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40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

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Last updated 4-17-2024
 
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PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

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* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
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Game 153 Recap: Cubs 5, Cardinals 4

Submitted by Transmission on

Cubs Clinch Division, First Back-to-Back since 1907-1908, Earliest since 1932

W - Lilly (16-9), You, Me, Santo, Harry, 104-year-old-dude-who-threw-out-the-first-pitch, all Cubs fans.

L - Pineiro (6-7), the rest of the NL Central

S - Wood (32)

Box Score, Photos

Things to Take from This Game

1. A bases loaded three-run single for Soriano

Well, two rbis and an error leading to the third run.  In the bottom of the second Soriano lined a single right at Brian Barton in left. The ball kicked off his glove and rolled to the wall, clearing the bases.  The Cubs raced out to a 3-0 lead.

2.  More fielding problems, more runs.

The Cubs got two more runs in the fourth, as Soto began the inning by smashing one through Glaus at third.  DeRosa hit a double high off the ivy to score Soto, and after advancing to third on a Fukudome ground out, scored on a nicely executed suicide squeeze by Lilly.  5-0 Cubs through four innings.

3. Glaus homers in 4-run Sixth

Lilly looked great, very economical, through five. In the sixth Felipe Lopez gets an RBI single on a smash up the middle off Theriot's glove, and Glaus unloads a no-doubt three-run home run into the left field well.  Suddenly we had a close game.  5-4 through six.

4.  Lilly Recovers, Marmol and Wood close it out

Other than a leadoff walk to Glaus in the ninth, the last three innings passed uneventfully as Lilly pitched the seventh, with Marmol and Wood doing their jobs to close out the game.  A soft fly out to Edmonds off the bat of Aaron Miles ended the game, and a happy Cubs team celebrated between the pitcher's mound and first base.

 The Back-to-Back NL Central Champion Details, below.

Game Recap

  • Oh my god, can we just declare that FOX has no pretensions towards actually concentrating on the game?  We get some WWE Diva giving us the cardinal lineup, which amounts to her plugging the WWE, mentioning that Pujols is good, and flirting with Tim McCarver.  Eww.

Inning 1 - Top

  • First pitch of the game, Izturis pops up to straight behind home plate.  Ridiculously easy first out
  • Ludwick lines a shot over Soriano's head for a double.  Looks like it would have been uncatchable regardless, but Soriano also misjudged it a bit, leapt for it without a shot
  • Pujols rolls out easily to Short.  Nice scoop by Lee.  McCarver wanted to IBB Pujols.  Idiot.
  • Strike 3 called on Felipe Lopez.  I know that all the studies show that "protection" for a slugger is a myth, but really, Felipe Lopez hitting fourth, behind Pujols?  13 pitch inning for Ted.

Inning 1 - Bottom

  • Hey, how about it: Jeff Samardzija gives the Cubs lineup, and actually, you know, provides information.  But God Bless Fox, they misspell it "Smardzija."  Poor Fox:  so far from journalism, so close to remedial freshman english class.
  •  Soriano with a check-swing tap-back to Pineiro
  • Theriot rolls out to Lopez at second.
  • Lee lines one off the base of the ivy in straight-away center.  Looks like Ludwick also had some trouble judging that liner.
  • My God, McCarver is a moron.  Just listening to him discussing whether to pitch Sabathia on short rest makes my mind want to shrivel up and die.
  • Ramirez lines out to right, inning over

Inning 2 - Top

  • Everyone, take another shot for a 1908 reference from Josh Lewin
  • In fact, the entire "what was going on in 1908" graph.
  • Glaus K's swinging at a fastball
  •  Adam Kennedy is playing RF?  Ouch.  A check-swing right back to Lilly, two outs.
  • Brian Barton bounces one just outside of Lilly's reach, over his head up the middle for a single.
  • McCarver tells me Barton was an aerospace engineer major, lived in Addis Ababa for a time.  Cool.
  • Pineiro flies to center, Edmonds battles the sun, makes the catch.

Inning 2 - Bottom

  • Edmonds nearly hits one out at the left field well.  hits maybe a foot away from the basket, instead it's a double.
  •  Soto walks
  • DeRosa bounces into a potential 4-6-3, but there's a bobble on the turn, DeRosa safe at first by a half step.  Pineiro not happy about it.
  • Fukudome walks, bases loaded for Lilly
  • McCarver shills for budweiser.
  • Pineiro continues to look a bit annoyed by things.
  • Lilly battling nicely.
  • Finally K's swinging.  Soriano up, 2 outs, bases loaded.
  • Soriano singles to left on an inside fastball, and the ball bounces off the heel of Barton's glove, rolling to the wall.  2 RBIs with the third run being credited to the error.  3-0 Cubs
  • Theriot flies to Kennedy in right.

Inning 3 - Top

  • Jason LaRue (hitting 9th) up.  Gentle pop-up to Lee on a big curveball
  • Izturis with a slow bouncer up the middle.  Theriot makes a pretty sweet sliding stop on it, but no chance on the throw.
  • Everyone, take a shot for the Bartman reference.
  • Ludwick grounds into a very easy 6-4-3, out of the inning.  37 pitches for Lilly on the day

Inning 3 - Bottom

  •  Lee flies to Kennedy in right
  • FOX cries crocodile tears for Derek Jeter as he misses the playoffs
  • and Ramirez grounds to short.  two pitches, two outs
  • Edmonds K's swinging, five pitch inning

Inning 4 - Top

  •  3-2 pitch to Pujols, he  lines a shot to Ramirez's left.  He makes a great diving stop for it, the throw is up  the first bas line, and Lee manages to barely tag Pujols on the leg as he lunges for it.  Out.  Very nice set of plays by Ramirez and Lee.
  • Lopez squibs one to Lee, unassisted.
  • Maybe it's time to listen to the Pat and Ron audio while watching the FOX telecast.
  • Glaus pops to Theriot.

Inning 4 - Bottom

  •  Soto rips a grounder right at Glaus, who can't handle it.  Well hit ball, but certainly an error.
  • DeRosa then smashes one high off the ivy in the left field well. Looks like a fastball that tailed back over the plate.  Barton gives it a good try, but no luck.  Soto scores, 4-0 Cubs.
  •  DeRosa to third as Fukudome grounds out to second.
  • Suicide Squeeze play.  Lilly bunts, a nice one to the left of Pineiro.  DeRosa is breaing for home on the play, Pineiro tries for the glove-hand toss to LaRue, but it's not even close.  Lilly safe at first, 5-0 Cubs.  Pineiro really letting himself get rattled by his D.
  • DeRosa flies out to Kennedy
  • FOX shows a highlight of Brewers game:  Fielder trying to score on a hit to the outfield, is going to be out by a mile, so he just PUNCHES the catcher as he runs into his tag a few feet up the line from home.  What a monumental collapse...
  • Theriot grounds out to second

Inning 5 - Top

  •  Kennedy with a soft liner to DeRosa, first pitch.  FOX keeps getting back to the game late from commercials
  • Barton flies to left, and Pineiro flies out to the warning track in left.  I think it was something like a five pitch ining.  56 for the game

Inning 5 - Bottom

  •  Lee flies to Kennedy
  • Ramirez lines a single to left center
  • Edmonds bounces into a 4-6-3 DP

Inning 6 - Top

  • LaRue with a soft fly out to Edmonds.
  • Izturis with a soft liner into right-center for a single
  • Ludwick K's flailing at a curve.
  • Pujols gets pitched around, walks on five pitches.
  • Double-steal, uncontested.  Gyeh.
  • Lopez smashes one to Theriot's left.  Makes a nice stop to keep it from getting to the outfield, but can't get Lopez at first.  One run scores, first and third, two outs.
  • Glaus then crushes one out into the left field well bleachers.  5-4 game.  
  • Ron Santo is Sad.
  • Full count, Kennedy walks.
  • Cotts and Samardzija up for the Cubs, McClellan for the Cards.  0-2 on Barton
  • Crowd gets up.
  • Barton with a bouncer to Theriot.  Handles the in-between hop, gets Barton by a step.

Inning 6 - Bottom

  •  Soto with a slow roller to third.  Glaus charges, bare-hands, it kicks away.  Soto singles.
  • DeRosa flies to center.
  • Soto isn't being held on (well, Pujols is a foot or too off the bag, between Soto and the bag) and Soto, with a modest lead, takes off for second.  Thrown out by a mile.  Seems to be explaining himself to someone in the dugout.  Two outs.
  • Pat and Hughes assume Fukudome missed a hit and run sign.  Since I'm not listening to the Fox-cast, and since I can't fathom Soto straight-stealing there, I'll go with that theory.
  • Fukudome K's swinging at a pitch inside.

Inning 7 - Top

  •  Josh Phelps hits for Piniero, K's looking at a fastball
  • LaRue K's swinging. 
  • Izturis bounces out to Theriot.  Nice comeback by Lilly

Inning 7 - Bottom

  •  Ryan Franklin in to pitch.
  • and Fontenot hits for Lilly
  • and rolls out to Pujols
  • Soriano flies to Kennedy.  Sun still looks really tough  today.  Santo with a loud "gyeah!" about it, I'm not sure why.
  • Theriot swings and misses at three straight.  Really struggling the last few days.
  • Very, very quick inning

Inning 8 - Top

  •  Marmol in.
  • From 3-0 to 3-2 on Ludwick, he flies easily to center. 
  • Pat really getting into it on the radio broadcast
  • Pujols reaches for a slider, gently pops to DeRosa, two outs.
  • Lopez bounces to Lee way behind the bag and on the line.  Waits for Marmol to get over, tosses, inning over.  Three outs to go!

Inning 8 - Bottom

  •  Ludwick to left, Baron out of game Schumaker comesin to play center.
  • Lee K's swinging at an inside fastball
  • Pat tells me this would be the earliest Cubs clinch since 1932.
  • Wood warming up to face Glaus, Kennedy, Schumaker, and a bear-hug from Soto.
  • Ramirez K's swinging
  • and Edmonds bounces out to Lopez
  • Pat - "Time to fasten those seatbelts!"

Inning 9 - Top

  •  Crowd on its feet at the start of the inning.  3-1 count to Glaus, Wood hitting 96 on gun. Glaus walks
  • Brendan Ryan runs for Glaus
  • Taps one slowly to DeRosa.  He goes to second for the force,Theriot throws, quite late, back to first.  Nice work by DeRosa on a relatively tough 4-6 force to get the lead runner
  • FOX informs me that wood has a 9.82 era in september.  ohh boy.
  • 1-1 on Schumaker.  2-1, fastball just off the outside corner.  Bit of a tough strike zone, today.
  • 2-2 count.
  • Wood drops a gorgeous slider down the middle of the plate, bottom of the zone.   Strike 3
  • Miles hits for franklin.  First pitch, skies it to Edmonds in shallow left, an easy out.
  • The team gathers between pitcher's mound and first base bag. Santo is hollering on the radio broadcast.
  • All told, a rather subdued celebration after a few seconds of group-hug-jumping.  Everyone hugs, handshakes each other.

Inning 9 - Bottom

 


Parachat Recap

Inning 1

  • Chad gripes about Theriot
  • We gripe about Fox, McCarver
  • we mock Fox, McCarver
  • how we know who Rob G's wife thinks is cute.
  • Whether it's smart or not for the Brewers to pitch Sabathia today on short rest

Inning 2

  • Cubs offseason SP rotation moves. 
  • Brewers game updates
  • Wes arrives.  People surprised to see him and me at the same time.  Harrumph.
  • Prominent Cardinals free agent signings
  • What to do when life hands you tomato juice.  Good suggestions from me, H. Vaughn, Andy
  • Our newly socialized economy.
  • Ethnically stereotyped pronunciation jokes.  Go, Parachat, Go.
  • The Blink 182 Drummer's plane crash
    • meh
  • We don't care about the AL
  • Who gives fucks?
  • Celebrating the lead

Inning 3

  • Since evidently people are sad when I don't give them shout-outs, here's who we have cheering along in Parachat right now:  Rob, Andrew, Andy, bizmarquis2, crunch, cubs.com, H_Vaugh, HollywoodChad, MorningtonCrescent, nohit, osiris, The_Real_Neal, THUD, me, and Wes.  And every single one of them has said something witty and funny for which they should be eternally commemorated in the internet ether.
  • Who is Mischa Barton?
  • Who is Brian Barton?
  • When Andrew's in Rome...
  • The Virgin Mary doesn't ring anyone's bell.
    • wait, are we back to talking tomato juice, or rome, or sex?
    • I'm so confused.
  • More fox-mocking.

Inning 4

  • Facing your prostate issues
  • for celebration purposes, should we root for the Brewers to win their games, so that the Cubs have to clinch by winning it on their own?  (ehh, never root for your opponents.)
  • What are we drinking for the clinching celebration?
  • Evaluating the New Commisky/Cellular ballpark 
  • Rob G starts counting the outs remaining in the game.
  • Talking to people about their itches in Manhattan
  • Cubs Game Plan: Aim for Between Their Legs - The Real Neal
  • Cheering on the squeeze play
  • amazed at Fielder's cheap-shot.
  • Should Theriot rest/be dropped in the order?  (Yes, and No.)

Inning 5

  • Erudite ostrich-eating tailgaters.  I think it was Brick who brought up this crucial demographic.
  •  Discussing life in North Carolina
  • and my modest love life.   (
    • Osiris preemptively complains about my censorship of this discussion in the recap.
  • Trust-fund bums
  • my story of Henry the Handwiper

Inning 6

  • Facebook, MySpace
  • Not Trans's MySpace Page.
  • Angst. Chad.  Chad.  Angst.
  • Who is using LinkedIn for sex?
  • Who is Fred Gwynn, and is he as stiff as Troy Glaus?

Inning 7

  •  Interesting trivia: Josh Phelps is one of Alaska's 15 men who haven't impregnated the governor - John Beasley
    • I almost feel bad for recapping that.  
    • Almost.
  • is it true that Jason LaRue is singing in a Motorhead cover band during the off-season - Real Neal

Inning 8

  •  Brewers updates
  • that Fielder cheap-shot.
  • Discussing the Micah Owings PH RBI in Cincy
  • Naked old men in a balloon.
  • Last year's parachat on clinching day.

Inning 9

  •  The top of the ninth starts with a big parachat crowd of: Rob, Andrew, Andy, Biittner, biz, brick, crunch, cubs.com, H Vaughn, Chad, John Beasley, mattralph, MorningtonCrescent, nohit, osiris, real neal, me, Wes, lowitzki.
  • A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

 

 

Cubs record in games recapped goes to 13-6

Tags
Game Recap

Comments

Submitted by Bleeding Blue on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:52 pm

How great is going to the post season in back to back years? How much better is it to know this is a team that isn't just happy to make it there, but they expect to win in October too?

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:59 pm

woah woah woah. this is my fault. no one needs to fuck themselves. i went into parachat with a 'navigator' nick and made a very stereotypical comment...it was just 1 comment and it was the one that chad said. this was also followed by me (crunch) saying 2-3 times that wasn't you after appropriate outrage and lulz were gained from the comment. and before you think you're special...immitating TCR'rs on parachat is done sometimes...its part of it to some people. and before you get upset that i immitated you...well, i guess you can be and i'm sorry if it upsets you, but 1- ive only done an impersonation of you once 2- i said that one thing 3- sorry this situation arose. remember that "what's said in parachat stays in parachat?" =p long story short...sorry this is going on and if anyone's upset...well...i can't do anything about it, but this wasn't the intention of a parachat "thing".

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:44 pm

Anyone want to make early predictions for the playoffs? I know in short series you really can't predict anything, I expected the Cubs to not do well in the Division Series last year based on that horrible Florida series last year, something just wasn't right. This years team is better, but I still don't think they are a lock to win even the first series. It will help if they draw the Mets in the first round, they've had good luck with the Mets this year and their bullpen is in shambles. Our bullpen which was at least a mild strength for most of the year isn't in great shape right now. Marmol is lights out, Wood is so-so and it drops WAY off after that with Cotts being the 3rd best option. IF Gaudin can come back to his old form he becomes the 4th option, it seems like a big if though. The offense has been inconsistent of late. I know alot of people on the board disagree with this and point to the 'best offense in the league' and thats definitely true by the numbers, but this offense is majorly hot and cold. I would hope they are better than the 07 offense in the playoffs, and I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. The starting pitching is the strength of the team going into the post-season. Dempster, Harden, Zambrano and Lilly hopefully will give at least decent starts. I'm not all worried about the starting pitching. So overall I'm undecided. The team is stronger than last year, but still isn't great enough to think that they will just cruise through the NL playoffs.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 09:01 pm

I'm not sure I'll ever feel as good about a starting rotation than I did going into the 2003 post season. Prior looked unhittable, Wood was healthy, Z was having one of his best seasons of his career (and I'm saying that in retrospect), and Clement was pretty solid. Of course, I didn't want to admit how heavily worked Wood and Prior were and I hadn't yet seen the meltdown that Z was capable of having during big games, which I'm hoping Z is now over. Going into that post season I thought the Cubs had three of the top ten starters in the game. Turned out I was wrong.

[ ]

Submitted by blockhead25 on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:52 pm

the short series scares the crap out of me, no matter who we face. Game 1 becomes so critical, and it's really a crapshoot, as you are going to face a good pitcher, and our pitcher could have an off day as much as the other guy. We should be able to beat anyone in the playoffs....but unlike 2003, I'm not putting any WS flights back to Chicago on reserve. I am worried about 2 things. 1. Offense. It's still not clicking on all cylinders. We've gotten several big hits and build leads, but then don't do much for the final 4-5 innings. Only 6 hits today. 3 hits before the 9th against Brewers...built big leads against Houston, but didn't add to it after the early innings. 2. Relief. The only guy in the entire bullpen I really trust now is Marmol.

Submitted by blockhead25 on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:46 pm

Chad, I really think you could possibly be the angriest person alive. Anyway, a nice win and nice to be able to relax for the final week. This is far and away the least excited I've been for a Division championship, I'm sure because it has been inevitable for the last week or so. I want more. Much more. Here's to the playoffs.

Submitted by Bigz on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:57 pm

The bullpen is really no biggie to me, because we can use starters there. With all the off days in the post season, you really only need about 3 relievers marmol, wood, gaudin

[ ]

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:19 pm

That would be assuming that we get great starts throughout the playoffs...do you really think Wood isn't going to use Cotts as a LOOGY? Very naive to think that you only need a 3 deep bullpen throughout the whole playoffs. Just looking at the 2003 playoffs (12 games): Guthrie 1.2 innings pitched Alfonseca 3.1 innings pitched Veres 4.1 innings pitched Remlinger 4 innings pitched Farnsworth 8 innings pitched Borowski 7.2 innings pitched Cubs starters averaged 6 2/3 innings over those 12 games. Only Clement had a start of less than 5 innings.

Submitted by The Joe on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:45 pm

I'm glad I was able to watch the game today. No thanks to Fox, who decided that more people in Seattle wanted to see the Rays-Twins game. Anyway, big thanks to P2P broadcasting. Fuck you blackout scheduling! I don't need MLB.tv or TV, bitches. Anyway, if it's illegal, then I actually didn't use P2P, and the above is what I WOULD HAVE said, if I did illegal things, which i don't condone. Go Cubs.

Submitted by rokfish on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:12 pm

i like what az phil said dempster should start game one or two that way he is available in the bullpen for a possible game 4 or 5 this could be a huge advantage to bring a starter who has been a starter,would not mind lou bringing marquis in out of the bullpen a couple of times before end of season as much as it pains me he should be on post season roster in the pen.

Submitted by billybucks on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:23 pm

A time for joyous celebration! Cubs have won the division 3 of the last 6 years -- so, enough already with the references to 1969. However, 1984 and 2003 references are still valid, for now. And now -- answers to the FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS from Spring Training: 1. Can Dempster be a starter? Hell, yes. 2. Is Soto the real deal? Double Hell, yes. 3. Can Kerry close? So-so. Similar to his days as a starter, lots of high highs and and a few lows, and an injury that cut into his season. Still, he was better than what the Brewers had, and remains the heart and soul of the team. 4. Is Fukudome the real deal? Other than April -- Hell, no. And an issue for the next 3 years. 5. Is Pie our everyday CF? Double Hell, no. A good year for Hendry (other than the $48MM Fukudome misfire) -- Reed and Edmonds were picked off the scrap heap, played well and won many games for the Cubs, Harden and Gaudin for Gallagher was a great move. Enjoy, and rest up. A lot of late nights ahead.

[ ]

Submitted by Andrew on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 09:59 am

I agree that Fukudome had a bad season, but it's a bit early to call the entire contract a bust. Certainly, if he keeps up his current level of production, it will be a major bust. I'd give him another year though before I consider it a total loss.

Submitted by billybucks on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:41 pm

Lots of great stuff -- Rammy's walk-off vs. the Sox, the 4-game sweep in MIL, Z's no-no, Geo's HR this week....but my favorite memory of this fun team... Cubs up a run, in St. Louis, Wood in for the save. Tying run on first, Cardinal fans making noise, and Wood bounces a slider in the LH batter's box. Soto makes a great block, and the runner can't advance. Camera pans back to Wood, who yells "Attaboy, Geo!!" Great reflection of a cohesive team, and Kerry's role on it.

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

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