Projecting the 2016 Cubs

[rawaction]

Opening Day lineup guess:

 

CF Heyward

RF Soler

1B Rizzo

3B Bryant

DH Schwarber

2B Zobrist

C Montero

LF Coghlan

SS Russell

 

I think I really like Zobrist in the 6th spot. I think the consistency with his approach is ideal here as either the "RBI guy" with Rizzo and/or Bryant on base or as a guy that can get on and turn the lineup over and getting the pitcher's spot to the plate. Plus, it breaks up Soler and Schwarber who both struggled at times to put the ball in play last year. It could potentially give the #2 hitter more to hit, if you believe that type of thing....and I think that's more important for Soler or Schwarber than it would be for Zobrist.

 

I'd start off with

 

Heyward

Soler

Rizzo

Bryant

Schwarber

Zobrist

Montero

P

Russell

 

or

 

Heyward

Schwarber

Bryant

Rizzo

Soler

Zobrist

Montero

P

Russell

[Guest]

I could be taking crazy pills but I'm pretty sure maddon and the fo have talked glowingly about both new guys' fit at the top of the order.

[davell]

They've also talked of moving one of them down, if some of our power guys are having trouble making contact at certain points.

[Gilby]

I'm expecting something like:

 

Zobrist

Schwarber

Bryant

Rizzo

Heyward

Soler

Montero

P

Russell

 

That splits up the strikeouts a little bit. Maddon liked Castro 5th because of his contact ability, and I'd be surprised if the best contact hitters are all batting 1-3.

[imb]

these lineups are really making me want a big russell breakout

[rawaction]

these lineups are really making me want a big russell breakout

 

That's really the wildcard here. Post move to SS Russell was a pretty decent offensive player, if he takes a step forward toward his full potential, the MLB may have to institute the mercy rule.

[Guest]

these lineups are really making me want a big russell breakout

 

That's really the wildcard here. Post move to SS Russell was a pretty decent offensive player, if he takes a step forward toward his full potential, the MLB may have to institute the mercy rule.

 

that and soler going from a 96 wRC+ scrub to what we saw in 2014 and what we saw late in 2015.

[rawaction]

these lineups are really making me want a big russell breakout

 

That's really the wildcard here. Post move to SS Russell was a pretty decent offensive player, if he takes a step forward toward his full potential, the MLB may have to institute the mercy rule.

 

that and soler going from a 96 wRC+ scrub to what we saw in 2014 and what we saw late in 2015.

 

Yeah, that actually moreso. I was wrongly assuming we'd see closer to that Soler than 2015 Soler. Sorry Kyle. I know he's horrible and I'm stupid.

[Rob]

I would definitely set the lineup like this:

 

Heyward

Zobrist

Rizzo

Bryant

Schwarber

Soler

Montero

P

Russell

 

L/R broken up perfectly and high OBP near the top. Leaves Schwarber and Soler near the bottom for double switch purposes.

[PackLandVA]

Trying to figure out a Joe Maddon lineup....... :lol:

[Guest]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/160033952/top-5-pitching-rotations-during-mlb-offseason

 

We need more starting pitching

[seanimal]

He, Bryant, and Heyward are the guys most likely to get a lot better on this roster.

 

eh, you're talking about a 6 win player getting "a lot better"... that's pretty dicey. can he improve? sure. but he isn't getting any faster, nor is his defense going to improve much, so he's going to need to gain better command of the zone (likely) while also missing baseballs significantly less (not that likely). that only speaks to a marginal improvement

[Bear Cub]

I am hoping for a Jake McGee sighting on the roster before long.

[jumbo]

Zobrist

Heyward

Bryant

Rizzo

Soler

Schwarber

Montero

P

Russell

[Guest]

Dusty says Heyward should bat first.

[Backtobanks]

Dusty says Heyward should bat first.

 

Dusty also thinks Arrieta ought to start 65 games.

[Rob]

Dusty says Heyward should bat first.

 

Well, Heyward is a CF now. CF bats first.

[bukie]

ESPN talking about next year's NL Central: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/67294/path-to-the-playoffs-nl-central-2

 

One thing I wanted to note:

 

St. Louis Cardinals

2015: 100-62, plus-122 run differential, lost to Cubs in Division Series

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 88-74

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

2015: 98-64, plus-101 run differential, lost wild-card game

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 87-75

 

Chicago Cubs

2015: 97-65, plus-81 run differential, lost NLCS

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 100-62

[Guest]

even though i already knew about that, it's still beautiful to look at

 

when the [expletive] is our zips coming out?

[Guest]

ESPN talking about next year's NL Central: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/67294/path-to-the-playoffs-nl-central-2

 

One thing I wanted to note:

 

St. Louis Cardinals

2015: 100-62, plus-122 run differential, lost to Cubs in Division Series

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 88-74

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

2015: 98-64, plus-101 run differential, lost wild-card game

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 87-75

 

Chicago Cubs

2015: 97-65, plus-81 run differential, lost NLCS

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 100-62

 

Also:

It's not difficult to envision a path to the playoffs for the Cubs. The FanGraphs projection has them at 100 wins, the highest total in the majors, an especially impressive figure considering projection systems are usually pretty conservative.

 

In other words: The Cubs are loaded.

 

One thing I love about the Cubs' offseason: Not only does the Lackey signing bring a solid No. 3 starter behind Arrieta and Jon Lester, but the Starlin Castro-Adam Warren trade also brought back a solid swingman. With Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel, Warren and Travis Wood, they have tons of rotation depth in case of injuries.

 

The other reason to love this, of course, is the young offensive core. FanGraphs projects Kris Bryant at 5.6 WAR, Anthony Rizzo at 5.2, Heyward at 4.8, Kyle Schwarber at 2.9 and Addison Russell at 2.3. It's not unreasonable to expect all five of those guys to exceed those figures. And if Jorge Soler figures out how to hit those pitches that do bendy things ... watch out.

 

Is there any chance this club becomes the 2015 version of the Washington Nationals, a World Series favorite that doesn't even make the playoffs? Sure, it's baseball. A long list of injuries ... the bullpen implodes ... Joe Maddon brings a tiger into the clubhouse and he bites off the arms of the entire infield ... I mean, I guess there's a way the Cubs disappoint.

[jersey cubs fan]

ESPN talking about next year's NL Central: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/67294/path-to-the-playoffs-nl-central-2

 

One thing I wanted to note:

 

St. Louis Cardinals

2015: 100-62, plus-122 run differential, lost to Cubs in Division Series

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 88-74

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

2015: 98-64, plus-101 run differential, lost wild-card game

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 87-75

 

Chicago Cubs

2015: 97-65, plus-81 run differential, lost NLCS

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 100-62

http://cuddlebuggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/its-so-beautiful-gif.gif

[rawaction]

ESPN talking about next year's NL Central: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/67294/path-to-the-playoffs-nl-central-2

 

One thing I wanted to note:

 

St. Louis Cardinals

2015: 100-62, plus-122 run differential, lost to Cubs in Division Series

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 88-74

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

2015: 98-64, plus-101 run differential, lost wild-card game

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 87-75

 

Chicago Cubs

2015: 97-65, plus-81 run differential, lost NLCS

Projected 2016 record from FanGraphs: 100-62

 

Also:

It's not difficult to envision a path to the playoffs for the Cubs. The FanGraphs projection has them at 100 wins, the highest total in the majors, an especially impressive figure considering projection systems are usually pretty conservative.

 

In other words: The Cubs are loaded.

 

One thing I love about the Cubs' offseason: Not only does the Lackey signing bring a solid No. 3 starter behind Arrieta and Jon Lester, but the Starlin Castro-Adam Warren trade also brought back a solid swingman. With Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel, Warren and Travis Wood, they have tons of rotation depth in case of injuries.

 

The other reason to love this, of course, is the young offensive core. FanGraphs projects Kris Bryant at 5.6 WAR, Anthony Rizzo at 5.2, Heyward at 4.8, Kyle Schwarber at 2.9 and Addison Russell at 2.3. It's not unreasonable to expect all five of those guys to exceed those figures. And if Jorge Soler figures out how to hit those pitches that do bendy things ... watch out.

 

Is there any chance this club becomes the 2015 version of the Washington Nationals, a World Series favorite that doesn't even make the playoffs? Sure, it's baseball. A long list of injuries ... the bullpen implodes ... Joe Maddon brings a tiger into the clubhouse and he bites off the arms of the entire infield ... I mean, I guess there's a way the Cubs disappoint.

 

That tiger thing is really my biggest worry right now.

[Guest]

when the [expletive] is our zips coming out?

 

this week, per Szymborski

[Guest]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[JennieGarthAlgar]

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/does-not-get-it.gif