2014 Roster Discussion

[Post Count Padder]

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat 3m

George Kottaras cleared waivers. Given unconditional release. #Cubs

 

Posted it in Transactions but also appropriate here. So Whiteside and Baker compete for the backup catcher spot. Woof.

[jersey cubs fan]

so 40-man is now at 38?

[Guest]

so 40-man is now at 38?

 

Yes.

 

One of Baker/Whiteside has to get one of those spots, Bonifacio, Kalish, and Roberts all need spots if they're going to make the team, and Fujikawa can relatively easily be put on the 60 man-DL to open up another spot.

 

Castillo

Baker/Whiteside

 

Rizzo

Barney

Castro

Olt

Valbuena

 

Schierholtz

Lake

Sweeney

Ruggiano

 

 

To me it looks like Bonifacio + Kalish are the two that get picked, then Fujikawa moved to the 60 day and we're all set.

[Anomalied]

So with Murphy officially gone, my guess at the lineups is...

 

VS RHP

1. Kalish / Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Schierholtz (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Valbuena (2B)

7. Sweeney (CF)

8. Castillo ©

 

VS LHP

1. Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Ruggiano (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Bonifacio (CF)

7. Castillo ©

8. Barney (2B)

[jersey cubs fan]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 2m

Baker earns backup catching spot

 

whiteside to iowa

[Guest]

Which one is the one with lots of gray hair? Whiteside?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So with Murphy officially gone, my guess at the lineups is...

 

 

Do we no longer have a vomit smiley? I'm looking for it and not seeing it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Our new backup catcher has not had an OPS above .590 or hit a home run since 2009.

 

He'd better be magical at framing pitches or something.

[Guest]

So with Murphy officially gone, my guess at the lineups is...

 

VS RHP

1. Kalish / Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Schierholtz (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Valbuena (2B)

7. Sweeney (CF)

8. Castillo ©

 

VS LHP

1. Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Ruggiano (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Bonifacio (CF)

7. Castillo ©

8. Barney (2B)

 

Hard to guess what it will be since we have little to go on with Renteria, but my favorite for each would be something like:

 

v. RHP

CF Sweeney

SS Castro

1B Rizzo

3B Olt

RF Schierholtz

C Castillo

2B Valbuena (Barney may steal at bats here with a strong start/weak start by Valbuena/Olt)

LF Lake (Kalish may steal at bats here with a strong start/weak start by Lake)

 

v. LHP

CF Sweeney

SS Castro

1B Rizzo

3B Olt

RF Ruggiano

LF Lake (might swap in order with Sweeney if Lake hits well to start)

C Castillo

2B Barney

[Guest]

So with Murphy officially gone, my guess at the lineups is...

 

VS RHP

1. Kalish / Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Schierholtz (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Valbuena (2B)

7. Sweeney (CF)

8. Castillo ©

 

VS LHP

1. Lake (LF)

2. Castro (SS)

3. Ruggiano (RF)

4. Rizzo (1B)

5. Olt (3B)

6. Bonifacio (CF)

7. Castillo ©

8. Barney (2B)

 

I was going to post my guess, but I still don't know what's going on with the outfield so I'll just say I don't think they'll lead off with Lake (and if they do, they won't be for long) and I think Rizzo and Olt will be 3/4 in both lineups.

[Guest]

I've said it before but I agree with way too much of what TT says

[Boris]

Both of those 3 hole hitters make me want to claw my eyes out.

[sneakypower]

Our new backup catcher has not had an OPS above .590 or hit a home run since 2009.

 

He'd better be magical at framing pitches or something.

according to BP, for the last two seasons:

Kottaras is -44 extra strikes (4700 framing chances), and Baker is +4 extra strikes (3900 chances), which amounts to about a 5-6 run total difference

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Our new backup catcher has not had an OPS above .590 or hit a home run since 2009.

 

He'd better be magical at framing pitches or something.

according to BP, for the last two seasons:

Kottaras is -44 extra strikes (4700 framing chances), and Baker is +4 extra strikes (3900 chances), which amounts to about a 5-6 run total difference

 

The math checks out. Carry on, Theo.

[Anomalied]

Both of those 3 hole hitters make me want to claw my eyes out.

I would say Rizzo in the 3-hole, but with the lack of power in the lineup I'd assume that they'd want him to be their main cleanup guy.

[jersey cubs fan]

Both of those 3 hole hitters make me want to claw my eyes out.

I would say Rizzo in the 3-hole, but with the lack of power in the lineup I'd assume that they'd want him to be their main cleanup guy.

 

I don't think they worry about things like "main cleanup guy".

[sneakypower]

Our new backup catcher has not had an OPS above .590 or hit a home run since 2009.

 

He'd better be magical at framing pitches or something.

according to BP, for the last two seasons:

Kottaras is -44 extra strikes (4700 framing chances), and Baker is +4 extra strikes (3900 chances), which amounts to about a 5-6 run total difference

 

The math checks out. Carry on, Theo.

well, they do have Kottaras being substantially better at blocking WP & PB than Baker, with a 6-7 run difference there the other way

 

edit, for those interested:

Baker

Kottaras

[sneakypower]

Both of those 3 hole hitters make me want to claw my eyes out.

I would say Rizzo in the 3-hole, but with the lack of power in the lineup I'd assume that they'd want him to be their main cleanup guy.

 

I don't think they worry about things like "main cleanup guy".

they probably should, numerous lineup studies have suggested that's the 2nd most important spot in the lineup for run production, behind #2

[Guest]

I want to be the first to say that Wellington Castillo will be the highest valued catcher in baseball by the end of the year. Breakout season at the plate and behind the plate. He will be considered part of "the core"

[Guest]

I want to be the first to say that Wellington Castillo will be the highest valued catcher in baseball by the end of the year. Breakout season at the plate and behind the plate. He will be considered part of "the core"

 

Well go over the the Donnie Murphy thread because Kyle just said he might be less productive than a full season of Barney at 2B

[Fro]

This could be a pretty fun team to watch with Olt & Kalish rising from their prospect graves.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I want to be the first to say that Wellington Castillo will be the highest valued catcher in baseball by the end of the year. Breakout season at the plate and behind the plate. He will be considered part of "the core"

 

Well go over the the Donnie Murphy thread because Kyle just said he might be less productive than a full season of Barney at 2B

 

I have a lot of doubts about Castillo.

 

We're talking about a guy who was never that highly rated as a prospect who suddenly bursts out with a 3.2 fWAR season fueled by a .347 BABIP and a +15 run UZR.

[Guest]

Remember Ryan Kalish?

 

He’s taken the decision of whether he will make the Cubs roster right until the end.

 

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Wednesday he still did not know what the final answer would be, but he did text, “Either way he looks great. Brings a lot to the table and is on our long-term plans.”

 

Kalish has missed two of the last three years due to shoulder/neck surgeries including a fusion procedure. He was on the road to being Boston’s center or right fielder, but the injuries derailed the progress of the former Red Sox prospect. The Red Sox once had visions of Kalish replacing Ellsbury if he fled to free-agency, or playing right field.

 

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/03/26/ryan-kalish-could-make-cubs-roster/V0s1VuO4cuU8IqzkC1GXOM/story.html

[neely crenshaw]

It would be a nice coup to have Kalish and Olt bounce back for us. I feel pretty confident in Olt.

I hope Castillo builds on what he did but he was just plain awful behind the plate at times last season. That worries me more than whether he will keep his offense up.

As for the lineups, I have to think that if Lake and Bonifacio are in the lineup vs lefties, Bonifacio is leading off.

Hard to see Ruggiano starting the season in the 3 hole. Maybe if he proves himself like Schierholtz did last year but he still seems to be a question mark to be a regular.

[RynoRules]

With Kalish and Olt on board and an allegedly improved 'pen, I'm all of a sudden feeling like this team could win 80 games....