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#Post#: 508588--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: CurtOne Date: March 8, 2025, 7:27 pm
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Just ARE very good, or AREN'T any good. I vote for option 2.
#Post#: 508589--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: CUBluejays Date: March 8, 2025, 7:38 pm
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I mean option 2 is right.
#Post#: 508591--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: Deeg Date: March 8, 2025, 8:20 pm
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[quote author=CUBluejays link=topic=653.msg508586#msg508586
date=1741483568]
Not worried about Tucker.
I'd probably be more in favor of keeping Workman. It is a low
chance of success, but Brujan and Lopez just aren't very good.
You can probably stash at least 1 Iowa and Nico can play SS if
it is needed. Give me the 1% chance at finding something
interesting vs Mastroboni 2.0.
[/quote]
Workman can play SS pretty well too.
#Post#: 508592--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: ticohans Date: March 8, 2025, 8:38 pm
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Agreed on keeping Workman. The raw tools are really good, he’s a
pretty rare combo of size, power, speed, and coordination.
just suggesting front office might evaluate differently.
Has he gotten time at 2B or SS?
#Post#: 508593--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: Deeg Date: March 8, 2025, 8:47 pm
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[quote author=ticohans link=topic=653.msg508592#msg508592
date=1741487938]
Agreed on keeping Workman. The raw tools are really good, he’s a
pretty rare combo of size, power, speed, and coordination.
just suggesting front office might evaluate differently.
Has he gotten time at 2B or SS?
[/quote]
Not much in Arizona but he played most of his innings at SS in
the minors and graded out pretty well.
#Post#: 508605--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: craig Date: March 8, 2025, 10:39 pm
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Back to the Workman thing. In the 26-man roster era with DH, I
wonder how much the 26th man actually is needed?
1. AI tells me that Luis Vasquez was on the Cubs roster for
~103 days last year, during which time he got only 12 AB!
2. Maybe that was unique, because he was bad, so Counsell just
avoided using him?
3. But in DH world, you don't need to use 26th man to pinch-hit
for the pitcher, or to be involved in double-switches.
4. Maybe Counsell won't give many AB to 26th man whether it's
Brujan or Workman or Lopez.... *IF* the 26th man is a bad
hitter. Maybe if guy hits reasonably, then he will?
5. True that if Workman gets Vasquez-level usage, it won't be
ideal for his player development.
#Post#: 508606--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: craig Date: March 8, 2025, 10:43 pm
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Shaw stands really far off the plate. Kinda ugly looking stance
and approach.
#Post#: 508607--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: Reb Date: March 8, 2025, 11:20 pm
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Brujan cannot decline an outright so, if Cubs can get him thru
waivers, can park Brujan at Iowa until needed.
On other hand, if Brujan is claimed, Cubs are facing an opt-out
from Nicki Lopez if Lopez isn’t rostered. Maybe Lopez could be
persuaded to extend the opt-out for a time but not for long.
Don’t think Cubs want to risk counting on Workman to fill a
roster spot all season without some veteran protection who can
be called up if/when Workman starts to be overwhelmed in majors.
Workman is talented but has a 34% K rate at AA level and has
never played at AAA. Spring training performance can be
notoriously illusory. I’m sure Cubs like him but 6 months of a
regular season is very different than spring training and, of
course, Workman can’t be optioned as a Rule 5 guy.
Actually, Workman and Ben Cowles had almost an identical wRC+ at
AA in 2024 (142/Cowles 140/Workman. Of course, Workman is
getting the attention because Cubs have to make a decision on
him. FWIW, new Pipeline ranks Cowles #22 Cubs prospect and
Workman #29. Workman was not in Tigers late-season 2024 Pipeline
Top 30.
As to Brujan and Lopez, they are kind of the same guy, albeit
Brujan has played considerable OF, including CF. Think Cubs
will want to keep one of them in the organization. Maybe best
way is to get Brujan thru waivers if possible. Don’t see Cubs
losing Brujan on waivers AND then letting Lopez opt-out by not
making opening day roster.
So, think Workman is maybe 50-50 to make the club. Thereafter,
if Workman makes club, will have to perform because Cubs not
keeping a dead bench spot all season. Quite a few Rule 5 guys
get returned during the season after initially making opening
day roster.
Of course, likely that veteran utility bench guys will become
available during season and maybe somebody can be claimed if
necessary.
And it’s not like the last guy on the bench is such a key role
or anything. Get the Workman enthusiasm—with his potential
upside and all—but it’s spring training and 30 PAs. It’s a long
season.
#Post#: 508609--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: Reb Date: March 8, 2025, 11:34 pm
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[quote author=craig link=topic=653.msg508605#msg508605
date=1741495153]
Back to the Workman thing. In the 26-man roster era with DH, I
wonder how much the 26th man actually is needed?
1. AI tells me that Luis Vasquez was on the Cubs roster for
~103 days last year, during which time he got only 12 AB!
2. Maybe that was unique, because he was bad, so Counsell just
avoided using him?…
[/quote]
Vazquez was up for 9 days in May and then was recalled on August
23 for rest of season. At one point in September, he did not get
in a game for 2 1/2 weeks. Cubs had an extra position player on
roster for September when rosters expanded.
#Post#: 508613--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
By: davep Date: March 9, 2025, 10:01 am
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I was not trying to predict what the Cubs WOULD do with Workman.
I was giving my opinion on what the Cubs SHOULD do with
Workman. And my opinion was based very little upon his
performance thus far in spring training.
The Cubs will have a bench with very little power. Essentially
NO power if Alcantara does not make the team. Workman has some
power.
The Cubs need a bench player who is a plus defender at their
positions of need. Workman is a plus defender at third and
second, and more than adequate at shortstop.
Every bench can use a left handed hitter with power. Workman
fills that need.
Wisdom was a very serviceable utility player, although his
defense was barely adequate. Workman provides somewhat less
power, but substantially more defense. Overall, I believe that
Workman is likely to be more valuable to the Cubs than Wisdom
has been in the past.
I am not predicting that Workman will have a career as good as
Mookie Betts. But he does have a very high ceiling, if he can
control his strikeout rate. He probably can't, but at least
there is potential there, which does not exist to the same
degree as Lopez or Brujan. That potential is extremely valuable
for a team like the Cubs, who are NOT going to go out and sign a
high paid superstar at every position, as much as we would love
that. The only way a team like the Cubs can succeed in the long
run is to have a steady stream of good young players that are
low-cost enough to allow the purchase of a few superstars while
remaining within their budget restrictions. Workman might be
one of them. Lopez, Berti or Brujan are not.
I doubt very much that the 2025 season will hinge upon whether
Workman or Brujan become their 26th player. But the following
seasons could be affected by a high potential guy finally making
it big.
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