Nationals @ Cubs: Roark vs Arrieta (NLDS Game 4)

Submitted by CTSteve on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:19am

WAS (1-2): RHP Tanner Roark (0-0, —)
CHC (2-1): RHP Jake Arrieta (0-0, —) 
First pitch: 3:00pmCST (TBS)

Arrieta left his last start early (Sept. 26 in St. Louis) with a strained hamstring. Let’s hope it holds up. He went 3 innings and gave up 3 runs and was tagged with the loss. 

He went 14-10 with a 3.53 for the season, including going 5-2 with a 2.90 at Wrigley. In 7 post-season starts, Arrieta has a 3.64 ERA. 

Jake gave up 5 ER in 4 innings and lost to the Nationals in DC in June. Overall, they are 32-134 (.239) against him. Rendon is 4-11; Murphy is 5-17. Lind and Werth have taken him deep.

Roark last pitched an inning of relief (Oct. 1) against the Pirates, in which he gave up 2 ER. He gave up 6 ER in 4.2 innings in Philly, for the loss. For the season, he went 13-11 with a 4.67. On the road, he went 7-5 with a 4.26.

He beat the Cubs at Wrigley in June (6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 3 BB). For their careers, they are 17-79 (.215) against him. Bryant is 5-11 with a HR. 

Hey, let’s close out the series at home—and on Trans’s birthday!

Go Cubs! 

Tags: 
2017 Postseason

Comments

Submitted by Hagsag  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:35am  
Chance of rain today. Let's do our thing today. I don't want to look at that Strasberg guy again.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 8:32am  
I brought my umbrella to work today, and it never rains when I do that.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 8:32am  
How did that work?

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 8:55am  
Not great actually.

Submitted by Charlie  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 8:51am  
Cubs are due for a big offensive day. No nailbiters here, please.

Submitted by Charlie  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 2:29pm  
What are the chances Lackey ends up pitching in this thing? Arrieta's recent hamstring injury and the impending rain do not bode well.

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:02pm  
30m til gametime and it's officially in delay. supposedly it might get cancelled depending on what it looks like in 30m.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:14pm  
What a fucken scam. If they start the game at the normal day game time at Wrigley, 1:15, then they beat the rain no problem. But no, TBS, a fucken cable channel that NOBODY watches, gets to dictate the start time. And now the Nats get the advantage of pitching Strasburg on normal rest for game 4. Nice!

Submitted by Transmission  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:13pm  

My jerk friends want to take me out to dinner to celebrate my 40th... right at the start of the Cubs game. The jerks!.  :)

In an absolute perfect world, this game gets delayed until maybe 9 central, and then the Cubs win.  In a next-to-perfect world, the game gets cancelled, but Dusty Baker decides to pitch Roark tomorrow anyway, and we win tomorrow.

Submitted by Transmission  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:32pm  

Huh.  Tanner Roark and Jake Arrieta are the same pitcher.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:41pm  
This delay is wreaking havoc on planning when I should play hooky from work.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 4:51pm  
The answer to that is always right now. When you can frequently has a different answer.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:03pm  
Have to figure out when i need to arrive at my lucky sports bar, WS game 7, Dodger clincher last year, Friday and Monday of this series. I believe I am playoff undefeated at this place. Pure science. PS: i may be starting a Go Fund Me to cover my bar tab.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:19pm  
I'm hearing it is postponed until tomorrow at 3:08. I guess MLB wanted a 5 game series.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:21pm  
"Dusty Baker said he's not sure whether his team would go with Tanner Roark or Stephen Strasburg." Dusty should be fired if Strasburg doesn't pitch.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:51pm  
I guess Strasburg is feeling under the weather and will be held back until game five, if needed.

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 6:07pm  
evidently there's some kind of "under the weather bug" going around the WAS clubhouse. germ warfare is the new moneysballs.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 6:14pm  
All part of The Plan part ][

Submitted by Lester's rattle...  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:31pm  
So with the game postponed, should the Cubs go with Hendricks tomorrow? Couldn’t hurt to let Arrieta’s hammy get another day of rest. And if the Cubs can win this series without him, then he would be really well rested for the NLCS.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:52pm  
Maddon has said that Jake will start game four tomorrow.

Submitted by blockhead25  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:31pm  
This postponement is an epic benefit to the Nats. Guess Mother Nature is returning the favor for The Game 7 delay in WS.

Submitted by champsummers  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 8:31pm  
Well, at least this way we get to use Strop and Davis tomorrow, who are really the only guys I'm comfortable with coming out of the pen. So unless Strasberg gets well and starts, I'm feeling pretty good about it. That is, of course, unless he comes out of the pen in the 4th to protect a 2 run lead till the 8th. That would really suck. So I think the easiest thing to do would be to score about 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st, before Dusty has time to warm anybody up.

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:53pm  
My friend, the same thought crossed my mind yesterday: The rain giveth, the rain taketh away.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:40pm  
So, I asked my boss, "Can I leave a little early for the Cubs game this afternoon?" He said, with a grin, "As a salaried employee you are expected to to put in the work when needed. When things come up, you are a professional and we don't monitor that." Hopefully I can play that card tomorrow since I stayed today (and kept checking Jesse Roger's tweets for postponement). Wondering if there is any "momentum" lost - knowing that they have to face Stras again?

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 5:56pm  
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20982955/2...

Submitted by Cubster  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 6:54pm  
https://www.google.com/amp/mlb.nbcsports.com Dusty complained about: Hotel air conditioning making entire Nats team sick Nats changing hotels tonight, because they didn’t plan on staying in Chicago Wednesday Chicago mold making the entire Nats team sick including Strasburg

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 10:16pm  
Dusty channeling his inner Craig Counsell. /smh

Submitted by crunch  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 10:28pm  
it's a bit more tame than it may seem. here's the video from the press conference... https://twitter.com/ABC7Erin/status/917890713...

Submitted by Lester's rattle...  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 8:37pm  
This postponement really favors the Dodgers who don’t need any help as it is a already. Now the game 4 starters won’t be ready to go till game 3 of the NLCS. So I think it’s become even more important for the Cubs to clinch in game 4. Would be nice to have both Hendricks and Lester fresh for games 1 and 2 if they advance...

Submitted by blockhead25  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 9:09pm  
US eliminated from the World Cup. Wow. Just Wow.

Submitted by waveland  on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 11:12pm  
I don't think enough Americans pay attention to sailing for us to ever win

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 5:46am  
Dude, the sailing race is the America's Cup. We always win that, it says so in the name. Plus, we invented boats.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 8:32am  
all of this checks out as true. USA! USA! USA! USA!

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 8:47am  
I thought we only invented the canoe?

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:37am  
Speaking of canoes, I'm tired of seeing Michael Bradley paddling around midfield like a boy in a bathtub. Maybe we've seen him for the last time. The USMNT should follow the Cubs' example and clean house and go young. Way too many of these mediocre veterans play in the league of last resort, MLS.

Submitted by RichK  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:50am  
Actually, we lost the last America's Cup event this summer to New Zealand. The event was held in Bermuda. Each win counted as a single point, 7 points were needed to win. NZ started at -1 for some reason and still outpointed Team Oracle by a 7-1 margin. The races I watched were not even close. Next event will be held in southern summer of 2021 off NZ somewhere. They use foiling catamarans (AC45) with a wing for a sail that can run at 40 knots. Impressive to watch.

Submitted by Charlie  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:47am  
Danged sabermetrics. I don't understand any of these newfangled statistics.

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:37am  
Only cups I care about are protective cups. Go baseballs.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 11:12am  
+1 Ryno

Submitted by Hagsag  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:13am  
I don't care.

Submitted by michael2z  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 11:07am  

mlb.com says Strasburg likely to start today

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 11:09am  
Hearing some noise that Strasburg will start, but I haven't seen it confirmed.

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 12:40pm  
For a short time today, on Wikipedia, the owner, gm, and president of the Washington Nationals was listed as Anthony Rizzo. I hit refresh and it changed back to Mike Rizzo. I wish I would have gotten a screenshot.

Submitted by tim815  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 12:45pm  
I thought Anthony Rizzo owns the Nats.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 1:13pm  
im all for rizzo owning the nats today.

Submitted by michael2z  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 2:37pm  

mlb.com says Strasburg is going to start today

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 3:22pm  
the feed looks like there's a blur filter on every camera. woo rain.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 3:47pm  
the wind blowing in is cruel. russell hit the living hell out of a catch at the wall.

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:56pm  
crunch, I got a bird's eye view from my seats in the Outfield Boxes Section 403 (the next section is a fire station), and the ball got to its highest point and you could just see the wind stop it and guide it down into the glove.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 11:05am  
yeah, that was no cheapie hit. on a no-wind day that would probably be out of every park in MLB.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 4:12pm  
with trea turner + schwarb playing i decided to revisit that 2014 draft. i was hoping the cubs would snag aaron nola (best college pitcher not named carlos rodon), but it's hard to argue about snagging the best college power bat. 1st overall pick braidy aiken threw 132ip 134h 101bb 89k (yes, 101bb) in A ball. ow. 2nd overall pick tyler kolek (MIA) missed all of 2016 with TJ surgery he had in april 2016, but he didn't make it back til august 2017 where he totally crapped himself with a line of 3.2ip 4h 14bb 1k (yes, 14bb) in 5 appearances (4 starts) in rookie ball. ow. heavily cubs-linked alex jackson (6th overall) put up a "meh" season of .267/.328/.480 split between A+/AA, but he did it as a 21 year old playing a bit over his head.

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 4:29pm  
Well, with Addy's error, Cubs have "blinked" first. Hopefully the guys can pick Addy up like they did for Schwarber a couple days ago. Could see Lackey possibly getting an appearance today given Jake's high early pitch count.

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 4:36pm  
Monty warming up - definitely prefer him over Lackey

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 4:48pm  
stop...sliding...into...first...base...

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 4:57pm  
Strasburg 1, Chicago Mold 0

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 5:02pm  
lester, eh? alright.

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 5:49pm  
Cubs kicked in the nuts by that Strasburg changeup

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:58pm  
Every time a Cub struck out, the board said "88 mph changeup." It was brutal. Ya gotta give the guy credit. And it also seemed that every time the bleacherites chanted "Stras-burg...Stras-burg" he kicked it up a notch.

Submitted by Transmission  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:01pm  

Jon F'ing Lester....

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:22pm  
.... .... ....fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Submitted by Transmission  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:21pm  

#@$!%#^[email protected]#!%

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:03pm  
I presume you refer to the g**** s*** by the eighth-place hitter on a night in which several guys hit drives that would be out of the park on a neutral evening. The ballpark was silent, as everybody there "knew" the wind would knock it down. Happ went up, and when he didn't come down with the ball, there was a brief ballpark-wide WTF moment. Even the scoreboard hesitated. The guy next to me said, "You know, the wind died down for a few seconds just as that happened." I leave you all to your metaphysical/theological/existential reflection on that...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 11:07am  
https://i.imgur.com/HkPOzEH.jpg

Submitted by blockhead25  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:23pm  
lame.

Submitted by blockhead25  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:25pm  
I remain amazingly calm. Not that I think the Cubs will win the series, but that I just don't care nearly as much so soon after last year. Bummer that the rain really changed the dynamic of the series though.

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:23pm  
Especially if the Cubs lose tomorrow, there will be a zillion chin-puller essays (FanGraphs, go!) about Cub fans and the difference made after 2016. I have been a Cub fan for 52 years, so I need say no more. The championship was a miracle, a dispersal of demons, the elimination of a curse. So now what? I think, just speaking for myself, that I will remain a fanatical Cub fan, but what happens in the postseason won't be the kind of apocalyptic event that a failure in Game Seven in 2016 would have been. I still will acknowledge the magnitude of what has happened--Dear Lord, I have attended Cubs postseason games for three years--in a row!--but there will, for me, always be the detachment brought about by the fact that THEY WON THE WORLD SERIES!

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 11:09am  
theo needs to kick it oldschool...order KFC and make a phone call to Binny's Beverage Depot for a clubhouse liquor delivery.

Submitted by billybucks  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 2:28pm  
I concur with my man Krausened. The era of consistent playoffs is -- incredibly! -- here. No matter what happens tonight, it has been a great three-year run, and most of the group will be back for several more years. Knocking out the Brewers and Cardinals at the end of the season was awesome. I am obviously hoping the season continues after tonight, but, if not, I will at peace with it. At least, eventually. Plus, there's no crying in baseball.

Submitted by blockhead25  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:28pm  
This is all my fault as I just secured tickets to game 1 in LA on Saturday.

Submitted by billybucks  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:30pm  
Congrats to TBS -- they get exactly what they wanted -- Cubs in a prime-time Game 5. Good corporate decision not to move the game up and get it played yesterday at 1:00pm. Assholes.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 8:29pm  
Thank you.

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:10pm  
I know I'm commenting more tonight than I have in all my years on TCR, but I was there and I'm working through the experience. (And just took my winter jacket out of the drier. Thank heaven for years of freezing at Wrigley.) I also know that this is completely a First World Problem, but I hate the way the TV networks jerk around the people who buy tickets for the Division Series. It's clear that we are literally window dressing for their broadcasts.

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:30pm  
2003 type Cubbery there. Goodness

Submitted by Eric S  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:36pm  
Hard to believe that all happened in the 8th inning, eh? Yeesh that inning has sucked all freaking year.

Submitted by billybucks  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 6:56pm  
I was just about to say...Theo's primary job this off-season is to get the 8th inning eliminated next year. Kind of like a lot of high-rise elevators have no 13th floor. Get it done, Theo. In 4 games, Cubs have given up 9 runs in the 8th inning and 3 in all other innings combined. Not like we weren't aware of the issue, but, yikes.

Submitted by blockhead25  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 7:18pm  
Pretty amazing how often the 8th inning has devoured us. And how often Edwards Jr. is right in the middle of it.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 8:58am  

I've posted this before, but this is why the Cubs got Justin Wilson. He was supposed to be the reliable 8th inning guy who can close when Wade Davis isn't available, and then be the Cubs closer in 2018 after Davis is gone. 

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 12:03pm  
It's become clear to me that while Edwards may have the stuff to be a future closer, he doesn't have whatever that "thing" is that can't be measured by sabermetrics that separates great stuff from being a great closer. You could just see him get rattled and his control disappear.

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 12:17pm  
I agree that Edwards seems perceptibly rattled at times. Not sure if you are saying he's not closer material right now or he's not the type of person to become a great closer, but I would point out that at Edwards's age, Davis was putting up mediocre numbers as a starting pitcher. I'm still hoping Edwards can grow into more confidence and consistency as he gets more experience.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 12:48pm  
You're right, its too early to say and I'm probably overreacting with recency bias. Maybe he can grow into it, hopefully, but the Cubs shouldn't go into next year counting on that growth. Initial indications are that he's not a natural ice in the veins type of dude.

Submitted by The E-Man  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 1:27pm  
I would have to throw my hat in there - he needs real mentorship by a closer he can relate to. Maybe that is Davis if Theo doesn't sign Bryce Harper.

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 3:04pm  
What I think I see with Edwards is he's fine as long as he's good. I'm trying to remember him getting in trouble and then getting out of trouble. It must have happened over his 70 or so appearances, but it seems once he gets in trouble he stays in trouble.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 4:33pm  
WAS gets harper 1 more season. he would be an interesting compliment to G-rated, non-drinking, high-end young power hitting, also las vegas native kris bryant.

Submitted by blockhead25  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 7:20pm  
8th inning aside. Pretty much impossible to win a game with O runs, 3 hits and 14Ks

Submitted by The E-Man  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 9:40pm  
For those of you that weren't there tonight, you should know that there were times that drizzle "sheets" descended upon Wrigley. Very difficult playing conditions. I was hoping that they could keep it to one run, but fuck, pro hitter Murphy keeps their inning alive. I wanted Lester to finish the inning and didn't get my wish. But 12 Stras Ks, I don't know if they had much of a chance with that shit. Too bad for Addy, bad E-6.

Submitted by fullykräusened  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 10:14pm  
You're right, E, that it was nasty. Maybe Addy's error was partly due to a wet ball, though he did kind of circle it; anyway, it was a boot. And you're also right that Strasburg's performance-- in spite of mold--would have been hard to overcome.

Submitted by billybucks  on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 11:01pm  
Could be worse -- we could be Indians fans. Brutal exit 2 years in a row -- up 3-1 in the WS last year, and lose 3 straight, including Games 6 and 7 at home. Up 2-0 in the ALDS this year, and lose 3 straight, including Game 5 at home. Ouch.

Submitted by First.Pitch.120  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 11:16am  
"Happiness at the misfortune of others." That IS German! Wrigley now resides at Clark, Addison, & Avenue Q.

Submitted by Hagsag  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 5:43am  
I am so glad i bought a sports sync radio and do not have to listen to the idiots on TV.

Submitted by billybucks  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 8:40am  
Lots of very low Cubs batting averages this series -- that will happen when you face Strasberg and Scherzer 3 games out of 4.

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 9:54am  
Man, if the Cubs can pick off one win on a non-Scherz/Stras day, the story to this series will have to be how they outlasted the Nat's overpowering top of the rotation.

Submitted by Lester's rattle...  on Thu, 10/12/2017 - 12:55pm  
We need those bats to bust out big time today, and early!!

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  • Dolorous Jon Lester 5 hours 21 min ago (view)

    I believe this is the correct take. It's surprising that Len is leaving. He's good, but he had gotten a little too rationalizey over the past few years for me.

    However, it seemed he was heavily invested in the Cubs. His departure feels like there is some Ricketts-ish bullshit going on behind the scenes at Marquee that Len wants no part of. Anyway, I wish him well with the other Chicago team

     
  • crunch 5 hours 58 min ago (view)

    wtf...

    is everything the ricketts touch just falling to shit in 2021?  ....well, except their heavy investments in taking over the state of Nebraska politically with one of the sons and heavy investment in supportive state legislators...

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 7 hours 28 min ago (view)

    This makes a whole lot of sense. Thanks Phil!

    (And that HR off Hader was unforgettable)

     
  • Hagsag 9 hours 52 min ago (view)

    Shocker!

     
  • Wrigley Rat 15 hours 20 min ago (view)

    Len Kasper is leaving the Cubs for the White Sox radio booth.

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so...

     
  • Charlie 19 hours 37 min ago (view)

    I would be happy to see the Cubs no longer spend DH time on Victor Caratini. Provided there's a Kyle Schwarber or better alternative, of course.

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 3 hours ago (view)

    DJL: I don't think Ildemaro Vargas being out of minor league options is much of a concern to the Cubs because as things stand right now he projects as the team's primary utility infielder in 2021. He can play all four INF positions (1B, 2B, 3B, and SS, plus corner OF, too), and he is switch hitter with some pop, especially from the right side (remember the 9th inning HR he hit off Josh Hader in September?). 

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 4 hours ago (view)

    I'm a little surprised Ildemaro Vargas was tendered, given that he's out of options. He has value and isn't expensive as he is pre-arb this year, but still a bit surprised. Have to think he's got an inside track to an Opening Day spot at this point

     
  • waveland 1 day 13 hours ago (view)

    really appreciate the years and years of your updates

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 15 hours ago (view)

    BRADSBEARD: Strumpf was wearing a cast on his hand in Minor League Camp before everything got shut-down in March so his not being at South Bend might have had something to do with that. I don't know why Rivas wasn't at the ATS. 

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 15 hours ago (view)

    Do you have any idea why Rivas and Strumpf weren't at the alternate site in South Bend? I thought Rivas especially showed enough in ST games to be viewed as a legitimate depth option, especially with the DH. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 16 hours ago (view)

    Alfonso Rivas reminds me a bit of Rafael Palmeiro when Palmeiro first came up to the big leagues and was a "doubles machine" (before he started hitting home runs).   

    Rivas played D-1 baseball at the University of Arizona, so (just like Nico Hoerner, who also played in the PAC-12) I don't think he needs a lot of additional time at AAA before he's ready for MLB. He's a very advanced hitter, as long as you are OK with lots of doubles & lots of walks but not many HR.   

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    I hadn't thought of that but I really like that option

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    I really hope Rivas has a chance at the LF job. Would ease some of the sting of Schwarber being cut loose. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    CRUNCH: I got the impression that Ross had seen enough of Schwarber in LF, so implementing the universal DH may be necessary before Schwarber returns to the Cubs in 2021. I think the Cubs would be fine with Schwarber as their main DH going forward. 

    BTW, I strongly suspect that the universal DH will be included in the next CBA, but whether there will be a DH in the National League in 2021 is still TBA (which is really stupid, since clubs need to know right now for sure one way or the other whether or not there will be a DH in the N. L. in 2021). 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    Besides the guys on the 40, Cubs 2021 NRI relievers with a legit chance to win a bullpen slot in Spring Training include LHRPs Josh Osich and Rex Brothers, and RHRPs Jake Jewell, Trevor Megill, Dakota Mekkes, Michael Rucker, and Joe Wieland (presuming they are not taken in the Rule 5 Draft). 

    Brothers and Wieland are out of minor league options, however, so if added to the 40 they could not ride the "Chicago - Des Moines Shuttle" like the others could. 

     
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