2015 lineup or no?

[Castros trade value]

Guys, without a real sense if Russell is going to be here next year, I left him out. Also, I probably have a few guys not hitting in their natural spots. So I ask for your help. Is this a realistic 2015 lineup for our Cubs? Just knowing that Baez just got here with Mendy and the fact our best prospects are not here yet, is scary in a crazy good way. I also realize the potential to add free agents, so I know this lineup is merely speculation.

 

If Russell indeed makes the team next year, where does he even play? It's a total embarrassment of riches :yahoo:

 

Alcantara CF

Castro SS

Rizzo 1B

Baez 2B

Bryant LF

Soler RF

Valbuena 3B

Castillo C

[davell]

Put Rusney Castillo in LF and Bryant at 3B in late April and I think that's it.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Who gives a [expletive] about "natural hitting spots" let's just line these bastards up and WIN WIN WIN

[Guest]

Put Rusney Castillo in LF and Bryant at 3B in late April and I think that's it.

 

no room for Alcantara? lol we can't find a spot for a guy who's awesome.

[davell]

Put Rusney Castillo in LF and Bryant at 3B in late April and I think that's it.

 

no room for Alcantara? lol we can't find a spot for a guy who's awesome.

 

Alcantara stays in CF.

 

C Castillo

1B Rizzo

2B Javy

SS Starlin

3B KB

LF Rusney

CF Alcantara

RF Soler

[Guest]

Put Rusney Castillo in LF and Bryant at 3B in late April and I think that's it.

 

no room for Alcantara? lol we can't find a spot for a guy who's awesome.

 

Alcantara stays in CF.

 

C Castillo

1B Rizzo

2B Javy

SS Starlin

3B KB

LF Rusney

CF Alcantara

RF Soler

 

oh yeah

[Guest]

I like Coghlan, though. Can we keep him and trade Castro?

 

then we'll have room for Alcantara until Russell gets the call.

[davell]

Put Rusney Castillo in LF and Bryant at 3B in late April and I think that's it.

 

no room for Alcantara? lol we can't find a spot for a guy who's awesome.

 

Alcantara stays in CF.

 

C Castillo

1B Rizzo

2B Javy

SS Starlin

3B KB

LF Rusney

CF Alcantara

RF Soler

 

oh yeah

 

Doesn't account for Russell though. He takes over SS, Starlin moves to 3B. KB has to move to LF, Rusney moves to CF and Alcantara becomes our Zobrist, I guess.

[Guest]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

[Guest]

Castro gets moved for an expensive ace and cash in the offseason, Baez plays SS until Russell comes up, Alcantara at 2b, Bryant at 3rd, Coghlan in LF, Castillo in CF, Soler in RF.

 

Once Russell comes up, Bryant to LF, Baez to 3b, Coghlan out on his ass.

[davell]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

 

Not sure I understand? Do you think he's going to be below average defensively there? Or are you just wanting a bigger bat there? Both?

 

At any rate, we've certainly got enough bats to go around elsewhere. Plus, I still see an .800 OPS out of Starlin myself. And I don't see anything other than Starlin/Russell/Javy at those 3 spots. And if the reports are correct, Russell will move him off SS.

 

If you're going the trade route here in your thinking, I honestly think all 3 of those guys are here longterm.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

 

Why wouldn't we?

[davell]

Castro gets moved for an expensive ace and cash in the offseason, Baez plays SS until Russell comes up, Alcantara at 2b, Bryant at 3rd, Coghlan in LF, Castillo in CF, Soler in RF.

 

Once Russell comes up, Bryant to LF, Baez to 3b, Coghlan out on his ass.

 

You got this in prior to my response. Bottom line is I think we'll buy pitching.

[Guest]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

 

Not sure I understand? Do you think he's going to be below average defensively there? Or are you just wanting a bigger bat there? Both?

 

At any rate, we've certainly got enough bats to go around elsewhere. Plus, I still see an .800 OPS out of Starlin myself. And I don't see anything other than Starlin/Russell/Javy at those 3 spots. And if the reports are correct, Russell will move him off SS.

 

If you're going the trade route here in your thinking, I honestly think all 3 of those guys are here longterm.

 

we have any number of guys that would outproduce Castro there. Just let go.

[Guest]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

 

Why wouldn't we?

 

because he's not close to our best option there?

[davell]

why on earth would we consider Castro acceptable at a position like 3rd base?

 

Not sure I understand? Do you think he's going to be below average defensively there? Or are you just wanting a bigger bat there? Both?

 

At any rate, we've certainly got enough bats to go around elsewhere. Plus, I still see an .800 OPS out of Starlin myself. And I don't see anything other than Starlin/Russell/Javy at those 3 spots. And if the reports are correct, Russell will move him off SS.

 

If you're going the trade route here in your thinking, I honestly think all 3 of those guys are here longterm.

 

we have any number of guys that would outproduce Castro there. Just let go.

 

Other than KB, I'm not seeing any. And it's far from certain he'll stick there.

[Guest]

Sulley FYI you're advocating trading Starlin Castro in part to make sure that Chris Coghlan has a place to play. Wanted to make sure you had the chance to see that in writing.

[minnesotacubsfan]

HE LIKES THE GUY

[George Hayduke]

FORMER ROTY THO!

[Derwood]

I'm normally the guy who hates the "EVERYONE IN LINEUP IS HOMEGROWN!!!" thing, but [expletive] it, that lineup rules

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm normally the guy who hates the "EVERYONE IN LINEUP IS HOMEGROWN!!!" thing, but [expletive] it, that lineup rules

 

It's different when it's already 5/8ths of the way there with the rest in AAA.

 

Next year they're going to be hitting HRs every single day except all in the MLB club and it is going to be glorious.

[weis21]

The overall turnaround in optimism about this team's future over the last week is astonishing. Not that I'm saying it's wrong (it was right all along), it's just amazing how one player's three game stretch enticed it.

 

edit: maybe "overall" should be, "those that weren't previously optimistic now are". Thus, the board as overall.

[evv98]

The overall turnaround in optimism about this team's future over the last week is astonishing. Not that I'm saying it's wrong (it was right all along), it's just amazing how one player's three game stretch enticed it.

 

edit: maybe "overall" should be, "those that weren't previously optimistic now are". Thus, the board as overall.

 

For me it's not just Baez, but the possible moves involving Turner and Hamels. It shows me that the FO believes they are close to competing for the playoffs. There have been no moves made by this FO involving the major league team that made me believe they were trying to compete. Everything had been about low cost roster filler or cheap flip options.

[treebird]

coghlan is a nothing and we should not care about him.

 

that said, if and when we decide russell is the best ss in the organization, i really do believe castro will have more value to other teams than he does to us.

[weis21]

The overall turnaround in optimism about this team's future over the last week is astonishing. Not that I'm saying it's wrong (it was right all along), it's just amazing how one player's three game stretch enticed it.

 

edit: maybe "overall" should be, "those that weren't previously optimistic now are". Thus, the board as overall.

 

For me it's not just Baez, but the possible moves involving Turner and Hamels. It shows me that the FO believes they are close to competing for the playoffs. There have been no moves made by this FO involving the major league team that made me believe they were trying to compete or cheap flip options.

There's probably a .1% chance I'm wrong, but the Hamels thing is moot. If the Phils wanted to trade him they would have a week ago. I hope I'm wrong, because it would probably be a low-cost trade by the cubs (in terms of prospects).

 

But yes, I agree with your premise. It's encouraging the FO has the will and financial flexibility to claim a player making that money and focusing on winning in 2015.