While spring training is just getting underway, expectations for the 2018 Chicago Cubs are World Series or bust after three straight NLCS appearances. Thanks to the successful offseason, they’re in a similar position as they were in 2016 and a common debate is if the 2018 Cubs can be even better than that legendary squad. I decided to take a deeper look and break it down.
Starting rotation: The 2016 pitchers for the Cubs had a historically great season. Their starting five of Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and Jason Hammel were able to stay healthy on a nearly miraculous level, as our fifth pitcher (Hammel) pitched the least amount of innings for the rotation and still put in 166.2 innings of work. Their ERAs consisted of 2.13 (Hendricks), 2.44 (Lester), 3.10 (Arrieta), 3.35 (Lackey) and 3.80 (Hammel) for an average ERA of 2.97. Their starting rotation compiled a 17.3 WAR and was led by two Cy Young finalists in Lester and Hendricks. Overall, there really weren’t any complaints with the 2016 rotation. The 2018 Pitchers may be more top heavy with the additions of Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish, but I don’t expect Lester to perform the way he did in 2016. The predictions for the 2018 season call for ERAs of 3.76 (Lester), 3.22 (Hendricks), 3.86 (Quintana), 3.98 (Darvish) and 4.38 (Tyler Chatwood) for an average of 3.84. Despite the significantly higher ERA projections, this rotation still projects for 16.2 WAR, which would be a great result. EDGE: 2016 Cubs Hitters: The 2016 Cubs had success from nearly every position player and saw career years from the majority of the players. Kris Bryant won the MVP, Anthony Rizzo saw a career high in OPS and batting average, and Addison Russell, Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler joined them as starters for the All-Star game. They were able to stay healthy throughout the season and the majority of the roster posted career highs in numerous categories. While this was an exceptional season for the Cubs, there’s no reason to think the 2018 Cubs can’t accomplish this. The only key offensive contributor from the 2016 Cubs that isn’t on the roster is Fowler, and we now have Ian Happ and Javy Baez playing everyday baseball. There’s no reason to think the players have peaked as they are all still so young, and players like Willson Contreras and Albert Almora should post numbers that are much greater than the 2016 campaign. I think the difference will be what Kyle Schwarber does, as he missed nearly the entire 2016 season. It’s obvious that Schwarber has lost a considerable amount of weight and is truly in the shape of his life, but we don’t know how that’ll translate to his ability to hit baseballs. Zobrist’s best days are behind him, but Baez being an everyday second baseman along with Almora and Happ splitting time in center field should more than make up for that regression. I see the 2018 hitters being just as good as the 2016 campaign, if not better. (slight) EDGE: 2018 Cubs Bullpen: The bullpen was the biggest flaw for the Cubs in 2016 until they acquired Aroldis Chapman. Their set up of Travis Wood/Mike Montgomery, Pedro Strop/Hector Rondon, Carl Edwards Jr and Chapman found great success. The 2018 bullpen looks different than 2016, but Montgomery, Strop and Edwards have all developed into better pitchers and I don’t expect that to stop in 2018. If Montgomery can go multiple innings and have his own 2016 Wood role, Justin Wilson pitches like pre-Cubs Justin Wilson and Brandon Morrow can become a true closer, this bullpen won’t be as flashy as 2016 but they could be deeper. (slight) EDGE: 2016 Cubs Final analysis: The Cubs aren’t predicted to win 103 games in 2018, but I don’t think that means they aren’t as good as the 2016 team. I miss Fowler, Lester’s production likely won’t be on the same level it was in 2016, and we don’t have a certified closer. All of that will hurt, but we have arguably the best rotation in baseball, an emerging stud in Ian Happ, a young collection of experienced position players that continue to improve and a healthy, skinny Schwarber who’s out to prove that 2017 was a fluke. I don’t expect them to win as many games, but their overall depth and experience is enough to put them in the same conversation as the 2016 Cubs and my expectation remains the same. World Series or bust.
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By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
Even though it does not matter if you win or lose spring training games, there is something beautiful about the Cubs winning back-to-back games over the weekend. Here is what you need to know from the weekend. 1) Well, I think Ian Happ wants to play centerfield on a regular basis. In the first game of the spring, Happ looked very comfortable defensively in centerfield. Happ had his second start on Sunday in centerfield and as the team’s leadoff hitter. The results were fantastic again. Happ led off the game with a homerun against Madison Bumgarner, the San Francisco Giants ace pitcher. If Happ continues this over the entire spring, look for him to be the Opening Day centerfielder. 2) On Saturday, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras hit back-to-back homers. Is it just me, or do I feel like this team is going to be hitting a lot of homeruns in 2018? Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Kyle Schwarber are locks to have 30 homerun seasons. Willson Contreras and Ian Happ both have a very good chance at getting close to that 30 homerun mark. Javier Baez is also a candidate to hit 30 homeruns, if he can keep his swing under control. The Cubs could legitimately have at least five 30 homerun players in 2018. Yes, I am drooling. 3) Kyle Schwarber’s off-season transformation has turned him into a gazelle on the base paths. Schwarber had two steals on Sunday. Schwarber also had two hits on Sunday, as he looks to have a banner 2018 season. 4) Javier Baez put on a defensive clinic on Saturday. El Mago is the most electric player to watch (maybe in the entire league). Do yourself a favor and go watch the human highlight reel make another sensational play on Saturday. Oh, Javy also hit a triple. Javy is worth the price of admission by himself. 5) Chris Gimenez has started off fast this spring, driving in three runs in two games. Gimenez is looking to secure the backup catcher role to Willson Contreras. 6) Do not sleep on right handed reliever Luke Farrell. Farrell has a legitimate chance of making the 25 man roster as the eighth reliever. In his spring debut, Farrell went two innings and struck out three batters. Luke is the son of former Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. If Farrell can put together a solid spring, he may be the favorite to land the last spot in the bullpen. 7) In his first spring outing, Dillon Maples was a little erratic with his command, but at the same time his stuff was electric. Maples may need a little more time in Triple A to work on his command, but his high 90’s fastball and his unhittable slider are ready for the big leagues. 8) Over one and a third innings, Randy Rosario looked solid in his relief appearance on Sunday. The southpaw Rosario is in the mix for the last bullpen slot. 9) Unfortunately, there is no spot on the 25 man roster for Mark Zagunis. Zagunis is already hitting really well so far this spring. While he is major league ready, Zagunis is blocked by a very talented and deep 25 man roster. Zagunis had a brief stint with the Cubs last year, and he will likely be a trade candidate to a team in need of an extra outfielder. 10) Without question, Mike Freeman will hit well in spring training. He has hit well his entire professional career during spring training and Freeman has sizzled at the plate in his first few plate appearances. Freeman gives the Cubs nice organizational depth in the middle infield. 11) Alec Mills, Duane Underwood Jr., and Oscar De La Cruz all had clean innings in their first appearances on Saturday. These three will provide the Cubs with really nice pitching depth in Triple A. 12) The struggles for Jacob Hannemann, the Cubs former third round pick in 2013, have continued so far this spring. Hannemann’s bat has never blossomed into what the Cubs originally thought. Hannemann’s defense is very good and his speed is top notch, but he has never been able to put it together at the plate. For Hannemann’s sake, let’s hope he starts hitting soon. Spring training is officially underway and personally I haven’t been this excited since the 2015 campaign. I don’t know if it’s the slow offseason (besides Yu Darvish), the putrid showing in the NLCS or the greater sense of hunger around the Cubs, but I am READY for the new campaign to start.
There are many questions that will be answered soon, such as who the opening day starter will be, what the rotation is going to look like in general, and what Ben Zobrist’s role will be this year. Today I am going to put together the best and most realistic everyday batting order for the Cubs. LEADOFF: Albert Almora Jr. (Center Field) One of the biggest problems for the 2017 Cubs was the lack of a leadoff hitter. Sure, we discovered that Anthony Rizzo was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, but we need stability and consistency. Almora isn’t Dexter Fowler, but he is a solid contact hitter that will only improve with more experience. He needs to start every day at CF and could become a reliable leadoff hitter over time. SECOND: Kris Bryant (Third Base) Unless it’s a day designed for rest, Bryant is going to be in the lineup every game at third base. You can put him anywhere between second, third or fourth in the order, but his career batting average of .309 at second is hard to argue against. THIRD: Anthony Rizzo (First Base) Similar to Bryant, Rizzo will be in the lineup nearly every game. He can be slotted anywhere between second through fourth in the order as well, but he has the most experience batting third and I don’t expect that to change. CLEANUP: Willson Contreras (Catcher) Contreras is on the brink of becoming an elite catcher and I believe 2018 will be the year he reaches that next level. He has spent most of his career batting fourth and his on base percentage (.390) from there is exceptional. The 2-3-4 hitters should be the easiest to decide for the Cubs in 2018. FIFTH: Kyle Schwarber (Left Field) The Kyle Schwarber leadoff experiment is a well-known failure of the 2017 campaign, but did you know that he has a career OBP of .368 batting fifth? Schwarber is going to bounce back in 2018 and he belongs in the lineup as much as possible. Batting behind Contreras in a position where he has historically excelled will be a great fit for him. SIXTH: Jason Heyward (Right Field) This is where things get complicated. Life would be easier if we were able to use Ian Happ or even Zobrist here, but the bottom line is that Heyward is going to play the majority of the games because of his defense. While he is a liability at the plate, he surprisingly has a career OPS of .837 hitting out of the sixth spot over 637 plate appearances. The last thing I expect is for an OPS above .800 from Heyward in 2018, but you might as well put him where he’s found the most success. SEVENTH: Addison Russell (Shortstop) Russell has established himself as an everyday shortstop because of his elite defense. While his offensive plateau in 2017 is concerning, there were injuries/off the field issues that could have been the reason for this. Give him a clear mind and stick him in a spot where he has his highest career OBP (.338) and he may just become the hitter we believe he can be. EIGHTH: Javy Baez (Second Base) Russell and Baez need to start as many games together as possible and they need to be hitting alongside each other as well. The strike-out concerns for Baez are well-known by now and he often finds himself getting in trouble by always trying to be a hero. He batted eighth for most of the 2016 playoff run and supplemented himself as a Chicago legend in the process. Not only is his BA (.293) and OBP (.341) good out of this spot, he also has seven more home runs than when he bats seventh despite having 21 less plate appearances. Put Baez in a position where he doesn’t need to be a hero and he will excel. NINTH: Pitcher I don’t know what Joe Maddon is thinking and honestly nobody does, but this is the lineup that will give the Cubs the greatest chance at a championship in 2018. Throw in Happ, Zobrist and Tommy La Stella in for late-game replacements and this is a recipe for success. By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
It’s The Cubs League will come out on Saturday’s and will focus on the weekly news, notes, highlights, and what to look forward to in Cubs land over the weekend. 1) With the loss to Milwaukee, the Cubs are already in last place in the division. Just kidding, it is only spring training and wins and losses are meaningless throughout the spring. In three seasons under Joe Maddon, the Cubs have never fared well in spring training, but they have the most regular season wins over that time period. Wins and losses over Spring Training has no bearing on how a team will perform in the regular season. It did seem like Milwaukee was very eager to get a win against the Cubs, though. Either way, how good does it feel to have baseball back? 2) Manager Joe Maddon said four Cubs are in the running for the leadoff slot: Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr., Kyle Schwarber, and Ben Zobrist. This should be an interesting competition to watch this spring. While it is likely that they will be platooning in centerfield during the regular season, it would be perfect if Almora Jr. and Happ could become the trusted leadoff hitters. If no front runner emerges during the spring, Maddon will likely rotate this position on a daily basis. The regular season is long and players have ups and down. Early spring success may give someone an edge to start the regular season as the leadoff hitter, but that does not mean that person will be the leadoff hitter all season long. The only way someone would be the leadoff hitter for the entire season is if they had a banner year, and I am all for that happening. 3) Everyone is speaking about Kyle Schwarber’s body transformation. His work-ethic is truly unparalleled. We saw how hard Schwarber worked to get back from his ACL tear in 2016 to help propel this franchise to their first championship in 108 years. Schwarber proved once again that he will outwork anyone, and he looks like he is getting ready to make a superhero movie. Do you get the feeling Schwarber is about to have a major 2018 season? I sure feel that way. 4) One game into the spring, and defense appears to have been a priority for Ian Happ this offseason. In the spring training opener on Friday, Happ likely saved two runs when he made a sensational diving catch in centerfield. If Happ’s defense has gotten better in centerfield, look for Happ to have a major 2018 season. 5) Ben Zobrist has not practiced this week with a sore back, something he had an issue with in 2017. Joe Maddon said Zobrist is doing well, but they are “not hurrying” him into action. Zobrist was looking to have a bounce back 2018 season after a disappointing 2017. February Spring Training games do not have much significance for a veteran like Zobrist. The panic meter is not even close to being raised yet. However, if Zobrist’s back is still sore in a month from now, then I will be in full panic mode on whether he can shake the back injuries for the 2018 season. 6) “3 AM” Tommy La Stella drove in the first run for the Cubs this spring. Tommy can flat out hit, and he could definitely be starting on several teams in the league because of his consistency at the plate and in the field. 7) Your weekly Yu Darvish fix. Yu Darvish is hilarious. Darvish threw a 25 pitch session to several of the players the other day. The players wanted to see Darvish’s nasty arsenal of pitches up close. Schwarber watched some of Darvish’s pitches in the batters box and Darvish weighed in on Schwarber standing in against him. Darvish said, “If [Schwarber] swung, it would probably go over the fence. It’s a good thing he didn’t.” This is one of many one-liners Darvish has had since he put on the most beautiful uniform in baseball. 8) While I know the name Mike Freeman may not peak your interest, I am glad the Cubs have the shortstop back this year. Freeman will likely sign a minor league deal with Cubs after spring training when he does not make the 25 man roster. He provides a very serviceable depth option for the middle infield. 9) Bullpen competition. Dario Alvarez had a rough debut for the Cubs. In one inning of work, his command was erratic at times, he was hittable at times, and he was unhittable at times. While it is early in spring training, allowing two runs on two walks and two hits is something that cannot consistently happen if Alvarez is going to compete for the last bullpen spot. 10) On deck for the weekend. Today, Eddie Butler will take the mound for the Cubs. Remember Eddie B., Cub fans? Eddie Butler started 11 games for the Cubs in the first half of the 2017 season when the Cubs were dealing with many injuries to the starting staff. Butler started out hot in his Cubs debut against the rival Cardinals in St. Louis, flashing a mid to high 90’s fastball in that game. After that start in St. Louis, Eddie Butler was wildly inconsistent. Butler has really good stuff, but his command can be erratic as his 1.427 WHIP in 2017 shows that. Butler is intriguing and there is a reason he was a top prospect for the Rockies. Lets hope that Jim Hickey can work wonders with Butler’s command and confidence. On Sunday, the Cubs 2017 Minor League pitcher of the year, Jen-Ho Tseng, will take the mound. Tseng’s only start with the Cubs last year did not go well, but Tseng has a very bright future ahead of him. By: Ryan Melson (RyanMelson1)
Baseball is fully back. With camp in full swing, there are several major free agents still available. The San Diego Padres signing of Eric Hosmer seems to have brought a little movement to the very cold free agent market. With several really good free agents left, do any of them make sense for the Cubs in 2018? Jon Heyman believes that Greg Holland will land with the Cubs, so lets try and make sense of what Holland could bring to the table and whether this could be a fit that makes sense for Holland and the Cubs. Holland’s Career Holland shined during his time in Kansas City by being a stalwart at the back end of the Royals bullpen. Holland was outrageously good in 2013 and 2014, making back-to-back All Star appearances. Holland had a disappointing 2015 season before having Tommy John surgery that required him to sit out all of 2016. Coming back in 2017, Holland joined the Colorado Rockies and the results were mixed. On the one hand, Holland did lead the league in saves. He appeared to be back to his dominant self in the first half of the season posting a 1.62 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. However, the wheels fell off for Holland and the Rockies in the second half of the season. Holland posted a 6.38 ERA in the second half, only striking out 27 batters over 24 innings. In the second half, Holland’s WHIP spiked up to 1.333, his walk rate went up, and his saves dwindled. What happened in the second half? With Holland coming off of Tommy John surgery, he may have gotten fatigued as the season went on. Holland was used frequently in high leverage situations over the first half of the season, and that could have taken a toll on him. Another explanation could have been that he played at Coors Field and pitchers always seem to struggle with the elevation in Denver. This was not the case, though. Holland was actually better at home than he was on the road—posting a 3.34 ERA at home versus a 3.90 ERA on the road. Whatever the explanation is for Holland’s atrocious second half, he is a proven closer in the league. He has not been an elite closer since 2014, but Holland’s track record of success as a closer and in the postseason is unquestioned. It is yet to be determined whether Holland could be someone who can consistently be trusted at the back end of the bullpen in 2018. Does Holland Fit With The Cubs? Earlier this offseason, Holland turned down a qualifying offer of $17.4 million from the Rockies. Holland also had a player option of $15 million for the 2018 season with Rockies that he declined to exercise. By declining the qualifying offer and his player option, Holland was not merely trying to get out of Colorado. He perceived his market value to be much higher off of his past success. At this point, it seems as if Holland’s asking price and what teams value him at are miles apart. The 32 year old Holland likely wants something similar to the three year, $52 million deal his former teammate Wade Davis received from the Rockies earlier this offseason. Holland bet on himself this offseason, but he probably regrets making the decision not to accept his qualifying offer. Holland wanted long term assurance, but in reality he may have to settle for a mediocre one year deal. When Holland comes to grips with the realistic market value for him, the Cubs could be a one year destination. Holland would have the most spotlight to rehabilitate his value as a closer on the market by joining the Cubs, so it may intrigue him to take a smaller deal in order to get a larger one next offseason. This deal would have to be right for the Cubs, since they will not go over the luxury tax spending in 2018. The Cubs could get creative with the deal and offer a player option for a second year to Holland, only if he meets certain statistical markers in 2018. Holland would give the Cubs eight legitimate bullpen options. The Cubs would have the deepest pen in the league, and more than a handful of options to close out games. The Cubs would be very interested in Holland, but only if he is willing to take a fraction of what he originally desired. By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
Spring training games have not started yet, but it is never too early to look at what the starting lineup could look like in Miami on March 29th. Joe Maddon’s Likely Opening Day Lineup 1. Ben Zobrist, RF 2. Kris Bryant, 3B 3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 4. Willson Contreras, C 5. Kyle Schwarber, LF 6. Addison Russell, SS 7. Jason Heyward, CF 8. Javier Baez, 2B 9. Jon Lester, P I truly do not believe this is the best lineup the Cubs can feature, but I believe Maddon will give the nod to Zobrist and Lester because of their experience. While we could see a bounce back from Zobrist this coming season, playing either Almora Jr. or Happ seems to be the better option right now. The Best Hitting Lineup For Opening Day 1. Ian Happ, RF 2. Kris Bryant, 3B 3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 4. Willson Contreras, C 5. Kyle Schwarber, LF 6. Addison Russell, SS 7. Albert Almora Jr., CF 8. Javier Baez, 2B 9. Jon Lester, P This would be the Cubs best offensive lineup. Almora and Happ offer so much potential and a leap forward from both players this year could make them both feared hitters. Since we have not seen any spring training games, Heyward and Zobrist would be left out of this lineup because we have not seen their offseason adjustments. While these are two expensive bench options, most teams would love to have either of these players coming off of their bench. The Best Defensive Lineup For Opening Day 1. Ian Happ, LF 2. Kris Bryant, 3B 3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 4. Willson Contreras, C 5. Albert Almora Jr., CF 6. Addison Russell, SS 7. Jason Heyward, RF 8. Javier Baez, 2B 9. Jon Lester, P Ian Happ gets the nod over Ben Zobrist as the better defensive left fielder, mainly because Happ can cover more ground. Heyward, Almora Jr., Baez, Russell, Rizzo, and Bryant are always no brainers for the best defensive combinations. The Best Overall Lineup For Opening Day 1. Ian Happ, CF 2. Kris Bryant, 3B 3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 4. Willson Contrereas, C 5. Kyle Schwarber, LF 6. Addison Russell, 2B 7. Jason Heyward, RF 8. Javier Baez, SS 9. Jon Lester, P Ian Happ would get the nod over Almora Jr., for the time being, because Happ is a natural fit as the leadoff hitter. If Almora Jr. can show more patience at the plate, then he could become a viable option as the leadoff hitter. Another controversial move would be to have Javier Baez become the everyday shortstop and move Addison Russell over to second base. This is not a knock on Addison Russell’s ability to play shortstop. Russell is an elite defensive shortstop. However, he has suffered arm injuries at shortstop which has led to many erratic throws. The Cubs gave Russell a training program this offseason that focused on strengthening the muscles in the shoulder. Joe Maddon also wants to limit the amount of throws on a daily basis that Russell is taking. Moving to second base would give Addison shorter throws and more efficiency for the time being. Keeping Russell healthy is crucial to the Cubs success. What would your lineup be? Tweet your opening day lineup to (@Cubs_Live) or (@RyanMelson1). By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
On July 2nd 2013, the Cubs sent Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger to the Baltimore Orioles for Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop. At the time, the Orioles were looking to bolster their pitching staff as they were in the midst of a pennant race. The Cubs on the other hand were on their way to a 96 loss season. Saying a lot has changed since then may be an understatement, and a big reason why the culture of Chicago Cubs baseball has changed is because of Jake Arrieta.
As a member of the Cubs in his first year back in 2013, Arrieta posted a modest 3.66 ERA in 51.2 IP. However, it wouldn't be until the following year that he would break out and make a big impression. In 2014, Arrieta jumped onto the scene as one of baseball's best pitchers. He posted a remarkable 2.53 ERA and finished ninth in Cy Young voting. Although Cubs fans may have known his name by now, the rest of the league was left in the dark; mostly due to the fact Chicago finished last in the central with a 73-89 record. In 2015, the Cubs took the league by storm as they won 97 games and advanced to the NLCS. At the time, the Cubs were a year ahead of Theo Epstein's and Jed Hoyer’s masterful 5-year plan to become contenders. In hindsight, Jake Arrieta was one of the first big steps Theo and Jed took in order to make the Cubs a legitimate threat. As the Cubs blossomed in 2015, so did Arrieta. He dominated hitters every time he took the mound and developed into a true ace. 22 of the 97 games the Cubs won that year were due to Arrieta. He cruised through the regular season with an insane 1.77 ERA, struck out 236 batters in 229 innings of work, and threw a no-hitter. Post all-star break for Arrieta was so dominate that he set a few records along the way. His 0.75 ERA in the second half of the 2015 season was the lowest in the history of Major League Baseball. His historic year earned him the Cy Young, and sixth place in MVP voting. As if Arrieta hadn’t done enough, he threw a complete game shut out against the Pirates in the wild card game, giving the Cubs their first postseason victory since 2008. In the NLDS vs the Cardinals, Arrieta had one start in which he struck out nine and won. After the Cubs defeated the Cardinals, they ran out of steam in the NLCS vs the Mets. The way that Jake would dominate a game that season was something I've never seen before. For someone who struggled to find himself in years past in the AL, he transformed himself as an established house hold name throughout the baseball world. Something Cubs fans would call "Jake Day" became some sort of holiday for Cubs Nation where they had to tune in to watch Arrieta lay it all on the line each start, executing pitch after pitch, and fooling hitters at the plate. Still to this day, one of my favorite Arrieta starts is that 2015 Wild Card game. In a must win game, Maddon gave the ball to the horse in our staff. The grit that Arrieta showed in that Wild Card Game from striking out batters, silencing out the Pittsburgh crowd, getting intentionally hit by a pitch, and finding a way to get out of jams was warrior like. There was no stopping this man. After an unprecedented year, Arrieta followed up by accomplishing a 3.10 ERA and throwing another no-hitter in 2016. As most everyone knows by now, the Cubs went on to win the World Series in stunning fashion that year, and Arrieta was an integral part of that. In the World Series vs Cleveland Arrieta pitched 11.1 innings, had a 2.38 ERA, and won each of his two starts, including an elimination game. Jake showed up each day and delivered when called on. Some of his biggest and most important starts came in that 2016 World Series and he nonetheless showed out. After coming off a World Series high, in 2017 Arrieta's 3.53 ERA doesn't tell the whole story. In his last 18 starts he looked as good as ever, posting a 2.68 ERA and winning crucial games. In the playoffs, Arrieta was able to keep the season alive one more game with a phenomenal 6.2 inning outing vs the Dodgers in the NLCS. He once again proved his value in winning his second career elimination game. With the recent signing of Yu Darvish, it's safe to say an Arrieta reunion with the Cubs is more than likely out of the question but there's no hiding behind the fact what Arrieta has done for this organization. All Cubs fans should sincerely thank Jake Arrieta for the no-hitters, delivering a Cy Young season for the Cubs for the first time since 1992, and dazzling playoff performances each time he was called on. Above all, they should thank him for helping deliver a World Series championship to a city deprived of one for 108 years. As Theo Epstein may have opened a new chapter with Yu Darvish and closed a previous chapter in Cubs history, I'm going to leave you with this quote from the smartest man in all of baseball: "None of us have rings without Jake". Thank you, Jake Arrieta. By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
With pitchers and catchers officially reporting to beautiful Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, it is a perfect time to take a look at what the 25 man roster may look like when the Cubs open up against the Miami Marlins on March 29th. Manager Joe Maddon generally goes with 13 pitchers and 12 position players during the regular season. Starting Pitching The starting staff is set in stone at this point: Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, and Tyler Chatwood. For this starting rotation, staying healthy will be the biggest key throughout spring training and the regular season. There is not much to look for out of these five starting pitchers during spring training, other than the fact that this is an unbelievably impressive starting rotation. Relief Pitching Once again, the Cubs do not have many holes on this roster and that holds true with the bullpen. The locks for the bullpen include Brandon Marrow, Carl Edwards, Jr., Mike Montgomery, Justin Wilson, Brian Duensing, Pedro Strop, and Steve Cishek. These seven are definite locks and this bullpen looks to be significantly upgraded from a year ago, even though the Cubs do not have a pitcher who has been a pure closer. The Cubs plan to go with Marrow as their closer, but they can also use Wilson, Cishek, Edwards Jr., and Montgomery in that role if they need to. The Cubs will feature at least three really good lefties in this bullpen. Montgomery, Wilson, and Duensing will give Joe Maddon plenty of flexibility in games to make pitching changes based on matchups. Truly, there is only one spot that is up for grabs in the Cubs bullpen and there will be heavy competition for that last roster spot. Dario Alvarez, Justin Grimm, Dillon Maples, Randy Rosario, Luke Farrell, and Alec Mills are all candidates for the Cubs last bullpen spot. The left hander Alvarez is an interesting candidate for the Cubs. Alvarez has had some success and has struggled at the Major League level. However, Alvarez seems like a pitcher that the Cubs can rehabilitate, like we have seen with so many other pitchers. Alvarez would also provide the Cubs with a fourth left handed option out of the pen (that is insane to think about). After the 2015 season, I would have thought that Justin Grimm would have been a main staple in the Cubs bullpen for a long time. Since his superb 2015 season, where Grimm posted a 1.99 ERA in 49.2 innings, Grimm has been wildly inconsistent and downright unreliable. With that being said, Grimm’s velocity remains high and his pitches still have incredible movement. However, Grimm may have ruffled feathers in the Cubs front office. He did not accept the Cubs generous arbitration offer that gave him a pay raise of $375,000 dollars, as Grimm wanted an additional $275,000 after an atrocious season. Grimm did not agree, took Theo Epstein to arbitration for the first time in Theo’s career, and Grimm lost the case to Theo. This is not likely to play a factor, but Grimm could become a trade candidate if he has a hot start to spring training. Dillon Maples is the most intriguing candidate out of them all. Maples is a hard throwing right hander, who got a taste of the Major Leagues last September. Outside of one really bad performance, Maples flashed with his electric fastball and wipe out slider. If Maples can show the Cubs he has gotten his command under control, Maples will be a no brainer as the 8th guy in the Cubs pen. Left handed reliever Randy Rosario is another intriguing candidate. The Cubs signed the 23 year old lefty after the Minnesota Twins released him. Rosario is a hard throwing lefty. Like Alvarez, Rosario will be a project that the Cubs hope to strike gold with. Luke Farrell and Alec Mills will also be two to look for in spring training to see how they continue to develop. The needs of 2018 can change and as some of the young pitching develops, keep an eye out for Adbert Alzolay and Oscar De La Cruz to make the team if the Cubs for some reason needed arms in season. These two will likely be called up in September when rosters expand. Position Players Like the starting pitchers, the position players who will be part of the 12 that break spring training with the big league team is pretty set. Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr., and Jason Heyward are all locks for this 25 man roster. The remaining two stops are not that controversial either. It is likely that Chris Gimenez will be the backup catcher and Tommy La Stella will backup the infield and serve as a pinch-hitting extraordinaire. Unfortunately, this leaves out Victor Caratini. Caratini has consistently dominated in the minor leagues. If Caratini can put together an extraordinary spring training, he could force the Cubs into having him on the MLB club. The Cubs may then try to sign Gimenez to a minor league contract, which he might be inclined to do. This likely will not happen, though, and Gimenez will likely be on the big league club. The Final 25 Man Roster Here are my bold predictions for the roster (they are really not that bold, since this roster is set): Starting Pitchers (5): Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, Tyler Chatwood Relief Pitchers (8): Brandon Marrow, Carl Edwards, Jr., Mike Montgomery, Justin Wilson, Brian Duensing, Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Dillon Maples. Position Players (12): Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Albert Almora Jr., Jason Heyward, Tommy La Stella, Chris Gimenez. Baseball is back, folks. How good is it to hear those words? |
Kyle MalzhanFounder who is an aspiring journalist who covers the Chicago Cubs daily. Archives
April 2020
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