Random Cubs Musings

[rynefan]

I find it hard to believe that there are over 350 better pitchers in the world than Carlos Zambrano who is not on a Major League Roster.

 

I get thoughts like that a lot. Like when the bullpen is self-destructing (most days), I think of all the guys sweating it out in the minors that never make it. I mean, these are the ones that made it?

[Little Slide Rooter]

I find it hard to believe that there are over 350 better pitchers in the world than Carlos Zambrano who is not on a Major League Roster.

 

I get thoughts like that a lot. Like when the bullpen is self-destructing (most days), I think of all the guys sweating it out in the minors that never make it. I mean, these are the ones that made it?

 

I don't think it's about 350 pitchers better than him so much as an absence of the right situation. Looking over most 5 starters and a lot of 4 and even 3 starters in the big leagues, I can't imagine that there's nobody willing to give him a big league deal.

 

Keep in mind that Zambrano probably never need to lift a finger again and his family will be taken care of for generations. With this in mind, if he's not getting either offers from teams that he wants to pitch for or getting substantial offers from other teams, he might just as soon take a vacation, which could last anywhere from a few months to the rest of his life.

 

One similar case I can recall is Jermaine Dye. When he was a free agent, he passed on a few offers, including one from the Cubs because he didn't think that he'd get sufficient playing time and I believe The Giants because the money offered wasn't worth relocating his family. I believe that Derrek Lee was another. He did have suitors but none that he had any interest in going to. I'm pretty sure The Brewers gave him a ring when Gamel went down.

[UK1679666180]

I find it hard to believe that there are over 350 better pitchers in the world than Carlos Zambrano who is not on a Major League Roster.

 

I get thoughts like that a lot. Like when the bullpen is self-destructing (most days), I think of all the guys sweating it out in the minors that never make it. I mean, these are the ones that made it?

 

His stuff isn't the same as it once was and his poor reputation will likely sway teams into looking at other pitchers with similar stuff who come with less baggage. It's unfortunate but teams will look teams will go for less baggage at league minimum or someone up from the minors compared to a player like Zambrano.

 

I guess it depends on how much reward they could expect from Zambrano.

 

I wouldn't mind it, it's just hard to watch a power pitcher like him lose his best pitch (power sinker). I guess it depends on what type of shape he's in and what type of shape his arm is in. Florida got it right last year as far as having him throw more splitters.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Despite the 2-3 W/L recors over the past 7 games, we'vehad some great ofensive numbers from virtually all regulars aside from Rizzo and the 2B dead-weight. Over that stretch, Valbuena has hit .273 with an OPS in the mid/high .700s, something that I'd gladly take and run from our cumulative 3B. Obviously, Castillo and Schierhotlz are hitting well above their heads, but I think they can be productive beyond that. Rizzo should heat up. Soriano's been on a tear and Castro's looking great.

 

We've had 3 quality starts, as well as the one from Jackson in which he looked like Justin Verlander for 5 innings and Chris Volstad for 1. Get Garza in that mix, and our rotation looks good, depending on who's spot he takes. I'd like to think that Feldman as the odd man out would be a no brainer, but due to the bullpen struggles and Villanueva's history as a swing man, I have to wonder if they move him. I really hope not. I don't expect a sub 2.00 ERA from him all season, but as a guy who's always been a spot starter or swingman throughout his career, I'd be very interested to see what he can do with a full season as a starter.

 

There's the obvious issue of the pen. Marmol is said to be "working his way back" to closer, but if that doesn't happen, a plan B would be nice. I really don't mind a middle relief core of Camp, Bowden, Rondon and Russell as a 7th-8th inning guy. We just need that closer.

 

And some power off the bench would be nice. Hairston is supposed to be just that, but needless to say, it hasn't worked out early on. Cody Ransom has yet to see action, but I don't expect much more production when he does. We could always cycle through Sweeney and Bogusevic, left handed or not and bring up Stewart to replace Ransom or Gonzalez. As brutal as he's been early on for Iowa, I can't imagine him being much worse than the alternatives.

 

When Garza returns and Rizzo heats up, this could be a watchable team. I wouldn't make plans to watch them in October, but if going game by game as I did when I was younger, I could actually have fun watching them. What's more is that there are a lot of guys that should be viable options beyond 2014. Soriano, DeJesus, and Marmol could all be traded between now and next winter. Hairston and Camp arent likely to be around beyond 2013, and could be traded as well even if it is for a tin of expired Skoal. Garza could still be extended, and side from the spare parts shop that makes up the bench,everyone else could potentially be a useful part of the future on some level. Granted, this alone may not make for an exciting future, but it could cetainly leave plenty of money to add some imapct players through FA or trade, depedning whan the New Breed begin funneling through.

[neely crenshaw]

Agree, my only worry is as our last few bats heat up, our pitching is bound to drop off some. We know what we will get from Samardzija. I feel good about Villanueva continuing at a good clip..probably not sub .100 era, but under 4.00. My main worry is Wood. I hope this is his turning point but he has been so up and down, showing flashes of brilliance and then mediocrity. Jackson is going to be Jackson. He is a mid .400 era guy for a substantial career. He does not hit spots like Villanueva, so I don't think he'll get the defensive bump that he could.

They key to a pretty solid staff is Wood and then the health of Garza and Baker. That will make up for any lack of offense that this team will have.

Heck, we could be greedy and have everyone work out, trade 2 of them and still send out 5 decent arms.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm really not concerned about Wood. Again, he won;t be a sub 2.00 ERA pitcher, but if last year is any indication, we could do a lot worse for a 4-5 starter, especially since he's under control through 2017.

[neely crenshaw]

It would be nice if he were more than a back end guy. If he could fill in behind samardzija for the next few years it would certainly help our free agent needs down the road.

[Little Slide Rooter]

It would be nice if he were more than a back end guy. If he could fill in behind samardzija for the next few years it would certainly help our free agent needs down the road.

 

To be honest, it would be great if he were more than a back end guy, but regardless, I really hope that the plan isn't for him to be our 2 starter. I think that a realistic rotation for 2015 and beyond would be:

 

Price (trade), Shark, 2013 1st Rounder, Jackson(could be traded by then), Wood/Vizcaino/Cabrera/Loux and further down the road sprinkle in whichever of Paniaqua/Wells/Maples/Peralta/Pierce Johnson/Underwood/Blackburn/other 2013 picks pan out; and if enough of these guys don't pan out to be at least mid rotation starters by 2016, then we're doing something very wrong.

 

There's always the possibility that one or more of Struck/Beeler/Jokisch/Loosen/Cates/Rhee end up as slightly more than depth, though I wouldn't put money on it.

 

I like Wood, but he could also be very tradeable.

[Little Slide Rooter]

As much as I'm liking the direction of the farm system, if we're serious about competing in the near future, we're going to nees some sure-thing impact players sprinkled in. The upcoming free agent class doesn't seem to offer that, unless anyone really thinks that the Yanks will let Cano get away.

 

2 guys who are supposedly on the block are Car-Go and Stanton. Either one would be exactly what we need. The question is what would be the cost? Is there any realistic way to get either without giving up one of our top 3 prospects or Castro?

 

Would;

 

1 Big league ready-ish CF; Jackson/Sczcur/Lake/Vitters

1 Big League ready-ish pitcher/pitching prospect Wood/Loux; maybe Dolis or Cabrera, but any stock they had seems to be on the way down.

1 of Shoulders or Vogelbach; a raw power guy who could hit 6,000 homers at Coors (or 2 from above group instead)

2 low level/high ceiling pitching prospects; Maples/Wells/Johnson/Blackburn/Underwood

1 low level/high ceiling bat; Torryes/Amaya/Alcantara/Hernandez/Candelerio/Villanueva

 

with a few prospects, say 1 high ceiling/low level and a decent upper level or big league ready coming back our way as well as a few spare parts flying both ways be enough/too much to land that type of big fish?

[sneakypower]

i don't have a direct line to Beinfest & Hill, but no, i don't believe any permutation of nine nondescript players will be enough to land Giancarlo Stanton

[SouthSideRyan]

I love how wildly the value fluctuates within each category. Ok you guys can have either Travis Wood or Barrett Loux.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I love how wildly the value fluctuates within each category. Ok you guys can have either Travis Wood or Barrett Loux.

 

Depends if they want a guy with big league experience and some degree of success or the higher ceiling guy without.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, well, that makes all the difference in the world.

[Sammys Boombox]

On the lightning/tornado game. I was there on my honeymoon...

[davell]

I love how wildly the value fluctuates within each category. Ok you guys can have either Travis Wood or Barrett Loux.

 

Depends if they want a guy with big league experience and some degree of success or the higher ceiling guy without.

Loux has a higher ceiling than Travis Wood? Tell me more.

[KaiserCesar]

I have a dose of optimism for a change.

 

So, I was aware that the Cubs were underperforming their pythag and their hitters were a bit unlucky this year, but I didn't realize the full extent of the underperformance. Per the BP adjusted standings, the Cubs' 2nd order win %, which substitutes the projected runs for actual runs, is .481. When the win % is further adjusted for strength of schedule, it goes up to .511

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/

[Little Slide Rooter]

@CarrieMuskat: While we're waiting for #Cubs: Bryan LaHair batting .291, 6 HRs, 19 RBIs in Japan. Casey McGehee ranks among Pacific League leaders (.384)

 

If this were Sullivan, I'd pass it off as trolling. With Muskat I give her the benefit of the doubt that it's sheer stupidity.

[Clem Fandango]

Cubs Organ Player Getting Into Heavier, Darker Stuff

[mul21]

Cubs Organ Player Getting Into Heavier, Darker Stuff

 

Didn't look at the top of the page, read the article, then saw a couple others about Dantoni call Phil about coaching the Lakers and the Bucks blocking fans' view of the Heat. Thought, wait, is this an Onion article? Yep, paying attention is a good thing.

[Post Count Padder]

So how many pitchers have made the jump from dumpster-diving pickup to closer quicker than Kevin Gregg (as temporary as it is)?

[Hawk4Hall]

I wonder how much longer Scott Hairston gets as a member of this team?

 

On a different note, Kevin Gregg has been fantastic so far.

[Sammy Sofa]

Given the last 3 seasons, probably a while.

 

Especially since he's had a whopping 29 PA.

[UMFan83]

So how many pitchers have made the jump from dumpster-diving pickup to closer quicker than Kevin Gregg (as temporary as it is)?

 

Technically Jose Valverde is doing the same thing.

[KaiserCesar]

The frequency that people mix up Scott and Jerry Hairston is astounding. I've had a couple of friends say they don't understand the Cubs getting an outfielder without power like Hairston (have to be thinking that he's Jerry given Scott's career .200 ISO)

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

http://news.sportslogos.net/2013/04/30/mariners-cubs-turn-back-to-1909-on-june-29th/

 

Love throwback days.