Spring Training Thread

[Guest]

I'm not saying he can or should be a starter either. I was more getting at the idea that he has X IP before his arm explodes forever, so they should be consolidated at the MLB level as much as possible. While there's some truth to that(although it applies to "pitchers" as much as "Vizcaino") and good logic that correlates to that(Vizcaino's stuff is the best of any reliever, so if he's sharp he should be in the pen), I don't think there's the same urgency to squeeze the last bit of Vizcaino out of the tube at the MLB level like there was with Guzman after he had 1 year with > 50 IP in 8 tries.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He's been a pro for six years and has only been healthy for one of them (and he didn't even through 50 innings in that one, it was his 17-year-old rookie ball year). I think that's pretty Guzmanesque.

[Guest]

He's been a pro for six years and has only been healthy for one of them (and he didn't even through 50 innings in that one, it was his 17-year-old rookie ball year). I think that's pretty Guzmanesque.

 

Best that I can tell, he didn't have any problems in 2008 or 2009, his 2010 was cut short with the elbow ligament injury(which they chose rehab over surgery), he was healthy for all of 2011(he definitely didn't miss any time), and then the elbow gave out ST 2012. Carve that up how you will, I just don't think that elbow issue that took a while to fix(both in decision and rehab) is on the same plane as Guzman's legion of injuries that persisted over the better part of a decade.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He had back problems in 2009 and was pulled in at least one start in 2011 with issues:

http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/4/26/2134504/braves-pitching-prospect-arodys-vizcaino-battling-injury-and-timidity

[Guest]

Have there been any studies that say relievers are less likely to be injured than starters? I know that's the common thinking, but it sure seems like relievers get hurt just as often.

 

Now, that could also be a selection bias in play as relievers are often put in that role because of an existing injury history or mechanics that are likely to lead to injury.

[Radar3454]

From the Vizcaino link

 

The Cubs have more than 50 Minor League players taking part in a mini-camp at the team's new complex. One player who fans most likely won't recognize is Daniel Vogelbach, who lost 30 pounds this offseason. Vogelbach is the Cubs' 10th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com.

 

Can't wait to see an updated pic of him

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Unfortunately the 30 pounds was all water weight.

[Boris]

Lets ditch Rizzo and keep the Chub.

[Guest]

Lets ditch Rizzo and keep the Chub.

 

How about no

[Guest]

Lets ditch Rizzo and keep the Chub.

 

How about no

 

Thank you.

[Boris]

Gosh, you guys are so serious.

[Guest]

Seeing as how he just chose to stop with the eye drops that were allegedly working (but bad for him long term) last year, I'm not sure how I feel about the report that Olt isn't using his medication again.

[Guest]

Seeing as how he just chose to stop with the eye drops that were allegedly working (but bad for him long term) last year, I'm not sure how I feel about the report that Olt isn't using his medication again.

 

What report is that? Wittenmyer has something today that implies he's still using drops.

[treebird]

Seeing as how he just chose to stop with the eye drops that were allegedly working (but bad for him long term) last year, I'm not sure how I feel about the report that Olt isn't using his medication again.

 

that guy at bleacher report who talked to him at the convention made it sound like olt was going to stay on the drops forever

 

given the choice between olt and no drops vs drops and no olt, I'll take the drops.

[MWV]

I'm skeptical that Olt would drop his meds (or that the Cubs would let him) unless given advice to do so from multiple physicians. He has so much riding on this season professionally.

[Guest]

I'm skeptical that Olt would drop his meds (or that the Cubs would let him) unless given advice to do so from multiple physicians. He has so much riding on this season professionally.

 

I'm pretty sure he openly admitted to doing just that last year.

 

Anyway, this is the report I'm referencing:

 

Eye on Olt: One of the early but pleasant surprises has been the power of Mike Olt, especially since he battled vision problems last season stemming from a concussion suffered in the Dominican Republic in November 2012.

 

Javier Baez, known for his power, noticed Friday that Olt has "some pop too'' after Olt ripped several home runs in batting practice. Olt smacked 28 homers at Double-A Frisco in 2012.

 

"Everything is all good," said Olt, who no longer is on medication for his vision problems. "In live BP, I'm seeing the ball a lot better. Everything feels good right now."

 

 

But maybe that's a different medication that we hadn't heard of. Dunno.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-bits-cubs-spring-training-spt-0223-20140223,0,1827708.story?track=rss

[MWV]

I'm pretty sure he openly admitted to doing just that last year.

I assume that the outcome of last season would inform his decision to do so again (particularly if he did so independent of medical opinion).

As you observe, it's not clear that we're even discussing the same medicine(s). The issue of Olt's vision and its treatment has been nebulous from the start. For better or worse, we should gain a more solid sense of what he's capable of over the next few months.

[CubsWin]

For those who are nostalgic and a bit masochistic among us, this is what spring training looked like 44 years ago. Some classic WGN coverage of the snakebit '69 season. Jack Brickhouse fans will enjoy this. Click ahead to 4 minutes and 30 seconds to avoid a minute of color bars and tone and a boring opening montage of newspaper clippings over "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head".

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyIaFuFlVJ0

[Guest]

June 13-16 at the River Cats... that's a 50-50 proposition I think. Not sure if I should root for it or against it.

 

I'm definitely going to one of those games regardless but it would be great to see Baez there.

 

For some reason I thought the Iowa Cubs came here last year and was pleasantly surprised to find out they didn't when I looked it up a couple weeks ago.

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/25788051-573/cubs-third-baseman-mike-olt-can-see-hes-on-the-right-path.html

 

Some Mike Olt fluff from Wittenmyer

 

MESA, Ariz. — On a back field at the Cubs’ spring-training complex Saturday during a casual round of batting practice, Mike Olt was shagging flies — with a bat.

 

He gave chase to one ball slicing away from him in left field, reached out one-handed on the run and, with a lunging swing, “fouled” it over the wall. It was a clear sign that the vision problems that plagued Olt last year are gone.

 

“The past couple days I’ve taken live BP, and just getting in there and just picking up some things, I definitely think I’m ahead of schedule for how I usually am at this time,” Olt said. “I think that’s more of a sign.”

 

Either way, if the tear-duct problems that exacerbated his allergies, blurred his vision, ruined his 2013 season and made him available from the Rangers in the Matt Garza trade are gone, then the Cubs might have a real candidate for their core at third base.

 

“I feel like we made a lot of progress with what I need to do now,” said Olt, who has been prescribed medicated eye drops he says are working. “Now it’s just fun to get out there and not think about it anymore.”

 

Ranked 22nd on Baseball America’s prospect list entering last season, the power-hitting, strong-fielding third baseman could be a player to watch this spring. He has the potential to knock the Luis Valbuena-Donnie Murphy platoon off third.

 

“As long as I’m healthy, I know that I can do what I was capable of,” said the former first-round draft pick who hit .288 with 28 homers and a .977 OPS in 95 games at Class AA before his call-up in 2012.

 

“I know that I belong. I belong in the big leagues. I’ve just got to make sure I stay healthy and make sure I’m on everything and just let my abilities take over. I’ve still got a lot of time, and I’ve still got a lot to work on. But it’s definitely more fun for me right now to know that I’m on the right path.”

 

 

I guess we'll see. Hopefully, this'll turn out better than the Brett Jackson magic swing fluff from last year.

[Guest]

CubsVineLine ‏@cubsvineline 57m

Nothing like the smell of baseball in the morning. #Cubs Park Photo Day. pic.twitter.com/NZz5Fnh2rW

 

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 48s

It's photo day at #Cubs camp. Here's Mike Olt pic.twitter.com/SeFRJPSby9

[Guest]

Why the hell is Brett Jackson doing a TV spot?

 

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 2m

Here's #Cubs Brett Jackson doing promo pic.twitter.com/rbvQJxXkgf

[XZero771679666304]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/25788051-573/cubs-third-baseman-mike-olt-can-see-hes-on-the-right-path.html

 

Some Mike Olt fluff from Wittenmyer

 

....................

 

I guess we'll see. Hopefully, this'll turn out better than the Brett Jackson magic swing fluff from last year.

 

 

Call me crazy, but I'm buying it. I think we might actually get something out of him, at least it's orders of magnitude more likely than BJax turning it around, imo.

 

And Wittenmyer isn't exactly known for his fluff pieces.

[Vanilla Ice]

I knew coming into Spring Training that we were going to get a lot of Mike Olt fluff pieces.... but I still can't help myself, I'm excited for him this year

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/25788051-573/cubs-third-baseman-mike-olt-can-see-hes-on-the-right-path.html

 

Some Mike Olt fluff from Wittenmyer

 

....................

 

I guess we'll see. Hopefully, this'll turn out better than the Brett Jackson magic swing fluff from last year.

 

 

Call me crazy, but I'm buying it. I think we might actually get something out of him, at least it's orders of magnitude more likely than BJax turning it around, imo.

 

And Wittenmyer isn't exactly known for his fluff pieces.

 

In the last two days, between this and the Almora piece, he has been fluffy as [expletive].

 

 

That said, if Olt is actually a thing....with Baez at 2B, that is just some stupidly ridiculously absurd power in the infield...and then the possibility of Soler and Bryant at the corners...goodness.