"Time makes fools of us all" - The Kyle Schwarber Thread

[Bull]

 

You said " he’s solidly average or above average defensively". Neither is true.

 

The numbers say otherwise

 

Tell that to Maddon when he takes him out late in the game for defensive reasons.

While I don’t agree with your overall argument, this point kind of makes the discussion irrelevant and your argument functionally true.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

The numbers say otherwise

 

Tell that to Maddon when he takes him out late in the game for defensive reasons.

While I don’t agree with your overall argument, this point kind of makes the discussion irrelevant and your argument functionally true.

What? How? Joe Maddon making a decision doesn’t make it the right decision. And if you can pull an above average defender for a better defender late it doesn’t make the above average defender below average. His argument is demonstrably wrong.

[CyHawk_Cub]

This has been similar to watching historians taking down Dinesh D'Souza on Twitter the past few years.

[Bull]

 

Tell that to Maddon when he takes him out late in the game for defensive reasons.

While I don’t agree with your overall argument, this point kind of makes the discussion irrelevant and your argument functionally true.

What? How? Joe Maddon making a decision doesn’t make it the right decision. And if you can pull an above average defender for a better defender late it doesn’t make the above average defender below average. His argument is demonstrably wrong.

Demonstrably wrong but functionally true if Maddon uses him in ways that minimize his defensive contributions, like DHing him and removing him late in close games.

 

I definitely overstated the point, but he contributes less defensively if he’s not allowed to contribute defensively,

[Sammy Sofa]

Does homeboy have any options left?

[Backtobanks]

Does homeboy have any options left?

 

 

He's too valuable defensively to send him down. :lol:

[Sammy Sofa]

The smiley just really sells the subtle hilarity of a really, really well-crafted joke.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The smiley just really sells the subtle hilarity of a really, really well-crafted joke.

I wanted to click that heart, but the emoji turned me away.

[The_Achiever]

Need to get my boy Mark "Gooney" Zagunis more ABs.

[Sammy Sofa]

More like need to get everybody's boy David "Boy Toy Boat" Bote some more AB's.

[philosophizer75]

Saw this today, didn't see it here.

 

[Cubswin11]

A little glimmer of hope when we are all kinda down on him..... he needs to start pounding balls but the discipline seems up to his normal level (if not improved with the Ks).

 

[Sammy Sofa]

He's "there's always next *RANDOM TIME PERIOD*..." personified.

[Cubswin11]

He's "there's always next *RANDOM TIME PERIOD*..." personified.

With Zobrist out I wouldn’t mind seeing him get some looks at leadoff vs RHP. Maybe something will click with the power hitting there and KB behind him. At least this current version of him is getting on base.

[Sammy Sofa]

I said the same thing in the game thread; if they're not going to do the smart thing of batting some combo of Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Contreras 1-4, then put Schwarber at the top since he's getting on base. Everyone else is worthless.

[Banedon]

I said the same thing in the game thread; if they're not going to do the smart thing of batting some combo of Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Contreras 1-4, then put Schwarber at the top since he's getting on base. Everyone else is worthless.

 

When healthy, Descalso has done a pretty nice job in the leadoff spot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Homeboy is slashing .170 .279 .283 .562 over the last month, so we might be past "he's playing hurt" into "he just sucks and is old"-territory*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*I think he's a turd player, so I MIGHT be biased.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I know I sound like Jim Hendry, but I want that consistent leadoff hitter so bad. A guy who gets on base and has some speed.

 

Basically, I miss Dexter.

[squally1313]

I'm less interested in 'who has done well in the leadoff spot' than I am 'players who get on base a lot'. Descalco and Schwarber essentially put up the same numbers for that last year, but I'll take Schwarber's potential going forward as the player more likely to get on base.

 

That being said, if I wasn't feeling lazy and if I didn't unconditionally love our large adult son, this is where I'd recalculate his season OBP/last 20 games OBP without those 4 IBBs he got in the last few days thanks for him batting in front of trash like Russell, Almora, etc.

[Sammy Sofa]

Last year was the only time Descalso barely put up an OBP justifying him getting that many ABs, so....no.

 

Man, what a sham player who rode a fluke age 31 season. It's such a neon-lit outlier in terms of offensive value from the rest of his bum career.

[NOLA]

I know I sound like Jim Hendry, but I want that consistent leadoff hitter so bad. A guy who gets on base and has some speed.

 

Basically, I miss Dexter.

I think Dexter misses us.

[Cubswin11]

I said the same thing in the game thread; if they're not going to do the smart thing of batting some combo of Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Contreras 1-4, then put Schwarber at the top since he's getting on base. Everyone else is worthless.

 

When healthy, Descalso has done a pretty nice job in the leadoff spot.

Eh, he isn’t really a leadoff hitter based on his career. He’s a fine PH option and starter 2-3 times a week and hitting 6th or lower.

[Cubswin11]

I know I sound like Jim Hendry, but I want that consistent leadoff hitter so bad. A guy who gets on base and has some speed.

 

Basically, I miss Dexter.

I’m pretty sure our revolving door leadoff spot has posted better numbers than Dexter every year since he’s left. But yes I get what you’re saying, just basic baseball intuition has me wanting a set guy there for ~145 games. We should trade for Haniger is what I’m saying.

[Sammy Sofa]

I know I sound like Jim Hendry, but I want that consistent leadoff hitter so bad. A guy who gets on base and has some speed.

 

Basically, I miss Dexter.

I’m pretty sure our revolving door leadoff spot has posted better numbers than Dexter every year since he’s left. But yes I get what you’re saying, just basic baseball intuition has me wanting a set guy there for ~145 games. We should trade for Haniger is what I’m saying.

 

Fowler posted a .393 OBP in 2016. I'd be VERY curious to see if the Cubs' leadoff spot has topped that in the 2 full seasons since.

Edited May 13, 2019 by Sammy Sofa

[Cubswin11]

I know I sound like Jim Hendry, but I want that consistent leadoff hitter so bad. A guy who gets on base and has some speed.

 

Basically, I miss Dexter.

I’m pretty sure our revolving door leadoff spot has posted better numbers than Dexter every year since he’s left. But yes I get what you’re saying, just basic baseball intuition has me wanting a set guy there for ~145 games. We should trade for Haniger is what I’m saying.

 

Fowler posted a .393 OBP in 2016. I'd be VERY curious to see if the Cubs' leadoff spot has topped that in the 2 full season since.

I can try and figure it out tonight, have to head out to golf league soon. I’m almost positive I’ve seen tweets or mentions in articles our leadoff spot has been better than Dexter every year since he’s been a Cardinal. If someone wants to dig in to it before then feel free.