Gomes Confident Cubs Rotation Will Be Even More Improved
While the Chicago Cubs fell short of a postseason berth for the second season in a row, the starting pitching was much improved following the All-Star break.
It should be even better in 2023.
That’s because the Cubs added Jameson Taillon and Drew Smyly to strengthen the staff.
Catcher Yan Gomes had one of the best views of the improved starters.
And he expects more improvement.
"If you start a season with five guys and end with five guys, that would be tremendous,” said Gomes, who’s expected to share the catching duties with Tucker Barnhart. “But we understand now the depth that we are building in the Minor Leagues. And they've shown they can do it up here and carry a load that probably wasn't expected of them last year. They did it, and the reward was one of the best finishes in the league.
"Coming into this year, the coolest thing is we added some experience in Taillon. And then add another year of those young guys that we have, that's going to be helpful here. I'm just really excited just for the knowledge that our pitching staff and pitching coaches got from what we did last year.
"Instead of trying to still bounce ideas of, 'How can we get to that?' We showed there was a process that does work. And we've got the people for it."
Gomes wasn’t solely talking about the starters. He referenced the upgrades throughout the roster with the additions of Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini, Barnhart and Brad Boxberger, among others.
"The front office put a lot of effort in to build a team that's a win-now team,” Gomes told reporters. “And we're trying to build that right now this spring -- not on an eye-wash basis. It's a lot of little things that we're doing. It's things to prepare us to play in the long run and go in there with the younger guys. It's going to be, 'Come ready to win. Get ready to win. Come ready to perform in any way you can and help build a selfless team, an egoless team.'"
On paper, it sure looks that way. While games are won on the field, the Cubs seem primed for a breakout season and possible playoff berth.
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