Well done, Jason Ross: Are the Cubs Evolving How They Develop Young Arms

[FormerNorthSider]

Good catch, Jason! Well-written article, too. Thanks. Pure speculation on my part, but reading your characterization of the data contours around innings and batters pitched, what if the Cubs saw weeks or months ago the potential of an underperforming bullpen? Maybe they're sacrificing arms looking for a way to turn things around on the bump? BTW - absolutely you're a data-sick sort! May you never recover! Again, I'm inclined to your view that the added pitching stress to multiple prospects may be a new protocol independent of the current bullpen woes. In that case, we hope it works. Either way, the numeric clarity you bring has definitely revealed a purposeful and directed new behavior on the part of the trainers. Two-times a coincidence, a third, a trend? Works for me.