September Call Ups/Transactions

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ryan Sweeney and Luis Valbuena activated off the DL.

 

RHP Alberto Cabrera recalled. RHP Eduardo Sanchez DFAed.

[sneakypower]

does Sweeney start seeing more time over Bogusevic given that he's hit better, or does Bogusevic's recent hot stretch give him the upper hand?

 

if nothing else, i guess Sweeney takes the LHP half of the platoon, given how much Bogusevic's been shielded from them; i'm a believer in both, and think they'll each have a role on next year's team

[pitchcs]

I would think Sweeney has more "long/medium term value" than Bogusevic, but really they seem fairly similar for the most part.

[Guest]

@CarrieMuskat: #Cubs will add 4 or 5 more players once Minor League season ends today. Expect a catcher and more pitchers

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Baker, Grimm, and Raley I would guess for pitchers. J.C. Boscan is is the only other catcher on the 40-man.

[Gilby]

Baker, Grimm, and Raley I would guess for pitchers. J.C. Boscan is is the only other catcher on the 40-man.

 

Even though they're not currently on the 40 man, I would think Lim and/or Rosscup will get a look.

[photoguy9883]

What about Olt?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

What about Olt?

 

Hope not. Wouldn't get consistent playing time and I think he just needs to get away from baseball for awhile.

[Guest]

You're just not a huge fan of Olt and I get it.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

No, but I don't think sporadic at-bats at a higher level after a horrendous season in the PCL is going to help him right now.

[Guest]

When it's almost entirely a psychological thing, you can really justify it both ways. It makes sense to not bring him up for sporadic at bats and just let him hit the reset button as soon as possible. It also makes sense that if his strong finish to the season has him in good form, to let him capture as much of that confidence back as he can, even if it is in sporadic at bats. As the gatekeepers of his PT they can make it clear to him that he's not going to hurt his stock by platooning at 3B in September.

 

I say let him come up to the MLB level, let a different set of coaches watch him hit in workouts/BP/sporadic PT. I think that has far more potential to help than hurt, and I don't see it being a huge difference compared to just letting him sit at home while a decent chunk of the Iowa roster gets to come to Chicago.

[davell]

I was hopeful they'd bring him up, but I don't see it happening. Still think he'll be our Opening Day 3B next year though.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I was hopeful they'd bring him up, but I don't see it happening. Still think he'll be our Opening Day 3B next year though.

 

Moving Valbuena to second so I never have to look at Darwin Barney again. I wouldn't mind that.

[imb]

yeah let him come up and play every day. striking out 4 times a day at mlb can't be that much more heartbreaking than striking out 4 times in AAA

[davell]

Dolis had been thought to be added by some, but he just left with an arm injury in his first rehab appearance.

[Guest]

It, uh, doesn't seem like Olt is on his way to Chicago.

 

@mike_olt Just about out of Iowa on the journey home. Saw corn fields for miles so I had run through one. #lost #manvswild #whereisthebutter #serious

[Guest]

When it's almost entirely a psychological thing, you can really justify it both ways. It makes sense to not bring him up for sporadic at bats and just let him hit the reset button as soon as possible. It also makes sense that if his strong finish to the season has him in good form, to let him capture as much of that confidence back as he can, even if it is in sporadic at bats. As the gatekeepers of his PT they can make it clear to him that he's not going to hurt his stock by platooning at 3B in September.

 

I say let him come up to the MLB level, let a different set of coaches watch him hit in workouts/BP/sporadic PT. I think that has far more potential to help than hurt, and I don't see it being a huge difference compared to just letting him sit at home while a decent chunk of the Iowa roster gets to come to Chicago.

Is it just a psychological thing? It seems to me he's been exposed and is incapable of making adjustments. I don't know.

[Guest]

I'm not talking about the reason for his AAA struggles, I'm talking about the reasons for promoting him or sending him home.

[davell]

Olt's K rate normalized after his vision issues were corrected. His BABIP sucked out loud this year. This isn't a Brett Jackson scenario, in my mind. I think Olt will be a major league starter, while I'm thinking Felix Pie may have a better ML career than Brett does.

[manbearcub]

It, uh, doesn't seem like Olt is on his way to Chicago.

 

@mike_olt Just about out of Iowa on the journey home. Saw corn fields for miles so I had run through one. #lost #manvswild #whereisthebutter #serious

At least he can see for miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Olt's K rate normalized after his vision issues were corrected. His BABIP sucked out loud this year. This isn't a Brett Jackson scenario, in my mind. I think Olt will be a major league starter, while I'm thinking Felix Pie may have a better ML career than Brett does.

 

27% since returning to AAA and 24% as an I-Cub are still very high, especially considering he didn't hit then either(.720 & .551 OPS respectively). BABIP explains a part of that, but with minor leaguers you can't write off nearly as much to BABIP variance as you can at the MLB level. The idea is that MLB caliber players are superior to their level of competition, so when you see a guy fail to hit it's much more likely his true talent level than extended stretch of misfortune. Maybe Olt bounces back next year after an offseason to re-boot and get comfortable with his vision and swing in concert, but I don't see much cause for optimism strictly looking at his performance this year, in any segment.

[Guest]

Rosscup promoted and Sappelt DFA'd. Grimm, Raley, and Boscan also called up.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sappelt DFA'd.

 

OK, maybe he's not just as good as Soriano.

[davell]

Very happy to get a look at Rosscup, hope we see Lim somehow too.

[Guest]

Pretty happy to see Rosscup get his chance.