2014 Roster Discussion

[jersey cubs fan]

If we pick up another starter worth a damn, I'll say 80 wins. There, I said it.

 

Not impossible. Heck, not impossible now.

I'll take the under.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Easily. But it's worth dreaming on. Both because losing less is fun *and* it'd screw with the "ZOMG, if we don't win it all I want the No. 1 draft pick!" crowd.

[davell]

I am one of those guys, but I don't want us to finish last this year. If we do, it means guys we expect to be on the future winning teams have been piss poor. Which no one wants to see.

[NOLA]

Serious question:

Is there any merit to the "building a culture of winning" talk? Does it matter for the players to have some success in terms of looking long term? I do get the feeling that when Javy comes up he isn't going to care about any of that [expletive]. He's just gonna do whatever the [expletive] he wants.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think promoting the culture of winning is as important as avoiding a culture of losing. It can't be good for player development when the team obviously tanks.

[Guest]

If Edwards starts in aa and pitches like he did last year, he could end the year in Chicago. Unlike Hendricks, I trust the numbers more for CJ. Perhaps it is just because they are so obscene.

 

And because his stuff is so much better.

[Guest]

A culture of winnng is pretty nebulous concept but I do think there is something to the mentorship process of having really good veterans leading by example. I think that's hard to do on a team with a bunch of retreads and part time players acting as leaders. Hopefully Rizzo and Castro will become those guys.

[A New Era]

the reason they are (hopefully) creating a culture of winning is because they have 3 first round prospects from the past 3 years who were all chosen with the 9th pick or higher, and who have all turned out as good as you could hope.

 

But I think the way they teach hitters to go about at the plate differs from the last regime and that + quality coaches and scouts make a difference, but it just takes longer for those results to be seen at the major league level.

[Sammy Sofa]

the reason they are (hopefully) creating a culture of winning

 

http://allmyfavoriterockstarsaredead.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/nate-dogg.jpg

[treebird]

the reason they are (hopefully) creating a culture of winning is because they have 3 first round prospects from the past 3 years who were all chosen with the 9th pick or higher, and who have all turned out as good as you could hope.

 

But I think the way they teach hitters to go about at the plate differs from the last regime and that + quality coaches and scouts make a difference, but it just takes longer for those results to be seen at the major league level.

 

if you can create a culture of winning without actually winning, none of these worse mean anything any more.

[A New Era]

bah.

[Guest]

Full ZiPs projections up: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/

 

Baez: .246/.295/.486, .340 wOBA, 2.2 WAR (with -9 defense!), #1 comp is Cal Ripken

 

EDIT: Alcantara has the best WAR projection outside Rizzo/Castro, 2.4 WAR with +0 defense, #1 comp is Tony Batista

[ConstableRabbit]

Full ZiPs projections up: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/

 

Baez: .246/.295/.486, .340 wOBA, 2.2 WAR (with -9 defense!), #1 comp is Cal Ripken

 

EDIT: Alcantara has the best WAR projection outside Rizzo/Castro, 2.4 WAR with +0 defense, #1 comp is Tony Batista

Baez's comp is RIPKEN.

[sneakypower]

seeing Castro's #1 comp being "Rennie Stennett" was a sucker-punch to the gut

[pitchcs]

seeing Castro's #1 comp being "Rennie Stennett" was a sucker-punch to the gut

 

And I'm all like, who?

[Guest]

seeing Castro's #1 comp being "Rennie Stennett" was a sucker-punch to the gut

 

That's because they know Castro is gonna break out and Stennett had a near 5 win season at age 24. Right? RIGHT?

[imb]

Full ZiPs projections up: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/

 

Baez: .246/.295/.486, .340 wOBA, 2.2 WAR (with -9 defense!), #1 comp is Cal Ripken

 

EDIT: Alcantara has the best WAR projection outside Rizzo/Castro, 2.4 WAR with +0 defense, #1 comp is Tony Batista

Baez's comp is RIPKEN.

 

lmao holy [expletive]

[sneakypower]

yeah, that makes no sense; Ripken never had a 100 K season

[imb]

Ripken's BR page cracks me up. You've got seasons where he struck out 50 times in 700+ plate appearances, and hit .250. How is that even possible?

[Old Style]

Billy Ripken?

[Guest]

yeah, that makes no sense; Ripken never had a 100 K season

 

@DSzymborski ZIPS definitely had trouble finding comps for Javier Baez - shortstop prospects with his power are exceedingly rare.

[sneakypower]

yeah, i understand the problem, i got stuck on it when trying to think of comps before and just settled on a good fielding 3B to use

[bukie]

Still think Sheffield is the best comp, with Baez better defensively and Sheffield better patience/contact.

[Guest]

Comps for Baez at 3B:

 

@DSzymborski: At 3B, his comps become Batista, Matt Williams, Esasky, Gruber, Ian Stewart, Reynolds, Jacoby

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Ian Stewart

 

I require a syringe and all of the heroin.