When I say the name David Patton, you probably immediately think of the former New England Patriots wide receiver, or maybe the last name elicits the former United States Army General about whom a great movie was made starring George C. Scott.
It might not be long before fans of the Chicago Cubs think of someone new.
In this winter's Rule V Draft, the Cubs selected a right-handed relief pitcher by that name, and he's having one heck of a spring in Arizona.
While many of the spots in the Cubs' bullpen were thought to be taken entering Spring Training, more questions have been raised than answered this March. Chad Gaudin has been mediocre (I'm being kind) with an ERA of 11.17 entering Saturday. Luis Vizcaino, Angel Guzman, Jeff Samardzija, and Jose Ascanio all have a more than 5.00 ERA as well.
Enter Patton, who, by rule of the Rule V Draft, either must be on the Cubs major league roster the entire season or he returns to his original team. Thus far this spring, he's seen action in seven games, throwing 7.2 innings, striking out nine and walking none.
I'll say it again: striking out nine, walking none.
He has a 1.17 ERA and has been consistently filthy out of the pen. While other right-handers like Kevin Hart, Ascanio and Gaudin have failed to impress, Patton has quietly gone about the business of impressing everyone.
In an ideal world, Manager Lou Piniella would have left Arizona in a couple weeks with what he expected entering the spring: Aaron Heilman, Neal Cotts, Gaudin, Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol, and someone from the group of Samardzija, Ascanio, Vizcaino, and Mike Stanton taking the final spot in the bullpen.
But to date he has seen enough to have concerns regarding half of these names. Heilman has looked sharp, and his failing to grab the fifth starter job might be a win for the team despite the individual loss. Heilman has thrown very well this spring and figures to be a key person in the middle innings.
The intrigue surrounds Patton. If he continues to throw well, Piniella will have a couple decisions to make with his bullpen.
The assumption among most Cubs fans has always been that Vizcaino, acquired for Jason Marquis, had little chance of making the right handed-heavy bullpen. But the Cubs are out of options wit Angel Guzman, and Samardzija still wants to start.
There is a very real chance that Samardzija will start the season in Iowa, continuing his development as a starter, that Guzman will be placed on waivers in an attempt to send him to Iowa as well, and that Piniella might consider carrying 12 pitchers when the Cubs come north.
Whether Piniella has 11 or 12 pitchers on Opening Day, Patton might be one of them.
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