Spring Training Thread

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So with Arrieta not ready for Opening Day and McDonald on an MLB deal, I guess we'd get:

 

Samardzija/Wood/Jackson/Hammel/Villanueva

 

Veras/Strop/Wright/Russell/McDonald/Parker/Grimm?

[Guest]

I would think Rondon gets the nod over Grimm if his velocity is still where it was last summer. If Renteria is really thinking of Grimm as a top of mind reliever though, maybe I have their plan for him wrong. Could also see Rusin staking a claim to the #5 spot with a strong spring, but I don't think that's all that likely an outcome.

[Gilby]

So with Arrieta not ready for Opening Day and McDonald on an MLB deal, I guess we'd get:

 

Samardzija/Wood/Jackson/Hammel/Villanueva

 

Veras/Strop/Wright/Russell/McDonald/Parker/Grimm?

 

Hopefully with Vizcaino and/or Fujikawa in the pen and a McDonald DFA not too far behind.

[Guest]

So with Arrieta not ready for Opening Day and McDonald on an MLB deal, I guess we'd get:

 

Samardzija/Wood/Jackson/Hammel/Villanueva

 

Veras/Strop/Wright/Russell/McDonald/Parker/Grimm?

 

Seems about right, though I'd put my money on Jackson to be a better pitcher than Wood this year.

 

I think Hammel could give us Feldman-esque results....so that kinda looks a lot like last year's early season rotation (pre-Garza)

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I would think Rondon gets the nod over Grimm if his velocity is still where it was last summer. If Renteria is really thinking of Grimm as a top of mind reliever though, maybe I have their plan for him wrong. Could also see Rusin staking a claim to the #5 spot with a strong spring, but I don't think that's all that likely an outcome.

 

Maybe you could drop Parker, too, and add Rondon. I don't think Parker's 46 innings should necessarily lock him in. And I wouldn't mind shipping out Russell for anything.

 

I don't see any way Cabrera makes the team, and I can't see him clearing waivers. I think he's probably done as a Cub.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

How is Rosscup not in the pen?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How is Rosscup not in the pen?

 

I'd love it if he was, but subpar MLB appearance and two established MLB lefties ahead of him.

[Guest]

I would think Rondon gets the nod over Grimm if his velocity is still where it was last summer. If Renteria is really thinking of Grimm as a top of mind reliever though, maybe I have their plan for him wrong. Could also see Rusin staking a claim to the #5 spot with a strong spring, but I don't think that's all that likely an outcome.

 

Maybe you could drop Parker, too, and add Rondon. I don't think Parker's 46 innings should necessarily lock him in. And I wouldn't mind shipping out Russell for anything.

 

I don't see any way Cabrera makes the team, and I can't see him clearing waivers. I think he's probably done as a Cub.

 

Parker's 46 innings aren't a pass if he gets hit hard to start the year, but given the alternatives, he has to make the opening day roster if healthy. He was really good last year.

 

Agreed on Cabrera. He won't be on the 40 man much longer.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

How is Rosscup not in the pen?

 

I'd love it if he was, but subpar MLB appearance and two established MLB lefties ahead of him.

 

They're going to hold 7 innings against him? Wish they'd trade Russell.

[jersey cubs fan]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 11m

Hoyer on Arodys Vizcaino: "I think his stuff certainly is as good as anyone in this camp when he’s healthy, and he’s healthy right now."

[CubsWin]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 11m

Hoyer on Arodys Vizcaino: "I think his stuff certainly is as good as anyone in this camp when he’s healthy, and he’s healthy right now."

That's great news. Hope he can stay that way...

[NOLA]

Vizcaino is my current prospect mancrush. I am really ready to see him this spring.

[CUBZ99]

Looking forward to seeing the new facility in a couple of weeks.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Anyone know if Josh Conway is healthy and ready for spring?

[Guest]

Anyone know if Josh Conway is healthy and ready for spring?

 

Best I could find from the horse's mouth:

 

josh conway ‏@JoshConway16 Feb 12

@riley_daddy been back since jan. New place is great. Top notch

 

josh conway ‏@JoshConway16 Feb 12

@riley_daddy rehab is going well. Arm and mind are all doing well. Looking forward to the spring

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 52s

Rizzo, Barney among early bird position players in #Cubs camp.

[Guest]

Jesse Rogers ‏@ESPNChiCubs 7m

Arodys Vizcaino says he's pain free and ready to go. Expects to be pitching in april in Chi. Bosio said Chi or Iowa but he should be ready

[Guest]

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Ahhhhhhhhhh, red bills.

[jersey cubs fan]

Ahhhhhhhhhh, red bills.

 

A useful reminder not to pay attention to spring training.

[davell]

CL-Veras

LHP-Russell, Wright

RHP-Strop, Parker, Villanueva or McDonald, Parker

 

I guess that's the expected pen for now?

 

With Rondon, Grimm, and Vizcaino pushing hard for spots. Maybe Rosscup or Rusin pushes Russell away?

 

The wildcard here is Villanueva, in my mind. With Arrieta not looking likely to start the season on time, one of Villanueva, McDonald or Rusin is in the Opening Day rotation. If it's Rusin or McDonald, I can't see Villanueva in the pen, with this many arms available. He's the perfect candidate to see dealt during Spring Training. If McDonald doesn't make the rotation, my guess is he's cut.

[Guest]

I'm gonna set the ceiling on 1 pen spot for Parker.

 

We chatted this briefly elsewhere(maybe it was earlier in this thread?), but to me the hierarchy would be as such:

 

Guaranteed a spot unless they're hurt: Veras, Parker, Strop, Wright, Russell, Villanueva

 

Competing for the one current spot: Rondon, McDonald

 

Could force their way into the pen with strong performance or injury elsewhere: Vizcaino, Rusin, Grimm

 

Arrieta's injury complicates things a bit, especially since today he seemed to downplay the idea that he wouldn't be ready to start the season. If he's in the rotation to start the year, to me that makes it a bit of a showdown between Rondon and McDonald, with Vizcaino, Rusin, and Grimm on the periphery. If Arrieta can't go, and neither one of Rondon or McDonald has a strong spring, then it could get interesting.

[A New Era]

guys I'll be watching with most anticipation (in order)

 

Baez, Bryant, Almora, Castro, Rizzo, Olt, Vizciano. Then a ton of other guys in no order. I'll be interested in other players but I'll pay special attention when one of those guys is pitching/batting. It's too bad only one game will be televised before the prospects are no longer in camp.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Guaranteed a spot unless they're hurt: Veras, Parker, Strop, Wright, Russell, Villanueva

 

Competing for the one current spot: Rondon, McDonald

 

Could force their way into the pen with strong performance or injury elsewhere: Vizcaino, Rusin, Grimm.

 

 

If neither Grimm nor Ramirez makes a notable contribution in 2014, that trade looks a bit less bright. Unless Olt can see after all.

[davell]

No clue why I had Parker listed twice. I think I expect Grimm and Rondon to emerge as the best of the bunch in 2014. I think we'll take it easy with Vizcaino, just getting him innings is important.