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Post by batman66 on Sept 20, 2021 11:40:35 GMT -5
I agree that Maples didn't really get a great shot. But he also never really took advantage of the opportunities he was given. I can't actually recall all of his outings, but it seemed like he always had an outing where at least 1 or 2 pitches missed BADLY. Now, again, I'm not saying Megill and Rodriguez are any better, but they have options (correct me if I'm wrong?). And they both throw very hard with suspect control. Currently there are 46 players on the 40 man roster (6 on the 60 day IL) and they all have to come off the injured list in the offseason. I have 9 free agents on the current roster (Brothers, Davies, Holder, Stewart?, Chirinos, Higgins?, Lobaton, Romine, and Duffy) and as I'm thinking of this Higgins may not be a free agent - but he might be easily cut. There's also not a backup catcher on the roster with this list (unless you consider Amaya the backup catcher) so you'll need a roster spot for that. Trayce Thompson and Nick Martini are probably good candidates to be non-tendered or maybe resigned on a minor league deal. Duffy is someone I'd think there'd be interest in bringing back (I'm kind of wondering if Duffy isn't a better fit to fill the role of Bote - Duffy - if he can play shortstop - is more versatile than Bote, better contact skills but less power, might this signal a Bote trade in the offseason?). You'll have to replace Davies's spot in the rotation as well as decide the makeup of the bullpen, I doubt the bullpen next year looks anything like it does now (Heuer and Wick are safe bets, Effross and Morgan are probably in the next group). So yea, I do think there's a bit of a roster crunch. Solvable? Absolutely. But there was going to be some roster turn over anyway. And Maples - being that he had no options left - was high on that list. I've always for some reason had the impression somebody in the system just did not like him , maybe personally, maybe he's not been very coachable , I don't know but it just seemed somebody who can be so unhittable never really got a prolonged chance to stay on the roster until a season when he was out of options. And then he'd go over a week with no appearances so I can't really see that as a prolonged chance either. It's almost like they feared what I do , get rid of him and he'll figure it out so he was kept around. And nowit was just time to move on because like you say there are other similar guys with options they can experiment with. With free agents to be and what's on the 40 man , I can easily see opening around 15 spots with no real tough choices to make. So they should have ample roster room and ample budget to build a new roster for 2022.
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Post by cfin on Sept 20, 2021 12:02:30 GMT -5
I go back to when Carl Edwards was on the team.
Don't get me wrong, Edwards had some good outings and some good years. And maybe it wasn't years that he was dismal with the Cubs. But there was a game - I think - where he just imploded against the Brewers (?) in the middle of the pennant race. And I seem to recall he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before then, but after that implosion he was never the same. And the Cubs kept him on the roster. That was when I started saying Maples should get Edwards spot and just see what Maples could do. But they didn't do it.
That's the issue with bullpens. Never get so hung up on any bullpen pitcher becoming the best thing since sliced bread. Sometimes you have to sign bullpen arms. But I really would not spend a ton of money on any bullpen arm and the more optional (can be sent down) arms you have in the bullpen the better. Someone could be lights out for 2 weeks and then implode like Edwards did. Being able to send that player down or just flat out cut him (i.e. if the salary isn't that expensive) is the best way to build a bullpen.
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Post by bryzzobrist on Sept 20, 2021 12:42:31 GMT -5
I go back to when Carl Edwards was on the team. Don't get me wrong, Edwards had some good outings and some good years. And maybe it wasn't years that he was dismal with the Cubs. But there was a game - I think - where he just imploded against the Brewers (?) in the middle of the pennant race. And I seem to recall he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before then, but after that implosion he was never the same. And the Cubs kept him on the roster. That was when I started saying Maples should get Edwards spot and just see what Maples could do. But they didn't do it. That's the issue with bullpens. Never get so hung up on any bullpen pitcher becoming the best thing since sliced bread. Sometimes you have to sign bullpen arms. But I really would not spend a ton of money on any bullpen arm and the more optional (can be sent down) arms you have in the bullpen the better. Someone could be lights out for 2 weeks and then implode like Edwards did. Being able to send that player down or just flat out cut him (i.e. if the salary isn't that expensive) is the best way to build a bullpen. Ole Carl's problems began with his new stupid leg kick that he worked on before the 2019 season. It was obviously a balk and one of the dumbest decisions I've ever seen be made by a major leaguer He went from our future closer to a scrub almost immediately with that Kershaw wannabe leg kick. Whoever helped him with that should've been fired, if they weren't at the time. Edwards' demeanor changed also. He used to have it together so well and didn't seem phased by the pressure at all in 2016. Come some of 2018 and definitely in 2019, he was an emotional wreck on the field and his frustration was on full display. He's had injury problems and has barely pitched since the 2019 implosion. He signed up for a minor league deal with the white sox earlier this month. Hope he figures it out so he can prolong his baseball career. I wonder what putting on some weight would do for him? He's smaller than Davies I think, and Davies is a twig.
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Post by batman66 on Sept 20, 2021 15:40:01 GMT -5
I go back to when Carl Edwards was on the team. Don't get me wrong, Edwards had some good outings and some good years. And maybe it wasn't years that he was dismal with the Cubs. But there was a game - I think - where he just imploded against the Brewers (?) in the middle of the pennant race. And I seem to recall he wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before then, but after that implosion he was never the same. And the Cubs kept him on the roster. That was when I started saying Maples should get Edwards spot and just see what Maples could do. But they didn't do it. That's the issue with bullpens. Never get so hung up on any bullpen pitcher becoming the best thing since sliced bread. Sometimes you have to sign bullpen arms. But I really would not spend a ton of money on any bullpen arm and the more optional (can be sent down) arms you have in the bullpen the better. Someone could be lights out for 2 weeks and then implode like Edwards did. Being able to send that player down or just flat out cut him (i.e. if the salary isn't that expensive) is the best way to build a bullpen. Oh , no doubt. Bullpen arms are so unpredictable . They especially were this season when they cracked down on foriegn substances or "grip enhancers" . Dan Winkler went from a guy who had an ERA under 1 through 26 appearances until until June 18th and an ERA of 2.32 at the ASB to a guy that I believe did not get picked up by any organization after being released by the Cubs in August.
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Post by skokiejoe on Sept 24, 2021 10:29:48 GMT -5
As of September 24th 2021 40 on the 40 man roster + 7 on the 60 day IL. * Added since November 1st 2020 7 optioned to the Minors
Pitchers 20+3 Abbott 3 * Iowa Adam 2 * Alzolay 1 Brothers 0 * Davies 0 * Espinoza 2 * Tennessee Effross 3 * Hendricks 0 Holder 0 * 60 Day IL Heuer 3 * Marquez 3 Tennessee 60 day IL Megill 3 Mills 0 Morgan 0 * Nance 3 * Rodriguez 3 10 day IL Rucker 3 Sampson 3 Steele 1 Stewart 2 * 60 Day IL Thompson 3 * 10 Day IL Vizcaino 3 South Bend Wick 1 Wieck 1 60 Day IL
CATCHERS 4 + 2 Amaya 2 Tennessee 60 day IL Contreras 0 Chirinos 0 10 Day IL Higgins 3 * 60 Day IL Lobaton 0 * 60 Day IL Romine 0 *
INFIELDERS 8 + 1 Alcantara 1 Bote 1 Duffy 0 * Hoerner 3 Madrigal 3 * 60 Day IL Morel 3 * Iowa Rivas 3 * 10 day IL Schwindel 2 * Wisdom 1 *
OUTFIELDERS 7 + 1 Canario 3 * South Bend Deichmann 3 * Happ 2 Hermosillo 0 * 60 Day IL Heyward 0 7 day Concussion List Martini 1 Ortega 0 * Thompson 0 *
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Post by skokiejoe on Sept 29, 2021 16:32:30 GMT -5
As of September 29th 2021 40 on the 40 man roster + 7 on the 60 day IL + 1 on the COVID List. * Added since November 1st 2020 7 optioned to the Minors
Pitchers 20+3 Abbott 3 * Iowa Adam 2 * Alzolay 1 Brothers 0 * Davies 0 * Espinoza 2 * Tennessee Effross 3 * Hendricks 0 Holder 0 * 60 Day IL Heuer 3 * Marquez 3 Tennessee 60 day IL Megill 3 Mills 0 Morgan 0 * Nance 3 * Rodriguez 3 10 day IL Rucker 3 Sampson 3 Steele 1 Stewart 2 * 60 Day IL Thompson 3 * 10 Day IL Vizcaino 3 South Bend Wick 1 Wieck 1 60 Day IL
CATCHERS 4 + 2 Amaya 2 Tennessee 60 day IL Contreras 0 Chirinos 0 10 Day IL Higgins 3 * 60 Day IL Lobaton 0 * 60 Day IL Romine 0 *
INFIELDERS 8 + 1 + 1 Alcantara 1 Bote 1 Duffy 0 * Giambrone 3 * Hoerner 3 Madrigal 3 * 60 Day IL Morel 3 * Iowa Rivas 3 * 10 day IL Schwindel 2 * Wisdom 1 * Covid List?
OUTFIELDERS 7 + 1 Canario 3 * South Bend Deichmann 3 * Happ 2 Hermosillo 0 * 60 Day IL Heyward 0 7 day Concussion List Martini 1 Ortega 0 * Thompson 0 *
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Post by batman66 on Sept 30, 2021 18:03:25 GMT -5
Romine to Covid list Farm system veteran catcher Eric Castillo called up . He's been in the Cubs farm system since 2011.
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Post by skokiejoe on Oct 1, 2021 11:23:01 GMT -5
As of October 1st, 2021 40 on the 40 man roster + 7 on the 60 day IL + 4 on the COVID List. * Added since November 1st 2020 5 optioned to the Minors
Pitchers 20+3 Abbott 3 * Adam 2 * Alzolay 1 Brothers 0 * Davies 0 * Espinoza 2 * Tennessee Effross 3 * Hendricks 0 Holder 0 * 60 Day IL Heuer 3 * Marquez 3 Tennessee 60 day IL Megill 3 Mills 0 Morgan 0 * Nance 3 * Rodriguez 3 10 day IL Rucker 3 Sampson 3 Steele 1 Stewart 2 * 60 Day IL Thompson 3 * 10 Day IL Vizcaino 3 South Bend Wick 1 Wieck 1 60 Day IL
CATCHERS 5 + 2 + 1 Amaya 2 Tennessee 60 day IL Castillo 3 Contreras 0 Chirinos 0 10 Day IL Higgins 3 * 60 Day IL Lobaton 0 * 60 Day IL Romine 0 * Covid List
INFIELDERS 8 + 1 + 2 Alcantara 1 Bote 1 Covid List Duffy 0 * Giambrone 3 * Hoerner 3 10 Day IL Ladendorf ? * Madrigal 3 * 60 Day IL Morel 3 * Iowa Rivas 3 * 10 day IL Schwindel 2 * Wisdom 1 * Covid List
OUTFIELDERS 7 + 1 + 1 Canario 3 * South Bend Deichmann 3 * Fargas ? * Happ 2 Hermosillo 0 * 60 Day IL Heyward 0 7 day Concussion List Martini 1 Covid List Ortega 0 * Thompson 0 *
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Post by skokiejoe on Oct 3, 2021 10:57:18 GMT -5
As of October 3rd, 2021 40 on the 40 man roster + 8 on the 60 day IL + 5 on the COVID IL. * Added since November 1st 2020 5 optioned to the Minors # Added to to the 40 man roster to replace someone on the COVID IL
Pitchers 21+3+1 Abbott 3 * Adam 2 * Alzolay 1 Biagini 0 * # Brothers 0 * Davies 0 * Espinoza 2 * Tennessee Effross 3 * Hendricks 0 Holder 0 * 60 Day IL Heuer 3 * Marquez 3 Tennessee 60 day IL Megill 3 Mills 0 Morgan 0 * Nance 3 * COVID IL Rodriguez 3 10 day IL Rucker 3 Sampson 3 Steele 1 Stewart 2 * 60 Day IL Thompson 3 * 10 Day IL Vizcaino 3 South Bend Wick 1 Wieck 1 60 Day IL
CATCHERS 5 +2 + 1 Amaya 2 Tennessee 60 day IL Castillo 3 * # Contreras 0 Chirinos 0 10 Day IL Higgins 3 * 60 Day IL Lobaton 0 * 60 Day IL Payne 3 * Romine 0 * COVID IL
INFIELDERS 7 + 2+ 2 Alcantara 1 Bote 1 COVID IL Duffy 0 * Giambrone 3 * # Hoerner 3 10 Day IL Ladendorf 1 * # Madrigal 3 * 60 Day IL Morel 3 * Iowa Rivas 3 * 60 day IL Schwindel 2 * Wisdom 1 * COVID IL
OUTFIELDERS 7 + 1 + 1 Canario 3 * South Bend Deichmann 3 * Fargas 3 * # Happ 2 Hermosillo 0 * 60 Day IL Heyward 0 7 day Concussion List Martini 1 COVID List Ortega 0 * Thompson 0 *
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Post by batman66 on Oct 3, 2021 15:32:56 GMT -5
This has to be close to a record for the most catchers a team has had on the 26 or 40 man roster in a season .
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