2015 Spring Training Game Thread

[Guest]

Colletti is doing color for the broadcast and telling a story about how when new ownership came in, he told them they had to go after Soler. They found out Soler was going to the Cubs. Next day, he got a call from his guy saying basically, "If you like Soler, I've got a guy who is as good or better."

[Guest]

fun inning

 

ross opens up with a double off the wall that missed going out by inches

 

russell singles with 2 strikes off mccarthy

 

almora lines one first pitch into the gap, scores both runs on the double

 

 

also really enjoying colletti talking about our moves/system

[Guest]

COGHLANBOMBBBBB

[Guest]

contra just misses a long HR foul

 

already has a triple to the gap in his first ab

[sneakypower]

some good framing on first-pitch strike to Ethier

 

and Coghlan probably still sucks at defense

[Guest]

arrieta trying to match mccarthy in ability to throw BP

[sneakypower]

evidently, Joc Pederson has "real man power"

[ConstableRabbit]

contra just misses a long HR foul

 

already has a triple to the gap in his first ab

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/14b6tcp.jpg

 

[Guest]

steiner not aware of almora's slowness

 

puig made a great throw to 2B and almost nailed him on what should've probably been an easy double

[ctcf]

CJ Edwards alert

[RammyFanny]

Georgie with a Stanton-esque laserbeam off the wall.

[mul21]

Ross may be great at framing but I'm not very impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt. I guess he may not be going all out after them since it's spring though.

[Tryptamine]

Georgie with a Stanton-esque laserbeam off the wall.

 

Reminds me of that homer Stanton hit to RF in Miami against Hammel last year. It felt like a double down the line off the bat and next thing you know it's clearing the RF wall at about 110MPH.

 

[apete6]

Ross may be great at framing but I'm not very impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt. I guess he may not be going all out after them since it's spring though.

 

The Ross thing is really the only thing that has bothered me about our offseason. So unnecessary with Montero & Castillo. I know it's basically an extra Lester tax, but still, it sucks.

[RammyFanny]

Georgie with a Stanton-esque laserbeam off the wall.

 

Reminds me of that homer Stanton hit to RF in Miami against Hammel last year. It felt like a double down the line off the bat and next thing you know it's clearing the RF wall at about 110MPH.

 

Yep.

 

Soler video:

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/03/19/jorge-solers-rocket-shot-and-diving-catch-video/

[Guest]

Ross may be great at framing but I'm not very impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt. I guess he may not be going all out after them since it's spring though.

 

The Ross thing is really the only thing that has bothered me about our offseason. So unnecessary with Montero & Castillo. I know it's basically an extra Lester tax, but still, it sucks.

 

It's not necessarily this, as it seems they're trying to get Lester comfortable with Montero. I think it may end up being more of a platoon partner situation and them being all in on framing.

[apete6]

Ross may be great at framing but I'm not very impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt. I guess he may not be going all out after them since it's spring though.

 

The Ross thing is really the only thing that has bothered me about our offseason. So unnecessary with Montero & Castillo. I know it's basically an extra Lester tax, but still, it sucks.

 

It's not necessarily this, as it seems they're trying to get Lester comfortable with Montero. I think it may end up being more of a platoon partner situation and them being all in on framing.

 

How much framing value can a backup catcher provide when they play once or twice a week? I'd rather have a guy who can pinch hit once in a while and not be a complete black hole. I understand them valuing framing with Montero who will play 5x/week, not your backup catcher who never plays.

[jersey cubs fan]

Ross may be great at framing but I'm not very impressed with his ability to block pitches in the dirt. I guess he may not be going all out after them since it's spring though.

 

The Ross thing is really the only thing that has bothered me about our offseason. So unnecessary with Montero & Castillo. I know it's basically an extra Lester tax, but still, it sucks.

 

It's not necessarily this, as it seems they're trying to get Lester comfortable with Montero. I think it may end up being more of a platoon partner situation and them being all in on framing.

 

How much framing value can a backup catcher provide when they play once or twice a week? I'd rather have a guy who can pinch hit once in a while and not be a complete black hole. I understand them valuing framing with Montero who will play 5x/week, not your backup catcher who never plays.

 

A backup catcher plays a lot, in comparison to your other bench players. If his framing makes his defensive value significantly higher, then it is perfectly reasonable to have that be the primary feature of your backup C.

 

 

However, I maintain a highly skeptical view on how framing is both measured and inserted into overall productivity scales.

[Guest]

FWIW, I'm not so sure Ross is going to be a black hole offensively.

 

Not as good as Welington? Probably...but I don't think he's Koyie Hill or John Baker.

[apete6]

FWIW, I'm not so sure Ross is going to be a black hole offensively.

 

Not as good as Welington? Probably...but I don't think he's Koyie Hill or John Baker.

 

Let's hope not, but the past 2 years of 85 and 75 OPS+ are not inspiring me.

[Guest]

FWIW, I'm not so sure Ross is going to be a black hole offensively.

 

Not as good as Welington? Probably...but I don't think he's Koyie Hill or John Baker.

 

Let's hope not, but the past 2 years of 85 and 75 OPS+ are not inspiring me.

 

Well, those are bad David Ross years, would be better than anything Baker has done since 2009, and Koyie Hill would kill to have ever done that.

 

Not trying to damn him with faint praise, but for a backup catcher with good defensive skills, I don't think he's a bad stick at all.

[sneakypower]

my problem with Ross is the nagging concern about how screwed we'll be if Montero - known to have back issues - goes on an extended DL stint

 

this of course assumes a seemingly inevitable Castillo trade

[jumbo]

my problem with Ross is the nagging concern about how screwed we'll be if Montero - known to have back issues - goes on an extended DL stint

 

this of course assumes a seemingly inevitable Castillo trade

 

I really would like three catchers, though I know it's not likely. Welly could play 1B (poorly) once in a while for Rizzo, but more than anything Montero has an injury history and Ross is old and grey. Having Alcantara on the roster provides a backup IF/OF that would make it easier.

[Guest]

Lopez at Iowa gives them injury insurance.

[Guest]

ChicagoCubsOnline ‏@TheCCO 52s52 seconds ago

#Cubs vs. #DBacks, De La Rosa (3/19):

Fowler CF

Coghlan LF

Castro SS

Rizzo 1B

Soler RF

Olt 3B

Baez 2B

Castillo C

Jackson P