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Ding Dong Johnson

By Ding Dong Johnson,
in Chicago Cubs Talk

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CubsWin Myrtle Beach Pelicans

CubsWin

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Posted
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Speaking of depth. Still trying to bring Travis Wood back as a swingman.

If Travis pulls a Dexter and makes a surprise appearance at spring training (MLB radio jumped the gun and announced Wood had signed with San Diego on Saturday), I'd love it on a 1-year deal simply for the extended rotation depth.

 

Travis posted a very good ERA last year of 2.95, but I doubt anyone here is fooled by that. His BABIP was unusually low (.215) suggesting he had quite a bit of luck last season. Some of that can be attributed to the Cubs stellar defense, but his career BABIP is 60 points higher.

 

Despite the 2.95 ERA, his FIP (4.54) and xFIP (4.83) are probably closer to his actual performance level.

 

That said, he's better than Brian Duensing. As a situational reliever, Wood was excellent against lefties in 2016 keeping them to a slash line of .128/.208/.239 with a career slash against lefties of .203/.276/.316. That's much better than Duensing's 2015 (his last full season) lefty slash of .284/.413/.364 and his career slash of .232/.286/.328

 

About the only thing Duensing does better is get ground balls. He'd be more of a "bringing in a guy with runners on base to induce a double play ball" than a LOOGY. Duensing has a solid 46.3% career GB%. However, the additions of Davis and Uehara would potentially free up Rondon (48% for his career), Edwards (51% in 40.2 major league innings) and Strop (54.4% in his career) to be the guy to come in with runners on.

 

It's been widely reported that Maddon intends to have a 13-man pitching staff.

 

Lester

Arrieta

Hendricks

Lackey

Montgomery/Anderson

 

Davis

Rondon

Uehara

Strop

Edwards

Montgomery/Anderson

Grimm

Wood

 

That looks like a pretty darn good pen to me, though, again, his real value this year wouldn't be as the 8th man in the pen but as rotational depth.

 

After 2 years of remarkable (lucky?) rotational health, Travis essentially becomes the 7th starting pitcher option with Zastryzny, Butler and Mills rounding out 8-10. That's not bad. If the idea is to repeat (and it is), why not sign him? It says a lot that the Cubs have made him an offer.

 

Now it's up to Travis if he wants to start or win...

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Post Count Padder Chicago Cubs

Post Count Padder

Old-Timey Member
Posted
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Man, if Wood comes back, that's a great pen. And the SP depth we were complaining about? Iowa's rotation would be Butler, Mills, Zastrzyny, Kelly, and Ryan Williams, followed by Aaron Brooks, Jordan Pries, Pierce Johnson, Williams Perez, Dylan Floro, Jake Buchanan, and possibly Tseng.

 

Pen depth is deep too. Much better set up now.

apete6 ACL Cubs

apete6

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Speaking of depth. Still trying to bring Travis Wood back as a swingman.

If Travis pulls a Dexter and makes a surprise appearance at spring training (MLB radio jumped the gun and announced Wood had signed with San Diego on Saturday), I'd love it on a 1-year deal simply for the extended rotation depth.

 

Travis posted a very good ERA last year of 2.95, but I doubt anyone here is fooled by that. His BABIP was unusually low (.215) suggesting he had quite a bit of luck last season. Some of that can be attributed to the Cubs stellar defense, but his career BABIP is 60 points higher.

 

Despite the 2.95 ERA, his FIP (4.54) and xFIP (4.83) are probably closer to his actual performance level.

 

That said, he's better than Brian Duensing. As a situational reliever, Wood was excellent against lefties in 2016 keeping them to a slash line of .128/.208/.239 with a career slash against lefties of .203/.276/.316. That's much better than Duensing's 2015 (his last full season) lefty slash of .284/.413/.364 and his career slash of .232/.286/.328

 

About the only thing Duensing does better is get ground balls. He'd be more of a "bringing in a guy with runners on base to induce a double play ball" than a LOOGY. Duensing has a solid 46.3% career GB%. However, the additions of Davis and Uehara would potentially free up Rondon (48% for his career), Edwards (51% in 40.2 major league innings) and Strop (54.4% in his career) to be the guy to come in with runners on.

 

It's been widely reported that Maddon intends to have a 13-man pitching staff.

 

Lester

Arrieta

Hendricks

Lackey

Montgomery/Anderson

 

Davis

Rondon

Uehara

Strop

Edwards

Montgomery/Anderson

Grimm

Wood

 

That looks like a pretty darn good pen to me, though, again, his real value this year wouldn't be as the 8th man in the pen but as rotational depth.

 

After 2 years of remarkable (lucky?) rotational health, Travis essentially becomes the 7th starting pitcher option with Zastryzny, Butler and Mills rounding out 8-10. That's not bad. If the idea is to repeat (and it is), why not sign him? It says a lot that the Cubs have made him an offer.

 

Now it's up to Travis if he wants to start or win...

 

13 man pitching staff, though. Ugh. So brutal. But yet so incredible that they have so much versatility to pull this off.

 

Cubs games are going to average about 3.5 hours between us working the counts and the 5 pitching changes per game.

philosophizer75 ACL Cubs

philosophizer75

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

It's awesome how this FO has quietly and effectively eliminated visible weaknesses this offseason.

 

Theo has plugged the cracks in his leviathan and now it's time to turn it on the league again.

Banedon GOAT

Banedon

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted
Aaaaand Wood joins Hammel in KC. 2 year deal, will have a shot at the rotation.

 

Wood in Missouri makes a ton of sense though.

David GOAT

David

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
What's Sean Marshall doing these days? Was that a Theo trade or did that happen before he got there?

 

Theo trade...his second I believe. Marshall for Sappelt, Torreyes, and Wood.

 

The first, I THINK, was the Ian Stewart trade...and a week or two before that he signed DeJesus.

UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Marshall was a Cubs Alum at the convention

 

I thought I remember reading that he still lives in Chicago and bought his own tickets to attend one of the WS or NLCS games (cant remember which one) last October.

Lefty First Round Pick

Lefty

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Marshall was a Cubs Alum at the convention

 

I thought I remember reading that he still lives in Chicago and bought his own tickets to attend one of the WS or NLCS games (cant remember which one) last October.

 

Coached a friend of mine's kid in a Lincolnwood little league last summer.

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