The Cubs will keep an eye on Jake Arrieta’s workload this season to ensure that the Cy Young Award winner is still fresh for October, Joe Maddon tells reporters (including ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers). Arrieta threw 248 2/3 innings in the regular and postseason in 2015, far above his previous career high of 176 2/3 frames in 2014. While Arrieta takes pride in being a workhorse and finishing games, “there’s certain sacrifices that need to be made and I’m more than willing to make those sacrifices to be better for my team later in the season,” he said. Jon Lester and John Lackey will also have their innings monitored, Maddon said, as the Cubs clearly have their eyes set on being at full strength for the postseason. Here’s some more from around the NL Central…
- Ryan Braun will indeed be moving back to left field this season, Brewers manager Craig Counsell confirmed to media (including the Associated Press). “We talked it over and discussed it, and I think with the players that we have on our roster this year, it’s an advantageous decision for both Ryan and the players we have involved,” Counsell said. Milwaukee’s left field spot was opened up when Khris Davis was traded to Oakland, and there had been speculation that Braun would be shifted to give highly-touted youngster Domingo Santana regular playing time in right.
- Also from Counsell, he discusses his first Spring Training as a big league manager and many other topics as part of a Q&A with Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Jay Bruce has been the subject of several trade rumors this offseason but he’s taking everything in stride, the Reds outfielder told reporters (including C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer.) When asked if the trade speculation made it awkward to be in the Reds’ clubhouse, Bruce said “No, not at all. If it were somewhere else, it’d be awkward right now.  This is what I know, this organization has been much more to be than just a baseball team. I’ve been here since I was 18 years old, and this is all I know.  I look forward to still being here and if something does happen, I completely understand.  It’s part of the business.  I mentioned before, obviously, I truly believe the Reds have to do everything they can do improve the organization and if they end up feeling that making a move with me is part of that plan, I respect them for that.”
- The Cardinals have shut down right-hander Tyler Waldron due to an impingement in his throwing shoulder, the team told media (including MLB.com’s Barry W. Bloom). Waldron, 26, was a non-roster invite to the Cards’ camp. He has a 4.54 ERA over 492 minor league innings in the St. Louis and Pittsburgh farm systems. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Waldron was being shut down indefinitely and he wasn’t sure when the righty would be throwing again.
Good stuff as usual, but Arrieta threw 156 2/3 innings in 2014.
Why even play the regular season? No one has a chance other than the Cubs. I mean, they’ve won so many World Series’ lately, right?
Can’t wait for the season to start.
That’s a good one, come up with it all on your own?
Good one!
Going against what got them there last year does seem foolish but Maddon knows what he is doing.
The overreactions to people being rightly excited about the Cubs have come not surprisingly.
First of all what the Cubs have done under previous poor management with a totally different group of players is completely irrelevant to what is happening and what is projected going forward. No one has said they are 100% going to win the world series, they are the favorite and they should be but everyone that knows odds understands that the field has a significantly higher chance of winning it all than any 1 team. They have a really good team loaded with top end talent and depth.
Hater!
Agreed- I mean they have already made the postseason it seems.
While Bruce has digressed somewhat, he’s still underrated and one heck person and team player
Plenty of players have had serious power upside at the expense of batting average. Bruce is all of that, at this point…..but at least he plays pretty good defense in RF. He’s definitely “underrated” right now, and if he has any kind of “bounce back season” (say .245, 30 HR’s, 95 RBI’s, and 12 SB’s)……he’ll be worth much more next winter…..when there’s not much talent available in the FA market (yes, Cespedes will be there, but not much else). If he doesn’t have a great 1st Half…..keep him for this year, trade him before they have to pay his $1 mil buyout, or let him walk and get a draft pick.
What does that have to do with anything?
They haven’t won in forever and people still get pissy when they have a chance to be good.
Typical Cub haters. Talking about the past. No cares about the past. By the time the season starts no one will care who won the WS last year. Or the cards 100 wins. Nor the Cubs of the past. If teams did then why play thus season. It will be an exciting year can’t wait. If it makes haters sleep at night to think about the Cubs past what ever gets you through it. Envy gets u nowhere. Of course if the Cubs make the playoffs haters will say we will lose again in post season. If we make the WS then will blow that right. N if we win then it be it’s about time it took 108 years. Right. Figure I pre do all the haters reasons n wording going into 2016 n post season ahead of time. Get over it. Can’t wait. Haters are worried or they wouldn’t talk bs. Lol go cubs.
What happens if the Cubs win? Sox fans have no fuel.
Typical Cubs fan looking at the future… “Wait till next year”!!!…
I don’t invest myself too much in the Cubs banter, but everyone treated the Red Sox the same a little over a decade ago…but…then…they did something unthinkable- they won 4 games in a row facing elimination in one of those playoff things and the curse was a thing of the past. This team has a lot of the same similarities to that team. Maybe Arrieta will even pitch with a bloody beard. I live 15 minutes from St. Louis, though I live in Illinois, and you’re condemned around here for being a Cubs fan…I am not a diehard Cards fan, but do root for them. I personally would like to see the Cubs bring one home. The amount of hate the Cubs get, in general and locally, is like bullying a 4th grader when you’re in high school. Hard to feel like we have the best fans when there is such poor sportsmanship to a team having not won in over 100 years. Their time is coming. Cardinals have their share of uncertainties and the Pirates lost several key players. Yes, both teams have some young talent, but it’s hard envisioning it aligning perfectly so soon. Cubs seem poised to finally take the division and make a run. Should be a fun season.
No love for the Pirates.
There never is. One of the most talented teams in baseball the last 3 years, and countung. They are by far the least talked about contender, just because they aren’t big players in free agency. You would think with the sabermetrics revolution, people would want to hear more about the Pirates, as they may utilize advanced metrics more than any team in baseball.
Can’t believe there are Cub Haters !!