Now We Know Who the 9th Starter is and Other Bullets

Because Friday is reserved for merriment and absurdity tied to nothing at all, I offer to you the musical stylings of Jan Terri. The Wife and I had a veritable Jan Terri dance party last night. A particular recommendation? Get Down Goblin. You’re welcome for the life-changing introduction.

  • Jeff Samardzija was understandably thrilled to make the rotation, suggesting that it could be one of his greatest professional accomplishments. “You don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to get to start,” Samardzija said. “Once you become a reliever and have success, a lot of times that’s where you end up in your career. I really wanted to give this a full head of steam and a full shot. I think that showed my growth and where I’m at today. Normally, I probably would’ve tried to throw 100 [mph] and try to strike everyone out and I didn’t do that. I came out and threw strikes and continued what I’ve been doing all spring. I think it shows a little maturity on the mound.” Samardzija as a starter remains a high risk, high reward proposition: if he’s really developed the kind of impressive control he’s shown this Spring, as well as good movement down in the zone, he could be a very good starter. If there was any year for the Cubs to throw caution to the wind and give him a shot, this was the year.
  • Casey Coleman says the reason he was sent to AAA Iowa rather than making the bullpen is because the Cubs would prefer to keep him a starter. “I didn’t know what to expect,” Coleman said. “I know I put myself in position to make the team but in the end, they need me more as a starter. I can’t argue with them about that. They’re the ones making the decisions. Wherever they need me, I’ll try my best …. It’s a good thing that we have more pitching, more depth. I hope this spring showed guys I can do both. I can go up there in the bullpen as well. That was the opportunity they gave me and I hope I proved I could do it.” Coleman, right now, is the Cubs’ 7th or 8th starter, behind Randy Wells, and probably behind Rodrigo Lopez, too. If Travis Wood shows quickly that he’s ready to go, Coleman is then probably the 9th starter. Insert Theo-and-Jed-know-who-your-9th-starter-is jokes here.
  • Randy Wells couldn’t have been thrilled to hear Dale Sveum say this: “Welington Castillo was probably the most difficult [decision], and one where you had to make him understand that he’s an everyday catcher and will make a lot of money and probably play in All-Star Games. He just needs to go down and play every single day.” Good on Castillo, but you’d think demoting Wells was a slightly harder decision, given that one of Castillo and Steve Clevenger was going to have to go down no matter what.
  • The Braves have shown interest not only in Marlon Byrd, but also “lesser available Cubs,” according to David O’Brien. Does that mean Cubs who are less available, or available Cubs who are of a lesser quality than Byrd? If it’s the former, pretty everyone is available for the right price. If it’s the latter, could the Braves be interested in super utility player Jeff Baker? If so, that could explain why a guy like Tony Campana is hanging around camp despite everyone knowing he’s not going to make the Opening Day roster (…unless someone like Baker is traded).
  • Jed Hoyer says the Cubs are still looking to add a reliever, preferably a left-handed one. That’s fine with me – right now, James Russell is the only lefty, and the last few options in the pen aren’t overly exciting – but it makes you wonder what the front office/coaching staff saw in Scott Maine that they didn’t like. The lefty  appeared in eight games (7.2 innings) and put up a 1.17 ERA, holding batters to a .192 average. Perhaps it was those seven walks…
  • On the bullpen, we’re pretty sure Rafael Dolis is locked in, together with Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, and James Russell. ESPN’s Scott Padilla (link above) and Paul Sullivan agree that there is another pitcher locked in, but they disagree on the identity. Padilla says it’s Rodrigo Lopez, while Sullivan says it’s Shawn Camp. I’d lean toward Lopez as closer to a lock if I had to choose, but I don’t know that either is a certainty at this point. Lendy Castillo, Manny Corpas, and Frankie De La Cruz are also trying to grab a spot. Total guess on those last three spots (which changes every day)? Lopez, Castillo, and Corpas, unless the Cubs pick up another lefty (which I think is at least 50/50).
  • When I heard about Chris Carpenter’s elbow surgery, my first inclination was to be nervous about what the Red Sox might do (gee, can’t imagine how that feeling has been fostered in me over the past several months). Fortunately, Jed Hoyer came out and said the Cubs had no idea about any elbow issues for Carpenter (and, indeed, he’d passed a physical with the Cubs and was participating in all activities at the time he was traded), and Nick Cafardo had a source tell him nothing more was going to happen. Exhale. Er … not so fast. Now Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says “the Sox said yesterday they do not consider the talks officially over. The club is weighing its options about what to do next, said a Red Sox source.” The article goes on to lay out the facts – everything was conducted in the open, Carpenter passed a physical with the Cubs and with the Red Sox, no one thinks the Cubs were trying to pull a fast one, and neither side knew about the bone spurs when the deal went down. So, like, what the hell else is there to talk about? Unless I’m missing something, that falls squarely into the “shit happens” department of baseball trades.
  • Twitterer @GoMirrus has an early look at the new LED board and patio area in right field. To me, as expected, it looks incredibly not intrusive (and not a big deal).
  • SI projects the 2012 Cubs to win just 66 games, fourth worst in baseball (better only than the Astros, Orioles and Mariners). If the Cubs are going to lose that many games, I hope they go big, and finish worst in baseball. I think they’ll lose a lot of games, but probably not quite that many.
  • Jason Jaramillo is no longer with the Cubs, by the way, having been released a while ago (no one noticed), and now has signed with the Brewers.
  • MLBullets over at BCB – Magic Johnson is already telling the world about how much money the Dodgers are going to spend on free agents. Swell.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Brewers Pitcher Jakob Junis Taken Off Field in an Ambulance After Being Struck by BP Ball

    A very scary scene in Pittsburgh, where Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis, currently on the IL with a shoulder impingement, took a batting practice ball off the neck and went down. Junis was apparently on the ground for a long...

    Nico Hoerner is Back to Being Nico Hoerner

    On April 9, I took an early look at Nico Hoerner's apparently evolving approach at the plate, which featured a lot more patience and a lot more big hacks. Effectively, it seemed like he was trying for a little more...

    MLBits: Spencer Strider Speaks (His and Other Pitcher Arm Injuries), Shohei Ohtani’s Latest Milestone, More

    There's been much debate about pitcher arm injuries lately, much of it sparked by Spencer Strider's season-ending Tommy John surgery, and Strider spoke to the media for the first time since the injury on Friday. Spencer Strider on pitcher arm...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Lefty Pitching Prospect Mitchell Tyranski

    A new signing popped up on the Chicago Cubs' transaction log: lefty Mitchell Tyranski. Tyranski, 26, put up a 3.83 ERA over 42.1 innings at High-A last year in the Dodgers organization, striking out 47 and walking 21. Were you...

    The Cubs Have TWO of the Early Front-Runners for NL Rookie of the Year

    We already dove deep into Shota Imanaga's latest impressive start against the Marlins yesterday. And there's been no shortage of love for Michael Busch this season either. But I do want to take this time to illustrate just how good...

    My Expectations and Realistic Hope for the Cubs VERY Tough Upcoming Schedule

    Even though Sunday ended in a loss for the Chicago Cubs, we did get some good news in the form of positive injury updates. Ian Happ (hamstring) was available off the bench and could be good to go tomorrow, when...

    Aaron Boone Just Got Ejected Despite Saying Literally Nothing

    I know that sometimes there is a history between an umpire and a manager. I know that sometimes a manager can subtly get under the skin of an umpire without doing much that we can see or hear. And I...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 22, 2024: Weekend Wrap

    Let's get caught up on all of the action down on the farm in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report | April 22, 2024 Triple-A Iowa Cubs (13-8) The Cubs were swept in a doubleheader by the Louisville Bats...

    Looking at the Positives, Bellinger and Morel Streaking (in Opposite Directions), and Other Cubs Bullets

    What started as a small convo for the bullets ballooned into a deeper dive on Kyle Hendricks, what's going wrong, and where the Cubs go from here. So if you're looking for the Hendricks discussion, that was earlier today. Despite...

    Latest 2024 MLB Mock Draft Lands the Cubs a Top Prospect Out of Wake Forest

    Baseball America today released its updated (version 2.0) 2024 MLB mock draft. With more of the amateur season taking place, we are starting to see more of the top tier become firmly crystalized with eight names, none of whom are...

    Latest News

    76ers vs. Knicks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 3 – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-point favorites in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, beginning at 7:30 PM ET on TNT. The Knicks lead the series...

    Magic vs. Cavaliers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 3 – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Orlando Magic are slight 1-point favorites heading into Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on Thursday, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET on NBA. The Cavaliers lead the...

    Bucks vs. Pacers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 2 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024

    The Indiana Pacers are slight 1-point underdogs in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 PM ET on NBA. The Bucks are ahead 1-0 in...

    Timberwolves vs. Suns Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 2 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves are slight 3-point favorites in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on Tuesday, starting at 7:30 PM ET on TNT. The Timberwolves hold a 1-0 series...

    Mavericks vs. Clippers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 2 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024

    The Los Angeles Clippers bring a 0-1 series record into Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Mavericks are favored by 2.5 points in the matchup, which airs on TNT at 10:00 PM ET. The point...

    How to Watch Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks: Live Stream or on TV

    The St. Louis Cardinals (10-13), with Steven Matz on the hill, host the Arizona Diamondbacks (11-13) who will start Tommy Henry, at 7:45 PM ET on Tuesday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the St. Louis-Arizona matchup in the...

    Hurricanes vs. Islanders NHL Playoffs First Round Game 3 Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    The Carolina Hurricanes are moderate favorites (-155) away at the New York Islanders (+130) at UBS Arena on Thursday.Hurricanes vs. Islanders Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Hurricanes (-155)Underdog: Islanders (+130)Total: 5.5Best Hurricanes vs. Islanders Promo Codes[lasso type="table" id="1"]How to Watch Hurricanes vs....

    Maple Leafs vs. Bruins NHL Playoffs First Round Game 3 Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The Toronto Maple Leafs are -115 on the moneyline versus the Boston Bruins (-105) on Wednesday, with this tight-looking matchup being played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Maple Leafs (-115)Underdog: Bruins (-105)Total: 5.5Best Maple...

    How to Watch Giants vs. Mets: Live Stream or on TV

    On Tuesday at 9:45 PM ET, Michael Conforto and the San Francisco Giants (11-13) face Pete Alonso and the New York Mets (12-10) at Oracle Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to watch San Francisco take...

    Orioles vs. Angels: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Jordan Westburg and the Baltimore Orioles (15-7) visit Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels (9-14) at 9:38 PM ET on Tuesday.Find out how to watch the Baltimore-Los Angeles matchup below.When is Orioles vs. Angels and when does it start?This...

    more cubs news