The Cubs bullpen has undergone some changes since last offseason, both roster-wise and location-wise.
Aroldis Chapman and Travis Wood are out, Wade Davis and Koji Uehara are in, and the actual bullpens at Wrigley Field have been moved to underneath the bleachers, where the pitchers will be out of sight, though not out of mind.
We won’t get to see the new Wrigley bullpens until the home opener, and then we won’t get to see the pitchers warming up unless they’re showed on the video boards. The Cubs have maintained the decision to move the bullpens was due to “safety” concerns, though obviously the additional revenues from new seats down the foul lines was a consideration.
Pitching coach Chris Bosio and manager Joe Maddon have both said they aren’t thrilled with the switch, but neither is resisting change. They understand that it’s part of the renovation plan and something everyone will just have to deal with.
The original plan at Wrigley was to enlarge the outfield doors from 12 feet wide to 24 feet to make it easier for pitchers to see the game from behind the bleachers walls. But the ivy on the walls is protected by the city’s landmark ordinance, and when Mayor Rahm Emanuel discovered the plan he rejected it and told them to go back to the drawing boards, forcing the Cubs to go with a smaller opening.
Bosio won’t be able to watch his relievers warming up from the Cubs dugout, so communication with bullpen coach Lester Strode will be even more important.
“It’ll be different,” Bosio said. “In Houston you can’t see (the pitchers), and Atlanta. There are bullpens behind the walls where you can’t see them. There are some parts we’re going to have to figure out. Wrigley is so unique, a lot like San Francisco, because you’re right there with the crowd, and we think that’s a huge homefield advantage for us. We’ve got to turn it into a homefield advantage no matter where the bullpens are.”
Photos as the Cubs arrive at spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 13, 2017.
Former Cubs reliever Jason Motte referred to the Houston bullpen as a “dungeon” since it’s an enclosed area and difficult to watch the game. Jake Arrieta was among the Cubs’ pitchers who preferred the status quo, saying last September he enjoyed warming up on the field.
“There really is no comparison to being outside to replicate the way you’re going to be pitching in a game situation,” Arrieta said. “I’m OK with it. I like it." p, "I’d prefer them there versus being underneath the bleachers in left field.”
But now it’s a brand new world, and Bosio said everyone will adjust.
“We will sit down and talk about every detail that we possibly can,” Bosio said. “We’ll look at the other ballparks, talk to their coaches, players, and try to come up with all the pluses and minuses and be as prepared as we can be. That’s all you can do.”
The Cubs also have a variety of routines for starters warming up, which includes handshakes and Bosio taking the final warm-up pitch and tossing it into the bleachers.
“The routines we have before the game, we’ll try to keep all that stuff,” Bosio said.
The visitors should be happy with the move since they no longer will be subjected to abuse by Cubs fans watching them warm up.
As for the Cubs’ bullpen, Maddon and Bosio believe it will be as strong as last season. Bosio said he doesn’t believe the ways relievers were used in the postseason will be replicated in the regular season, which should mean Davis will only have to pitch the ninth innings for the most part. Chapman was used in the seventh or eighth at times in the postseason, after saying during the regular season he preferred to start the ninth.
“It was more of a postseason thing,” Bosio said. “The seven, eight relievers we had last year were big for us, and I can’t see using them any other way because it’s part of the season. Once you get in the postseason, who is not going to bring in a guy throwing 102 miles an hour? Plus we were a little banged up back there (with Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon coming off injuries).
“You do different things depending on different circumstances. Maybe we do and maybe we don’t. Depends on what kind of start we get off to, the health of the club. A lot of different things can happen.”
Caption Miguel Montero on his playing time
Veteran Cubs catcher Miguel Montero discusses his potential playing time heading into the 2017 season.
Veteran Cubs catcher Miguel Montero discusses his potential playing time heading into the 2017 season.
Caption Hector Rondon on his health and pitching in the World Baseball Classic
Cubs pitcher Hector Rondon discusses his health (he injured his triceps last summer) and possibly pitching for his native Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Cubs pitcher Hector Rondon discusses his health (he injured his triceps last summer) and possibly pitching for his native Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
