Random Cubs Musings

[Hairyducked Idiot]

In the meantime, we are very happy with our production at third and Ian is working on trying to figure out Triple-A pitching.

 

 

http://transmedialshakespeare.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/kelso-burn.jpg

 

[crazycooter]

nobody is going to post theo's awesome burn on stewart?

 

He had the right to elect free agency (when he was out-righted to the minors) and he chose not to," Epstein said. "Currently, we have the second best production out of third base in the league. We are getting really good defense at third base, too.

 

"If that were to change and Ian would excel at the Triple-A level, we would consider calling him back up here. In the meantime, we are very happy with our production at third and Ian is working on trying to figure out Triple-A pitching."

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9366243/chicago-cubs-suspend-ian-stewart-twitter-rant-discussing-parting-ways

 

I <3 Theo.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

(Not) fun with (extremely distant) arbitrary endpoints:

 

Since the beginning of the 2012 seasons, Castro has 960 plate appearances.

 

For that sample, he's averaging fractionally less than 2 fWAR per full season, is hitting 272/311/405, and is a negative defender and baserunner according to Fangraphs.

[fallingpieces]

nobody is going to post theo's awesome burn on stewart?

 

He had the right to elect free agency (when he was out-righted to the minors) and he chose not to," Epstein said. "Currently, we have the second best production out of third base in the league. We are getting really good defense at third base, too.

 

"If that were to change and Ian would excel at the Triple-A level, we would consider calling him back up here. In the meantime, we are very happy with our production at third and Ian is working on trying to figure out Triple-A pitching."

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9366243/chicago-cubs-suspend-ian-stewart-twitter-rant-discussing-parting-ways

 

I <3 Theo.

My jaw did drop a little bit when I heard that.

[neely crenshaw]

Stewart is trying to get released to keep his cash and find another team. But seriously what organization has as glaring a hole at 3b as the cubs? Valbuena is filling in nicely but that could change, and I'm guessing his future will be at 2b if he does continue.

Bottom line if he can't break into the lineup here, he's probably got to go the LaHair route and go overseas. I can not see a MLB team even giving him a minor league deal after the way this has played out.

 

There lots of teams worse off at 3B than the Cubs are right now. Is that a serious question?

 

it is, but you have to read what I wrote. basically I'm talking about going into this season. Also I mentioned that Valbuena (and Ransom for that matter) have been good. I think that if Valbuena continues his future will be at 2b, not 3b. He has far outperformed what anyone thought he would do. If he does continue the cubs are fine, but there has to be at least a little bit of doubt in everyone's mind. Surely there is in the cubs FO, or there would be little reason to keep a pain in the butt like Stewart.

 

Basically it's more of a slam on Stewart, because coming into this season you would have to say if he can't beat out Luis Valbuena and Cody Ransom, he doesn't have much of a chance to be on any MLB roster.

[Guest]

why do you think valbuena will move to 2nd if he's good and 3B is a position of need?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cody Ransom may by a 53 year old journeyman utility player, but I'm fairly certain that he's been responsible for 98% of the Cubs June offensive production.

[Little Slide Rooter]

why do you think valbuena will move to 2nd if he's good and 3B is a position of need?

 

3B that can hit are easier to come by than 2B. We have Junior Lake as potential 3B option for the not to distant future as well as Stewart, Vitters, and Villanueva in the 3B department; not that any of them have done anything to indicate that they'll be coming for the job anytime soon. However, Alcantara seems to be outperforming the lot of them and could come for the 2B job as early as 2014, maybe this September if he can keep up his production. Valbuena's always struck me as a super sub anyway.

[Guest]

Valbuena's always struck me as a super sub anyway.

 

Please explain why that would be since he's a plus plus fielder at 3B and is comfortably above average offensively at the position.

[jersey cubs fan]

and that super sub is a made up thing

[ctcf]

and that super sub is a made up thing

 

Yes, but is he a five-tool player?

[davell]

and that super sub is a made up thing

Any chance you can explain this? If a guy starts 20+ games at 4-5 positions over the course of a season or maybe starts 50 games at two spots, but someone else starts at that spot more, why is super sub a bad name to use?

[Guest]

BTW it really makes me sad that .243/.363/.429 is well above average at any position.

 

I long for the steroid days of my youth, and I don't care who knows it.

[jersey cubs fan]

and that super sub is a made up thing

Any chance you can explain this? If a guy starts 20+ games at 4-5 positions over the course of a season or maybe starts 50 games at two spots, but someone else starts at that spot more, why is super sub a bad name to use?

 

Because it's a stupid made up label arbitrarily handed out to players depending on the status of the rest of the roster.

 

It's as bad as Merrill Hoge's "factorback"

[Cubswin11]

BTW it really makes me sad that .243/.363/.429 is well above average at any position.

 

I long for the steroid days of my youth, and I don't care who knows it.

This

[mul21]

BTW it really makes me sad that .243/.363/.429 is well above average at any position.

 

I long for the steroid days of my youth, and I don't care who knows it.

 

Yep, this.

[BeerHere]

When Stewart was sent down to Iowa, didn't he have the opportunity to elect free agency? I believe he did but can someone more knowledgeable please verify that? If that is true, isn't Stewart the one that chose to be a member of the Cubs minor leagues (by not electing FA)? He didn't do so and this whole fake "they won't call me up because Sveum doesn't like me" thing is complete BS.

[Guest]

Yes, when Stewart was designated for assignment, he could've refused that assignment and become a free agent. Because that would have also meant forfeiting the rest of his 2 million dollar salary, he didn't take that option.

[jersey cubs fan]

When Stewart was sent down to Iowa, didn't he have the opportunity to elect free agency? I believe he did but can someone more knowledgeable please verify that? If that is true, isn't Stewart the one that chose to be a member of the Cubs minor leagues (by not electing FA)? He didn't do so and this whole fake "they won't call me up because Sveum doesn't like me" thing is complete BS.

 

He had already been rehabbing and doing horribly in AAA when he chose to accept his demotion back then. His April OPS was like 300, so he didn't have much hope of catching on in a place of his choosing. He's up past 1000 OPS in June, which probably makes him think he can pick his spot a little more freely, thus, the timing of his tirade. But this also wasn't his first bout of bitchiness on the twitter machine.

 

Yeah, duh, I kind of glossed over the whole, he would have lost the money then point behind this issue.

Edited June 12, 2013 by jersey cubs fan

[Hawk4Hall]

The Cubs just need to realize that the Stewart signing and re-signing was a mistake and release him.

[Guest]

The Cubs just need to realize that the Stewart signing and re-signing was a mistake and release him.

 

Are you paying attention to this story?

 

Do you think they don't consider it a mistake at this point?

 

What is to be gained by just releasing him (other than giving him what he wants, since it's what he's trying to force to happen)? You could argue that it's not worth the headache, but I don't really see the Cubs taking much of a PR hit in this, so I don't really buy that. If they want to keep him under contract out of spite (or to force him to take less to get his release), I'm fine with that. [expletive] him. He knew what he was doing when he opted to accept the assignment and keep his money (which I'm absolutely not blaming him for).

 

If they negotiate a release wherein he gives up some of the money, then that's a different story (that appears to be what they're working on).

[BeerHere]

Yes, when Stewart was designated for assignment, he could've refused that assignment and become a free agent. Because that would have also meant forfeiting the rest of his 2 million dollar salary, he didn't take that option.

His whole rant is about that $2M. He wants to keep it and if he declares himself a FA, he may not get another offer and even if he does, it may not be for that same amount of money. He knows that and by getting the Cubs to release him he gets the best of both worlds (keeps the $2M and gets to try and find another deal).

 

Sorry if this is obvious to everyone else already. I wasn't sure of the rules that applies when he was sent down.

[Guest]

Yes, when Stewart was designated for assignment, he could've refused that assignment and become a free agent. Because that would have also meant forfeiting the rest of his 2 million dollar salary, he didn't take that option.

His whole rant is about that $2M. He wants to keep it and if he declares himself a FA, he may not get another offer and even if he does, it may not be for that same amount of money. He knows that and getting the Cubs to release him he keeps the best of both worlds (keeps the $2M and gets to try and find another deal).

 

Sorry if this is obvious to everyone else already. I wasn't sure of the rules that applies when he was sent down.

 

Yeah. He wants to have his cake and eat it too (I still don't really understand that expression, but anyway). He accepted his assignment and now he's trying to be annoying enough to get a release.

[jersey cubs fan]

He wants to have his cake and eat it too (I still don't really understand that expression, but anyway).

 

Once you've eaten it you no longer "have" it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yeah. He wants to have his cake and eat it too (I still don't really understand that expression, but anyway).

 

You can either possess your cake or you can consume the cake, but after you consume it you no longer possess it.