The Chicago Cubs are not looking for the final two years to be a part of a development within the unsuitable course.
Ending the season 74-88 stored the Cubs at residence for the postseason in a second straight yr. Six consecutive seasons with a profitable file that featured three division titles and a World Series championship gave the impression to be the beginning of a dominant period within the franchise’s historical past. As the Cubs look to return to the playoffs subsequent season, an essential offseason awaits, carrying classes from this yr.
1. Keegan Thompson is, on the very least, a multi-inning bullpen weapon.
Thompson might be a part of the pitching employees subsequent season after giving the Cubs versatility. The right-hander made 17 begins and 12 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022. It’s too early to understand how he suits in, however that can also be a part of the 27-year-old’s attraction.
“I see Keegan as a really important piece to our success, where that fits in, the roster will shape out,” supervisor David Ross mentioned in the course of the closing week of the season. “He’s done a really nice job of a multi-inning role out of the bullpen that I really trust and he’s also done a really nice job starting, so the more of those guys that can do both, I’ll take them all.”
After his shortest begin of the season June 12 at Yankee Stadium, Thompson posted a 1.93 ERA over his subsequent 5 begins. Beyond that stretch, he struggled with consistency as a starter earlier than late-season again tightness price him almost a month on the injured checklist. Thompson thrived in his reduction function, proudly owning a 1.47 ERA in 36⅔ innings with a 0.900 WHIP and a 30.0 Okay%, greater than 10% greater than when he began.
Rotation accidents led to Thompson’s in-season transition to starter, and it could not be a shock if he opens 2023 as a reliever and beginning pitching depth. Thompson is predicted ramp up within the offseason to organize to report back to camp as a starter, however Ross clearly values having Thompson as a weapon in numerous high-leverage spots out of the bullpen, a job that is likely to be his greatest match.
2. Ian Happ confirmed he might be the all-around participant who would warrant a contract extension.
Consistency eluded Happ by means of his first 5 major-league seasons. For stretches, Happ may very well be one of many Cubs’ greatest hitters together with his mixture of on-base proportion and energy, however exterior of the shortened 2020 season, placing collectively an entire season offensively and defensively didn’t at all times occur. His struggles by means of the primary 4 months in 2021 price him common enjoying time and made his future in a Cubs uniform murky.
A powerful closing two months carried into this season, and mixed with the Cubs giving him a set place in left area, Happ thrived. He produced his most full season, simply main Cubs place gamers in video games (158) and incomes an All-Star nod. He didn’t depend on residence runs when driving the ball, ending tied for sixth in doubles (42) within the majors, greater than twice his earlier profession excessive.
It was the efficiency Happ wanted as he enters his closing yr of arbitration earlier than changing into a free agent after the 2023 season. Without mentioning particular gamers, President Jed Hoyer acknowledged Monday that the Cubs had taken the primary steps on contract extensions, efforts which might be anticipated to hold into the offseason. Happ, who turned 28 in August, would appear to suit the mould.
“His career had been marked prior to this year by really high highs and really low lows, and he made a very concerted effort with his swing and his mentality to even it out, and I think he did a fantastic job,” Hoyer mentioned. “And there’s no reason that he can’t continue to do that. … He really found his voice from a leadership standpoint, and it was really, really gratifying to see that, so I’m excited.”
3. Baserunning should enhance and might be a focus.
Winning groups persistently do the little issues properly, and baserunning falls underneath that scope. The Cubs’ sloppy play on the bottom paths would have proved pricey had video games mattered. Some of the miscues had been aggressive makes an attempt to fabricate runs for an offense that might not often depend on homers.
By the tip of the season, the Cubs’ baserunning points earned criticism from the widely constructive Ross. His frustrations in that space had been warranted. Although the Cubs ranked seventh in Extra Bases Taken Percentage (44%) and tied for second greatest in going first to 3rd, their 68 outs on the bases had been second most within the majors whereas that they had essentially the most outs at residence with 24. There are instances to push it, however too typically the aggressiveness didn’t repay.
Hoyer famous Monday the Cubs’ at-times sloppy baserunning and cited it as an space they will considerably enhance. Hoyer didn’t blame the teaching employees however made clear baserunning might be a “real focus” in offseason conferences, how they go about issues in spring coaching and their strategy all through subsequent season.
“You have to address those things with each player and talk through it,” Hoyer mentioned. “At times we made obvious mistakes. There’s a difference between being aggressive and giving up outs, and sometimes we gave up outs.”
4. The robust 39-31 second half should not be overvalued.
The momentum the Cubs carry into the offseason is encouraging. Led by the pitching employees, most notably the rotation, the Cubs received right into a groove in the course of the second half, kick-started by sweeping the Phillies in Philadelphia popping out of the All-Star break.
There is a few hazard to overvaluing the Cubs’ 39-31 file over the ultimate 2½ months. Only 9 of their 22 sequence in that span got here versus groups that completed with a profitable file, although a excessive level was going 9-0 towards the Phillies and New York Mets. Overall, the Cubs went 37-58 this season towards opponents with a file above .500.
It is a credit score to Ross and the teaching employees for a way gamers competed in the course of the second half. Young gamers gained precious expertise. But the standard of competitors was not excessive in that stretch, and even Hoyer agreed there’s some hazard in how the group evaluates the second half.
“(When) we’re not in a pennant race, you can play sort of free and easy, and I think that matters,” he mentioned. “Some of what we saw in the first half was probably somewhat schedule-related, injury-related, and some of the second half we have to keep in mind that guys were able to play free and easy at the end. … We have to be mindful of that.”
5. The roster wants extra star energy.
A standard attribute amongst playoff groups is the presence of elite gamers. Nearly each staff that made the postseason options not less than one huge title with many groups function quite a few stars. Since final yr’s commerce deadline, the Cubs roster is arguably devoid of game-changing expertise, notably the type followers pay to see at Wrigley Field.
“You want to make sure that you add those players at the right time for the organization, and we have to make those decisions,” Hoyer mentioned. “But there’s no question that those caliber (of) players can certainly swing a playoff series or make the difference in a couple of games to make the playoffs and not make the playoffs. But you have to make sure you sign those players at the right time.”
For a big-market staff, the Cubs — who seemingly are on the verge of anticipating to be an everyday postseason contender — the time so as to add big-name expertise ought to come this offseason. They have the cash to make it occur, and the roster wants a critical improve in star energy. Maybe somebody inside the group will grow to be one, however ready for the proper time to amass a star may imply letting good suits go by.
6. Some thump is required within the lineup.
The Cubs made a concerted effort to shift from a an excessive amount of swing-and-miss and power-heavy lineup the earlier yr or two so as to add contact hitters and emphasize bat-to-ball expertise and strategy, yielding some enhancements within the latter this season.
But the Cubs want extra energy hitters, which particularly turned evident when enjoying in so many one- and two-run video games. Their Isolated Power (ISO), which measures hitters’ uncooked energy, ranked 18th within the majors whereas they had been 14th in residence run to fly ball charge.
Expect them to focus on extra thump within the offseason to enhance Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki and Happ, who had been in a position to create contact and put the ball in play with some consistency. Less station-to-station offense.
“We have to be a little quicker-strike offense than we were,” Hoyer mentioned. “I preferred the truth that we’re making extra contact. I did suppose there have been instances we grinded out at-bats, however we lacked the power to tug away in numerous video games. And that’s one thing we’ve to get higher about.
“Great teams blow people out, and as we think about where we want to be eventually, that is a big focus that you’ve got to be able to score runs in bunches, and we weren’t able to do that this year.”
7. With just one participant left from 2016, this season was a reminder the autumn from the highest might be faster than anticipated — and painful.
It’s a bit exceptional that with catcher Willson Contreras receiving — and certain rejecting — a qualifying provide from the Cubs to develop into a free agent subsequent month, just one participant from the 2016 World Series title staff will stay on the roster. And loads of questions revolve round that participant, right-hander Kyle Hendricks, and his well being and reliability for subsequent season. The Cubs had eight place gamers, both starters or thought of precious regulars, who had been of their age-26 season or youthful after they received the title. And the oldest of all of them on that postseason roster now manages the staff.
The level of the preliminary rebuild underneath Theo Epstein and Hoyer was to keep away from this situation the group has been going by means of the final two years in tearing down the big-league roster, replenishing the farm system and hoping this time the Cubs construct a greater basis for sustained success. Drafting and signing beginner expertise to then growing them into foundational items is a vital a part of the equation.
There is not any motive the Cubs shouldn’t be capable of do what the Los Angeles Dodgers have completed within the final decade: making the postseason annually behind 9 division titles, advancing to a few World Series and profitable a title. The Atlanta Braves, too, have been rolling the final 5 years with 5 playoff berths and the 2021 title and have locked in most of their younger, star expertise by means of aggressive pre-free-agency extensions.
There is a path ahead for the Cubs to get again on one other dominant run, and in the event that they execute, the group ought to be capable of keep away from having to endure one other rebuild inside the subsequent decade.
8. A much bigger check awaits supervisor David Ross.
It is troublesome to evaluate a supervisor’s in-game choices when outcomes are meaningless within the grand scheme of the season. Ross typically maintained that he centered on attempting to win that recreation every time he arrived on the ballpark. The actuality, although, is he wasn’t given a roster anticipated to make the postseason; the roster would have wanted to max out its potential, and accidents early within the season, specifically to the rotation, rapidly thwarted any hopes of that.
The 2022 season offered a number of extra glimpses into Ross’ model, together with how he manages a pitching employees. The final three years every offered completely different challenges due to the pandemic-shortened season, COVID-19 protocols after which the lockout.
Ross, who in March obtained a contract extension by means of 2024, has continued to develop in his function. But the time will come when his in-game administration will come underneath a lot better scrutiny, maybe as quickly as subsequent season, when his choices extra straight have an effect on the Cubs’ postseason quest. The clubhouse dynamic will proceed to shift, too, one that’s almost void of any of his former Cubs teammates.
9. Payroll flexibility is nice — if the Cubs use it.
After the 2023 season, the Cubs could have solely three assured contracts on the books: Suzuki, David Bote and Marcus Stroman, who might select to void that yr by opting out after subsequent season.
The Cubs have loads of paths to harness their payroll flexibility. They are almost $125 million underneath the aggressive steadiness tax for subsequent season, in line with Cot’s Baseball Contracts’ estimates, which embrace participant advantages, pre-arbitration bonus-pool cash and minor-leaguers on the 40-man roster. An aggressive mindset getting into the offseason for the Cubs entrance workplace ought to imply they’d purchase affect gamers even when they’re cautious of lengthy offers. Shorter years and more cash may very well be an choice when pursuing high free brokers.
10. Nico Hoerner offers them a bit to construct round.
Building from inside is at all times essential throughout any teardown, and efficiently figuring out which homegrown gamers might be essential items to construct round is vital. Hoerner’s efficiency this season additional confirmed why the Cubs suppose so extremely of the 25-year-old infielder.
Aside from a fluky collision with an umpire, he stayed wholesome for a lot of the season at shortstop, the place the every day bodily and psychological grind is usually a problem. Hoerner confirmed extra energy, hitting 10 homers in 517 plate appearances to greater than triple his residence run complete from his first three seasons (three in 378 PAs).
Hoerner’s work ethic and rising management can’t be neglected both. His path from first-round choose in 2018 to beginning shortstop hasn’t been a conventional minor-league trek, however Hoerner has develop into an asset whose defensive versatility is efficacious whereas his energy potential may not have been reached but regardless of coming off career-best slugging numbers. Hoerner’s offensive profile probably received’t produce gaudy numbers, however he’s precisely the kind of gamers profitable groups want.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com