02-23-2009, 11:08 PM
And this article from Sullivan is actually dated tomorrow...
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size
Cubs' Marmol takes pass on pitching for Dominican in World Baseball Classic
By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter
February 24, 2009
MESA, Ariz. — After a sleepless night Sunday, Carlos Marmol decided it was better for his career and his team to concentrate on closing for the Cubs than representing his country in the World Baseball Classic.
Marmol pulled out of the tournament Monday, leaving Geovany Soto (Puerto Rico), Kosuke Fukudome (Japan) and Ted Lilly (U.S.) as the only Cubs in the WBC. Fukudome is practicing with his team in Japan, while Lilly and Soto will leave for their respective teams' training camps Sunday.
"It's a hard decision and hard to say no," Marmol said. "But I would prefer to stay here and work with my team. For me it was hard because it was the first time I was invited and I can't go. I hope they're not mad at me."
Manager Lou Piniella had a "nice chat" with Marmol during Monday's workout, and told him to make the best decision for himself and no one else.
"I told him it was his decision and we would support him either way," Piniella said. "He's thought about it a long time. It really is a difficult decision. I told him it's an honor representing your country. ... My posture, basically, is to stay out of that situation as much as possible."
Marmol is competing with Kevin Gregg for the closer's role, a spot he has been groomed for the last two seasons. Piniella did say that Marmol's command hasn't been as sharp this spring as it should be, though Monday's outing was a bit of an improvement.
Lilly sympathizes with Marmol, knowing it was a much tougher decision for the right-hander because of the emphasis his country puts on the WBC. Winning it would be a big deal in the Dominican, whereas the U.S. doesn't seem to care much about its own WBC team.
<b>Marmol, Derrek Lee, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Rich Harden are among the Cubs who've turned down a chance to play in the tournament.</b>
"Just because these guys on our club aren't playing, they all have a lot of pride in their country and are very grateful that they're [asked to be] a part of it," Lilly said. "Everyone's reason is different. As for myself, it's something I prepared for much earlier when I heard the opportunity would be there."
Unlike the rest of the Cubs' pitchers, Lilly threw batting practice without a protective screen in front of him Monday, acclimating himself early for the WBC. Lilly feels like he's well ahead of schedule, after throwing five times in the off-season before arriving at camp.
"I'm trying to be aggressive," he said. "For the most part I think I was throwing game speed. I don't know what the radar readings were, but I was trying to put myself in that mentality as much as possible."
Lilly said his decision to play was easy, because he's always wanted to represent the U.S. in some manner.
"My grandfather, my father and my uncles all served in the Navy, and I thought I would have a chance to do that," he said. "So I guess this is the next closest thing."
psullivan@tribune.com<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size
Cubs' Marmol takes pass on pitching for Dominican in World Baseball Classic
By Paul Sullivan | Tribune reporter
February 24, 2009
MESA, Ariz. — After a sleepless night Sunday, Carlos Marmol decided it was better for his career and his team to concentrate on closing for the Cubs than representing his country in the World Baseball Classic.
Marmol pulled out of the tournament Monday, leaving Geovany Soto (Puerto Rico), Kosuke Fukudome (Japan) and Ted Lilly (U.S.) as the only Cubs in the WBC. Fukudome is practicing with his team in Japan, while Lilly and Soto will leave for their respective teams' training camps Sunday.
"It's a hard decision and hard to say no," Marmol said. "But I would prefer to stay here and work with my team. For me it was hard because it was the first time I was invited and I can't go. I hope they're not mad at me."
Manager Lou Piniella had a "nice chat" with Marmol during Monday's workout, and told him to make the best decision for himself and no one else.
"I told him it was his decision and we would support him either way," Piniella said. "He's thought about it a long time. It really is a difficult decision. I told him it's an honor representing your country. ... My posture, basically, is to stay out of that situation as much as possible."
Marmol is competing with Kevin Gregg for the closer's role, a spot he has been groomed for the last two seasons. Piniella did say that Marmol's command hasn't been as sharp this spring as it should be, though Monday's outing was a bit of an improvement.
Lilly sympathizes with Marmol, knowing it was a much tougher decision for the right-hander because of the emphasis his country puts on the WBC. Winning it would be a big deal in the Dominican, whereas the U.S. doesn't seem to care much about its own WBC team.
<b>Marmol, Derrek Lee, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Rich Harden are among the Cubs who've turned down a chance to play in the tournament.</b>
"Just because these guys on our club aren't playing, they all have a lot of pride in their country and are very grateful that they're [asked to be] a part of it," Lilly said. "Everyone's reason is different. As for myself, it's something I prepared for much earlier when I heard the opportunity would be there."
Unlike the rest of the Cubs' pitchers, Lilly threw batting practice without a protective screen in front of him Monday, acclimating himself early for the WBC. Lilly feels like he's well ahead of schedule, after throwing five times in the off-season before arriving at camp.
"I'm trying to be aggressive," he said. "For the most part I think I was throwing game speed. I don't know what the radar readings were, but I was trying to put myself in that mentality as much as possible."
Lilly said his decision to play was easy, because he's always wanted to represent the U.S. in some manner.
"My grandfather, my father and my uncles all served in the Navy, and I thought I would have a chance to do that," he said. "So I guess this is the next closest thing."
psullivan@tribune.com<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->