And Hendricks with another strong start. The NL rookie class is terrible this year, if Hendricks keeps this up and finishes the year at something like 9-2 with a 2.10 ERA I would think he has to get in the discussion.
MLB: 2014 Chicago Cubs
- Thread starter Bret44
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And Hendricks with another strong start. The NL rookie class is terrible this year, if Hendricks keeps this up and finishes the year at something like 9-2 with a 2.10 ERA I would think he has to get in the discussion.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
If Hendricks and Arrietta can continue to pitch like this going forward, I really like where the pitching staff is going.
Keeping my fingers crossed for two starters this offseason. Lester and/or Scherzer, or Lester/Scherzer and Shields. Then we go after Price or Cueto next year, and suddenly you've got a WS favorite on your hands.
I don't expect Hendricks to keep this up but I think he can be a solid back end of the rotation guy. Arrieta, if he's a number three guy, I would feel great about that rotation. He's been terrific all year, only given up more than 3 runs twice, nothing he's doing looks flukey at all.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
If we get two this offseason, we're bring that streak to an end soon. Probably not next year, but I'll get worked up for it anyway, but soon and very soon.
Very scary to think how good our pitching rotation can be if Hendricks is still projected to be a #5.
I'd prefer to only land one star pitcher this year and then go after Price the next year and leave the rest up to Hendricks, Turner, Arrieta, Edwards, Tseng, and Johnson.
Johnson is said to have the nastiest slider in our organization, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him move to a closer-set up man role if Edwards and Tseng pan out.
Johnson is said to have the nastiest slider in our organization, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him move to a closer-set up man role if Edwards and Tseng pan out.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
If I had to predict the rotation for next year right now I think it will be Free Agent X (most likely Lester or Madea), Arrieta, Wood, Hendricks, Turner/Dubront/Strailey. I think next year will be a very inconsistent season for the offense with how many young bats will be in the lineup.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Next year will be a wild ride. The combo of young guys will show strong flashes of the team's potential and then some frustrating youth times, too.
Since we're Cubs fans, though, we'll end the season seeing plenty of hope out there. We'll just happen to have evidence that backs it up.
Cubs are 1 of 5 teams in on Rusney Castillo and a decision could come later this week. If he joins the team, it completely changes the future of the Cubs.
I can't wait to see a lineup with Rizzo, Castro, Baez, Alacantra, Soler, Bryant and possibly Castillo in it. There's going to be games where they look unstoppable then there's going to be the 1 run, 15 strikeout games like we've been seeing lately.
you may be a little light on the strikouts. Next year could be rough with all the young players, at least the first half of the season.
IF Russell is called up by mid-April next year like MLB.com predicts, AND we gain Castillo from Cuba, then Alcantara likely becomes out utility man. Soler, Castillo, and Bryant/Castro make up our final outfield spot.
I can't see Russell being called up that early, I would expect him to be in Iowa for at least half the year. There's no need for the Cubs to rush him up.
I'm expecting him no earlier than July. I figure they might bring him up in the second half to get him acclimated for Opening Day 2016.
