The Spring Training Thread

[Clem Fandango]

Ayyyy yo real talk who the horsefeathers is Mike Freeman?

[Sammy Sofa]

Ayyyy yo real talk who the horsefeathers is Mike Freeman?

 

Yeah, I know this is kinda my thing, but I seriously have no memory of this person from last season.

[Cubswin11]

Minor league AAAA SS depth. He was up last year for a week or so, he started at SS on Labor Day in Pittsburgh when Jake wrecked his hamstring.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ayyyy yo real talk who the horsefeathers is Mike Freeman?

 

Yeah, I know this is kinda my thing, but I seriously have no memory of this person from last season.

 

He was the guy who was only on the roster because he had played shortstop before, that also couldn't stop making errors at shortstop when we put him in. This was also around the time of peak Vaunted-Brewers-Anxiety.

[Cubswin11]

Lester named Opening Day starter, I don't know if it's sourced or a guess (they didn't link a report or tweet or anything) but Cubs Insider says the rotation will be Lester, Hendricks, Darvish, Quintana, Chatwood. I know some people get worked up over it but it's whatever for me, only thing I wanted to see what Lester and Quintana broken up since they are most similar.

[Clem Fandango]

If that's the case then the Cubs have placed a guy who has averaged 4.4 fWAR over his first 5 full seasons in the majors (and arguably our best starter on the roster) as their #4 starter and that's bonkers.

[Banedon]

Lester named Opening Day starter, I don't know if it's sourced or a guess (they didn't link a report or tweet or anything) but Cubs Insider says the rotation will be Lester, Hendricks, Darvish, Quintana, Chatwood. I know some people get worked up over it but it's whatever for me, only thing I wanted to see what Lester and Quintana broken up since they are most similar.

 

Maddon didn't want to announce the full rotation order now according to Muskat.

[UK]

He's still rolling his right ankle.

Anecdotal evidence, but I just watched a bunch of Heyward's highlights (mostly 2015 on), and literally every well-driven ball he hits, his front foot is flat. There may be something to this.

 

I'm fine with him rolling his ankle, J. Bautista and Pujols both do it, it's in a similar phase as deceleration. Contact has already been made and theres enough weight on the back leg to where he can roll his leg.

 

Now, if you want more loft and you would rather gave him spin on his back heel and change the bat path and sacrifice contact for lift/power, I could see that.

 

Imo, he has a timing issue starting with his hands to where he gets in his load position too late.

[BigbadB]

If that's the case then the Cubs have placed a guy who has averaged 4.4 fWAR over his first 5 full seasons in the majors (and arguably our best starter on the roster) as their #4 starter and that's bonkers.

 

Looking forward to see who all of the other #4's Darvish will be facing all year. LOL.

[Cubswin11]

If that's the case then the Cubs have placed a guy who has averaged 4.4 fWAR over his first 5 full seasons in the majors (and arguably our best starter on the roster) as their #4 starter and that's bonkers.

 

Looking forward to see who all of the other #4's Darvish will be facing all year. LOL.

I’d venture to guess it doesn’t work that way over the course of a year. Every pitcher probably faces around the same amount of other teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ starters given off days, injuries, rotation shuffled around, etc.

 

Just because Lester is our “#1” starter doesn’t meant he’s going to face more #1s or staff aces than anyone else in the rotation throughout the year. He’ll face just as many back of rotation guys as he will Scherzer’s, Kershaws, C-Marts, Syndergaards, etc.

[BigbadB]

If that's the case then the Cubs have placed a guy who has averaged 4.4 fWAR over his first 5 full seasons in the majors (and arguably our best starter on the roster) as their #4 starter and that's bonkers.

 

Looking forward to see who all of the other #4's Darvish will be facing all year. LOL.

I’d venture to guess it doesn’t work that way over the course of a year. Every pitcher probably faces around the same amount of other teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ starters given off days, injuries, rotation shuffled around, etc.

 

Just because Lester is our “#1” starter doesn’t meant he’s going to face more #1s or staff aces than anyone else in the rotation throughout the year. He’ll face just as many back of rotation guys as he will Scherzer’s, Kershaws, C-Marts, Syndergaards, etc.

 

Well of course it doesn't work out that way. But it's still fun to think about Darvish matching up against all of the other team's #4's all season long.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I can’t believe you guys don’t remember Mike Freeman, even after watching him accumulate -8 WAR in 12 games last year.

[David]

I can’t believe you guys don’t remember Mike Freeman, even after watching him accumulate -8 WAR in 12 games last year.

 

 

i remember mike freeman now solely because i remember going who the hell is mike freeman for like 12 games last year

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

they will have a bunch of the videos on mlb.com...just search their video section for cubs

 

Loved where they had to bleep out Kris Bryant's phone number:

 

[tweet]

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[weis21]

I can’t believe you guys don’t remember Mike Freeman, even after watching him accumulate -8 WAR in 12 games last year.

 

 

i remember mike freeman now solely because i remember going who the hell is mike freeman for like 12 games last year

well clearly he's on steroids so color me intrigued for his 2018 campaign

[BigbadB]

I can’t believe you guys don’t remember Mike Freeman, even after watching him accumulate -8 WAR in 12 games last year.

 

 

i remember mike freeman now solely because i remember going who the hell is mike freeman for like 12 games last year

well clearly he's on steroids so color me intrigued for his 2018 campaign

 

If there was ever a ballplayer who SHOULD pop/inject/snort some PED's, it's Mike Freeman.

[Jaxbro]

Mike Freeman is so locked in with his new found power that he shoots down little kids offering a dollar while begging him for an autograph down here in Mesa

[imb]

"Hey Mike," Javy Baez said.

[NOLA]

Mike Freeman is so locked in with his new found power that he shoots down little kids offering a dollar while begging him for an autograph down here in Mesa

Not trying to be a snowflake, but that language made me cringe a little.

[Cubswin11]

[tweet]

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[Sammy Sofa]

Great. The Dodger contagion is spreading.

[ConstableRabbit]

God damnit, why didn't anyone check the Mesa hotels for mold?

[Ivy.n.Denver]

I'm heading to AZ in a couple weeks and am looking for suggestions for places to eat and get drunk - who's familiar with the area?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm heading to AZ in a couple weeks and am looking for suggestions for places to eat and get drunk - who's familiar with the area?

I've been half a dozen times for ST and others. There's a hotel right nearby that is extremely Cubs centric in march. If you don't mind being inundated by weirdo Cubs fans 24/7, it's great. But it's basically part of a giant string of strip malls. Scottsdale is better and centrally located to all other stadiums for road games. If you like big resorts there are plenty. But Hotel Valley Ho is a unique and fun place very close to the best parts of town. You can walk to several great restaurants/bars/ice cream/shopping.

[Cubswin11]

Lester named Opening Day starter, I don't know if it's sourced or a guess (they didn't link a report or tweet or anything) but Cubs Insider says the rotation will be Lester, Hendricks, Darvish, Quintana, Chatwood. I know some people get worked up over it but it's whatever for me, only thing I wanted to see what Lester and Quintana broken up since they are most similar.

 

Joe confirmed today. Rotation is Lester/Hendricks/Yu/Q/Chatwood