Many of us long for the day when a manager's management of the bullpen is not dictated by that nefarious of taskmasters: the save statistic. Since Cubs' closer Ryan Dempster has been injured following the game on June 22, Lou Piniella has been freed. The Cubs have won seven of eight since Dempster's oblique injury (in addition to the last game Dempster pitched in). Piniella initially announced that Bob Howry would be the closer in Dempster's absence, as the Chicago Tribune reported. During Dempster's absence, however, three different relievers have notched saves -- Howry (2), lefty Will Ohman (1), and bullet-throwing Carlos Marmol (1).

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On June 24 against the White Sox, Marmol finished the 7th, Ohman threw the 8th (which included a strikeout of Jim Thome), and Howry finished the game to preserve the win and the shutout.

On June 26, Marmol started the 9th inning of a 4-run lead against Colorado, giving up a few hits before striking out 2. With Todd Helton representing the tying run at the plate, Piniella replaced Marmol with Ohman, something unlikely to have happened with Dempster on the hill. Ohman got Helton to pop out to end the game.

Yesterday, Marmol threw the final two innings to preserve a 4-run lead.

Howry, Marmol, and Ohman aren't exactly Myers, Dibble, and Charlton. But they are good (1060west suggests that the Cubs proceed to trade Dempster) and the Cubs are a better team when Piniella is free to use his relievers to fit the situation, rather than to fit some pre-determined role.