2014 Roster Discussion

[mul21]

@GDubCub Renteria says Valbuena still will share time at third with Olt. Hoyer said he expects Olt shoulder to "keep getting healthier"

 

Well, at least that's a good reason to be splitting time at this point. Hopefully once the shoulder is 100%, we'll see some Valbuena at 2B and Olt at 3B pretty much every day.

[PrimeTime]

WTF..How about he splits time with Barney?

[WrigleyField 22]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 2m

If Liriano starts for #Pirates Monday, @mike_olt will start at 3B for the #Cubs

 

Please tell me they're not platooning him

Positive me says it's not about platooning so much as over-working his shoulder, but they'll hold him out of game action in a platoon manner where possible until they think the shoulder is at full strength.

[Post Count Padder]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 2m

Called this two weeks ago RT @CubsDen Hearing that if Olt can make the throws from 3B, he's going to get the job.

 

REALLY GUY?

Yeah, I saw that. Pretty f'in narcissistic to congratulate yourself on calling something that could be reasonably assumed by pretty much everyone.

[Post Count Padder]

WTF..How about he splits time with Barney?

I could see him splitting time with both. Bonifacio too. As someone just said, it's more about not wrecking Olt's shoulder early in the season. I'm ok with that.

[Guest]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 2m

Called this two weeks ago RT @CubsDen Hearing that if Olt can make the throws from 3B, he's going to get the job.

 

REALLY GUY?

Yeah, I saw that. Pretty f'in narcissistic to congratulate yourself on calling something that could be reasonably assumed by pretty much everyone.

 

Not even close to the first time he's done it either. People make fun of it all the time (which is why I brought it up).

[Guest]

@GDubCub Renteria says Valbuena still will share time at third with Olt. Hoyer said he expects Olt shoulder to "keep getting healthier"

 

Well, at least that's a good reason to be splitting time at this point. Hopefully once the shoulder is 100%, we'll see some Valbuena at 2B and Olt at 3B pretty much every day.

 

Yeah. Hoping it's to ease him in...maybe sit him against tougher righties.

[Post Count Padder]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 2m

Called this two weeks ago RT @CubsDen Hearing that if Olt can make the throws from 3B, he's going to get the job.

 

REALLY GUY?

Yeah, I saw that. Pretty f'in narcissistic to congratulate yourself on calling something that could be reasonably assumed by pretty much everyone.

 

Not even close to the first time he's done it either. People make fun of it all the time (which is why I brought it up).

Yeah, I noticed. I followed him on Twitter but he doesn't add anything other bloggers/beat writers don't already cover. Except a sense of know it all-ism.

[Guest]

WTF..How about he splits time with Barney?

 

He can do both. Also, Bonifacio can play 2B too.

 

One thing that hasn't had a lot of focus is Valbuena's defense by position. It's not a ton of playing time so it's not definitive, but for his career he's a +21 3B and a -7 2B (both per 150 games). If the Front Office sees him as more of a "break in case of emergency" 2B, then it makes a lot more sense to give him PA against RHP until Olt takes it away with performance, and let Bonifacio and Barney be the 2B decision. This breaks down a little because Bonifacio for his career isn't a great 2B either(-3 UZR), but there's definitely signs he's more suited for the position(body type, athleticism, +1 in his largest and most recent 2B playing time).

[Guest]

Jesse Rogers ‏@ESPNChiCubs 5m

I asked that today. Both CF and LF..think CF more @beanslyog: @ESPNChiCubs is lake going to be the starter in center ?

[davell]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 2m

Called this two weeks ago RT @CubsDen Hearing that if Olt can make the throws from 3B, he's going to get the job.

 

REALLY GUY?

Yeah, I saw that. Pretty f'in narcissistic to congratulate yourself on calling something that could be reasonably assumed by pretty much everyone.

 

Not even close to the first time he's done it either. People make fun of it all the time (which is why I brought it up).

Yeah, I noticed. I followed him on Twitter but he doesn't add anything other bloggers/beat writers don't already cover. Except a sense of know it all-ism.

 

The self congratulatory stuff is uncalled for, unless he did the same all the time he's wrong. That said, Arguello is the best Cubs centric guy to follow when it comes to prospects by a wide margin.

 

The "fun with math" crap from a few months back though was by far the worst thing he's ever done.

[Guest]

The payroll math made me question anything he ever says about anything because it exposes him as a complete [expletive] moron. Edited March 27, 2014 by David

[sneakypower]

i like Lake a lot better in LF, where you can be a huge asset defensively on athleticism alone, whereas in CF i think instincts and reps play a much bigger role

 

also, re platooning Olt to start, he's shown a pretty sizable split (790 OPS vs. 960) at the upper levels, so it's not the worst thing to ease his shoulder along and allow him to force the issue for more PA

[Guest]

i like Lake a lot better in LF, where you can be a huge asset defensively on athleticism alone, whereas in CF i think instincts and reps play a much bigger role

 

also, re platooning Olt to start, he's shown a pretty sizable split (790 OPS vs. 960) at the upper levels, so it's not the worst thing to ease his shoulder along and allow him to force the issue for more PA

 

Yeah. I see the wisdom in it. I'm just whining because I want to see more of him.

[davell]

Very happy with Olt and Kalish. My hope is Olt winds up with 450+ at bats and even if he's eased in, I think he will. Even if most are in the seasons second half. When some of Barney, Bonifacio, and Valbuena are gone. For that matter, I think Kalish winds up in the same boat, taking most of Nate's at bats once he's dealt.

[Guest]

Correct, one spot needs to open up. Could be Fujikawa going to the 60-day DL, DFAing a guy like Raley, etc.

 

Raley plays for the Twins now.

[Guest]

WELL THAT'LL MAKE IT PRETTY EASY TO KICK HIM OFF THE 40 MAN ROSTER THEN

 

In that case, Beeler, Watkins, or Szczur are probably the most likely DFA candidates.

[SouthSideRyan]

Fine DFA Jason Berken then.

[Guest]

i like Lake a lot better in LF, where you can be a huge asset defensively on athleticism alone, whereas in CF i think instincts and reps play a much bigger role

 

also, re platooning Olt to start, he's shown a pretty sizable split (790 OPS vs. 960) at the upper levels, so it's not the worst thing to ease his shoulder along and allow him to force the issue for more PA

 

Agreed. I'm not huge on Sweeney in CF, but I trust him a good bit more than Lake. Plus Kalish isn't really a CF either, so if he's stealing PA from Lake or Schierholtz it's easier to not have to shuffle positions around.

[A New Era]

WELL THAT'LL MAKE IT PRETTY EASY TO KICK HIM OFF THE 40 MAN ROSTER THEN

 

In that case, Beeler, Watkins, or Szczur are probably the most likely DFA candidates.

 

Watkins please. He looks like a smaller, uglier, less good at baseball, Anthony Rizzo.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So in this spring:

 

Olt showed enough to be the starting 3b with some reason to hope on him

 

The only significant regular-season playing time lost to injury is a few starts of Arrieta.

 

 

That's a darn good spring.

[jersey cubs fan]

castro missed most of spring training.

 

that's a bummer with a guy in need of a major bounceback season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bruce Miles ‏@BruceMiles2112 4m

#Cubs say IF Ryan Roberts has requested and been granted his release.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

castro missed most of spring training.

 

that's a bummer with a guy in need of a major bounceback season.

 

He's a hitter. They only need like a week to get their timing down. The rest is just to sell tickets and give the pitchers someone to warm up on.

[jersey cubs fan]

castro missed most of spring training.

 

that's a bummer with a guy in need of a major bounceback season.

 

He's a hitter. They only need like a week to get their timing down. The rest is just to sell tickets and give the pitchers someone to warm up on.

 

Yeah, but he missed it with an injury, not just because he was chillin' by the pool.