I had a lot of friends who moved to Chicago. We lived in Florida for a while and were looking for a change of pace. So, for me, being traded here is kind of serendipitous.

"To be able to live at home and play in the same city and walk out there with a Cubs uniform on, it's pretty special."

Samardzija, who grew up in Valparaiso, Ind., finds living the life of a Cub in the heart of Wrigleyville worth the hassle of battling Chicago's winter.

"I'd shovel in the morning, go out to the gym and then come back and shovel again because it was usually still snowing," Samardzija said. "I enjoy the snow and having all the seasons. I'm a little wild driving around in the snow—take out some mailboxes sometimes. But it's fun, and I do pay for them."

Guzman is the wild card in the mix. Once the top prospect in the system, he's battled arm injuries the last four years and is out of options. If Guzman doesn't make the team, he's likely a goner.

"That would be a new experience," he said. "I don't know what will happen. All I think about is the present. I don't want to think about the future."

But the future is now for Guzman and the Cubs bullpen, officially a work in progress.

psullivan@tribune.com