Author Topic: Cubs in ‘23  (Read 54892 times)

guest405

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1890 on: March 24, 2023, 03:59:01 pm »
We need Mervis,Davis,Wisneski,Killian etc. to contribute.

CurtOne

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Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1892 on: March 25, 2023, 12:54:10 am »
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35924375/chicago-cubs-cody-bellinger-play-mvp-again

Don’t think anybody expecting a Bellinger return to MVP form of 2019. Seems kind of pie-in-the-sky.

But, just maybe he could return to his 2020 form of the covid season, which was a big drop-off at the time but looks pretty good now——.789 OPS and a pro-rated 4 WAR season. That’s a good player. Hoping.

If Bellinger did that and Suzuki took a significant step upward, combined with solid offensive seasons from Hoerner, Swanson, Happ——that might be a quite good 1-5 batting order at the top.

That’s asking a lot but who knows. If it happened, Cubs might muddle thru the 6-7 lineup spots if could get some production from DH and whoever ends up getting most of the 1B PAs. Geez, you’d think a major league club could get production out of DH and 1B.

Hard to see anything but poor offensive production from 3B and C, realistically.

But, if could be really good 1-5, might score some runs.

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1893 on: March 25, 2023, 01:29:12 am »
Craig worried about Mastrobuoni not making the club.

Maybe he won’t, but think he has decent chance.

Probably depends on what Cubs do with Morel. Some AAA seasoning for Morel or makes opening day 26.

Other possibility is a move with Madrigal, which seems unlikely.

Rios and Tauchman are making the club. So, rest of bench could be Madrigal and Mastrobuoni OR Morel, plus backup catcher of course. Seems like McKinstry probably out, with Tauchman taking that 40-man slot.

Of course, possible that Cubs prefer McKinstry over Mastrobuoni and Tauchman takes the latter’s 40-man spot.

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1894 on: March 25, 2023, 10:43:52 am »
Reb, agree with thought on Bellinger.  OPS-wise, he's had seasons in the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 hundreds. 
*Nobody is seriously imagining he's going to approach his best years (MVP 1.035 OPS, or the .933 of his other all-star season.) 
*But I'm at least hoping that neither will he reproduce his two worst seasons (.542 and .654 OPS)? 
*Might he approach his two more middling seasons (.814 and .789)?  That's my hope. 
*Not probable, but neither impossible no implausible.   

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1895 on: March 25, 2023, 11:08:14 am »
...Mastrobuoni... think he has decent chance.

...Rios and Tauchman are making the club. So, rest of bench could be Madrigal and Mastrobuoni OR Morel, plus backup catcher of course. Seems like McKinstry probably out, with Tauchman taking that 40-man slot.

Of course, possible that Cubs prefer McKinstry over Mastrobuoni and Tauchman takes the latter’s 40-man spot.

I'd be surprised if the Cubs de-rostered Mastrobuoni to make 40-man for Tauchman while also keeping McKinstry. 
-MM has options for a while, MK doesn't. 
-So  better for future flexibility to keep the options man. 
-I also imagine that the league would be more likely to claim MM-with-options.  So, *IF* you care whether or not you lose the guy you cut, I think that risk is lower with McKinstry. 

I thought I saw or heard something a few days ago that Suzuki may be progressing reasonably well, and may not be out for super long.  If so, Tauchman might be a somewhat temporary 40-man placeholder. 

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1896 on: March 25, 2023, 11:15:35 am »
Between cutting McKinstry or others, and putting guys on 60-day DL, they may have roster space for any non-rosters they want to add for opening day.  But *IF* it isn't easy, I wonder how important Tauchman is?  Mancini has played lots of outfield; would you be starting Tauchman ahead of Mancini?  Morel has played some outfield, and *IF* you decided to play him over Tauchman, the "send-to-Iowa-to-get-regular-AB's" motive wouldn't apply. 

guest405

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1897 on: March 25, 2023, 02:35:59 pm »
Wisneski named 5th starter.

Sampson sent down.

Wisneski might end up being one of our best starters and we traded an injured reliever for him.
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craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1898 on: March 25, 2023, 08:31:59 pm »
https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/cubs-spring-training-notebook-ripple-effects-of-rotation-decisions-injury-updates-and-roster-moves/

Suzuki hitting coach-toss pitches, and "crushing" them.  Seems to to be progressing. 
*"By not playing him in a Cactus League game, the Cubs can theoretically backdate his IL stint, too — meaning he would be away from the team for the first seven days of the season versus the first 10, provided he’s recovering well enough."
*"Ross has said that some combination of Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom could play right field while Suzuki recovers."

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1899 on: March 27, 2023, 12:56:13 pm »
Paul Sullivan

@PWSullivan
Assad officially in bullpen, per Cubs manager

@PWSullivan
Tauchman and Elias assigned to minors. Cubs roster down to 37



craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1900 on: March 27, 2023, 12:57:48 pm »
Tyler Duffey wasn't good last year, but he was effective for the previous 3 seasons, and he's been solid this camp. I wonder what the terms of his contract look like.  Can the Cubs farm him, and keep him there for months?  Or might he have one of those triggers where he can opt out if he's not called up my May 1st or whatever?  It's not like he's got some high ceiling or was ever great (although his 2019 numbers were pretty stellar.).  But I wonder if Ross maybe likes him, and would like to keep him on the roster? 

Another non-roster guy, so not sure they want to clear two spots for non-roster Duffey and Leiter both, and reb has thought Tauchman might get another one besides. 

There have been a LOT of seasons where the Cubs worst reliever was a LOT worse than the 2019-2022 good version of Duffey. 

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1901 on: March 27, 2023, 12:59:47 pm »
As discussed in BR, Tauchman’s minor league assignment likely means that Suzuki won’t miss much of April after all.  Maybe just a week of the season?

And, of course, now no need to open up a 40-man spot for Tauchman.

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1902 on: March 27, 2023, 01:01:51 pm »
Craig-seems likely that Duffy has an opt-out triggered very soon. Maybe he’ll make the club in any case.

JeffH

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1903 on: March 27, 2023, 01:24:40 pm »
I only count 35, not 37.

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #1904 on: March 27, 2023, 01:47:53 pm »
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/03/27/chicago-cubs-roster-news-tauchman-elias-torrens-hughes-wick-rucker-more/

Per this report:
1.  Tauchman to Iowa. 
2.  Elias to Iowa.
3.  Maddie Lee says Wick likely to get waived. 
4.  Taylor suggests Hughes is likely to start on IR
5.  Sharma thinks Rucker is a lock to make the roster
6.  Sharma thinks Torrens is likely to make the roster.  That would be another non-roster guy.
7.  Assad is apparently making the roster.