Cubs vs. Diamondbacks: Series Thread (Games 37-40)

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 05:16 am

The Cubs took two of three from the Pirates to start their homestand. Next, they'll host the D-Backs for four as the season nears the end if it's first quarter. See below for daily matchups.

Game 37, Thursday, May 19, 6:40 pm central

CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (1-3, 5.13 ERA)

ARZ: RHP Zac Gallen (2-0, 1.05 ERA)

Game 38, Friday, May 20, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 4.03 ERA)

ARZ: RHP Humberto Castellanos (2-1, 4.15 ERA)

Game 39, Saturday, May 21, 1:20 pm central

CHC: LHP Justin Steele (1-4, 4.50 ERA)

ARZ: LHP Madison Bumgarner (2-2, 2.29 ERA)

Game 40, Sunday, May 22, 1:20 pm central

CHC: LHP Wade Miley (1-0, 2.70 ERA)

ARZ: RHP Merrill Kelly (3-2, 3.27 ERA)

Tags
2022 Series Thread

Comments

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 05:59 pm

Saw CK throw today for 3rd time. He's consistently very good but not dominant. They let him throw 80 pitches today, his most yet, but he couldn't finish the 6th after getting the first 2 hitters. 2 unearned runs thx to an error by Robel Garcia who's en fuego at the plate to the tune of 8 homers in last 9 games. Leads league in OPS and, ironically, wears #7 which is the number on the Brennen Davis jersey shirts they handed out last weekend while BD is back in AZ rehabbing his bad back. Anyway, CK does look pretty polished and IS impressive. I guess his consistency is most impressive to me but they seem to be handling him w/ extreme care. Call up after Hendricks dealt @ deadline?

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 05:59 pm

morel playing 2nd thursday night...should be interesting.  he's only played there 13 times in the minors, but he did play there this off-season in winter league.

Submitted by azbobbop on Thu, 05/19/2022 - 05:40 pm

Pretty amazing to see the Cubs farm system with a .617 winning percentage. With few exceptions, the hitters are hitting and several pitchers appear to be taking big steps forward. There's improvement at every level. Very exciting. Have to think that changes in player development department are certainly paying off.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:48 pm

These stretches of unwatchable Cubs baseball are tough on me (us). I went last night. The ballpark is still beautiful with green ivy, the weather was beautiful too but the offense was not watchable unless you like scoring opportunities that leave all their runners stranded. 

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:58 pm

happ, contreras, and suzuki are the only steady guys and were pretty much the only guys expected to be steady.

the rest of the team is contact hitting feast/famine and other team's AAA/bench guys the cubs are giving 400-600 PA.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:54 pm

GEORGE A: Because he is already on the 40 I would expect Nelson Velazquez to be recalled to replace Ian Happ after he is traded, and because they are Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2022, I would expect Nelson Maldonado (replacing Frank Schwindel as the primary DH) and Darius Hill (replacing Rafael Ortega as the 4th OF) to be selected to the 40 after the trade deadline.

Jared Young and Bryce Ball are also Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2022 and could get called up as well, but they only allow multiple designated hitters in a lineup in Extended Spring Training games. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:46 pm

GEORGE: Any post-2021 Article XX-B MLB FA who signed a 2022 MLB contract with the Cubs (Simmons, Norris, Smyly, Gomes, Villar, Robertson, Stroman, and Givens) has an automatic full "no trade" right through June 15th, so a Memorial Day sale might be just a bit premature.

However, I do agree that the Cubs will make a concerted effort to trade most if not all of them (plus Contreras, Hendricks, Miley, Happ, Gsellman, and Martin) by the 8/2 Trade Deadline, since post-trade deadline waiver trades are no longer permitted. 

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:02 pm

i've already made peace with contreras being traded, but wow...who else loves the game this much?  who else loves the game this much that's been under Cubs club control?  

this guy is a leader and a cheerleader.  he loves it when he does good and he's equally happy when others do well.  him leaving isn't something I'm happy with. 

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 05:06 am

He should be our Yadier (overrated though he is). Willson's the heart of the team. And the stupid, stupid Cubs are going to trade him away for teenagers.

Perhaps we should also think about trading Kilian. Big trade value right now, 6 years of control, on the wrong side of 20. Think of all the teenagers we could get for him! Keep an eye on the 2028 Cubs

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Submitted by DavidP on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 05:31 pm

I hope they extend Contreras, and perhaps Happ.  If not, I certainly hope they trade any of those mentioned above that will become free agents at the end of this season, if they can get anything worthwhile for any of them.  Letting anyone of value, is not be extended, become a free agent is foolish.  Especially the pitchers.  This administration has shown an knack for getting worthwhile pitchers, both starters and relievers, off the scrap heap.

Next year's rotation should have a good start with Stroman, Steele, Thompson and Kilian.  I personally would keep Hendricks if he is signed for another year, but if not, they should be able to bring in someone of equal value this off season.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:30 pm

mark grace (in a suit, ha) doing the post-game show from the Marquee studio.

i wonder if anyone else out there is actively working for 2 teams.  he also does ARZ pre-game/post-game work this season (and last season).

Submitted by Alexander Dimm on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 05:11 pm

Agreed.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 05:29 pm

mark grace returns to the marquee booth for a visit...first time since the "dingbat incident"

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 05:08 pm

w.contreras out of the game with a leg injury...didn't look terrible, hopefully he's ready to go tomorrow.

"right hamstring tightness"

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 05:33 pm

i am well over d.ross removing pitchers so f'n early.  it seems to apply to everyone he manages.

steele goes 5ip 1h 2bb 9k, 0r/er with 89 pitches and he's done.

he's been throwing 70-90 pitches all year in his starts.  it's late may and this is his 8th start.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 05:44 am

P. J. Higgins is very likely to remain on the 40 going forward (2022+). He has three minor league option years available, and not only can he catch, he can also play 1B-2B-3B. In addition, he can elect free-agency if he is outrighted (he has been outrighted previously in his career), and the Cubs probably won't want to expose him to waivers because he very likely would get claimed. 

Catcher Miguel Amaya is on the 40 but he is rehabbing from 2021 TJS, and even once he has returned to catching (he is only taking BP so far at EXST) he hasn't played above AA. BTW, Amaya will get a 4th minor league option year in 2023, so he won't be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2024. So the key thing with Amaya is that he has to master AAA by the end of the 2023 season. 

Moises Ballesteros is the Cubs #1 catching prospect right now, but he will be playing in the ACL (rookie ball) in 2022 and that is a long ways away from MLB. So if the Cubs trade Willson Contreras by the 8/2 trade deadline, I suspect the Cubs will want to get a AA or AAA level legit MLB catching prospect back in the deal. The Astros have two good catching prospects, in case (as expected) Houston is where Contreras ends up. Korey Lee is almost certainly an untouchable because he will be the Astros catcher in 2023+, but Yainer Diaz is at AA and so he could be a fit in a Contreras trade.   

Speaking of the Astros as a potential Cubs 2022 trade partner, one thing the Cubs did when they rebuilt the last time (2012-14) is they traded for Jake Arrieta when the Orioles gave up waiting for him to develop into an ace (which of course he did with the Cubs). Forrest Whitley fits that profile with the Astros, so maybe Contreras (plus cash), a veteran bullpen piece (Astros choice), and a second tier prospect for Whitley / Y. Diaz might work?  

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 05:32 pm

nice to see vargas go.

someone take him from the cubs before he gets more chances to see ABs.  he's been around 3 seasons now and i think i've had enough.

he's filled his role, emergency middle IF, etc...but yeah...seen enough.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 05:45 pm

thompson back to the pen...cuz we don't want to accidently win games by trying to win games.

there's stiff competition from powerhouse losers like CIN and the cubs need to keep their eye on the prize...making fans suffer through 162 games of pure shit so they can have a top-5 draft pick.

Draft Kings presents: Disappointment (tm)

all that aside, i know they need to limit his innings and etc...but yeah...tell us you're trying to punt this season without actually admitting you're punting this season cubs front office...

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 05/22/2022 - 05:26 pm

Keegan Thompson, the Cubs piggyback ace goes to 4-0. Ken Holtzman, National Guard reservist, takes notice.

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

30 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

7 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

CUBS MLB SPRING TRAINING ACTIVE LIST: 37 

Last updated 3-25-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
* Ryan Borucki  
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 1  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 
NONE   

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 10
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P
Adrian Sampson, P 
Nelson Velazquez, OF 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents