NEWSLETTER
Well, I questioned whether keeping Carl Edwards Jr. on the roster was worth having to protect against his challenges in the mental game, and the front office answered quickly.
As I just reported on the radio, Carl Edwards has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa after a rough outing yesterday.
Heard Rowan Wick's name as possible replacement.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 22, 2019
Carl Edwards, Jr. is being sent down to Triple-A and Rowan Wick is being called back up. Wick since he was last sent down: 22 batters faced over 6 2/3 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits allowed, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 22, 2019
Obviously I joke about that being a matter of my questioning, but I mention it because it’s pretty salient to the issue with Edwards (as we just talked about). If you have to “protect” him – for stretches, at least – in order for him to be successful, how long can the front office justify keeping him in the bullpen? Apparently, after yesterday’s implosion, one day was enough.
To be sure, it could be the case that something happened after the game that directed them to make this move, and I kinda doubt it was a matter of “oh man, that outing was so freaking bad we gotta get him outta here.” It was one outing!
Instead, I kinda wonder if it was already in their minds that maybe Edwards, this year, just needs to be one of the many rotating depth bullpen arms. He has options, and why should he be treated differently than, for example, the guy who is going to be replacing him tonight? Wick doesn’t have the past history of big league success, but Edwards hasn’t consistently had that for more than a six-week stretch in a couple years. And Wick – like Dillon Maples, like James Norwood, etc. – has really good stuff. So, just like other relievers come up, pitch a little, and rotate right back out for a fresh arm, maybe Edwards is another one of those guys right now?
I expect we’ll hear more about this, because absent that explanation, it does seem a little odd that Edwards was activated from the Injured List, got one bad appearance, and was immediately optioned back down.
That said, I’m glad to see Wick back up with the big league team, and I hope he gets some innings. The 26-year-old righty is simply too good for AAA, and it would be nice to really see how he translates to the big leagues.
https://twitter.com/IowaCubs/status/1153039250759323648
