Spring Training Thread

[Brian]

I personally would rather them do seal training

[Cubswin11]

According to a poster on PSD Vogelbach reported in weighing 232 lbs. Down from 250ish last year

[CubsWin]

According to a poster on PSD Vogelbach reported in weighing 232 lbs. Down from 250ish last year

Nice. Hope that's accurate.

[UMFan83]

Evidently Theo and Jed will have a play-in match for the last spot in the bunting tournament. Jed was a college 2B, wasn't he?

They're doing that stupid [expletive] thing again this year? Only bad things can come of that, like Campana winning and the "fans" pointing to that as being a reason he should be starting over Soriano.

 

Who cares....extra long spring training this year because of the WBC correct?

[jersey cubs fan]

Evidently Theo and Jed will have a play-in match for the last spot in the bunting tournament. Jed was a college 2B, wasn't he?

They're doing that stupid [expletive] thing again this year? Only bad things can come of that, like Campana winning and the "fans" pointing to that as being a reason he should be starting over Soriano.

 

Didn't DeJesus win?

[WrigleyField 22]

Yea I recall Campana being upset in round 2 or something.

 

Also for anyone who might worry its a sign we'll play small ball I think Sveum pretty much explicitly stated last year they are doining it primarily to practice defense and not bunting.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jersey cubs fan]

Yea I recall Campana being upset in round 2 or something.

 

Also for anyone who might worry its a sign we'll play small ball I think Sveum pretty much explicitly stated last year they are doining it primarily to practice defense and not bunting.

 

I don't think that is true at all. They aren't defending the bunts, they try and hit them into marked off areas.

 

 

The annoying thing is reading guys like Sullivan whine about how few sac bunts the team had in the regular season.

[davell]

I take pride in the fact we were dead last in bunts last year.

[Guest]

Yea I recall Campana being upset in round 2 or something.

 

Also for anyone who might worry its a sign we'll play small ball I think Sveum pretty much explicitly stated last year they are doining it primarily to practice defense and not bunting.

 

I don't think that is true at all. They aren't defending the bunts, they try and hit them into marked off areas.

 

 

The annoying thing is reading guys like Sullivan whine about how few sac bunts the team had in the regular season.

 

Yea. I also heard this on the radio...about how DeJesus won it and then only attempted 3 bunts or something.

[Guest]

I take pride in the fact we were dead last in bunts last year.

 

Yea. I could see getting a little worked up over the contest last year (even though I wasn't that worried about it because it's not like our FO is going to be hiring someone to go out and give away outs on purpose), but after last year, there's really no reason to look at this as anything other than a way for them to pass time.

[pitchcs]

I take pride in the fact we were dead last in bunts last year.

 

Because Garza couldn't put one down to save his life?

[davell]

The players probably like goofy [expletive] like this. It's a break, something different, thats all. Sveum has gotten rave reviews for how he's handled the clubhouse, did as good a job with on-field stuff as we've had in a very long time, helps recruiting with FA evidently, and is on the same page with the FO, who certainly aren't the types to give up outs. The bunting contest is a non-issue.

[Rob]

Besides, even if the Cubs aren't bunting often, I'd like them to be at least somewhat proficient at it for the rare occasion it makes sense to.

[Cubswin11]

Besides, even if the Cubs aren't bunting often, I'd like them to be at least somewhat proficient at it for the rare occasion it makes sense to.

If guys can't get a bunt down at this point in their baseball careers they likely aren't going to get better at it and it's going to take more than one bunting competition in spring training for them to improve. Which I doubt most will, nor should they, take the time to practice bunting.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bunting is not that hard. It's not trying to teach a catcher to play shortstop. I think a few practices could go a long way toward making guys more competent at it.

[WrigleyField 22]

Yea I recall Campana being upset in round 2 or something.

 

Also for anyone who might worry its a sign we'll play small ball I think Sveum pretty much explicitly stated last year they are doining it primarily to practice defense and not bunting.

 

I don't think that is true at all. They aren't defending the bunts, they try and hit them into marked off areas.

 

 

The annoying thing is reading guys like Sullivan whine about how few sac bunts the team had in the regular season.

I looked and all i found was a reference by Wood about getting in work "covering first and things like that", so I think defense is a component. I guess Dale didn't outwardly say that, but we do know he emphasized defense in general, and combined that with his record of bunt usage, we can infer the purpose of the tourney is at least equally about defense, even if its partially mental reps.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest]

They should just make Garza field them all.

[KingCubsFan]

Bunting is not that hard. It's not trying to teach a catcher to play shortstop. I think a few practices could go a long way toward making guys more competent at it.

Yeah it's not like they're doing much else in spring training that will improve their skills. Bunts aren't that important, but it's nice to actually execute them when they're used.

[jersey cubs fan]

and combined that with his record of bunt usage, we can infer the purpose of the tourney is at least equally about defense, even if its partially mental reps.

 

Every account of the bunt tournament I have ever read says the bunt tournament is about putting the ball in a specific place.

 

No, we cannot infer the purpose of the tourney is equally about defense. Nothing at all suggests it plays any part in the tournament.

 

http://mlblogsvineline.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/photo11.jpg

 

One guy bunting, a couple gloveless guys shagging and everybody else lounging around.

[Guest]

Thread needs more spring training pics.

[Cubswin11]

Samardzija turned down a 5 year extension sometime this offseason. Sounds like he wants more $$$.......

 

Jeff Samardzija turned down a five-year extension from the Chicago Cubs this offseason, though he still wants to be a Cub for life.

 

“We were talking, and we both have the same interest in mind,” Samardzija said Tuesday before the first spring workout. “We both want me to be here and both want me to be part of this team for a long time. When we feel like we’re on the same page with that, we’ll get it done. That was offseason talk. That’s what happened at the end of the year. It’s early right now. I still haven’t proven myself to where I want to be as a player. I was happy last year but I don’t want to stay there. I want to improve and get better.

 

Samardzija said “it doesn’t really make much sense” to talk contract after one year in the rotation. With the price of starting pitching soaring, he stands to significantly increase his value with one or two more good years under his belt. Samardzija won’t be a free agent until after the 2015 season.

 

“I’d rather have some more concrete stats and some concrete evidence on what’s going on,” he said. “Obviously, we’ll know better what the future is going on. But I think a big thing is I’m a healthy dude and I work hard and want to put as much on my side of the court as possible.”

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-samardzija-20130212,0,918738.story

[jersey cubs fan]

not much reason for Samardzija to settle for less. I think he's made more than $15m in his career so far, so he's not desperate for that first big payout the way a lot of guys would be.

[Tracer Bullet]

Not surprised the Cubs would want to get a deal done now. Also not surprised he'd want to wait 1-2 years for his value to increase.

[Cubswin11]

Not surprised the Cubs would want to get a deal done now. Also not surprised he'd want to wait 1-2 years for his value to increase.

Agreed, Cubs probably wanted to see if he would take a little less than what he'd cost right now if he were a FA to be secure for the next 5 years and he's made enough already in his career and knows if he can pitch like he did last year or improve for the next two he probably can get 5+ years and around $15-18 in aav after the next two years. He's signed for $2.64mm this year with a significant bump likely coming next year. I'm guessing they offered somewhere around 5/55 (guessing it was something like 3.5 in 13', 8 in 14', 12 in 15', 15 in 16' and 18 in 17').

[Brian]

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/2.Xw6bi0VQuYZ0QFraPjDw--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTUxMjtjcj0xO2N3PTM1NTtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9NTEyO3E9NzA7dz0zNTU-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302111143421955810-p2.jpg

Kyuji and his purse.

 

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/SeVj_I23XA0IlpjwNTFB.Q--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTM3Njtjcj0xO2N3PTUxMjtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9Mzc2O3E9NzA7dz01MTI-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302121456537968365-p2.jpg

 

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/Ph.FasDpd1uySJuaTb8o5Q--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTM1Nztjcj0xO2N3PTUxMjtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MzU3O3E9NzA7dz01MTI-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302121500540408376-p2.jpg

 

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/InElOchE.Iun0344W2eJ0Q--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTM0MTtjcj0xO2N3PTUxMjtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MzQxO3E9NzA7dz01MTI-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302121650606018512-p2.jpg

 

http://l.yimg.com/iu/api/res/1.2/gVGv_qJ4zdmtXWTIEJ.uDA--/YXBwaWQ9eXZpZGVvO2NoPTM0ODtjcj0xO2N3PTUxMjtkeD0xO2R5PTE7Zmk9dWxjcm9wO2g9MzQ4O3E9NzA7dz01MTI-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/AP_MLB/201302121651606938518-p2.jpg