2017 Spring Training Game Thread

[UMFan83]

 

I'm shocked....

 

...it took this long

[David]

i remember this game

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL199508180.shtml

 

i have no idea if it's happened in a spring game since then or not

 

I remember them putting up 20 on the Dodgers in 2001. I don't know if it's happened since or not.

 

I remember that game, too. For some reason, I had it in my head that we didn't quite get there, but I pretty well remember spending my day watching it (on a sweet HD projection tv but unfortunately a standard def broadcast) instead of working when i worked at circuit city.

 

julio zuleta had a pinch hit homer and we absolutely shelled former cub terry adams

[We Got The Whole 9]

Nice RCF rip by KB

[David]

i see you willson

[We Got The Whole 9]

horsefeathers yeah, #2 for Willson as he takes Salazar oppo

 

Salazar is mowing everyone else down

[David]

horsefeathers yeah, #2 for Willson as he takes Salazar oppo

 

Salazar is mowing everyone else down

 

UGGGHHH right when my DVR changed to CSN for the documentary and the stupid horsefeathering hawks coverage is still on

[Cubswin11]

Willy is gonna double up Molina on WAR this year

[We Got The Whole 9]

I just added this sports package that's supposed to give me CSN... but it's not. So I won't even be able to see Reign Men like I thought I would.

[Cubswin11]

Very Jeter like hit by Almora there, guy just can make contact

[We Got The Whole 9]

Really impressive game for Willson and Almora at the plate. Almora 2 hard singles, one to each side.

[David]

damn albert

[We Got The Whole 9]

Almora with a fantastic catch at the LCF wall. Just effortless.

[Cubswin11]

Rondon's stuff looks okay, he just doesn't seem to be able to locate for horsefeathers

[CubInOK]

Willy is gonna double up Molina on WAR this year

And the BFIB with their 75-win team will still think Molina is better.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Almora is having an interesting spring. Last year when he got similar chances his spring was very much in line with what you'd expect him to do in MLB given his career to date, it was bad: 46 PA, .244/.255/.311, 7/1 K/BB, 0 HR

 

This year he still isn't taking any walks, but power and K's are both up substantially. Entering tonight: 56 PA, .309/.316/.618, 12/1 K/BB, 3 HR

 

You don't want to extrapolate too much, but trading K's for some pop would be a nice thing for Albert. Will help him earn a few more walks from careful pitchers, and he has plenty of room to add some swing and miss without it being debilitating. League average offense from Almora with his defense would be incredible. For comparison, Kevin Pillar has put up 7.5 fWAR the last 2 years with a wRC+ below 90 and elite defense. He also swipes 15-20 bases a year, but if Almora makes up that gap with the bat then you're talking about a guy with a 3 win floor. That's probably optimistic, but if they let Almora face the right pitchers then you could see a Javy-like scenario where his rate of production exceeds his true ability if he played every single day(thanks Joe!).

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Rizzo is going to be our 8th best player this year. And that's with him OPS'ing 1.000.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Rizzo is going to be our 8th best player this year. And that's with him OPS'ing 1.000.

 

Let me correct myself. I meant to say "position player."

[We Got The Whole 9]

I think a Pillar type batting line is certainly possible with Almora. He's gonna carry a BA north of 275 but probably won't walk more than 5%. If he can crack 10-15 HR and a good rate of doubles though, he should produce about league average offense over-all.

 

I don't think he necessarily needs to steal bags but take extra bases and be efficient enough to provide good value there.

 

I'm anxious to see his defensive metrics over big samples. He certainly passes the eye test with flying colors. His anticipation and routes are unreal.

[David]

schwarbomb and almora grand slam in the first inning lol

[David]

does anyone have a recollection of kevin orie hitting like 8 million spring HR in 1998, then in april having a similar amount kept in by the wind at wrigley (i'm not making a comparison to albert...it just popped into my head)?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

does anyone have a recollection of kevin orie hitting like 8 million spring HR in 1998, then in april having a similar amount kept in by the wind at wrigley (i'm not making a comparison to albert...it just popped into my head)?

 

Cubs hitting coach saying "it's about time we had a rookie of the year." People calling him Kevin Orbit. My first favorite prospect.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

We are going to win 130 games.

[David]

does anyone have a recollection of kevin orie hitting like 8 million spring HR in 1998, then in april having a similar amount kept in by the wind at wrigley (i'm not making a comparison to albert...it just popped into my head)?

 

Cubs hitting coach saying "it's about time we had a rookie of the year." People calling him Kevin Orbit. My first favorite prospect.

 

that wasn't actually his rookie year tho. he had an ok year in 1997.

 

and how was that your first favorite prospect? did you have no idea kerry wood existed?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

does anyone have a recollection of kevin orie hitting like 8 million spring HR in 1998, then in april having a similar amount kept in by the wind at wrigley (i'm not making a comparison to albert...it just popped into my head)?

 

Cubs hitting coach saying "it's about time we had a rookie of the year." People calling him Kevin Orbit. My first favorite prospect.

 

that wasn't actually his rookie year tho. he had an ok year in 1997.

 

and how was that your first favorite prospect? did you have no idea kerry wood existed?

 

Huh. For some reason I was thinking he pre-dated Wood by a couple of years. You said '98, but I was thinking this all happened in 96. Fog of decades and all.

 

My introduction to Wood was buying one of those pre-season MLB preview maganizes and they had a top-100 prospects list. The two Cubs were Wood at No. 4 and Pat Cline at 80-something. I started making sure to check both their stat lines when the Tribune would print the minor league team stats in the agate on Sundays.

[jersey cubs fan]

does anyone have a recollection of kevin orie hitting like 8 million spring HR in 1998, then in april having a similar amount kept in by the wind at wrigley (i'm not making a comparison to albert...it just popped into my head)?

 

Cubs hitting coach saying "it's about time we had a rookie of the year." People calling him Kevin Orbit. My first favorite prospect.

 

that wasn't actually his rookie year tho. he had an ok year in 1997.

 

and how was that your first favorite prospect? did you have no idea kerry wood existed?

Orie was drafted two years before Wood. To the extent there was talk of prospects back then, he was being hyped before Wood was even in the organization.