Pirates @ Cubs: Nova vs Quintana (Game 132)
PIT (63-70): RHP Ivan Nova (11-11, 3.97)
CHC (71-60): LHP José Quintana (8-11, 4.49)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST
Q gave up 6 ER in 5 innings in Philly on Friday for the loss. He’s sporting an even 6.00 ERA for the month. The Pirates are 12-29 (.414) against him. Rodriguez is 2-4 with a HR.
Nova lost in Cincinnati his last time out (5 IP, 5 ER, 6 K, 3 BB). He’s 2-0 with a 3.29 in two starts against the Cubs this year. Overall, they are 19-97 (.196) against him. Schwarber is 2-4 with a HR.
Tomorrow, it’s Newcomb (2-7) and the Atlantas in town for a four-game series to face Hendricks (5-4) at the same time.
Go Cubs!
Recent comments
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crunch 8 hours 19 min ago (view)
semi-interesting winter league note...
trey mcnutt (yes, that guy) is having a hell of a winter league in mexico (one of the less talented winter leagues) so far as a closer. 15.2ip 8h 4bb 24k, 0.57 era.
giants signed him to a minor league deal a couple weeks ago. he never went anywhere. he's been consistently playing ball in the minors and indie league ball since he was last a noteworthy player. last season he played in the OAK minor league system. 30 years old now...
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jdrnym 15 hours 16 min ago (view)
Brad Brach signs with the Mets for $850K but the Cubs are paying $500K, per Ken Rosenthal. Wasn't his 2020 club only supposed to be on the hook for league minimum?
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crunch 15 hours 52 min ago (view)
when he got to the mets he suddenly learned how to throw with control (small sample size etc). last year was not a fun bullpen year...
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crunch 18 hours 9 min ago (view)
Yeah, I've made myself familiar with a lot of the changes, but AZP's posts have both added more information and cleared up stuff I didn't fully grasp. I appreciate the hell out of it. Thanks Phil, thanks TCR.
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bradsbeard 19 hours 51 min ago (view)
Looks like Savant has his breaking pitch classified as a curve while Fangraphs calls it a slider. Suppose by ST he could have made everything over in the pitching lab, so who knows!
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Arizona Phil 20 hours 8 min ago (view)
Again, none of these rules (including the one that requires a pitcher to face a minimum of three batters or else record the final out of the inning) have been officially approved.
I think one possible caveat that might be added to the three-batter minimum rule would be that the pitcher can be replaced prior to facing three batters or recording the final out of the inning if the other team puts up a pinch-hitter.
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Arizona Phil 20 hours 12 min ago (view)
Ptchers would also be treated differently under the new rules as far as the Injured list and Optional Assignment to the minors is concerned, with pitchers having to spend at least 15 days (up from 10 days) on the Injured List before being eligible to be reinstated and at least 15 days (up from 10 days) on Optional Assignment before being eligible to be recalled (inless the pitcher is being recalled to replace a pitcher on the 26-man roster who has been placed on an MLB inactive list).
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Arizona Phil 20 hours 12 min ago (view)
SONICWIND: As the rule is proposed, prior to the start of each MLB regular season a club must designate all players on its Opening Day 26-man roster as either a "pitcher" or a "position player." A maximum of 13 can be designated as pitchers (14 pitchers max when rosters expand from 26 to 28 beginning on 9/1).
For players who come up during the season, the club must designate the player as either a pitcher or a position player when the player is placed on the MLB active list roster.
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Arizona Phil 20 hours 25 min ago (view)
BRADSBEARD: Fangraphs shows the CT as his primary pitch in 2018 with the SL & FB (and an occasional CH) as his secondary pitches, with no CV at all. I guess I'll find out for sure in Spring Training.
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Sonicwind75 21 hours 41 min ago (view)
AZ Phil, thank you as always for the detailed information. How is the "cannot be a pitcher" part of the rule to be enforced? With a few two way players and the increasing amount of mop up innings being handled by position players it seems like there could be a gray area there. What is preventing a team from stashing an athletic relief pitcher as a "5th outfielder" that could be a pinch runner and play a passable OF when needed but could also provide them with extra relief pitcher. Anytime I hear of a new rule I always think of how Bill Billichek would circumvent it t
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bradsbeard 21 hours 42 min ago (view)
AZ Phil, looking around Baseball Savant, it looks like Winkler now primarily throws a low 90s cutter, a 4-seamer that he throws a little harder (but is less effective), a curve and a sinker. The slider and change haven't been a major part of his repertoir the last two years. The cutter has been really effective the last two years but it looks like he lost command/effectiveness of his 4-seemer and curve last year For whatever reason
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bradsbeard 1 day 1 hour ago (view)
They just signed this guy:
https://twitter.com/mlbastian/status/1202973097223237632
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Hagsag 1 day 2 hours ago (view)
There seems to be a lot of player movement so far. Too bad the Cubs aren't involved.
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Arizona Phil 1 day 18 hours ago (view)
Beginning in 2019, a club must wait a minimum of seven days before it can place a player who was claimed off Outtright Assignment Waivers during the off-season back onto waivers, so because he was claimed off waivers on Wednesday 11/27, yesterday (Wednesday 12/4) was the first day the Cubs could place LHRP C. D. Pelham back onto Outright Assignment Waivers, and so tomorrow (Friday 12/6) is the first day the Cubs can send Pelham outright to the minors (if he was placed back onto waivers yesterday).
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Arizona Phil 2 days 15 hours ago (view)
A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), so don't be surpised if these draft picks are traded during the off-season.
Keep in mind that the slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade.
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Arizona Phil 2 days 15 hours ago (view)
The active list roster limit changes scheduled to go in effect in 2020 have not yet been officially approved. Same goes for the three-batter minimum (or else record the third out in the inning) for relief pitchers.
Comments
AZ Phil,
CHILDERSb3: The Cubs who were
CHILDERSb3: The Cubs who were assigned to the AFL were among the ones I would have expected to be assigned.
Alec Mills needs innings as a starter, and pitching in the AFL will allow that. Same goes for Oscar de ;a Cruz, althugh usually clubs assign only one SP to their AFL affiliate because AFL teams only need five SP (typically one SP from each MLB club affiliated with that AFL team).
Jake Stinnett has been lights-out in the AA Tennessee bullpen since returning from the DL and he could possibly pitch himself onto the Cubs MLB 40-man roster with a strong showing in the AFL, especially if the Cubs decide to non-tender Justin Grimm and/or Hector Rondon And if he isn't added to the 40 on 11/20, he could become a hot commodity in the Rule 5 Draft - IF - he pitches well in the AFL.
The only minor surprise (for me) is that OF Charcer Burks was not assigned, but that could be because the Cubs had to provide a catcher and they wanted Vosler and Bote on the roster more than they wanted Burks there. It's possible the Cubs have already decided to roster or not roster Burks, but it also could be because all of the MSS outfield slots were full. The Cubs still could assign Burks to the AFL as a "Taxi Squad" player (players on an AFL team's taxi squad can play only two games a week), and it would not surpise me if that happens.
I was also a bit surprised about Pedro Araujo (who is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2017) being included on the MSS provisional roster instead of Dakota Mekkes, but it could be Araujo has already verbally agreed to sign a 2018 minor league successor contract (a player cannot officially sign a successor contract until after the conclusion of the minor league season) and perhaps the Cubs wanted to reward him for that. Clubs do like to show loyalty to a minor league FA who re-ups, either with an NRI to Spring Training or a chance to pitch in the AFL. And from Araujo's POV, he could pitch himself into Rule 5 Draft consideration with a strong showing in the AFL, so it could work out very well for him to decline free-agency and take a slot in the AFL instead.
I think It's interesting that Araujo got the AFL slot instead of James Pugliese, Daury Torrez, or Justin Hancock (all three of whom are eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-2017), but that could be because the trio has already indicated to the Cubs that they are not interested in signing a minor league successor contract, or at least that they haven't yet decided one way or the other.
By the numbers, Phil--I'm
VA PHIL: I know Pedro Araujo
VA PHIL: I know Pedro Araujo pretty well from his days at Extended Spring Training. He is indeed a really good guy. Very funny. He's popular with the younger Latin players, almost like a Crash Davis type.
It's not all about stats. Araujo is in his seventh season in the Cubs organization and he is still at Myrtle Beach. That doesn't mean he is a non-prospect, but he does need to prove himself at a higher level before he will be taken seriously as a prospect.
Getting a chance to pitch in the AFL is a big opportunity for Araujo to show what he can do against better competition.
go choque diaz!
The Cubs made a change after
The Cubs made a change after the original AFL rosters were announced yesterday: OF Charcer Burks has been added to the Mesa Solar Sox active roster, and C Ian Rice has been transferred to the MSS "Taxi Squad" (meaning he can play in no more than two AFL games per week, used to be Wednesday and Saturday only, now it's just any two days).
AFL rosters remain provisional and are still subject to change.
AZ Phil,
CHILDERb3: Nelson Velazquez
CHILDERSb3: Nelson Velazquez is a bit of a free-swinger right now, but he has plus HR power that actually plays in games. There are a lot of hitters who have HR power in BP, but they can't do it in a game.
Velazquez is a raw kid, but I can see why he was taken in the 5th round. It will be interesting to watch him develop over the next couple of years.
As things stand right now, I would say the Cubs have about five legit "next generation" position-player prospects who could become part of the Cubs MLB core by 2022 or 2023: SS Aramis Ademan, C Miguel Amaya, CF D. J. Wilson, 3B Wladimir Galindo, and OF Nelson Velazquez.
i.nova has fallen off a cliff
So you're saying "Set the
ha. also, sigh, yes.
Wha?? Cardinals trade Leake
salary dump. leake is owed
217 means he'll hit 350 for
cards celebrate their salary
Brewers and Cards split. OK
jack flaherty seems to be the
I wouldn't worry about it. We
Maybe we could stretch Koji
"Addison Russell (foot) felt
Javy Baez has played
Javy Baez has played shortstop every game since Addison Russell went on the DL on 8/3, and while Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist, and/or Ian Happ could play SS in a pinch. I would think the Cubs will add a more-legit SS (even if it's somebody who is more of a utility player than an every day SS) to the MLB 40-man roster in September.
My best guess is Mike Freeman, who was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs after he elected free-agency after being outrighted to the minors by the Dodgers on 8/5. Freeman can play anywhere in the infield and outfield and is a high-percentage base-stealer, and while he probably wouldn't be needed on the 25-man roster in the post-season (unless Baez gets hurt), Freeman would fill a need in September for a player who can fill-in for Baez occasionally.
All players on an MLB club's MLB 40-man roster as of midnight 8/31 are eligible to be on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List (from which the 25-man active lists are chosen prior to each post-season series), but a player on the MLB 60-day DL is not eligible to be on the club's Post-Season Eligibility list or be replaced on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List (and thus on a post-season active list) by a player who is not on the club's MLB 40-man roster (but who is on a Cubs minor league affiliate's reserve list) as of midnight 8/31 until the injured player has spent at least 60 days on the DL .
If it turns out Addison Russell cannot play anymore this season and is transfered to the Cubs MLB 60-day DL to open up a slot on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster for another player, he would be spending his 60th day on the DL on the last day of the MLB regular season (Sunday 10/1), and thus the Cubs could transfer him to the 60-day DL anytime prior to last day of the MLB regular season and he would be eligible to be replaced on the Post-Season Eligibility List (and thus on a post-season active list) by a player who is not on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster (but who is on a Cubs minor league affiliate's reserve list) as of midnight 8/31. So Mike Freeman does not have to be called up prior to midnight 8/31 to be eligible to play in the post-season (if necessary).
Very interesting. That could
wtf Q? ...again.
HBP a run in.
31 pitches, 8 batters faced,
Back-to-back HBP on 0-2 to
And then Q retires 14 in a
Q turns into kershaw for the
just baez stealing home.
The catcher, Stewart, is no
HR #20 for happ...season
Q does seem to have the
I approve
seconded
PIT is not very good at doing
Waddle on AM 1000 today said
Wow...great overall catch
Broxton can go get 'em.
Time to give Javy a couple
15-3 you say? That sounds
And just as he writes that...
That had to be his best
I haven't seen anyone hit his
Crappy part of a blowout win
20 hits, 1bb, 17 runs...my
Cubs now the first team in
They don't get credit for
Lindor was selected prior to
Yeah, I just saw that in the