NEWSLETTER
For more than a year, I was a good lad, following all the rules and doing my part not to spread this virus. I feel very good about the choices I made for the health and safety of the family and for myself. And yet … I got COVID. That’s how transmissible this damn thing still is, and I gotta tell you, to get it the very same week your state announces when you’ll be eligible for the vaccine is a real kick in the nuts.
So far, I’ve been very fortunate on the symptoms side of things – no fever, no terrible aches, no medical intervention; just a cough, fatigue, and loss of taste/smell (which is truly wild, and I sure hope it fully comes back soon). I’m not quite 100%, but doing my best. Thankfully The Wife was already vaccinated and is taking good care of me, and the kiddos seem like they’ve avoided any issues. I’m hopeful that I’m on the other side of the worst of this thing, so I figured it was time to mention it here. Much love to all. Except the Bears.
Meanwhile …
• The Athletic’s duo of Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney did a total deconstruction of the current state of the Cubs’ roster, and how things are trending for Opening Day. The biggest part that’ll stand out is the implication that the Cubs are currently leaning toward carrying Nico Hoerner to open the season as the starting second baseman, even if it’s not a lock yet:
Hoerner has the inside track after identifying some swing issues over the offseason and correcting them, which has led to a 1.383 OPS in 20 spring plate appearances ….
Hoerner brings plus defense at second — an aspect that’s essential for the Cubs to succeed this season because of their contact-oriented starting staff — and can be impactful with his base running as well. While he has options left — and no Triple-A experience — it wouldn’t make sense to have Hoerner go to the South Bend alternate site and not get any game action.
If Hoerner struggles at the plate to start the season, the Cubs could always send him down to Iowa to work on some things come May. It’s also not locked in that Hoerner will be the starter.
• It’s important to keep in mind that there are no minor league games in April. So once again, the Cubs are thrust into that crummy spot with Hoerner’s development: have him play every day at the big league level, or have him go hang out at an alternate site. It does kind of feel like, even if you were thinking Hoerner needs time at Triple-A to work on the bat, it still might be best overall to let him be your everyday starter at 2B in the big leagues in April. That way you still get his premium glove, he gets daily at bats against the toughest competition, and *maybe* he actually does show that he’s the rare guy who can develop at the big league level with almost no minor league experience. Obviously I go way back and forth on what’s best for Hoerner long-term versus what’s best for the Cubs short-term versus what’s best for the Cubs long-term. There’s still a part of me that wants to see David Bote get a real chance to show he can be more than a part-time guy … but I also do see the upside in giving Hoerner April to see what’s what, because then you could send him to Triple-A after that if necessary.
• An issue with that approach is that it would mean someone else can’t make the Cubs’ bench, and it might be someone the Cubs lose from the org because of it (i.e., a minor league deal guy who opts out (like an Eric Sogard), or a guy without options left (like an Ildemaro Vargas)). Maybe that is fine because of Hoerner’s glove and the chance he’s ready. Or maybe you don’t want to lose anyone if you don’t have to.
• Kris Bryant is completely correct about this: “Honestly, it might sound a little cocky, but I think we’re legends in Chicago. We really are,” Bryant, the National League MVP during that 2016 Cubs championship run, said during a conversation with NBC Sports Chicago. “Me included in that. Because regardless of what we’ve done before or after, we won the most iconic championship in the history of sports. Me personally I had my best year ever that year, so pretty legendary stuff right there.” Spot on. But maybe it cuts in a lot of directions? I think about this a lot, and how it would impact the development of young guys trying to get better and better after achieving such a pinnacle so early on. I won’t play armchair psychologist, but I will say that now that we’ve got so much distance from the Cubs finally winning it all, it’s fair to wonder. We know the organization as a whole worried about complacency setting in, and maybe at an individual player level, it was less about complacency, and more about “where in the world do I go from here?”
• I didn’t realize until reading this Brewers roster breakdown that top reliever Devin Williams (yes, even moreso than Josh Hader) has been slowed this spring by a shoulder issue. He was shut down at the very end of last year because of shoulder soreness, and apparently he’s behind everyone else this spring as he works back from it. That seems like a big deal?
• Style for a cause:
The limited-edition collection by kate.lynn.lewis/IG blends the history of women in baseball with her contemporary style. https://t.co/XlrkvAmNVM
Proceeds will benefit @GirlsintheGame in an effort to empower the next generation of women. #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/Wwv6VNIFgd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 17, 2021
