Arrieta and Alzolay, Righty Outfielders, Happ, Boog and other Cubs Bullets

Arrieta and Alzolay, Righty Outfielders, Happ, Boog and other Cubs Bullets

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Lotttttta possible directions ‘WandaVision’ could now go on to its final two episodes. And not to get too far ahead of me, but it is also crazy to think about the things that this could configure in the MCU in general. (The program is on Disney + for those who like these things, but don’t have them yet.)

• The decision to risk losing Phillip Ervin through resignations by officially adding Jake Marisnick last night is an interesting one, as there was easily a version of the squad in which both players hit the bench as 4th and 5th outfielders. Cubs have three primary outfielders who can hit extremely right against righties and … not so much against lefties. Ervin would have been that guy. Marisnick, on the other hand, hits the left-handers much better than the right-handers, but is still below the general average against left-handers. The hiring of Cameron Maybin probably had a big impact on the Cubs’ willingness to risk losing Ervin, because he’s probably a better bet to join the team than Ervin in the abstract, but he’s Furthermore he is not a guy who hits lefties very well.

• Therefore, without Ervin (or Michael Hermosillo, for example) on the bench, the Cubs will not have field players who can really beat well against lefties. This looks like a strange self-inflicted problem. Maybe the Cubs think they need to stick with the offer to start Joc Pederson every day anyway, so that takes a place … but they sure aren’t going to play Jason Heyward against all the tough lefties, right? Haven’t we learned this lesson yet on how to optimize your effectiveness? Furthermore: it would certainly help in all of this if Ian Happ took another step forward against lefties. So far in his career, his work on the right side of the board has been inconsistent, but he has much less experience of it. There is probably a lot of room for growth.

• Obviously, the hope of the Cubs is that Ervin will release the waivers and be transferred to AAA Iowa, as Sergio Alcantara was yesterday. So, at least, they can keep you up and unless it’s clear that they need that stick against lefties.

• More about Jake Arrieta’s expectations, but some good quotes:

• And Arrieta talking about his time so far with Adbert Alzolay, and being a veteran in general (NBC Sports Chicago): “He’s a guy that, from the beginning, I can say that he wants to. There is no doubt in my mind. He’s focused, asks lots of questions and you can see that he loves the game…. You reach a point in your career where you are expected to not only act on the field, but also outside of it. And I’m very proud of that. And if I can help you scale your career, even a little, it makes the whole organization a lot better. I set the tone in the room from the beginning: I want these guys to understand and know that they can come to me anytime. Be something personal, something related to baseball, it doesn’t matter to me. “

• Love Ian Happ:

• Boog just says no to pitchers who hit:

• Patrick Williams, 19, has been a lot of fun for the Bulls:

• To complete:

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