Random Cubs Musings

[Irrelevant Dude]

Holy cow, Bruce Levine is awful at this point.

He has been awful for years. And how much pitching do the Sox really have after they trade Peavy?

[Sammy Sofa]

Holy cow, Bruce Levine is awful at this point.

He has been awful for years. And how much pitching do the Sox really have after they trade Peavy?

 

Chris Sale.

[Guest]

I kind of get what b2b is saying, it's the record that matters, because after 162 games luck is pretty much washed. But if the goal is to make the record better you have look at all the data, not so much for postmortem but for forecasting and improving.

 

I don't really care for the lamenting that goes on, but it goes with the analysis.

[Guest]

Holy cow, Bruce Levine is awful at this point.

 

He was on Waddle and Silvy. Silvy asked if the Sox were just posturing in saying they wanted to build around Peavy. Levine answered that the Sox don't need a rebuild like the Cubs because they have more of what you really need to win, pitching, and that they just need 3-4 bats. I don't even know where to begin with that, but it got worse. He then said the Sox don't have much in the minors except pitching prospect Pierce Johnson (I'm not even sure how the hell he managed that one) in the lower levels.

 

The Cubs should just claim Taillon and Bradley like the White Sox apparently took Johnson.

[Sammys Boombox]

I wish we had started a poll the day Theo was hired and repeated the poll each Opening Day and each October asking the same question:

 

What year will the Cubs first contend (be within 5 spots of a playoff spot on or after Sept. 1)?

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Later

 

I'd be curious to see how the answers changed. I feel like with myself I keep saying two years from whatever year we are in at the moment.

 

What are you talking about? We're less than two years into the Theo regime. You're acting like he's been here for ages.

 

How am I acting like anything?

[Elwood]

I wish we had started a poll the day Theo was hired and repeated the poll each Opening Day and each October asking the same question:

 

What year will the Cubs first contend (be within 5 spots of a playoff spot on or after Sept. 1)?

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Later

 

I'd be curious to see how the answers changed. I feel like with myself I keep saying two years from whatever year we are in at the moment.

 

What are you talking about? We're less than two years into the Theo regime. You're acting like he's been here for ages.

 

How am I acting like anything?

 

Maybe I misunderstood your post. Some of your phrases make it seem like there have been several instances where the team was on the verge of competing, only to have Theo and Jed blow it up. It was never going to be a quick fix. I was under the impression that the general consensus around here from the start was that 2015 is the year.

 

Regardless, I sounded like an ass in my response, and for that I apologize. I didn't realize it was so harsh when I first posted it.

[Sammys Boombox]

I wish we had started a poll the day Theo was hired and repeated the poll each Opening Day and each October asking the same question:

 

What year will the Cubs first contend (be within 5 spots of a playoff spot on or after Sept. 1)?

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Later

 

I'd be curious to see how the answers changed. I feel like with myself I keep saying two years from whatever year we are in at the moment.

 

What are you talking about? We're less than two years into the Theo regime. You're acting like he's been here for ages.

 

How am I acting like anything?

 

Maybe I misunderstood your post. Some of your phrases make it seem like there have been several instances where the team was on the verge of competing, only to have Theo and Jed blow it up. It was never going to be a quick fix. I was under the impression that the general consensus around here from the start was that 2015 is the year.

 

Regardless, I sounded like an ass in my response, and for that I apologize. I didn't realize it was so harsh when I first posted it.

 

No worries. For the record, I'm extremely excited about everything going on. I just wish it was happening faster, but that's not realistic.

 

I think if you went back to this offseason you would see a lot of people pretty upset that it was apparent that the moves were putting us in a position to most likely not contend until at least 2015. A lot of people were hoping for signs that pointed more towards 2014. But maybe I'm remembering it wrong and that's why I would have liked to have had a history of these polls.

 

Also, "dual fronts" and rumors of $200MM payrolls had some people hoping for 2013 contention when Theo was signed.

[KingCubsFan]

Holy cow, Bruce Levine is awful at this point.

He has been awful for years. And how much pitching do the Sox really have after they trade Peavy?

 

Chris Sale.

Hector Santiago, too.

[pitchcs]

Holy cow, Bruce Levine is awful at this point.

 

He was on Waddle and Silvy. Silvy asked if the Sox were just posturing in saying they wanted to build around Peavy. Levine answered that the Sox don't need a rebuild like the Cubs because they have more of what you really need to win, pitching, and that they just need 3-4 bats. I don't even know where to begin with that, but it got worse. He then said the Sox don't have much in the minors except pitching prospect Pierce Johnson (I'm not even sure how the hell he managed that one) in the lower levels.

 

 

He probably meant Erik Johnson, Sox #1 prospect.

[Guest]

http://networkedblogs.com/NE2sV

 

This is sort of fun.

[Mark Priors Calves]

http://networkedblogs.com/NE2sV

 

This is sort of fun.

Ronan O'Shea is an NSBBer, no?

[Pushfrog98]

http://networkedblogs.com/NE2sV

 

This is sort of fun.

Ronan O'Shea is an NSBBer, no?

Yes

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=952

 

Hasn't posted since Oct. though.

 

And unless he's switched jobs, we work at the same place, apparently.

[Guest]

Edwin Jackson up to June 2 and after:

 

Before: 11 starts, 58 2/3 IP, 6.29 ERA, 1.67 WHIP

After: 10 starts, 63 1/3 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.06 WHIP

 

I was surprised to see that his strikeout rate is also down in that stretch (8.6 to 6.4) but since he's decreased his walk rate, his K/BB has gone up.

[Guest]

Got this recap of Jed's appearance on Waddle and Silvy from PSD:

 

Jed is on Waddle and Silvy.

 

Said he hopes the young talent in AA starts "pounding on the door" late 2014 early 2015. Didn't use names, but it sounded like he hopes Baez can contribute next year. He laughed off the question of Javy being a September callup this season, which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

 

There was a question about where Baez, Almora, Soler, and Bryant would all play if they are in the same lineup. Jed said Almora is the only one who has a sure position. Gave 3B and RF (didn't say LF) as options for Bryant, LF and RF for Soler, and "anywhere on the infield" for Baez.

 

Nothing too earth shattering. Still has high hopes for Castro and Rizzo and expects to make a move in August.

[Guest]

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 19m

Random Cubs offensive stats (NL rank): 116 HRs (3), 211 2Bs (1), .403 SLG (4), 3.82 P/PA (6), 7.2% BB% (12), .302 OBP (13), .276 BABIP (14)

[UMFan83]

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 19m

Random Cubs offensive stats (NL rank): 116 HRs (3), 211 2Bs (1), .403 SLG (4), 3.82 P/PA (6), 7.2% BB% (12), .302 OBP (13), .276 BABIP (14)

 

So basically some patience and luck on balls in play and we're a good offense

[Guest]

http://deadspin.com/chicago-cubs-jesse-rogers-espn-chicago-carrie-muskat-975188918

[davell]

Miles, then Mooney, for the best. No one else worth mentioning. I think I'd say Rogers is the worst, followed by Sullivan, then Muskat. Wittenmyer has had insight into the renovations at least. He's the best of the worst, in my mind.

[Guest]

Miles, then Mooney, for the best. No one else worth mentioning. I think I'd say Rogers is the worst, followed by Sullivan, then Muskat. Wittenmyer has had insight into the renovations at least. He's the best of the worst, in my mind.

 

Muskat is better than Sullivan.

 

 

I couldn't believe there were people vouching for Jesse Rogers.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Rogers is the Jon Snow of baseball writers.

 

And I agree with dave, Miles and Mooney are the only ones worth paying any attention to.

[Careless]

So if Castro and Baez wind up in the same infield, where do they wind up in 2b/3b/SS?

[imb]

Miles kind of sucks

[Guest]

So if Castro and Baez wind up in the same infield, where do they wind up in 2b/3b/SS?

 

I just can't see Baez moving Castro off SS. Given that, the most obvious move for Baez would be from SS to 3B but I think he could handle 2B.

[Wilson A2000]

Why not move Castro to 2B? I don't know much about Baez, but I thought Castro's defense was still horrid.

[WrigleyField 22]

I remember about a year ago there being reports from unnamed scouts that 2B would be the better position for Castro and that Baez could handle SS, for whatever that's worth.

 

But I think Baez would have to really force the issue to bump Castro off SS, or for Castro to have a sustained DL stay. And with Castro at SS, I'd think Baez at 3B would be better than 2B with his arm. But if you needed a 2B and Bryant can handle 3B, you put Baez at 2B.