4 DAYS UNTIL OPENING NIGHT
The surprise guys
After just 10 starts at Double A, Marshall in line for
Cubs' rotation
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 29, 2006
MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs manager Dusty Baker's annual spring
training "surprise" may have been revealed Tuesday with 23-year-old
Sean Marshall providing the shock value.
The rising young left-hander with only 10 starts at the Double-A level will
get an opportunity to join the club as the No. 4 starter, perhaps making his
major-league debut April 9 at Wrigley Field.
Baker said Marshall's age is no factor as long as he continues to throw
strikes.
"There have been a number of young guys who have come up and done quite
well, especially if they have the maturity and demeanor to handle it,"
Baker said. "This is an opportunity for somebody to win a job."
The 6-foot-7-inch Marshall supposedly was competing with Angel Guzman and Rich
Hill for the No. 5 spot. But his four no-hit innings against Oakland on
Saturday and the inconsistent spring of Jerome Williams have convinced the
Cubs to consider Marshall for Williams' rotation spot.
Marshall, who has not allowed a run in 10 1/3 innings this spring, will make
his second start Friday against San Diego in Las Vegas. Guzman and Jae Kuk Ryu
will start the season at Triple-A Iowa, battling with Hill for the No. 5
vacancy, which the Cubs don't need to fill until April 15.
On Tuesday, the Cubs placed rehabbing starters Kerry Wood and Mark Prior on
the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday.
Guzman also pitched four no-hit innings in relief on Sunday but is behind
Marshall because of his shoulder problems in '04 and '05.
"Goozie's very, very close," Baker said. "You don't know if
he's quite ready or not, but he's close. Certain guys need to pitch. Goozie
has missed parts of three years almost, had one thing after another.
"He has the stuff. It's just a question of [whether he] should serve a
little more time in his apprenticeship to get ready to help us win here."
If Williams loses his spot, he still will make the club as the long man in the
bullpen because Todd Wellemeyer was traded to Florida for two low-level
pitching prospects.
Suddenly, Williams' start against Arizona on Thursday may be the most
important of his brief Cubs career.
In his previous five starts, Williams has an 8.00 ERA and nine walks in 18
innings.
"I have to pitch well to be in that rotation," Williams said.
"The rotation is not set. It's all dependent on myself if I'm in the
rotation or not."
If Williams is sent to the bullpen to join Ryan Dempster, Bob Howry, Scott
Eyre and Will Ohman, the final two spots are likely to go to Michael Wuertz,
who has struggled all spring, and Roberto Novoa, who returned Tuesday after
missing three weeks with Valley Fever.
Like Ryu, Guzman and reliever David Aardsma, left-handers Hill and John
Koronka appear Iowa-bound. Williams, 24, said he wouldn't mind being sent to
the bullpen, as long as he's part of the team.
He has virtually no experience pitching out of the bullpen, however, and his
first-inning problems this spring could make that scenario an iffy
proposition. Williams has given up at least one run in the first inning of
four of his five starts.
"You just have to go out there and concentrate from that start,"
Williams said. "That's what I'm trying to do right now."
With Marshall on the rise, it may be too late for Williams to state his case.
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psullivan@tribune.com
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