Getting Back the Steele-Thompson-Alzolay Trio, the Judge-Ohtani Debate, Utility Gold Glove Coming, and Other Cubs Bullets

Sep 16, 2022

The Chicago Cubs have not lost a game in FIVE DAYS. That’s practically a whole week, which is a sizable percentage of a month. And there are only six months in the whole season, so this is all just truly incredible.

We could be getting close to FINALLY seeing the trio of Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, and Adbert Alzolay on the big league roster at the same time again. Remember how they were discussed late last year as a group, almost exclusively, with the thinking that all were potential rotation arms, potential multi-inning arms, or potential late-inning relief arms. The thinking/hope was that at least one might break out as a starter (Justin Steele, check), another might emerge as a quality swing arm or better (Keegan Thompson, check), and if everything went as well as it realistically could, the other would become a quality multi-inning relief weapon (TBD).

On Thompson, who has been recovering from a lower-back issue, he will be with Iowa tonight to make a rehab appearance there:

Keegan Thompson expected to make a rehab appearance with the Iowa Cubs tomorrow.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) September 15, 2022

I tentatively expect it’ll be a short outing, not only because of the nature of rehab in general, but also because he may pitch out of the bullpen if-and-when he returns to the big league team this year. There’s some innings management at issue there, and also just some caution with any physical issue. Also, it’s possible he could be a swing guy like that next year.

Similarly, we’re awaiting a Justin Steele return from a lower-back issue. He threw a bullpen earlier this week and “responded well,” so my guess is he could do some live BP this weekend, and then the Cubs can decide next week if a rehab outing makes sense, if more side work makes sense, etc. I’m sure he wants to get back out there to make at least one more start before the season ends. He’s at 119.0 innings on the year, spread across 24 starts.

Adbert Alzolay could very well become that multi-inning relief weapon, based on what we were seeing from him late last year (the improved cutter seemed to finally be a weapon for him against lefties), but a Spring Training lat strain has cost him almost all of the season. After a number of rehab outings at Iowa, Alzolay is expected, finally, to return to the big league team this weekend:

Adbert Alzolay is set to join the Cubs bullpen this weekend — perhaps providing a glimpse of his 2023 role.

More from @M_Montemurro.https://t.co/Bx1Btrysxf— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) September 15, 2022

It sounds like the Cubs are eyeing Alzolay as a multi-inning reliever not only for this last stretch of the year, but on into 2023. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, to the Tribune: “We’re going to use this time to really make sure we have everything in line and prep for the offseason so that when he hits the offseason, we know exactly what to focus on. But just getting him through it, keeping him healthy and letting him just go out and compete …. We think he can be a great multi-inning reliever. He’s got the stuff for it. He showed it in short bursts last year that he’s been able to thrive in that role.” David Ross also mentioned that it is a “luxury” to be able to bring a guy like Alzolay out of the bullpen and figure out the match-ups.

That isn’t to say Hottovy or Ross or the Cubs are ruling out Alzolay ever starting again. You never know what might happen heading into next year, or during the year. Maybe there’s a need, and then Alzolay breaks out. But I think after the many injuries, the success he’s shown as a multi-inning reliever, and the expected depth for the rotation next year, it’s more reasonable to expect this is what Alzolay will be doing, and then run with it.

For his part, Alzolay has been watching every game and is clearly eager to re-join his teammates. He tells the Sun-Times that he used his downtime this year to work on his body, put on good weight, and try to further crystalize his mechanics. It’s never a good thing when a player misses most of a season due to injury, but you can hope that something positive comes out of it. For Alzolay, maybe it’s a little more body security, more consistent mechanics, and a clearly-defined role where he can make an impact in 2023.

Michael was simply trying to share a nice baseball clip (sorry, buddy, but I was cracking up):

“iTs a wRiSt sHoT”

^my impression of you nerds
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) September 16, 2022

I didn’t think it would be possible to even get me to START thinking that Aaron Judge should win MVP over Shohei Ohtani this year in the American League, but this fantastic piece by Mike Petriello at least got me wondering if Judge has indeed crossed that threshold where he is “more valuable” this year than Ohtani, despite the dual roles:

Tried to dig again into WAR, and Ohtani.

⚾️Just the most frustrating topic
⚾️I hate this
⚾️Maybe it underrates him, maybe it doesn't. I don't think it does by much.
⚾️Being a 2-way player isn't *all* value
⚾️This MVP race isn't about WAR anyway

-> https://t.co/3wPJILoX0F— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) September 15, 2022

The short version is that when you try to do the math of calculating the extra value Ohtani provides by being two players in one, it might not quite be as much as we instinctively think (and there are arguably a couple slight value-diminishers, because (1) Ohtani’s roles have required the Angels to go with a six-man rotation quite often, and (2) the DH spot can’t be used to half-rest other players). Plus, maybe more importantly, Judge has just been so absurdly head-and-shoulders way, way, way above any other position player in value this year. Obviously, even if Ohtani is crazy valuable, there is SOME threshold where a one-position player could top him. Judge may be doing that this year.

… I think I’d still have to give it to Ohtani as I sit here today (GO GET HIM THIS OFFSEASON, CUBS!), but I no longer think it would be an absurd travesty if Judge were to win it. Also, man he’s going to get such a huge contract this offseason, probably from the Yankees. Given his size, injury history, and age (31 in April), I’d have trouble giving him a 10-year deal or whatever, but it seems clear he’s going to get more than the eight-year, $230 million offer the Yankees reportedly made before this season (seven years and $213 million for 2023 and beyond).

Rawlings officially announced that it is finally adding a “utility” player to its Gold Glove Award this year. The Cubs won’t have any realistic contenders for that one this season, but it’s not inconceivable that a guy like Nico Hoerner could be in that mix next year if the Cubs add a free agent shortstop, and Hoerner winds up spending like 50% of his time at second base, 25% at shortstop, and 25% elsewhere (because he could do it if needed!).

I always get extra emotional thinking about the day the Cubs clinched the NL Central in 2016. It was the day we were at the hospital welcoming The Littlest Girl into the world. Happy sixth birthday, my little bundle of wonderful.

6 years ago, the Chicago Cubs won the National League Central division title for the first time since 2008 🙌🏼

(📸: @mlb) pic.twitter.com/dpdINWbRuq
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) September 16, 2022

written by

Brett Taylor

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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Getting Back the Steele-Thompson-Alzolay Trio, the Judge-Ohtani Debate, Utility Gold Glove Coming, and Other Cubs Bullets

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