Cubbyblue's Archives
Tomorrow's Roster Reduction. Kinda like Jenga...
(And no fair pointing out that in the actual game, you put the block back on top.)
Friday Funnies. Cubs vs Cards FINALLY!
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Sunday Funnies: Chafin's Stache
From AZ Phil a couple weeks ago: "Chafin has been exactly the same each outing so far this Spring... his command and consistency never seem to waver... "
Plus that stache.
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If 2020 were a baseball player, it would be Steve Garvey.
You know, the Padres have always sort of held a special place in my baseball heart.
They're that chunk of burnt fat off an Italian beef I got at some bar on Lincoln that stuck in my artery since I watched that Garvey homer in 1984.
You'd think it might be getting better after all these years, but now with this Yu Darvish trade to Garvey's old team to clear some money?
Tums won't help.
We knew change was coming, but whatever, man.
2020 sucks.
Monday Funnies: What's more fun than watching the Bears?
A tad off topic, but whatever.
Happy Monday!
Rumor:Tony La Russa to manage White Sox? Just in time for Halloween.
I heard this rumor on The Score last night out by the grill, and it seems to be all over the place.
Tony La Russa to manage the White Sox?
Trick or treat, I guess.
Saturday Funnies: Hendricks has the usual.
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Baseball is back (for optimists).
I believe we're all optimists at heart or the being a Cubs Fan thing falls apart.
But there's a tug of war illustrated here that's happening, too.
Yes, we're all thrilled that baseball is back.
I may weep when I hear Pat Hughes' voice on the transistor out by the grill.
But also, I can't help thinking that Lucy's holding that football and telling me to kick.
Here's hoping it all actually happens.
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Try singing "Take me out to the ballgame" when washing hands.
Do something nice for your baseball soul.
Took me about 30 seconds, and it's way better than "Happy Birthday" twice.
The Astros*
* Cheated throughout the 2017 season including the World Series.
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Cubs 5 Phillies 7. Made my head explode.
Follow up to yesterday's gif.
As Hunter Thompson may have said, dogs licked my heart.
It can't get any worse, can it?
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Cubs 1, Phillies 11. HURLTASTIC!
Been awhile for one of these...
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Cub Fan, illustrated.
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Sunday Funnies. You can't spell "HADER" without "HR".
Brewer's closer Josh Hader gave up 2 homers the other night in an extra inning loss to the Giants, which brings his 2019 total up to 9.
That's also how many he gave up all last year.
Just a crack in the Brewer armor.
A disturbance in the force.
One of those things that can live in Hader's head no matter how much he may try to forget.
Happy Sunday.
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Happy 4th of July, Cub Fans.
I'm in a cabin in the Great North Woods.
There's wifi at a nearby lodge, but it's kind of a hike.
But the really cool thing is... AM radio at night.
You can hear stations from other states.
Like AM 670.
It's magic.
One time someone explained to me why AM radio works like that, but I can't remember the deets.
Anyway, last night the game FINALLY came in.
Kinda scratchy and broken up, but... THERE'S PAT HUGHES!
I got to hear the bottom of the 9th.
Thus the gif.
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Recent comments
crunch (view)
SF snags b.snell...2/62m
Cubster (view)
AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.
Arizona Phil (view)
The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24).
However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time).
Arizona Phil (view)
Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.
Arizona Phil (view)
For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024:
* bats or throws left
Angel Cepeda, INF
* Miguel Cruz, P
Yidel Diaz, C
* Albert Gutierrez, 1B
Fraiman Marte, P
Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B)
Derniche Valdez, INF
Edward Vargas, OF
Jeral Vizcaino, P
And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.
Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect.
F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season.
The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher).
Arizona Phil (view)
DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically.
Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).
Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day.
Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.
The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster
Arizona Phil (view)
Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required.
They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).
If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.
If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option).
Childersb3 (view)
Phil,
Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?
Arizona Phil (view)
In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!
And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).