Catchers and Pitchers Report Isn’t a Holiday

Today is the day that catchers and pitchers report. You'll no doubt see plenty of tweets and posts on the internet about how that heralds the beginning of the season. That's cool, except it doesn't.

First, let's consider what P+C really means. That means that slightly over half of the players on the team are obligated to check in with the team today. Unless you work at the Best Western in Mesa, Arizona, you aren't seeing any more baseball players than you did yesterday or tomorrow. It isn't even all players reporting today! Furthermore, most (I'd say 60% of the players are already in camp. This includes Schwarber, Bryant, Baez, and several others. The interesting part is that there is likely less baseball activities going on today then there were yesterday, because yesterday was voluntary practice, and today is mandatory reporting. 

If you're really looking forward to baseball, the first day that kind of actually matters is March 3rd, the first Spring Training game for the Cubs (the first game overall is March 1). The Cubs Den is an excellent resource this time of year, as John Arguello is actually there taking video and writing. Same goes with Boys of Spring. You should also make sure to stop by here daily, because Obstructed View is a non-stop fount of new posts and information, averaged a post every 46 days (and a podcast every 1908!)

While C+P isn't really a holiday, it does signify that things are getting close to starting. Here are a few of the things I'll be looking at.

4th and 5th starter battles

It's probably safe to assume that Jason Hammel will start the season as the number 4 starter. It'd take an injury or an absolute tire-fire to dump him from the rotation. That said, there are many intriguing options for the bottom of the rotation, and I don't think it's safe to assume that Hendricks walks away with the 5th spot. The competition will primarily be from Adam Warren, though Trevor Cahill (in the best shape of his life?) and Clayton Richard both re-signed here with the implicit understanding that they'd at least be considered for the role. Gone are the days where we were looking at Dallas Beeler and thinking "well, he's at least better than Chris Rusin." If I was handicapping the 5th starter race, I'd say Hendricks is 50% and Warren, Cahill and Richard are 15% each (5% mystery candidates).

Szczur makes the team?

The composition of this team is such that a true 5th outfielder might not be needed. Heyward, Schwarber, Soler, and Coghlan are all going to be seeing significant time in the outfield (Schwarber will be catching more this year, probably 20 to 25 games), and Baez is at least being looked at as the backup CF (or the starter should Soler go down with injury). Szczur is out of options, but the team might be too good to care. It's definitely possible that La Stella is optioned, Szczur is the 5th OF, and Baez is the primary infield sub, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if Szczur is out of the org come Opening Day.

Bullpen

There's a lot to unpack here. First, let's assume that Strop, Rondon, Wood, and Grimm are locks (they are). Cahill, Richard, and Warren are probably locks too (assuming they don't make the rotation). That's already 7 pitchers. The Cubs might carry an 8th reliever, but they might not. There are tons of options for that reliever, too: Rex Brothers, Carl Edwards Jr., Neil Ramirez, Zac Rosscup, C.J. Riefenhauser… it's going to be a heck of a battle.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are less than 2 weeks from the first Spring Training game. Get excited. (Pre-emptive "Don't tell me what to do." in the comments).

43 thoughts on “Catchers and Pitchers Report Isn’t a Holiday”

  1. I think they keep Szczur for at least the early part of the season to see how the defense looks in the outfield.

    Users should now be able to post images again in the comments. Let me know.

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  4. Also, I think the rotation is set for now. Barring a terrible spring from Hammel or Hendricks (and a dominating one from another starter), I think we can say with relative certainty that the opening day rotation will be Arrieta, Lester, Lackey, Hammel, Hendricks. It’s possible Hendricks goes 4th. The Cubs seemed to like him over Hammel late in the season so that wouldn’t shock me, but something will have had to go wrong to change that rotation in my opinion. I don’t think any spots are up for grabs anywhere on this team if they stay healthy. It’s probably the least interesting spring training since 2008 or 2009. That’s a good thing.

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  5. Gone are the days where we were looking at Dallas Beeler and thinking “well, he’s at least better than Chris Rusin.”

    I never thought that.

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  12. 6 of the 8 position player starters are there plus Baez. I’m guessing Montero and Soler are late not early because they live outside the US or they are lazy Latins in transit.

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  14. dmick89,

    What Hendricks really needs is to visit Ashley Manning’s doctor in Indianapolis. Since that isn’t happening, I think the #5 more likely becomes the Maddon Frankenstein Hybrid where he rolls them all into the Quenneville line blender based on match-ups, the hot hand, fatigue, schedule and the like. And I’m kind of fine with that.

    Hammel did some tinkering with Tom House in the off-season that provides a ray of hope for a resurgence. This would further ease the need for a clear #5, particularly early in the season.

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  17. CrispyGlover,

    I’ve gotta say, I’ll be rather disappointed if Hendricks isn’t given at least a couple months in the rotation. The guy was actually pretty good last year. He struckout over 22% of the batters he faced, which was a lot higher than anyone expected. He walked less than 6%. He had a 3.36 FIP and an even lower xFIP. It’s projected in the same neighborhood again. He kept the ball on the ground over half the time. I expect we’ll see some regression in some of those areas, but I also still expect he’ll have pretty good numbers. He’s dirt cheap, relatively young and the Cubs are good enough to keep him in the rotation even if he struggles, which honestly I’m not so sure why people are expecting to happen. In 260 MLB innings he’s been worth 4.9 fWAR.

    Kyle Hendricks would easily be one of the top two or three number 5 starters in baseball. He’d probably be one of the top two or three number 4 starters.

    I’m also not at all worried about Jason Hammel.

    It’s kind of nice. There’s really nothing about this team that worries me. The biggest concern for me is lack of depth in the minors and that’s generally an issue for every single team. The Cubs farm system is just not as good as it was a year ago, but that’s what happens when you graduate so many stars like the Cubs did.

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  19. I’d take Hendricks over Warren. I guess I assumed he’d primarily be a reliever when the Cubs acquired him. I never thought much about him as a starter, but who knows?

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  21. I like having guys who could start on most teams in the pen, but it seems pretty wasteful to have 4 of them (Wood, Richard, Cahill, Warren) and have no one stretched out.

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  22. berselius,

    Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing. Both are probably better than Hammel. If there is a starter battle, I’d expect it to be with Hammel based on performance and/or expected performance, but money might win out.

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  24. dmick89:
    berselius,

    Makes you wonder if Joe might consider only using the 4/5 starters for 3 innings each like we’ve talked about before.

    You’re going to hear a lot more bitching from Hammel if so, being a contract year again for him.

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  26. So, I’m a dog owner again. My wife and I adopted a 3 year old poodle bichon fries mix. He’s a smaller dog, about 25 lbs. It’s going much better this time. He’s already house trained, he doesn’t whine at night, and he’s very mellow. He seems very happy to just sit on the couch or be near me.

    However, while I’m doing better this time, I’m still having feelings of stress/worry. I find myself worrying constantly that I’m not playing enough with him, that I’m playing wrong with him, that I’m not taking him for enough walks, that I’m walking him wrong, that I shouldn’t let him up on furniture, that I shouldn’t let him sleep in the bed, and on and on. A large part of that is just my personality. I find myself going down internet rabbit holes, reading about all the things I should be doing.

    Do I just need to worry less, and simply get used to the new routine of being a dog owner?

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  27. Millertime,

    Congratulations. For the casual dog owner, I’m not entirely sure there is a wrong way to do things. If you intend to show the dog, there’s a specific way in which you need to walk the dog, but that probably does not apply to you. However you feel comfortable walking the dog is what I’d say is best for you and your dog. If you don’t mind your dog on your furniture, then that too is fine. Same with sleeping in bed.

    Regarding the exercise, it depends on the breed and I’m not too familiar with bichon fries. I had a poodle growing up and he got a fair bit of exercise with my brother and I. I’d say a couple 30 minute walks per day should be good along with a visit to a dog park once a week for socialization and exercise.

    As for things I’d avoid in terms of playing, I wouldn’t want to play tug of war, which a lot of people want to. It can damage their teeth and it can cause them to be more aggressive than you’d like. Try to do things with the dog that asserts you as the pack leader.

    Most of all, have fun.

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  32. kind of crazy to think of the players that will not make the opening day roster. i’m not saying that neil ramirez and matt szczur are potential MVP candidates but if your team has so much depth that you’re kicking guys like these to the curb, then you’re pretty fucking stacked.

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  33. EnricoPallazzo,

    I can’t wait to see this team in action. Sucks that they’re in AZ so soon after spring training, I only have enough extra vacation days for one trip that early in the season.

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