2018 Spring Training Games

[David]

Grimm with 1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 0K 1HR in his outing today. He's sucked hard and Cubs Insider/AZ Phil pointed out recently that by going to arbitration with Grimm (something they strategically may have wanted to do) allows for this....

 

Here's a possible reason why the Cubs wanted to go to arbitration with Grimm (besides a 50/50 chance to save $275K):

 

 

Contracts awarded by an arbitration panel - even if the player loses - are automatically non-guaranteed contracts. So in Grimm's case. it's a non-guaranteed "straight" $2.2M contract (no minor league "split salary" and no performance bonus). What this means is that because the contract is not guaranteed, the Cubs could release Grimm during Spring Training and not have to pay him his full salary (which they would have to pay him if the contract was guaranteed). If he were to be released no more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day the Cubs would owe Grimm 45 days pay (about $500K), and the Cubs would owe him 30 days pay (about $350K) if he is released more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day. (He would receive his full salary if he is released after the start of the MLB regular season).

 

If they are done with him and want Butler to get that last bullpen spot I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut before Wednesday this coming week (which is the 15 day prior to OD cut line).

 

Maples?

[Tim]

Grimm with 1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 0K 1HR in his outing today. He's sucked hard and Cubs Insider/AZ Phil pointed out recently that by going to arbitration with Grimm (something they strategically may have wanted to do) allows for this....

 

Here's a possible reason why the Cubs wanted to go to arbitration with Grimm (besides a 50/50 chance to save $275K):

 

 

Contracts awarded by an arbitration panel - even if the player loses - are automatically non-guaranteed contracts. So in Grimm's case. it's a non-guaranteed "straight" $2.2M contract (no minor league "split salary" and no performance bonus). What this means is that because the contract is not guaranteed, the Cubs could release Grimm during Spring Training and not have to pay him his full salary (which they would have to pay him if the contract was guaranteed). If he were to be released no more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day the Cubs would owe Grimm 45 days pay (about $500K), and the Cubs would owe him 30 days pay (about $350K) if he is released more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day. (He would receive his full salary if he is released after the start of the MLB regular season).

 

If they are done with him and want Butler to get that last bullpen spot I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut before Wednesday this coming week (which is the 15 day prior to OD cut line).

 

Maples?

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so.

[Cubswin11]

Grimm with 1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 0K 1HR in his outing today. He's sucked hard and Cubs Insider/AZ Phil pointed out recently that by going to arbitration with Grimm (something they strategically may have wanted to do) allows for this....

 

Here's a possible reason why the Cubs wanted to go to arbitration with Grimm (besides a 50/50 chance to save $275K):

 

 

Contracts awarded by an arbitration panel - even if the player loses - are automatically non-guaranteed contracts. So in Grimm's case. it's a non-guaranteed "straight" $2.2M contract (no minor league "split salary" and no performance bonus). What this means is that because the contract is not guaranteed, the Cubs could release Grimm during Spring Training and not have to pay him his full salary (which they would have to pay him if the contract was guaranteed). If he were to be released no more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day the Cubs would owe Grimm 45 days pay (about $500K), and the Cubs would owe him 30 days pay (about $350K) if he is released more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day. (He would receive his full salary if he is released after the start of the MLB regular season).

 

If they are done with him and want Butler to get that last bullpen spot I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut before Wednesday this coming week (which is the 15 day prior to OD cut line).

 

Maples?

He hasn’t been that great and with the options I’m guessing he starts in AAA so we can keep some depth with Butler or Grimm since they don’t have options. Butler makes the most sense to me in case a starter goes down early.

[David]

Grimm with 1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 0K 1HR in his outing today. He's sucked hard and Cubs Insider/AZ Phil pointed out recently that by going to arbitration with Grimm (something they strategically may have wanted to do) allows for this....

 

 

 

If they are done with him and want Butler to get that last bullpen spot I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut before Wednesday this coming week (which is the 15 day prior to OD cut line).

 

Maples?

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so.

 

I couldn't possibly care any less about his spring training numbers. That doesn't mean he deserves the spot (and that is absolutely in question due to his control), but those numbers mean less than zero to me.

 

I mean, seriously, you just cited a 5 inning sample of spring training stats.

Edited March 13, 2018 by David

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Unless Grimm's stuff looks degraded I'd need to see a lot more gap between his performance and Butler's before I start to prefer Butler. It doesn't look like anyone else is particularly covering themselves in glory to take that spot either. I don't think they really care about the less than 2 mil difference of keeping Grimm, not as a primary motivation at least.

[squally1313]

 

Maples?

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so.

 

I couldn't possibly care any less about his spring training numbers. That doesn't mean he deserves the spot (and that is absolutely in question due to his control), but those numbers mean less than zero to me.

 

I mean, seriously, you just cited a 5 inning sample of spring training stats.

 

To be fair, the beginning of this conversation was prompted by Grimm's 4 spring training innings.

[CyHawk_Cub]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kg_holler/status/973663249823617024[/tweet]

[Tim]

Unless Grimm's stuff looks degraded I'd need to see a lot more gap between his performance and Butler's before I start to prefer Butler. It doesn't look like anyone else is particularly covering themselves in glory to take that spot either. I don't think they really care about the less than 2 mil difference of keeping Grimm, not as a primary motivation at least.

 

Pretty much...Grimm's unpopular but still has to his advantage that Butler is his top competition and really really sucks.

...and Alvarez, Simmons and Maples on the pitching side.

[Tim]

...and Alvarez, Simmons and Maples on the pitching side.

 

How are Alvarez and Simmons looking this ST? I'm a little out of the loop.

Alvarez has great stuff he can't control. Simmons has had even more difficulty throwing strikes and I believe he's hurt again (minor, I think).

[Tim]

Grimm with 1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 0K 1HR in his outing today. He's sucked hard and Cubs Insider/AZ Phil pointed out recently that by going to arbitration with Grimm (something they strategically may have wanted to do) allows for this....

 

 

 

If they are done with him and want Butler to get that last bullpen spot I wouldn't be surprised if he's cut before Wednesday this coming week (which is the 15 day prior to OD cut line).

 

Maples?

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so.

I get what you're saying, but it is Grimm's job to lose. Maples would have to pitch better than Grimm to take it away. It at least well enough for the team to feel confident he is ready.

 

He hasn't come close to those things.

[Regular Show]

 

Maples?

With five walks and two home runs in five innings? Don't think so.

I get what you're saying, but it is Grimm's job to lose. Maples would have to pitch better than Grimm to take it away. It at least well enough for the team to feel confident he is ready.

 

He hasn't come close to those things.

 

Yeah, I'm almost positive Maples is starting the year at AAA. He didn't spend much time there last year (not that it's required for every pitching prospect).

[Brian]

all aboard the HappWGN

[Tim]

That was off Bumgarner, too.

[Tim]

Holy hell, Chatwood. Save some for the season.

[Jaxbro]

Russell gets his first HR off the redneck.

 

Chatwood with 8 k thru 4 innings on 33 pitches. 33 pitches??? Agree with Tim, give me this in a month please

[sweetpeteman]

Russell gets his first HR off the redneck.

 

Chatwood with 8 k thru 4 innings on 33 pitches. 33 pitches??? Agree with Tim, give me this in a month please

 

 

If your getting that off of gameday, they don't necessarily keep accurate pitch counts. Many k's are 3 pitches, walks are 4, and all balls in play are on the first pitch.

 

Still, 9k, 2bb in 5 innings is pretty damn promising.

[Tim]

The media narrative about the rotation only being equal to last year's is way off. They suggest that Darvish is only a slight upgrade on Arrieta. What they don't realize is that Chatwood is the new 2015 Arrieta and Darvish kicks the heck out of bucktooth all day long.

[Jaxbro]

Russell gets his first HR off the redneck.

 

Chatwood with 8 k thru 4 innings on 33 pitches. 33 pitches??? Agree with Tim, give me this in a month please

 

 

If your getting that off of gameday, they don't keep accurate pitch counts. All k's are 3 pitches, all walks are 4, and all balls in play are on the first pitch.

 

Still, 9k, 2bb in 5 innings is pretty damn promising.

You can see each pitch in the at bat though by clicking the result of the at bat.

 

It’s legit. Twice in the game he struck out three guys in a row on 9 pitches. Only in one of his strikeouts did he throw a ball(and only one). Lots of one pitch outs for him as well. Funny his two walks were 4-0 counts

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Russell gets his first HR off the redneck.

 

Chatwood with 8 k thru 4 innings on 33 pitches. 33 pitches??? Agree with Tim, give me this in a month please

 

 

If your getting that off of gameday, they don't keep accurate pitch counts. All k's are 3 pitches, all walks are 4, and all balls in play are on the first pitch.

 

Still, 9k, 2bb in 5 innings is pretty damn promising.

You can see each pitch in the at bat though by clicking the result of the at bat.

 

It’s legit. Twice in the game he struck out three guys in a row on 9 pitches. Only in one of his strikeouts did he throw a ball(and only one). Lots of one pitch outs for him as well. Funny his two walks were 4-0 counts

[Cubswin11]

Russell gets his first HR off the redneck.

 

Chatwood with 8 k thru 4 innings on 33 pitches. 33 pitches??? Agree with Tim, give me this in a month please

Chatwood is going to be close to finding God Mode Jake 2.0

[Bluescale]

We're all going to be devastated when Chatwood is only as good as 2015 Lester rather than 2015 Arrieta...

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I don't think Chatwood will have anywhere near the problems Jake did with controlling the running game in 2015.

[Brian]

Justin Wilson 1.0IP, 3H, 1BB, 1ER, he's back!

 

 

The RBI was to Soler, so he was probably distracted by his beauty.

[Cubswin11]

Maybe I've just missed his appearances checking box scores but has Strop not pitched at all this spring? What's going on there?

[Banedon]

Maybe I've just missed his appearances checking box scores but has Strop not pitched at all this spring? What's going on there?

 

Sore left calf.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-pedro-strop-on-verge-of-spring-appearance/