Spring Training games thread

[Stratos]

5 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I suspect it's a simple matter of turning Conforto/Carlson into an "and" instead of an "or".  Given the timing Conforto probably got signed when the team found out about this.

Won't they be looking for an 1B who bats righty to platoon with Busch?

[Bertz]

6 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Won't they be looking for an 1B who bats righty to platoon with Busch?

Busch is being given the opportunity to play against LHP.  So at least initially Austin was presumably going to mostly pair with Mo at DH.

[KCCub]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Won't they be looking for an 1B who bats righty to platoon with Busch?

CC said at the winter meetings the plan is for Busch to start against lefties in 2026. They obviously still need a plan in place for injury, struggles, etc, but the hope is Busch no longer needs a full time platoon partner. 

[Rcal10]

19 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I suspect it's a simple matter of turning Conforto/Carlson into an "and" instead of an "or".  Given the timing Conforto probably got signed when the team found out about this.

Neither of them has played 1st base either. I guess Shaw could add that to the list of positions he plays🤷

[Radar3454]

Mo can cover 1B for a few games a month

[Jason Ross]

The good news is that as Matt already outlined, the team is above the LT as is, so spending money shouldn't be a consideration here; they should be able to do just that (going over the 1st line but not the 2nd has a good bit of runway). Also, a RHH, 1b, on the short side of a platoon wouldn't be a very hard find. 

Between today and then, I'm sure something will come available via trade (cheaply) or DFA if the team wants.

[Irrelevant Dude]

3 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Tyler Austin underwent a knee surgery and will be sidelined for months. 

Justin Turner, come on down!

[We Got The Whole 9]

Just friggin sign Rizzo. Maybe the time off helped his CTE.

[Post Count Padder]

The Conforto deal makes a little more sense now in terms of bench power but he's never played first base. Even if he and McCormick both make the roster I'd guess some combination of Shaw/Bregman/Mo relieve Busch on days off?

[Bertz]

Taillon pitched poorly but his velo was back to normal, which I'll absolutely take over the vice-versa.

[mk49]

Yeah, Jamo's HR problem continued.  Horton looked very good, though.  

[Irrelevant Dude]

Thielbar and Little, yikes.

[We Got The Whole 9]

80% of the 25 man has been yikes so far

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Thielbar and Little, yikes.

Little sucks. He has always sucked and honestly I have no idea why people like him. 

[Bull]

20 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Little sucks. He has always sucked and honestly I have no idea why people like him. 

He throws really hard with the other arm.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

53 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Little sucks. He has always sucked and honestly I have no idea why people like him. 

It's just hopium that one day he will figure out how to control where his pitches go. Everything except his walk rate is great.

[Geographyhater8888]

Where does Long fit into the teams long term plans? Is there a world where he’s a DH and Mo develops into an everyday catcher?

Edited February 26 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

17 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Neither of them has played 1st base either. I guess Shaw could add that to the list of positions he plays🤷

Happ made a start in 2019 at first base. Thats the extend of players not named Michael Busch with any experience at first base on the ML roster besides Long who’s recovering from an elbow injury.

Edited February 26 by Geographyhater8888

[Bertz]

6 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

It's just hopium that one day he will figure out how to control where his pitches go. Everything except his walk rate is great.

I mean small sample he has a career ERA under 3, and while that's obviously got some good fortune behind it he's clearly doing some things right from a process standpoint since every projection system on Fangraphs expects him to have an ERA under 4.

[CubinNY]

15 hours ago, Bertz said:

Taillon pitched poorly but his velo was back to normal, which I'll absolutely take over the vice-versa.

The first year he came to the Cubs, he had about the best ST, I've ever seen a pitcher have. I don't think he walked anyone and just looked dominating (I use to be able to watch games). Then he came out to start the season and shat the bed. ST is so weird. The good thing with Jamo is that you sort of know what you are going to get right off the start. When he's bad, he's really bad. 

[Bertz]

5 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Where does Long fit into the teams long term plans? Is there a world where he’s a DH and Mo develops into an everyday catcher?

I think ultimately he's going to get something like the Turner role from last year.  That said he doesn't have huge splits, in fact to this point he's got modest reverse splits, so it's not crazy to hope for an everyday player.  

I suspect despite being the most obvious 1 for 1 replacement he's not going to fill in for Austin coming out of camp though.  It seems pretty clear the team is nervous about outfield depth, so I think they're going to take the opportunity to be able to hold onto both of Conforto/Carlson.  And not really tied to Austin but on a similar note I'd be pretty shocked if they don't add McCormick to the 40 man roster and stash him at Iowa.

[Radar3454]

2 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Happ made a start in 2019 at first base. Thats the extend of players not named Michael Busch with any experience at first base on the ML roster besides Long who’s recovering from an elbow injury.

Mo played at least parts of 2 games there last year.

[Rcal10]

58 minutes ago, Radar3454 said:

Mo played at least parts of 2 games there last year.

But what would be the point of resting Busch so that Mo can play 1st? Both are left handed hitters and Busch is clearly a better fielder. I get the idea of Mo at 1st if Busch gets injured, that strictly as a guy to give Busch a day off, I don’t see Mo. 

Edited February 26 by Rcal10

[Jason Ross]

Miguel Amaya is taking reps at 1b per Bruce Levine. He's played 1b in the minors before. 

[Stratos]

10 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

But what would be the point of resting Busch so that Mo can play 1st? Both are left handed hitters and Busch is clearly a better fielder. I get the idea of Mo at 1st if Busch gets injured, that strictly as a guy to give Busch a day off, I don’t see Mo. 

Yeah Mo would be a backup for Busch in case of injury.