Baez to CF

[Sammy Sofa]

I just think between the defense and the injuries RF is going to be too much of a question mark with Soler even though I expect him to be pretty solid offensively. I'm not losing sleep over them sticking with him right now, but I wouldn't mind if they still end up trading him.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I think we can keep everyone as is, dong the snot out of the league in the first half, then trade for a SP with whatever prospects are tearing it up at the time.

[mul21]

I like Heyward a lot more as a CF. Maybe it's irrational, but seeing as how he can likely handle it and handle it well, it just allays a lot of the meatball stuff that my brain wants to think about his offense in right. His bat just looks so much better to me there and his fielding ability remains an asset in CF. I like it so much more than a Heyward in RF and Span or something in CF alignment.

 

Totally meatbally, but I feel pretty much the same way. Plus the potential Soler has offensively makes me want to stand pat unless they just use minor league guys not including Contreras.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

We can expect Soler's defense to be better in 2016, right? Simply because it can't get any worse...right?

[Guest]

We can expect Soler's defense to be better in 2016, right? Simply because it can't get any worse...right?

 

yeah my hope there is basically hopefully it won't stay THAT bad

 

also it has to help a little that his arm is so good that he keeps other teams from taking chances on the bases right?!!?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

We can expect Soler's defense to be better in 2016, right? Simply because it can't get any worse...right?

 

yeah my hope there is basically hopefully it won't stay THAT bad

 

also it has to help a little that his arm is so good that he keeps other teams from taking chances on the bases right?!!?

 

There is that hope. But, at the end of the day, he's a corner outfielder that is going to be bad defensively -- though maybe not that bad -- again, mind you, in a corner outfield spot. So he's going to need to hit the [expletive] out of the ball. This needs to be the main worry.

[biittner77]

There are questions about both Heyward and Schwarber against lefties. Javy could have plenty of playing time both giving guys regular rest as well as picking up extra starts against lefties. It doesn't even matter much how well he fields in the OF, because both Bryant and Zobrist could go out there with Javy staying on the IF.

 

This.

 

I remember back in 1984 the Cubs were playing the Dodgers and they ran Bill Russell out to CF during the series. Russell (normally a SS) said that playing CF was like a day off since he didn't have to worry about who was covering second, moving behind base runners on 2nd all the other little things that a middle infielder has to do over the course of a game. Maybe getting Zobrist some time in the OF with Baez at second helps keep his bat in the lineup without wearing him down.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I'm really happy that we have Zobrist and everything, but theres something ferociously cool about the idea of a Russell-Baez double play tandem. How is Zobrist on the turn these days? Are we assuming 2B is mostly his on Opening Day the next 3-4 years, or might he eventually move Bryant to OF full time? I realize there are many variables to this, like how Javy and Torres do, how well Zobrist ages, if Schwarber really can catch after Montero is gone and if Soler is dealt or not... but I'm curious as to people's predictions.

 

Would this be totally far fetched for a 2017 or 18 roster?

 

1B Rizzo

2B Baez

3B Zobrist

SS Russell

LF Schwarber/Bryant

CF Heyward/Almora or Martinez

RF Bryant/Heyward

C Contreras/Schwarber

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

I'm really happy that we have Zobrist and everything, but theres something ferociously cool about the idea of a Russell-Baez double play tandem. How is Zobrist on the turn these days? Are we assuming 2B is mostly his on Opening Day the next 3-4 years, or might he eventually move Bryant to OF full time? I realize there are many variables to this, like how Javy and Torres do, how well Zobrist ages, if Schwarber really can catch after Montero is gone and if Soler is dealt or not... but I'm curious as to people's predictions.

 

Would this be totally far fetched for a 2017 or 18 roster?

 

1B Rizzo

2B Baez

3B Zobrist

SS Russell

LF Schwarber/Bryant

CF Heyward/Almora or Martinez

RF Bryant/Heyward

C Contreras/Schwarber

 

I suppose it mostly depends on how Bryant and Baez look in the OF this year, and if Zobrist looks better than Baez at 3B. Honestly, I don't see the point of moving Bryant to the OF on a regular basis (in the near future) as awesome as hes been at 3B. Just let the better defensive alignment happen beween Zobrist and Baez at 2B and OF. That said, with the way that Maddon likes to move players around, I don't think we should spend much time worrying about where a player is going to be "locked in" in the future. Guys like Baez, Zobrist, Heyward, and Bryant are going to move around, and it will be fun for all involved.

[Guest]

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[biittner77]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1227803/javier-baez-back-second-base-winter-league-playoffs

 

He's better at 2nd base and they want to win the playoffs. Do winter league teams actually GAS about having Baez learn a new position?

[Stu]

totally off the reservation, but once upon a time the PR winter league was amazing. an old guy, former boss of mine who is dead now, told me once that in the 50s Santurce's starting outfield one year was Snider, Mays and Aaron.

[Stu]

totally off the reservation, but once upon a time the PR winter league was amazing. an old guy, former boss of mine who is dead now, told me once that in the 50s Santurce's starting outfield one year was Snider, Mays and Aaron.