What if!?!

[sontensei]

Both Bryant and Russell are on the team from 2nd-3rd week in April?

 

Whats your lineup? Bryant is def in left if that happens.

[Guest]

CF - Fowler

1B- Rizzo

LF - Bryant

RF - Soler

SS - Castro

3B - Russell

2B - Baez/Alcantara/LaStella

C - Montero

[Guest]

Both Bryant and Russell are on the team from 2nd-3rd week in April?

 

Whats your lineup? Bryant is def in left if that happens.

Not if Baez gets sent down.

 

If they determine that Javy would benefit from figuring things out in Iowa, then they could slot Russell at 2B.

[jumbo]

CF - Fowler

1B- Rizzo

LF - Bryant

RF - Soler

SS - Castro

3B - Russell

2B - Baez/Alcantara/LaStella

C - Montero

 

I think they keep Rizzo hitting third and break him and Fowler up with a righty. Something like this (swap Castro/Montero or Montero/Russell if you like)

 

8 Fowler

9 Soler

3 Rizzo

7 Bryant

6 Castro

2 Montero

5 Russell

1 P

4 Alcantara

[d_money]

Cue the "Whiz Kids" or "Young Guns" or something like that moniker from the press.

[Guest]

CF - Fowler

1B- Rizzo

LF - Bryant

RF - Soler

SS - Castro

3B - Russell

2B - Baez/Alcantara/LaStella

C - Montero

 

I think they keep Rizzo hitting third and break him and Fowler up with a righty. Something like this (swap Castro/Montero or Montero/Russell if you like)

 

8 Fowler

9 Soler

3 Rizzo

7 Bryant

6 Castro

2 Montero

5 Russell

1 P

4 Alcantara

 

That works. I was just saying what mine would be, not necessarily what Maddon will do...it's too hard to guess at because it's going to be changing all the time (especially since he's going to be switching the pitcher in and out of the 8th spot depending on the starter).

[Guest]

Also, between the comments about Javy needing MLB PA, the comments recently about how much Maddon values defense, and the extremely positive comments on Baez's defense (and his all around game) from Maddon lately, I just don't get the sense he's being sent down to start the year. I could be wrong, but it's just where I see the arrows pointing.

[biittner77]

Also, between the comments about Javy needing MLB PA, the comments recently about how much Maddon values defense, and the extremely positive comments on Baez's defense (and his all around game) from Maddon lately, I just don't get the sense he's being sent down to start the year. I could be wrong, but it's just where I see the arrows pointing.

 

Maddon touted Baez's defense as though he were Darwin Barney. If Baez can play that level of defense and hit HRs there's no reason why he couldn't break camp. Considering the Cubs should get decent to good offense from Catcher and SS, they can afford to let Baez bat 8th and chip in whatever he can.

 

I don't really see the value in starting him at AAA. He needs to adjust to MLB pitching. He won't be hurting the team too much by doing that for the big club for 150 PAs.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

[Guest]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

 

Not being a smart ass...just curious why you'd have the guy most likely to be the worst hitter of that group bat second.

[mul21]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

 

Not being a smart ass...just curious why you'd have the guy most likely to be the worst hitter of that group bat second.

 

I understand the whole protection thing isn't much of a reality, but hey, anything that allows Javy to potentially see more strikes is fine by me. And in the grand scheme of things, we do know that lineup construction doesn't really matter all that much, so I'm okay with it.

[Guest]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

 

Not being a smart ass...just curious why you'd have the guy most likely to be the worst hitter of that group bat second.

 

I understand the whole protection thing isn't much of a reality, but hey, anything that allows Javy to potentially see more strikes is fine by me. And in the grand scheme of things, we do know that lineup construction doesn't really matter all that much, so I'm okay with it.

 

I think the (however miniscule) impact lineup construction has would probably be greater than the amount of extra strikes Javy Baez would see as a result of having good hitters behind him. There's no reason (at least right now) for him to consistently get anything decent to hit no matter who is behind him.

[sneakypower]

CF - Fowler

SS - Castro

3B - Bryant

1B - Rizzo

RF - Soler

LF - Alcantara/Coghlan

2B - Russell

C - Montero

[Sammy Sofa]

I just want Baez in the minors because him beating up in minor league pitching (hopefully, since he sure as [expletive] isn't doing it now) will probably be the last chance to use him as a decent trade chip before he implodes and becomes a miniature black hole that devours whatever team is around him.

[Guest]

i just hate the idea of having ryan braun (the fielder) at 3B and i'm like 90% sure that's what bryant will be

 

bryant in LF and castro, russell, and baez/alcantara/lastella (whoever isn't awful at the plate) in the infield almost has to net you more runs than coghlan (a BAD LFer)/denorfia, bryant, castro and russell, doesn't it??

[Guest]

I just want Baez in the minors because him beating up in minor league pitching (hopefully, since he sure as [expletive] isn't doing it now) will probably be the last chance to use him as a decent trade chip before he implodes and becomes a miniature black hole that devours whatever team is around him.

 

he's too young and too massively talented and good at a position that doesn't require much at the plate in the way of competence for you to give up on him to this degree

[Sammy Sofa]

Odds are at least one of these guys has to fail, so I prefer it to be someone who does it quickly, obviously and spectacularly, in part because of my voodoo-ish relief that it will effectively suck in any residual failure that could possibly taint the other, much better younger players.

[sneakypower]

i just hate the idea of having ryan braun (the fielder) at 3B and i'm like 90% sure that's what bryant will be

 

bryant in LF and castro, russell, and baez/alcantara/lastella (whoever isn't awful at the plate) in the infield almost has to net you more runs than coghlan (a BAD LFer)/denorfia, bryant, castro and russell, doesn't it??

Ryan Braun had the worst 3B season ever by far in the history of UZR, so that's a very pessimistic expectation, to say the least

[Guest]

Ryan Braun had the worst 3B season ever by far in the history of UZR, so that's a very pessimistic expectation, to say the least

 

i mean, i was sort of exaggerating the doom and gloom for effect there, but i expect him to be pretty bad.

 

like, obviously massive SSS disclaimers, but any time i've seen him have to make a remotely challenging play, it has not turned out well and he even looks sort of awkward (i realize this may be bias because of how the height makes him look) on routine ones.

[Cubbie Swagger]

It is so [expletive] awesome that Javy Baez is projected to be the worst hitter in our lineup.

[Guest]

It is so [expletive] awesome that Javy Baez is projected to be the worst hitter in our lineup.

 

at the very least, he's seems most likely to be awful, by far.

[treebird]

having a guy in your lineup who has a high likelihood of obp'ing .260 and getting sent down after three weeks is not braggable.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

 

Not being a smart ass...just curious why you'd have the guy most likely to be the worst hitter of that group bat second.

 

Because I dunno, I just think that early in the year this lineup may be something Maddon would write up. Doesn't mean I would put money on it or that I think this is the lineup we would see in a hypothetical playoff series, just that on the first game both Bryant and Russell are active on the MLB team, I predict this lineup and won't lose any sleep when it never happens.

[imb]

CF Fowler

2B Baez

1B Rizzo

LF Bryant

SS Castro

RF Soler

3B Russell

C Montero

 

Not being a smart ass...just curious why you'd have the guy most likely to be the worst hitter of that group bat second.

 

because he's the second baseman, you idiot

[Guest]

Also, between the comments about Javy needing MLB PA, the comments recently about how much Maddon values defense, and the extremely positive comments on Baez's defense (and his all around game) from Maddon lately, I just don't get the sense he's being sent down to start the year. I could be wrong, but it's just where I see the arrows pointing.

 

Maddon touted Baez's defense as though he were Darwin Barney. If Baez can play that level of defense and hit HRs there's no reason why he couldn't break camp. Considering the Cubs should get decent to good offense from Catcher and SS, they can afford to let Baez bat 8th and chip in whatever he can.

 

I don't really see the value in starting him at AAA. He needs to adjust to MLB pitching. He won't be hurting the team too much by doing that for the big club for 150 PAs.

They aren't going to get good or decent offense from the catcher position unless they platoon Montero.