Random Cubs Musings

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

This is not information I didn't know.

[XZero771679666304]

If no trade goes down I don't think Russell shows up until September next year at the earliest, and in that situation Bryant will be the team's 3B and won't sniff the outfield until 2016, IMO. I just don't see the point in moving him off a valuable position he's not a complete butcher at and decreasing his value just because "it's inevitable", and there's irony in me saying that because earlier this season I said they should move him to the outfield because it was inevitable and was scoffed at for the same reason. He'll hit and be valuable wherever he plays, but there's no point in moving him off third until he absolutely has to be moved off third because there's either no room or he shows he's a clueless buffoon at handling the position..

 

Why?

 

Development time, service time, and lack of need on the MLB roster, weight those in whatever fashion you please.

 

Development time = wasted development time because he doesn't need it.

 

Service time would make it make even less sense for him to be called up in Sept. Either he gets the call earlier or he waits until into 2016, which, well, let's just wait another year every year because we can get another year.

 

Yeah, I definitely think that unless he struggles, more development time isn't a reason that will be used to keep him down. And I think this is the last year that service time games will be played with players who are ready. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but it seems like 2015 is the year that the major league club starts to be prioritized.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

pretty hard to say right now given how crowded the infield is

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

This is not information I didn't know.

 

You already have Alcantara, Baez, Soler and Bryant basically starting the season with minimum major league experience. There is really no need to rush Russell when the above names will probably have their own growing pains along the way.

 

The natural progression for Russell at this point is to get some quality time at AAA and take it from there, IMO.

[XZero771679666304]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

 

EDIT: isn't 2015 the ETA a lot of prospect gurus have for Russell?

Edited September 3, 2014 by XZero77

[Soul]

I swear, the club is the most interesting it's been in years and yet for some reason, it feels like this board is a ghost town. :-k

 

You posted at 6:30 in the morning. Not the busiest time.

 

For my part, I've been here to get updates because I'm much more interested. Been watching more games too.

 

Give me some time, I'm not ready to hang around the game threads yet. I know everyone can't wait for that.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

the difference is no one was blocking Castro.

[davell]

I interpret that Theo comment to mean we're not adding a high dollar OF next year. I've seen an article mention we were looking for a DeJesus type-mentor, can play multiple positions, lefty, etc.....Personally, it seems a bit redundant to me since we've got Coghlan, Ruggiano, and Sweeney.

 

But(even with my trade Valbuena stance yesterday), this lineup makes sense.

 

C Castillo with competition or an upgrade

1B Rizzo

2B Javy

SS Castro

3B Valbuena

LF KB

CF Alcantara

RF Soler

 

When Russell is ready, I'm unsure how they move guys around, but it's not unheard of to keep him in AAA all of next year as it is either. Especially since that lineup can be ridiculously good next year.

[XZero771679666304]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

the difference is no one was blocking Castro.

 

No one is really blocking Russell. From the sounds of it, even Theo is assuming position changes.

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

the difference is no one was blocking Castro.

 

Nobody is blocking one of the 2-3 best prospects in baseball, either.

[XZero771679666304]

I interpret that Theo comment to mean we're not adding a high dollar OF next year. I've seen an article mention we were looking for a DeJesus type-mentor, can play multiple positions, lefty, etc.....Personally, it seems a bit redundant to me since we've got Coghlan, Ruggiano, and Sweeney.

 

But(even with my trade Valbuena stance yesterday), this lineup makes sense.

 

C Castillo with competition or an upgrade

1B Rizzo

2B Javy

SS Castro

3B Valbuena

LF KB

CF Alcantara

RF Soler

 

When Russell is ready, I'm unsure how they move guys around, but it's not unheard of to keep him in AAA all of next year as it is either. Especially since that lineup can be ridiculously good next year.

 

Exactly what I am thinking. If Russell hits to start 2015 and gets called up, the IF gets reconfigured and Valbuena becomes a premier bench guy or gets traded. If he doesn't, that's probably the most productive lineup for 2015.

[Guest]

Castro was like 2 standard deviations better than Russell at Tennessee.

 

I don't think it's particularly wise to count on the combination of Russell being ready and there being room for Russell at the MLB level to make a material impact on 2015, at least given what we know now.

 

Really though, Bryant's position is the linchpin here. I can believe arguments that he's a corner OF to start next year, that he plays 3B for at least a year, and that he plays 3B until he grows off it years down the road. The front office's decision among those options will have a large impact on Russell and what happens in the offseason to the offense in general.

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

 

EDIT: isn't 2015 the ETA a lot of prospect gurus have for Russell?

 

A lot of them had 2014 6 months ago.

[XZero771679666304]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

 

EDIT: isn't 2015 the ETA a lot of prospect gurus have for Russell?

 

A lot of them had 2014 6 months ago.

 

So it's very reasonable to think he could be up in the middle of next season. That's not to say we should assume it or count on it, but it's definitely possible, and not necessarily an " optimistic, best case" scenario.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

the difference is no one was blocking Castro.

 

Nobody is blocking one of the 2-3 best prospects in baseball, either.

yet, he's still blocked.

[Guest]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

 

EDIT: isn't 2015 the ETA a lot of prospect gurus have for Russell?

 

A lot of them had 2014 6 months ago.

 

So it's very reasonable to think he could be up in the middle of next season. That's not to say we should assume it or count on it, but it's definitely possible, and not necessarily an " optimistic, best case" scenario.

 

Yeah. I just think September of next year is far from an "at the earliest" proposition, even without trades, which is what i really took issue with.

[XZero771679666304]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

the difference is no one was blocking Castro.

 

Nobody is blocking one of the 2-3 best prospects in baseball, either.

yet, he's still blocked.

 

Nothing is blocking him but a position change that most people are assuming will happen. So nothing, really.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Nothing is blocking him but a position change that most people are assuming will happen. So nothing, really.

the FO has said nothing to indicate they intend to move Bryant off third anytime soon.

[XZero771679666304]

Nothing is blocking him but a position change that most people are assuming will happen. So nothing, really.

the FO has said nothing to indicate they intend to move Bryant off third anytime soon.

 

 

 

Theo, just yesterday:

But where will Bryant play once he gets to the big leagues? He worked hard at third base this season and wants to stick there. The Cubs aren’t sure where he’ll fit in just yet.

 

“We’re going to keep outfield fresh for him,” Epstein said of plans for next spring. “Now that it’s been a full year since college, we want to make sure he doesn’t lose that. We think -- no doubt in our minds -- he can play third base and be a really good third baseman, but we just don’t know how the roster is going to look a year from now, two years from now, five years from now. We want to keep that fresh for him.”

 

Sure doesn't sound like it's not being planned on at all (even for next year)

 

That sounds to me like it's clearly on the table, potentially at any time.

Edited September 3, 2014 by XZero77

[Guest]

Nothing is blocking him but a position change that most people are assuming will happen. So nothing, really.

the FO has said nothing to indicate they intend to move Bryant off third anytime soon.

 

they've said the same types of things they said with baez. they are leaving him there until he needs to be moved. they'll indicate it by having him get a few weeks to work on his new position in spring/AAA.

 

and theo did say just yesterday that they're going to have him work on the OF in spring because of what is coming with the roster.

[Guest]

Nothing is blocking him but a position change that most people are assuming will happen. So nothing, really.

 

2 of these things need to happen for Russell to have a position:

 

- Bryant moves to the OF

- Baez continues to struggle through a large part of 2015 without immediate signs of optimism

- Valbuena struggles OR the Cubs are not in the playoff hunt

- One of Bryant, Baez, Castro, and Valbuena are traded

 

Can that happen? Absolutely. Is it a formality or trivial that 2 will happen? Not at all.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

ok you got me there, I didn't see that posted yesterday.

[wekim81]

He is only 20 with less than 300 AB's above A Ball.

 

So was Starlin Castro. If Russell hits at AAA to start the year, I'm pretty sure he'll move.

 

EDIT: isn't 2015 the ETA a lot of prospect gurus have for Russell?

If the A's hadn't traded Russell, I guarantee you he'd be in the bigs right now playing for them.

[XZero771679666304]

The bottom line here is that if Russell shows he is ready, positions will change to accommodate him. No one is "blocking" him.