Cubs Live
By: Ryan Melson (@RyanMelson1)
“It’s The Cubs League” will come out on Saturday’s and will focus on the weekly news, notes, and highlights from the week. Monday 1) Off Day. The Cubs had the day off on Monday as they were gearing up for a double header on Tuesday. Tuesday 2) Willy Is Flexing. In a split squad, the Cubs big guns came to hit against the Padres. Leading the pack was Willson Contreras. Willson hit a moon shot to centerfield and he continues to flash power that is rarely seen from a catcher. Before the injury last season, Willson looked like he was going to get close to 30 homeruns, if not 30 plus homeruns. Getting a full season out of Willson will be crucial to see how much his power can develop. 3) Centerfield Battle Update. Albert Almora Jr. laced a few hits out of the leadoff role. While he struggled early on this spring, Almora is getting back to his normal hitting ways. 4) The Utility Pitcher. Mike Montgomery started this game against the Padres and provided a solid outing. Montgomery pitched three and two-thirds innings and allowed two runs. I think Montogmery would be a solid starter, but I do believe his main value is out of the bullpen. Starting pitchers have a much higher pay scale than relief pitchers, so I see why Montgomery wants to start. However, he will likely not get that chance with the Cubs. 5) Happ’s Growth. In the nightcap against the Giants, it took no time before Ian Happ ripped his fifth homerun of the spring, and second this spring off Madison Bumgarner to lead off the game. Happ continues to flourish in the leadoff role this spring. He has also showed a balance of power between the left and right side, as he has hit two homers from the left side and three from the right side. Happ has found a home in the leadoff role. He is also seizing on every opportunity he gets to be in that role. 6) Budding Ace? Happ has been incredible this spring, but another Cub may have had the best spring so far. Tyle Chatwood continues to look the role of a budding ace. Chatwood pitched five innings against the Giants, he allowed one hit, and struck out nine. Chatwood has never been known as a strikeout pitcher, but he has always had the stuff to be a strikeout pitcher. Chatwood’s ERA this spring is 0.82. While spring training ERA has no bearing on what his regular season ERA will be, it is more than encouraging to see Chatwood dominate. Call me the leader of the Chatwood pack, but I think he will leave people stunned at how good he really is. 7) The Super Bullpen. Brian Duensing, Brandon Marrow, and Carl Edwards Jr. each pitched a scoreless inning of work. Seeing that pen in action makes me realize even more so just how deep and talented the Cubs bullpen actually is. On any given day, you could have a different combinations of relievers, and that is getting me more excited than it should. 8) Addy Muscle. Addison Russell hit his first homerun of the spring. This makes me wonder: what is Addison’s ceiling for homeruns? At times, Addison hits homeruns effortlessly. When he is hitting homeruns, they generally come in bunches. Here is to hoping that he has a lot of those bunches of homeruns this coming season. Wednesday 9) Court Is In Session. Ryan Court, the Elgin native and Illinois State University product, has put together a spectacular spring. Court seems willing to play any position to show his versatility and have the possibility of making this team. Court has put together a banner spring with his slash line looking like video game numbers .400/.488/1.231. Court has also hit three home runs, scored eleven times, and stolen five bases. Court is 29 years old and hoping to get a final roster spot with his hometown team. While it is unlikely he will make this team because the amount of talent, Court could have a chance if the Cubs decide to carry one less bullpen arm. With that being said, Court could easily make the roster of other big league clubs with what he has shown this spring. Teams have to be taking notice of his versatility in the field and his hitting ability. 10) Happ’s Continued Success. As the sample size gets bigger, Ian Happ continues to thrive in the leadoff position this spring. Happ’s OBP is now .459. He has displayed a patient approach at the plate and this is to go along with his well-known power. These are the reasons why Ian Happ will leading off on March 29th in Miami. 11) Diamond In The Rough. I am not trying to get too excited about this because it’s spring training (I am actually beaming ear to ear about this), but Randy Rosario looks like he is another diamond in the rough that Theo Epstein found. Rosario threw two more scoreless innings out of relief. Rosario has posted a 0.00 ERA in 6.1 innings this spring. 12) Pitching Depth. Alec Mills continues to show he is an under the radar pitcher. On Wednesday, Mills started the game against his former Royals team, threw two scoreless innings, and allowed one hit. 13) Potential Disabled List Stint. Pedro Strop has yet to pitch this spring. Strop could be placed on the disabled list to begin the season with a calf injury. Strop said he feels great and expects to play next week. This is something to keep an eye on because it could open up another bullpen spot to begin the season. Strop is a valuable pitcher out of the bullpen and the Cubs are making sure his injury does not linger. Thursday 14) Quiet Folks, Class Is In Session. Kyle Hendricks looked like he was in mid-season form on Thursday. Hendricks pitched six innings, allowed three hits, one run, and had seven strikeouts. Kyle is doing Kyle things and you should be very excited. 15) Grimm’s Release. The Cubs released Justin Grimm. After getting injured early in 2016, Grimm could never recapture his brilliance in 2015. Grimm’s stuff is good overall, but his struggles with his command have haunted him. Grimm will get another opportunity elsewhere and we wish the 2016 World Series Champ the best of luck. 16) What Grimm’s Release Means. At this point, it looks like either Eddie Butler or Randy Rosario will get the last bullpen spot. Butler has put together a solid spring with a 2.70 ERA. However, Butler does not have any more options to be sent back to the minor leagues. If Butler does not make the big league club, he will likely be picked up by another team. On the other hand, Rosario does have options left. Rosario has had the better spring out of the two, though. Rosario is also left handed. Keep an eye on each of these two the rest of spring training. 17) Hey Hey, J-Hey. Jason Heyward cranked his first homerun of the spring. I am truly hoping Heyward has an offensive season that is more in line with his career numbers before he joined the Cubs. If the Cubs could get that Heyward on this team, the lineup will be feared from top to bottom. 18) In Need Of Feel Good Stats This Spring? Kris Bryant is hitting .318, Anthony Rizzo is hitting .300, Kyle Schwarber is hitting .333, Willson Contreras is hitting .333, and Addison Russell is hitting .320. This core is quietly putting together a really solid spring. Friday 19) Yu Still Can’t Touch This. Yu Darvish was marvelous on Friday, making me drool even more to see him dominating in a Cubs uniform. Darvish threw five innings, allowed three hits, and one earned run. Darvish also hit 98 MPH on the radar gun. Darvish said he thinks the radar guns are broken. Even if he is right, his velocity is very encouraging and gets me even more excited for this spring. 20) Going Deep: Willson Style. Willson Contreras went deep for his third homerun this spring. Can anyone say someone is “en fuego?” 21) Spring Training MVP. Mike Freeman continues to do Mike Freeman things. On Friday, Freeman collected another two hits, one of them being his second homerun of the spring. Freeman is hitting .459 and his OPS is a scorching 1.215. Yes, I am the leader of the Freeman fan club and anyone is welcome to join. 22) Something To Keep An Eye On. With the Cubs releasing Justin Grimm, they saved another $2 million dollars on the 2018 payroll. This gives the Cubs roughly $14 million under the luxury tax threshold. The Cubs do not want to go over the luxury tax because of the penalty implications. The Cubs also want to maintain some of that $14 million for in season needs as they arise. However, out of that $14 million, $7 or $8 million could be available for a certain free agent closer named Greg Holland. Now, the Cubs do not have a need in the bullpen and this would be a dramatic pay decrease for what Holland had originally anticipated his market to be to start the season. But if you are not going to get anything better than that on the market, why not come rehabilitate your value on a team who will have massive national spotlight all season? Additionally, pitching at Wrigley Field instead of Coors Field would be a major benefit for Holland. Holland would also have the Cubs defense behind him. Holland could sign a one-year, prove it deal to cash in big time next off-season. This would be a gamble for Holland, but there are a lot of factors in Holland’s favor that could position him nicely for next offseason. 23) Fan Clubs. Life has been busy for me, but I am now hosting two fan clubs: Mike Freeman and Ryan Court. How can you not root on Ryan Court? His story is incredible and you should go read Chicago Cubs beat reporter Carrie Muskat’s story to learn more. (https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-ryan-court-trying-to-live-out-dream/c-268786020?tcid=tw_article_268786020)
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Kyle MalzhanFounder who is an aspiring journalist who covers the Chicago Cubs daily. Archives
April 2020
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