The Chicago Cubs are one of only four teams in baseball that still have their bullpens in the field of play, but that will all change next year when they are moved underneath the bleachers at the Friendly Confines.
Surprisingly, not everyone on the North Side is in favor of the change.
Ace pitcher Jake Arrieta can be counted among those that are against the change at Wrigley. In a piece published late Friday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune wrote that previous reports that the bullpen relocation would be pushed back a year were refuted by the team, but Arrieta would have been just fine with such a delay.
“I’d prefer them there versus being underneath the bleachers in left field,” Arrieta told the Tribune. “I know most guys personally don’t like the feeling of throwing indoors. There really is no comparison to being outside to replicate the way you’re going to be pitching in a game situation. I’m OK with that. I like it.”
The bullpen relocation is one of many elements of the Cubs’ renovation of Wrigley Field, which will enter its third year when the offseason begins this fall.
New construction around the ballpark is ongoing and bleacher renovations have been completed, but moving the bullpens and building new private clubs beneath the main grandstand are the next steps in the process.
When the bullpens are moved, the Cubs plan on adding more seats down both the left and right field foul lines. The relocation is intended to not only prevent injury to outfielders chasing fly balls, but also to eliminate instances where balls in play get trapped underneath benches and chairs around the mounds.
Chicago Baseball
Despite that reasoning (and the desire to have players be able to throw side sessions even if it’s raining outside), Arrieta still isn’t a fan of the idea.
“We all would prefer to keep it the way it is,” he said.
