NEWSLETTER
Chicago Cubs GM Jed Hoyer spoke on a range of topics as we enter the final week of the regular season. You can see his comments here, here, here, here, and here, among other places.
Some of the highlights and my thoughts:
• Hoyer had much love for Jon Lester, but he wasn’t eager to talk about the possible future between the two sides as Lester’s six-year contract comes to a close: “That’s certainly not something that’s front of mind right now as we play out the rest of the season. We’re certainly not closing the door on anything, and I’m sure we’ll have discussions at some point this winter. But there’s no reason to talk about it [now].” For now, Hoyer is just thrilled by the performer and leader Lester has been, and he looks forward to the important pitches Lester has yet to throw this season for the Cubs (starting tonight against the Pirates). Lester has said he’d be happy to be back with the Cubs, and David Ross’s comments suggest that feeling is legit.
• It still seems like Jose Quintana will return to the Cubs this week, and Hoyer suggested this Pirates series is when it could happen. I’d sure hope so, since that would give him maybe two outings from the bullpen before the postseason.
• I feel exactly the same as Hoyer when it comes to the Cubs’ dreadful, dreadful offensive slump. It’s small sample, but that doesn’t matter this year: “In a normal season, I’d have zero concern. Just because you feel like we’re going to play for four more months and guys will get hot. Great players don’t struggle for six months in a normal season. You know that’s not going to happen. This year is different, right? The clock could run out and some of these guys never get a chance to get hot.” Sure feels like that’s going to be the case for several Cubs batters, and you just have to try to win some games despite that reality.
• Apropos of David Ross’s quick discipline for Kyle Schwarber last night, Hoyer backs up his manager (and these comments came before last night’s game): “He’s been outstanding. He can deliver a stern message, but he’s got so much respect from the guys that they take it in the right ways, listen. He’s been stern when he has to be stern. He’s been supportive when he needs to be supportive.”
• The Cubs are finalizing the pool from which they can make out their playoff roster (basically, you submit 40 names now, and then later you actually set your roster from that group). Hoyer indicated that the team will announce that group on Wednesday.
• You wonder if injury observation is playing a big part in the Cubs’ evaluations there, since you’ve got a guy like Tyler Chatwood, who is now throwing from 105 feet, and the Cubs are holding out hope that he could be back late in the postseason. Hoyer says surgery is not being considered for Chatwood’s forearm at this time.
• If Chatwood is definitely a no-go, any chance someone like Brailyn Marquez sneaks into that group of 40? Just in case he’s ready to go? Hoyer is mum on all things Marquez: “He’s throwing really well in South Bend. I don’t want to comment sort of beyond that, other than the fact that he’s worked really hard with our guys at the alt site. I think he’s progressed nicely. I think he’s gotten better and better kind of by the week being there …. I think people forget that this is a guy that has never pitched above High-A ball. He’s made nice progress this year and is certainly someone we have a lot of high hopes for going forward. We’ll have to make a decision on him, as far as whether he’s in that 40-man [playoff] roster or not.”
• Gut? Either Marquez comes up today or tomorrow, or it’s not going to happen. Furthermore, how many times can people with the Cubs say how good he looks all while not calling him up? It suggests to me that they know he’s just not ready, no matter what kind things they say. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s the vibe I’ve been getting.
• Speaking of the coming postseason, and completion of the regular season, Hoyer wasn’t ready to celebrate yet: “We’re in a good position to get through this, and I think a lot of people have jumped through a lot of hoops and done a lot of things to make sure that was the case. A lot of people have altered their lives. I’m not putting professional athletes above anyone. I think everyone in this environment today in this day and age is doing the same things, but I do feel like it is kind of onerous for our players, and they’ve kind of had to sacrifice for the good of the team, and the rest of the league has, as well …. [The postseason bubble is] one of those things you go in and you hope you’re doing this for a long time.You hope you’re in this quarantine or this bubble for a long time. Of course, it’s an inconvenience, but it’s a worthwhile one. Everyone’s just been kind of getting ready.”
