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Otto: Cubs' recent moves bring team competition

The late, great Satchel Paige was once quoted as saying, "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you." While it is unclear in what context the Hall of Famer was quoted, those words ring true with this Cubs team and some of their recent roster moves.

The Cubs organization has a farm system so rich in talent that most of their call-ups have hit the ground running.

For individual players, there will always be that player right around the corner looking to take your job. With the recent call-ups of outfielder Albert Almora and catcher Willson Contreras, the Cubs organization continues to crank out the players.

Trades and call-ups ultimately will affect playing time for those currently playing certain positions. Currently for the Cubs, the battle for playing time resides in the outfield and behind the plate. Under the right circumstances and with the right type of players, that competition of someone gaining on you can be great for a team.

For an individual player, instead of looking back, he needs to just be ready when his name is called to do something on the field. Matt Szczur only had 6 at-bats on the recent road trip. Joe Maddon batted Szczur second on Friday against the Pirates, and what does he do? He hits a 2-run home run in the first inning to get the Cubs going. He's fighting for playing time, and he is getting it done.

Almora is pushing to stay in the big leagues. With a game-winning hit against the Washington Nationals, and some sparkling plays in the outfield, he has taken advantage of his opportunity so far.

It sounds like the Cubs intend to have Contreras up for a short time, primarily to get a taste of the big leagues. There is so much that goes into the catching position, that every day in the majors will be valuable to Contreras in learning the pitching staff.

Each pitcher has their own quirks on how they like to work with their catcher. Some pitchers like their catcher to give their target early even before starting their pitching motion. While others prefer their catcher to set up their target a little bit later when they are actually in their motion to the plate.

Some pitchers, like Jon Lester, prefer their catcher to move their entire body for a target when throwing to the outside corner of the plate. Others prefer their catcher to set up down the middle with their body, and just move their glove. Coming into a game one time, I had a catcher ask me on the mound what my name was. There's no excuse for giving up 2 home runs that day, but I sure wish he would've asked me instead how I like my target.

Either by observing games at the big-league level, or by actually calling a few games, this gives Contreras the opportunity to get acclimated real quick. This Cubs staff has been really good so far, and if Jake Arrieta likes his coffee with cream and sugar, I would make note of that.

There is no secret here, Contreras could eventually start pushing Miguel Montero and David Ross for playing time behind the plate. Yet Montero and Ross will do everything they possibly can do to get Contreras ready to handle this staff. Contreras is a right-handed hitter that could give Joe Maddon another vital option against left-handed pitching, or a team with a good running game.

While there is always that fight for playing time on a team, what's unique about this Cubs team is that ultimately it is all about winning. Just be ready.

• Dave Otto, a standout athlete at Elk Grove High School, pitched from 1987-1994 for four MLB teams, including the Cubs. A former baseball analyst for WGN Radio, FoxSportsNet and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Otto also is a member of the University of Missouri Hall of Fame.

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