They need to deepen that roster big time. One good thing is that some young guys got some valuable experience this year. I’m excited to see what they’ll be doing in the offseason.
To prove my point. The guy has no clue how to manage a bullpen. Also, after Canario had his big game with the homerun, I believe he has had 3 at bats. That is criminal. Add to the fact they took Assad out of the rotation to put in Stroman he had been absolutely horrible for a few months before he went in the IL. Why would you just give him rotation spot back after 1-2 shorts stints from the bullpen.
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Run differential is a really interesting measure. Very few teams with 90+ run diff miss the playoffs, but when they do, it’s almost always indicative of either ”bad luck” or, probably more commonly, a lack of key leverage hitting and/or a thin bullpen. Cubs were a little of both. They had way too many games where they got up early and couldn’t tack on insurance late and also they rode 4 guys way too much all season. It was beautiful in July & August, but the price was paid when Fulmer and Adbert went on the IL and Leiter mostly lost his magic split.
They could have, but as bad as he was at the plate and on the bases, I could still argue that his glove was potentially more valuable than anyone they’d have brought up from Iowa….though they could have taken a shot on Mervis at 1B while Candelario was out.
I thought it was weird they didn't give Mervis another shot. He did what he was supposed to do, go back to AAA and hit the ball. Maybe all the tape right for what they thought he needed to work on?
The 60-day moves are just temporary things. Teams have to clear the 60-day IL around the same time they have to decide on options - I think it’s 5 days after the WS ends. This is when the Cubs did the bulk DFAs last offseason and the guys not claimed assigned back to Iowa.
