8/31 - Cubs Off-Day Chatter

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Cubs are closing out August in a very solid position. three games back of the division and the Brewers and sitting in the second Wild Card position, two games ahead of the Giants and three games behind the Phillies.

As a topic starter, who else is concerned about the number of innings Justin Steele might throw at this rate?

[Tim]

re: Steele - I'm not as concerned this year as I am for next year. The "studies" I've seen about what happens when guys suddenly increase their innings are all old and very unscientific. But I recall them showing a much bigger impact in subsequent year performance.

On the other hand, didn't the Cubs hire someone that specifically looks at pitcher injury prevention? Or was that the most boring dream ever?

[Tim]

14 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

There’s risk with Steele but as a 28 YO AS and CY candidate, if not now then when? We’ve seen this year for the gazillionth time that TJ is not your friend and he’s probably got that in his head too. I hope he feels free to empty the tank knowing the org will continue to build and won’t need him to be a super mega ultra ace moving forward 

I very much hope he doesn't feel like he's an asset to be expended in the pursuit of a single playoff drive.

[Brock Beauchamp]

53 minutes ago, Tim said:

re: Steele - I'm not as concerned this year as I am for next year. The "studies" I've seen about what happens when guys suddenly increase their innings are all old and very unscientific. But I recall them showing a much bigger impact in subsequent year performance.

On the other hand, didn't the Cubs hire someone that specifically looks at pitcher injury prevention? Or was that the most boring dream ever?

The public research around pitcher innings is definitely at least somewhat speculative and stuff like the Verducci Effect has been discredited loads of times.

But there are still questions around young pitcher usage, they're just really nebulous and hard to nail down, at least from the public perspective. I hope teams have a better grasp on it but given the number of pitcher injuries, it's hard to believe they have a good idea how to counter it, either.

[Tryptamine]

For a team that almost certainly has to get 2 starters next year, even if they picked up Kyle's option, losing Steele for anything more than a couple weeks would be really bad. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Tryptamine

[bukie]

Off days after big wins are more fun.

[CubinNY]

16 minutes ago, bukie said:

Off days after big wins are more fun.

Yesterday's game was really a fun and emotional roller coaster. For me it was the unforced and uncharacteristic errors that made it so emotional. 

[Tryptamine]

24 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Yesterday's game was really a fun and emotional roller coaster. For me it was the unforced and uncharacteristic errors that made it so emotional. 

The 8th and 9th innings were the most nervous a Cub game has had me in probably 5 years. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Tryptamine

[CubinNY]

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

The 8th and 9th innings were the most nervous a Cub game has had me in probably 5 years. 

it's good to have that feeling back. 

[BearDown1223]

What's next for Cade Horton? 

[chibears55]

Big weekend Series with the Reds,  not only to put distance between the two but to also gain ground on the two teams ahead of them in the Brewers for the Division and Phillies for no.1 WC spot as they both play each other.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

Big weekend Series with the Reds,  not only to put distance between the two but to also gain ground on the two teams ahead of them in the Brewers for the Division and Phillies for no.1 WC spot as they both play each other.

Yep, the Cubs have the opportunity to basically bury the Reds in the divisional race and seriously hinder their Wild Card chances.

[Tryptamine]

13 minutes ago, BearDown1223 said:

What's next for Cade Horton? 

Stay healthy, start 2024 in AAA with a shot at moving into the rotation 2 or so months into the season.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

For a team that almost certainly has to get 2 starters next year, even if they picked up Kyle's option, losing Steele for anything more than a couple weeks would be really bad. 

I dont think they need 2 starters, yes it'll be determined a bit by how Assad and Wicks finishes the season out but if those two finish good, then they're set with at least 4 in the rotation ( Taillon unfortunately).

I think their main wait and see will be with Stroman,  I don't think they'll bring Hendricks back. Stroman though,  if they're hoping to use his money and Hendricks money to upgrade the pitching, Hoyer may try and work something out with him so he doesn't opt in.

[chibears55]

5 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Stay healthy, start 2024 in AAA with a shot at moving into the rotation 2 or so months into the season.

Horton and Brown may be the two starters to keep an eye next season for call ups and 2025.

Hopefully the cubs can be in a position next years trade deadline that maybe moving a young SP prospect can gain them a top level player that will help them become serious WS contenders 

[Derwood]

Has either team named their Game 2 starters?

[chibears55]

4 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Has either team named their Game 2 starters?

Guessing they'll wait til tomorrow when they can add to the roster 

[Outshined_One]

4 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Horton and Brown may be the two starters to keep an eye next season for call ups and 2025.

Hopefully the cubs can be in a position next years trade deadline that maybe moving a young SP prospect can gain them a top level player that will help them become serious WS contenders 

Have we had any updates on Brown since he went down with an injury?  I had him pegged as a guy who'd get called up for bullpen duty during the stretch run, but I haven't seen him in any recent game logs since the Cubs put him on the IL.  As for Horton, he's relatively fresh off TJS, so I think he's better off hitting his IP limit and getting shut down for the season for some well-deserved rest.

As for Steele, at this point I think it's sink or swim.  I imagine the Cubs are doing everything they can to limit his usage and keep him healthy, but he's not a 23 year old rookie and he's also one of the key guys they'll need down the stretch.

The fun near-term questions are going to be whether the Cubs acquire anyone on waivers and who gets called up.  The depressing question is whether we see Marcus Stroman again this season.

[Irrelevant Dude]

24 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I dont think they need 2 starters, yes it'll be determined a bit by how Assad and Wicks finishes the season out but if those two finish good, then they're set with at least 4 in the rotation ( Taillon unfortunately).

I think it would be foolish to count on Assad and/or Wicks as anything more than a 5th starter and/or rotational depth.  They are certainly valuable pieces to have on a roster and will both play a role throughout the season, but the Cubs need more certainty at the top/middle of the rotation.  If you pencil in Taillon as #4 and Assad/Wicks/etc. to fill the #5 role, with Steele as your 1 or 2, there are still 2 holes to fill with high-end starters.  Maybe that is Hendricks + a free agent, or Stroman (if he opts in) + a free agent, but regardless I think there are at least 2 openings.

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I think it would be foolish to count on Assad and/or Wicks as anything more than a 5th starter and/or rotational depth.  They are certainly valuable pieces to have on a roster and will both play a role throughout the season, but the Cubs need more certainty at the top/middle of the rotation.  If you pencil in Taillon as #4 and Assad/Wicks/etc. to fill the #5 role, with Steele as your 1 or 2, there are still 2 holes to fill with high-end starters.  Maybe that is Hendricks + a free agent, or Stroman (if he opts in) + a free agent, but regardless I think there are at least 2 openings.

If Assad and Wicks gives them QS the rest of season,  how do you not want both in the rotation next season with Steele?

Theyll just need a TOR starter, likely via trade.

TOR, Steele, Taillon, Assad, Wicks 

Of course Stroman opting in would change that but yea, they just need to add one top arm not two.

Brown and Horton would be depth or possibly one of them and or maybe Assad could be used to net that TOR starter.

Edited August 31, 2023 by chibears55

[Tim]

28 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Have we had any updates on Brown since he went down with an injury?  I had him pegged as a guy who'd get called up for bullpen duty during the stretch run, but I haven't seen him in any recent game logs since the Cubs put him on the IL. 

From yesterday at BN:

Quote

A newsy update at the top of these prospect notes, since it could implicate the big league bullpen at some point: pitching prospect Ben Brown, out with a lat injury, is throwing bullpens now in Arizona, and could be back in a minor league game in a week or so, according to Farm Director Jared Banner. If so, that would leave Brown – who is already on the 40-man roster – in a position to come up and contribute at some point in September.

 

[UMFan83]

According to Buster Olney, waiver claims had to be submitted by 12pm CT so we should be hearing soon who got what

[Brock Beauchamp]

59 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I dont think they need 2 starters, yes it'll be determined a bit by how Assad and Wicks finishes the season out but if those two finish good, then they're set with at least 4 in the rotation ( Taillon unfortunately).

My opinion is that if you have four starters going into Spring Training, you need two more.

[UMFan83]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

 

 

Booo.  But not direct competition...so yay.