Playoff Roster

[CubColtPacer]

Unless I'm counting wrong, raw only has 24 players on his postseason roster. 8 starting position players, 4 starters, 7 relievers, and 5 bench players. So at least one of the couple bench players being thrown around could join that group.

[Sammy Sofa]

Does Castro make the playoff roster at this point?

 

Who would they replace him with?

[squally1313]

9 Soler

8 Fowler

7 Schwarber

6 Russell

5 Bryant

4 Coghlan

3 Rizzo

2 Montero

 

Bench- Castro, Jackson, Denorfia, Ross, LH IF (LaStella or Herrera)

 

Starters- Arrieta, Lester, Hammel, Hendricks

 

Bullpen- Strop, Rondon, Grimm, Wood, Russell and then 2 of Hunter, Rodney, Motte, Ramirez.

 

I'd guess Motte has a spot if healthy.

 

You don't have a spot for Javy or just taking a wait and see approach? I also think they might be holding a spot for Berry as their Dyson.

 

Who do you take off for Javy or Berry? Do you really need a 3rd backup OF, especially with Coghlan also being able to play there? Javy will have to really hit his way on the team, unless Soler doesn't make it back.

 

I really think Jackson makes Denorfia expendable. You'll have Jackson and Bryant capable of covering all three positions if needed, and then Coghlan too.

 

I'm pulling for Baez as much as anyone, but I don't know if he'd be the type to contribute much in a situation where he'd be getting one at bat a game against, most likely, a top reliever. Barry on the other hand...I don't see how Denorfia, as the second or third RH option off the bench, offers more than he does

 

The way Maddon has been talking Javy up and the way he's willing to put young players right in there for regular playing time, I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the lineup 3-4 times a week or more in September

 

Yeah I think Coghlan is the real wild card in all of this. While the metrics like him defensively, it's pretty clear to anyone who watches that he's a liability wherever he plays. If Baez shows any sort of offensive output, it gets to be a real debate on which two of Coghlan/Baez/Jackson/Soler get the 2B/RF spots. Jackson and Baez gives you the best defense, but probably the least offensive production. Guess we have a month to see what they all can do.

 

In terms of actual roster, is there any chance we can convince Lester to leave Ross off the roster? Or is his defense too important with Lester's yips? In an ideal world, I'd love to roll with these 13:

 

Montero

Rizzo

Coghlan

Russell

Bryant

Schwarber

Fowler

Jackson

 

Soler

Baez

Castro

Berry

LaStella

 

If Ross has to make it, then I think it comes down to punting Castro or LaStella. Castro is the better player, but LaStella gives you the lefty bat.

[Gilby]

Right now, it's probably just best to assume Soler won't return. That's where I am, at least. I had doubts he would return before acquiring Jackson, and while we would have use for him even if Soler returns, that made feel a little stronger that Soler's done.

[davell]

Yeah, I'm going off the idea Soler is done for this season. I hope not, but with obliques being tricky to begin with, I'll be surprised if he's back this season.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, between Coghlan and Jackson (and hell, maybe Baez) he's pretty redundant. No need to push him to perform coming off of that injury.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Does Castro make the playoff roster at this point?

 

Who would they replace him with?

 

I thought maybe they'd put Baez in his spot on the roster

 

C: Schwarb/Montero/Ross

IF: Rizzo/Baez/Russell/Bryant/La Stella/Coghlan

OF: Soler/Fowler/Jackson/Szczur

 

I guess they'd keep him over Herrera though if they went with 11 pitchers.

[Sammy Sofa]

Does Castro make the playoff roster at this point?

 

Who would they replace him with?

 

I thought maybe they'd put Baez in his spot on the roster

 

C: Schwarb/Montero/Ross

IF: Rizzo/Baez/Russell/Bryant/La Stella/Coghlan

OF: Soler/Fowler/Jackson/Szczur

 

I guess they'd keep him over Herrera though if they went with 11 pitchers.

 

Either he or Baez is going to be the starting 2B. The odd man out will be La Stella or Herrera.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Does Castro make the playoff roster at this point?

 

Who would they replace him with?

 

I thought maybe they'd put Baez in his spot on the roster

 

C: Schwarb/Montero/Ross

IF: Rizzo/Baez/Russell/Bryant/La Stella/Coghlan

OF: Soler/Fowler/Jackson/Szczur

 

I guess they'd keep him over Herrera though if they went with 11 pitchers.

 

Either he or Baez is going to be the starting 2B. The odd man out will be La Stella or Herrera.

 

Can we let Herrera join the grounds crew or something, so he can still put the rally bucket on his head? If so, then please leave him off the roster.

 

I at least trust LaStella to maybe draw a walk.

[rawaction]

I don't think you can afford to have Schwarber catching a playoff game (at least from the Cubs perspective), so Ross is going to be on the playoff roster.

[Schwarber Fan]

I don't think you can afford to have Schwarber catching a playoff game (at least from the Cubs perspective), so Ross is going to be on the playoff roster.

 

I think Schwarber could be a gold glove caliber catcher and Ross would still be on the playoff roster.

[bukie]

So, what's your roster for a Wild Card playoff game?

 

For me, here are the locks, as full time starters (and the starting pitcher):

- SP - Arrieta

- 1B - Rizzo

- 3B/OF - Bryant

- SS - Russell

- CF - Fowler

- C - Montero

 

To fill out the lineup, I probably match up against the potential opposing pitcher (Cole and Wacha have slight reverse splits, Martinez has a slight natural split)

- 2B - Castro - He's pretty well earned a spot with his play the past month

- RF - Coghlan - Extra lefty option in the lineup

- LF - Schwarber or 3B - Baez - Depending on the splits. Schwarber has really struggled of late, also, but both will be on the roster anyway.

 

That's 10. For sure I take the back end of the pen, which is Rondon, Strop and Grimm. Should have at least one lefty in the pen as well, so I'd take Wood.

 

That's 14. I'd also take Lester in case something happens to Arrieta early, which means I'm also taking Ross (and the Cubs would need a backup C anyway in case something happens to Montero during the game), which brings us to 16.

 

The OF is lefty heavy, so I'd bring at least two of Soler, Jackson and Denorfia, and the IF is RH heavy, so I'd bring La Stella. Taking all 4 puts the roster at 20. The only reason to have Berry on the roster at this point is to use him here also as a dedicated runner, so that makes 21.

 

To fill out the last 4 spots, I'd probably take extra bullpen options to handle every potential situation. It's still a little light on lefties so I'd take Cahill and Richard for sure. Two spots left and everything is pretty well balanced, so I'd take BPA and go with one of Rodney/Hunter and take Herrera as an extra PH/utility IF if needed.

[Guest]

Figure this is the best place for this.

 

Has there been anything about shifting around the rotation? At the moment, Arrieta is scheduled to go on Tuesday against Milwaukee, Monday against KC and Saturday Oct 3 in Milwaukee. I assume if he does start in Milwaukee, it would be on Friday. That would mean he'd be on normal rest for the WC game. If they go that route, they could either skip Haren or Hammel. Skipping Haren moves Lester and Hammel to normal rest and would move Arrieta to the Sunday game against Pittsburgh.

 

I don't know what Lester wants to do but it might be preferable to have him start either the final Saturday or Sunday of the season so he'd be on normal rest if we make the NLDS. Right now he's scheduled to start Thursday Oct 1. This one depends on what he'd rather do.

[Sammys Boombox]

MLB is currently showing Haren on Friday. I don't think it's like ESPN where they project it out. It usually doesn't show up until the manager says something. Most other teams do not have probable pitchers listed for Friday (or at least they didn't yesterday). That puts Lester on Saturday. If we're close to Pittsburgh I would have to think they would move Arrieta to Sunday.

[jersey cubs fan]

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[davell]

I'm perfectly fine with that.

[KaiserCesar]

It might be the best to plan on that in Game 2. Arrieta would be ideally be going deep in Game 1 and the day off follows Game 2 to rest the bullpen. It might be a decent plan to go for a bullpen day on Game 4, but you might need more innings out of the pen in Game 3.

[Guest]

There's a small part of me that really wants a bullpen day in a series against the Cardinals, because I get the impression that Maddon would absolutely win that battle of the minds and lead to maximum platoon advantage.

[jersey cubs fan]

There's a small part of me that really wants a bullpen day in a series against the Cardinals, because I get the impression that Maddon would absolutely win that battle of the minds and lead to maximum platoon advantage.

more piggybacking!

[Cubswin11]

It might be the best to plan on that in Game 2. Arrieta would be ideally be going deep in Game 1 and the day off follows Game 2 to rest the bullpen. It might be a decent plan to go for a bullpen day on Game 4, but you might need more innings out of the pen in Game 3.

Lester will go Game 1 and Arrieta would be on short rest game 2, no? So wouldn't a bullpen game most likely be game 2? Arrieta goes game 3? Isn't the DS Schedule the Friday and Saturday after the WC game on Wednesday for games 1 and 2?

[jersey cubs fan]

It might be the best to plan on that in Game 2. Arrieta would be ideally be going deep in Game 1 and the day off follows Game 2 to rest the bullpen. It might be a decent plan to go for a bullpen day on Game 4, but you might need more innings out of the pen in Game 3.

Lester will go Game 1 and Arrieta would be on short rest game 2, no? So wouldn't a bullpen game most likely be game 2? Arrieta goes game 3? Isn't the DS Schedule the Friday and Saturday after the WC game on Wednesday for games 1 and 2?

NL schedule:

 

WC game Wednesday October 7

Then Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday Thursday.

 

WC game pitcher won't be available until Game 3 (on normal rest). Game 2 would be 2 days rest and bad idea. I think you throw Lester game 1 and if you win you go bullpen game 2, Arrieta game 3, Hendricks game 4, Lester Game 5.

[KaiserCesar]

It might be the best to plan on that in Game 2. Arrieta would be ideally be going deep in Game 1 and the day off follows Game 2 to rest the bullpen. It might be a decent plan to go for a bullpen day on Game 4, but you might need more innings out of the pen in Game 3.

Lester will go Game 1 and Arrieta would be on short rest game 2, no? So wouldn't a bullpen game most likely be game 2? Arrieta goes game 3? Isn't the DS Schedule the Friday and Saturday after the WC game on Wednesday for games 1 and 2?

NL schedule:

 

WC game Wednesday October 7

Then Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday Thursday.

 

WC game pitcher won't be available until Game 3 (on normal rest). Game 2 would be 2 days rest and bad idea. I think you throw Lester game 1 and if you win you go bullpen game 2, Arrieta game 3, Hendricks game 4, Lester Game 5.

 

So, does the 'if you win' contingency imply Hendricks Game 2 if Lester blows it? Basically, the bullpen game is a swing of Game 2/4 depending on result?

[jersey cubs fan]

Probably

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I've got no issue with this. You have to win the game that day first. So, the Cubs really need to skip a starter and put Jake in on Sunday to close the Bucs series.

 

1) It greatly improves chances at getting the home WC game.

2) Jake then lines up to pitch Fri, Oct 2nd and the WC game on Wed, Oct 7th. All on normal rest. Maybe take it easy in the Fri, Oct 2nd start (5-6 inning tune up).

 

Lester goes in Game 1 on Fri, the 9th, bullpen either in 2 or 4. Jake pitches the pivotal 3rd game of the DS on Oct 12th with that series tied at 1. Lester in 1, Haren in 2 (most likely), and Jake in 3 are important because that gives the best chance of winning 2 games. Hammel / Hendricks have been awful against StL this year, so I might even consider a bullpen game a good idea.

[Guest]

Haren in 2? YEEECHHHHHH

 

I didn't even anticipate him making a playoff roster