Cubs vs Indians 6/15 - 6/18

[CSF77]

Well I see it as they don't want to block Baez by giving Schwarber LF.

I see a time line of:

Aug 1 Baez at 3B, Bryant at LF. Coghlan and Denorfia on the bench.

So the bench would be Ross, Denorfia, Coghlan, Herredia. This would put Denorfia as the main PH vs lefties and Coghlan as the main PH vs RH. Herredia would be used in emergencies and Ross as per norm.

Now if they are in it I expect Schwarber added before the play off eligibility dead line. I doubt they miss that window with his bat. Alcantara is also another to look at here. Both are major upgrades to the bench for a play off run.

So I'm not really concerned too much by the bench at this point. Adding a pricy option just causes more issues later year than solves right now.

I think the next steps are to get Turner, Soler and Ramirez back. Ramirez just pitched his first rehab so he should be returning soon. Turner is in the same boat. Get him 100% in rehab and make a decision on Wada at that point.

I would not mind seeing a 6 man rotation for a month and cut the weakest link at that point.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

I would not mind seeing a 6 man rotation for a month and cut the weakest link at that point.

but there's still 5 years $130 million left on his deal :cubstroll2:

 

[CSF77]

but there's still 5 years $130 million left on his deal :cubstroll2:

That is funny.

Still Lester is by no means the weakest link.

FIP:
Lester: 3.28
Arrieta: 3.35
Hendricks: 3.59
Hammel: 3.61
Wada: 4.00

It is still pretty obvious of what is up regardless of the Badass line going on. They could drop Wood and Jackson. Drop Wada to the pen and Ramirez back in the pen. Pen gets a boost.
Fip:
Strop 3.16
Grimm: 3.21
Rondon: 3.29

Rest:
Soriano
Medina: 3.86
Motte: 3.88
Russell: 3.95

We could be looking at Soriano as the closer. Strop as the 8th inning guy and Ramirez at the 7th inning. Grimm and Medina in MR. Russell and Wada (or Rosscup) doing LH work. It really depends if they value a LF spec or a guy that can put in 2 innings.

So this puts Rondon and Motte on the bubble. It really comes down to performance here. Not to mention they can't go into a play off run with out the closer role defined. Rondon caused his own problem here and he has options.

 

[SilenceS]

A couple of things. Schwarber is going down no matter what. I was sure of this when they made it a point to say they were sending him to AAA after the stint. This was my concern of bringing him up and him raking and the fans doing exactly what they are doing. the Cubs aren't selling out this year. This team has so much depth left in the minors and so much money to spend that they are not going to sell out when they truly aren't World Series contenders. Next year. Start your engines because they are going to go hard.

Another thing, the bench does suck but this was not the intended bench. The intended bench was LaStella/Alcantara, Olt, Denorfia/Coughlan, Castillo until traded, Ross. The injuries have plagues the bench. I still see them bringing up Baez at some point. The bench is going to look very different soon and Ross will not be used near as much.