Chicago Baseball 2012: White Sox And Cubs Monthly Podcast

Carlos Marmol May Lose Closer Job After Latest Cubs Loss

For at least the third time in the young 2011 season, CL Carlos Marmol cost the Chicago Cubs a victory. Marmol did not earn a blown save after Thursday's meltdown, in which he walked three batters and did not record an out, but he may have blown his job as closer.

According to Cubs manager Dale Sveum, the team may look elsewhere to finish their games in 2012:

"I've definitely thought of [removing Marmol from the closer role] now," Sveum said. "I can't lie to you."

Marmol, who has been the team's primary closer since 2010, may give way to a closing committee of LHP James Russell and RHP Rafael Dolis, says Svuem. Even though Russell is effective primarily against lefties and Dolis is a rookie, Carlos Marmol's performance in 2012 has still been poor enough to warrant second guessing:

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter.

Cubs Vs. Reds Final Score: Carlos Marmol Meltdown Leads To 4-3 Chicago Loss

The Chicago Cubs (9-16) could not maintain their precarious 3-0 lead in the ninth inning as CL Carlos Marmol could not record an out as the Cincinnati Reds (12-12) orchestrated a devastating 4-3 comeback win.

SP Ryan Dempster pitched the first 8.0 innings, striking out 6 Reds hitters while allowing only 1 walk, 2 singles and 1 double. Marmol, on the other hand, faced 5 batters and walked 3 of them.

It looked like Marmol might escape trouble after walking 3B Willie Harris and 1B Joey Votto to start the inning, but 3B Ian Stewart misplayed a potential double-play ball, allowing one run to score. With runners at first and second, RF Jay Bruce singled to load to bases, and then Marmol walked in a run as LF Ryan Ludwick coaxed a five-pitch walk.

RP Rafael Dolis (BS, 1)( L, 1-2) got tagged with the blown save and loss, but the bullpen fireman actually coaxed three outs out of the next two batters and allowed only a single in his 4-out outing. His throwing error in the bottom of the 10th inning, however, led to the game-winning sacrifice fly from PH Scott Rolen to give the Reds the 4-3 comeback win.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter.

Cubs Vs. Reds Score Update: Chicago Leads 3-0 After Castro, LaHair, Soto Homers

With SP Ryan Dempster taking the mound for his first start since returning from the DL earlier in the day, the Chicago Cubs have taken a 3-0 lead against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.

The Cubs, who entered the game with the least home runs in the MLB with 11, has scored all three runs on the merit of solo jacks. In the first inning, SS Starlin Castro redirected a SP Homer Bailey pitch into center field for. In the fourth inning, 1B Bryan LaHair launched his team-leading 7th home run of the season for a 2-0 Cubs lead. Then, with the bases cleared in the 5th, C Geovany Soto cranked a dinger to left for his second shot of the year and a 2.0 lead.

Through 7.0 innings, Dempster has meanwhile suffocated the Reds lineup, allowing only 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter.

Cubs Activate Ryan Dempster And Kerry Wood From DL, Send Randy Wells And Scott Maine To Triple-A Iowa

On Thursday, the Chicago Cubs activated pitchers Ryan Dempster and and Kerry Wood from the disabled list and optioned Randy Wells and Scott Maine to Triple-A Iowa. Dempster had been on the DL for a quadriceps strain, but he had a strong beginning to the season and will make a start on Thursday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. Wood had a more inauspicious start to the year, but he returns to the major league roster after dealing with a back injury. Wells was disappointed to be sent back down to Triple-A, but as he told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, he knows he made too many mistakes on the mound:

Wells: "I didn't pitch well, so there's nobody really blame but yourself "

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) May 3, 2012

Thursday is also Ryan Dempster's 35th birthday, which just-so-happens to line up with the 27th birthday of Reds' starter Homer Bailey, who will oppose him on the mound during Thursday's game. Weird, right?

Happy 35th birthday to Ryan Dempster. He's now old enough to be President. Except for the whole Canadian thing.

— Len and Bob (@lenandbob) May 3, 2012

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs,head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter.

Cubs Vs. Reds: Lineups, TV Schedule, Starters And More

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds wrap up their series on Thursday afternoon, and the Cubs have an opportunity to sweep a two-game series shortened by rain. Chicago sends starter Ryan Dempster to the mound, while Cincinnati turns to Homer Bailey. Here are the starting lineups for each team and the TV schedule to help you find the action on Thursday afternoon:

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

RF David DeJesus

2B Darwin Barney

SS Starlin Castro

1B Bryan LaHair

LF Alfonso Soriano

3B Ian Stewart

CF Reed Johnson

C Geovany Soto

P Ryan Dempster

Cincinnati Reds Lineup:

CF Chris Heisey

3B Willie Harris

1B Joey Votto

2B Brandon Phillips

RF Jay Bruce

LF Ryan Ludwick

C Devin Mesoraco

SS Wilson Valdez

P Homer Bailey

Game date/time: Thursday, May 3, 11:35 a.m. CT

Location: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: Comcast SportsNet

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs,head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter.

Cubs Vs. Reds Preview: Ryan Dempster Takes The Mound For Chicago

Ryan Dempster, the 34-year old righty who acts as the de facto ace of the Chicago Cubs, is off the 15-day DL and will start for the North Siders on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds. Dempster will try to follow in the footsteps of Jeff Samardzija, who schooled the Cincinnati offense on Wednesday during a 3-1 Chicago victory.

Dempster missed his last couple of starts with a quad injury but did not need a rehab assignment. He enters 0-1 on the young season with a 1.33 ERA and 0.93 WHIP.

Cincinnati will send out 25-year old righty Homer Bailey. Bailey is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.

Chicago returns home for a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Game date/time: Thursday, May 3, 11:35 a.m.

Location: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: Comcast SportsNet

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs,head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter

Cubs Vs. Reds Final Score: Chicago Earns 3-1 Win Behind Stellar Outing From Jeff Samardzija

Chicago Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija struck out seven in 7.2 innings while only allowing three hits and one earned run as the North Siders picked a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark on Wednesday night. Samardzija's win pushes his record to 3-1 on the season. The Cubs improved to 9-15 overall, while the Reds fall to 11-12.

The Cubs scored one in the second, one in the fourth and one in the sixth. Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart each hit solo homers to give Chicago the early lead. After Jay Bruce cut the Cubs lead in half by driving in a Reds run while grounding into a double-play, Geovani Soto singled to left to score Alfonso Soriano in the sixth to reach the final margin.

For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs,head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue. Additional Reds coverage can be found at Red Reporter. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Cubs Vs. Reds Score Update: Pair Of Homers Has Chicago Leading 2-1

The Chicago Cubs are leading 2-1 over the Cincinnati Reds in the middle of the fifth inning on Wednesday night thanks to a pair of solo home runs and some solid pitching. Bryan LaHair went deep in the second inning and Ian Stewart followed him up in the fourth inning with a solo shot of his own, contributing both of Chicago's runs.

Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija has given up just one run through four innings, and he actually didn't give up a walk or hit until the fourth inning. The Reds managed to get two runners on with one out in that inning, but Samardzija forced Jay Bruce into a double play, although Cincinnati managed to score a run on the play.

LaHair continues to be a surprising success for Chicago, as he's currently hitting near .400 with six homers and 15 RBI through 21 games. Even when he slows down a bit, you have to imagine that the Cubs have themselves a pretty solid starting first baseman.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Attendance 2012: MLB's Top Road Draw, Chicago Ranks No. 8

When the Chicago Cubs have played on the road in 2012, they've brought more fans to the ballpark than any other team in baseball so far, as Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago notes. The Cubs also rank eighth in overall attendance so far this season despite being in last place in the NL Central.

Each time the Cubs have played on the road this season, 39,346 fans have come out to see them on average. That's easily the best figure among baseball's 30 teams, averaging over 3,000 more per game than the second-place Milwaukee Brewers.

Rounding out the top five in road attendance are the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres. Sample sizes are small so far, but fans have come out in droves to see the Cubs so far in 2012.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Boston Red Sox Sign Ex-Cub Mark Prior

Trying to make yet another comeback, former Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Mark Prior has signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Prior spent the 2011 season in the New York Yankees organization and he spent the spring as a free agent.

Now 31, Prior hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006. Once considered arguably the best young pitcher in the entire sport, Prior only made it through one full season in a big league rotation before a variety of elbow and shoulder injuries would lead to his breakdown.

Now over five years removed from his last MLB appearance, it's hard not to root against the former Cub in his latest attempt to return to a big league mound.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Reds Lineups: DeWitt Gets Another Go At Second Base

After an unexpected day off due to rain, both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds get back on the field for a NL Central match-up on Wednesday afternoon. Most of the usual suspects are going for Chicago, but Blake DeWitt is getting another start at second base and Tony Campana once again gets the nod in center field.

Here's the Cubs' lineup:

RF David DeJesus
CF Tony Campana
SS Starlin Castro
1B Bryan LaHair
LF Alfonso Soriano
3B Ian Stewart
2B Blake DeWitt
C Geovany Soto
P Jeff Samardzija

For the Reds, they essentially have their full stable of starters in the lineup:

SS Zack Cozart
CF Drew Stubbs
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
3B Scott Rolen
LF Chris Heisey
C Ryan Hanigan
P Bronson Arroyo

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Reds: Series Gets Underway After Rainout

Both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds enter their midweek series with a bit of momentum. The Reds are fresh off of sweeping the lowly Houston Astros, while the Cubs visit the Reds having split a road series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. Momentum, of course, means little in baseball, but after taking two of three from the Cardinals and chopping with the Phillies, the Cubs likely feel as good about themselves as they have all season.

Reds Vs. Cubs: Tuesday's Game Postponed, No Makeup Scheduled

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds have been rained out at Great American Ballpark. As of this moment, there is no makeup date scheduled.

Tonight's #Cubs vs. #Reds game in Cincinnati has been postponed due to rain. A makeup date has not been announced.

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 2, 2012

The rainout will cause a couple minor changes to Chicago's pitching rotation. Jeff Samardzija was set to start on Tuesday and now he'll pitch on Wednesday. Wednesday's original starting pitcher Paul Maholm will not pitch during the three-game series at Wrigley. Maholm will now start Friday against the Dodgers.

Chicago entered the game at 8-15, while the Reds are currently 11-11.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Reds: Start Of Game Delayed By Weather

Rain showers have delayed the start of Tuesday night's Cubs-Reds game in Cincinnati. No estimate for a start time was given by Reds beat writer John Fay, though Carrie Muskat says the start is tentatively scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.

Just announced that we're in an official rain delay. Will start "as soon as possible." #reds

— John Fay (@johnfayman) May 1, 2012

Tentative start time 8 pm ET but no official word yet. #Cubs #Reds

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) May 1, 2012

Related: Cubs Vs. Reds Lineups: DeWitt At Second In Series Opener

If there are any further updates on the game, we'll have them for you here at SB Nation Chicago.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Reds Lineups: DeWitt At Second In Series Opener

2B Darwin Barney sits for the second consecutive day as INF Blake DeWitt starts against SP Bronson Arroyo. DeWitt profiles as a weaker defender than Barney, but as a left-handed hitter, he offers a noticeable advantage hitting-wise against right-handed pitchers.

Here is a look at the full lineups for both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds:

#Cubs lineup @Reds 5/1: DeJesus RF, Campana CF, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, DeWitt 2B, Soto C, Samardzija P

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 1, 2012

#Reds lineup: Cozart 6, Stubbs 8, Votto 3, Phillips 4, Bruce 9, Rolen 5, Heisey 7, Hanigan 2, Arroyo 1. vs. RH Samardzija

— John Fay (@johnfayman) May 1, 2012

Barring any weather problems, first pitch will be at 6:10 p.m. CDT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Phillies blog The Good Phight. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.