Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# 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 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Wild Card Game Recap: Cubs 1, Rockies 2 (13 Innings)

Tony Wolters vs. Terrance Gore for the Right To Advance in the Playoffs

W - Oberg, never-quit fans at Wrigley and Parachat

L -  Hendricks, Wednesday's work productivity

Box Score, Game Graphs, Play Log

Some Compelling Questions....

1. Was this great pitching or poor hitting?

Most of this game did not lend itself to second-guessing. After a Rockies run in the first, Lester and the bullpen (and leftover starting pitchers) shut them down.  About the only real question to debate is if Maddon ought to have pinch-run Gore for Rizzo in the eighth, but, it worked out when a stolen base and a Baez double resulted in the Cubs' run.  Other than that, one might squabble over when to pull relievers, but I won't second-guess 11+ innings of shut-out ball after the 1st. If only the bats had done... something... anything... Perhaps De La Rosa should have come in for the lefty-lefty match-up against Tony Wolters with 2 out and runners on 1 and 3 in the 13th, but Wolters is a .170 hitter and Hendricks had been cruising. Of course, Wolters hit the go-ahead single...

2.  My God, What Have I Done?

I am so tired.

3.  42 games in 43 days.

Ok, that's not a question. But it still was one heck of a grind.

4. Whither the Cubs Dynasty?

Smarter analysts than I will have to decide what 2018 means for the Cubs' long-term prospects. Let the hot stove season commence.

 

The grueling details...

 

Game Recap

 

1st Inning - Top

  • Fastball low and away to the Unibomber starts the game. 4 pitches later and Chuck Noland walks.
  • LeMahieu works a 3-1 count.  Showing bunt.  Lester is not missing by much.  3-2 count, crowd stands to cheer on Lester.
  • LeMahieu lines one that splits the Left-center gap, and it rolls into the vines.  Bryant immediately, smartly signals for the double, and it freezes Hagrid at third.
  • Arenado flies to center, just short of the warning track. Moses scores and LeMahieu to third, 1-0 Rockies.
  • Story K's on 3 pitches, staying away. Cutter, cutter, and a looping curve.
  • Matt Holliday is alive?  Huh.  Fossil K's at something breaking in the dirt.

1st Inning - Bottom

  • Fastball middle, and Zobrist lines it up the middle for a single.
  • Bryant K's swinging at a fastball up in the strike zone.
  • Rizzo with a short fly to Dahl in right.
  • Freeland seems to have picked Zobrist off of first.  Replay....  Safe!
  • Baez K's swinging at .... wait for it... slider in dirt.

2nd Inning - Top

  • Desmond flies to Almora.
  • Dahl flies to deep center.  Almora leaps a bit awkwardly into the vines, using his right hand to help elevate, and makes the grab, with the ball just missing the basket.  Phew.  I am told that on the national telecast, A-rod identifies him as "Almonte"
  • Iannetta swings over a curve breaking into his feet, strikes out. 8 pitch inning.

2nd Inning - Bottom

  • Almora lines a fastball to left-center for a fastball.
  • Murphy chops to Desmond at first, who tries to start the 3-6-1, but Freeland is late in covering the bag.  Force-out at 2nd.
  • Freeland fastball catches too much of the plate, down, Contreras lines it to right-center, slicing away from Sasquatch, but he makes a nice running play.
  • Bote K's on a fastball

3rd Inning - Top

  • Lester makes short work of Freeland, K's swinging.
  • Gandalf hits a sinking liner just in front of Bryant in left.
  • LeMahieu called out on strike three, high and at the outside edge of the zone.  The pitch-tracking box likes it.
  • Bote makes a nice stop on an Arenado smash, for the 5-3 putout.

3rd Inning - Bottom

  • Lester K's swinging.  I missed it finding my beer. 
  • Freeland stabs a come-back chopper from Zobrist.
  • Bryant pops out to second.  Lazy inning

4th Inning - Top

  • Story lines to Zobrist in deep right.
  • Methusela hooks one over a leaping Bote into the corner for a double.
  • Looping curve to Desmond that allegedly caught the outside corner. Desmond has warrant to disagree, but it's still strike three.
  • Dahl with a roller to Rizzo, unassisted. Nice work by Lester.

4th Inning - Bottom

  • Rizzo bounces to Story, positioned just to the 1B side of 2B.
  • Baez lines right to Dahl in right.
  • Almora bounced to a drawn-in Arenado at 3rd.

5th Inning - Top

  • Iannetta K's looking at an 88 mph... something... center and down.
  • Freeland K's looking on the low inside corner.
  • Billy Gibbons grounds to Rizzo.  Lester is cruising.

5th Inning - Bottom

  • Murphy with a soft chopper to LeMahieu.
  • Freeland breaks Contreras's bat, with Arenado making a nice charging bare-handed play to get Willson at 1st.
  • Bote K's swinging at a fastball high and outside.  12 in a row set down by Freeland.

6th Inning - Top

  • LeMahieu grounds to Baez.
  • Arenado grounds to Bote.  Lester still cruising
  • Story inside-outs a high pitch to right center, bouncing over the wall for a double.
  • Lester really pitching Rip Van Winkle tough here.  Eventually K's him on a fastball up and away, Contreras pumping his fist as they run off the field.

6th Inning - Bottom

  • Happ hits for Lester, quickly down 0-2.  Chavez is up in the bullpen.  Happ works it to 3-2.  Everyone is on their feet.  Happ fouls one away at the last possible moment.
  • Happ draws the walk on a pitch inside.  Pat makes it sound much closer than what the pitch trax thingy says.  Nice work by Happ.
  • Parra in left for Abe Vigoda.
  • Zobrist K's swinging.
  • Bryant pops one down the right field line, shallow. Dahl sort of overruns and over-circles it, and it falls in.  Really ugly effort by Dahl.  Bryant at 1st, Happ at 2nd.
  • Rizzo promptly grounds into a 4-6-3.  Oww.  Oww, oww, oww.

7th Inning - Top

  • Chavez in.  Desmond lines into the right-center gap, with Almora making a nice play to keep him to a single.
  • Dahl with a lazy fly to left.  Bryant, camped under it, makes the easy play, but Desmond, inexplicably, is tagging up. He tries for the swim move, but Ian, I know Javy Baez, I root for Javy Baez, and you are no Javy Baez.  Out.
  • Iannetta flies to Bryant in left.  Pitch got too much of the plate, but no harm.

7th Inning - Bottom

  • Kerry Wood is spectacularly tone-deaf.  But we love ya, Kerry, and glad you did the Stretch.
  • 86 MPH something-or-other gets the center of the plate, and Baez pops to second.
  • Almora lines just in front of Dusty Hill, who may have been able to make a high-risk play for it, but lets it land in front of him for the single.
  • Murphy lines to Story's right, who makes a nice diving catch for the out.
  • Ottavino in to face Contreras
  • First pitch is wild, way outside, and Almora goes to second.  Conteras works a 3-1 count.  Walks on a pitch that bounces, Contreras is fired up.
  • LaStella in to hit.  First pitch, a breaker, nearly hits him. Second pitch also wild inside. Schwarber on deck
  • LaStella hits a weak chopper back to Ottavino, but starts gesturing back to home... Catcher's interference!  His bat hit Butera's glove, quite clearly.  Bases loaded.
  • Heyward, instead of Schwarber, now hitting.
  • The 1-1 pitch nearly hits Heyward in the shin.  2-1.  Crowd going nuts. 
  • Ottavino battles back, and K's Heyward on a nasty fastball, swinging, down and away.

8th Inning - Top

  • Rosario in to pitch, Heyward to Right, Zobrist to Left, Bryant to Third, Bote out.
  • Butera draws a walk.
  • Charles Darwin hits a lazy fly to Zobrist
  • Cishek in.
  • LeMahieu hits a chopper to Murphy who throws to second on a very close play. Called out, and Baez throws to first for what surprisingly seems to be a double play. It'll be reviewed... appears to be safe.... and.... everyone is astonished when Butera is called out at second.  Pat Hughes can't believe it.

8th Inning - Bottom

  • Zobrist rolls out to 2nd.
  • Strop and Hendricks up in the bullpen
  • 96 MPH on the low outside corner, Bryant K's swinging.
  • Rizzo lines an outside fastball to center for a single.
  • Gore pinch-runs for Rizzo. Steals on the first pitch, uncontested.  I can't even describe how fast he looks, in slow-motion.
  • Javy is 0-5 with 4 Ks against Ottavino, and promptly lines a double over Gore's head and into left-center for a double.  1-1 tie game.
  • Wade Davis in to pitch
  • Baez steals third on a swinging strike in the dirt.
  • Almora K's swinging.

9th Inning - Top

  • Gore in at left, Murphy to 1st, Bryant to 3rd, Zobrist to 2nd.  I think that covers it?
  • Strop (!!!) is in.
  • Strop K's Arenado on a couple of nasty sliders.  Looks sharp.
  • Fastball catches too much of the plate, Story bounces one through the left side hole, for a single.
  • Parra bounces to Murphy, who is playing in and on the line.  Makes a nice-yet-awkward stumbling play and steps on the base. Not in a position to try for a double play.  Story to second.
  • Strop K's Desmond on a hanging curve down the center of the plate that Desmond clearly wasn't expecting. Crowd continues to be bonkers.

9th Inning - Bottom

  • Murphy K's on a check-swing at a knuckle-curve in the dirt.
  • Hamels warming up.
  • Contreras works a full-count walk, real nice AB.
  • Schwarber hits for Strop.  2-1 count, a pitch slightly outside gets called strike 2.  Ooof.  Swinging strike 3.
  • Heyward bounces back to Davis, and we go to extras

10th Inning - Top

  • Cole Hamels, 10th Inning Relief Pitcher.
  • Dahl with a slow chopper in front of Zobrist at second, who just does get him at 1st. Right-side defense looks rickety, but gets it done.
  • CarGo came in at some point (just now?  It's late and I am tired) and singles to left.
  • Butera with a soft pop just behind the infield dirt near 1st.  Murphy has a bad angle on it, but Zobrist is there for the out.
  • Pat Valaika is pinch-hitting for... someone.... listening to Pat and Ron with TV muted and trying to recap and contribute to parachat is hard, DON'T JUDGE ME.
  • Ah.  Looks like Dumbledore got taken out when Davis came in, and now this is PH for Davis.
  • Somewhere in that confusion, Valaika K's.

10th Inning - Bottom

  • Seung Hwan Oh in to pitch
  • Zobrist bounces out to Story.
  • Bryant hits a smash to the left-side hole, but Arenado makes a nice diving grab to get the out at first.
  • Gore up... sees a couple of balls, but K's swinging at a fastball up in the zone

11th Inning - Top

  • Hamels still pitching.  You owe it to me to comment on this recap. Then maybe throw some money at TCR. We'll use it to buy Pogs.
  • LeMahieu bounces the first pitch to Bryant for the 5-3.
  • Arenado singles back up through the middle.
  • More first-pitch swinging, and story pops to shallow right-center where Zobrist has it.
  • Full Count to Parra... just misses for the walk.  Runners on 1st and 2nd.
  • Chopper to Bryant's right, and he goes to second. Parra however gets a big jump and beats the throw.  Probably had a play on Desmond at first.
  • Next pitch, Dahl bounces to Murphy who makes a nice feed to Hamels to get us out of the jam.

11th Inning - Bottom

  • Baez watches five straight pitches from Oh, and walks.
  • Almora bunts to Arenado, charging in.  Throw to first for the out. Baez rounds second and inquires about taking third, but finds Butera has hustled down to cover third, so Baez stays put at second.
  • Murphy intentionally walked.  Right about now I wish they still had to throw four balls.
  • Contreras seems to have hurt himself fouling off a pitch.  Caratini had been on deck to pinch hit, so.... Ron thinks it may be a cramp, and indeed they have him drinking something on the field. Crew chief being generous giving Willson some time.
  • Thought we had ball three, but time evidently was called, so count remains 2-2.  Maddon uses this as a chance to freeze the pitcher and sneak Contreras a juice box, but no luck on that.
  • Contreras chops to Arenado, who tags Baez on his way to third. Baez hits the breaks, forcing Arenado to come tag him, and Baes then bear-hugs Arenado when he comes in for the tag, because Javy. Arenado seemed to enjoy it and hugged back, may have even initiated it. Bud Black comes out to object that this is interference, and now we're interpreting the intent of a hug. But clearly, Arenado had given up on any effort at also going for the play at first, because, hey, who would turn down a chance to bear-hug Javy Baez?
  • Chris Rusin in to pitch, Caratini to hit. McMahon in at first
  • Caratini promptly grounds to McMahon, unassisted.

Inning 12 - Top

  • Justin Wilson in.
  • CarGo bounces out to Second.
  • Kyle Hendricks, Relief Pitcher, in for Wilson.
  • Butera lines sharply to center, right at Almora.
  • McMahon flies out to Gore, an easy time of it for Hendricks.

Inning 12 - Bottom

  • Heyward grounds to first.
  • Zobrist pops one to shallow right.  CarGo comes in and LeMahieu goes out, and LeMahieu makes a very difficult catch, avoiding CarGo.
  • Oberg in to face Bryant. Wolters in for Butera.  That's three catchers used by Colorado tonight.
  • Why not just walk Bryant to get to Gore? Pat and Ron wonder, and so do I...
  • That's why.  Bryant chances some sliders and then watches strike three.

Inning 13 - Top

  • I hate everyone.  It's 12:40 am.
  • LaMahieu hits a lazy fly to Almora.
  • Arenado with a sharp grounder to Zobrist, for the out.  Hendricks having no trouble.  Wrigley still totally packed.
  • Story bounces one through the left-side hole for a hit.
  • Parra reaches for a change-up and singles it into right.  First and third, two outs, for Wolters.
  • .170 hitting Tony Wolters singles up the middle, past Hendricks' glove-hand, for the rbi single.  2-1 Rockies.
  • De La Rosa in to face Dahl. A bouncer gets away from Contreras and Wolters advances, but De La Rosa comes back for the strikeout.

Inning 13 - Bottom

  • Leading off with the season on the line in the Wild Card... Terrance Gore. Not how we drew the season up.
  • Oberg throws a fastball running inside and it..... hits?  Gore? It definitely got the home plate umpire somewhere up around the collarbone, and we go to the review to decide if it hit Gore. Really hard to tell both live and in replay. I suspect the answer is no.
  • Nope, not HBP, just ball three.  The whole season winds up being about Terrance Gore. He chases a slider down out of the zone for the strikeout.
  • Baez K's swinging at a 90 mph pitch down the middle
  • Almora K's to end the season.

 

Parachat Recap

1st Inning

  • I somehow am in a Parachat room with no one else in it, wondering why I am alone. I invite people to join me and realize I'm the one who is missing out.  People taunt me when I arrive in the right room.
  • Woo Girls
  • Ronnie Woo-Woo
  • Who is at work?
  • Parachat vs. helping kid with Math.  Parachat wins.
  • Where is CT Steve?  Biz, Block, 'los, Crunch, JAG, Whip, Sonic and me here.
  • Infinite Hits.  Michael Jackson.
  • The Zobrist pick-off: what was he thinking?  (Answer: his wholesome Christian wife.)
  • Off goes Mister Whipple to help kid with the math.  Good whip.
  • People listening to the national TV telecast are annoyed with A-rod.  Pat and Ron overlaid for me, so life is good.

2nd Inning

  • Are the Cubs the least-rootable team for a non-fan this year?  (Answer - why would non-fans be rooting?  Dumb question.)
  • But, JAG and I agree we aren't going to be too bothered if we lose to the Rockies.
  • Huh:  So we're even less popular than the Yankees.  Cool.
  • Evaluating Mendoza, Glanville, Arod as broadcasters.  Tough crowd.  I like all of them.  I am in the minority.
  • Ditching partners for the Cubs game.
  • Blockhead - Almora is LaStella but thinks he's Baez.
  • The exploits of one of my cats, Iggy Cat.
  • Marlins Man
  • PJ Franklin. (Huh?)
  • CORNER GAS
  • Crunch joins.
  • Whipple returns from helping the kid with math.  Good whipple

3rd Inning

  • Parachat sounds.  Ip still is not Ip.
  • ESPN vs ESPN 2 telecast
  • Block points out just how different we'd be handling tonight if we had lost game 7 in 2016.  I made a similar observation to my department chair earlier today. He pointed out that Philly fans would not be so chill.
  • Wow, we're really chill in Parachat about the prospect of losing. We're so chill....
  • I break the news:  JAG and I are officially BEST FRIENDS in Pokemon Go.  The Parachat crew celebrates our happiness.
  • Crunch is a Poke-vegan.
  • Free Willy Contreras. (With purchase.)
  • Laminating Ben Zobrist
  • Lamination and Mummification as kinks.

4th Inning

  • When was this season lost?  (Wow, we're a defeated bunch.)
  • Bin Laden, who is a huge improvement over Arod, bombed Pearl Harbor.  With the Maine.
  • Swearing in Parachat, and new ways to prank Carlos
  • What we're drinking and eating.  (Dogfish Head Midas Touch, and Trader Joe's Ghost Pepper Potato Chips, for me.)
  • Ground habanero and ghost pepper spices.
  • We love the new TCR banner photo. Thanks, CT Steve.
  • Bees on the Tweets Liked by TCR
  • Life Updates from JAG, Carlos, Whip, Me.

5th Inning

  • Wait, did I miss Charlie joining?  Sorry Charlie, there's a lot going on.
  • Cost of Living around the 50 states
  • Carlos impersonates POTUS tweeting about Crunch.  I ~punch2~ Carlos. 
  • Carlos impersonates POTUS tweeting about Whipple
  • The result of all these POTUS tweets is.... "Carlos has left."  Good work, jerks.
  • Pussy Crabbing.

6th Inning

  • Actively recruiting Whipple
  • Police encounters.  Whip and JAG and Charlie have good perspective for me.
  • Police impugnity. Parachat turns serious at a particularly important moment in the ballgame...
  • Parachat turns very serious.  Woke Parachat.
  • Our bullpen concerns.
  • I do not know who Pink Hat Guy is behind home plate. This evidently is a failing of mine.
  • Crunch, JAG, whip, et. al, are  convinved I am a Russian Bot in on the long con.

7th inning

  • I confess I've never seen The Office.
  • Murphy's retrograde remarks.
  • Big Lowitzki joins us. From Wrigley.
  • How does everyone here know of Pink Hat Guy?
  • Phew, Charlie also doesn't know of him.
  • Worst ways to win this game.
  • Rizzo's aggressiveness at the plate today
  • Grap.
  • Bowl-grapers.
  • Stinky Cat Food.
  • Intensely following the game.
  • Disappointment.

8th Inning

  • "This is a lot like my kidney stone surgery, only with more Randy Rosario." - Biz
  • Amazement at the "out" call at second.
  • BEES NUTS
  • Justin Verlander has OCD?
  • The bad call that helped the Cubs in this game.
  • Debating whether or not it's right to pinch-run Gore for Rizzo.  Carlos: No.  Me: Yes.
  • Woo.
  • "Our sweet, sweet chaos muppet" - Whipple
  • Family members who are asking if we are watching.

9th Inning

  • We're going to be more frustrated with this team, now, if they lose.
  • Bedtimes?
  • Piglatin Romance Novels
  • The pitch Desmond took to end the half-inning
  • RALLY CAPS
  • disappointment

10th Inning

  • We like Hamels.
  • We have.... other thoughts.... about POTUS.
  • Waiting for our Gore walk-off.
  • Coloardo's quality infield D.
  • Still waiting for that walk-off.

11th Inning

  • Discussing the Bryant fielder's choice.
  • Absinthe with Lime Seltzer = dinner.  Counts as fruit.
  • Cheering the bunt...
  • Dealing with cramps.
  • Dealing with bear hugs.
  • Some incident with Ozzie Guillen throwing Geo Soto's mask, and Soto finding it hilarious, which I do not remember.

12th Inning

  • Is now the time for Celine Dion lyrics?
  • No, it's time for Personal Jesus as the lead-in song for Cubs radio...
  • Ron Coomer's thong (song), brought to you by Fifth Third Bank.
  • Korn Coffee.
  • Who is where?
  • What we'd do to have this game over and won.
  • An "I'll hit for Heyward" shirt.  That's just mean.
  • GREBO

13th Inning

  • The Gore AB.
  • Farewells

Comments

Thanks, Trans. Sorry I missed the chat. I had tickets for a concert in NYC: I didn't plan on having a game tonight. I got to listen to the last three innings on the way home, though. *Joy*

[ ]

In reply to by CTSteve

I assume Joe stays -- 95 wins with injuries to Darvish, Morrow and Bryant and bizarre 2nd half meltdowns from Contreras and Edwards, plus the year-long Tyler Chatwood Experierce, is impressive.  Of course, the mid-season saviors (Hamels, Chavez, Murphy) really helped.  On the other hand -- scoring two runs in two home games with a chance to advance in the playoffs, plus some of Joe's usual bizarre in-game decisions, might make Theo ponder a change.

But, with all the above question marks for next year -- what can be expected from Darvish, Morrow, Chatwood, Bryant, Contreras and Edwards, and what happens with Hamels, Chavez and Murphy -- Theo will have a lot on his plate.  Brewers, Cards and Pirates should all be good next year.  Next year could be great or very frustrating.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Probably an unpopular take, but:  Once I set aside how disappointed I am in what amounts to Joe's "He said, she said" take on Addison, I think he did a really nice job this year with the hand he got dealt.  He got every last bit he could get out of that bullpen, and I can't assign any of the ineffectiveness or injuries on him.  Basically I am willing to give him no fault on the injuries and fluke meltdowns while crediting him for keeping the team playing hard and squeezing value out of an over-worked and under-staffed bullpen...

[ ]

In reply to by CTSteve

I'm fine with any decision but beware what you ask for in firing Joe. He has this team playing the best basic fundamental baseball I've seen in 50 years of watching this team. Now, of course, I realize someone is gonna jump in and point to KB boofing a play or some such, but all in all, the team plays crisp baseball. It's been a joy to behold for the last 4 years seeing a team play really good, sound, fundamental baseball day in and day out. 

So I'd rather he stay. After reviewing replies to comments I made in favor of Chili Davis the other day and after seeing this collapse, and the fact they've had 40 games in which they've scored one or fewer runs, I'd fire Chili today. He can't hit for these guys. But. It's a results business, as they say. I felt like he was trying to get them to hit to the opposite field, etc., but there was no small ball to speak of. That may speak more to the limitations of the players. I really don't know. But either way, his results stunk and it's just something that needs to change.

I'd let Joe finish out his contract. See what happens when and if Theo adds a bat to anchor the middle of the lineup. As for the core, whatever has to be done is fine with me, but I have really enjoyed watching these guys come up through the system and become who they are, warts and all. Excpet Addison, if the league finds against him. Those warts need to get lanced. Bummer there. 

One thing to remember:  this is the Golden Age of being a Cubs fan.  We will look back on this era with great fondness.  Let's enjoy it!

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Speaking of golden ages, I think the Bears might be entering one, based on my sixty years of observation. This is shaping up as the first innovative (let alone competent) offense wearing Bear uniforms since Halas was a young coach and Luckman his QB. And on defense--unlike at QB--where they've had some studs in my time, I don't think I've seen anyone quite like Mack.

From time to time, the Bears win an award for best uniform in football, or even the best sports uniform. Talk about rooting for laundry: apart from a couple of talented defensive units that jelled under superior coaches, one in 1963 and another in 1985, the Bears have been pretty consistently awful. I've been more embarrassed over the years to be a Bear fan than a Cub fan. There must be some overlap, but Bear fans seem dumber than Cub fans. They fall easily for this "storied history" business. Those storied teams were real, but much longer ago than most people realize.

The low-water mark for a Bear fan of my vintage was a 66-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in a showcase game (albeit in preseason) when KC was in the other league.

We swiped Nagy from KC, so maybe that will even the score. Imagine the Bears with the kind of offense that a Matt Nagy would concoct!

There are some decisions Joe makes that I have trouble getting over...but the guy has won an average of what, 96 games per year in 4 years.  Unless he has lost the clubhouse that we don't know about, or there is some internal fighting behind the scenes, it would make no sense to fire him this year.  If nothing else, let him finish out his contract.

Kudos on such a great recap, Trans. As JAG said, it was a horrible and frustrating couple of games but the company wasn't so bad. Fellow Parachatters, you were amazing these past few days. Thanks for being there when the bats weren't.

I never would've thought we'd someday see woke parachat, but here we are. Nice recapping, Trans!

Trans, it doesn't matter how many or how few games you recap.  I will always enjoy the heck out of any opportunity I have to read them.  Your humor and sharp observations make my day, any time you do this.  Feel free to pick up the old pen and crank out one of these things whenever you get the time and have the inclination.  You have a grateful reader in me whenever you do.

Have a great offseason and see you next year!

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

seconded.

it's a lot of work, and it's real-time work.  whether we get 1 or a few dozen a year, it's appreciated...and if we get 0, the work in the past is appreciated, too.  when digging around old posts i'll occasionally run into an old recap and grab some laughs.

Recent comments

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  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.