The Wall Street Journal is running a story that indicates the Cubs sale may be postponed again. (Deadline Bends in Cubs Bidding: WSJ.com (subscribtion required)

Just days ago, finalists to purchase the storied baseball franchise were told to deliver revised bids and financing plans by Nov. 27. But with continuing instability in the credit market making the process more arduous, groups vying for the team learned late this week the deadline was now considered soft, according to two people involved with the sale.

Snip

Now bidders say uncertainty among major lenders has made determining the value of the team and the costs of a bids more difficult and time-consuming, making the Thanksgiving deadline all but impossible to meet. Mr. Zell's recent offer to keep as much as 50% of the team for an undetermined period would make buying the Cubs more affordable. But Tribune's worsening debt problems have heightened the risk of a potential leveraged partnership with the distressed company.

At the rate this sale is progressing, I'm guessing we don't see a finalized transaction until November 2009.

The Dramatic Prarie Dog had a dramatic season in '08.  He went from legend to lemon and back to legend all within the span of a few months, and based on the pending departure of Kerry Wood, Marmol is a likely candidate to close in 2009.  But is he fit for the job?

At this point in his career, Marmol makes me nervous, mostly because he completely disintegrated for no apparent reason last season.  Sure, he found himself and came back to pitch amazingly well, but here's my line of thinking... if'n he can blow up like that at random, see, what's stoppin' him from blowin' up when it counts?  (Sorry, broke into weird British hackney typing accent, am very tired, must sleep soon)

He basically pitched a trilogy last year.  In Carlos Owns Baseball, this legendary stud of a pitcher threw 35 innings of work, struck out 52 opponents, and posted an ERA of 1.54.

Then, on May 31st, Baseball Strikes Back made its debut.  From that date until July 12th, Marmol was a shell.  He pitched 17.1 innings of work, and he allowed 15 earned runs in that span - and, actually, he was at one point responsible for 18 runs but a retroactive decision shaved his ERA a bit.  Anyway, 15 earned in 17.1 pitched equals a 7.78 ERA - more than 6 points higher than what it had been previous to May 31.  Also over that span, he struck out 18 - still impressive, but down from his previous totals - and walked a craptacular 13 players.

This is the part of the Marmol season that remains burned into my brain.  The guy who would trot out to the mound and, failing to find his focus, started to toss ball after ball after ball after ball.  You don't want that guy in the 9th inning - or, at least, I don't.

Luckily, after an All Star appearance he probably didn't deserve, Marmol returned from the break a new man.  He was no longer that guy.  In Return of the Prarie Dog, Marmol threw 36 innings, striking out 42, and walking 16.  His ERA in this span was 1.25.

Oh, and he went from July 28th until August 21st without allowing a single hit.  He threw more than 9 innings of no-hit ball in relief.  He held opponents totally scoreless for 16 innings.

In other, shorter words, the Cubs would not have been nearly as good without him.  If he can keep his head on his shoulders - and those massive ears should surely provide some kind of support - then Marmol should step rather nicely into the closer's role next season.