Millar’s chances of making Cubs improving

[JimSorgi]

I don't think that Z & Millar practicing a handshake means that Millar's chances are improving.

but it shows that he's helping team chemistry and that's all that matters. If Theriot doesn't complain about him by the end of spring training, then I'll be sold.

[BCVM22]

I've never been so distressed over a guy hitting well in the spring.

[NCCubFan]

I've never been so distressed over a guy hitting well in the spring.

Almost as depressing as Silva pitching well in his last start.

[UMFan83]

Whatever, I'd live with Millar making the team as long as he earned the spot, and he's not taking the spot from anyone more deserving. He's been awful for awhile, but it's possible that the combo of moving to the NL + the magician Rudy Jaramilo might give him one last decent season. I doubt it but it's not out of the realm of possibility. So long as he earns it in spring, and so far he has, and as long as Lou doesn't stick with him way longer than necessary if we go north and he stops hitting. Basically I'll be ok with it if the decision to keep him is solely based on merit and not because of his magical chemistry or his status as a savy veteran.

[TruffleShuffle]

at this point the only question is whether he starts over lee on opening day

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Millar was not bad 2 years ago. Definitely declining and was crap last year but if he gets 200 ABs off the bench in favorable matchups he could possibly hit 8-10 homers and ops .800.

 

That being said if there is an injury I would much rather put Tracy on the field full time.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

As i hit submit I realized his decent year was 3 seasons ago....

[CUBZ99]

It looks like if he keeps playing the way he has been in ST that he will make the team.

[soapy]

at this point the only question is whether he starts over lee on opening day

 

3B, IMO. How long until we see the Aramis is lazy but Millar plays "the right way" article?

[jersey cubs fan]

Whatever, I'd live with Millar making the team as long as he earned the spot, and he's not taking the spot from anyone more deserving. He's been awful for awhile, but it's possible that the combo of moving to the NL + the magician Rudy Jaramilo might give him one last decent season. I doubt it but it's not out of the realm of possibility. So long as he earns it in spring, and so far he has, and as long as Lou doesn't stick with him way longer than necessary if we go north and he stops hitting. Basically I'll be ok with it if the decision to keep him is solely based on merit and not because of his magical chemistry or his status as a savy veteran.

 

The problem with this nonsense is there's no such thing as earning it in the spring. Spring training numbers are absolutely meaningless. How well you perform is absolutely meaningless. Hitting well in spring training should not "earn" anybody a job they've proven they don't deserve over the course of multiple regular seasons.

[Pushfrog98]

Whatever, I'd live with Millar making the team as long as he earned the spot, and he's not taking the spot from anyone more deserving. He's been awful for awhile, but it's possible that the combo of moving to the NL + the magician Rudy Jaramilo might give him one last decent season. I doubt it but it's not out of the realm of possibility. So long as he earns it in spring, and so far he has, and as long as Lou doesn't stick with him way longer than necessary if we go north and he stops hitting. Basically I'll be ok with it if the decision to keep him is solely based on merit and not because of his magical chemistry or his status as a savy veteran.

 

The problem with this nonsense is there's no such thing as earning it in the spring. Spring training numbers are absolutely meaningless. How well you perform is absolutely meaningless. Hitting well in spring training should not "earn" anybody a job they've proven they don't deserve over the course of multiple regular seasons.

I think spring training matters on fringe cases. It helps you weed out the hitters who look absolutely lost vs the players who are just running into bad luck. I don't think the entire roster should be built upon who performed well in spring training, but for those last few bench spots, it has a lot to do with ST performance.

[jersey cubs fan]

Whatever, I'd live with Millar making the team as long as he earned the spot, and he's not taking the spot from anyone more deserving. He's been awful for awhile, but it's possible that the combo of moving to the NL + the magician Rudy Jaramilo might give him one last decent season. I doubt it but it's not out of the realm of possibility. So long as he earns it in spring, and so far he has, and as long as Lou doesn't stick with him way longer than necessary if we go north and he stops hitting. Basically I'll be ok with it if the decision to keep him is solely based on merit and not because of his magical chemistry or his status as a savy veteran.

 

The problem with this nonsense is there's no such thing as earning it in the spring. Spring training numbers are absolutely meaningless. How well you perform is absolutely meaningless. Hitting well in spring training should not "earn" anybody a job they've proven they don't deserve over the course of multiple regular seasons.

I think spring training matters on fringe cases. It helps you weed out the hitters who look absolutely lost vs the players who are just running into bad luck. I don't think the entire roster should be built upon who performed well in spring training, but for those last few bench spots, it has a lot to do with ST performance.

 

I don't doubt that people actually use spring training results to make decisions on the margin, but they shouldn't. Hitting well in spring training doesn't tell you a damn thing especially when you have all sorts of regular season data to draw from.

[Pushfrog98]

I think spring training also opens eyes to minor leaguers that they may not have an accurate book on. If it wasn't for spring training, Pujols wouldn't have gotten such an early look at the majors.

[Tim M]

Whatever, just as long as he isn't playing 3B. If he sucks it isn't hard to find backup 1B.

[UMFan83]

Whatever, I'd live with Millar making the team as long as he earned the spot, and he's not taking the spot from anyone more deserving. He's been awful for awhile, but it's possible that the combo of moving to the NL + the magician Rudy Jaramilo might give him one last decent season. I doubt it but it's not out of the realm of possibility. So long as he earns it in spring, and so far he has, and as long as Lou doesn't stick with him way longer than necessary if we go north and he stops hitting. Basically I'll be ok with it if the decision to keep him is solely based on merit and not because of his magical chemistry or his status as a savy veteran.

 

The problem with this nonsense is there's no such thing as earning it in the spring. Spring training numbers are absolutely meaningless. How well you perform is absolutely meaningless. Hitting well in spring training should not "earn" anybody a job they've proven they don't deserve over the course of multiple regular seasons.

 

I do think it matters in cases like this. Millar is a declining veteran. The cubs want to see if he can still provide value to team. If he proves he still has bat speed and out performs any other marginal player fighting for a spot then good for them. Spring training results are meaningless and you could probably get all the info or tape you need on a player without inviting them to camp but that's not how baseball teams do business. Spring training numbers don't mean much because of a lot of reasons including the fact that results aren't the most important thing for players with guaranteed roles. Millar is fighting for a spot and by all means came to camp in game shape as did Tracy and whoever else is fighting for the spot. If you are going to argue it's stupid to give the spot to someone who is fighting for one last shot in bigs and has no long term value or upside to you, I'm all for what you are saying. But if there is no young player with a high upside and future on the team, then it's stupid to invite players like Millar to try out, see them tear the cover off the ball and send them home in late march.

[treebird]

there's a difference between having a good spring and hitting well in spring training games.

[jersey cubs fan]

then it's stupid to invite players like Millar to try out, see them tear the cover off the ball and send them home in late march.

 

That was my point when I criticized the signing. In theory it's harmless and meaningless. But with the Cubs, in practice it almost always involves them letting one worthless piece of crap veteran take up roster space without the ability to add an ounce of value to the team.

[WrigleyField 22]

there's a difference between having a good spring and hitting well in spring training games.

+1. Spring training stats don't mean anything, but it helps to check guys out who you are deciding between.

 

Millar shouldn't e on that list of guys to decide between, but take last year with Hill vs Bako, I'm sure it was quite helpful to see how each look to make a decision.

[jersey cubs fan]

there's a difference between having a good spring and hitting well in spring training games.

+1. Spring training stats don't mean anything, but it helps to check guys out who you are deciding between.

 

Millar shouldn't e on that list of guys to decide between, but take last year with Hill vs Bako, I'm sure it was quite helpful to see how each look to make a decision.

 

But Bako was the same thing as Millar is, a washed up vet we already have a huge book on.

[WrigleyField 22]

there's a difference between having a good spring and hitting well in spring training games.

+1. Spring training stats don't mean anything, but it helps to check guys out who you are deciding between.

 

Millar shouldn't e on that list of guys to decide between, but take last year with Hill vs Bako, I'm sure it was quite helpful to see how each look to make a decision.

 

But Bako was the same thing as Millar is, a washed up vet we already have a huge book on.

Bako wasn't as washed up as Millar is, IMO.

[WrigleyField 22]

Going away from the old batter example:

 

Say you are hypothetically trying to decide between two pitchers for the last bullpen start. And lets say they each have an equally large "book" out on them. The stats they put up aren't going to matter, but you are going to be pretty worried about how they look. While advanced stats can give great predictions on a large scale level, when it comes down to a single position battle, you can't ignore the actual play and skill level thats going on.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Going away from the old batter example:

 

Say you are hypothetically trying to decide between two pitchers for the last bullpen start. And lets say they each have an equally large "book" out on them. The stats they put up aren't going to matter, but you are going to be pretty worried about how they look. While advanced stats can give great predictions on a large scale level, when it comes down to a single position battle, you can't ignore the actual play and skill level thats going on.

 

When the actual play is semi-competitive at best, sure you can.

[WrigleyField 22]

Going away from the old batter example:

 

Say you are hypothetically trying to decide between two pitchers for the last bullpen start. And lets say they each have an equally large "book" out on them. The stats they put up aren't going to matter, but you are going to be pretty worried about how they look. While advanced stats can give great predictions on a large scale level, when it comes down to a single position battle, you can't ignore the actual play and skill level thats going on.

 

When the actual play is semi-competitive at best, sure you can.

What does the level of competition have to do with how a player has declined or improved. There has to be certain skill sets that you can evaluate in a vacuum, regardless of the completion level. I mean, you could throw a cardboard cutout at the plate and be able to tell what pitcher is pitching better. Now obviously, you'll still look at past results and trends, but those trends aren't definite. A player can improve or decline their skills.

[NonProfitCow]

Bako wasn't as washed up as Millar is, IMO.

Bako OPS

 

06- .489

07- .534

08- .626

 

Millar

 

07- .785

08- .717

09- .674

 

Neither are any good, but Bako was much more washed up than Millar is.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

maybe he meant clean