Jump to content
Can Imanaga keep rolling against the Phils? Join our game thread! ×
North Side Baseball

Luis Valbuena has to be starting

Schwarber Fan

By Schwarber Fan,
in Chicago Cubs Talk

 Share
mul21 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

mul21

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Yes, I do not care to see 21 throwing errors in 140 games. If he really can mash that's different, but call me skeptical on that front as well.

 

From what TT said I guess this shouldn't be a long-term (season lingering) injury, but does it not seem like it's taking him a long time to get it right?

 

Shoulder injuries are not to be trifled with. They need to be treated with extreme caution because it's an exceptionally fragile joint. And if there's no reason to push him right now, why take a chance? By all accounts he's always been regarded as an above average defender there and there's no reason to believe that's not the case now. If he continues to not be able to throw over to first then yeah, you have to reconsider, but the results in one game shouldn't be swaying your opinion in that direction.

  • Replies 49
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Backtobanks Knoxville Smokies

Backtobanks

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Yes, I do not care to see 21 throwing errors in 140 games. If he really can mash that's different, but call me skeptical on that front as well.

 

From what TT said I guess this shouldn't be a long-term (season lingering) injury, but does it not seem like it's taking him a long time to get it right?

 

Shoulder injuries are not to be trifled with. They need to be treated with extreme caution because it's an exceptionally fragile joint. And if there's no reason to push him right now, why take a chance? By all accounts he's always been regarded as an above average defender there and there's no reason to believe that's not the case now. If he continues to not be able to throw over to first then yeah, you have to reconsider, but the results in one game shouldn't be swaying your opinion in that direction.

 

If Olt's problems persist, Rizzo could get a lot of exercise the second half of the season with Olt, Castro, and Baez throwing to him.

neely crenshaw Draft Eligible

neely crenshaw

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

You can't be swayed by a great spring into thinking Valbuena is a long term starting piece.

He started off great for months last year but came back to earth, and really the only thing that kept from falling all the way back to his norm was he missed 6 weeks.

Right now he is the perfect platoon mate with Barney. Both play good/great defense. Their righty/lefty splits are nearly identical...surprisingly with Barney having a better OPS and Valbuena having a better OB%.

Unless Olt can not throw from third or if the cubs feel they can get Barney's trade value up by playing full-time, I can't see why they would not platoon them until someone else is ready.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
Oh [expletive], it's neely. He's like the Punxsutawney Phil of the regular season. Baseball is almost here!

 

He's been around in various incarnations in the offseason. You probably just blocked that out too.

mul21 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

mul21

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Oh [expletive], it's neely. He's like the Punxsutawney Phil of the regular season. Baseball is almost here!

 

Come on, give him some credit. At least that was fairly reasonable and mostly coherent.

Bull ACL Cubs

Bull

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Yeah, and defensively, that would be ideal too.

 

I guess I just don't understand where Olt is going to play? His defensive/arm/shoulder/whatever issues seem to be a major issue and I don't want a Ryan Zimmerman at 3B.

This is...

I don't...

how what...

Seriously?

 

Yes, I do not care to see 21 throwing errors in 140 games. If he really can mash that's different, but call me skeptical on that front as well.

 

From what TT said I guess this shouldn't be a long-term (season lingering) injury, but does it not seem like it's taking him a long time to get it right?

 

He has always been seen as a plus defender and that hasn't changed in a handful of ST chances. The talk has always been anything he adds with the bat is a bonus to his stellar defense. This is silly.

biittner77 South Bend Cubs

biittner77

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
He has always been seen as a plus defender and that hasn't changed in a handful of ST chances. The talk has always been anything he adds with the bat is a bonus to his stellar defense. This is silly.

 

I'm not saying Olt isn't good defensively but I think this is an overstatement for any highly thought of 3rd baseman. To put it another way, The Rangers were more excited about his bat a couple years ago.

 

It would be great if he was a plus defender still but he has to hit.

Omar Chicago Cubs

Omar

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Oh [expletive], it's neely. He's like the Punxsutawney Phil of the regular season. Baseball is almost here!

 

If he's Punxsutawney Phil, then that makes every Cubs season Groundhog Day.

 

Fitting.

Bull ACL Cubs

Bull

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
He has always been seen as a plus defender and that hasn't changed in a handful of ST chances. The talk has always been anything he adds with the bat is a bonus to his stellar defense. This is silly.

 

I'm not saying Olt isn't good defensively but I think this is an overstatement for any highly thought of 3rd baseman. To put it another way, The Rangers were more excited about his bat a couple years ago.

 

It would be great if he was a plus defender still but he has to hit.

Third base is no longer a position where you have to get an .800 ops. In 2013 the average nl position player had a .318 wOBA. The average for 3b was .311. Below center fielders.

 

And the fact that the rangers were more excited about his bat says more positive about his hitting potential than negative about his fielding. He has been seen as anywhere from above average to gold glove potential at third. (He was a shortstop in college). I can see where you'd think I was overstating the point (I disagree, but I can see it) the OP was concerned about Olt having a position. That's ludicrous.

North Prep Ball

North

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Valbuena's offense isn't great. He's worthy of a MLB roster spot, but he produces runs at a below average clip.
pitchcs ACL Cubs

pitchcs

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
He has always been seen as a plus defender and that hasn't changed in a handful of ST chances. The talk has always been anything he adds with the bat is a bonus to his stellar defense. This is silly.

 

I'm not saying Olt isn't good defensively but I think this is an overstatement for any highly thought of 3rd baseman. To put it another way, The Rangers were more excited about his bat a couple years ago.

 

It would be great if he was a plus defender still but he has to hit.

Third base is no longer a position where you have to get an .800 ops. In 2013 the average nl position player had a .318 wOBA. The average for 3b was .311. Below center fielders.

 

And the fact that the rangers were more excited about his bat says more positive about his hitting potential than negative about his fielding. He has been seen as anywhere from above average to gold glove potential at third. (He was a shortstop in college). I can see where you'd think I was overstating the point (I disagree, but I can see it) the OP was concerned about Olt having a position. That's ludicrous.

 

Ok well wake me up when his arm is capable of actually playing 3B.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
Valbuena/Olt would probably be a great platoon.

 

I'm assuming you haven't actually looked at Valbuena's splits.

RynoRules Knoxville Smokies

RynoRules

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
The only reason to give Luis more starts at 3B is to attempt to increase his trade value. Beyond that, IMO, he should be platooning at 2B and Olt should be getting 4-5 starts a week at 3B.
neely crenshaw Draft Eligible

neely crenshaw

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I don't think you platoon Olt at all. If he's healthy enough to play, he plays. Obviously with days off to help the shoulder.

I just don't think they're ready to look at Olt as a platoon type player yet.

 

If Olt can't go, then you could see Valbuena/Murphy (or Bonifacio) as a platoon, just hoping to get similar results as we did with Ransom.

Deeg Draft Eligible

Deeg

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
I don't think you platoon Olt at all. If he's healthy enough to play, he plays. Obviously with days off to help the shoulder.

I just don't think they're ready to look at Olt as a platoon type player yet.

 

If Olt can't go, then you could see Valbuena/Murphy (or Bonifacio) as a platoon, just hoping to get similar results as we did with Ransom.

 

This. If Olt is healthy enough to play, he has to play every day. One essential outcome from this punted season is that the Cubs find out with as much certainty as possible what they have with Olt, and you can't do that if he's platooning or playing in AAA. They're going to have some major decisions next winter and gauging what they have in Olt is a crucial step in making them.

 

Also, Valbuena hitting a few HRs in Arizona doesn't change what he is. He has almost 1500 major-league ABs and he's 28 - he's not going to morph into a good everyday player now. He's a nice piece, and if it were me I'd platoon him at 2B with Barney. But ideally, on a good team he's a utility guy.

Guest

Guest

Guests
Posted
Posted
He has always been seen as a plus defender and that hasn't changed in a handful of ST chances. The talk has always been anything he adds with the bat is a bonus to his stellar defense. This is silly.

 

I'm not saying Olt isn't good defensively but I think this is an overstatement for any highly thought of 3rd baseman. To put it another way, The Rangers were more excited about his bat a couple years ago.

 

It would be great if he was a plus defender still but he has to hit.

Third base is no longer a position where you have to get an .800 ops. In 2013 the average nl position player had a .318 wOBA. The average for 3b was .311. Below center fielders.

 

And the fact that the rangers were more excited about his bat says more positive about his hitting potential than negative about his fielding. He has been seen as anywhere from above average to gold glove potential at third. (He was a shortstop in college). I can see where you'd think I was overstating the point (I disagree, but I can see it) the OP was concerned about Olt having a position. That's ludicrous.

 

Ok well wake me up when his arm is capable of actually playing 3B.

 

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/845476280.gif?1395781573

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
The North Side Baseball Caretaker Fund
The North Side Baseball Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Cubs community on the internet. Included with caretaking is ad-free browsing of North Side Baseball.

Become a Caretaker

  • Member Statistics

    6,793
    Total Members
    13,056
    Most Online
    Kevin OBrien
    Newest Member
    Kevin OBrien
    Joined
×
×
  • Create New...