Hoyer, McLeod officially join Cubs

[hankp101]

I was just looking at DeWitt and Stewart on fangraphs and I was surprised to see that Stewart is only 4 months older than DeWitt.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Why would we platoon Baker/DeWitt when both mash lefties/suck ass against righties?

[Rob]

Why would we platoon Baker/DeWitt when both mash lefties/suck ass against righties?

 

Mostly because the sample sizes are small enough that I don't put too much stock into them, instead opting to use my personal opinions based off what I've seen (which is a whole separate can of worms, I am certainly aware).

 

If I'm not mistaken, before last season's disaster by Stewart wasn't he a reverse platoon splits guy too?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I was just looking at DeWitt and Stewart on fangraphs and I was surprised to see that Stewart is only 4 months older than DeWitt.

 

I actually thought Stewart was younger. One of the things on DeWitt's side as a player is that he's pretty young. At his age Jeff Baker was pretty garbage...now he's useful...His value isn't all that high, but a team looking for a LH bat with some pop off the bench that can handle 3B/2B/minor OF work on a given day could probably do worse with less possible upside.

[Guest]

Qualifying players who ended the season with a strikeout rate higher than Stewart's career 27.9%

 

2011: Mark Reynolds, Drew Stubbs

2010: Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn, Drew Stubbs, Adam LaRoche

2009: Mark Reynolds, Jack Cust, Russell Branyan, Carlos Pena

2008: Mark Reynolds, Jack Cust, Ryan Howard, Mike Cameron

2007: Jack Cust, Ryan Howard, BJ Upton

 

Is it possible to be a productive player with that many strikeouts? Yeah. But it's not easy.

And people think I'm wacky when I talk about Brett Jackson's bust potential.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

man, i was hoping against hope for like three years that we'd be able somehow to steal Gordon from the Royals, the countless times they had tired of his perceived failings

 

That guy doesn't have to play 3B. There's plenty of former top prospects who have sucked that may or may not (probably not) turn it around.

[UK1679666180]

Qualifying players who ended the season with a strikeout rate higher than Stewart's career 27.9%

 

2011: Mark Reynolds, Drew Stubbs

2010: Mark Reynolds, Adam Dunn, Drew Stubbs, Adam LaRoche

2009: Mark Reynolds, Jack Cust, Russell Branyan, Carlos Pena

2008: Mark Reynolds, Jack Cust, Ryan Howard, Mike Cameron

2007: Jack Cust, Ryan Howard, BJ Upton

 

Is it possible to be a productive player with that many strikeouts? Yeah. But it's not easy.

And people think I'm wacky when I talk about Brett Jackson's bust potential.

 

Definitely shouldn't be overlooked, it's a trait that actually extends from level to level. The ability to swing and miss, typically gets worse as they progress. Crossed out several kids based on that at the amateur level.

[bukie]

Just out of curiosity, what was Vitters's K% this year?

[UK1679666180]

Just out of curiosity, what was Vitters's K% this year?

12%

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

And people think I'm wacky when I talk about Brett Jackson's bust potential.

 

He screams trade bait, doesn't he?

[bukie]

Just out of curiosity, what was Vitters's K% this year?

12%

Nice, improving both the K% and the BB/K ratio are encouraging.

[UK1679666180]

And people think I'm wacky when I talk about Brett Jackson's bust potential.

 

He screams trade bait, doesn't he?

 

Wrong time to be trying to trade a prospect, unless you're sarcastically implying it would be for Epstein or Hoyer.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

And people think I'm wacky when I talk about Brett Jackson's bust potential.

 

He screams trade bait, doesn't he?

 

Wrong time to be trying to trade a prospect, unless you're sarcastically implying it would be for Epstein or Hoyer.

 

What's so wrong about the time?

 

No, not as compensation. For a better, more proven player. Personally I've pushed a Jackson + couple of others for BJ Upton idea out there at some point. Maybe for an arm or 3B...Whatever opens up.

[UK1679666180]

(Unless Tampa loves Jackson, which he doesn't fit their profile for a CF'er) Why would a team with an entire new structure that is stressing to build from within, is now looking to trade their top prospect? It should raise a red flag.

[davell]

Some of Jackson's K problems come from being picky though. I think his K rate will always be an issue, but I can see it dropping a bit anyway. And I think he's a pretty solid bet to give us some .350 OBP seasons while also going 20/20 as well. I'll pass on trying to deal him personally, because I think he holds great value for us as a CFer and as our leadoff hitter.

[Guest]

(Unless Tampa loves Jackson, which he doesn't fit their profile for a CF'er) Why would a team with an entire new structure that is stressing to build from within, is now looking to trade their top prospect? It should raise a red flag.

Well, they are going to be pursuing parallel paths, so that may mean trading some of the promising players away when the right opportunity presents itself. It isn't necessarily a red flag, depending on the nature of the deal and the overall context of the offseason.

[Guest]

Some of Jackson's K problems come from being picky though. I think his K rate will always be an issue, but I can see it dropping a bit anyway. And I think he's a pretty solid bet to give us some .350 OBP seasons while also going 20/20 as well. I'll pass on trying to deal him personally, because I think he holds great value for us as a CFer and as our leadoff hitter.

Some of his k's definitely come from "grinding" his at bats and putting himself behind in the count. But it seems evident that he also has some holes that pitchers can exploit, too. I'm not flat out predicting bust for him. I have just been trying to keep realistic in expectations. When someone strikes out that much without exceptional power, there is significant performance risk.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

(Unless Tampa loves Jackson, which he doesn't fit their profile for a CF'er) Why would a team with an entire new structure that is stressing to build from within, is now looking to trade their top prospect? It should raise a red flag.

 

1 - What's their profile of a CF? Jackson probably lags behind defensively what they want if that's what you're thinking, and I can agree with that. That said, they have very rangy OF guys with Jennings out there in LF and possibly Guyer out there in RF next year.

 

2 - The answer to your question is that trading Jackson does not make or break that ultra vague "build from within" plan, Jackson is pretty mid-range for a top prospect, and there are alot of guys who came from within the farm system that are now useable players here. Soto, Barney, the bullpen, and then one of the best young SSs in baseball sounds like within to me. It's such a vague and general description that it's possible to include trading away Cubs' prospects and players for better players when possible in the "build from within" category, isn't it? It's using what they have already to get what they don't have but want.

[Rob]

If the Rays trade Upton it's a near certainty that Jennings will slide over to CF.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

If the Rays trade Upton it's a near certainty that Jennings will slide over to CF.

 

True. There's a bigger wrench.

 

It's just one idea...there's a decent amount of players I'd trade Jackson for if given the opportunity.

[davearm2]

Some of Jackson's K problems come from being picky though. I think his K rate will always be an issue, but I can see it dropping a bit anyway. And I think he's a pretty solid bet to give us some .350 OBP seasons while also going 20/20 as well. I'll pass on trying to deal him personally, because I think he holds great value for us as a CFer and as our leadoff hitter.

What is the alternative to being picky, though? I'd imagine it's swinging at pitches you recognize you can't do much with, and hitting weak balls in play that usually turn into outs.

 

Seems like "being picky" is the opposite of a problem.

[Omar]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=chc

http://i.imgur.com/X6N2W.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/H63B2.png

 

Looks good²

 

Although they should change Randy Bush's title to Assistant TO THE General Manager.

[17 Seconds]

it wasn't until they fired quade that it fully sank in that we have this front office. we go from jim hendry to this? could it have worked out any better?

[KingCubsFan]

 

If I'm not mistaken, before last season's disaster by Stewart wasn't he a reverse platoon splits guy too?

No, he had an .800+ OPS against righties both in 2009 and 2010. I think it was the year before where he had some crazy reverse split.

[imb]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=chc

http://i.imgur.com/X6N2W.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/H63B2.png

 

Looks good²

 

Although they should change Randy Bush's title to Assistant TO THE General Manager.

 

Who will we hire as Mister Manager now that Quade is gone