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Chicago Cubs News: Coaching changes, Grading Arrieta’s season
The Chicago Cubs made several coachg changes, including firing hitting coach John Mallee. The decision sent a clear message that simply making the playoffs isn’t going to cut it. The Cubs are here to win.
Just a week after talk that the Chicago Cubs‘ Joe Maddon would have any coach back he wanted, the pink slips kept flowing for the Cubs. After Chris Bosio was let go first, Gary Jones and John Mallee were shown the door as well. Chili Davis will enter as the new hitting coach, while Brian Butterfield will take over at third base. The Cubs also are close to adding Jim Hickey as their pitching, although it wasn’t officially announced.
The Cubs will need to address their bullpen, and there might not be a more important role than the ninth inning. Wade Davis was very successful this season, but is a free agent. The Cubs don’t have many in-house options they can feel comfortable with. So should they pay Davis and be done with it? The Cubs still have an open window to compete, and they need to have a bona fide closer to do so.
The Cubs’ Jake Arrieta may have thrown his last pitch as a Chicago Cub, but his legacy–if it was his final one–is part of what built this team. Arrieta captured the Cy Young with a second half in 2015 like we’ve never seen before. As he entered this year, we hoped to see the Jake of old. There were flashes of it, but he never found that consistency he had over the past three seasons. While he had a good year, how did we grade him out for his last year?
These and other stories you might have missed:
‘Cubs coaching changes send a clear message’ – Cubbies Crib
‘Closer Davis reigns supreme in weak FA class’ – Cubbies Crib
‘Grading out Arrieta’s potential last season’ – Cubbies Crib
‘Girardi won’t return as Yankees manager’ – MLB.com
#Cubs on Twitter
I have no regrets and stand by my work. I wish nothing but the best for the Cubs organization and all the amazing people I met along the way, especially my hitters. See you from across the field. Males
— John Mallee (@JohnMallee) October 26, 2017
Source: #Cubs are closing in on a deal that will make Jim Hickey their new pitching coach as part of the broader staff shakeup.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) October 26, 2017
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