Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Strangely Confident

It's not that I have any good reason to be, losing the first game of a five game series seems to be pretty close to a death sentence. I believe the stat being bandied about is 24 of 28 NLDS Game 1 winners have gone on to win the series, although it' s only 14-14 for the ALDS (that's what I heard on XM this morning). Now, I have no idea why the disparity between two leagues and there's really no logical explanation on why the designated hitter would make a difference, so I'll chalk it up to just one of those statistical oddities that litter baseball's history. Nonetheless, circumstances don't favor the Cubs to win this series.

As for why I think the Cubs are still going to, you should all know that I still believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Okay, that's silly, everyone knows it's just your parents sneaking into your room with a quarter for your incisors. I mean, what kind of rationale being collects teeth? And I have yet to meet a bunny that lays eggs. But no one has still given me a good explanation on how that Atari 2600 showed up for Christmas when I was five, so I'm sticking with the man in the red suit.

As for this series, in the theater of my mind, I saw the Cubs dropping Game 1 and that's why I picked them to win it in four. I just didn't like the match-up of Lowe vs. Dempster. Lowe seems to have had great success against us, especially in Wrigley, and despite the extremely impressive season Dempster had, he's still too walk-happy for my tastes. It's not that I even think it was the wrong decision to start him in Game 1, because other than a healthy Rich Harden, I wouldn't have liked any match-up against Derek Lowe in Game 1.

But I like Zambrano going tonight on the blind assumption that his shoulder is 100%, hell I'd take 80%. And if he does pitch well tonight, I don't doubt that Lou will go with him in a Game 5 over Dempster  if the series gets that far. The Dodgers do counter with one of my favorite young pitchers in baseball, Chad Billingsley, but for many of the reasons I didn't trust Dempster last night, I don't like the odds that Billingsley does much against the Cubs. It's his first postseason start, he's a bit too walk happy and he's a good 50 innings over his career max already.  Now he had a solid September, but I've already mentioned how it was against some of the worst teams and offenses in the league.

Am I being overly optimistic? Probably, but heck, this is how I envisioned the series to be played out, a Game 1 loss followed by three straight Cubs wins. I could be proven wrong at any point over the next three games, but I'll keep believing until that happens.

As for last night, a few concerns, thoughts, general misery... 

- Dempster certainly was wild, but that home plate umpire's erractic strike zone didn't help matters one bit. And that James Loney grand slam had to be one of the more, "I can't believe that just happened" moments I've witnessed as a Cubs fans. Dempster was all over the place already that inning having walked two in a row and the bases loaded and Loney comes up hacking on the first two pitches, two pitches that were out of the zone. I really thought the Cubs caught a break there and then Dempster leaves one up and Loney suddenly takes a good swing. 

- While I'm normally no big fan of small ball, I mentioned in an earlier preview that it might be wise for the Cubs to try and put pressure on a mediocre Dodgers defense. In the 5th though, with a groundball specialist on the mound and "Double Play" Lee at the plate, Lou failed to send Fukudome from first and Lee hit into the inevitable rally killer. Now it probably wouldn't have mattered on that particular play as Lee hit it right up the middle, but it's concerning that Lou seemed content to wait for the big hit, rather than try and make some things happen when the opportunity presented itself.

Quick sidenote, how did they give Casey Blake an error on that ball that Fukudome reached on? Blake was playing in protecting for the bunt and Fukudome rocketed the ball off of him. That's a tough error call. 

- Back to playing small ball, with the lead still just two runs in the sixth, Aramis Ramirez doubled. Soto was unable to advance him to third base, staring at two strikes over the outside corner before striking out. Concerning once again that the Cubs hitters didn't adapt to the situation that presented itself.

- Finally, the bullpen sure did nothing to ease our fears. Sean Marshall's outing was pretty decent and I just can't fault him for that home run to Manny Ramirez which Manny hit off his shoe tops. Yet he still gave up a run in what was still a very close game. And yeah, Samardzija got burned a bit by a bad defensive play by Edmonds, but still gave up a run. And there's no excuse for Marquis, he just kind of sucks. But 4.1 IP from the bullpen and three runs just isn't very reassuring.

- On a positive note, the Cubs already have as many extra base hits as they did in all of last year's Division Series.

- On an negative note, the Cubs have lost 7 post-season games in a row. 

So there we have it, a LONG wait until Game 2 starts and let me tell you, casa de Rob G. was not a happy place last night after the Cubs and Angels games. it doesn't help that I'm surrounded by Dodgers fans at the office either. Hopefully the Cubs give me some ammunition to fight with after tonight. 


 UPDATE: Just to clarify that LDS stat that I heard this morning - by my count, the Wild Card started in 1995 which would mean 26 NLDS series. There also a division series round in 1981 because of the strike. As for random quirks that don't mean a thing, the four NL teams that overcame a first game defeat. 


2003 Marlins - won World Series
2000 Mets - went to World Series
1999 Braves - went to World Series
1981 Dodgers - won World Series

Remarkably, all those teams played the Yankees in the World Series.

Comments

Why am I confident that the Cubs will still win this series? Because all throughout this season this 2008 team has done things that no other Cubs team has done for many many years. Winning this series will just be another one of those things.

I actually feel strangely confident right now also. Not sure why though...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

in that respect, it makes even less sense. In my take, Darth is on the bad side. Darth's side loses and he get his hand cut off and gets killed. AND he didn't kill the emperor to save the universe from the Dark Side. He killed the emperor because he still loved his son.

I feel confident as I got my guy on the hill tonight. I really believe that Z is a big game pitcher who thrives on adrenaline. I expect a lot from him tonight. let me also add that I remember quite a few series this season where the Cubs really needed a series win to keep their lead. They, then, dropped the first game only to come back and win the next two.

I'm clearly missing something...

Wild card started in 1995, right? It was suppose to be 1994 but no postseason that year.

Isn't that 26 NLDS series? They must be counting 1981 as well then....

the four NL teams that won after losing Game 1:

2003 Marlins - won World Series

2000 Mets - went to World Series

1999 Braves - went to World Series

1981 Dodgers - won World Series

all 4 teams ended up playing the Yankees, which is weird...or ominous...or meaningless.  

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Stats I heard and read yesterday for teams that won game 1: NL: 23-3 AL: 12-14 I'm not confident...but I am much more relaxed then I was yesterday. I guess I kinda feel at rock bottom now, so expectations are very low that they'll come back, which means another loss won't crush me like yesterday's did.

I was actually extremely confident going into yesterdays game, but that vanished off Loney's bat. This is a free game for the Dodgers and the Cubs will likely be tight. Z could come out and pitch fantastic, but he could also be the crazy Z and pitch us out of the game by the 3rd inning. I hope for the sane Z tonight. Go Cubs!!

I was so confident before the NLDS began that I was actually worried a Cub sweep would wipe out our tickets to game 4. After the way we lost last night I'm still worried about game 4.

will be in Parachat for the rest of today's game. stop by...

"And I have yet to meet a bunny that lays eggs." Yeah, but we sure saw a good team lay one last night - kill that bunny tonight, guys.

The following in some combination will need to occur for the Cubs to right the ship and have a chance: 1. Z pitches his ass off. 2. Soriano can get on base at least twice 3. D-P Lee produces 4. Soto, from the 5-slot, has a key hit 5. Middle relief is completely avoided 6. A-Ram continues his recent "hot-streak" (he upped his NLDS average from last year by hitting a double whereby Soto K's, and he was left stranded at 3B) Without some kind of combination of the above - at least three of the 6, I do not see it happening. Alas, if the team loses tonight, the fat lady can sing away from the roof-tops in my opinion. I have tickets for Game 5, however, and would love to use them.

Did anyone get drawn for the the NLDS ticket lottery? I just got an email saying I was selected to purchase NLCS tickets and was wondering what that means in practical terms (i.e. actually be able to buy tickets, stuck in virtual waiting room, etc.).

[ ]

In reply to by Leningrad Cowboy

I got in for the NLDS lottery. The day before they went on sale they emailed me a password that allowed me to buy two tickets to one game. Still had to do the virtual waiting room, but it was pretty painless, about 10-15 minutes.

Another stat I heard on XM this morning is that the Cubs in their entire history have never won a postseason series in which they lost Game One. Given their record in postseason series, I'm guessing they also lost quite a few in which they won Game One. Nevertheless, I am strangely confident too. A streak like that has gotta end sometime, and this one is way overdue. Win tonight and all we've gotta do is split in LA to bring it back home for the deciding game.

On my way to the roof top on Sheffield. Look for me I will be the one wearing the Cubs hat GO CUBS!!!

lol @ Rob G.'s psychotic optimism. In all seriousness, it is what it is. Lost game 1 in a 5 game series.

"...but the last thing anyone associated with the Cubs needs to do is perpetuate the myth." That's really ridiculous - what an asshat. Oooh, curses, voodoo...scaly, huh, keeds? Just win the farkin' game.

BTW, you should see the fans filing past my front door right now (I'm a mile west on Addison) - jeez, they're almost funereal. Lighten up, guys.

I actually felt sorry for Sabathia during that last inning - his arm's gonna fall off if they keep him in past the 6th at this rate.

well now at least Dempster has somethings in common with CC Sabathia LET'S KICK SOME ASS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

I can see tomorrows headline in Milwaukee-- "Sabathia Contracts Dempsteritis"

on Sabathia last night, but Mr. "I had a 7.17 ERA in the playoffs for my career" Sabathia can add a 4th digit to his postseason ERA. I hope the Cubs stay clear of the 175 million price tag on him.

Recent comments

  • Charlie (view)

    I worry that Morel will lose starts at 3B as long as this roster lacks a compelling DH.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I think if you had ranked players by how much the team could ill afford to have them miss significant time, Steele would be right at the top of the list.

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.