***Official*** 2019 Spring Training Thread

[CSF77]

Chatwood walked too many men to be even a 5th starter.

It's one thing to hope he gets his walks under control. But to think he becomes an effective closer? That's quite the leap.

Most of the best closers were failed starters. Not a unique thing.

 

[CubsFaninMN]

Most of the best closers were failed starters. Not a unique thing.

Yep. Remember when Dennis Eckersley was a starter for the Cubs back in the mid-'80s? He apparently left the Cubs because they wanted to put him in the bullpen and give him either the 8th or the 9th inning. He was a starter, by God, how dare they want to demote him to the bullpen?!

Of course, when his new team, the A's, did the same thing to him, he accepted it. And, as we all know, failed miserably and suffered an early and ignominious end to his mediocre career, proving once and for all that starters never make good closers...

 

[CSF77]

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/predicting-cubs-25-man-opening-day-roster

I think the biggest question will be if they approve the 26 man roster and 28 in Sept. It really changes the dynamic. That may end up approved before S/T closes.

 

[CSF77]

Yep. Remember when Dennis Eckersley was a starter for the Cubs back in the mid-'80s? He apparently left the Cubs because they wanted to put him in the bullpen and give him either the 8th or the 9th inning. He was a starter, by God, how dare they want to demote him to the bullpen?!

Of course, when his new team, the A's, did the same thing to him, he accepted it. And, as we all know, failed miserably and suffered an early and ignominious end to his mediocre career, proving once and for all that starters never make good closers...

He was a drunk. He got sober and in shape with the A's. He always had that potential.

 

[TL1961]

Most of the best closers were failed starters. Not a unique thing.

I’m not talking about converting A starter to a reliever. We all know that’s not unheard of. I’m talking specifically about Chatwood, a guy who can’t find the plate being an effective closer.

Possible, but at this point quite a leap, wouldn’t you agree?

 

[CSF77]

But a list

Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Eric Gagne. There are more.

 

[CSF77]

I’m not talking about converting A starter to a reliever. We all know that’s not unheard of. I’m talking specifically about Chatwood, a guy who can’t find the plate being an effective closer.

Possible, but at this point quite a leap, wouldn’t you agree?

If his whole career was equal to last year then I would agree.

first 2 years was at 4.5 BB/9 and that is more of getting your feet stable.
Next 3 years 3.5-under 4. So that might be the meen.
last year at Col regress to 4.69 then this blow up which was a mechanic flaw.

You tell me what to think?

 

[CubsFaninMN]

I’m not talking about converting A starter to a reliever. We all know that’s not unheard of. I’m talking specifically about Chatwood, a guy who can’t find the plate being an effective closer.

Possible, but at this point quite a leap, wouldn’t you agree?

The spring training narrative about Chatwood is that he has made a mechanical adjustment and that, in practice and so far in ST games, it has vastly improved his command.

The current discussions are following the narrative that we now have, as an asset, the Tyler Chatwood we thought we were signing a year ago. And no room at the inn for him.

Right now, that's totally just the narrative, only supported by a few innings against primarily AAA bats. Reality is probably somewhere between that narrative and your assessment, which is based entirely on his 2018 performance. It will take time to play out.

-Doug

 

[zack54attack]

So Chatwood has actually improved? Or it looks that way so far in ST..

 

[fatbeard]

The spring training narrative about Chatwood is that he has made a mechanical adjustment and that, in practice and so far in ST games, it has vastly improved his command.

The current discussions are following the narrative that we now have, as an asset, the Tyler Chatwood we thought we were signing a year ago. And no room at the inn for him.

Right now, that's totally just the narrative, only supported by a few innings against primarily AAA bats. Reality is probably somewhere between that narrative and your assessment, which is based entirely on his 2018 performance. It will take time to play out.

-Doug

With two 35-year old SPs in the rotation, not having enough room at the inn for a dramatically-improved Chatwood is not a bad problem to have.

 

[CSF77]

With two 35-year old SPs in the rotation, not having enough room at the inn for a dramatically-improved Chatwood is not a bad problem to have.

RELIEF PITCHERS
Brad Brach
Tyler Chatwood
Steve Cishek
Brian Duensing
Carl Edwards Jr.
Brandon Kintzler
Mike Montgomery
Pedro Strop

I really feel it is Strop's job to lose and that is why the games are played.

Kintzler seems like the groundball goto guy.

Cishek the main set up.

The rest seem more rotation guys in general to keep them fresh.

I wouldn't mind the whole 26 man coming to pass. Makes this easy when Morrow returns.

 

[CSF77]

So Chatwood has actually improved? Or it looks that way so far in ST..

Mechanic flaw last year. Was on the 3rd base side when starting and threw everything off including the foot land.

 

[chibears55]

The spring training narrative about Chatwood is that he has made a mechanical adjustment and that, in practice and so far in ST games, it has vastly improved his command.

The current discussions are following the narrative that we now have, as an asset, the Tyler Chatwood we thought we were signing a year ago. And no room at the inn for him.

Right now, that's totally just the narrative, only supported by a few innings against primarily AAA bats. Reality is probably somewhere between that narrative and your assessment, which is based entirely on his 2018 performance. It will take time to play out.

-Doug

If they have a chance to move him and the contract because another team likes what they see of him in ST, then they should move him.

Last thing they need is for him to be garbage again during the season and be stuck with that contract

They need to caution on the side of being fooled by a couple of spring training appearances..

Cant say he all of a sudden dramatically improved based on that

 

[CubsFaninMN]

If they have a chance to move him and the contract because another team likes what they see of him in ST, then they should move him....

Of those in the prospective bullpen who can be swing starters (assuming they're being effective on the mound), we have Chatwood and Montgomery. If you figure you only need one backup/swing starter sitting in the 'pen, then you can try and trade one of them.

I'm sure everyone would rather see Chatwood traded, if for no other reason than Monty gives us a left-handed swing starter option, which is more useful and "sexier" than a rightie. One of each ain't bad, don't get me wrong. But if no other reason than handedness, Monty is likely the one the club would most want to keep, but would be the one with the most trade value.

So, whatcha think, keep Chats and trade Monty and either another reliever or one of our many outfielders (Almora, Happ, less likely Heyward) for a durable closer or a lead-off type? Who would trade for that kind of offer? Would we have to add Alzolay or Hoerner?

Sure, I'd rather keep Monty, but in terms of value, the above suggestion is more likely to improve the Cubs. At least, IMHO.

-Doug

 

[zack54attack]

RBI single for Nico Hoerner in his first Spring AB.

 

[chibears55]

Just saw this..

Eloy Jiminez
3 for 20 1 HR 7 Ks

having a tough Spring

 

[beckdawg]

Think people really need to slow down on Chatwood talk. I mean sure it's great he's not walking a guy every inning but you have to keep in mind the batters he is facing. We're talking about AA/AAA type hitters because positional starters come out around the same time starting pitchers do in ST games. You can get away with a lot more in the zone vs AA/AAA pitchers than you can vs MLB hitters. They should start making the first round of cuts to the minor league guys in the next week or so. Also, it sounds like they are happy with where Darvish is and may not send him to start ST games rather have him work simulated games to keep fresh instead. That likely opens a chance for Chatwood to see actual starts and it should be vs better competition.

With that being said, even if he is good in ST doesn't necessarily mean he will be for the regular season. Mechanics can get off fairly easily. I'm not trying to shit on Chatwood here because obviously if he's good that's good for the cubs. I'm just saying I'd be far more skeptical than some are being about it. 6 good innings vs AA/AAA hitters isn't really a good sample size to draw conclusions

 

[chibears55]

Think people really need to slow down on Chatwood talk. I mean sure it's great he's not walking a guy every inning but you have to keep in mind the batters he is facing. We're talking about AA/AAA type hitters because positional starters come out around the same time starting pitchers do in ST games. You can get away with a lot more in the zone vs AA/AAA pitchers than you can vs MLB hitters. They should start making the first round of cuts to the minor league guys in the next week or so. Also, it sounds like they are happy with where Darvish is and may not send him to start ST games rather have him work simulated games to keep fresh instead. That likely opens a chance for Chatwood to see actual starts and it should be vs better competition.

With that being said, even if he is good in ST doesn't necessarily mean he will be for the regular season. Mechanics can get off fairly easily. I'm not trying to shit on Chatwood here because obviously if he's good that's good for the cubs. I'm just saying I'd be far more skeptical than some are being about it. 6 good innings vs AA/AAA hitters isn't really a good sample size to draw conclusions

Exactly

 

[Castor76]

Every time I've brought it up, I've prefaced with it just being ST. But, I generally an optimist, so I look at the bright side of things.

Ultimately, I'd like him to live up to the deal he signed and he makes it possible to trade Quintana. I mention Q because, of the 7 guys on the team who could be starters right now, Q would be the highest value who otherwise would not be in the playoff rotation if the others are all pitching to the level we hope/expect.

Before you say, "You'd rather have Chatwood starting in the post season?!?!?!", no, but at some point selling an asset or two to do anything to re-load the farm if it doesn't hurt the ML team is a good idea as well.

 

[DanTown]

Think people really need to slow down on Chatwood talk. I mean sure it's great he's not walking a guy every inning but you have to keep in mind the batters he is facing. We're talking about AA/AAA type hitters because positional starters come out around the same time starting pitchers do in ST games. You can get away with a lot more in the zone vs AA/AAA pitchers than you can vs MLB hitters. They should start making the first round of cuts to the minor league guys in the next week or so. Also, it sounds like they are happy with where Darvish is and may not send him to start ST games rather have him work simulated games to keep fresh instead. That likely opens a chance for Chatwood to see actual starts and it should be vs better competition.

With that being said, even if he is good in ST doesn't necessarily mean he will be for the regular season. Mechanics can get off fairly easily. I'm not trying to shit on Chatwood here because obviously if he's good that's good for the cubs. I'm just saying I'd be far more skeptical than some are being about it. 6 good innings vs AA/AAA hitters isn't really a good sample size to draw conclusions

The thing about it is it's over three different appearances, which makes the lack of walks and consistency with his mechanics a better sign than if he just had one six inning stretch on a single day. I tend to imagine the Cubs use him often this year as a starter and it would not surprise me at all if Chatwood is a starter from day one (maybe not day one as they don't need a fifth starter the first two weeks) and then add Darvish in and kind of run a 5.5 man rotation.