Story thread · 4 reports / 2 sources

Cubs want to get Daniel Palencia back to postseason form: ‘I just want to be The Gasolina, throwing heat’

suntimes.com · 32mShare

SEATTLE – Daniel Palencia returned to the Cubs with his closer’s job taken. That’s how good righty reliever Jacob Webb has been this season, that the fireballing right-hander Palencia steps back into the bullpen after a two-month absence recovering from elbow inflammation without claim to the ninth inning. That doesn’t seem to be a problem, though, with Palencia saying Friday he’s open to whatever Craig Counsell and the team have in mind. “I’m 100-percent open. I’m here to help my team,” Palencia said. “I’m open to every opportunity. I just want to pitch. I want to be that guy you can trust.” The Cubs were able to trust Palencia to be eye-poppingly effective as their closer last year. He recorded 22 saves and finished the regular season with a 2.91 ERA before pitching six times in the postseason, nearly perfect in all but one outing. With eyes on a deep October run, the Cubs would be thrilled to get that version of Palencia back, even if it’s not as the No. 1 reliever in the bullpen. P

First report: Cubs Reveal New Role for Former Closer Daniel Palencia — sports.yahoo.com, 2d