Certain Realities, Back-Up Catcher Options Dwindle, Answering for Russell, and Other Bullets

February 12, 2019, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

I’m taking one of the kiddos in for a minor procedure this morning, so I may be in and out for a bit, depending on his interest in watching whatever they’ve got on the tube in the waiting area.

Blessed day on the calendar:

IT BEGINS: Cubs Pitchers and Catchers Report for Spring Training TODAY! https://t.co/aC4NIC4MYB pic.twitter.com/OYQuNo0UAx

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 12, 2019

I found this to be a good – albeit stark – framing of the Cubs’ season ahead, as Spring Training opens:

The Cubs used to talk about building a dynasty and creating a global brand like the Patriots, Yankees or Manchester United. Now the Cubs are…what exactly? We're about to find out: https://t.co/GjWe2OQXkM

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 11, 2019

If we’re very, very honest about where things stand, we can acknowledge that this is a roster overflowing with talent. So much talent. So much remaining potential to be truly excellent. But, widening the lens, it’s an organization beset by negative storylines that it has earned, an organization that is struggling to generate useful young talent after the main wave arrived after the rebuild, an organization that is still trying to rebuild a farm system, an organization that turns over coaching staffs as the same rate as the seasons pass, and an organization with a manager on the final year of his deal. It feels like an unpleasant time for the Cubs because, in many ways, it is an unpleasant time. But that all changes if the team is successful at the big league level in 2019. Which, again, being truly honest: is eminently possible.

In discussing the very few remaining veteran catching options, I wondered about A.J. Ellis’s sharp decline in pitch-framing the last few years, and it seems the league has been wondering the same:

Hearing the Padres have hired A.J. Ellis as a special assistant to baseball ops. (Solid hire – always good to have as many AJs around as possible.)

This means that his steady 11-year career, spent mostly with LA, comes to an end. Posted a .340 career OBP and caught 620 games.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) February 12, 2019

It’s just about Martin Maldonado or Matt Wieters or bust at this point, unless a surprising trade opportunity or waiver addition becomes available. Even in that case, pitchers and catchers report today. You don’t really love the idea of a catcher joining much later than this. So if the Cubs are going to go with Victor Caratini as Willson Contreras’s back-up, then here’s hoping Joe Maddon is prepared to GIVE HIM STARTS. Not only will Caratini need them to improve and develop, but Contreras will need them to be successful all season, and not be totally ground down by August.
As Spring Training opens up, there will be a fresh round of players being asked about Addison Russell, who will himself soon have to face the media:

Cubs support Addison Russell's second chance if he shows improvements, by @madkenney https://t.co/fu7a1NH9NC via @suntimes

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 11, 2019

At this point, I really only want to hear from Russell, the front office, and Joe Maddon. The players have tried to talk around the situation for months now, put in an impossible situation by decisions outside their control.
On a much happier note, if you didn’t watch this series when it came out during the season, enjoy it now – the full set is in that link:

Days until pitchers and catchers report: 2⃣

Rewatch the full Between Starts series, presented by @Biofreeze. ➡️ https://t.co/G7bBtw9vTx pic.twitter.com/bvi0KFLFH9

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 11, 2019

Among Jordan Bastian’s latest set of inbox questions, he was asked about the importance of velocity, and shared a really simple explanation on why it matters in the aggregate:

“More velo from the pitcher equals less success for the hitter. MLB.com’s Andrew Simon saved me some research by writing a recent article on this very subject. In it, he outlined the hardest-throwing rotations for the upcoming campaign and presented a nice statistical glimpse into why it matters.

Here are the weighted on-base averages by MLB hitters in 2018 based on varying tiers of fastball velocity from starting pitchers:

• Less than 90 mph: .379
• 90-92 mph: .365
• 92-94 mph: .355
• 94-96 mph: .335
• 96-98 mph: .281
• More than 98 mph: .270″

David Bote as a fill-in shortstop:

Topic of David Bote as a defensive SS came up yesterday at @BleacherNation. Went back and pulled his relevant work at Iowa last yr. Find him very adept at charging (stay until last clip), hands are +, arm strength is enough. Laterally not plus, but capable of a fine spot start. pic.twitter.com/uGNbJ60un8

— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) February 12, 2019

And he was really good, too:

Allen Robinson Played Through Fractured Ribs in the Playoffs https://t.co/XV2KS6n4lN pic.twitter.com/OismKI7hsQ

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) February 11, 2019

Drink bottles, Galaxy tablets, robot vacuums, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon.
META: If you missed yesterday’s big site news, we’ve got a new minor league writer! Bryan Smith, better known as the @cubprospects guy on Twitter, is joining the fold. His first post is here, and he’s fantastic. I think you folks will really love getting to read his work this season. Nobody can precisely replace Luke, and we’re not even going to try that. Bryan will instead be doing things his way, so the coverage will look different than it has looked in the past, and there will be an adjustment period, as there always is. But you’re going to get a deep, interesting look into the farm system throughout the season. Of that, I am quite sure.

Filed to: Chicago Cubs