Random Cubs Musings

[Guest]

Because the White Sox had a better record before everyone stopped caring about baseball and because they got their name in the paper for more stuff this fall/winter(Abreu and Sale for awards, Samardzija, Robertson/Duke, Melky).

[Cubswin11]

I posted this in the Manfried thread in General Baseball Discussion, but figured it could go here too. Ricketts has been made a member of the executive council under Manfred, Reinsdorf and Henry (amongst others) have been taken off.

[Sammy Sofa]

I am so confused as to why the local sports media seems incredibly consistent in believing that the White Sox are a better team than the Cubs this year.

 

Doesn't seem like too egregious a call. Wouldn't be surprising at all if it played out that way.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anything's possible in baseball, but there's a decent-sized gap on paper+

[Guest]

I am so confused as to why the local sports media seems incredibly consistent in believing that the White Sox are a better team than the Cubs this year.

 

Doesn't seem like too egregious a call. Wouldn't be surprising at all if it played out that way.

 

Even if you think it's really really close (which I don't...projections have them like 6 games apart), it wouldn't make sense for a near unanimous belief going the other way. It seems like every time it's asked, everyone picks White Sox for some weird reason.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Because baseball is complicated and people are dumb. Edited January 19, 2015 by Hairyducked Idiot

[Sammy Sofa]

I am so confused as to why the local sports media seems incredibly consistent in believing that the White Sox are a better team than the Cubs this year.

 

Doesn't seem like too egregious a call. Wouldn't be surprising at all if it played out that way.

 

Even if you think it's really really close (which I don't...projections have them like 6 games apart), it wouldn't make sense for a near unanimous belief going the other way. It seems like every time it's asked, everyone picks White Sox for some weird reason.

 

It's not THAT weird; sports journalists are terrible human beings, people love buying into the idea that the Cubs are doomed to always lose and baseball is an odd game.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I haven't been enamored with any specific move, but I can't say that they didn't have a solid offseason. They checked all the boxes that needed to be checked.

 

[x] TOR pitcher

[x] Second SP

[x] Backup catcher

[x] Middle infield depth

[x] A starting-quality position player

 

Plus we got Montero and Motte, which I'm not even including on that list.

 

There's still holes. LF sucks, LHRP sucks, we could add one more SP before the diminishing returns really kick in. But they did what needed to be done and this is a pretty good baseball team.

[bukie]

Interestingly enough, the Cubs are currently structured in a way where Bryant could slide in at 3B or LF and isn't really taking a job from anyone.

[Guest]

Interestingly enough, the Cubs are currently structured in a way where Bryant could slide in at 3B or LF and isn't really taking a job from anyone.

 

Fancy way of saying we are terrible at both positions.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Interestingly enough, the Cubs are currently structured in a way where Bryant could slide in at 3B or LF and isn't really taking a job from anyone.

 

Fancy way of saying we are terrible at both positions.

 

Nailed it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Irrational prediction:

 

Edwin Jackson comes out of SP with the 5th starter job, and the combination of long-overdue regression to the mean and magic pitch-framing leads him to a useful season.

[cl smooth]

is addison russell expected to be called up this year? i know the a's had him on the fast track before he tore his hamstring last april, but he's only 20 and i'm guessing the cubs have him on the same "master all minor league levels" before progressing to the big leagues as they did with bryant and baez.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

is addison russell expected to be called up this year? i know the a's had him on the fast track before he tore his hamstring last april, but he's only 20 and i'm guessing the cubs have him on the same "master all minor league levels" before progressing to the big leagues as they did with bryant and baez.

 

Nobody really knows. It's possible, but it'd be hard to put a percentage on it.

[Guest]

is addison russell expected to be called up this year? i know the a's had him on the fast track before he tore his hamstring last april, but he's only 20 and i'm guessing the cubs have him on the same "master all minor league levels" before progressing to the big leagues as they did with bryant and baez.

 

assuming success in aaa, i'd say expect him around midseason. if he starts slow expect him toward august ala javy.

[Cubswin11]

Irrational prediction:

 

Edwin Jackson comes out of SP with the 5th starter job, and the combination of long-overdue regression to the mean and magic pitch-framing leads him to a useful season.

I kinda think he gets the 5th starter job too

[Guest]

Wood & Wada both going to the pen? Hendricks going to the minors? Doubront & Turner both to the pen? Cut?

 

Someone HAS to get traded.

[Cubswin11]

Wood & Wada both going to the pen? Hendricks going to the minors? Doubront & Turner both to the pen? Cut?

 

Someone HAS to get traded.

Can Turner be sent down?

[Backtobanks]

Irrational prediction:

 

Edwin Jackson comes out of SP with the 5th starter job, and the combination of long-overdue regression to the mean and magic pitch-framing leads him to a useful season.

 

For what team?

[Some Guy]

There's still holes. LF sucks, LHRP sucks, we could add one more SP before the diminishing returns really kick in. But they did what needed to be done and this is a pretty good baseball team.

 

I think we have a good LHRP in either Wood or Wada (or both if Jaxon or Turner grabs a rotation spot). Overpaid for the role, sure, but they're here. Then there's Doubront, which is just whatever.

[davell]

If we're truly up against the budget, as Mooney has mentioned a few times, I suspect a wood to be dealt. Wood+Valbuena basically equals Fowler from a salary standpoint. Castillo's trade could then conceivably include an arbitration type of LHRP as part of the return.

 

I think we're just shuffling players and money around to better fit our 2015 season right now.

[Guest]

Wood & Wada both going to the pen? Hendricks going to the minors? Doubront & Turner both to the pen? Cut?

 

Someone HAS to get traded.

 

Hendricks is not going to the [expletive] minors.

[davell]

Yeah, I'll be shocked if Hendricks isn't our 4. My guess is Doubront winds up as our LHRP and Turner is our 5th SP(unless we keep Wood)with Jaxon being DFA'd during ST.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Wood & Wada both going to the pen? Hendricks going to the minors? Doubront & Turner both to the pen? Cut?

 

Someone HAS to get traded.

 

Wood traded, Wada to the pen, everyone else cut or sent down as needed.

[Guest]

Wood & Wada both going to the pen? Hendricks going to the minors? Doubront & Turner both to the pen? Cut?

 

Someone HAS to get traded.

 

Wood traded, Wada to the pen, everyone else cut or sent down as needed.

Only Hendricks can be sent down.