2017 Spring Training Game Thread

[Tim]

so schwarber just did the dong thing again

He was reading about the neuro thing between innings and wanted to show off.

[bukie]

Cactus League offense is fun.

 

Cactus League pitching is not fun.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

If we released all of our pitchers and had to choose between our own minor league pitching prospects and any AAA pitchers on minor league deals in other systems (so not actual prospects) to form our pitching staff, how many games would we win?

 

If you believe ZiPS, about 75.

 

I think we could squeeze a little more out. For one ZiPS, like most projections systems is usually a little conservative on defensive projections -- with good reason, especially for young guys with little defensive data. So I bet we pick up a little there. And with worse pitching, I bet the defense has more opportunities to shine. More balls in play, more guys on base, more chances to save runs for all of our elite defenders. I bet our defense and pitch framing could make some horrible pitchers look more pedestrian than horrible by traditional metrics.

 

And, depending on the parameters of this exercise, I bet we could pick up a few more wins. For instance, are we allowed to keep cycling through guys? Can we keep choosing different replacement level-guys until we find one that sticks? And there's got to be a guy or two in the minors that could be a little better than replacement-level -- if even only worth half-a-win. Maybe Eddie Butler is worth a win. Maybe some hard throwers do alright out of the pen. It might take awhile to find them, but we could cobble something together. And then putting that together with what I said above, maybe we can find a guy -- like, say, Clayton Richard two years ago -- that fits well with our studly infield defense: lots of ground balls, not so many home runs, sucks more because he can't strike anyone out, but that's not as much of a problem with our position players.

[Gilby]

Who's laughing at those Braun comps now???

[Cubswin11]

Who's laughing at those Braun comps now???

Who was compared to Braun?

[Gilby]

Who's laughing at those Braun comps now???

Who was compared to Braun?

 

Someone said it about Almora pre-draft. I think it was by a scout who hopefully doesn't work for the Cubs.

[David]

Who's laughing at those Braun comps now???

Who was compared to Braun?

 

Someone said it about Almora pre-draft. I think it was by a scout who hopefully doesn't work for the Cubs.

 

oh my god lmao

[We Got The Whole 9]

Wonder if Almora's average launch angle has increased substantially in this small sample. He's a guy who they've always raved about how hard he hits the ball but he didn't get much loft. That's really not been an issue this month FWIW. If the power breaks out, the potential for a top 5-10 CF is there.

[bukie]

It's difficult to read much from ST results, because

 

1) Pitchers aren't going 100% most of the time, and

2) Hitting in the Cactus League is like playing in Coors every day

[weis21]

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.

my next favorite was brooks kieschnick

 

edit: see david mentioned him earlier now that I'm caught up with the thread.

[RammyFanny]

Who's laughing at those Braun comps now???

Who was compared to Braun?

 

Someone said it about Almora pre-draft. I think it was by a scout who hopefully doesn't work for the Cubs.

I remember posting in the draft thread a side by side...tweet?...maybe link...that showed Almora and Braun's swings looking pretty in sync. It was kind of laughed at even then.

[imb]

Have yourself a spring, Almora. Sheesh

 

 

look at that crowd, lol

[jersey cubs fan]

Have yourself a spring, Almora. Sheesh

 

 

look at that crowd, lol

I'm sure the powers that be in Mesa are happy as hell with the return on their investment, at least optically, but I still cannot fathom how they can justify the cost of what they built for what is essentially something used by patrons for 5 weeks. That hotel next door has to be a desert version of the overlook hotel at any time but spring training.

[David]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

[Cubswin11]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

I'm going to the first game in Milwaukee next Friday night. I expect there to be 80% + Cubs fans

[David]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

I'm going to the first game in Milwaukee next Friday night. I expect there to be 80% + Cubs fans

 

i've been kicking around the idea of going to one of those games. still not sure if i will or not.

[Cubswin11]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

I'm going to the first game in Milwaukee next Friday night. I expect there to be 80% + Cubs fans

 

i've been kicking around the idea of going to one of those games. still not sure if i will or not.

Tickets are cheap, relatively, got tickets about 15 rows behind home plate for $80ish

[mul21]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

I'm going to the first game in Milwaukee next Friday night. I expect there to be 80% + Cubs fans

 

I'm likely going to the opener at Busch. Tickets are stupid for opening day here but a coworker with season tickets (who's also a Cubs fan) probably can't go and I'm getting them cheap. I'll be slightly surprised if there's a big Cubs contingent that night.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

the obnoxious cubs crowd on the road thing this year is gonna be beyond anything we've ever seen lol

 

July games in Cincy... They might as well have the Reds bat first.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm definitely seeing them here in DC, and since most of my old Cubs clothes are fat guy-wear, so I'm going to possibly wear all of them at the same time.

[Derwood]

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.

 

After years of being spoiled by Aramis, now Bryant, it's easy to forget the "we have had 897 third basemen since Santo" thing

[We Got The Whole 9]

I wish to see this defensive alignment a lot this year

[David]

damn schwarber almost got him but javy couldn't tag him out

 

wait waht

[David]

niceee heyward

[We Got The Whole 9]

The Babe