Random Cubs Musings

[Guest]

.

 

Also who the hell is Wilson?

 

I think he got his CJs confused...maybe.

[Guest]

Bunch of random Cubs things in this article:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-1210-cubs-winter-meetings-20131210,0,3458331.story

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Cubs insist the undetermined status of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka won't affect whether they elect to trade pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

 

But they have taken action with Starlin Castro after their prized shortstop suffered a disappointing 2013 season.

 

General manager Jed Hoyer revealed Monday that strength and conditioning coordinator Tim Buss traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with Castro, who batted .245 and stole only nine bases last season.

 

"(Castro) sounds like he's in great shape now, and I think he was frustrated by his season," Hoyer told reporters in the Cubs' suite at the winter meetings. "I'd be very surprised if he didn't show up in spring training in really good shape and ready to go. I hope we look back on last year, four or five years from now as a good learning experience — a wake-up call. It certainly sounds like he's doing the right things this winter to start that."

 

Hoyer insinuated it was important for Castro, 23, to be in top shape since he plays close to 162 games each season.

 

Castro's commitment to condition shifted some of the focus from the Cubs' talks with teams and agents. One American League scout familiar with the Cubs felt there was a fit with Samardzija and the Diamondbacks, who could provide the Cubs with young pitching, third base and outfield help, but also have discussed trades with the starting pitching thirsty Angels.

 

"It's going to be a big week for us," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "But (general manager Kevin Towers) has done it before. He's giving us options.''

 

Those options, according to the scout, could involve pitcher Tyler Skaggs, third baseman Matt Davidson or shortstop Chris Owings, and outfielders Adam Eaton or A.J. Pollock.

 

One of Hoyer's regrets of a 96-loss season was not devoting more time to improving the bullpen. The Cubs, according to major league sources, have inquired about free agent Josh Roenicke, who was 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA with the Twins in 2013 and has made 63 appearances in each of the last two seasons, and Drew Storen of the Nationals.

 

Hoyer envisioned a rebound season from second baseman Darwin Barney, who was tendered a contract despite batting only .208.

 

"It's a big year for him, no matter what," Hoyer said. "He's such a great defensive player. He brings a lot of aspects to our club that are impossible to find — a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman, great attitude, hard worker. He had a down year offensively, and he'd be the first person to say that. It has nothing to do among competition among young players. He wants to bounce back to where he was."

 

Third baseman Luis Valbuena has been playing second base for Lara in the Venezuela Winter League. "We want him to be versatile," Hoyer said, adding the flexibility of the infielders might not require the Cubs to carry a traditional utility player.

 

An announcement on Keith Moreland's replacement as the analyst for radio broadcasts on WGN-AM 720 should occur by the end of the week.

[Old Style]

Mark Prior has (finally) officially retired.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-mark-prior-retires-20131209,0,6857277.story

[Banedon]

Mark Prior has (finally) officially retired.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-mark-prior-retires-20131209,0,6857277.story

 

viewtopic.php?p=3016572#p3016572

[Banedon]

Renteria at the Winter Meetings.

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/chc/play/?content_id=31264257&topic_id=8878538&c_id=chc

[Guest]

Some pics of the new park in AZ from a few weeks ago:

 

http://i.imgur.com/W1TFQcu.png

http://i.imgur.com/m82PA2Z.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DQyLRYo.png

http://i.imgur.com/i1FQZwP.png

[treebird]

it was nice of the cubs to build mesa a high school in left field

[seanimal]

it was nice of the cubs to build mesa a high school in left field

 

lol nice

[jersey cubs fan]

Things are looking up.

 

Jim Gaffigan ‏@JimGaffigan 11m

Just ate a salad at the airport. Looks like the Cubs are going to win next year's World Series.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Some random Cubs musings

 

I'm *still* not sure we end up with a regular 3b out of the organization. Prediction: Baez stays in the middle IF, Bryant to the OF, Christian Villanueva doesn't hit enough to start in the majors, Candelario doesn't stick at 3b and Mike Olt's concussion/eye problems never go away.

 

Lake is our starting LFer, Arrieta is in the rotation and Donnie Murphy is our first infielder off the bench. This sort of "winning job for next year with statistically shaky but superficially strong in a small sample size" stuff got Hendry all kinds of well-deserved crap.

 

There's got to be a trade coming to deal with all this relief pitching. It's just wasteful at his point, unless the front office just has no faith in guys like Rusin, Rosscup, Grimm, Ramirez, Cabrera, etc. If some of those guys just rot in AAA this year, it makes their acquisitions and emergence last year a bit less impressive.

 

I like Travis Wood in the middle of the rotation, but right now we have exactly one pitcher above A+ with a reasonable projection to be in the top of a competitive rotation, and that one's future in the organization is very much in doubt. Tanaka or not makes such a huge difference in our projection for 2014-2016.

 

Not that we actually seem intent on using it, but the financial flexibility in 2015-16 is just ungodly, especially when you consider how many pre-arb players we should have in the lineup by then. You could put together a whole MLB roster in 2015 for like $50m.

[CubsWin]

Some random Cubs musings

 

I'm *still* not sure we end up with a regular 3b out of the organization. Prediction: Baez stays in the middle IF, Bryant to the OF, Christian Villanueva doesn't hit enough to start in the majors, Candelario doesn't stick at 3b and Mike Olt's concussion/eye problems never go away.

Agreed, there is no sure thing when it comes to baseball or any sport for that matter. But the Cubs have a lot of possibilities. A lot more possibilities than most other teams of have a very good starting 3B in the near future and having him at a controlled cost for a long time. Sure? No. Really good situation? Yes.

 

Lake is our starting LFer, Arrieta is in the rotation and Donnie Murphy is our first infielder off the bench. This sort of "winning job for next year with statistically shaky but superficially strong in a small sample size" stuff got Hendry all kinds of well-deserved crap.

I don't know if the Cubs FO has penciled Lake in as the starting LFer. The last thing I've heard them say is they'd like him to start the year in AAA. If we can see the underlying numbers on Lake, I trust Theo and Jed can, too. If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well. The Cubs could well have a starting OF of Sweeney, Ruggiano and Schierholtz. That's not very good either. But at least the underlying sabermetrics on Ruggiano show a likelihood that last season's numbers were an outlier.

 

The Cubs rotation is weak. Arrieta is not in there because of a "superficially strong small sample size second half" aka a SSSSSSH. This front office, unlike Hendry's, is very sabermetrically savvy. He's in there out of necessity. He can't be sent down without being exposed to waivers and the Cubs want to see what Bosio can do with him. I don't think they're fooled by what he did at the end of last season. And I think it is inaccurate to say that Donnie Murphy is even on the 25-man roster at this point. The Cubs have brought in a number of other scrubs (Ryan Roberts, Chris Valaika, "Punch and" Jeudy Valdez, Walter Ibarra, etc.) to compete with Murphy. Whoever sucks the least will likely get the roster spot. I doubt it will have anything to do with how they performed last season.

 

There's got to be a trade coming to deal with all this relief pitching. It's just wasteful at his point, unless the front office just has no faith in guys like Rusin, Rosscup, Grimm, Ramirez, Cabrera, etc. If some of those guys just rot in AAA this year, it makes their acquisitions and emergence last year a bit less impressive.

I think so, too. But it's also possible that Jonathan Sanchez, Paolo Espino, Carlos Pimentel, Tommy Hottovy and Brett Marshall were brought in to compete for the 7th spot in the pen and move to AAA as depth if they don't. The only new guys you could pencil in are Veres and Wright. They, along with Russell, Strop, Parker and Villnueva, make up the top 6. I believe the Cubs would like Grimm and Rondon to be stretched out in the AAA rotation. Neil Ramirez is expected to join them there. Rusin will be competing for the Cubs rotation with Rosscup and Cabrera competing for the last bullpen spot. Depth and competition are good things. Injuries happen in ST, and other teams may need to fill spots due to injury as well. I don't read too much into signing all the minor league contract guys, but I totally agree that there is a greater likelihood of Russell being traded because of the additions of Wright and Veres.

 

I like Travis Wood in the middle of the rotation, but right now we have exactly one pitcher above A+ with a reasonable projection to be in the top of a competitive rotation, and that one's future in the organization is very much in doubt. Tanaka or not makes such a huge difference in our projection for 2014-2016.

Truer words were never spoken. Vizcaino's future is very much in doubt, and after him the cupboard is bare in regards to TOR potential in AAA. However, I think it's safe to call Pierce Johnson and CJ Edwards as above A+ at this point in time. This season will tell the Cubs a lot about what they have in those two.

 

Not that we actually seem intent on using it, but the financial flexibility in 2015-16 is just ungodly, especially when you consider how many pre-arb players we should have in the lineup by then. You could put together a whole MLB roster in 2015 for like $50m.

Oh, I think the Cubs FO has made it very clear they intend to use their financial flexibility in the near future. Outside of spending on Tanaka, the timing isn't quite right yet. 2014 will tell them a lot about when to start using their flexibility to fill out their major league roster. But clearly the time to start spending on multiple fronts is not now.

 

Seeing how Castro, Rizzo and Castillo do this season will tell them a lot. The performances of Olt, Arrieta, Vizcaino, Strop and to a lesser extent Sweeney will answer a lot of questions about when to start spending and on what/whom to spend it on. Add to that, seeing how Baez, Alcantara, Bryant and Soler perform provides a lot of useful data going into the 2014 off season. I don't think there's any question as to their intent to use their financial flexibility, just as to when that window opens and who will be available to spend it on. And that starts with Tanaka.

[NewUserName]

Some random Cubs musings

 

I'm *still* not sure we end up with a regular 3b out of the organization. Prediction: Baez stays in the middle IF, Bryant to the OF, Christian Villanueva doesn't hit enough to start in the majors, Candelario doesn't stick at 3b and Mike Olt's concussion/eye problems never go away.

 

Lake is our starting LFer, Arrieta is in the rotation and Donnie Murphy is our first infielder off the bench. This sort of "winning job for next year with statistically shaky but superficially strong in a small sample size" stuff got Hendry all kinds of well-deserved crap.

There's got to be a trade coming to deal with all this relief pitching. It's just wasteful at his point, unless the front office just has no faith in guys like Rusin, Rosscup, Grimm, Ramirez, Cabrera, etc. If some of those guys just rot in AAA this year, it makes their acquisitions and emergence last year a bit less impressive.

 

I like Travis Wood in the middle of the rotation, but right now we have exactly one pitcher above A+ with a reasonable projection to be in the top of a competitive rotation, and that one's future in the organization is very much in doubt. Tanaka or not makes such a huge difference in our projection for 2014-2016.

 

Not that we actually seem intent on using it, but the financial flexibility in 2015-16 is just ungodly, especially when you consider how many pre-arb players we should have in the lineup by then. You could put together a whole MLB roster in 2015 for like $50m.

None of these guys received a 2 yr deal with a players option for a third on a team that the FO thinks will compete. There is a difference between how the current regime sees these guys and how Hendry saw the long list of players he was suckered in by.

[Backtobanks]

Some random Cubs musings

 

I'm *still* not sure we end up with a regular 3b out of the organization. Prediction: Baez stays in the middle IF, Bryant to the OF, Christian Villanueva doesn't hit enough to start in the majors, Candelario doesn't stick at 3b and Mike Olt's concussion/eye problems never go away.

 

Lake is our starting LFer, Arrieta is in the rotation and Donnie Murphy is our first infielder off the bench. This sort of "winning job for next year with statistically shaky but superficially strong in a small sample size" stuff got Hendry all kinds of well-deserved crap.

There's got to be a trade coming to deal with all this relief pitching. It's just wasteful at his point, unless the front office just has no faith in guys like Rusin, Rosscup, Grimm, Ramirez, Cabrera, etc. If some of those guys just rot in AAA this year, it makes their acquisitions and emergence last year a bit less impressive.

 

I like Travis Wood in the middle of the rotation, but right now we have exactly one pitcher above A+ with a reasonable projection to be in the top of a competitive rotation, and that one's future in the organization is very much in doubt. Tanaka or not makes such a huge difference in our projection for 2014-2016.

 

Not that we actually seem intent on using it, but the financial flexibility in 2015-16 is just ungodly, especially when you consider how many pre-arb players we should have in the lineup by then. You could put together a whole MLB roster in 2015 for like $50m.

None of these guys received a 2 yr deal with a players option for a third on a team that the FO thinks will compete. There is a difference between how the current regime sees these guys and how Hendry saw the long list of players he was suckered in by.

 

All of this is ancient history and comparing apples to oranges. Hendry was told to buy players to try to produce a winning team and given a large budget to do it. Theo has decided to dumpster dive for a few years and hope that the accumulated prospects eventually build a winning team. Two completely different approaches affected by two different ownership groups.

[Guest]

I don't know if the Cubs FO has penciled Lake in as the starting LFer. The last thing I've heard them say is they'd like him to start the year in AAA. If we can see the underlying numbers on Lake, I trust Theo and Jed can, too. If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well. The Cubs could well have a starting OF of Sweeney, Ruggiano and Schierholtz. That's not very good either. But at least the underlying sabermetrics on Ruggiano show a likelihood that last season's numbers were an outlier.

 

 

I don't know where you heard that. Hoyer has said he's going to play a ton. And after all the time he spent on the big league team last year and the room that was made for him, I don't see any way at all he starts at Iowa. Where did you hear that?

 

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

[WrigleyField 22]

Yea I can't recall any mention of Lake starting in AAA though I think he probably should.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

 

I don't, seeing as how we've seen them do it several times now. Volstad and Lillibridge off the top of my head.

[Gilby]

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

 

I don't, seeing as how we've seen them do it several times now. Volstad and Lillibridge off the top of my head.

 

Lillibridge starting had more to do with an injury than spring performance.

[Guest]

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

 

I don't, seeing as how we've seen them do it several times now. Volstad and Lillibridge off the top of my head.

 

You need to work on your reading comprehension.

[CubsWin]

I don't know if the Cubs FO has penciled Lake in as the starting LFer. The last thing I've heard them say is they'd like him to start the year in AAA. If we can see the underlying numbers on Lake, I trust Theo and Jed can, too. If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well. The Cubs could well have a starting OF of Sweeney, Ruggiano and Schierholtz. That's not very good either. But at least the underlying sabermetrics on Ruggiano show a likelihood that last season's numbers were an outlier.

 

 

I don't know where you heard that. Hoyer has said he's going to play a ton. And after all the time he spent on the big league team last year and the room that was made for him, I don't see any way at all he starts at Iowa. Where did you hear that?

 

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

I said it would be 3 things. How Lake was hitting, whether he was having good ABs (I trust we are on the same page as far as what those are in this front office's mind) and improved/above average defense. I also said that this type of spring training evaluation would apply to a young, still developing player like Lake, not a veteran with a well established history of performance.

 

If he's not having good ABs, his OF defense isn't above average and he isn't hitting the ball well, I would hope he would start in AAA. Wouldn't you?

[CubsWin]

Yea I can't recall any mention of Lake starting in AAA though I think he probably should.

I think it was said back in October and the quote was along the lines of ideally liking him to start 2014 in AAA, not that he would definitely. I'll see if I can dig it up. It may have been said on radio or TV though...

Edited December 29, 2013 by CubsWin

[Guest]

I don't know if the Cubs FO has penciled Lake in as the starting LFer. The last thing I've heard them say is they'd like him to start the year in AAA. If we can see the underlying numbers on Lake, I trust Theo and Jed can, too. If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well. The Cubs could well have a starting OF of Sweeney, Ruggiano and Schierholtz. That's not very good either. But at least the underlying sabermetrics on Ruggiano show a likelihood that last season's numbers were an outlier.

 

 

I don't know where you heard that. Hoyer has said he's going to play a ton. And after all the time he spent on the big league team last year and the room that was made for him, I don't see any way at all he starts at Iowa. Where did you hear that?

 

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

I said it would be 3 things. How Lake was hitting, whether he was having good ABs (I trust we are on the same page as far as what those are in this front office's mind) and improved/above average defense. I also said that this type of spring training evaluation would apply to a young, still developing player like Lake, not a veteran with a well established history of performance.

 

If he's not having good ABs, his OF defense isn't above average and he isn't hitting the ball well, I would hope he would start in AAA. Wouldn't you?

 

Not seeing where you said all that stuff before this post. And even good AB's in spring training shouldn't be enough to base anything like that on, IMO. It's a small sample size.

 

That said, where did you hear that he'd be starting in AAA?

[CubsWin]

I don't know if the Cubs FO has penciled Lake in as the starting LFer. The last thing I've heard them say is they'd like him to start the year in AAA. If we can see the underlying numbers on Lake, I trust Theo and Jed can, too. If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well. The Cubs could well have a starting OF of Sweeney, Ruggiano and Schierholtz. That's not very good either. But at least the underlying sabermetrics on Ruggiano show a likelihood that last season's numbers were an outlier.

 

 

I don't know where you heard that. Hoyer has said he's going to play a ton. And after all the time he spent on the big league team last year and the room that was made for him, I don't see any way at all he starts at Iowa. Where did you hear that?

 

...and I trust that our FO wouldn't hand out full time position jobs based on hitting in spring training like you're implying.

I said it would be 3 things. How Lake was hitting, whether he was having good ABs (I trust we are on the same page as far as what those are in this front office's mind) and improved/above average defense. I also said that this type of spring training evaluation would apply to a young, still developing player like Lake, not a veteran with a well established history of performance.

 

If he's not having good ABs, his OF defense isn't above average and he isn't hitting the ball well, I would hope he would start in AAA. Wouldn't you?

 

Not seeing where you said all that stuff before this post.

Um, you quoted it in this post above, even bolded parts of it...

 

"If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well."

 

That's saying all 3 things. Don't mean to be too snarky here, but I guess reading comprehension applies to all of us...

[Guest]

Um, you quoted it in this post above, even bolded parts of it...

 

"If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well."

 

That's saying all 3 things. Don't mean to be too snarky here, but I guess reading comprehension applies to all of us...

 

The wording on that last sentence being part of the requirement for his performance in spring training is debatable at best. Maybe you need to work on your composition (if it needs to be said, I'm just [expletive] around with you).

 

Anyway, the point is I don't think his role on the team or the level he plays at this year should be based in much of any way on what happens in spring training, whether it be his numbers or on subjective evaluation.

[CubsWin]

That said, where did you hear that he'd be starting in AAA?

 

I think it was said back in October and the quote was along the lines of ideally liking him to start 2014 in AAA, not that he would definitely. I'll see if I can dig it up. It may have been said on radio or TV though...

[CubsWin]

Um, you quoted it in this post above, even bolded parts of it...

 

"If he does go north, it will be because he hit and had good ABs in ST. He showed impressive defense in winter ball. That will need to continue as well."

 

That's saying all 3 things. Don't mean to be too snarky here, but I guess reading comprehension applies to all of us...

 

The wording on that last sentence being part of the requirement for his performance in spring training is debatable at best. Maybe you need to work on your composition (if it needs to be said, I'm just [expletive] around with you).

 

Anyway, the point is I don't think his role on the team or the level he plays at this year should be based in much of any way on what happens in spring training, whether it be his numbers or on subjective evaluation.

Okay. We have a difference of opinion. I think with young players it's important to see how they are developing.

 

In Lake's case, I think he's got a lot of developing left to do, and logic suggests that with this front office's sabermetric focus, they see the same thing. If he doesn't show improvement (some of which was shown in winter ball) this spring, I would hope they'd start him in AAA. The only reason why they wouldn't is if the lack of depth on the major league roster forces them to bring him north and they give him enough playing to learn and develop at the major league level.