Random Cubs Musings

[Sammy Sofa]

He better be, because the Olt thing is rapidly deflating and I need one...JUST [expletive] ONE...extra good thing to happen for the Cubs right now.

 

Starlin's gonna be back to being a 3-win player, if that counts.

 

Noooooooope.

[Guest]

He better be, because the Olt thing is rapidly deflating and I need one...JUST [expletive] ONE...extra good thing to happen for the Cubs right now.

 

I wouldn't get too excited or upset about what Olt's results are at this point. Hopefully the scout whispers that he looks good are right and not just more fluff.

[Sammy Sofa]

I will happily take both.

[Guest]

jon greenberg ‏@jon_greenberg 19m

My "sources" also tell me Wrigley vendors will sling some Goose Island beers, as expected. 312 & 1 more. http://es.pn/1cuI75H

[Guest]

Jason Parks thinks Castro will get moved by midseason.

 

I.....don't agree.

[Guest]

Jason Parks thinks Castro will get moved by midseason.

 

I.....don't agree.

 

And you have just us much(probably more, actually) authority on the subject than Parks, so it appears we're at a standstill.

[Guest]

Jason Parks thinks Castro will get moved by midseason.

 

I.....don't agree.

 

And you have just us much(probably more, actually) authority on the subject than Parks, so it appears we're at a standstill.

 

Yeah, when you want to start shipping off good 24 year old major leaguers to inevitably make room for arismendy alcantara because the team is "built for 2016, not 2014" (despite the fact that you seem to think castro wouldn't even command a very strong package in return), you might be going a little too far with your prospect love.

[sneakypower]

if he's hitting .300 at the deadline, i think we strike while the iron's hot and move him

 

Baltimore needs a 2B, right? hell, they can give us Gausman right now, and Castro can play there for a year and move over to replace Hardy next year

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yeah, when you want to start shipping off good 24 year old major leaguers to inevitably make room for arismendy alcantara because the team is "built for 2016, not 2014" (despite the fact that you seem to think castro wouldn't even command a very strong package in return), you might be going a little too far with your prospect love.

 

 

What if you ship him off because you have no chance of being good in 2015 without trading for pitching?

[Guest]

if he's hitting .300 at the deadline, i think we strike while the iron's hot and move him

 

Baltimore needs a 2B, right? hell, they can give us Gausman right now, and Castro can play there for a year and move over to replace Hardy next year

 

Castro returning to his 3 win self of old is still worth like 50 million in surplus value even if he never improves upon that. Maybe more considering he's certainly got the potential for more, you'd be trading for his age 25-29 years, and inflation is probably not going to stop. The Orioles don't have the pieces to trade for him.

 

That said, I can see an outcome where Castro gets moved, but IMO it's much more likely to be for another MLB player of significance(hey Mr. Loria, want a hispanic star that's cost controlled?) than some long tail package of players.

[Guest]

http://vineline.mlblogs.com/2014/03/11/now-playing-cubscast-mesa-the-lighter-side-of-the-cubs-part-four/

 

 

Javy Baez's favorite movie is Toy Story 3. And Almora lists The Rock among his Mt. Rushmore of favorite actors.

[imb]

god damn these kids own

[Guest]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

[jersey cubs fan]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

 

Uhhh, I did not. Or at least, if I did at one point, I forgot.

 

So now I have to check on our office ticket hook up for this season.

[Guest]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

 

Uhhh, I did not. Or at least, if I did at one point, I forgot.

 

So now I have to check on our office ticket hook up for this season.

 

Nice. Mid-week, but they're night games, of course.

[Guest]

lmao blue streak

[bcl412]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

 

Scheduled double header against the Nationals too. When's the last time that happened?

[jersey cubs fan]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

 

Scheduled double header against the Nationals too. When's the last time that happened?

 

That was more of a pre-emptive rescheduling though. No game on a Sunday is probably the weirder part of that weekend.

[Guest]

Did everyone realize that we have both a home and away series with the Yankees this year?

 

Weird.

 

First one is within the first couple weeks of the season too.

 

Scheduled double header against the Nationals too. When's the last time that happened?

 

That was more of a pre-emptive rescheduling though. No game on a Sunday is probably the weirder part of that weekend.

They did that as a concession to the gay pride parade for Tunney.

[Guest]

Bruce Levine ‏@MLBBruceLevine 3m

Cubs will have their own replay team to help manager on appealing umps calls .

[ctcf]

Anyone still have the MIKE OLT! image?

[Guest]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24487058/the-cubs-have-fired-their-team-psychologist

 

As Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes, the Cubs' previous GM, Jim Hendry, had wanted to can Strickland, but ownership wanted him around. Current president of baseball ops Theo Epstein, however, apparently has enough pull to make Strickland go away.

 

Why so much fuss over a team shrink? Sullivan writes:

Not only was Strickland available for consultation with players, the specialist in sports psychology had his own locker at home and on the road, dressed in team workout gear and played catch and shagged balls before games during batting practice.

 

Early in his first year in the majors, Strickland even stood in the dugout tunnel at Wrigley Field after victories, bumping fists with players as though he was part of the team.

 

That does indeed sound a bit odd and perhaps a bit too chummy. Similarly, when Sullivan asked Nate Schierholtz what Strickland's "purpose" was, the outfielder replied, "I'm not really sure."

 

In any event, Epstein says the team will be hiring another psychologist, but presumably the next one won't be taking Strickland's unusual approach.

 

 

That criticism does sound a bit CRANE KENNEY???!!!ish but that's definitely hilariously weird.

From Sullivan's actual article:

Outfielder Nate Schierholtz questioned the notion of a psychologist melding into the clubhouse, traditionally a sanctuary for players and coaches.

 

"Some players would balk at a person like that, telling him too much, because you don't want to get into too much of your personal stuff when you think it might hurt you (with the organization)," Schierholtz said. "I like reading a lot of baseball psychology books, so I think it would be interesting to talk to somebody.

 

"But between my stays in San Francisco, Philly and here, I've never really worked with anyone on the mental side of baseball or any psychologist. (Strickland) didn't really work with guys. He was just kind of around, watching over people. You never spoke to him or had any real in-depth conversations about psychology and baseball."

 

So what was his purpose?

 

"I'm not really sure," he replied. "I think a psychologist would be useful. I just don't know how many people out there do that kind of thing and are very good at it because if they don't really have the baseball player's perspective, it's going to be hard to relate to what we do."

 

"We're revamping our mental skills program, so we're starting from scratch, drawing up a program that fits with the rest of our player development operation," Epstein said. "We do a lot to get the guys ready to play physically, with customized strength and conditioning plans and whatnot.

 

"Obviously we spend a lot of time on getting them ready to play fundamentally, the 'Cubs Way' instructions with pitching and defense. We're just trying to find what we're looking for from a mental skills standpoint. It's such a big part of the game, having a routine, maintaining confidence, so we're working on that, and then we're going to ultimately hire personnel that can implement the program."

 

The White Sox hired sports psychologist Jeffrey Fishbein three years ago, but general manager Rick Hahn said he never would let him wear a uniform or go onto the field.

 

"No, he's a doctor," he said. "He's available in the clubhouse sometimes before games, or usually after games away from the ballpark. Part of the role is to have a relationship with the player and a level of trust with the player. We tend not to get involved in what matters they're discussing or how they're approaching an issue, so there is that confidence and trust."

 

Whatever the Cubs decide to do to fill the void, they will not be hiring another psychologist like Strickland.

 

"It'll be somebody with education and training in that area," Epstein said. "The ideal person will have some feel for baseball and will have worked with competitive athletes before."

Edited March 17, 2014 by David

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Anyone still have the MIKE OLT! image?

 

http://i.imgur.com/4VaPOZ0.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

Sullivan has been making a big deal about that shrink for years.

[Guest]

Sullivan has been making a big deal about that shrink for years.

 

Before that, it was Sammy's personal assistant.