Cubs acquire Justin Ruggiano

[Guest]

Depends on how they view Sweeney. My guess is that don't feel he has to have a handcuff, but they probably have similar feelings about Lake so I could see the 5th OF going either way.

 

Guttierez plz

 

LF - Lake

CF - Sweeney/Guttierez

RF - Schierholtz/Ruggiano

 

?

 

Isn't Gutierrez a bad CF?

 

I thought he was pretty highly regarded.

 

The last two years he has graded out poorly, and prior to that he was really good.

 

UZR/150

 

2009 - 29.0 (1353 inning sample)

2010 - 5.3 (1277.1 inning sample)

2011 - 28.8 (763 inning sample)

2012 - -31.7 (322.2 inning sample)

2013 - -23.9 (131.2 inning sample)

 

Prior to 2009 he also graded out really well in very limited time.

[Guest]

Gutierrez was a terrific CF, and in very limited time he's rated very poorly these last two injury riddled years. A big part is that he has a genetic issue that causes inflammation in the joints, which is why he's unlikely to be considered a full-time starter by anyone. In a time-sharing role where he can get plenty of rest when he needs it though, I think it's fair to think he can bounce back from a numbers standpoint defensively. Wrigley's shallow alleys don't hurt either.

[Guest]

So let's say they pick up Guttierez, Rizzo continues to develop and Castro bounces back...Baez, at some point, replaces Barney's anemic production in the lineup (seems almost impossible for that not to be an upgrade)

 

C - Castillo

1B - Rizzo

2B - Barney/Baez/Valbuena?

SS - Castro

3B - Valbuena/some other guy (Baez?)

LF - Lake

CF - Sweeney/Guttierez

RF - Schierholtz/Ruggiano

 

am I crazy or is that not a terrible lineup (assuming Castro and Rizzo, to varying extents, perform better) by today's standards?

 

Just spitballing... High .700's OPS out of CF, .800's in right. no idea what we're getting out of lake, tbh... our 3B situation was very productive last year

 

Good to very good defense just about everywhere.

Edited December 12, 2013 by David

[Guest]

I'm a native Spanish speaker and feel ashamed for how many times I just misspelled Gutierrez.

[Clem Fandango]

I imagine Olt will be the "Some other guy" at 3B

[Guest]

I imagine Olt will be the "Some other guy" at 3B

 

I'd think they're going to see if he can hit .200 in Iowa first.

 

He has a lot of work to do and will probably be doing it in AAA.

[Tyrant]

Depends on how they view Sweeney. My guess is that don't feel he has to have a handcuff, but they probably have similar feelings about Lake so I could see the 5th OF going either way.

 

Guttierez plz

 

LF - Lake

CF - Sweeney/Guttierez

RF - Schierholtz/Ruggiano

 

?

 

Isn't Gutierrez a bad CF?

 

I thought he was pretty highly regarded.

 

The last two years he has graded out poorly, and prior to that he was really good.

 

UZR/150

 

2009 - 29.0 (1353 inning sample)

2010 - 5.3 (1277.1 inning sample)

2011 - 28.8 (763 inning sample)

2012 - -31.7 (322.2 inning sample)

2013 - -23.9 (131.2 inning sample)

 

Prior to 2009 he also graded out really well in very limited time.

 

It's almost as if defensive metrics are imperfect and sometimes unreliable.

[sneakypower]

yes, like when a player is playing with an injury, for example

 

which Gutierrez was doing

• "After years of battling health problems including irritable bowel syndrome, a concussion, pain in his throwing arm and now issues with his legs and hips – stemming from a recently discovered genetic disorder that causes inflammation in his joints – it is unclear if Gutierrez will ever be fully healthy."

[SouthSideRyan]

I think signing a guy largely for his defense when he has a genetic problem causing inflammation in his joints sounds like just about the worst idea ever

[Guest]

Defense certainly isn't the only reason I like Gutierrez, he hit 10 HR in 150 PA last year.

[sneakypower]

he has a career .818 OPS/120 wRC+ vs. LHP, so i assume that would have been the primary attraction in his services at this point Edited December 12, 2013 by sneakypower

[Lefty]

She tries too hard when she smiles

 

Easily correctable.

[Cubswin11]

I think signing a guy largely for his defense when he has a genetic problem causing inflammation in his joints sounds like just about the worst idea ever

Almost as bad as giving the 3B job to a 25 year old who has a vision problem that doctors don't know what's causing it or how to cure it and who just put up a .671 OPS at AAA

Edited December 12, 2013 by Cubswin11

[USSoccer]

This is a nice deal; we got a something for a nothing.

[Guest]

I think signing a guy largely for his defense when he has a genetic problem causing inflammation in his joints sounds like just about the worst idea ever

 

Yeah...what sneaky said. It's his line against LHP. Plus defense would just be a nice cherry on top.

[Cubswin11]

I think signing a guy largely for his defense when he has a genetic problem causing inflammation in his joints sounds like just about the worst idea ever

 

Yeah...what sneaky said. It's his line against LHP. Plus defense would just be a nice cherry on top.

You'd think playing strictly the lessor side of a platoon, thus limiting innings/not likely playing more than 2-3 days in a row, could help him manage his problem. Though genetic problems/degeneration problems are probably the hardest to manage as they probably come and go at unpredictable times.

[SouthSideRyan]

Defense certainly isn't the only reason I like Gutierrez, he hit 10 HR in 150 PA last year.

 

With a 22.7% HR/FB ratio (Compared 8.8% for his career) He also sucked against lefties last year.

[SouthSideRyan]

he has a career .818 OPS/120 wRC+ vs. LHP, so i assume that would have been the primary attraction in his services at this point

 

Darnell McDonald has a career 117 wRC+ vs. LHP, can get out of bed without pain and won't cost any of the few dollars we have.

[Lefty]

.496 SLG on the road over the last two years (391 AB).

[Guest]

This is a nice deal; we got a something for a nothing.

That's the way I see it too. Don't know why the Marlins would want BB.

[davell]

C Castillo, Kottaras

1B Rizzo

2B Barney Murphy

SS Castro

3B Valbuena Olt

LF Sweeney Ruggiano

CF Lake

RF Schierholtz

 

Looking at that(can see Lake and Sweeney flipping), I doubt Murphy, even with a settled contract, is a guaranteed spot. Olt definitely isn't. In fact, I think his outcomes are starter or AAA.

 

Brett, Vitters, and Watkins all will get a "chance" to make the Opening Day roster. My question though, is how many more guaranteed contracts will we give out on the position player side? Are we still looking for an OFer, since Ruggiano just replaces Bogusevic? Or a corner infielder perhaps? I could see Youkilis appealing to us for numerous reasons. I'm curious though, because it's possible we're looking at the Opening Day position player group being finished already.

 

My honest guess is we'll add Youkilis, give Kalish a ST invite if he's healthy and let one of Vitters or Watkins have the inside track for the last roster spot.

[SouthSideRyan]

Barring a trade, I think we're done adding guaranteed contracts on offense.

 

Kottaras, Murphy, Ruggiano locked as bench, Minor league contract guys, Vitters, McDonald, Watkins, Olt(agreed he's starter or AAA) fight for last 2 spots. I can't see a scenario where Jackson makes the team barring ebola outbreak in the OF. I'd give Szczur a better chance.

 

I thought I read it elsewhere, but maybe not, but we don't really NEED more than one backup IF. You'd prefer it, but with Valbuena covering 2B, Barney covering SS, and Murphy covering everywhere there is "depth" as far as shuffling pieces goes.

Edited December 12, 2013 by SouthSideRyan

[Guest]

I don't think Brett Jackson has anything resembling a chance to make the major league roster.

 

He could OPS 1.000 in Mesa and I can't see him making the team.

[SouthSideRyan]

Regarding sneaky's Ruggiano tweet from earlier, I'd forgotten he went on to use that a few more times:

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruggiano-Green-Peace.jpg

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruggiano-Branson.jpg

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruggiano-high-school.jpg

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ruggiano-WWE.jpg

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Olt definitely isn't. In fact, I think his outcomes are starter or AAA.

 

I think he might consider himself fortunate if he makes the cut at AAA.

 

Brett, Vitters, and Watkins all will get a "chance" to make the Opening Day roster.

 

Probably two more, in the vein of what you said later. One more gritty outfielder for veteranness and another infielder who could feasibly see time at 3b.