July 30--New Chicago Cubs reliever Ben Rowen stands out among his fellow relievers, and not just because of his lean 6-foot-3 frame and red beard.
Rowen has a submarine style delivery in which he said he nearly scrapes his knuckles when throwing a pitch. That's a stark contrast from the rest of the Cubs relievers who frequently throw in the mid-90 mph range, with the exception of left-hander James Russell.
And Rowen's style is a welcomed change for manager Joe Maddon.
"I love funk," Maddon said. "I've always been a funk guy. The funk is good. Whenever you get funk in the bullpen, I like that.''
Maddon concurred that Rowen, 25, could provide the same effectiveness as another sidewinder, Chad Bradford, did for him with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.
"Mad Chad was the best," Maddon smiled.
Rowen signed a minor league contract with the Cubs earlier this month and didn't allow a run in eight appearances for Triple-A Iowa. Rowen had a 4.15 ERA in eight appearances for Texas last season, then was released and signed with the Dodgers before he was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles and pitched in their minor league system before the Cubs signed him.
"I can't even remember all the teams I've been with," said Rowen, who was informed of his promotion before going to bed Tuesday night and catching a 7:30 a.m. flight from Nashville. "It's been a fun year. You meet a lot of people, and I'm excited to be here."
