Spring Training Thread

[Guest]

@ESPNChiCubs: Asked Baez one thing he's learned in camp. Didnt hesitate: "Take pitches."

[Tracer Bullet]

And crush them over the fence

[Guest]

@CarrieMuskat: #Cubs Scott Baker to have MRI on right elbow. Had some soreness today

 

Cool cool cool.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So even if they find nothing in the MRI, I'm betting he gets shut down for a little bit. And he's early enough in his stretching out that it basically means starting over.

[davell]

So even if they find nothing in the MRI, I'm betting he gets shut down for a little bit. And he's early enough in his stretching out that it basically means starting over.

Yeah, this sucks. Hell, this could push him way back.

[Guest]

btw - I think my mind must have been hacked, too.

 

Baez "assigned to minor league camp" instead of "optioned to XXX" because he's not on the 40 man roster. When the player isn't on the 40 man, they always say "assigned to minor league camp" even if they know full well where he's going.

 

My assumption is that Baez still goes to Daytona until we hear otherwise.

[davell]

Well [expletive]. I could claim my mind got hacked as well. But, I truly just didn't know that.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Proving once again that nobody reads my posts. Not that I blame you.

[davell]

Proving once again that nobody reads my posts. Not that I blame you.

I missed your edit. Happens more often when I know I'm right. Then get proven wrong.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sveum said that Tuesday's lineup, with Valbuena, is the Opening Day lineup.

[jersey cubs fan]

Sveum said that Tuesday's lineup, with Valbuena, is the Opening Day lineup.

 

#Cubs game Tues will feature Opening Day lineup: DeJesus cf, Castro ss, Riz 1b, Sori lf, Schierholtz rf, Castillo c, Valbuena 3b, Barney 2b

[Tracer Bullet]

We are not good.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We are not good.

 

"If everything looks right" is starting to look very thin.

[Guest]

How are you guys coming to this conclusion at the end of a game we're winning 5-1? Furthermore, a game in which none of projected starters are playing other than the pitcher...who pitched pretty well.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How are you guys coming to this conclusion at the end of a game we're winning 5-1? Furthermore, a game in which none of projected starters are playing other than the pitcher...who pitched pretty well.

 

This ain't the game thread, kid :)

 

Baker's had a setback and Garza's rehab seems to be moving a bit slowly. Having Wood, Villanueva and Feldman in the rotation simultaneously isn't terrible, but it doesn't make me feel like it can overcome our terrible offense.

[jersey cubs fan]

How are you guys coming to this conclusion at the end of a game we're winning 5-1? Furthermore, a game in which none of projected starters are playing other than the pitcher...who pitched pretty well.

 

I don't think people are coming to any conclusions about the quality of this team based on any particular spring training game.

 

 

I think people came to the conclusion long ago and the site of the opening day lineup just sort of reiterated the thought.

[Guest]

We've basically known that would be the lineup for a while now, though.

 

(I was thinking I was in the other thread, though)

[jumbo]

Does starting Baez at AA remind anyone else of the Corey Patterson experience of being promoted too quickly through levels where he hadn't had sustained success? Baez is better than Patterson but having him skip a level based on a few AFL and ST plate appearances seems like a bad idea. If they do start him at AA, it seems like it's an attempt to skirt their own policy of "One season at every level". Not a big fan if that is even a consideration.

 

I'd be stunned if he started anywhere but Daytona. He shredded Peoria, but didn't continue when he moved up after Alcantara's injury. I think had the injury not happened he would have stayed in Peoria until the end of the year, but either way, I don't see him going straight to AA.

 

I doubt Alcantara's injury was the reason Baez was promoted. (An opportunity? Sure.) Epstein and Hoyer had already proven once that they wouldn't promote Baez until they felt he was ready.

 

Do you think Alcantara would have been promoted, too?

[toonsterwu]

Had Alcantara maintained his early season performance, I think there would've been a decent chance that he would've gone up to AA at some point. That said, everyone takes a back seat to Baez.

 

_____

 

I sort of wonder about Valbuena in the 2 hole. Well, it's more I liked the idea of Rizzo/Castro/Soriano in the middle of the lineup in some fashion. Valbuena sees a fair amount of pitches (4.23 P/PA last year) and he'll take his walks. It isn't ideal with him in the 2 hole, but that's the only thing about the lineup that caught my eye.

[jersey cubs fan]

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan

Scott Baker shut down again. Will meet with Cubs physician. Stewart to start season on DL.

[Schwarber Fan]

Haha. I'm done with Stewart.

[Banedon]

Haha. I'm done with Stewart.

 

@ESPNChiCubs Ian Stewart this morn: "Just trying to run. Can't run."

 

@ESPNChiCubs More Stewart: "Its almost like it stopped healing, almost. Maybe its healing but it doesn't feel like it."

 

@ESPNChiCubs Stewart MRI shows fluid. Opening day has been ruled out. Starts on DL.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The cynical, hate-filled part of me wants to note that Stewart has to know he can't get cut in Spring Training while hurt, and if he doesn't get cut in ST, his contract becomes guaranteed.

 

I can't help but note that they didn't actually say what Baker's setback was or what the MRI found. I guess that 85 MPH fastball wasn't nothing.

 

Best case scenario is that he's shut down for a bit, then has to start from scratch again and they'll take it slow. An early June start to the season would be best-case scenario, I'd have to think.

 

Hoyer's finger tightens around the fire-sale trigger.

[Cubswin11]

The cynical, hate-filled part of me wants to note that Stewart has to know he can't get cut in Spring Training while hurt, and if he doesn't get cut in ST, his contract becomes guaranteed.

 

I can't help but note that they didn't actually say what Baker's setback was or what the MRI found. I guess that 85 MPH fastball wasn't nothing.

 

Best case scenario is that he's shut down for a bit, then has to start from scratch again and they'll take it slow. An early June start to the season would be best-case scenario, I'd have to think.

 

Hoyer's finger tightens around the fire-sale trigger.

He won't let anything get in the way of getting Rodon next year

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He won't let anything get in the way of getting Rodon next year

 

The Cubs weren't getting past the Astros for the No. 1 pick short of trading Castro and Rizzo while signing no new free agents.