Random Cubs Musings

[Guest]

I'm late to this but what the heck:

 

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.

 

Okay? Sure there's potential outcomes for every situation where 3B might not have a 5 year solution break through, but the position is in great shape considering there's a returning platoon that gave 3+ fWAR last year and projects above average again this year, plus no less than 4 prospects at AA and above who have a fighting shot at making the position their own.

 

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 want to see them add another OF to help hedge against Lake(and the other OF for that matter), since with Bogusevic gone there isn't another LH OF around. That said, he and Arrieta are the type of upside plays that you need to be able to take steps forward, as long as they aren't on an island. Arrieta is currently the 5th starter, but Rusin and Grimm are good enough that they can push him and provide an alternative if he struggles. If they add Tanaka then Villanueva joins that mix, along with any Baker or Baker equivalents(Wada) they also seem interested in adding. Murphy is a strong RH platoon IF, and if you don't like him specifically there's redundancy with Roberts. There's also very good odds that at least one IF will be added to the fray midway through the season in Baez, Bryant, or even Olt if he performs.

 

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 Russell will be dealt(maybe for that OF depth we could use), and that will sort out the depth nicely. One of Rusin/Rosscup will make the team while the other is one of the first on the Iowa taxi squad. Part of Grimm's appeal was that his MLB performance wasn't indiciative of his future because he was a bit rushed, so it's good that he'll be able to start the year in the AAA rotation. As it stands now he's one of the lead candidates for the long man role if you're really interested in seeing the fruits of the Garza deal at the MLB level. Ramirez wasn't thought to be MLB ready on opening day this year, and while Cabrera is depth, he's depth that you risk waivers with rather than making a move just to avoid exposing him. There's a load of interesting arms, but so few certainties that I don't really have a problem with the stockpile, as long as they move Russell(and even then that just might be indicative of confidence in Rusin the SP).

 

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.

 

Assuming the one here is Vizcaino? Johnson and Edwards will both start 2014 in AA.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

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.

 

Assuming the one here is Vizcaino? Johnson and Edwards will both start 2014 in AA.

 

The one is Jeff Samardzija. I wasn't including where pitchers are expected to pitch, but it doesn't matter. It could have been phrased "one pitcher who has pitched above A+."

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If Javy Baez takes as big a step forward this year as he did last year, he'd basically be in Harper territory.

[Tryptamine]

If Javy Baez takes as big a step forward this year as he did last year, he'd basically be in Harper territory.

 

Exactly. If he does what he did last year while maintaining his roughly 10% BB rate from the last few months he's elite. If he reduces his K rate to sub 20% then we've found someone who may be a generational talent.

[imb]

I like to wish upon a star, too, but more than likely he's going to walk about 6-7 percent of the time, strikeout 25-30 percent of the time and still be a questionable defender.

[Guest]

I like to wish upon a star, too, but more than likely he's going to walk about 6-7 percent of the time, strikeout 25-30 percent of the time and still be a questionable defender.

 

Not if he ends up at 3B.

[NOLA]

Jonah Keri picks the Cubs as the most likely to bounce back next season. I know, FWIW, but I do like him quite a bit as a writer.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10260042/mlb-five-positive-regression-candidates-2014

Jeff Samardzija's ERA trend (2.97 in 2011, 3.81 in 2012, 4.34 in 2013) looks nothing like his fielding-independent numbers (3.66 FIP in 2011, 3.55 in 2012, 3.77 in 2013), which means his luck should improve this year. Ditto for Edwin Jackson, who was the second-unluckiest starting pitcher in the majors by one measure last season. Reshuffling the worst bullpen in the NL won't hurt, either.

[Guest]

Jonah Keri picks the Cubs as the most likely to bounce back next season. I know, FWIW, but I do like him quite a bit as a writer.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10260042/mlb-five-positive-regression-candidates-2014

Jeff Samardzija's ERA trend (2.97 in 2011, 3.81 in 2012, 4.34 in 2013) looks nothing like his fielding-independent numbers (3.66 FIP in 2011, 3.55 in 2012, 3.77 in 2013), which means his luck should improve this year. Ditto for Edwin Jackson, who was the second-unluckiest starting pitcher in the majors by one measure last season. Reshuffling the worst bullpen in the NL won't hurt, either.

It's a pretty safe bet that the Cubs will be better this year than last if for no other reason than that they don't have as many tradable guys who might make a difference.

 

Regardless, I think they will improve.

[Cubswin11]

Jonah Keri picks the Cubs as the most likely to bounce back next season. I know, FWIW, but I do like him quite a bit as a writer.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/10260042/mlb-five-positive-regression-candidates-2014

Jeff Samardzija's ERA trend (2.97 in 2011, 3.81 in 2012, 4.34 in 2013) looks nothing like his fielding-independent numbers (3.66 FIP in 2011, 3.55 in 2012, 3.77 in 2013), which means his luck should improve this year. Ditto for Edwin Jackson, who was the second-unluckiest starting pitcher in the majors by one measure last season. Reshuffling the worst bullpen in the NL won't hurt, either.

It's a pretty safe bet that the Cubs will be better this year than last if for no other reason than that they don't have as many tradable guys who might make a difference.

 

Regardless, I think they will improve.

I think they should improve as well, but the offense still has potential to be below average to downright awful in almost every category.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Samardzija, Sweeney, Schierholtz, Jackson, Castillo, Veras, Castro.

 

Wouldn't be that hard to have another huge selloff.

[Sammy Sofa]

It was a pretty safe bet the 2013 team would be better than 2012, too.

 

And they were! 70 wins, here we come!

[jersey cubs fan]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

At least we have the Cubs Convention coming up for a quick reprieve of propoganda. After that come the dog days until those first ST pics.

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

At least we have the Cubs Convention coming up for a quick reprieve of propoganda. After that come the dog days until those first ST pics.

You forgot the partying at the end of the month after we sign Tanaka.

[Sammy Sofa]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

At least we have the Cubs Convention coming up for a quick reprieve of propoganda. After that come the dog days until those first ST pics.

 

Holy hell, the convention; what the [expletive] is even going to be the big event/unveiling?

[USSoccer]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

At least we have the Cubs Convention coming up for a quick reprieve of propoganda. After that come the dog days until those first ST pics.

 

Holy hell, the convention; what the [expletive] is even going to be the big event/unveiling?

 

A jar of change that an intern brought in to donate to the payroll.

[Guest]

Rick Renteria, obv

[SouthSideRyan]

Rick Renteria, obv

 

Watch his first steps as Cubs manager

[Banedon]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

Blackhawks.

[Soul]

Rick Renteria, obv

 

Watch his first steps as Cubs manager

 

Confirm he's not in a wheelchair anymore. Most teams follow the rehab of their top players. We'll follow the rehab of our manager.

[Guest]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

Blackhawks.

 

lol

[UMFan83]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 26m

MLB officially announces spring workout dates. #Cubs pitchers/catchers will workout 2/14, and 1st full squad workout 2/19 in Mesa, AZ

Woo hoo! I hate this time of year until spring training.

 

At least we have the Cubs Convention coming up for a quick reprieve of propoganda. After that come the dog days until those first ST pics.

 

Holy hell, the convention; what the [expletive] is even going to be the big event/unveiling?

 

A jar of change that an intern brought in to donate to the payroll.

 

I'm assuming the Convention is a telethon format this year?

[Guest]

 

I'm assuming the Convention is a telethon format this year?

"Tim, give me the timpani....." As Tom stands in a wrinkled tux with the bow tie barely attached to one side of his unbuttoned collar.

[imb]

Holy hell, the convention; what the [expletive] is even going to be the big event/unveiling?

 

A jar of change that an intern brought in to donate to the payroll.

 

I'm assuming the Convention is a telethon format this year?

 

sad pictures of eloy jiminez with sarah mclachlan songs played over them "you can feed a cubs prospect for just a dollar a day"