Our future at CF?

[downsr30]

I understand that, but much like any negotiation - one tool that will be used will be comparable cases. Austin Jackson isn't Max Scherzer where he's at the top of the market and every single team in baseball would pay $20MM/YR for his services. Austin Jackson might have 10 teams lobbying to get him, probably 5 of which would actually entertain paying him market value and market value from him won't reach $12MM/YR.

 

 

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[Gilby]

I think you have to let Fowler walk unless he'll take a 2-year deal with what he's making now and that still scares me. His weapon is his speed and watching Michael Bourn lose his biggest strength as a speedster scares me off.

 

Austin Jackson on a 2 year deal doesn't sound terrible. Will Venable is a solid defender.

 

I just don't like the idea of ponying up money for offense at this position because the Cubs are well-served for offense at pretty much every other position. I think Russell could make a decent leadoff guy if we are pressing who is leadoff, but Coghlan did well in that role last year. Ultimately, I think we bring in a decent option that has a good defensive reputation and can hit OK or above-average, we take it.

 

 

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Fowler and Bourn aren't all that similar. Bourn's game depended entirely on his speed, while Fowler can actually hit and has more on base skills. Bourn has a career 8.4% BB rate, .332 OBP, and .093 ISO. Fowler has a career 12.3% BB rate, .363 OBP, and .149 ISO. Sure, he benefited from Coors Field (though he did put up an OBP over .370 as an Astro) but he has more offensive skills to fall back on than Bourn had/has. Just hopefully he doesn't go back to being terrible in CF.

[Guest]

Basically, a Fowler who fields how he has this year and hit like he has most of his career is a really valuable player.

[KingCubsFan]

Was Jackie Bradley drafted by this regime?

[Guest]

Was Jackie Bradley drafted by this regime?

 

Theo's last draft in Boston.

[downsr30]

I agree that they aren't similar players. I was more or less just saying that speed deteriorates with time. My point is very simple: I don't believe the Cubs should pay Fowler what he's going to want in free agency for several factors - defensive history, salary increase, injury history. However a guy like Austin Jackson or Venable will come much cheaper than Fowler as Fowler has a more proven past. If Jackson finishes the year at .270, 10 HR, 25 steals, he's worth $10-12 million/yr. Venable could be had for $7-9 million/yr. I agree that Fowler will probably get somewhere close to $15/million especially if his power stays true in the second half.

 

 

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[Guest]

I agree that they aren't similar players. I was more or less just saying that speed deteriorates with time. My point is very simple: I don't believe the Cubs should pay Fowler what he's going to want in free agency for several factors - defensive history, salary increase, injury history. However a guy like Austin Jackson or Venable will come much cheaper than Fowler as Fowler has a more proven past. If Jackson finishes the year at .270, 10 HR, 25 steals, he's worth $10-12 million/yr. Venable could be had for $7-9 million/yr. I agree that Fowler will probably get somewhere close to $15/million especially if his power stays true in the second half.

 

 

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It does, obviously, but I think you're getting at a bit of a misconception.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-slow-decline-of-speedy-outfielders/

[downsr30]

The lists on that report have a couple of flaws. Majority of those players played during the steroid era and I truly believe Eric Gagne when he said 80%+ baseball players used PEDs. What do steroids help with outside of obvious strength? Recovery, aging, and speed. I'm not saying every one of those players used roids, but several of them played deep into their 30s or early 40s and ironically we rarely see that today.

 

 

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[Gmoney08]

My dark horse for CF of the future is Javy Baez.

 

He is faster & the best athlete out of him, Russell & Castro. Has a pretty good arm as well. It's not out of the question to convert a SS to CF..

[sontensei]

My dark horse for CF of the future is Javy Baez.

 

He is faster & the best athlete out of him, Russell & Castro. Has a pretty good arm as well. It's not out of the question to convert a SS to CF..

 

That would be very awesome.

[downsr30]

One thing at a time with him. If he can't cut down his strikeouts, it doesn't matter what position he plays - he won't play.

 

 

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[rawaction]

I think you have to let Fowler walk unless he'll take a 2-year deal with what he's making now and that still scares me. His weapon is his speed and watching Michael Bourn lose his biggest strength as a speedster scares me off.

 

Austin Jackson on a 2 year deal doesn't sound terrible. Will Venable is a solid defender.

 

I just don't like the idea of ponying up money for offense at this position because the Cubs are well-served for offense at pretty much every other position. I think Russell could make a decent leadoff guy if we are pressing who is leadoff, but Coghlan did well in that role last year. Ultimately, I think we bring in a decent option that has a good defensive reputation and can hit OK or above-average, we take it.

 

 

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Fowler and Bourn aren't all that similar. Bourn's game depended entirely on his speed, while Fowler can actually hit and has more on base skills. Bourn has a career 8.4% BB rate, .332 OBP, and .093 ISO. Fowler has a career 12.3% BB rate, .363 OBP, and .149 ISO. Sure, he benefited from Coors Field (though he did put up an OBP over .370 as an Astro) but he has more offensive skills to fall back on than Bourn had/has. Just hopefully he doesn't go back to being terrible in CF.

 

His bat is playable in LF if things get to bad (that's of course assuming LF is not manned by Bryant). I see no downside in paying Fowler 12-15M/year. He's good enough. He fills a hole currently and in the long-term (CF and top of order hitter). Bat plays at corner OF. And he's tradeable if Baez is a beast, Bryant's in LF, and he can't hack it in CF anymore. Though, I tend to think the smaller OF in Wrigley helps him a ton. Colorado and Houston are huge CFs, that couldn't have helped a guy who isn't extremely fast out there.

[sontensei]

One thing at a time with him. If he can't cut down his strikeouts, it doesn't matter what position he plays - he won't play.

 

 

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have you not seen the adjustments he made this year prior to his hand injury?

[downsr30]

I mean through 37 games, some of his numbers look better but his strikeout and walk numbers are right on track to where they were last year in AAA

 

 

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[Cubbie Swagger]

Ehh, Fowler is just in a slump, so of course his numbers are depressed. If he'd do a 3-year extension i'd sign it today

This.

 

I'm not too worried about Fowler, especially considering major league center fielders aren't exactly growing on trees. He has been very consistent throughout his career, and there's no reason to think that he won't rebound this year and finish with good numbers. The guy has a career .363 OBP for crying out loud.

 

If we get the other 7 slots in our lineup dialed in, I'm totally fine with Fowler sticking around. If he's our worst hitter, I think that means we're a really good team.

[SABR Gamer]

I mean through 37 games, some of his numbers look better but his strikeout and walk numbers are right on track to where they were last year in AAA

 

 

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Yeah, that's totally true...except it's not.

30.0% K last year

25.4% K this year

[Little Slide Rooter]

If Rizzo, Bryant, and Russell keep doing what they're doing, Schwarber keeps up his beastly ways, Soler and Baez continue to progress, and Castro can at least stabilize as a .7something OPS, 10-12 HR SS, I think we can get by with Almora's pedestrian bat and potential gold glove.

[Guest]

Basically, a Fowler who fields how he has this year and hit like he has most of his career is a really valuable player.

 

The quintessential CFer and leadoff man.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If Rizzo, Bryant, and Russell keep doing what they're doing, Schwarber keeps up his beastly ways, Soler and Baez continue to progress, and Castro can at least stabilize as a .7something OPS, 10-12 HR SS, I think we can get by with Almora's pedestrian bat and potential gold glove.

 

Or we could go get an actually good player to play CF instead.

[CP_414]

Ian Happ is making his pro debut as a CF tonight.

[sontensei]

If Rizzo, Bryant, and Russell keep doing what they're doing, Schwarber keeps up his beastly ways, Soler and Baez continue to progress, and Castro can at least stabilize as a .7something OPS, 10-12 HR SS, I think we can get by with Almora's pedestrian bat and potential gold glove.

 

Or we could go get an actually good player to play CF instead.

 

no castro has to go he is a choke artist. we dont want what happened tonight happening in the playoffs. if we keep bryant schwarber baez and russell he is the odd man out. the worst part of this team is defense and pitching.

 

if the defense is better it will make the pitching better [expletive] fip.

[sontensei]

Basically, a Fowler who fields how he has this year and hit like he has most of his career is a really valuable player.

 

The quintessential CFer and leadoff man.

 

basically a guy who is the middle ground of castro and fowler..

 

switch hitter.. not too many pop ups.. not too many grounders..

[sontensei]

Basically, a Fowler who fields how he has this year and hit like he has most of his career is a really valuable player.

 

The quintessential CFer and leadoff man.

 

basically a guy who is the middle ground of castro and fowler..

 

switch hitter.. not too many pop ups.. not too many grounders..

[sontensei]

Basically, a Fowler who fields how he has this year and hit like he has most of his career is a really valuable player.

 

The quintessential CFer and leadoff man.

 

basically a guy who is the middle ground of castro and fowler..

 

switch hitter.. not too many pop ups.. not too many grounders..

[SCCubbieFAN]

Was Jackie Bradley drafted by this regime?

 

Theo's last draft in Boston.

 

I would love to see Jackie Bradley, Jr. in Cubbie Blue! \:D/