Still Time for Nico, Castellanos Gets It, Media Changes, Scary O’s Situation, and Other Cubs Bullets

Although I am not a particularly hairy person by nature, I nevertheless will find – as most humans do – hairs that I’m just like, why do you exist? What is the evolution purpose of you? Was ancient man put in endless peril until he evolved that ONE eyebrow hair that is twice as long as all the rest? Is that what saved our species? THAT HAIR?!?

  • A lot of fans are pining for Nico Hoerner to make the club as its Opening Day second baseman, but, although that hasn’t been ruled out, it’s not a sure thing to be the best for the Cubs *OR* for Hoerner in the near or long-term. I think we all know where we want to see Hoerner’s approach get so he can maximize his offensive value. From Theo Epstein (Cubs.com): “He’s one of those hitters with a gift of great bat control and contact ability. But, I think it’s becoming a little more intentional, a little bit more disciplined about what he’s looking for earlier in the count and what he can really drive and not getting himself out on pitcher’s pitches.” It’s the adjustment that so many contact-oriented young hitters have to make as they climb the ladder: just because you can hit everything doesn’t mean you should hit everything.
  • There’s also just the reality of Hoerner’s extremely limited pro experience so far. Hoerner has barely 450 professional plate appearances total at this point, with about 370 of those coming at AA or lower, and none at AAA. Other fast-arriving college bats: Kris Bryant had nearly 800 minor league PAs before he arrived. Kyle Schwarber had over 600, and then had to be sent back down. Ian Happ had nearly 1,000, and then had to be sent back down. If Hoerner is ready and can continue to improve in the big leagues? Cool. But if not, no one should be surprised if there’s still some needed development time. The Cubs want the best Nico Hoerner, not necessarily the earliest-arriving Nico Hoerner if those aren’t able to be the same thing yet.
  • 48-hour sale at the MLB Shop – Cubs stuff here.
  • Something something Nick Castellanos can be a free agent after this season if he opts out something something:
  • Among Castellanos’ comments about the Cubs organization, and about running a business with baseball at its heart: “I’m not an owner. I don’t know the intricacies of owning a team. The only thing I can speak on when it comes to the Cubs is what a tremendous and incredible soul that organization has when it has life. The only thing I would care about if I owned the Cubs would be to give it as much life as possible. It’s hard, I don’t know what it’s like to own a business. I just know what it’s like to want to win baseball games …. I don’t know the five-year plan, the 10-year plan. I don’t know the business aspect of what getting under the luxury tax means to them. I don’t know the details of TV deals that teams are signing. I don’t know any of that. What I care about and what I pay attention to is the beauty of what happens in between the lines. I think if that is taken care of and that is nurtured, everything else is going to follow.”
  • Take care of the team. Take care of the energy. Take care of the winning. And then the money will follow. I actually tend to think that’s a pretty sophisticated business take in today’s pro sports climate, so I give Castellanos credit on that.
  • I laughed:
  • Yard tools, reading materials, deodorant stuff, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon today. #ad
  • The NHL has announced it is closing its locker rooms to the media during the coronavirus scare, but MLB is not following suit for now:
  • It would seem … odd that a league honestly thinks having a few extra people in the locker room, specifically, is somehow going to be the source of additional spread. Unlike huge crowds, you’re talking about a very limited set of people who can take precautions and then do their job.
  • Scary news out of Orioles camp, as outfielder Trey Mancini has left the team for a non-baseball-related medical procedure – the club is not going to specify, for privacy reasons – and he is expected to miss some time. As one of the Orioles’ few good players, losing Mancini for any amount of time is only going to improve their chances to lose 120+ games, though it’s hard to think too much about that when you see quotes like this from teammates:
  • Best wishes to Mancini and his family, whatever the circumstances.
  • 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.

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