Recent comments

Childersb3 1 week ago (view)

Stunned by that. So he's getting GBs or giving up shots to the wall. All or nothing?

I'd be curious to know if those GBs are coming on the Sinker or C/Up.

Charlie 1 week ago (view)

Using the analytics of only my eyeballs--not even wearing my glasses--I have drawn the conclusion that Kyle Hendricks has been hurt badly by what baseball experts call "meatballs."

There's no question that Hendricks can't live in the middle of the zone. He just has to show whether or not he can manage to stay out of there enough of the time to be productive.

My suspicion about Assad is that he'll pay a penalty for fitting too neatly into the swing man role and will get shuffled before Hendricks unless he wildly outperforms the veteran.

First.Pitch.120 1 week ago (view)

Also an odd aberration... KH has given up  7 ground ball base hits so far this year.  Would need to dig deeper, but that's a bunch. 

 Small sample, but his GB% through 3 games is actually very high & the Hard Hit % isn't horrible.  The 20% of Fly Balls becoming HRs is a problem.  

First.Pitch.120 1 week ago (view)

Yeah, all things & injuries being equal I like the five you named.  However, I do really value having 2 long guys in the pen (Smyly + Assad/Brown).  I think the flexibility & reduced stress on the high leverage guys are super useful.  Not everybody can swing from RP/SP smoothly, so I guess I like Assad in that role b/c I know he can do it.  

Childersb3 1 week ago (view)

All fair points. And I freely admit that TX, LAD and SD are really good lineups.
But his stuff just isn't moving like it used too.
His velos are about the same, but the movement isn't enough to make guys roll over and hit ground balls.
His Sinker BAve last year was .318.
I bet it's at least that now.
If he Sinker isn't working, hitters get to wait for the Ch/Up.
He has to get groundball outs somehow.
Assad, Wicks and Brown can help the Cubs now. It won't all be smooth. They're not elite guys now.  But Hendricks is a liability now. Steele, Imanaga, Taillon, Assad, Wicks and Brown are the rotation. Smyly is fine in the pen. He's useful as a long guy.

First.Pitch.120 1 week ago (view)

April Kyle = :0(                              

..............

FWIW... Over his career, Kyle Hendrick's splits are by far the worst in the month of April (like 30% worse).  Even in 2015-2016-2017 his April ERA was in the 4.50 range.   

So while I too am concerned, we should keep that in mind when looking at the amount of leash he is given.  

Dolorous Jon Lester 1 week ago (view)

I love what Assad has been doing. he’s making the decision between him and Wicks once everyone is healthy very difficult.

Dolorous Jon Lester 1 week ago (view)

The wholly self-imposed budget limit of the CBT***

Childersb3 1 week ago (view)

When Taillon comes back, I'm sure the standard belief is Brown goes to Iowa or the Bullpen. If Brown is better than Palencia or Cuas, then let him stay and get MLB hitters out.

But, if Hendricks' Sinker continues to not induce groundballs, then he needs to go to the IL and Taillon replaces him.

When Steele comes back we take a look at how Assad and Brown are doing. I think those two are going to be fine. Assad has always produced and gone under the radar doing so. 
He's better than Hendricks. He was just as good as Kyle last year, if not better in every stat.

Kyle has faced three good lineups to start the year, so he can do better for sure. I simply don't see the same action on his pitches. Hitters see his pitches way too easily nowadays.

Counsell has no loyalty to Hendricks. He wasn't a part of the 2015-2020 crew. I'm sure he respects Kyle's career, but Counsell isn't keeping him out there for nostalgia. He's used to having SP with "stuff". He might be keeping him out there for 16.5million other reasons, but that's sunk cost (just like Heyward). Kyle goes to the IL for a short while, and we see how the younger guys pitch. 

George Altman 1 week ago (view)

Just a great front office move for Jed to pick up that $14.5m option. I mean, it's not lIke the Cubs were up against the CBT or something. 

Charlie 1 week ago (view)

Realistically, he's got at least until Steele and Taillon are back. Then it's a question of whether Brown sticks around or Horton is ready quickly enough to push him out of the rotation. I don't think Assad or Wesneski are likely to push him out this year unless Hendricks really remains a negative WAR starter. 

crunch 1 week 1 day ago (view)

it takes special talent to come into a game with an 11.74 ERA, pitch 5+ innings, and raise your ERA.

26 hits, 5 HR, in 12.2ip this season over 3 appearances.

crunch 1 week 1 day ago (view)

proposal...

put hendricks in the pen and let's not revisit the decision, like ever.

i expect he'll get tons of chances before that happens, and i hope he turns it around...but i'm expecting nothing but more pain.

Childersb3 1 week 1 day ago (view)

Thanks. Someone in AZ I know was asking.

Arizona Phil 1 week 1 day ago (view)

The start times are moved around, sometimes at the last minute. The Giants - A's game was canceled at the last.minute on Monday, and yesterday's Giants - Rockies game was moved from afternoon to morning with only an hour's notice. There were also games moved from night to morning on the west side. Or the game location might be switched from a home game to a road game, or vice versa. So you have to be mobile and be willing and able to block out a full day and potentially wait around just to find out that the game time has been changed or that the game has been canceled. Or be ready to go on the road when you expected the game at home. There are also a number of Camp Days where there is no game scheduled against another organization, but there might be an intrasquad game, or they might decide at the last minute to play a game against another organization. Or not. You just have to be flexible and go with the flow. 

Childersb3 1 week 2 days ago (view)

AZ Phil,

Is there a schedule for these EXT ST games ? 
And don't they all start at 10am or Noon? You've said that in the past here but I cannot recall.
I apologize.
Thanks

bigsky33 1 week 2 days ago (view)

Hi Phil, what time are they starting the extended Spring training games?  Thanks! 

crunch 1 week 2 days ago (view)

ben brown goes tonight.

cooper at DH.

Arizona Phil 1 week 2 days ago (view)

It was the greatest comeback victory in the 56-year history of the San Diego Padres, and the first time the Cubs have blown an eight-run lead and lost in more than 20 years. Other than that, it was strictly a run-of-the-mill ho-hum loss.

crunch 1 week 2 days ago (view)

cubs blow 8 run lead.

nice.  glad i didn't stay up for that.