I am sufficiently “missing baseball” that I checked the World Baseball Classic schedule today in the hopes that early pool play started soon-ish, but I was way wrong. For some reason I thought maybe they started before Spring Training games, but they don’t – the early part of the WBC comes about 10 later, in early March.
I shouldn’t complain, because this is the shortest Cubs offseason in my (or your!) life. We have to get through less than three and a half months from the final Cubs game until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. Consider that, in a year when the Cubs don’t make the playoffs, that’s an entire extra month without Cubs baseball.
Be gracious, Brett. And patient …
Speaking of Bretts, the Cubs haven’t officially announced the addition of the Anderson iteration, though Buster Olney has reported that he passed his physical. An announcement figures to be forthcoming, and, when it does come, the Cubs will be in better pitching shape than they were at this time last week. Although many teams would love to boast a front four like the Cubs, and to have the intriguing upside of Mike Montgomery available to try out in 2017, the Cubs have serious questions about the 6-7-8-9 starters that most teams need in a given season. The Cubs have been unusually healthy in their rotation over the past few years, and, while some of that may be a credit to the pitching infrastructure and the front office, I have no doubt that some of it is simply luck. That part might not always last, and if it doesn’t, many more starting pitchers will take the ball this year for the Cubs than you’ve been used to in recent years.
[adinserter block=”1″]
Travis Sawchik writes about this depth issue for the Cubs, in light of the Anderson signing, and emphasizes the he’s-not-quite-traditional-“depth” consideration: “But if Anderson is an insurance policy for the rotation, he is a risky one for a team seeking rotation depth.” Sawchik is correct on that front, as Anderson is more about the upside to luck into a mid-rotation starter than it is about having concrete, back-of-the-rotation depth available if needed. But you can only sign the guys who are available, and, for a $3.5 million roll of the dice, Anderson seems one of the best available for any team.
The questions about the starting depth, however, persist for Sawchik even after the Anderson signing, and, on that, I’d agree with him. I’d still very much love to see the Cubs land a quality veteran back-end starting pitcher on a minor league deal in the coming weeks.
One random thing I’ve been thinking about with respect to Anderson that does make him slightly more like a quality “depth” signing than I’d previously noted: when healthy, Anderson figures to be a very solid bet to perform well in the rotation, right? And when he’s not healthy, he’ll be on the disabled list, not taking up a roster spot and not subject to waivers, right? So, then, if you believe in Anderson’s ability when healthy, then he kinda starts to take the shape of a quality depth starter who has minor league options left – the very tip-top thing that the Cubs need. The two enormous caveats there, though are: (1) you can’t necessarily assume that Anderson will always either be great or sufficiently injured to be on the DL (it’s possible there will be times when he’s simply suffering from moderately degraded performance, but isn’t quite injured), and (2) unlike a minor league option, you can’t pick and choose when an injury pops up.
Carrie Muskat writes about Stan Zielinski, the long-time Cubs scout who unexpectedly passed away last month. He had such an impact on so many people – and on the Cubs’ organization – and his loss well be acutely felt.
A great writeup at FanGraphs from Craig Edwards on the longstanding misconception about what third basemen have been in recent baseball history: that is to say, they aren’t guys with huge bats like first basemen, who just happen to be slightly more mobile, right-handed, with better arms. Rather, especially, since about the mid-80s, the bats at third base have been much closer to the bats at second base than first base. Edwards points out that this misconception could hurt Scott Rolen’s Hall of Fame chances, and compares him favorably to another third baseman who was long underappreciated: Ron Santo.
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.
Even with tonight's rainout, the Chicago Cubs are still making some roster moves. When Patrick Wisdom was removed (perfectly healthy) from the I-Cubs game in the 4th inning on Wednesday, we had an idea of what was coming next. When...
The weather wasn't going to cooperate for Jameson Taillon's season debut, and tonight's Cubs-Marlins tilt has been postponed. The game will instead be part of a split-doubleheader this Saturday, with the first game at 1:20pm CT and the second at...
If you're into tracking young pitchers with star potential like I am—as I watch Jack Leiter's debut while typing this column—then you're probably itching to see Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes make his way to Pittsburgh sooner than later. While...
Cubs vs Marlins — Whew! The Cubs got through their first West Coast road trip of the year, and did so with a winning record (5-4) against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. They definitely let a couple games slip out...
As the father of a toddler who was sick for an entire week — the same week Brett was out from his back surgery and the Cubs were playing almost exclusively late-night ballgames on the West Coast — I was...
Kevin Alcántara hit his first home run of the season for the Tennessee Smokies last night, and Owen Caissie hit his first Triple-A home run for the Iowa Cubs as Iowa and Tennessee secured victories. The same can't be said...
Given the way the offseason played out for super agent Scott Boras's top available clients - Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery - you wouldn't be shocked to see some unhappiness behind the scenes. Did Boras overplay...
Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...
Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...
The Pittsburgh Pirates (11-8), with Quinn Priester on the mound, host the Boston Red Sox (10-10) who will counter with Brayan Bello, at 6:40 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...
On Friday at 9:40 PM ET, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (11-10) take on George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) at PETCO Park.The article below will give you everything you need to know to watch...
Blake Snell will take the ball for the San Francisco Giants (8-11) when they host starter Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-10) on Friday, with first pitch at 10:15 PM ET.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading...
The Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9), led by Mookie Betts, host Pete Alonso and the New York Mets (10-8) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday in a series opener.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to...
The Minnesota Twins will be hosting the Detroit Tigers for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 8:10 PM ET on Friday, April 19.Twins vs. Tigers Series Info Tigers @ Twins Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:10...
In the opener of a three-game series, on Friday, April 19 at 8:15 PM ET, the St. Louis Cardinals are hosting the Milwaukee Brewers.Cardinals vs. Brewers Series Info Brewers @ Cardinals Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:15 PM ET Cardinals...
On Friday, April 19 at 7:40 PM ET, a three-game series between the Kansas City Royals and the visiting Baltimore Orioles will get underway.Royals vs. Orioles Series Info Orioles @ Royals Time: Friday, April 19 at 7:40 PM ET Royals...
The Seattle Mariners will be on the road, opening a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, April 19 at 8:40 PM ET.Rockies vs. Mariners Series Info Mariners @ Rockies Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:40 PM ET Rockies...
The San Diego Padres will be hosting the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series, with the first matchup getting underway at 9:40 PM ET on Friday, April 19.Padres vs. Blue Jays Series Info Blue Jays @ Padres Time: Friday,...
In the opener of a three-game series, on Friday, April 19 at 10:10 PM ET, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the New York Mets.Dodgers vs. Mets Series Info Mets @ Dodgers Time: Friday, April 19 at 10:10 PM ET...
NEWSLETTER
I am sufficiently “missing baseball” that I checked the World Baseball Classic schedule today in the hopes that early pool play started soon-ish, but I was way wrong. For some reason I thought maybe they started before Spring Training games, but they don’t – the early part of the WBC comes about 10 later, in early March.
