Spring Training games thread

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Scott Kingery is going to make us long for the days of Vidal Brujan.

Thankfully he'll probably barely play. Seiya sounds like he's going to be back pretty quickly and I doubt the team will find many PA's for Mr. Kingery in those 10 days - 2 weeks.

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Thankfully he'll probably barely play. Seiya sounds like he's going to be back pretty quickly and I doubt the team will find many PA's for Mr. Kingery in those 10 days - 2 weeks.

Wouldn't Carlson be gone when Seiya returns, and Conforto will be the OF bench guy

Does anyone know if Steele 60 day IL is retroactive to an earlier date?

I figured with his early return to getting himself back to baseball shape,  hed be ready to go by May.

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

5 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Wouldn't Carlson be gone when Seiya returns, and Conforto will be the OF bench guy

I certainly hope not.  Conforto is very possibly cooked.  Carlson is likely a more productive player.

[squally1313]

The Cubs have a game off every week through April, inevitable weather related cancelations (22 of the first 25 games are played outdoor above the Mason Dixon line), and a lineup full of players who should be starting every day with the exception of maybe Busch against LHP, which is probably covered by one of the catchers. I've been burned by this before, but Kingery and the worse of Carlson/Conforto should buy a really warm and comfy hoody and get to the bench early to call dibs on a good spot. 

Eventually you can find a lefty masher, but not going to worry about it in March. 

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

Wouldn't Carlson be gone when Seiya returns, and Conforto will be the OF bench guy

Does anyone know if Steele 60 day IL is retroactive to an earlier date?

I figured with his early return to getting himself back to baseball shape,  hed be ready to go by May.

 

No. Kingery will be gone and Shaw will then head to the bench as the primary INF backup who also plays OF. 

I suspect that what will most likely play out is that Shaw and Carlson, not Conforto, will be your primary INF and OF backups.

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I don't think Conforto is totally cooked. One of his last ST games he hit a ball 114, there might be a little left in the tank. Certainly enough to be a 4th/5th OF.

Edited March 25 by Tangled Up in Plaid

[chibears55]

22 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

No. Kingery will be gone and Shaw will then head to the bench as the primary INF backup who also plays OF. 

I suspect that what will most likely play out is that Shaw and Carlson, not Conforto, will be your primary INF and OF backups.

 

Ok, but then that leaves Shaw as the only backup Infielder,  at least Kingery can play IF and OF.

I personally dont think either of the 3,  Conforto Kingery or Carlson will last pass May/June on main roster, as i have my doubts with what theyll provide offensively but given what they have now for the bench, id think when Suzuki returns they'd go with Conforto as the 4th OFer and Kingery/Shaw as IF/OF backups. 

[Rcal10]

44 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Ok, but then that leaves Shaw as the only backup Infielder,  at least Kingery can play IF and OF.

I personally dont think either of the 3,  Conforto Kingery or Carlson will last pass May/June on main roster, as i have my doubts with what theyll provide offensively but given what they have now for the bench, id think when Suzuki returns they'd go with Conforto as the 4th OFer and Kingery/Shaw as IF/OF backups. 

2 of those 3 will be there. Probably Conforto and Carlson. Who, exactly, are you expecting to take their spots? One is gone because of Seiya. That would be Kingery. But unless someone is injured I don’t see them bringing up Alcantara or Long to get the 15AB those guys would be getting. Again, what do you really expect from the 12th and 13th bat on the team? If not them and if the idea is to get Long and Alcantara everyday playing time, who takes the spot? 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I certainly hope not.  Conforto is very possibly cooked.  Carlson is likely a more productive player.

I think Conforto, Carlson, and Kingery all stink.

I'm fine with the Caissie trade but it definitely reduced our OF/DH depth and left us a bit exposed there.  Very glad we have Shaw as INF depth but I think playing him in the OF is a bit of a desperation move given he has no pro experience there besides this ST. Hopefully our OF all stay healthy.

[Post Count Padder]

It's tough because Conforto cannot play in the field anymore. Carlson can play all three positions out there. I think an ideal scenario would be Alcantara taking the 4th OF spot at some point. Maybe he doesn't get more than 200 at bats but he can cover all three positions and isn't a liability with the bat. I'm assuming they didn't want to relegate him to bench bat right away and wanna get him some more playing time in Iowa.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Post Count Padder said:

It's tough because Conforto cannot play in the field anymore. Carlson can play all three positions out there. I think an ideal scenario would be Alcantara taking the 4th OF spot at some point. Maybe he doesn't get more than 200 at bats but he can cover all three positions and isn't a liability with the bat. I'm assuming they didn't want to relegate him to bench bat right away and wanna get him some more playing time in Iowa.

Right. It is all about what is better for Alcantara going forward. On the major league bench getting 10-15 AB a month or playing everyday in Iowa? They have to at least put him in a position to succeed in ‘27. If an outfielder gets hurt I would expect Alcantara to come up and play often, if he is doing well in Iowa. But to be here for 15 AB a month doesn’t make sense.

[Radar3454]

Carlson is healthy and only 27 - I'm good with trying him as the 4th OF.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Radar3454 said:

Carlson is healthy and only 27 - I'm good with trying him as the 4th OF.

I agree. And Conforto.s career OPS+ 115. He had a bad year last year but also hit into some real bad luck. Besides that, really, what are people expecting out of out last few bats anyway. 

[Bertz]

It's reasonably likely that Conforto's still got a solid bat.  His batted ball data last year was still strong, basically he had a combo if being BABIPed a little and a little not pulling enough of his fly balls.  Like I'm not trying to claim signing him was some masterful gambit but a platoon aided 110-115 wRC+ feels pretty attainable.  That's like a....60th?...percentile outcome? 

Carlson's a little more boom/bust.  He's way more likely to have a Brujan level disaster of a bat.  But at the same time he's got patience, contact, and a tweener glove.  Doesn't feel that far fetched for him to end up somewhere Tauchman-esque and worth playing every day if there's an injury.

Ultimately though I think it's a numbers game, and even the team is viewing like their approach to the bullpen.   

[Bertz]

Between stuff like this, their recent round of hirings, the fact that he no longer writes on weekends, etc. it feels like Brett Taylor's about to hang them up.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree. And Conforto.s career OPS+ 115. He had a bad year last year but also hit into some real bad luck. Besides that, really, what are people expecting out of out last few bats anyway. 

Conforto and Carlson are around replacement value these days.  There's always a modest chance they put it together and have a decent season, maybe 1-2 WAR if they played full time, the Cubs basically took a flier on them without much to lose.

Conforto still had good bat speed metrics last year so the raw power is probably still there, and the BABIP was low so may have been unlucky a bit last year as you said.  The speed and glove is poor.  Carlson has below average bat speed and has never shown much power, with a decent glove.  They both walk a lot.

They're ok on the bench and can easily be cut if they stink.  Like you said, if there's an injury I'd rather see what Alcantara can do if he's swinging well in Iowa.  I'm not keen on his bat vs RHP or his overall hit tool but he has upside and is still quite young. He reminds me of a poor man's Oneil Cruz/Elly De La Cruz, but those guys aren't RHB so the breaking stuff won't kill them like it has Alcantara so far.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

My thought is Alcantara would be on the team, but they don't want him to rot on the bench and kill any remaining trade value he has. If he rakes in Iowa and they don't need to call him up, maybe he can still net something at the deadline.

[Geographyhater8888]

11 hours ago, Stratos said:

Very glad we have Shaw as INF depth but I think playing him in the OF is a bit of a desperation move given he has no pro experience there besides this ST. Hopefully our OF all stay healthy.

Cassie would’ve spent opening day in Iowa along with Alcantara where he isn’t blocked and rotting on the bench. Shaw learning how to play the outfield is a practical way to maximize his plate appearances.  I don’t think they’re throwing darts at a board 

Edited March 26 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

Which horsefeathers end of the Kingery, Conforto and Carlson twig  stinks the least?

Edited March 26 by Geographyhater8888

[Jason Ross]

6 hours ago, Stratos said:

Conforto and Carlson are around replacement value these days.  There's always a modest chance they put it together and have a decent season, maybe 1-2 WAR if they played full time, the Cubs basically took a flier on them without much to lose.

Conforto still had good bat speed metrics last year so the raw power is probably still there, and the BABIP was low so may have been unlucky a bit last year as you said.  The speed and glove is poor.  Carlson has below average bat speed and has never shown much power, with a decent glove.  They both walk a lot.

They're ok on the bench and can easily be cut if they stink.  Like you said, if there's an injury I'd rather see what Alcantara can do if he's swinging well in Iowa.  I'm not keen on his bat vs RHP or his overall hit tool but he has upside and is still quite young. He reminds me of a poor man's Oneil Cruz/Elly De La Cruz, but those guys aren't RHB so the breaking stuff won't kill them like it has Alcantara so far.

I won't bank on either, but both have reasonable arguments for why they might not stink, so let's be a bit patient. 

Carlson has spent years hurt. It messed up his swing and his body. But at 27 years old he isn't at a point age wise where his body is so broken he cant do it any more. The Cubs have liked him for a while and believe he's healthy. He was a good and productive MLB player for a few years. And as a fourth OF you can deploy him as needed. 

Conforto had good underlying data last year. The bat speed dipped, so if you want to red flag this, I think you can. But there is a reason a smart organization like the Dodgers player him as much as they did in 2025 and it isn't because they are cheap or actively trying to play on hard mode with 8 useful hitters. 

So while I won't say either are locks to make it a full season as useful players, both have very reasonable reasons as to why they might not suck, so let's maybe give it a bit before we decide they entirely do. Neither will play a ton and if they aren't good, neither seem likely to be kept. The Cubs have young players who could reasonably do their job if it doesn't work out 

[Geographyhater8888]

13 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I don't think Conforto is totally cooked. One of his last ST games he hit a ball 114,

Did he pull it?

[muntjack]

I feel like the bench and bullpen are both in much better shape than they were at this time last season.  

 

[chibears55]

16 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

2 of those 3 will be there. Probably Conforto and Carlson. Who, exactly, are you expecting to take their spots? One is gone because of Seiya. That would be Kingery. But unless someone is injured I don’t see them bringing up Alcantara or Long to get the 15AB those guys would be getting. Again, what do you really expect from the 12th and 13th bat on the team? If not them and if the idea is to get Long and Alcantara everyday playing time, who takes the spot? 

That what im expecting to happen, at some point Alcantara, Long, and or someone else will play their way up to the roster, and even Austin will be back.

I know Conforto,  Kingery, and Carlson aren't gonna get much PT, especially in April, but just feel like theyll fail more often then not when given the opportunity and the others will come up and get their chances.

[Rcal10]

21 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

That what im expecting to happen, at some point Alcantara, Long, and or someone else will play their way up to the roster, and even Austin will be back.

I know Conforto,  Kingery, and Carlson aren't gonna get much PT, especially in April, but just feel like theyll fail more often then not when given the opportunity and the others will come up and get their chances.

Well considering the greatest hitters of all time fail more often then not, it is a safe bet Conforto and Carlson will do so as well. I just don’t see Alcantara and/or Long up to sit on the bench. And truth be told, they will probably fail just as often. Maybe Austin replaces one of Conforto or Carlson. 🤷 But unless there is an injury I doubt Alcantara or Long come up and sit the bench. 
I think you overstate the kids too much. And also expect too much from bench players. Having a bench with guys that actually succeeded in the majors in the not that distant past, is actually having a decent bench. No team, not even the Dodgers, has bench guys who are stars. 

[chibears55]

36 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Well considering the greatest hitters of all time fail more often then not, it is a safe bet Conforto and Carlson will do so as well. I just don’t see Alcantara and/or Long up to sit on the bench. And truth be told, they will probably fail just as often. Maybe Austin replaces one of Conforto or Carlson. 🤷 But unless there is an injury I doubt Alcantara or Long come up and sit the bench. 
I think you overstate the kids too much. And also expect too much from bench players. Having a bench with guys that actually succeeded in the majors in the not that distant past, is actually having a decent bench. No team, not even the Dodgers, has bench guys who are stars. 

Bet by no later then mid June, all 3 or at least 2 of Conforto Kingery and Carlson will not be on the Cubs roster.