Random Cubs Musings

[Soul]

That's not what I was saying, bukie. I want to see them perform better on the road, and there's a big road trip coming up.

 

Yes, the Cubs are actually playing better and we can't just be satisfied with that since it's only been at home and they have a bunch of home games left.

Lol, OK man. I'm super happy!

[Guest]

That's not what I was saying, bukie. I want to see them perform better on the road, and there's a big road trip coming up.

 

Yes, the Cubs are actually playing better and we can't just be satisfied with that since it's only been at home and they have a bunch of home games left.

 

jesus, every time somebody expresses concern about this team they get criticized for not enjoying where they are at right now.

 

So you agree that we should be worried with the home/road split then

[RynoRules]

I never would have guessed that our bullpen would be this good 60 games into the season. Yeah, I know Rondon was bad yesterday, but still.

 

Ruggiano needs to play every day.

 

Looks like Nate is coming around. Last 28 days: .263 /.337/.408/.745; BAbip of .300; .271 for the season.

[Guest]

I never would have guessed that our bullpen would be this good 60 games into the season. Yeah, I know Rondon was bad yesterday, but still.

 

Ruggiano needs to play every day.

 

Looks like Nate is coming around. Last 28 days: .263 /.337/.408/.745; BAbip of .300; .271 for the season.

Rondon wasn't really bad yesterday. bloops happen.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

There seems to be a nice base here to build off of for 2015 once we fix the holes, but every time I think that, new holes spring up. I wonder what will fall apart next year.

[ConstableRabbit]

Anyone else going to the STH "meet a player" thing today? I'm sure it's going to be Coghlan or something, but should be fun.

[mul21]

There seems to be a nice base here to build off of for 2015 once we fix the holes, but every time I think that, new holes spring up. I wonder what will fall apart next year.

 

Pretty sure there won't be any starting pitchers.

[ConstableRabbit]

Anyone else going to the STH "meet a player" thing today? I'm sure it's going to be Coghlan or something, but should be fun.

It's actually EJax. Not bad...

[Andy]

There seems to be a nice base here to build off of for 2015 once we fix the holes, but every time I think that, new holes spring up. I wonder what will fall apart next year.

 

Pretty sure there won't be any starting pitchers.

Wood, Arrieta and Jackson seem likely to be back at this point. Shark and Hammel good bets to be gone. Villanueva a FA.

 

If the Cubs can get one of the bigger-fish SP, hit on another Feldman/Hammel/Maholm type (and/or land a major-league ready SP when they trade Shark/Hammel) and not have too many severe injuries, that might be ok. That's a fair amount of ifs, though.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

SP is definitely my main guess for "what springs a leak next year."

 

Bullpens are always volatile. I still don't trust our catchers. We could lose a lot of wins if we have to give some prospects time in the lineup and they need time to adjust.

[rawaction]

Damn. Really wish the Cubs would habe listened to me and signed Kazmir and Nelson Cruz. Of course, Kazmir would have been at the expense of Hammel most likely.

 

I wish this team would take a chance on an OF bat the way they have done with pitchers.

[bukie]

Damn. Really wish the Cubs would habe listened to me and signed Kazmir and Nelson Cruz. Of course, Kazmir would have been at the expense of Hammel most likely.

 

I wish this team would take a chance on an OF bat the way they have done with pitchers.

Ruggiano, Sweeney, DeJesus, Schierholz...

[Fro]

My wishlist for 2015 would be:

- Bigger-fish SP (if Shark is traded)

- Bounceback SP candidate to replace Hammel

- Veteran bat who can be a FT starter at one of the OF spots or C.

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma: Starlin told me that unlike previous 0-fers this yr, yesterday felt off. Checked video & saw his hips too early, so did some early cage work

 

@sahadevsharma: On last tweet: hips OPEN too early, whatever, you get it.

[gocubs2118]

My wishlist for 2015 would be:

- Bigger-fish SP (if Shark is traded)

- Bounceback SP candidate to replace Hammel

- Veteran bat who can be a FT starter at one of the OF spots or C.

 

There aren't any of these available through free agency. The OF crop of free agents is really weak after this year.

[Splendid Splinter]

My wishlist for 2015 would be:

- Bigger-fish SP (if Shark is traded)

- Bounceback SP candidate to replace Hammel

- Veteran bat who can be a FT starter at one of the OF spots or C.

 

There aren't any of these available through free agency. The OF crop of free agents is really weak after this year.

 

 

You're right...

 

Catchers

 

John Buck (34)

Ryan Doumit (34)

Nick Hundley (31) – $5MM club option

Gerald Laird (35)

Russell Martin (32)

Jeff Mathis (32) – $1.5MM club option

Wil Nieves (36)

Miguel Olivo (36)

A.J. Pierzynski (38)

David Ross (38)

Geovany Soto (32)

Kurt Suzuki (31)

 

Left Fielders

 

Melky Cabrera (30)

Chris Denorfia (34)

Jonny Gomes (34)

Tony Gwynn Jr. (32)

Scott Hairston (35)

Reed Johnson (38)

Ryan Ludwick (36) – $9MM mutual option with a $4.5MM buyout

Darnell McDonald (35)

Mike Morse (33)

Seth Smith (32)

Alfonso Soriano (39)

Vernon Wells (36)

Josh Willingham (36)

Delmon Young (29)

 

Center Fielders

 

Emilio Bonifacio (30)

Franklin Gutierrez (32)

Colby Rasmus (28)

Grady Sizemore (32)

Denard Span (31) – $9MM club option with a $500K buyout

Chris Young (31)

 

Right Fielders

 

Norichika Aoki (33)

Tyler Colvin (29)

Nelson Cruz (34)

Michael Cuddyer (36)

Chris Denorfia (34)

Jeff Francoeur (31)

Scott Hairston (35)

Torii Hunter (39)

Nick Markakis (31) – $17.5MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout

Alex Rios (34) – $13.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Nate Schierholtz (31)

Ichiro Suzuki (41)

[davell]

Wrong thread.

 

I'm OK with Melky, Rasmus, or Markakis next year though.

[Guest]

Damn. Really wish the Cubs would habe listened to me and signed Kazmir and Nelson Cruz. Of course, Kazmir would have been at the expense of Hammel most likely.

 

I wish this team would take a chance on an OF bat the way they have done with pitchers.

Ruggiano, Sweeney, DeJesus, Schierholz...

 

Not sure if serious...

[bukie]

Damn. Really wish the Cubs would habe listened to me and signed Kazmir and Nelson Cruz. Of course, Kazmir would have been at the expense of Hammel most likely.

 

I wish this team would take a chance on an OF bat the way they have done with pitchers.

Ruggiano, Sweeney, DeJesus, Schierholz...

 

Not sure if serious...

Seems to me their strategy with the OF is extremely similar to their strategy with back-end rotation options. Take a couple shots, try to maximize their value to the team, and then flip them if things work out well. They didn't flip Schierholz last year after his torrid first half, and they didn't get as much for DeJesus as they'd have liked, but that doesn't mean they haven't done it in the OF exactly as they have with the pitchers.

[Banedon]

Remember the steroid era? Those were awesome years.

 

I liked baseball better then.

 

I hate admitting that....

 

Actually I liked the era between the steroid area and this current dead ball era, where not everyone was doping, but some guys still were. Less guilt enjoying that product.

 

Why feel guilty? You weren't doping...or were you????

 

guilty watching players who are killing themselves for my enjoyment

 

I see. Well good news....I'm sure football players banging their heads against each other repeatedly has no long lasting consequences you should feel guilty about watching.

[neely crenshaw]

Think of it this way. They weren't killing themselves for your enjoyment, they were killing themselves to get paid millions. Our enjoyment was just a byproduct.

[Guest]

Think of it this way. They weren't killing themselves for your enjoyment, they were killing themselves to get paid millions. Our enjoyment was just a byproduct.

 

they get paid millions to provide entertainment, it's not a byproduct, it's their job.

[Warren Brusstar]

I know it's cool to be above it all and paint everyone who uses the "h" word as a SABR-hating meathead, but it would be nice if Starlin Castro would try his hardest all the time. It really doesn't require too much effort to run your hardest on the bases all of the time. The other day wasn't the first time JD has called out Castro for his lack of effort. It's really annoying.

 

Even if Castro's repeated lack of effort only costs the Cubs 2-3 runs over the course of an entire season, that's 2-3 runs there's no good reason to punt.

[Sammy Sofa]

When was "hardest" ever the "h-word?" When was there ever an "h-word?" Let's make up a better h-word.

 

I say "hoochie mama."

[imb]

When was "hardest" ever the "h-word?" When was there ever an "h-word?" Let's make up a better h-word.

 

I say "hoochie mama."

 

hustle