Spring Training 2020 (aka Mark Gonzales blurry photo szn)

[Brian]

Mark is in Arizona and Boys of Spring has updated so I'd say it's time to start the Spring Training thread

 

 

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https://boysofspring.com/the-boys-of-spring-and-summer/

 

[SouthSideRyan]

Correction: that’s Clayton Kershaw

[David]

Correction: that’s Clayton Kershaw

 

I thought it was Brett Jackson

[Brian]

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[/tweet] Edited February 10, 2020 by Brian

[Brian]

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[Brian]

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[Brian]

IT'S OFFICIALLY SPRING TRAINING

 

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[Brian]

All pitchers have now reported

 

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[Brian]

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[Brian]

has to be a flip phone

 

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[Cubswin11]

I 1 million percent endorse this. It makes the most sense and he’s the most logical option and it stops the nonsense narratives around the lead off spot. Optimistic this is indicative they’re gonna run thing by the numbers a bit more and not Joe’s “gut feelings.”

 

[David]

I 1 million percent endorse this. It makes the most sense and he’s the most logical option and it stops the nonsense narratives around the lead off spot. Optimistic this is indicative they’re gonna run thing by the numbers a bit more and not Joe’s “gut feelings.”

 

 

I think that's a given and I think it's at least a likely source of some minor improvement

[minnesotacubsfan]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

[Cubswin11]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

Deciding to lead off the guy with a career .373 OBP, coming off a season he was over .400, and is 8th in MLB in OBP since 2014 doesn’t seem like a gut feeling. If it is, it’s at least a better feel than running Almora, Kemp, Descalso, etc out there at leadoff.

[Brian]

Nice of Theo to squeeze a presser in between workouts

 

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[David]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

Deciding to lead off the guy with a career .373 OBP, coming off a season he was over .400, and is 8th in MLB in OBP since 2014 doesn’t seem like a gut feeling. If it is, it’s at least a better feel than running Almora, Kemp, Descalso, etc out there at leadoff.

 

yeah, to me we have a bunch of dudes i'd be fine with (on numbers alone) doing it, and there's definitely no justification for throwing actual terrible hitters there. the only wildcard to me is how the individual player reacts to it. heyward and schwarber might be totally fine there or might have totally been in their own heads about it (i believe both have said as much) - but we know rizzo embraces it.

[Cubswin11]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

Deciding to lead off the guy with a career .373 OBP, coming off a season he was over .400, and is 8th in MLB in OBP since 2014 doesn’t seem like a gut feeling. If it is, it’s at least a better feel than running Almora, Kemp, Descalso, etc out there at leadoff.

 

yeah, to me we have a bunch of dudes i'd be fine with (on numbers alone) doing it, and there's definitely no justification for throwing actual terrible hitters there. the only wildcard to me is how the individual player reacts to it. heyward and schwarber might be totally fine there or might have totally been in their own heads about it (i believe both have said as much) - but we know rizzo embraces it.

Yeah that’s the other thing, at worst Rizzo seems indifferent about it and at best he seems to embrace it. We know Heyward doesn’t like it and KB has said he doesn’t or wouldn’t like it either. Schwarber and Happ had their chances and either let it get to their heads and/or just sucked. Willy vs LHP I don’t mind as an option either, but the numbers suggest along with every subjective thing we know that it should just be Rizzo.

[jersey cubs fan]

Nice of Theo to squeeze a presser in between workouts

 

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whose dong is jed checking out?

[minnesotacubsfan]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

Deciding to lead off the guy with a career .373 OBP, coming off a season he was over .400, and is 8th in MLB in OBP since 2014 doesn’t seem like a gut feeling. If it is, it’s at least a better feel than running Almora, Kemp, Descalso, etc out there at leadoff.

 

yeah, to me we have a bunch of dudes i'd be fine with (on numbers alone) doing it, and there's definitely no justification for throwing actual terrible hitters there. the only wildcard to me is how the individual player reacts to it. heyward and schwarber might be totally fine there or might have totally been in their own heads about it (i believe both have said as much) - but we know rizzo embraces it.

 

primarily, I meant his hint at "other guys" in the tweet.

[Cubswin11]

Yeah, things sound like they must have been great between Joe and Theo/FO for the last year+

 

[Bluescale]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

 

Ross doesn't get to have gut feelings. He was brought in to do as he's told. At least that's what I hope...

[CubinNY]

I hope it isn't just Ross's gut feeling....

 

Ross doesn't get to have gut feelings. He was brought in to do as he's told. At least that's what I hope...

The Billy Beane/Art Howe Approach.

[Brian]

our tiny faced king

 

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[Andy]

our tiny faced king

 

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Rizzo is unequivocally right to be pissed off, but it's pretty clear that from the moment the CBT became a thing that the owners DID mean it to be a salary cap.

[Brian]

There should be a poverty tax, if your payroll doesn't exceed a certain level you don't get any revenue sharing.