The 2014 Bullpen

[davell]

If, big if.....

 

Tanaka, Shark, Wood, Jackson, Arrieta

Cl-Veras

SU-Strop, Parker

LHP-Russell, Wright

MR-Crain, Villanueva

 

Backups for rotation-Rusin, Wada

Bullpen depth- Grimm, Rondon, Fujikawa, Vizcaino, Raley

 

Even more if we add another starter, which could be a scrap heap type. I like it no matter what park we play in.

[Guest]

My initial reaction is that Crain is part of the "ways to spend the Tanaka money if he falls through" contingency, especially since there isn't much in the OF to spend on anymore.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If, big if.....

 

Tanaka, Shark, Wood, Jackson, Arrieta

Cl-Veras

SU-Strop, Parker

LHP-Russell, Wright

MR-Crain, Villanueva

 

Backups for rotation-Rusin, Wada

Bullpen depth- Grimm, Rondon, Fujikawa, Vizcaino, Raley

 

Even more if we add another starter, which could be a scrap heap type. I like it no matter what park we play in.

 

I'm not crazy in love with it, but it would be an above-average pitching staff and would probably make the first half of the season watchable.

[A New Era]

I think it all hangs on Arrieta. If he could keep his control through the entire game and live up to his talent then it's an outstanding staff. I'm willing to give Arrieta the chance out of ST on his talent alone.

 

Unless you think there is someone else with more upside than him?

[Guest]

I think it all hangs on Arrieta. If he could keep his control through the entire game and live up to his talent then it's an outstanding staff. I'm willing to give Arrieta the chance out of ST on his talent alone.

 

Unless you think there is someone else with more upside than him?

 

I wouldn't mind letting Arrieta and Hendricks battle it out.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I think it all hangs on Arrieta. If he could keep his control through the entire game and live up to his talent then it's an outstanding staff. I'm willing to give Arrieta the chance out of ST on his talent alone.

 

Unless you think there is someone else with more upside than him?

 

I wouldn't mind letting Arrieta and Hendricks battle it out.

 

Hendricks seems to be locked in to starting at AAA, and I don't think that's unreasonable.

 

I would be pretty ecstatic though if we managed to bump Arrieta out of the rotation. He's not the worst fifth starter we've ever trotted out there, but he's pretty bad and I think he has a much better shot to be useful out of the pen.

[Cubswin11]

I think it all hangs on Arrieta. If he could keep his control through the entire game and live up to his talent then it's an outstanding staff. I'm willing to give Arrieta the chance out of ST on his talent alone.

 

Unless you think there is someone else with more upside than him?

 

I wouldn't mind letting Arrieta and Hendricks battle it out.

 

Hendricks seems to be locked in to starting at AAA, and I don't think that's unreasonable.

Yeah, hasn't Jed and/or Theo explicitly stated that he's going to start in AAA despite having an excellent year last year and they pointed to there still being things they want him to work on and/or need to see improvements in some areas?

[CubsWin]

My initial reaction is that Crain is part of the "ways to spend the Tanaka money if he falls through" contingency, especially since there isn't much in the OF to spend on anymore.

Will he cost that much coming off of a shoulder injury?

[Guest]

My initial reaction is that Crain is part of the "ways to spend the Tanaka money if he falls through" contingency, especially since there isn't much in the OF to spend on anymore.

Will he cost that much coming off of a shoulder injury?

 

Probably not, but my initial thought is that he'll cost something. Since RH reliever isn't really much of a need at all, I think Crain is one of those guys who you can throw some money at if you miss out on Tanaka and it not really hurt you. Unlike say, signing Ubaldo for 5 years or something where there's repercussions beyond simply adding that guy to the 2014 roster.

[CubsWin]

My initial reaction is that Crain is part of the "ways to spend the Tanaka money if he falls through" contingency, especially since there isn't much in the OF to spend on anymore.

Will he cost that much coming off of a shoulder injury?

 

Probably not, but my initial thought is that he'll cost something. Since RH reliever isn't really much of a need at all, I think Crain is one of those guys who you can throw some money at if you miss out on Tanaka and it not really hurt you. Unlike say, signing Ubaldo for 5 years or something where there's repercussions beyond simply adding that guy to the 2014 roster.

I would hope, based his low cost, that the Cubs could still afford Crain's salary even if they did sign Tanaka.