The Cardinals’ Outfield Could Be Good or Terrible and Other Bullets

matt holliday groin ballI had to register The Little Girl for kindergarten this morning. So, if you need me, I’ll just be over there in that corner in a puddle.

  • The Cardinals are hoping Stephen Piscotty’s production in the outfield can make up for the loss of Jason Heyward (Cardinals.com). That got me thinking about the Cardinals’ outfield overall. Even without Heyward and Jon Jay, who was traded to San Diego for Jedd Gyorko, the Cardinals do still have a solid foursome in the outfield, with Piscotty, Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk, and Tommy Pham. But there are big questions, too: can Holliday stay healthy enough to keep his bat in the lineup and not kill the Cardinals in left field defensively? Is Pham even remotely for real? Is Grichuk’s sudden, ridiculous power explosion for real? Will Piscotty’s defense come around? One area you’re likely to see regression in the group is in their homer rate – all three of Piscotty, Grichuk, and Pham had above league average HR/FB ratios (which, for less-established players, is sometimes a flukey thing).
  • [adinserter block=”1″]

  • On the whole, I could see the Cardinals’ outfield ranging anywhere from “good” to “disaster” next year, depending on where performance regresses and how the defensive ability plays out. That’s perhaps the biggest question about losing Heyward and Jay: the bats, perhaps, can be replaced, but that’s two excellent defensive outfielders now gone. Brandon Moss can play the corners and maybe that’ll help, since he’s usually around average defensively. Maybe his bat bounces back, and he winds up featuring more in the outfield than expected, if Matt Adams is healthy at first base. I’m really just thinking out loud here, because I’d never really considered just how wide the range of possibilities are this year for the Cardinals’ outfield (and, really, the entire offense when you start going through it).
  • Jake Arrieta is throwing and keeping up his strength in anticipation of a 2016 season that will follow a huge bump in his innings last year (ESPN). Physically, I don’t think you’d have any concerns about Arrieta’s readiness and ability to take on another huge workload – he’s a freak. The arm, though, sometimes has its own mind. Fortunately, Arrieta’s through that window in a pitcher’s career that you typically worry about serious arm injury, so, while expecting a repeat of his historic 2015 season is probably unfair, it’s also unfair to expect some kind of injury just because his innings shot up.
  • Separately on Arrieta: we’re still waiting on he and the Cubs to come together on a contract for 2016. With February having arrived, arbitration hearings will begin. I doubt the sides actually go to a hearing, but they might use the hearing as the self-imposed deadline to getting a deal done.
  • Chicago Cubs back-up catcher and resident ace clubhouse man David Ross was on the radio this weekend getting into a large number of really interesting topics, and the CCO has a transcript worth a read. Ross doesn’t just sound like a future coach or manager, he sounds like an incredible future coach or manager. If Ross ends up retiring after this season, as he’s said he will, I sure hope the Cubs are able to keep him around in the organization (assuming he wants to go into coaching). I have no doubt whatsoever that he’s going to be very good. I also know that he provides excellent defensive value as a back-up catcher (which is what you want from a back-up catcher), and a valuable presence in the clubhouse for the current team. Still quite glad the Cubs have him.
  • [adinserter block=”2″]

  • Best tarp catch of 2015: was it Anthony Rizzo’s tightrope walking and falling, or was it this full-speed crash by Nolan Arenado?
  • Hey, it’s a Cubs pillow light thing for kids. We’ve got a turtle version of one of these, but I’m not sure where it went. The kids kept taking it from each others’ rooms, and I think maybe one of them hid it from the other one in the hopes that they wouldn’t find it … but now no one can find it.
  • If you checked out this weekend, catch yourself up on everything that went down right here.
  • 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

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Braves (6:20 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs were shutout in the opener against the Braves last night. And it doesn't figure to get any easier against a resurgent Chris Sale tonight. Here's how Craig Counsell will line 'em up against the 35-year-old...

    Adbert Alzolay Update: Imaging Results, Timeline, and a Sprinkle of (Unexpected) Optimism

    I had the weirdest reaction to what is objectively bad injury news on Adbert Alzolay just now. According to Meghan Montemurro, medical imaging confirmed that Adbert Alzolay has a right flexor strain. While I should have been upset to learn...

    Jed Hoyer Speaks: New Reliever, Bullpen Issues, Imanaga, Morel, Swanson, Bat Data, More

    The Chicago Cubs' President of Baseball Operations just hopped on 670 The Score On the Bernstein & Holmes Show, discussing a number of Cubs-related items. He led things off with a discussion of newly-acquired reliever, Tyson Miller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hes1lI-8ZCI So, then,...

    Shota Imanaga Favored for NL Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, MVP, Nobel Peace Prize, and an Oscar

    There is nothing Shota Imanaga can't do. Going up against one of the best teams in baseball — and best overall offenses versus LHP — on the road, without his best stuff, Shota Imanaga tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in Atlanta, with...

    MLBits: ShĹŤta and ReyLo Duel, New MLB Pipeline Top 100, Investigating the New Statcast Swing Metrics, More

    Baseball's top two pitchers in the ERA department squared off last night and did not disappoint—that and more in today's MLB Notes. Shōta Imanaga Was Awesome (Again), But So Was Reynaldo Lopez I've watched a lot of Reynaldo López, given...

    Cubs Farm Report | May 14, 2024: Top 25 Prospect Stock Report

    The Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates were off on Monday, so it's time to take stock of some recent hot (and not-so-hot) performers inside the Cubs Top 25 prospects down on the farm in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm...

    Did You Ever Wonder What Happened to Frank Schwindel?

    I've gotten back into baseball cards, which, among other things, sends me down a lot of Memory Lanes. You pull a particular card, you think about that player, and you have various memories. It's part of the fun. The other...

    Latest News

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

    How to Watch Phillies Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    If you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan and looking to catch their games, you can watch most of them on TV with a cable subscription or via streaming with one of the many different apps. Let’s break down the cable...

    Connor Bedard Scored Again for Canada

    Oh hey! Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the World Championships for Canada on Tuesday afternoon. https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1790468565675483262 Bedard helped Canada sprint to a 6-1 lead... which evaporated as Austria scored five unanswered goals in the third period...

    How to Watch Yankees Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    The Bronx is booming! Yankee Stadium crackles with energy as the New York Yankees chase another World Series title. Whether you're a die-hard Yankees fan bleeding pinstripes or a baseball enthusiast captivated by the American League East race, their remaining...

    Adbert Alzolay Update: Imaging Results, Timeline, and a Sprinkle of (Unexpected) Optimism

    I had the weirdest reaction to what is objectively bad injury news on Adbert Alzolay just now. According to Meghan Montemurro, medical imaging confirmed that Adbert Alzolay has a right flexor strain. While I should have been upset to learn...

    Kiran Amegadjie Reportedly Signed His Rookie Deal (UPDATE: It’s Officially Official)

    Chicago Bears offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is reportedly signing his rookie deal. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details on the contract, which includes: A $1.121 million signing bonus Annual workout bonus of $50,000 per year from 2025-27 Total deal worth...

    2024 PGA Championship Prize Purse and Payout Breakdown: How Much Money Does the Winner Make?

    The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated PGA Championship. As the second major of the 2024 calendar, this prestigious event will grace the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16-19. This year marks the 106th edition of the championship,...

    more cubs news