Amazingly, the Cubs made a number of big roster moves before the Astros came to Wrigley. While Kyle Hendricks’ future as a member of the 2024 Cubs, he was placed on the IL (along with Drew Smyly). I think Smyly’s “hip impingement” might be more legit than Hendricks’ lower back issues.

Everyone was wondering what the Cubs would do to hide Hendricks for a while whether he’s really injured or not. During the Epstein-Hoyer-Maddon era, the trio were experts as manipulating the DL/IL and pitching staff-especially. For that matter the Dodgers and Brewers were even better at squeezing every last inning out of pitchers the public had never heard of.

Players constantly move from the active roster to different levels of the minors depending on their option status. While I (sorta) get how options work, I have no idea about specific players’ status. I don’t have to know and as long as management doesn’t screw up big time, fans don’t have to know or care.

Case in point, the Cubs appear to have given up on 1b/DH, Garrett Cooper far quicker than I would have expected. Along with the pitching moves, Cooper was DFA’d which means he could return to Wrigley, but he’ll have to clear waivers, etc. Counsell may have come to the conclusion that his upside isn’t that high. They recalled 1b, Matt Mervis from AAA Iowa. Even if he’s more than a AAAA player, I don’t know where he’s going to play as he’s more of a redundancy.

Pitchers, Hayden Wesneski and Luke Little were both recalled after brief stints in Iowa. They’re likely going to be making many trips between Iowa and Clark & Addison this season.

Due to the increase in pitchers’ injuries and the inability of most starters to go 7 innings any longer, every team is going to have to rely on more pitchers than in decades past. It’s really been happening for the last ten years or so. Some teams haven’t gotten the hang of it yet.

Managing a bullpen in today’s environment is an art, but massaging a staff that includes players currently in the organization is really fun to watch. The difference between the Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers is that L.A and Chicago have the ability to buy their way out of trouble.