John Mallee

[woodchip2153]

Let's put it this way: Can you name someone you think would be better than Mallee? What do you think is wrong with the approach that can be improved?

 

It seems to me that they guess or predetermine if they will swing too much.

 

I see the approach the hitters take, and I see room for improvement. They see lots of pitches and are patient, all good things. As has been pointed out they did this better than anyone else. With that said, too many times, in my opinion, the hitters get up in the count (or even first pitch) and sell out for a fastball and end up swinging at a pitch that is well out of the zone. Maybe this approach works more than I realize, because you don't notice when they guess correctly. But I see almost all of the players do it, so I assume it comes from the coaching staff. I don't like that approach, because I feel it can be exploited more by better pitching.

 

As far as specific names, I have no clue. I don't follow baseball closely enough to have specific names. Heck I can probably only name two hitting coaches in baseball, and that would just be guessing ex-cub coaches and Jacque Jones. Teams that I think have a good approach from what I've seen, the Astros, Brewers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Indians. But those are for the most part, just really good offenses with really good players. Again, I think the Cubs are in good hands, I just also think there might be room for improvement (see above).

 

the brewers rank in the bottom half of baseball in every meaningful offensive category except BB%, where they're 11th. let's cross them off the list of teams to emulate.

 

Ok, I just remember them seeming to have a lot of good plate appearances when I watched them, despite not having a lot of talent, and I thought I should put one team on there that wasn't loaded with talent.

[Gmoney08]

Didnt we have the number 1 obp in the NL again this year, score the 2nd most runs (more than the vaunted Dodgers)?

 

Despite some playoff struggles the approach at the plate has been largely a dream come through for Cubs fans the last 2 years.

 

Also have to realize the core is still extremely young. The offense may not hit its peak for another 3 years.

[woodchip2153]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

[Cubswin11]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

Always open to ideas and not attacking you but I think it’s looking WAY to much in to it and looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

[KingCubsFan]

Zobrist is old, so getting injured and falling off a cliff wasn't a huge surprise. I expected more from Russell, but the divorce/injury certainly affected him, and I was encouraged by the fact that he probably had the best AB's on the team during the playoffs. Schwarber was playing his first full year in the majors, and the adjustment was a bit more drastic then I think anybody really expected. Heyward sucks, but that's why you don't build your team through free agency.

 

i mean, this isn't really an example of why you don't build a team through free agency. heyward was a 26-year-old coming of 6.1 and 5.1 win seasons the previous two years. he just fell apart.

I'm just referring to the financial aspect. Now a non-significant part of the payroll is tied up in a pretty bad offensive player. But I agree that Heyward was exactly the right type of free agent to target if you're going that route.

[woodchip2153]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

Always open to ideas and not attacking you but I think it’s looking WAY to much in to it and looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

 

Fair point, and I don't know enough to just throw horsefeathers against the wall.

[LeonDurham]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

 

 

I agree. The offense is not satisfactory.

 

Despite their numbers being good. Here are some issues with just pointing out number s

- This team is loaded with top 10 prospects who were expected to be good and produced in the minors. We don’t have guys like Taylor who sucked and became good. Or turner who became a stud after 30. Or Aaron judge who OPSed 850 in the minors and because an mvp candidate. Name someone who they developed into a star beyond expectations. Besides Rizzo.

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

- there has not been enough improvement from guys that should be improving. Guys in their early mid 20s. Even Bryant should be getting better.

 

So no. I’m absolutely not satisfied with the offense. And I think coaching may have something to do with it. In fact I hope so. Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

http://i.imgur.com/2bvyUhu.gif

[davell]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

 

 

I agree. The offense is not satisfactory.

 

Despite their numbers being good. Here are some issues with just pointing out number s

- This team is loaded with top 10 prospects who were expected to be good and produced in the minors. We don’t have guys like Taylor who sucked and became good. Or turner who became a stud after 30. Or Aaron judge who OPSed 850 in the minors and because an mvp candidate. Name someone who they developed into a star beyond expectations. Besides Rizzo.

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

- there has not been enough improvement from guys that should be improving. Guys in their early mid 20s. Even Bryant should be getting better.

 

So no. I’m absolutely not satisfied with the offense. And I think coaching may have something to do with it. In fact I hope so. Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

First, not everyone improves EVERY year until they reach their peak. There will be peaks and valleys with everyone. KB easily can be a consensus MVP next year, as an example.

 

As an FYI, top 10 rated hitting prospects turn into solid, everyday players around 2/3 of the time. The production we've gotten out of ours would be cashed in by EVERY team in MLB and its not even a discussion.

 

As for developing a Chris Taylor(who was a top prospect at one point himself).....Willy was a complete and utter after thought until 2014. He wasn't even a top 30 Cubs prospect at that point or at any point prior to then.

 

No, we've not found our Justin Turner though. Nor have 28 other teams, as an FYI.

[woodchip2153]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

 

 

I agree. The offense is not satisfactory.

 

Despite their numbers being good. Here are some issues with just pointing out number s

- This team is loaded with top 10 prospects who were expected to be good and produced in the minors. We don’t have guys like Taylor who sucked and became good. Or turner who became a stud after 30. Or Aaron judge who OPSed 850 in the minors and because an mvp candidate. Name someone who they developed into a star beyond expectations. Besides Rizzo.

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

- there has not been enough improvement from guys that should be improving. Guys in their early mid 20s. Even Bryant should be getting better.

 

So no. I’m absolutely not satisfied with the offense. And I think coaching may have something to do with it. In fact I hope so. Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

Yea, I don't agree with that, and people going to these extremes is why people assumed I was saying the offense was terrible.

 

This offense is satisfactory.

 

Coghlan, Fowler, and Ross exceeded expectations as free agents

 

The fact that none of Baez, Almora, and Happ didn't just flame out is incredible, and that Baez and Almora look like they could be reliable regulars is beyond expectations.

 

The Astros have an amazing offense, but are currently getting shut down by the Yankees. Things like that happen.

 

The guys who aren't developing are still younger than a lot of the people you're comparing them too.

[Sammy Sofa]

Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

The team will live and die by how its best hitters (and Baez) do? HOLY horsefeathers, YOU CRACKED THE horsefeathering CODE.

[r_mack]

The offense looks good on paper but I feel like the offense beat up a lot on really bad pitching this season. This year's playoffs and 2015 gave a lot of credence to the theory that the Cubs aren't capable of hitting good pitching.

[LeonDurham]

Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

The team will live and die by how its best hitters (and Baez) do? HOLY horsefeathers, YOU CRACKED THE horsefeathering CODE.

 

Way to take the post out of context and make a stupid inflammatory statement. Good one. You wonder why a lot of people think this board is full of assholes.

 

Yeah. What I meant was that we are stuck with these players. There won’t be drastic moves or acquisitions. They will have to be better.

 

That’s what I mean. So if you’re all satisfied with them then great. Good for you. For those of who are not Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton are not horsefeathering coming, OK? And neither is Otani.

 

I would like the players we have to perform better. Maybe coaching is the answer.

[soccer10k]

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

 

It's like you don't know how playoff baseball works. The Indians last year went 2, 2, 4, 1, 3 in the ALCS and 6, 1, 1, 7, 2, 3 in the WS before Game 7. So two good offensive games out of 11.

 

We had a terrible series against the Mets in 2015. They also had 4 very good pitchers going. Those guys shut down a lot of teams. Last year we had two bad games against Kershaw and Hill but in the other 4 games they scored 8, 10, 8 and 5. Giants series they scored 1, 5, 5 and 6. WS was 0, 5, 0, 2, 3, 9, 8. Two bad games against Kluber and an inexplicably bad game against Tomlin. This year they got Strasburg twice, Scherzer, Kershaw twice, Hill, Darvish and Wood. When the worst starter you face is Gio Gonzalez, you faced a tough slate.

 

These things happen. Sometimes Kershaw shuts you out and sometimes you light him up for 5 runs to advance to the WS.

[LeonDurham]

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

 

It's like you don't know how playoff baseball works. The Indians last year went 2, 2, 4, 1, 3 in the ALCS and 6, 1, 1, 7, 2, 3 in the WS before Game 7. So two good offensive games out of 11.

 

We had a terrible series against the Mets in 2015. They also had 4 very good pitchers going. Those guys shut down a lot of teams. Last year we had two bad games against Kershaw and Hill but in the other 4 games they scored 8, 10, 8 and 5. Giants series they scored 1, 5, 5 and 6. WS was 0, 5, 0, 2, 3, 9, 8. Two bad games against Kluber and an inexplicably bad game against Tomlin. This year they got Strasburg twice, Scherzer, Kershaw twice, Hill, Darvish and Wood. When the worst starter you face is Gio Gonzalez, you faced a tough slate.

 

These things happen. Sometimes Kershaw shuts you out and sometimes you light him up for 5 runs to advance to the WS.

 

 

I completely understand the random nature of baseball and the crapshoot of the playoffs.

 

But I'm open minded to the fact that there might be ways to improve performance in the playoffs- high pressure situations against better pitchers. I don't completely discount the possibility that "clutch" hitting may exist and certain players might have better success through a better approach or better coaching.

 

Sure. It's easy to throw up your arms, point to all the runs scored against crap pitchers in 13-1 regular season games and say oh well. horsefeathers happens. We were just unlucky. But I hope the team doesn't feel that way. I want them to try and figure out how to get better.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

 

 

I agree. The offense is not satisfactory.

 

Despite their numbers being good. Here are some issues with just pointing out number s

- This team is loaded with top 10 prospects who were expected to be good and produced in the minors. We don’t have guys like Taylor who sucked and became good. Or turner who became a stud after 30. Or Aaron judge who OPSed 850 in the minors and because an mvp candidate. Name someone who they developed into a star beyond expectations. Besides Rizzo.

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

- there has not been enough improvement from guys that should be improving. Guys in their early mid 20s. Even Bryant should be getting better.

 

So no. I’m absolutely not satisfied with the offense. And I think coaching may have something to do with it. In fact I hope so. Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

 

You’re first two points point out why we should be more hopeful then dismayed. And you’re third points out the things you cant predict but should expect significant gains from. Turner as a comparison to Bryant? Plzzzzzzzzzz

[UK]

Fwiw, Mallee isn't going anywhere unless he gets some managerial interviews this off-season. That is unlikely at best.

 

The players like his approach and he gets results.

[Sammy Sofa]

Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

 

The team will live and die by how its best hitters (and Baez) do? HOLY horsefeathers, YOU CRACKED THE horsefeathering CODE.

 

Way to take the post out of context and make a stupid inflammatory statement. Good one. You wonder why a lot of people think this board is full of horsefeathers.

 

Ah-HAH!!! Only, like, 60 people even know this place exists at this point, so IN YOUR FACE WITH A RUBBER MACE.

[Sammy Sofa]

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

 

It's like you don't know how playoff baseball works. The Indians last year went 2, 2, 4, 1, 3 in the ALCS and 6, 1, 1, 7, 2, 3 in the WS before Game 7. So two good offensive games out of 11.

 

We had a terrible series against the Mets in 2015. They also had 4 very good pitchers going. Those guys shut down a lot of teams. Last year we had two bad games against Kershaw and Hill but in the other 4 games they scored 8, 10, 8 and 5. Giants series they scored 1, 5, 5 and 6. WS was 0, 5, 0, 2, 3, 9, 8. Two bad games against Kluber and an inexplicably bad game against Tomlin. This year they got Strasburg twice, Scherzer, Kershaw twice, Hill, Darvish and Wood. When the worst starter you face is Gio Gonzalez, you faced a tough slate.

 

These things happen. Sometimes Kershaw shuts you out and sometimes you light him up for 5 runs to advance to the WS.

 

 

I completely understand the random nature of baseball and the crapshoot of the playoffs.

 

But I'm open minded to the fact that there might be ways to improve performance in the playoffs- high pressure situations against better pitchers. I don't completely discount the possibility that "clutch" hitting may exist and certain players might have better success through a better approach or better coaching.

 

Sure. It's easy to throw up your arms, point to all the runs scored against crap pitchers in 13-1 regular season games and say oh well. horsefeathers happens. We were just unlucky. But I hope the team doesn't feel that way. I want them to try and figure out how to get better.

 

But seriously; you are are longing for better coaching in regards to nigh-uncoachable things like "clutch hitting."

[jersey cubs fan]

Apparently I'm the only one who thinks the Cubs guess too much.

 

But let me just say I have no doubts the offense will be better next year and the team will be one of the best teams in baseball again. I just thought this my be a way they could improve.

Baseball players guess. You said yourself you only watch Cubs, so of course you are going to see "guessing" more from them than other teams. The team's approach is great.

The offense is great. It's not unstoppable but no lineup is.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

If anything, go hire Terry Pendleton as assistant hitting coach and assign him purely to Heyward (Pendleton was the hitting coach his rookie year).

 

I thought about suggesting something like this, but don't we already have a assistant hitting coach and Maddon helping too? If we hired another, I'm worried it would be too many chefs in the kitchen.

Yeah idk what to do with Heyward. We do have an asst hitting coach but I forget the name. Adding another guy just might be too many noises like you said (though you’d like to think the org is smart enough to be voicing the same things to him on a unified front and not a million different suggestions). We’ve tried to do it “our way” it seems, so maybe the best thing is tell him go back to whatever you did in previous offseasons when he was a Brave (and whoever that was with) and see if that sticks instead of spending it in Arizona with “our” guys again. Or maybe he can move in with Kris Bryant’s dad over the offseason.

 

What about just firing Hinske and replacing him with Pendleton or someone else. He was the one working with Heyward all offseason and he still looked lost at the plate.

[Tim]

 

The team will live and die by how its best hitters (and Baez) do? HOLY horsefeathers, YOU CRACKED THE horsefeathering CODE.

 

Way to take the post out of context and make a stupid inflammatory statement. Good one. You wonder why a lot of people think this board is full of horsefeathers.

 

Ah-HAH!!! Only, like, 60 people even know this place exists at this point, so IN YOUR FACE WITH A RUBBER MACE.

:(

[David]

- they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years.

 

It's like you don't know how playoff baseball works. The Indians last year went 2, 2, 4, 1, 3 in the ALCS and 6, 1, 1, 7, 2, 3 in the WS before Game 7. So two good offensive games out of 11.

 

We had a terrible series against the Mets in 2015. They also had 4 very good pitchers going. Those guys shut down a lot of teams. Last year we had two bad games against Kershaw and Hill but in the other 4 games they scored 8, 10, 8 and 5. Giants series they scored 1, 5, 5 and 6. WS was 0, 5, 0, 2, 3, 9, 8. Two bad games against Kluber and an inexplicably bad game against Tomlin. This year they got Strasburg twice, Scherzer, Kershaw twice, Hill, Darvish and Wood. When the worst starter you face is Gio Gonzalez, you faced a tough slate.

 

These things happen. Sometimes Kershaw shuts you out and sometimes you light him up for 5 runs to advance to the WS.

 

 

I completely understand the random nature of baseball and the crapshoot of the playoffs.

 

But I'm open minded to the fact that there might be ways to improve performance in the playoffs- high pressure situations against better pitchers. I don't completely discount the possibility that "clutch" hitting may exist and certain players might have better success through a better approach or better coaching.

 

Sure. It's easy to throw up your arms, point to all the runs scored against crap pitchers in 13-1 regular season games and say oh well. horsefeathers happens. We were just unlucky. But I hope the team doesn't feel that way. I want them to try and figure out how to get better.

 

If there's one team that struggles under the postseason pressure, it's gotta be the one with a bunch of 25 year olds who have been to the LCS 3 straight years.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Way to take the post out of context and make a stupid inflammatory statement. Good one. You wonder why a lot of people think this board is full of horsefeathers.

 

Ah-HAH!!! Only, like, 60 people even know this place exists at this point, so IN YOUR FACE WITH A RUBBER MACE.

:(

@nsbbcom has 385 followers on twitter

[Tim]

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