On occasion, the last few years, a rather innocuous claim has gotten tossed around fairly often. Theo Epstein’s Cubs don’t develop pitching very well. What usually follows is an incredibly vague half-discussion on “what should be happening in the pitching development sector.” Or a notation that Epstein admitted it, himself. Midway through, something is mumbled about Kyle Hendricks “being added in a trade”, and the conversation is over. Epstein is considered guilty of developing pitching poorly. This is a bit of a closer look at the Cubs pitching development.
Pitching takes more time to develop than hitting.