Cubs Reds Game 3

[BKHoo]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

It's just going to be too late to build him up and the Cubs probably won't jeopardize building him up poorly. He just started throwing again and won't be off a mound until after the ASB. He probably isn't with an affiliate before August. 6 weeks would be a traditional Spring Training (2nd week of February to April) and the Cubs cannot count on him coming back to pitch in a rotation with two-weeks to go as that would probably put him on pace to come back in the rotation come the second or third week in September.

Instead, it's likely he gets 3-4 weeks and returns as a multi-inning guy as rosters expand. But if he does that, there's not going to be time to get him from 2-3 innings to 4-5 innings, which they'll want to take slowly considering the injury. 

In the playoffs, you need bulk innings guys. And he can do that. There's a role for him. He can be a "super-opener" or an elite piggyback. 

Yes good points.  Maybe I am just hopeful he comes out pitching great and challenges the plan a bit. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

It's just going to be too late to build him up and the Cubs probably won't jeopardize building him up poorly. He just started throwing again and won't be off a mound until after the ASB. He probably isn't with an affiliate before August. 6 weeks would be a traditional Spring Training (2nd week of February to April) and the Cubs cannot count on him coming back to pitch in a rotation with two-weeks to go as that would probably put him on pace to come back in the rotation come the second or third week in September.

Instead, it's likely he gets 3-4 weeks and returns as a multi-inning guy as rosters expand. But if he does that, there's not going to be time to get him from 2-3 innings to 4-5 innings, which they'll want to take slowly considering the injury. 

In the playoffs, you need bulk innings guys. And he can do that. There's a role for him. He can be a "super-opener" or an elite piggyback. 

I agree that Steele will not start this year. I could see a piggy back situation with him and Brown. Maybe each pitch 3 or 4 innings. Of/when they make the playoffs, I would expect an interesting use of the pitching staff. But it actually might work ok. 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Yes good points.  Maybe I am just hopeful he comes out pitching great and challenges the plan a bit. 

I'm hopeful too. He's had a really windy path to being a Cub's mainstay he probably deserves a playoff moment as much as anyone on the roster. For years he was one of the very few reasons to watch and then to miss all of last year had to sting. 

I think it shapes up perfectly, though. The Cubs probably aren't going to enter the playoffs with more than three guys you feel really comfortable with starting a playoff game. Between Cabrera, Shota, Boyd and someone traded for, one will likely struggle down the stretch or be hurt. The Cubs will need a strong BP behind the group, and it's kind of hard to get much more stable than seven outs of Justin Steele to lock down a few innings building up to the end of the game.

[NorthsideAvenger]

For the second half, I need Nico to get back to being the Nico that earned that extension. 

I'm not convinced the division is out of reach right now. So if the Cubs plan on making that run, we all know Bregman and Hoerner has to step up their games. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

someone smarter than me has to explain Nico. His baseball savant page is almost identical to last year but we've all seen the difference in results. it's hard to believe it's all bad luck