Baez impresses Baez

[Tim]

One solution to all that is to not re-sign Dex and put Heyward in CF.

[minnesotacubsfan]

This could be just like when the Blackhawks got really good and some had to leave

 

 

Except there's no salary cap

[weis21]

One solution to all that is to not re-sign Dex and put Heyward in CF.

yep. still conflicted on bringing dex back but that's probably more of a personal bias. assuming fowler isn't re-signed then move heyward to CF - his bat is much more palatable there.

[Thrilho]

One solution to all that is to not re-sign Dex and put Heyward in CF.

True. Jorge can stay as long as he doesn't get in the way of Javy The Everyday Player

[Thrilho]

By which I mean a healthy Schwarber deserves 400-550+ PAs depending on health and defensive ability. If you bump Javy's role then pretty much every day you've got either Zo or KB starting in an OF spot. So if we're cool having Soler around for 150-200 PAs that's cool. Just as long as Javy loses basically no playing time to Soler

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Baez still needs to earn any playing time against RHP, even if Heyward moves to CF.

[Sammy Sofa]

Is Baez's defense stellar enough to offset the offensive struggles he'd still likely have if he became a fulltime player?

 

(This is not snark; I am legit asking)

[David]

Is Baez's defense stellar enough to offset the offensive struggles he'd still likely have if he became a fulltime player?

 

(This is not snark; I am legit asking)

 

well, he was essentially a 3 win player (2.7 in 140ish games) with a below average bat this year... soo maybe? i guess?

 

i have no problem continuing to use him the same way next year, maybe less 3B and more 2B but still picking and choosing his matchups, maybe a little more liberally

[Sammy Sofa]

I mean, he just seems SO good on defense. I kinda just figure he can be an inverse Adam Dunn and help balance off his horrible offense against righties by being in there almost every day with that sweet, sweet glove.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

http://i.imgur.com/bKg82QK.jpg

[davell]

I don't want to move Heyward to CF. He's not likely to be nearly as valuable there as he is in RF. And I don't think its a given we get the old Heyward's bat back. So extract as much defensive value out of him as you can in RF. Especially since we'd be so much better defensively anyway, if he's in RF and having Dex back in CF.

 

We can keep Dex, I don't see why we shouldn't. Having Almora as a 4th OFer helps prop up Schwarber, Zobrist, or Soler in LF too. We've got enough bats to where the defense should take some precedence, in my mind.

 

Just give Dex a 3 year deal and be done with it.

[Cubswin11]

I don't want to move Heyward to CF. He's not likely to be nearly as valuable there as he is in RF. And I don't think its a given we get the old Heyward's bat back. So extract as much defensive value out of him as you can in RF. Especially since we'd be so much better defensively anyway, if he's in RF and having Dex back in CF.

 

We can keep Dex, I don't see why we shouldn't. Having Almora as a 4th OFer helps prop up Schwarber, Zobrist, or Soler in LF too. We've got enough bats to where the defense should take some precedence, in my mind.

 

Just give Dex a 3 year deal and be done with it.

I have little doubt that Heyward, a generational defender in RF, couldn't be a well above average defender in CF. I'd obviously love to have Dexter back but at the right price. I'd be fine going with Schwarber/Heyward/Soler/Almora/Bryant/Zobrist/Coghlan as our OF rotation next year if Fowler's price/years get out of hand.

[davell]

I think he'd likely be above average too. But I'd just rather have him be excellent in RF, with a very competent CF too. Basically, if it ain't broke, don't fix it crap, I guess. I doubt Dex breaks the bank, 3/51? Something like that? I love his approach, throw Schwarber back into the fray, and the offense looks great, especially with continued progress from the youngsters.

[Cubswin11]

I think he'd likely be above average too. But I'd just rather have him be excellent in RF, with a very competent CF too. Basically, if it ain't broke, don't fix it crap, I guess. I doubt Dex breaks the bank, 3/51? Something like that? I love his approach, throw Schwarber back into the fray, and the offense looks great, especially with continued progress from the youngsters.

I don't disagree but if Fowler is looking for/is offered more than 3/50-4/65 I don't think we exceed that. I still want another shot with the super team as well with Schwarbs.

[Thrilho]

I mean, he just seems SO good on defense. I kinda just figure he can be an inverse Adam Dunn and help balance off his horrible offense against righties by being in there almost every day with that sweet, sweet glove.

Agreed. I think he'll show big improvement at the plate now that he's seen very clearly what happens when he cleans up his approach. But even if he doesn't make any improvement against righties and as a result his overall batting line is actually a little worse than this year I'd still want to play him every day. His defense and base running is impact [expletive].

 

With the number of quality lefties in the lineup, I can see the concept that he'll have to prove it against righties to get the ABs. But I think he will. He's done well against them in this series, in large part due to his approach and improved mechanics (consistent B hack). So I'm expecting him to keep rocking with those in the playoffs, keep the reasons for his successes in mind over the offseason and take the ABs away from all challengers next year from day 1.

 

Outfield is a different thing, where people have all kinds of different preferences. But my personal opinion is that Zobrist and Bryant are going to be out there a lot and that nothing that happens with the others is going to dictate Javy's role. If it's set up with an OF glut to start the year, Javy will just force Joe's hand with stellar play.

 

Probably belaboring my point now but just have to be sure I'm in the record books as being way on the "Javy's awesome, get everyone the horsefeathers out of his way" end of the spectrum. When future civilizations are pouring over the wreckage he caused these things will be important.

[Brian]

Just think, we're sitting here 106 wins and counting waiting for an NLCS opponent, discussing what to do with the lineup next year with too many options needing ABs and in the not so distant past we had a blind person playing 3rd base.

[Cubswin11]

i have no problem continuing to use him the same way next year, maybe less 3B and more 2B but still picking and choosing his matchups, maybe a little more liberally

 

This is what I expect

Agreed. It's what I expect and think should happen until he proves he's made some long-term plate adjustments and/or injuries force Joe's hand. Especially if Fowler is brought back, he shouldn't be guaranteed to start vs RHP with the options available.

[jersey cubs fan]

Just think, we're sitting here 106 wins and counting waiting for an NLCS opponent, discussing what to do with the lineup next year with too many options needing ABs and in the not so distant past we had a blind person playing 3rd base.

The preferred nomenclature is optically challenged.

[NOLA]

Just think, we're sitting here 106 wins and counting waiting for an NLCS opponent, discussing what to do with the lineup next year with too many options needing ABs and in the not so distant past we had a blind person playing 3rd base.

Not to mention Darwin Barney, who cannot use blindness as an excuse for sucking.

[ConstableRabbit]

Just think, we're sitting here 106 wins and counting waiting for an NLCS opponent, discussing what to do with the lineup next year with too many options needing ABs and in the not so distant past we had a blind person playing 3rd base.

Not to mention Darwin Barney, who cannot use blindness as an excuse for sucking.

Oddly timed comment given that half of this page is about guys who are incredible defensively but suck/have sucked at the plate.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Just think, we're sitting here 106 wins and counting waiting for an NLCS opponent, discussing what to do with the lineup next year with too many options needing ABs and in the not so distant past we had a blind person playing 3rd base.

 

Well, it is going to be difficult for Joe to choose which of his 10 4-win players to play each day.

[Bull]

I think you sell high on Baez this offseason. Reading that week of Javy article cinched it for me.

 

You can train yourself to field a short-hop. Every baseball player does. You can’t so easily train yourself to make the same play with a whole grown man closing in, threatening to snap you at the wrist.

 

Javy is going to get hurt. As he gets older, he'll get hurt more often.

 

Someone is going to try to replicate the Cubs' success next year. They'll target power and defense. Who better to fill those needs than the guys who had a dozen defensive gems and 8 game winning rbi in this postseason?

[Banedon]

I think you sell high on Baez this offseason. Reading that week of Javy article cinched it for me.

 

You can train yourself to field a short-hop. Every baseball player does. You can’t so easily train yourself to make the same play with a whole grown man closing in, threatening to snap you at the wrist.

 

Javy is going to get hurt. As he gets older, he'll get hurt more often.

 

Someone is going to try to replicate the Cubs' success next year. They'll target power and defense. Who better to fill those needs than the guys who had a dozen defensive gems and 8 game winning rbi in this postseason?

 

This is a bad opinion.

[Bull]

I think you sell high on Baez this offseason. Reading that week of Javy article cinched it for me.

 

You can train yourself to field a short-hop. Every baseball player does. You can’t so easily train yourself to make the same play with a whole grown man closing in, threatening to snap you at the wrist.

 

Javy is going to get hurt. As he gets older, he'll get hurt more often.

 

Someone is going to try to replicate the Cubs' success next year. They'll target power and defense. Who better to fill those needs than the guys who had a dozen defensive gems and 8 game winning rbi in this postseason?

 

This is a bad opinion.

I don't like thinking it, and maybe I should've waited until January to say it, but its not wrong. Its bad, but not wrong.

[RammyFanny]

I mean it entirely depends on who you are trading him for, so it could most definitely be wrong. Active superstar? Top pitching (barf) prospects? Star pitcher (barf). Just trading him because his value is high and you think his wrists are so quick that they might break isn't enough to know.