ANOTHER LISTLESS SPRING

 The Cubs start another season with very little competition for roster spots.

The Cubs went into the winter hibernation in early fire sale mode. The Yu Darvish salary dump and the owners cry of "biblical losses" due to the pandemic were not greatly received by Cub fans. The Atlanta Braves, the only publicly held team, reported a 2020 operating loss of $54 million.  The league claims $2.8 billion in losses (if Braves are average team, the league claim is double). 

A round of journeymen signings leads the Cubs who are really on the last year of the championship core window (which has effectively closed). Bringing back Jake Arrieta after two below average years is not a solution to a rotation that lost 4/5ths of last year's opening day starters. 

Barring any injury, this appears to be your Opening Day roster:

Starting Rotation: Hendricks, Davies, Arrieta, Mills, Williams

Catchers: Contreras, Romine

Infielders: Rizzo (1b), Hoerner (2b/ss), Bote (2b/3b), Baex (ss), Bryant (3b)

Outfielders: Happ, Heyward, Pederson, Marisnick

Bullpen: Kimbrel (closer), Workman, Winkler, Ryan, Wick, Wieck, Chafin, Tempera, Alzolay

Not a dominating team with any real depth.

The bullpen is basically last year's hit and miss crew. Kimbrel is still the closer by default since Jeffries left for free agency. Out of the mix are two of last year's spot starters: Alzolay and Rea.

The only bright spot is that only the Cardinals seemed to have attempted to improve their roster with the Arenaldo trade. The rest of the division have been salary cutting veterans. But it will be another long 2020 type season as the pandemic starts its fourth wave right around Opening Day.

NO COMPETITION

Spring training is supposed to be about the competition of players to earn a spot on the major league roster. The Cubs are in the unique and boring position of having no roster battles. The 25 man roster was set prior to the camp opener.

The only mystery will come in May when the team has to decide to add Addison Russell back to the roster, and when Brandon Morrow returns from the DL.

But other than those in-season moves, the Cubs roster is set:

Rotation:
1. Lester
2. Darvish
3. Hamels
4. Hendricks
5. Quintana

Bullpen:
1. Chatwood, long relief spot starter
2. Montgomery, long relief spot starter
3. Kintzler mop up duty
4. Duensing
5. Rosario
6. Brach
7. Cishek
8. Strop

Outfield:
1 Almora
2. Schwarber
3. Heyward
4. Happ

Infield:
1. Bryant
2. Baez
3. Zobrist
4. Rizzo
5. Descalso

Catcher:
1. Contreras
2. Caratini

It is basically the second half 2018 team with the addition of Brach and Descalso.

A STUMBLING START

To be objective, the Cubs stumbled into spring training.  The off-season story lines were less baseball and more "sand in the ice cream" moments for fans.

After months of educated speculation, Tom Ricketts finally admitted that the Cubs had no money to spend this off-season. As some critics retorted, he really meant to say he had the money but would not spend it. His answer lacked credibility. Ownership set a hard line payroll and operations budget. Theo Epstein could not knock down that wall. From one calculation, Epstein has booked $376 million in unproductive contracts. That was the knock that got him booted in Boston, bad dead money deals (Crawford, Gonzalez, etc.) The one thing die hard fans, who know the championship window is short, is that your team cannot spend any money to fix last season's problems.

Another family stumble and subsequent bumble was Daddy Ricketts racist emails. A baseball business that prides itself on being inclusive (because everybody's money is green) was extremely slow to address the Joe Ricketts story. And when Tom Ricketts addressed the media, he came off defending his father's tactless posts than appeasing the public's negative reaction to the story.

Piling on to the narrative was the fact that the Cubs have partnered with the most right wing extremist media company, Sinclair, to launch the new Cubs network. There is a partial "guilt by association" splatter when the new cable channel was announced by the business operations folks like Crane Kenney. But Kenney came off clueless with the changing dynamics of cable and entertainment distribution. He is still following the failed Dodger model. Yes, the team got its money but the cable partner got burned at the stake. Other cable operators in LA refused to pay the carriage fees for a Dodgers only channel. So, less than half of the coverage area can see Dodger games. And that number is shrinking because people are revolting from high cable bills (mostly unwanted sports add-ons) by cord cutting.

Besides the political incorrectness with Sinclair, the "sales pitch" of the new regional sports channel was a thud. An introductory rate of "only" $6 per month per subscriber was received as a greedy slap in the face. Lost on the Cubs is that their former home, Comcast, is the largest cable provider in the metro area. Comcast could probably say it will not carry the new Cubs network because it has its own sports channel (featuring White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks). Comcast is not going to push away its current subscribers to a $100/month cable bill just for the Cubs sake.

It is possible that the revenue projections and "investment" outside the baseball team have come to haunt the Ricketts. They bought the team with the largest debt in baseball history. That has to be coming due. They over built around Wrigley Field. They are pushing premium prices for everything around and inside the ball park. It is pushing our the casual fan and families. If the new network was going to be the revenue savior, that will not be the case. The Cubs will have build their own broadcast studios, invest in new programs to cover the 24 hours of time to fill, and to find advertisers who have bolted from TV and cable for internet platforms (Google and Facebook).

Then finally, the Addison Russell long over due press conference came off as an over-coached, lawyered-up, one memorized answer fail. Veteran beat reporters came away scratching their heads. Russell did not appear contrite. He did not sound sincere. His delivery was robotic and terrible. And he refused to admit even the basic allegations. Those who were critical of his behavior believed they had confirmed the worst. Many blame the Cubs for giving Russell a second chance when you are selling the Cubs as "family friendly" entertainment. But Russell is one of "Theo's guys," so management is going out of its way to protect their player, even though Russell has been trending down in production the past two years.

As spring training opened, there was little baseball buzz in Cubs camp as the non-baseball issues dominate the media and sports radio. And the Cubs PR machine broke down and did not handle any of them well.

CAMP BORING

The Cubs opened spring training with no real jobs on the line. The Chicago roster is set. Only injury or a complete collapse by a player would affect the Opening Day roster.

The rotation is set: Darvish, Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, Chatwood.

The bullpen is set: Morrow, Strop, Cishek, Edwards, Deunsing, Montgomery, Wilson, Alvarez, Grimm.

Position players are set: Contreras, Bryant, Russell, Baez, Rizzo, Schwarber, Almora, Heyward, Happ, LaStella, Zobrist, Gimenez.

The starters appear to be locked in: LF Schwarber, CF Almora, RF Heyward, 3B Bryant, SS Russell, 2B Baez, 1B Rizzo, C Contreras.

The only possible change points are:

1. Grimm. He was not very good in 2017, but the team must like him enough to go to an arbitration hearing against him. The issue is whether the Cubs want to protect AAA starter Eddie Butler, who is out of options, as insurance in case a starter has an injury. Butler would then take Grimm's place as a long reliever in the pen.

2. LaStella. He is always on the bubble because the team has many players who can be "super utility" guys at multiple positions. But Maddon likes LaStella for pinch hitting duties. The only change could happen if outfielder Peter Bourjos makes an impression to become the 2018  Jon Jay 2.0.

The Cubs continue to have the daily lineup issue at lead off. There is no natural lead off hitter on the roster. Will Almora get the chance to lead off and be the every day center fielder? Or will he platoon with Happ?

The only other possible change would be if there was a serious injury to a starting pitcher. One of those position players would have to be used as a trade asset to acquire a proven starter since the minors will not yield a replacement level prospect in 2018. With the acquisitions of Darvish, Quintana and Chatwood, the Cubs are making the statement that it is a World Series of Bust season.

SPRING CLEANING

Spring training is meant for players to get back into the "swing" of baseball.

No one has had more attention on his swing than Jason Heyward. He spent the off-season changing his 2016 swing into a better, less rocking, more stable thus reliable stroke.

But he is only hitting .132 in camp. He has 6 RBIs but only 5 base hits. He continues to pull grounders to second base. His set up may be different, but the result is the same.

Joe Maddon spoke with ESPN Chicago about Heyward.

Some scouts think the changes to Heyward's off-season routine has not changed his overall swing.

“I had a scout sit in my office two days ago and say the opposite,” Maddon said over the weekend. “He thinks it’s entirely different. He kind of liked it. Regardless of what a scout says in the stands, it doesn’t really impact my feelings at all. I know what I’m seeing -- a totally different swing. The guy that says it’s the same, I’m totally disappointed in the scout, actually.”

But another scout saw the flaw. “He has an arm bar [straight arm] and he’s late,” one NL scout said. “When you’re late, everything breaks down.”

Last season, Heyward's approach in the box was too "handsy." He was rocking his hands front to back with a chicken swing arm motion. It is a busy set-up with a lot of moving parts. Every batter has a trigger move to start his swing. In Heyward's case, depending on the rocking motion as the pitch is thrown, he has to "catch up" to his trigger point.

By contrast, Kris Bryant has a very quiet set up. His bat rests nearly perpendicular to his shoulder. He waits and makes a samurai level to upper cut swing in the zone. He is already set in his trigger position before the pitcher throws the ball.

Off-season videos of Heyward showed a different set up. He did not have the chicken swing nervousness. His hands stayed more central. However, he still has a level swing through the zone so he is not elevating the ball on contact.

I thought that Heyward should have gone to see Bryant's father, who is a batting guru who helped perfect Bryant's swing. Or sought advice from a hitting professional like ex-Cub Darryl Ward who constantly talked with teammates about hitting, contact and how to hit in situations.

But perhaps Heyward is getting too much advice that it has become a mental thing.

Regardless, Heyward will find his bat in the lower third of the line-up.

RUSTY AND CORROSION

Jon Lester's spring debut was a disaster. He got roughed up on the mound, and could not field his position better than a tee-ball kid.

In speaking to friends, if I was Lester's opponent, I would constantly bunt on him until he could prove that he can throw the ball to an infield base. A bunt and throwing error equals a double. Two doubles equal a run.

But current baseball batters abhor bunting. They are driven by individual stats that lead to objective evidence for contract negotiations. Winding up on second because of a Lester miscue error does not add points to the batting average even though it helps your team's scoring chances.

So Lester's fielding is in mid-season form which means it is really bad. On one off day, he should be sent to a vacant field and made to make hundred throws to each base. Fielding drills until he gets so tired of it he stops thinking about errant throws.

The other bad news from yesterday's game was that Kyle Schwarber left the game with a knee tweak. He says it is minor and he will play in a couple of days. He hurt himself in LF while trying to make a throw.

This is the problem with playing someone out of position. Schwarber is a stocky guy, a "catcher's body," who is trying to play a mobile left field. His body is not used to the twists and turns of playing this new position. Schwarber's mindset is that he will try harder than his skill set to make plays. And that will lead to blunders and potential injuries.

Schwarber has not given up on his goal to be a catcher. Spring training should focus more on his catching skill improvement than trying to play LF. He is more valuable as a catcher than a LF.

CACTUS START

There is little tea leaves to read with Joe Maddon's spring training opening day lineup:

1. Kyle Schwarber - LF
2. Kris Bryant - 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo - 1B
4. Jorge Soler - RF
5. Miguel Montero - C
6. Javy Baez - CF
7. Tommy La Stella - 2B
8. Dan Vogelbach - DH
9. Munenori Kawasaki - SS
Travis Wood - P

This will not be the regular opening day batting order. Schwarber, Bryant, Rizzo and Soler at the top is only a means of getting them extra "live" at-bats.

Travis Wood as starting pitcher is little more than long relief stint this early in the camp schedule. He will not throw more than 2 IP (depending on pitch count). Maddon had already disclosed that his three main starters, Arrieta, Lester and Lackey, would skip the first week of games to conserve their arms for the regular season. Some old school pitching coaches would say "you should not train to avoid an injury. You should train harder to avoid injuries."

Arrieta is a work-out machine so his preparation is not to be disputed. However, he threw a large increase in innings pitched last season (and struggled at the end) so for those who believe there is a finite number of throws in a human arm would like what Maddon is doing with his starters.

Maddon should not be set with either Hammel or Hendrick as the 4th and 5th starter. Wood is getting a look to be the 5th starter. Warren will also get a long look, even though the front office really likes how the Yankees used him both as an effective starter and reliever last season. Cahill and Richard will also be probably stretched out for a shot at a starting role.

Spring training is a show case for players. First, for their existing team to make the opening day roster. Second, for other clubs who may scout them and look for a trade. It would seem that LaStella and Vogelbach are going to get big show cases early in camp.

OH-FER

The Cubs have not won a spring contest.

The Joe Maddon era would seem to sputter out of the gate; but in reality, spring training games are meaningless exhibitions where players are trying to sharpen skill sets prior to the real season. Maddon's laid back attitude seems to fall into this philosophy.

However, there have been a few managers in the past who wanted their spring squads to play hard and win. They believed that demanding wins in spring games set the clubhouse tone for an entire season. Winning is expected no matter even if the line up card was filled with replacement level players.

There is something to take away from the hard line approach to setting a winning culture.

The Cubs have had a problem maintaining a winning attitude. In New York, any new Yankee is told from day one that they are expected to win. Period.  The Cubs have been so bad for so long, with little accountability, that a culture of losing (the status quo) can set in. In fact, some writers remarked just a few years ago that the Cubs tanking to rebuild could have negative consequences on young players like Castro and Rizzo.

Players are human beings. Human beings, when given even choices, will usually take the easier path. In a clubhouse, when a team expects to lose, players set about in their mind, routine and training that any extra effort is not going to change things. So long as they know they will get their major league paycheck no matter what, players will coast as much as possible.

It is open competition and drive that helps bring a team up to a championship level. If you know that there is someone who can take your job (at any moment), a player has the incentive to do better.

The Cubs still lack the depth to create such position competitions. So the regular starters are not going to be pushed hard until the minor league system starts producing a steady stream of quality talent.

WELCOME TO THE WEIRD

ESPN Chicago report from the first spring game of the Cubs had this weird item:

The Weird: A’s pitcher Pat Venditte had (Cubs Dexter) Fowler confused for a moment. Venditte is an ambidextrous hurler who warmed up mostly from the right side to begin the third inning, so the switch-hitting Fowler took his warm-up swings lefty.

“I was swinging left-handed because he was throwing right-handed,” Fowler explained. “Then he gets up there and switches, so I asked the umpire. My whole thing was I should be able to take some practice swings instead of just walking up there and having to hit.”

According to Fowler, the pitcher has to declare which side he’ll throw from for the at-bat before the hitter gets in the batter’s box -- but that’s too late for him.

“I wish he would have done it earlier,” Fowler said. “That’s what should happen.”

Fowler took notice that after throwing lefty to him and then Rizzo, Venditte threw a couple of times to his second baseman as a right-hander because righty Starlin Castro was entering the batter’s box. In other words, Venditte got in a couple of warm-up throws before facing Castro. Fowler didn’t think that was fair.

“It was kind of weird,” he said.

The current rules for switch hitters should and does apply to "switch" pitchers.

A batter may surely switch sides during an at-bat; he may do so as long as the pitcher is not in the "ready position" (see Rule 6.06) and he shall be called out if the batter attempts to switch sides during the pitcher's windup.  There is no rule in the MLB rule book that states how many times a batter can switch sides during an at bat. However, once the pitcher steps on the rubber, whatever side the batter is on is the side he must bat from for that pitch.  Per above, there is no rule in the rulebook that states that he cannot change from one batter's box to the other in the middle of an at-bat. The only rule about switching boxes is 6.06b which says that he cannot switch boxes if the pitcher is in the ready position. Otherwise, no problem.
yeah they can i have done it before

In regard to Venditte, the current rule states a pitcher must indicate which arm he will use to throw the next pitch and then the batter must take either box. This means the pitcher and batter could actually waltz their way through an at-bat.

In all the traditions of baseball, it is refreshing to find that the game itself can add oddities and new twists like switch pitchers, and the strategy of using them against an opponent.

SPRING BATTLES

I mostly agree with Yahoo Sports! assessment of the key spring training roster battles for the Cubs.

The fifth starter competition is probably going to be the one the media will focus upon. Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks are the starting four.  The 5th spot will be won by either Edwin Jackson (ouch), Travis Wood (who turned down 4 year deal before 2014 season, ouch again), Ysuyoshi Wada (who has hamstring issues), Felix Doubront, Jacob Turner or long shot Eric Jokisch.

Third base is a caretaker position for the first two months. It is doubtful Kris Bryant makes the opening day roster. So, terrible Mike Olt (the former #1 prospect in the Rangers organization), Tommy LaStella or Arismendy Alcantara are the probable contenders for the spot. Perhaps, the Cubs attempt to move Javey Baez to third, and train Bryant to learn left field.

Some think Alcantara can be Maddon's new version of Ben Zobrist, a multi-positional player who could hit. Alcantara appears to have a back up CF role (with Fowler's acquisition), and back up roles at second and short stop.

Second base is Baez's spot to lose. If he can't cut down on his strike out ratio, he may start the season in Iowa. That would probably leave a platoon of LaStella and Alcantara at second, and gives third to Olt by default.

A LOOK AHEAD FROM BEHIND

Here is a look at the Cubs 2014 Opening Day roster:

PITCHERS (12 + 3 DL)

11-Kyuji Fujikawa, RHP (15-Day DL)
29-Jeff Samardzija, RHP
33-Carlos Villanueva, RHP
36-Edwin Jackson, RHP
37-Travis Wood, LHP
39-Jason Hammel, RHP
40-James Russell, LHP
41-Jose Veras, RHP
46-Pedro Strop, RHP
49-Jake Arrieta, RHP (15-Day DL)
52-Justin Grimm, RHP
53-Wesley Wright, LHP
55-James McDonald, RHP (60-Day DL)
56-Hector Rondon, RHP
63-Brian Schlitter, RHP

CATCHERS (2)
12-John Baker
5-Welington Castillo

INFIELDERS (6)
13-Starlin Castro
15-Darwin Barney
24-Luis Valbuena
30-Mike Olt
44-Anthony Rizzo
64-Emilio Bonifacio

OUTFIELDERS (5)
6-Ryan Sweeney
19-Nate Schierholtz
20-Justin Ruggiano
21-Junior Lake
51-Ryan Kalish

WHO IS LEFT FOR 2015?

PITCHERS (15)

11-Kyuji Fujikawa, RHP
29-Jeff Samardzija, RHP
33-Carlos Villanueva, RHP
36-Edwin Jackson, RHP, on the rocks as a starter; may be gone or cut
37-Travis Wood, LHP, on the cusp of being traded or bullpenned
39-Jason Hammel, RHP, on second tour of combat duty with Cubs
40-James Russell, LHP
41-Jose Veras, RHP
46-Pedro Strop, RHP, key set up man
49-Jake Arrieta, RH, tries to put back-to-back successful seasons for first time in career
52-Justin Grimm, RHP, on the cusp of 5th starter or AAA
53-Wesley Wright, LHP
55-James McDonald, RHP
56-Hector Rondon, RHP, the quiet closer
63-Brian Schlitter, RHP, probably is the last man in the bullpen cuts

CATCHERS (2)
12-John Baker
5-Welington Castillo, will be traded since Montero and Ross are signed as catchers

INFIELDERS (6)
13-Starlin Castro, starting SS will feel some pressure from AAA Russell
15-Darwin Barney
24-Luis Valbuena
30-Mike Olt, the lowly caretaker of 3B until Bryant is called up
44-Anthony Rizzo, has to fight possible slump season
64-Emilio Bonifacio

OUTFIELDERS (5)
6-Ryan Sweeney, barely a 5th outfield candidate
19-Nate Schierholtz
20-Justin Ruggiano
21-Junior Lake, is probably out of the mix to make team
51-Ryan Kalish

HALF OF THE FIRST 25 MAN ROSTER WILL NOT BE WITH THE CUBS ON OPENING DAY 2015. This is another dramatic turnover of the roster by the Cubs, who continue to lack consistency in their daily lineups.

ROSTER CULLING

The Cubs lost five games after the Samardzija-Hammel trade. That is to be expected when the team goes into extended spring training mode for the rest of the season.

The revolving door to Iowa has opened and this minor league portal is delivering Beeler, Rusin, Wada, Hendricks and Alcantara (who is to sub for Barney who is on paternity leave for two games).

The one player not expected to be called up is Bryant, because the team does not want to start his arbitration clock until next year. For a team that claims that it has enough money to spend, taking a three year view out to save a year's arb increase seems petty.

The Cubs have to do extended spring training at the majors now because their entire roster needs to be reshuffled next season.  We have enough body of work on Olt, Lake, Schierholtz, Barney, Sweeney, Ruggiano, Kalish, Baker and Coghlan. They are all bad.

And considering that the bullpen will be taxed if rumors are true that teams are asking about LHRPs Russell and Wright before the trade deadline, the Cubs need to work out at least four potential 2015 starters and three relief pitchers to see if the organization has any sustainable major league talent under its control.

It seems like the accumulation of infield prospects and the lack of outfield talent is part of the plan to move the athletic infielders to new positions in the outfield. Some believe Alcantara will be a centerfielder, and Baez will wind up in left field. Bryant may stick at third, or move to right field. At present, none of these players has any real experience in those new spots. But front office personnel say that it is an easy transition because athletes are athletes.

Some fans are already penciling in their 2015 line-up cards with AAA and AA prospects like this is a Strat-O-Matic game. It is too early for that. It is too early to project 2015, let alone 2016 and beyond. Lake was hitting .295 in AAA prior to being promoted; now he has settled in at an up-and-down .250 roller coaster at the majors. In 2012, Olt was the talk of AA ball hitting .288 with 28 HR and 82 RBI. He was and untouchable prospect. With the Cubs, he is hitting a low .150 with some power. The level of competition gets greater, the probability of injury increases and a player's true ceiling comes into focus the closer one gets to the majors. So one cannot fully project any minor league player's talent with any sort of accuracy.

But the Cubs are close to running out of time with the patient fan base. The major league roster should turn over by 50%. It is going to be sink-or-swim for many of the Cubs prospects in 2015 because next year will be their best chance to make their mark. This is all conditional on whether Epstein-Hoyer will let them try.

THE 25

As spring training winds down, and certain players continue to have nagging injuries and questions, the Cubs would seem to know who will make the major league roster.

This team is going to be another utility fielder platoon machine.

Emilio Bonifacio has the opportunity to play full time by playing part time at second, third and outfield. As the only real double digit base stealer on the roster, he seems to fit the lead off role better than Castro.

Ryan Roberts is also getting some attention for infield play, as a possible displacement for Donnie Murphy at third in a platoon with Valbuena. He can also play LF and second.

Mike Olt has a nagging shoulder injury which puts his career in Brett Jackson set-back mode. His "shoulder fatigue" issues has not allowed him to play third base. He can't win the third base job if he can't field the position. I suspect he will start on the DL and extended spring training rehab.

In the pitching world, Jake Arrieta has been shelved and John McDonald just got pulled after throwing two pitches. More shoulder fatigue or soreness issues. That leaves Chris Rusin as the #5 starter by default.

The starting rotation was partially announced already. Samardzija, Wood, E. Jackson, then Hammel and Rusin.

The bullpen is fairly well set. Veras is the closer, with Strop as set up man. Two lefties, Russell and Wright, will make the squad. That leaves three open slots between Parker, Cabrera, Villaneuva, Vizcaino and Rosscup. Villanueva is going to be a spot starter. Vizcaino is still nursing back from TJ surgery so AAA may be his ticket. Cabrera is out of options.

Wellington Castillo and George Kottaras are the catchers.

Outfield is thin with Junior Lake, Ryan Sweeney, Justin Ruggiano and Nate Schierholt. The front office likes ex-Red Sox prospect Ryan Kalish, but he is another lefty bat. Bonifacio, a switch hitter, could get more playing time than we expect in left if Lake starts off slowly. Brett Jackson is still barely hanging on to a 40 man roster spot, but it is doubtful he makes the club.

Besides Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, the infield could be shaken up but will not be . . . Valbuena and probably Bonifacio will platoon at third and Barney and Bonifacio will platoon at second. Murphy probably gets the last bench spot due to his power potential.

So the latest projection for opening day is this:

SP: Samardzjia, Wood, E. Jackson, Hammel, Rusin
BP: Veras, Strop, Wright, Russell, Villaneuva, Parker, Cabrera
OF: Lake, Ruggiano, Sweeney, Schierholtz
IN: Valbuena, Castro, Barney, Bonifacio, Rizzo, Roberts, Murphy
C: Castillo, Kottaras

MUCH ABOUT NOTHING

Edwin Jackson was perplexed by the attention. So I am.

Jackson went into his last outing with a game plan: only throw fastballs. And that is what he did for his 5 innings of work. He threw 74 pitches over five innings against Cubs’ minor leaguers on  last Wednesday morning.

“I got tired being asked about it,” Jackson said Wednesday afternoon according to ESPN.  “[Eric] Gagne would go through a whole spring training throwing change-ups. He would throw like two fastballs.”

Jackson says he told  pitching coach Chris Bosio about his plan to work on his fastball.
Cubs manager Rick Renteria said “He threw three [different] pitches today,” Renteria said. “He was doing what he wanted to do: work on his fastball command. He had a purpose and reason for doing what he was doing.”

Jackson confirmed he threw a four seam, two seam, cutters and off-speed pitches in his start against Cubs minor leaguers on Wednesday. With an off day on Thursday, the Cubs wanted Jackson to stay on schedule.

“It was just for one game,” Jackson said of his fastball-filled outing.

Spring training is meant to experiment and re-train players, whether pitchers or catchers, to prepare for the regular season. Jackson wanting to work on command and control of his fastball, his primary pitch, makes perfect sense in spring training.

Since there is such little news from Cubs camp, the media took issue with a pitcher trying to work on his game, abet in an unusual fashion.

It is actually quite important for a pitcher to be able to throw multiple pitches with command from the same mechanics and arm slot. There is a good deal of difference in movement between a four seam and two seam fastball. A pitcher who is comfortable throwing either pitch can develop an advantage over a hitter. In addition, if one pitch is not working well in a game, the pitcher can try another type of fastball to regain his control.

Jackson should not be criticized for his work routine.

HALF WAY

Teams are half way through spring training. General managers have a pretty good grasp on what players will break camp with the major league squad.  This time is used to stretch out starters, get bullpen arms into a routine, and hitters working on their timing.  Teams usually only have one or two open spots to fill during the final 10 days of camp, usually referred to the 25th man (bench player) and a final pitcher for the bullpen.

It is rare for trades to happen late in spring training. Teams have concentrated so much on their own organization and talent to focus in on potential trade partners. Teams do scout other organizations, but mainly to get updated books on other team prospects.

However, if a preseason contender is beset with early injuries, like the Tigers with OF Dirks or the Braves who lost two starting pitchers, a last minute trade is a possibility.

If the Tigers want to replace their outfielder with a proven veteran, Nate Schierholtz's name has come up in recent reports. Apparently the Tigers inquired at last year's trade deadline. Since Schierholtz is in the final year of his Cub contract, it would make sense if he has any trade value to move him. The Tigers are still in "win now" mode and may give up some pitching prospects.

Likewise, the Braves are also in "win now" mode after re-signing many of their young players to extensions this off season. Number one starter, Kris Medlen,  left his start with a forearm strain. With Medlen--who already has one Tommy John surgery on the punch card--and the Braves awaiting results from an MRI, Brandon Beachy left his spring start a mere 24 hours after Medlen. Also a Tommy John recoverer, he left with tightness in his throwing elbow. In the span of a day, the Braves went from a young, deep rotation to one on the verge of falling apart before they break from Spring Training. Two bad MRIs, and the Braves would suddenly, breathtakingly be stripped of their status as favorites for the NL East crown. As insurance, the Braves traded for journeyman starter/reliever Zach Stewart from the White Sox system. But clearly, Stewart would not be a long term solution.

UPDATE: The Braves have signed free agent Ervin Santana in a one year deal for $14.1 million (the same money as the qualified offer he rejected from his previous club). 


The weak point is lack of depth of major league starters, so Jeff Samardzija's name will come up as a possible solution. There is no question that the Shark is frustrated with the Cubs. He wants to play for a winning club. The Cubs and his representatives are at an impasse on a contract extension. At age 29, Samardzija's championship window is starting to close.

The Cubs are gearing up for another 100 loss season, so losing Samardzija or Schierholtz is not going to make a great deal of difference. There are plenty of journeymen outfielders in camp to platoon in RF. Chris Rusin, Carlos Villanueva or Justin Grimm could take Shark's rotation spot.

The plan is that Jorge Soler would take the long term RF spot, but Soler is slated to start this year at Class A again. That projects to not being major league ready until 2017. The Cubs really do not have a sure fire "ace" in the minor league system who would replace Samardzija as an opening day starter/innings eater. Even if the Cubs take the best college pitcher available in this year's draft, he will not be ready for at least two years. In essence, the Cubs "rebuild" plan is only halfway to completion.

REALLY?

The Miami Marlins had their panties all in a bunch because the Red Sox failed to field a respectable team for an exhibition game.  The Marlins, who only had 62 wins last season, were upset that the Red Sox line up had no players with any major league experience. No one on the 25 man roster. A "B" squad. A AAA/AA team of journeymen looking to try to land a job.

It is ironic that the Marlins fielded such a team last year - - - during the real season.

Why the outrage?

Because the Marlins were charging "premium" ticket prices for their fans to see the champions.

And the Marlins cited alleged rules that each team must have four major league players play during spring training games.

Which is odd, considering the Cubs fielded a split squad game recently that featured all their touted prospects (and no one complained).

Who ever heard of charging premium prices for exhibition games?
Who cares what players play during a spring training contest which does not count for anything?

Miami is a franchise in disarray. The team took the city for a ride in funding a new stadium. The team traded away all its high priced talent. The team is very bad as a result. And the real outrage is the team trying to squeeze more money from its fan base during spring training.

NOTES FROM DAY ONE

Rick Renteria's tenure as a Cub skipper came out pretty much as expected here. His Cubs lost in front of a record spring training crowd.

Some of the interesting twists from day one:

He used Emilio Bonifacio as lead off hitter, then batted Luis Valbuena second then Starlin Castro in the third position. Rizzo batted clean up, followed by Lake in CF. It would seem that Renteria was trying to protect each hitter at the top of the line up, by going righty lefty, etc. Schierholtz did not play RF (McDonald did). So this is not the opening day line up, per se.

Despite Bonifacio leading off, Renteria told the press that Darwin Barney was his starting second baseman. That is a mistake. Barney, coming off a bad year, should not be given his starting job. He should earn it. In fact, every position should be an open competition.

Renteria believes he can use Bonifacio's versatility at multiple positions to keep him in the line up, which foreshadows possible triple platoons at some postions.

The new Cubs bullpen was suspect. Wesley Wright and Jose Veras were not very good. And Arodys Vizcaino struggled in an intrasquad game, which led Renteria to state that the Cubs are going to go real slow with Vizcaino. However, this is year three of rehab for Vizcaino, which is time to prove a place or cut bait. Kyuji Fujikawa threw a second bullpen session, but it still seems he will not be ready until June.

Starter Jeff Samardzija was over amped at the start, walking the first batter on four pitches. But he settled down and threw two innings. It appears that Samardzija himself must think he is showcasing his talent this spring.

NRI

The Cubs announced the Non-Roster Invitees to Spring Training.

The Cubs have invited 24 non-roster players to Spring Training, including top prospects Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and Albert Almora.


Cubs pitchers and catchers will report on Feb. 13 to the team's new facility in Mesa, Ariz., and have their first workout the next day. Position players are set to report on Feb. 18, with new manager Rick Renteria's first full squad workout scheduled for Feb. 19.


Among the pitchers invited to Major League camp are right-handers Marcus Hatley, Kyle Hendricks, Carlos Pimentel, Armando Rivero and Brian Schlitter, and lefties Tommy Hottovy, Eric Jokisch, Jonathan Sanchez and Tsuyoshi Wada. Hendricks was the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2013.


Five infielders were invited, including Baez, Bryant, Ryan Roberts, Chris Valaika and Jeudy Valdez.

The list of outfielders invited includes Almora, Chris Coghlan,  Aaron Cunningham, Ryan Kalish, Mitch Maier, Darnell McDonald, and Casper Wells.


Kalish, 25, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, was voted the Red Sox's Rookie of the Year in 2010. He's coming off surgery on his right shoulder in January 2013, which was followed by cervical fusion surgery last August, similar to a procedure Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning underwent.


Catchers John Baker, Rafael Lopez and Eli Whiteside also are on the list of non-roster invitees. The Cubs said Minor League catchers Luis Flores and Will Remillard also will assist at times in big league camp.

These players are in addition to those on the 40 man roster, including Jorge Soler.

The NRIs are showcasing for possibly one or two spots on the final opening day roster. The Cubs core prospects (Baez, Bryant, Almora, Soler) are going to stay in the minors in 2014, but their appearance in Mesa is to showcase them to increase fan interest in the future Cubs.

WAITING FOR A LIFE RAFT

Dale Sveum has been called a homeless man wearing a nice warm up jacket.  This week he lamented that he was just going to try to get through the last five weeks of the season. There are not many major league assets to use. There are no supermagical winning streaks in the dugout.

Sveum did a 180 by taking demoted Castro from the 8th spot in the lineup to lead off. It was to put less pressure on Castro, but in some respects it adds to the kid's thinking process because lead off hitters are expected to do certain things: walk, bunt, get on base, steal bases.

Sveum also moved Rizzo to the #2 spot in the order to take the pressure off the young hitter that goes with the 3, 4 and 5 slots. But really, how much different would Rizzo be in the second slot? He has not shown the consistence of being able to hit and run, give himself up to move runners along, or drive balls into the gaps for extra bases.

In reality, Sveum is now using the final weeks of the season as prequel spring training. He is managing like spring training, moving players to the top of the order to get more at-bats. It is a surrender to the reality that this is another lost season for the Cubs, whom are wavering between the 5th and 6th worst record in baseball.

Castro did nothing special leading off against the Nats. Rizzo did have two home runs which was an unexpected change of pace. But both players are stuck in the low .240s BA with large holes in their swings. They have been treading water most of the season. Now that Sveum has called a seasonal time out, maybe the pressure will be finally off the youngsters to "not think" about their performance and just go out and play baseball. That is basically what Castro told reporters before his lead off assignment; that there are too many voices in his head - - - he really only needs to be himself. One would have thought he could have come to that conclusion months ago, but better late than never.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

In a spare moment over the weekend, I had a chance to see part of the Cubs-Angels exhibition game. The Cubs were playing mostly with their projected opening day line up. Edwin Jackson was the starter. The Angels were playing with a minor league split squad team.  And the Angels were cruising to a victory.

A few observations:

The Angels minor league system is more advanced than the Cubs. Their hitters were much more patient and ready to hit major league pitching. The Cubs have a long way to go to catch up.

The Cubs television booth is going to take a while to gel. It could be painful to listen to when the Cubs start poorly.

The organization raves about Anthony Rizzo's play at first base. I came away not very impressed by his defense. On one pick off play, instead of having his right foot on the nearest corner to the pitcher he had it on the back corner (which blocked the umpires view of the tag). Because of poor foot positioning, the umpire could not see the tag and called the runner safe. That was a mental error on Rizzo's part.

Also, Rizzo does not have very good range fielding his position. On a slow chopper to his right, he could not make the play. And on a high bouncer down the line, he could not move two feet to the line to get it before it landed on the skirt of the infield dirt on the line.

He also showed that he had trouble with high throws. When he had to leave his feet, he had trouble coming back down on the bag.

One could explain that he is a young player and experience will make him better over time. But he is not now a gold glove caliber first baseman.

From a hitting perspective, Rizzo is going to struggle. The other teams now have the book on his weaknesses. Joe Blanton threw him four straight off speed pitches down and away and he made Rizzo look a clueless t-baller. It was only when a breaking ball did not break that Rizzo looped a weak single to left center. Again, one could explain that he is young player and experience will make him better with in-season adjustments. But he is slotted third in the order. That is reserved for the team's best hitter. People hope he has the repetitious line drive .300 swing of a Mark Grace, but people fear he could be another Micah Hoffpauir.