Ryan Dempster, CL, Chicago Cubs

June 28, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Art Morath
Edited by Ryan Dodson

Chicago Cubs closer Ryan Dempster was supposed to be out a few days with a strained left oblique, but that changed on Tuesday when he was put on the DL. Dempster is expected to return when the season resumes after the All-Star break on July 13. He is eligible to come off the DL the day before the break, but the Cubs will give him the additional days to recover. His injury was considered day-to-day, but the Cubs bullpen was already shorthanded and oblique muscle injuries tend to linger. Twenty-three-year-old right-handed pitcher Billy Petrick was called up from Double-A to take Dempster's spot on the roster. Petrick will pitch in a setup role for the Cubs.

Dempster has been solid this year in the closing role, converting 16 out of 18 save opportunities. He is 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 33 strikeouts. Fantasy owners should hold onto to him despite the DL stint, since he could be valuable down the stretch. The Cubs are playing much better lately, so Dempster should get a lot of save chances when he comes back. 

In Dempster's absence the Cubs will use Bobby Howry and Carlos Marmol to close games. The 33-year-old Howry is the more experienced closer in the Cubs bullpen with 59 career saves to Marmol's one. Cubs manager Lou Piniella said that Howry would be the primary closer while Dempster is out. However, Piniella says he likes Marmol's attitude and may favor Marmol in certain situations over the veteran Howry. Howry has struggled at times this season. He recorded both his saves over the past weekend against the Chicago White Sox. Marmol is 1-for-1, recording his first save on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. 

Howry was last an everyday closer in 1999 but has earned saves over the last eight seasons filling in. He is 4-4 this season with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP while serving as the primary setup man for Dempster. He has struck out 29. He has pitched 37 2/3 innings this year, which is the most in the Cubs bullpen. Piniella has said he does not want to overwork Howry, which should lead to Marmol getting save opportunities. The 24-year-old Marmol has pitched very well since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on May 18. He is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Marmol has the same number of strikeouts as Howry, 29, but in 16 2/3 less innings. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Marmol throws a mid-90s fastball, and he has an outstanding slider. He may be the Cubs closer of the future.

From a fantasy perspective, Marmol has better ratios than Howry. Since Howry and Marmol may split closing duties, Marmol is a better add option than Howry.

For fantasy owners looking elsewhere than the Cubs bullpen to replace Dempster, there are not many good options available. Houston Astros reliever Chad Qualls may be an option since Dan Wheeler has a shaky hold on closing duties for the Astros. Qualls is available in 99 percent of leagues polled. San Francisco Giants reliever Kevin Correia may be another option since Brad Hennessey does not have a firm grip on closing duties for the Giants. Correia is available in most fantasy leagues, as he was owned in 99.8 percent of leagues polled.

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Art Morath
Art Morath has been a contributor to KFFL since 2007.

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