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Spring Training Thread

MWV

By MWV,
in Chicago Cubs Talk

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Clem Fandango All-Star

Clem Fandango

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Looks like they're starting Villanueva in the rotation to open the season.

 

Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva will open the season in the rotation, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

 

Villanueva will fill in for Jake Arrieta, who is expected to open the year on the disabled list. Villanueva has taken on a swing-man role in recent seasons. He typically gets a few starts each year, but tends to pitch better out of the bullpen. Villanueva has expressed his desire to be a full-time starter, but understands why he's used in both roles.

 

Villanueva posted a 4.06 ERA in 128 2/3 innings last year.

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Pushfrog98 ACL Cubs

Pushfrog98

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Looks like they're starting Villanueva in the rotation to open the season.

 

Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva will open the season in the rotation, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

 

Villanueva will fill in for Jake Arrieta, who is expected to open the year on the disabled list. Villanueva has taken on a swing-man role in recent seasons. He typically gets a few starts each year, but tends to pitch better out of the bullpen. Villanueva has expressed his desire to be a full-time starter, but understands why he's used in both roles.

 

Villanueva posted a 4.06 ERA in 128 2/3 innings last year.

I feel you could do a worse than Villanueva as a 5th starter.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

Hairyducked Idiot All-Star

Hairyducked Idiot

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

Cubswin11 All-Star

Cubswin11

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

Yeah, I just don't see this team finishing any better than the 65-70 win range. Starting pitching is below average, offense is league worse level, bullpen should be above average-good, defense is probably average.

treebird All-Star

treebird

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

 

fastball was surprisingly lively as well, which made it all the more shocking that he got hit pretty hard (not that i'm putting any import on ST results).

pitchcs ACL Cubs

pitchcs

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Mooney: Cubs option Brett Jackson, Zac Rosscup, Christian Villanueva, Josh Vitters and Arodys Vizcaino to Triple-A Iowa
KingCubsFan ACL Cubs

KingCubsFan

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

If Rizzo and Castro can bounce back (I can't see them being any worse), the offense looks much different. I'm also a fan of Ruggiano.

Clem Fandango All-Star

Clem Fandango

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

If Rizzo and Castro can bounce back (I can't see them being any worse), the offense looks much different. I'm also a fan of Ruggiano.

 

A healthy Mike Olt would certainly help as well

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

If Rizzo and Castro can bounce back (I can't see them being any worse), the offense looks much different. I'm also a fan of Ruggiano.

They are going to be severely OBP challenged. I guess Olt is the wildcard here but if he can't throw the ball, it's moot.

Clem Fandango All-Star

Clem Fandango

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
If Rizzo makes a natural recovery due to his BABIP balancing itself out his OBP will not be bad by any means. He drew 76 walks last year. Even if you want to say it's becasue he had no lineup protection, he still doesn't have it this year. There's no reason to think his OBP won't improve if he progresses.
Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
If Rizzo makes a natural recovery due to his BABIP balancing itself out his OBP will not be bad by any means. He drew 76 walks last year. Even if you want to say it's becasue he had no lineup protection, he still doesn't have it this year. There's no reason to think his OBP won't improve if he progresses.

I didn't think Rizzo was a problem.

Clem Fandango All-Star

Clem Fandango

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
If Rizzo makes a natural recovery due to his BABIP balancing itself out his OBP will not be bad by any means. He drew 76 walks last year. Even if you want to say it's becasue he had no lineup protection, he still doesn't have it this year. There's no reason to think his OBP won't improve if he progresses.

I didn't think Rizzo was a problem.

 

You were responding to a post about Rizzo and Castro and you said they were going to be OBP challenged. If you were referring to the team in general then I misunderstood

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

If Rizzo and Castro can bounce back (I can't see them being any worse), the offense looks much different. I'm also a fan of Ruggiano.

They are going to be severely OBP challenged. I guess Olt is the wildcard here but if he can't throw the ball, it's moot.

I'm still far more concerned about his ability to hit and see the baseball than throwing it.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
If Rizzo makes a natural recovery due to his BABIP balancing itself out his OBP will not be bad by any means. He drew 76 walks last year. Even if you want to say it's becasue he had no lineup protection, he still doesn't have it this year. There's no reason to think his OBP won't improve if he progresses.

I didn't think Rizzo was a problem.

 

You were responding to a post about Rizzo and Castro and you said they were going to be OBP challenged. If you were referring to the team in general then I misunderstood

They = Cubs

Fro Draft Eligible

Fro

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
According to the MLB.com radio broadcast, Vizcaino was hitting 96-98 with his fastball today. It sure would be a nice bonus if he can stay healthy.

The pen is really shaping up to be strong. Let's hope they don't get over-worked too early.

 

I'm much more optimistic about this team than I was this winter. I think they will struggle mightily to score runs, but I think they will be in most ball games.

 

 

The starting pitching is awfully blah, and the offense is a serious challenger for the worst in the league. I want to believe, but it's hard.

If Rizzo and Castro can bounce back (I can't see them being any worse), the offense looks much different. I'm also a fan of Ruggiano.

They are going to be severely OBP challenged. I guess Olt is the wildcard here but if he can't throw the ball, it's moot.

 

Might be a job for Ryan Kalish

Lefty First Round Pick

Lefty

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Just replacing Murphy's hot streak and Navarro's season is going to be a challenge even if Olt and Ruggiano pan out.
Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted

Still no Olt at 3B (unless he comes in as a sub)

 

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 7m

Cubs' lineup: pic.twitter.com/0IInnt6Oij

 

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 7m

Valbuena at 3b

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
@MDGonzales: Olt anticipates playing 3b on Thursday, admits rehab has been longer than he anticipated.
Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
I don't understand these repeated one day setbacks. So weird.

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