Random Cubs Musings

[Little Slide Rooter]

While Youkilks might have been a safer bet than any of our internal options, we simply had to many to cycle through to spend any amount of money on an aging and injury prone vet.

 

As for the outfield, I think it was a "moneyball" move. They simply opted to use Schierholtz and Hairston as a single player rather than make a long term commitment to the 32 year old Swisher. They had their eye on the Bourne market, but were hoping the price would drop lower than he ended up with. Cleveland's certainly getting their $7MM worth so far, but after this year the salary goes way up, and the fact is that he's a 30 year old whose top tool is speed.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Fangraphs' updated proejction for Starlin Castro is 1.9 WAR.

[GammonsPocketTweets]

Isn't Castro's contract much like Rizzo's? That being, even the worst case scenario(outside of his leg falling off) production wise, his contract would still be market value?

[SouthSideRyan]

Isn't Castro's contract much like Rizzo's? That being, even the worst case scenario(outside of his leg falling off) production wise, his contract would still be market value?

 

Yes, and this conversation in 3 years will be laughable.

[sneakypower]

in 3 months, probably

[Sammy Sofa]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

[KingCubsFan]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

I thought that's what was happening last August and September, when the walks and power went up but the average dropped. Lately, he just seems to be getting himself out by swinging at horrible pitches.

[Sammy Sofa]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

I thought that's what was happening last August and September, when the walks and power went up but the average dropped. Lately, he just seems to be getting himself out by swinging at horrible pitches.

 

Like I said, totally unscientific and semi-meatball-y hope. It's a mild case of desperation convincing my brain that there must be a good reason for it.

[jersey cubs fan]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

I thought that's what was happening last August and September, when the walks and power went up but the average dropped. Lately, he just seems to be getting himself out by swinging at horrible pitches.

 

Like I said, totally unscientific and semi-meatball-y hope. It's a mild case of desperation convincing my brain that there must be a good reason for it.

 

Didn't he knock up somebody in NY or something? It's just sleep deprivation.

[Guest]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

I thought that's what was happening last August and September, when the walks and power went up but the average dropped. Lately, he just seems to be getting himself out by swinging at horrible pitches.

 

Like I said, totally unscientific and semi-meatball-y hope. It's a mild case of desperation convincing my brain that there must be a good reason for it.

 

This was from before yesterday's game and hopefully lends credence to what you're thinking:

 

@sahadevsharma: Talked to Rowson abt Castro. He's seen good things from him at plate lately, laying off close pitches early. Singled out 1st AB vs Quintana

 

@sahadevsharma: Rowson said it's not one pitch type (FB, SL, etc) that Castro is looking for in general. The plan changes with the pitcher & situation.

 

@sahadevsharma: Certain situations Castro may look for pitch middle-in & will take one middle-away. It's a process that Rowson believes he's starting to get

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Scott Hairston has -0.8 fWAR in 71 PA.

[Sammy Sofa]

My totally unscientific, semi-meatball-y hope is that this is Castro's adjustment year to the new(ish) regime's approach since this is his first year without Jaramillo.

I thought that's what was happening last August and September, when the walks and power went up but the average dropped. Lately, he just seems to be getting himself out by swinging at horrible pitches.

 

Like I said, totally unscientific and semi-meatball-y hope. It's a mild case of desperation convincing my brain that there must be a good reason for it.

 

This was from before yesterday's game and hopefully lends credence to what you're thinking:

 

@sahadevsharma: Talked to Rowson abt Castro. He's seen good things from him at plate lately, laying off close pitches early. Singled out 1st AB vs Quintana

 

@sahadevsharma: Rowson said it's not one pitch type (FB, SL, etc) that Castro is looking for in general. The plan changes with the pitcher & situation.

 

@sahadevsharma: Certain situations Castro may look for pitch middle-in will take one middle-away. It's a process that Rowson believes he's starting to get

 

Urge to panic....fading....fading. Thanks for that.

[sneakypower]

he had an 84 G stretch in the middle of the season last year hitting .245/.283/.389

and finished it up with a 47 G stretch hitting .311/.370/.481

 

sure it's frustrating to watch on a day-by-day basis, but it's probably a little bit foolish to try making any sweeping conclusions from a relatively small sample like that

[Sammy Sofa]

he had an 84 G stretch in the middle of the season last year hitting .245/.283/.389

and finished it up with a 47 G stretch hitting .311/.370/.481

 

sure it's frustrating to watch on a day-by-day basis, but it's probably a little bit foolish to try making any sweeping conclusions from a relatively small sample like that

 

I don't think preferring that he not have long stretches like that where he's very disappointing is that bad of a sweeping conclusion. What, if he had two consecutive seasons where he was that bad for approximately that long (yes, I know we're not there yet) it wouldn't be that worrisome because he bounces back over the last 8 weeks or so?

 

He's been stank for about 30 games now; I really don't see how I'm supposed to feel better if he manages to replicate a "fix" like last year's.

[Guest]

weren't we one of the last 2 teams jason grilli was deciding on? he has been ridiculous this season. no way to tell if he'd have been that good with the cubs so far, but he could have made a massive difference so far.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

weren't we one of the last 2 teams jason grilli was deciding on? he has been ridiculous this season. no way to tell if he'd have been that good with the cubs so far, but he could have made a massive difference so far.

 

Supposedly the Cubs and Pirates had similar offers, but he didn't want to leave Pittsburgh unless someone offered him three years instead of two.

[Guest]

so glad that i remembered seeing grilli's ridiculous k/9 when he was talking to the cubs and picked him up for real cheap in my auction draft

[apete6]

weren't we one of the last 2 teams jason grilli was deciding on? he has been ridiculous this season. no way to tell if he'd have been that good with the cubs so far, but he could have made a massive difference so far.

 

If this team had Anibal Sanchez (3.1 WAR) and Jason Grilli (1.4 WAR) instead of Fujikawa (0.2 WAR) and Jackson (0.7 WAR), we'd have 3.6 more wins. Round that up to 4 and say another win by not having Marmol pissing games away and the rest of the bullpen in a better order and you have a team that is 27-25 right now.

 

Ugh.

[Guest]

weren't we one of the last 2 teams jason grilli was deciding on? he has been ridiculous this season. no way to tell if he'd have been that good with the cubs so far, but he could have made a massive difference so far.

 

If this team had Anibal Sanchez (3.1 WAR) and Jason Grilli (1.4 WAR) instead of Fujikawa (0.2 WAR) and Jackson (0.7 WAR), we'd have 3.6 more wins. Round that up to 4 and say another win by not having Marmol pissing games away and the rest of the bullpen in a better order and you have a team that is 27-25 right now.

 

Ugh.

 

You don't need to do all that since this team already should have a much better record than it does.

 

Take THAT win total and add those wins to it, though, and we're probably in contention for the division.

[ConstableRabbit]

Carlos Marmol. That is all.

 

 

 

[Sammy Sofa]

Travis Wood looks as miserable as someone possibly could on a day where he pitched a fantastic start and hit a [expletive] grand slam.

[apete6]

weren't we one of the last 2 teams jason grilli was deciding on? he has been ridiculous this season. no way to tell if he'd have been that good with the cubs so far, but he could have made a massive difference so far.

 

If this team had Anibal Sanchez (3.1 WAR) and Jason Grilli (1.4 WAR) instead of Fujikawa (0.2 WAR) and Jackson (0.7 WAR), we'd have 3.6 more wins. Round that up to 4 and say another win by not having Marmol pissing games away and the rest of the bullpen in a better order and you have a team that is 27-25 right now.

 

Ugh.

 

You don't need to do all that since this team already should have a much better record than it does.

 

Take THAT win total and add those wins to it, though, and we're probably in contention for the division.

 

Good point. So, basically, Theo and Jed know what the hell they're doing. I'm now comforted.

[jersey cubs fan]

Travis Wood looks as miserable as someone possibly could on a day where he pitched a fantastic start and hit a [expletive] grand slam.

 

You would too if you had to walk back through those halls from the clubhouse.

[Guest]

Cubs pitchers are now:

 

T2 in hits with 18 (one behind Atlanta, tied with Cincinnati)

1st in doubles with 6 (2nd has 4)

1st in HRs with 4 (2nd has 2)

1st in TBs with 36 (2nd has 28, third has 23)

1st in RBI with 19 (2nd has 8)

3rd/4th/1st/1st in the slash stats (excluding the couple teams that only have a handful of ABs).

[sneakypower]

for the past month, Castillo, Castro & Soriano all have better BB rates than Rizzo