URI:
   DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Bleacher Bums Forum
  HTML https://bbf.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: Archives
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 426345--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: JeffH Date: March 8, 2021, 10:02 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Zach Davies starting today for Cubs, with Joe Biagini, Rex
       Brothers, Trevor Megill and Kohl Stewart penciled in to pitch
       behind him against the Rangers. - Jordan Bastian
       #Post#: 426347--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: craig Date: March 8, 2021, 10:36 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=JeffH link=topic=573.msg426246#msg426246
       date=1615062171]I know they're looking for some degree of
       certainty and trying to minimize risk, but I think I'd rather
       run Shelby Miller out there than Trevor Williams. [/quote]
       Jeff or anybody else, any info on whether Miller has any opt-out
       clauses from his minor-league contract?  Hendry routinely
       included those with former major-league pitchers, where they
       could opt out after 6 or 8 weeks if not in majors yet.  I assume
       Miller might have something like that.... or maybe not?
       -Not sure; since 2015 he's been negative-WAR every season other
       than a sliver in his 4-appearance 2017.  So maybe he was in zero
       position to leverage an opt-out clause?
       -Or perhaps he's self-confident and well appreciates how
       vulnerable the Cubs rotation is.  So maybe he didn't figure he
       needed any get-free clause, and is all about him getting right
       and good, and is confident that *IF* he becomes so, that
       opportunity will naturally follow?
       It's kind of a shame with the alternate site and no games again.
       Having Miller able to sequence a half-dozen effective box-score
       starts with Iowa would be nice.  At least for us fans; maybe
       teams think they can assess success or failure just fine down
       there, I'm not sure.  But I'd think real games, with real
       adrenalin would be way nicer.  And against a real variety of
       hitters, rather just a small group of guys whose weaknesses a
       pitcher quickly comes to recognize and take advantage of.
       #Post#: 426349--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: JeffH Date: March 8, 2021, 11:05 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=craig link=topic=573.msg426347#msg426347
       date=1615221384]Jeff or anybody else, any info on whether Miller
       has any opt-out clauses from his minor-league contract?
       [/quote]
       I have not.  I think he has enough service time that he could
       simply elect to become a free agent if he were outrighted to the
       minors.
       #Post#: 426352--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: JeffH Date: March 8, 2021, 11:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       If they opt to prioritize keeping the maximum amount of pitching
       talent in the organization, they could set up the staff like
       this:
       Alzolay, Adbert
       Arrieta, Jake
       Davies, Zach
       Hendricks, Kyle
       Williams, Trevor
       Chafin, Andrew
       Kimbrel, Craig
       Maples, Dillon
       Mills, Alec
       Tepera, Ryan
       Winkler, Dan
       Workman, Brandon
       Miller, Shelby
       Last spot (Adam, Jason; Holder, Jonathan; Ryan, Kyle; Stewart,
       Kohl; Wieck, Brad)
       That keeps Maples and Miller in the organization.  All of the
       listed candidates for the last spot have options remaining, so
       that could be your Iowa shuttle.
       Neither Ryan nor Wieck have pitched in a game yet.  Seems like
       they may start off with only one lefty in the bullpen.
       #Post#: 426370--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: craig Date: March 8, 2021, 3:02 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=JeffH link=topic=573.msg426352#msg426352
       date=1615223914]...Miller, Shelby
       Last spot (Adam, Jason; Holder, Jonathan; Ryan, Kyle; Stewart,
       Kohl; Wieck, Brad)
       That keeps Maples and Miller in the organization.  All of the
       listed candidates for the last spot have options remaining, so
       that could be your Iowa shuttle....[/quote]
       Jeff, Miller is on a minor-league contract.  So keeping him in
       the organization does not necessitate keeping him on the roster.
       I'd kinda put him in with the other "last spot" guys.
       I don't really know his story.  First round pick, had a good
       rookie year with Cardinals, OK sophomore year, good junior year
       with Braves.  Not sure whether in the injuries he's lost a lot
       of stuff or velocity, or just confidence and mechanics, I don't
       know.
       *IF* he is fully healthy and has the same stuff capacity that he
       had when he was starting 30 games a year, and *if* his psyche
       hasn't been shattered subsequently, then I think I'd actually
       much prefer him to go down to South Bend.  If he's got
       mechanical adjustments to optimize in order to become capable,
       the controlled South Bend could help him lock lock in
       mechanically.  But then getting a handful of AAA starts to
       confirm that it works, and to get locked in confidence-wise,
       could also help him.
       Getting irregular long-man work is probably not good for
       mechanical lock-in.  And then getting a bad outing or two might
       re-fracture any confidence recovery.  The flip might also be
       true, of course.  Stacking success as a reliever might be great
       for confidence, and relievers who get outs can pretty quickly
       climb from 14th-man to a regular-usage guy in the pen.
       #Post#: 426377--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: JeffH Date: March 8, 2021, 3:37 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Craig, you're absolutely right.  I got my terms mixed up.  If
       Miller doesn't make it, he won't be "outrighted".  He'll simply
       be re-assigned to minor league camp.  As you alluded to, his
       only "out" is a negotiated opt-out clause (or a release,
       courtesy or otherwise).
       #Post#: 426378--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: JeffH Date: March 8, 2021, 3:48 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       According to mlb.com Gameday, Marisnick is in the game.  His
       first appearance of the spring.
       #Post#: 426380--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: Bennett Date: March 8, 2021, 4:47 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML https://youtu.be/dirB1by1Onc
       #Post#: 426382--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: Bennett Date: March 8, 2021, 4:50 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Nico Hoerner was 2-3 and lowered his spring average to .692
       #Post#: 426385--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Today's Game - 2021
       By: Dave23 Date: March 8, 2021, 5:13 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       He definitely has more to learn at AAA...
       *****************************************************
   DIR Previous Page
   DIR Next Page