Schwarber: Fully torn ACL and LCL. Out for 172 meaningless games.

[minnesotacubsfan]

At the end of the day, it's remarkable Schwarber is even ready to be considered. I trust they'll make the right decision. My hunch is that they'll put him on and take, say, Coghlan off, as Coghlan really isn't going to be used in the field unless it's an emergency.

 

I assume the decision would actually be Zastryzny vs La Stella vs Schwarber. Coghlan would still be safe.

 

 

I feel like it's La Stella vs Schwarber. Zastryzny was probably there for the Dodgers mainly. Can the Indians hit lefties? Because their pitching staff seems like an all-you-can-eat buffet to a healthy, locked in Schwarber.

[cbbryan]

At the end of the day, it's remarkable Schwarber is even ready to be considered. I trust they'll make the right decision. My hunch is that they'll put him on and take, say, Coghlan off, as Coghlan really isn't going to be used in the field unless it's an emergency.

 

I assume the decision would actually be Zastryzny vs La Stella vs Schwarber. Coghlan would still be safe.

 

 

I feel like it's La Stella vs Schwarber. Zastryzny was probably there for the Dodgers mainly. Can the Indians hit lefties? Because their pitching staff seems like an all-you-can-eat buffet to a healthy, locked in Schwarber.

 

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

[David]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

 

We have potentially four DH games.

[UMFan83]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

 

At worst he's the 25th man on the roster. Rob Z was the 25th man in the NLCS and didn't appear in a game, LaStella was the 25th man in the NLDS and he got 1 PA. Schwarber represents a significantly higher upside player than LaStella so I'm willing to gamble with Kyle for sure.

[Gilby]

Plus, Maddon would try really hard to avoid having La Stella play defense anyway.

[NOLA]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

Late innings, tight game, 2 outs and RISP, I much rather would want a likely rusty Schwarber over Tommy La Stella. If he gets a hit and knocks in 2, let Almora run for him.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Adrian Peterson played running back in NFL games 6 months after blowing out his ACL. I'm pretty sure Kyle Schwarber could run around the bases a few times

[CubInOK]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

Late innings, tight game, 2 outs and RISP, I much rather would want a likely rusty Schwarber over Tommy La Stella. If he gets a hit and knocks in 2, let Almora run for him.

If he gets a hit and knocks in 2 he's rounding the bases Kirk Gibson style.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Coghlan and La Stella have a combined 6 plate appearances so far this postseason. There's more opportunity with fewer LHSP and the DH, but I think that illustrates the low bar to be cleared. The only starting position in flux is RF, and there's fewer PH opportunities than if Baez were not treating the playoffs like he's Benny the Jet in the Sandlot.

[Brian]

This team is already on an incredible high, imagine the boost Schwarber on the roster will be.

[CubmanPi]

[mikeyt34]

I think Theo, Jed, and Joe all want this to happen, but there's that little voice that says to them, "what if he re-injures himself?", which could sway it against. Their best LH DH proposition is Coglhan. I'd take my chances with Kyle over Chris and let it play out at least for the first two in Cleveland. Coglan would still make the roster for sure, so Kyle would take Rob Z's spot, whom didn't even throw a pitch in the NLCS. If Kyle struggles, you insert Soler or Coglhan in the DH. It's worth the gamble IMO.

[UMFan83]

I think Theo, Jed, and Joe all want this to happen, but there's that little voice that says to them, "what if he re-injures himself?", which could sway it against. Their best LH DH proposition is Coglhan. I'd take my chances with Kyle over Chris and let it play out at least for the first two in Cleveland. Coglan would still make the roster for sure, so Kyle would take Rob Z's spot, whom didn't even throw a pitch in the NLCS. If Kyle struggles, you insert Soler or Coglhan in the DH. It's worth the gamble IMO.

 

His doctor cleared him. Theo would not put a player out there if there was a chance he could reinjure himself. It's not like the Cubs *need* Kyle to win the World Series, they won 103 games and the pennant without him. So with that being said, Kyle certainly does improve their chances of winning but not enough that theo would risk rushing him back to play in these games before he was 100% ready.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Schwarber is going 3-5 with two dongs in Game 1.

[Tracer Bullet]

To be fair that could've been appreciative shock rather than dismay that someone used a Mean Girls gif.

 

Exactly. Mean Girls is a "stop and watch" movie for me. I'd say guilty pleasure but I'm too old for guilt

 

eta - just realized this was 2 months old. lol. glad we cleared that up.

[SouthSideRyan]

I thought he wasn't on the 40 and therefore ineligible to play in the postseason? No?

He is on the 40. He went on the 60d DL but that just opens an exemption for 41

 

And I'm 99% sure you don't have to be on the 40 anymore, just in the org.

[mikeyt34]

Schwarber is going 3-5 with two dongs in Game 1.

 

Duke, I must say your posts as of late have been extremely positive, unwavering, and borderline fanatical.

 

That being said you've been right on the money recently with your awesomeness. Keep up the good work! :hello:

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Schwarber is going 3-5 with two dongs in Game 1.

 

Duke, I must say your posts as of late have been extremely positive, unwavering, and borderline fanatical.

 

That being said you've been right on the money recently with your awesomeness. Keep up the good work! :hello:

 

I'm trying to see how crazy I can get with the optimism without them making me look silly. I haven't found that level yet.

[CubmanPi]

Schwarber is going 3-5 with two dongs in Game 1.

 

Duke, I must say your posts as of late have been extremely positive, unwavering, and borderline fanatical.

 

That being said you've been right on the money recently with your awesomeness. Keep up the good work! :hello:

 

I'm trying to see how crazy I can get with the optimism without them making me look silly. I haven't found that level yet.

 

It should happen sometime around May.

 

Of 2024.

[Gmoney08]

I agree that it's LaStella vs Schwarber.

As great of a story it would be for Schwarber to make the roster, I can't help but think LaStella is the better option. I want it to be Schwarber, but he can't play defense and would be a liability on the bases, so it's basically home run or nothing. I won't be surprised at all if the Cubs decide to go the safe route.

 

LaStella has no business ever playing infield defense in a playoff game on this team. If Javy isnt in than Zobie is in.

 

So its pretty much a debate on who you would rather have hit, rusty Schwarber or also a semi-used LaStella.

[RammyFanny]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rianwatt/status/790369000446361600[/tweet]

[bjam12]

As much as I love Schwarber, Contreras should DH game 1 and 2. Bring Schwarbs in as a PH.

[Banedon]

Maddon said they're having their meetings to finalize the roster later today.

 

He said timing may be an issue, but what they're really looking for is how his knee feels the day after having been out there. And that he hadn't gotten any information about that yet.

[Bull]

I'm sure the organization will make the right medical decision based on their evaluators. On the plus side, you put Schwarber in there, if the swing is on and he can run ... he can easily DH and be a useful late inning PH option. With 4 possible games in AL parks (here's hoping not ... and the Cubs win at home), okay. That said ... sure feels like, as talented and hard-working as he is, it might be risky to bring a guy who hasn't faced live major league pitching in months. Arizona is great, but it's different. Add in that it would limit the roster a bit more, in terms of flexibility, particularly if he's not 100% and limited to just hitting and running the bases. I guess, with Maddon, he can find a way around.

 

At the end of the day, it's remarkable Schwarber is even ready to be considered. I trust they'll make the right decision. My hunch is that they'll put him on and take, say, Coghlan off, as Coghlan really isn't going to be used in the field unless it's an emergency.

 

IMO the medical decision has been made, or else Theo wouldn't have said what he's said. He had no qualms saying, "absolutely not" before. If there was any question medically, that would still be the answer.

 

The only question now is if he can get his swing and timing back.

 

Coghlan got exactly 3 plate appearances in the NLCS, going 0-2 with a walk.

 

I'm confident Schwarber could have done that from a gurney.