The Cubs opened the season with an 8-4 win over the Marlins. Not that the Marlins are likely not to lose t least 90 games this year, but the Cubs dominated from the start. Ian Happ opened the game with a leadoff first-pitch home run. They batted around that inning to add two more runs, mostly with patient at-bats resulting in a bunch of walks and hit-batsmen.
Later on the Cubs added home runs by Rizzo and Schwarber as well as some clutch hits by Russell and LaStella. The latter's pinch hit double clinched the game.
The bullpen looked good in relief of Lester who was pretty awful through three plus innings. Lester lacked command and seemed to be pitching with zero confidence. Besides Lester's lackluster performance, the only other glitch on the day was Schwarber's rather adventurous fourth inning in left field where he pretty much played a leadoff double into a triple, nearly killing himself in the process, then overran a routine single. You really cannot say that those plays cost any runs as the Marlins would have scored anyway, but it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence either.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Nearring Final Roster Decisions
The Cubs are nearing the end of spring training as well as finalizing the opening day roster. Nothing earth-shattering is happening. They cut Peter Bourjos even though Maddon has professed his profound respect for his talents. In this matter, I'm not sure what Maddon is looking at. Bourjos had a couple of decent seasons early in his career with the Angels, but he hasn't been much to write home about since then. He is a mediocre hitter whose speed and glove work has been in decline for a couple of seasons.
Slightly more surprising was shipping Chris Gimenez to Iowa and retaining Victor Caratini on the big league roster as backup catcher. Apparently, the search for the next David Ross has been at least temporarily abandoned. I like this move. Caratini is a player with a future. Gimenez really cannot hit a lick.
Strop appeared Saturday in a live game for the first or second time this spring. I guess he did OK. Assuming he is ready to go, that leaves only the 13th pitcher spot open. Butler started against the Mariners on Saturday. His performance was not disgraceful, but he was the losing pitcher. I don't honestly see much upside to this guy. Should the Cubs hold on, it would only be because they don't want to lose him on waivers. He would in that case be the eighth reliever who is only called in to eat innings in games that are out of reach.
Bass, Ryan, and Hancock have all shown better form this spring, though all of them are non-roster invitees who would cost the Cubs a slot on the 40-man roster should they win the battle. Presumably that spot would be Butler's. Bass and Ryan have some major league experience, though each of these guys was terrible last season. Hancock has bounced around the minors for a few years without earning much success.
None of these contenders, including Butler, looks to add much either way, so you kind of wonder why they feel they need so many relievers to start the season to begin with. That seems to be baseball these days.
Slightly more surprising was shipping Chris Gimenez to Iowa and retaining Victor Caratini on the big league roster as backup catcher. Apparently, the search for the next David Ross has been at least temporarily abandoned. I like this move. Caratini is a player with a future. Gimenez really cannot hit a lick.
Strop appeared Saturday in a live game for the first or second time this spring. I guess he did OK. Assuming he is ready to go, that leaves only the 13th pitcher spot open. Butler started against the Mariners on Saturday. His performance was not disgraceful, but he was the losing pitcher. I don't honestly see much upside to this guy. Should the Cubs hold on, it would only be because they don't want to lose him on waivers. He would in that case be the eighth reliever who is only called in to eat innings in games that are out of reach.
Bass, Ryan, and Hancock have all shown better form this spring, though all of them are non-roster invitees who would cost the Cubs a slot on the 40-man roster should they win the battle. Presumably that spot would be Butler's. Bass and Ryan have some major league experience, though each of these guys was terrible last season. Hancock has bounced around the minors for a few years without earning much success.
None of these contenders, including Butler, looks to add much either way, so you kind of wonder why they feel they need so many relievers to start the season to begin with. That seems to be baseball these days.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Grimm Released
I cannot say I'm surprised. Grimm's performance has declined steadily since 2015, when he was actually pretty good. Last year he was awful and he hasn't exactly turned any heads this spring. I always thought he was on the bubble anyway as he is out of options.
That leaves the open question of who takes his spot on the 40-man roster and who makes the team as the eighth reliever. People seem to think it will be Eddie Butler as he is out of options as well. I hope not. I actually see very little upside for Butler.
Of course, hardly any of the marginal relievers have turned any heads this spring. Randy Rosario has put up the best numbers, but he is a non-roster invitee. The Cubs seem to be high on Maples stuff, but he has been shelled more or less every time he has seen action in spring training. This will be a tough choice for the Cubs, especially as Strop has been hurt all spring and is likely to open the season on the DL.
The immediate speculation is that this opens a spot for Gimenez to be added to the 40-man roster and win the backup catcher spot. Gimenez is alright and the Cubs in general have preferred veteran backups in the past. Gimenez is pretty much an automatic out though. Caratini has a future and has actually earned a trip north even if the Cubs prefer him gaining at-bats and experience in AAA.
Personally, I wouldn't be entirely shocked should the Cubs elect to bring three catchers north, something they have done in the past. Given Strop's injury, though, they might not think this wise. Strop is a key setup guy for the Cubs, so if he isn't ready to go, they might well feel adding two inferior relievers is the preferred option.
Of course, they may well be watching the waiver wires to see who gets cut by other teams.
That leaves the open question of who takes his spot on the 40-man roster and who makes the team as the eighth reliever. People seem to think it will be Eddie Butler as he is out of options as well. I hope not. I actually see very little upside for Butler.
Of course, hardly any of the marginal relievers have turned any heads this spring. Randy Rosario has put up the best numbers, but he is a non-roster invitee. The Cubs seem to be high on Maples stuff, but he has been shelled more or less every time he has seen action in spring training. This will be a tough choice for the Cubs, especially as Strop has been hurt all spring and is likely to open the season on the DL.
The immediate speculation is that this opens a spot for Gimenez to be added to the 40-man roster and win the backup catcher spot. Gimenez is alright and the Cubs in general have preferred veteran backups in the past. Gimenez is pretty much an automatic out though. Caratini has a future and has actually earned a trip north even if the Cubs prefer him gaining at-bats and experience in AAA.
Personally, I wouldn't be entirely shocked should the Cubs elect to bring three catchers north, something they have done in the past. Given Strop's injury, though, they might not think this wise. Strop is a key setup guy for the Cubs, so if he isn't ready to go, they might well feel adding two inferior relievers is the preferred option.
Of course, they may well be watching the waiver wires to see who gets cut by other teams.
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