Spring Training Thread

[Guest]

Olt is probably the guy I'm most excited about. Not that I think he's the best player out of the prospects or anything, but if he's actually fixed it makes a gigantic difference to how soon this will turn around. Obviously there's key things like Rizzo and Castro kicking it into gear, but something about Olt actually being worth a damn would just finally feel like things are actually, FINALLY, going the Cubs' way.

 

Exactly how I feel.

[XZero771679666304]

Olt is probably the guy I'm most excited about. Not that I think he's the best player out of the prospects or anything, but if he's actually fixed it makes a gigantic difference to how soon this will turn around. Obviously there's key things like Rizzo and Castro kicking it into gear, but something about Olt actually being worth a damn would just finally feel like things are actually, FINALLY, going the Cubs' way.

 

Exactly how I feel.

 

Yeah, me too. Olt becoming close to what he was expect to be would be a huge boost. And I'm not going to lie, I'm becoming irrationally optimistic that he will, though that might just be the Kool-Aid.

[hankp101]

Olt starting at least part time early in the year is right up there with hoping for Castro/Rizzo bounce backs on the very short list of things I'm excited for with this team.

 

 

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[weis21]

Olt is probably the guy I'm most excited about. Not that I think he's the best player out of the prospects or anything, but if he's actually fixed it makes a gigantic difference to how soon this will turn around. Obviously there's key things like Rizzo and Castro kicking it into gear, but something about Olt actually being worth a damn would just finally feel like things are actually, FINALLY, going the Cubs' way.

Yes, I'll agree with the others that you were right on the mark with this one.

[MWV]

http://boysofspring.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Mike-Olt.jpg

Show me a guy who can do that [expletive] with sub-standard eyeballs.

To hell with tiny sample sizes and spring training caveats.

He's fixed. He's soooooo [expletive] fixed.

[jumbo]

Just picture it...Neil Ramirez contributing in the bullpen, CJ Edwards in the middle of our rotation, and Olt hitting 25-30 bombs with a ton of walks and gold glove caliber defense. All for two months of Matt Garza.

 

That's some Herschel Walker [expletive].

 

You forgot about Justin Grimm

 

Good call. I knew I was forgetting someone.

 

Justin Grimm, professional setup man

 

I'm reminded of the Daily Show highlight of GW Bush listing war allies: "You forgot about Poland!"

[bukie]

If Olt is what he used to be, the Garza trade could end up as a huge shining moment for this front office.

Really, if one of the four players in the deal contributes positively for more than 3 months, the trade is a win.

[abohnhoff]

What's a reasonable expectation for Olt this season if he does win the job out of ST?

 

Also, is he in a possible platoon situation with Valbuena?

[sneakypower]

What's a reasonable expectation for Olt this season if he does win the job out of ST?

 

Also, is he in a possible platoon situation with Valbuena?

reasonable? .230/.300/.400, ~2 WAR pace

 

he can also take ABs from Barney (Valbuena to 2B), and Rizzo vs. LHP

[Tyrant]

Funny how everyone makes fun of puff spring training pieces in mid February and then by the first week of March totally buys into them.

[jersey cubs fan]

What's a reasonable expectation for Olt this season if he does win the job out of ST?

 

Also, is he in a possible platoon situation with Valbuena?

reasonable? .230/.300/.400, ~2 WAR pace

 

he can also take ABs from Barney (Valbuena to 2B), and Rizzo vs. LHP

 

I get the feeling the guy could be very good if he's actually able to play well enough to justify a spot on a major league team. If 2013 was a fluke of a season, then hasn't he shown he's capable of a lot more than that? If 2013 wasn't a fluke, then he's not doing that well anyway.

[Guest]

Funny how everyone makes fun of puff spring training pieces in mid February and then by the first week of March totally buys into them.

 

it was the bomb that cemented it

[Sammy Sofa]

Funny how everyone makes fun of puff spring training pieces in mid February and then by the first week of March totally buys into them.

 

it was the bomb that cemented it

 

That and it's a guy who was a highly across the board touted prospect who seemingly was dealing with a very specific and relatively unique (when compared to typical prospect struggles) problem that seemingly/hopefully has been resolved and could be a real impact player if he pans out. Tyrant's talking like we're swooning over someone saying Barney showed up looking all swole and determined to kick ass.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Sammy Sofa

[Guest]

Yeah, definitely.

 

Anyway, I'm more hoping on how much more interesting this year would be with a fixed Olt (and just how plain nasty that future lineup would be, especially since Baez at 2B, Olt at 3B, and Bryant in RF/LF is just about the ideal possibility in terms of offense and defense combined) than actually thinking it's going to happen. At the very least, another reason to watch the major league team.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Nothing Olt has done or had written about him has changed my mind to date.

 

I'll start getting excited when the Cubs start giving indications he'll be the Opening Day 3b, either by saying he's in the mix or when he starts getting starts there more often than Valbuena or Murphy late in the spring.

[Guest]

Nothing Olt has done or had written about him has changed my mind to date.

 

I'll start getting excited when the Cubs start giving indications he'll be the Opening Day 3b, either by saying he's in the mix or when he starts getting starts there more often than Valbuena or Murphy late in the spring.

 

Did you forget about your location?

[pitchcs]

http://boysofspring.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Mike-Olt.jpg

Show me a guy who can do that [expletive] with sub-standard eyeballs.

To hell with tiny sample sizes and spring training caveats.

He's fixed. He's soooooo [expletive] fixed.

 

Damn, that's like picture perfect technique.

[NOLA]

Jeebus, look at the veins popping out of his arms.

[Guest]

To me the most amazing thing about that picture is how clearly you can see the ball.

[imb]

Jeebus, look at the veins popping out of his arms.

 

that's loose skin

[MWV]

To me the most amazing thing about that picture is how clearly you can see the ball.

The photographer's name is John Antonoff. He's contributing shots to the Boys of Spring blog. He took a similarly great pic of Javy's opposite field HR from yesterday.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

To me the most amazing thing about that picture is how clearly you can see the ball.

 

I'm more amazed by how clearly he can see the ball.

[ConstableRabbit]

To me the most amazing thing about that picture is how clearly you can see the ball.

The photographer's name is John Antonoff. He's contributing shots to the Boys of Spring blog. He took a similarly great pic of Javy's opposite field HR from yesterday.

Some of the photos in his feed are... interesting.

[Guest]

To me the most amazing thing about that picture is how clearly you can see the ball.

The photographer's name is John Antonoff. He's contributing shots to the Boys of Spring blog. He took a similarly great pic of Javy's opposite field HR from yesterday.

Some of the photos in his feed are... interesting.

 

Holy [expletive] that's hysterical

[NOLA]

Every photographer I've met is an interesting cat.