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#Post#: 488273--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Reb Date: March 5, 2024, 10:55 pm
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My hunch is that Brown is going to force his way into the
bullpen mix before too long this season. His hard stuff
(heater/slider) is so good that Counsell is going to want him
when some bullpen guys struggle. If/when that happens, going to
be a challenge to get Brown back into Iowa rotation. Maybe
injuries in the major league rotation (hope not) will provide
Brown an opportunity as a SP in majors but more likely he’ll be
a plus bullpen guy before mid-season.
Shaw is still quite awkward at 3B, as you’d expect. Been making
the plays so far but footwork not great and plainly still
figuring out arm angles to make his throws. A work in progress.
Going to take awhile to settle in at the position—if he can— but
imagine Cubs will be patient to see how this plays out. Guessing
Shaw will see lots of action at middle IF in minors too this
season..
#Post#: 488296--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: davep Date: March 6, 2024, 12:49 pm
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If Brown is successful at Iowa as a starter, he will likely be a
reliever with the Cubs by the trade deadline if not before.
That is great, as long as they return him to starting pitcher in
a year or two.
In the past, most rookie pitchers started out in the bull pen
and then were giving the chance to earn a spot in the rotation,
but in the last few years, it has become more and more a career
long assignment. I remember when the Cubs moved Zambrano to the
MLB bullpen. The weeping and moaning was substantial, but
within a year, he was back in the rotation. But more and more,
that isn't the normal career path.
#Post#: 488299--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: craig Date: March 6, 2024, 1:34 pm
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[quote author=Reb link=topic=637.msg488273#msg488273
date=1709700900]
My hunch is that Brown is going to force his way into the
bullpen mix before too long this season. His hard stuff
(heater/slider) is so good that Counsell is going to want him
when some bullpen guys struggle. If/when that happens, going to
be a challenge to get Brown back into Iowa rotation. Maybe
injuries in the major league rotation (hope not) will provide
Brown an opportunity as a SP in majors but more likely he’ll be
a plus bullpen guy before mid-season. ....[/quote]
I like your hunch, and hope it proves true. As with every
control-challenges prospect, it's a function of his control.
His hard stuff is good enough to be a plus bullpen guy... when
his control is reasonable. When his control is bad, he's not
going to be plus regardless of role. Yesterday he looked great.
We'll see how the consistency goes moving forward. The
question "will he have enough control to be a good major-league
pitcher?" is much more important than the "what will his role
be?" question.
#Post#: 488309--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 6, 2024, 2:42 pm
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The Morel experiment at 3B is not going to last long.
#Post#: 488310--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: ticohans Date: March 6, 2024, 2:45 pm
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[quote author=Playtwo link=topic=637.msg488309#msg488309
date=1709757743]
The Morel experiment at 3B is not going to last long.
[/quote]
uh oh, for those of us not watching/listening, can you
elaborate?
#Post#: 488311--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 6, 2024, 2:50 pm
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I just saw on Gameday that he made throwing errors on
consecutive ABs. Didn't see the plays.
#Post#: 488312--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 6, 2024, 2:53 pm
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Evidently not consecutive batters but 2 throwing errors in the
first 3 innings.
#Post#: 488313--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Reb Date: March 6, 2024, 2:58 pm
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In 3rd inning, Morel booted a grounder. A few batters later, he
fielded a routine grounder, took about 500 steps before throwing
to 1B, and then threw the ball away. Seemed like maybe the
earlier error might have been in his head regarding the bad
throw on the second grounder.
It’s one inning of one game. Let’s see what happens. I have no
idea and probably neither does Counsell if Morel-at-3B will
work. Cubs organization didn’t think so going into the spring
but seems like will be Counsell’s decision. Still early.
#Post#: 488327--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: craig Date: March 6, 2024, 5:06 pm
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Almonte made his spring-training debut, pitched a scoreless
1BB-1K 9th.
Assad pitched 2 innings, 2K 1 hit. Assad was a difference-maker
last season. Having him pitch well, in whichever role, is very
important to the upcoming season.
#Post#: 488332--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 6, 2024, 6:24 pm
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Only 1 bad throw by Morel today. The other error was failing to
catch a line drive.
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