While the Cubs don't have a whole lot of decisions to make this spring, there are still a couple of spring position battles that have played out over the course of the last month. Even though there's a small sample size for most players, the numbers for each player speak for themselves. How well they've passed the "eye test" and how their numbers stack up against each other is how each player will be judged.
While most spots on the roster were decided before this spring, there were a few positions and roles that were open for competition. Among them were ...
The Chicago Cubs' future is bright, but spring training has produced mixed results in 2014. They have seen performances they didn't expect on opposite ends of the spectrum. Some players have been better than expected, while others have flopped and lowered expectations.
Realistically, the Cubs will hope to be competing for a playoff spot in 2015, and some flashes they've seen from certain players this season have given them no reason to second-guess that timetable. However, a few performances by other players must have them worried about how quickly they hope to be competing.
In the end, it's only spring training, and ...
Coming into spring training this MLB season, the Chicago Cubs have some decisions to make regarding roster spots. They also have some decisions to make regarding where to start their young prospects when the season begins. Many of those decisions will be made based on performances in spring training and so far, the Cubs have gotten strong performances from a handful of players. While many players have played well, five have shined brighter than the rest.
These five players include prospects the Cubs are counting on in the future, guys who hope to make a name for themselves and recent acquisitions ...
As spring training gets underway and position battles begin, it's time to look forward to who's in and who's out on the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day 25-man roster. Several spots are already set in stone for the North Siders, and many more are still to be decided.
There are plenty of intriguing storylines. Will Darwin Barney hold onto the starting second base job? Will Mike Olt finally claim the third base job? These and plenty of other questions may be answered this spring.
New additions such as Jason Hammel and Emilio Bonifacio will look to prove their worth. Bonifacio will fight for a ...
Spring training is like a great awakening across Arizona and Florida as teams build hope and expectations for the year to come. Luckily, the Cubs aren't trying to fool anyone into thinking they'll contend this year.
However, for Cubs fans, there are still several things to look forward to this spring training. This is such a vital development time for young and talented players, something the Cubs have a lot of, and to see that development firsthand is pretty exciting.
Everyone has their own opinion of what they are most looking forward to in spring training whether it be position battles, talented ...
Every spring training defined storylines are set. However, as it progresses, some unexpected developments take place and change everything fans had assumed. Breakout stars emerge and other “sure things” disappoint.
This year will be no different, and the Cubs have as much uncertainty at the major league level as any team in baseball. That’s why this spring training could be so interesting for the North Siders. Some unexpected contributors could crack the Opening Day roster and some role players could end up with bigger roles than expected.
While there are plenty of moving pieces as the Cubs try to figure out their ...
Whenever prospects get hyped up enough without reaching their ceiling or realizing their potential yet, people will want to compare them to current or former major league players. While it’s not an exact science, having someone who is in the middle of or has completed their MLB career as a comparison can sometimes give fans a better idea of the type of player that prospect may become.
Before getting into the current and former players the Chicago Cubs’ plethora of hitting talent resembles, it’s important to remember that just because they are similar to a player doesn’t mean their careers will ...
In the recently released list of top farm systems in baseball by Keith Law (subscription required) the Cubs check in at No. 4. This high ranking is indicative of the hard work President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have put into the extensive rebuild.
While a top farm system certainly doesn't ensure a top major league team, the Cubs are certainly headed in the right direction. That direction won't necessarily be forward until at least 2015, but it doesn't hurt to look at the players likely to contribute to future success in Chicago.
Many top prospects are more popular in ...
There's no doubt that the bold move of luring Theo Epstein away from the Boston Red Sox to become the Chicago Cubs' president of baseball operations changed the culture of baseball on the north side of Chicago. Instantly, there was a change in organizational philosophy and for the first time in seemingly forever, the Cubs were preparing to undergo a rebuild.
Gone were the days when noncompetitive Cubs teams tried to rebuild through signing free agents to overpriced multi-year deals. Looking back over the first two-plus years of the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer regime, there appears to be light at the end ...
Several players have their roster spots already locked up in Chicago, while others will be fighting hard in spring training to join the Cubs in Pittsburgh on Opening Day. Here's a look at some of the obvious and not-so-obvious roster selections to look for.
Starting Rotation
Jeff Samardzija: Clearly, Samardzija will make the Cubs team. He will be the team's Opening Day starter, according to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, per The SportsXchange.
Travis Wood: Despite all of the noise surrounding Samardzija, Wood was actually the Cubs' most effective pitcher in 2013, posting a 3.11 ERA. He was also the Cubs' only All-Star a ...
« Previous Page — Next Page »
