Schwindel - Old & Bad or just Old?

[Tim]

I think I'm more hopeful than I should be with Schwindel. Looking at his minor league track record is pretty impressive. He just hasn't had a real chance in the bigs until now.

 

2017 AAA (KCR): .321/.340/.528

2018 AAA (KCR): .286/.336/.506

2019 AAA (DET): .327/.361/.628

2021 AAA (OAK): .317/.362/.630

 

In the majors this year, he's now up to a 123 wRC+ and a slash line of: .283/.309/.528

 

He didn't walk much in the minors, but he didn't strike out much, either. And he's hit for plenty of power. I don't think he's going to be a star by any means, but I think he can be a decent placeholder for a while.

[UMFan83]

I think I'm more hopeful than I should be with Schwindel. Looking at his minor league track record is pretty impressive. He just hasn't had a real chance in the bigs until now.

 

2017 AAA (KCR): .321/.340/.528

2018 AAA (KCR): .286/.336/.506

2019 AAA (DET): .327/.361/.628

2019 AAA (OAK): .317/.362/.630

 

In the majors this year, he's now up to a 123 wRC+ and a slash line of: .283/.309/.528

 

He didn't walk much in the minors, but he didn't strike out much, either. And he's hit for plenty of power. I don't think he's going to be a star by any means, but I think he can be a decent placeholder for a while.

 

Bottom number is 2021 not 2019. In Las Vegas but still good numbers.

 

Guessing his age is why he is so lowly regarded?

[Bertz]

Probably bad?

 

He's got a fun combination of good power with very little swing and miss within the zone. But the plate discipline is atrocious, and he offers no defensive value. Those I think more than outweigh what he does do well IMO. I find three hitters who don't suck where you can squint and see Schwindel:

 

Eddie Rosario

Anthony Santander

Lourdes Gurriel

 

So there is a path, but it's narrow. I'd feel a lot better if he had some sort of carrying skill, like a big time L/R split, but I just don't see it. That said there's not a lot of harm in running him out there to confirm. I'd rather have Rivas up but it's not a crime that he's not.

[Cubfanintheknow]

So this is what it’s come to; discussing the merits of Frank Schwindel?

[TarzanJoeWallis]

One of my biggest issues with him—and I acknowledge this is completely irrational—is that his name sounds like someone who would have played on the Cubs in the early 1900s.

 

I could hear Boog saying, “He’s the first Cubs rookie to get a hit in his first five games since Frank Schwindel in 1912.”

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For the rest of this season I don’t mind riding any hot streak that Schwindel has, and I’d be more than fine with him at Iowa next year, but between his age, lack of defensive value, and his Almorian plate discipline he doesn’t strike me as a guy who could be part of the next good Cub team.

[squally1313]

So this is what it’s come to; discussing the merits of Frank Schwindel?

 

These are super fun posts to read, over and over, 2 weeks into this rebuild. We get it, the team sucks. Last I checked, Cubs message board, Cubs discussion.

[Cubfanintheknow]

So this is what it’s come to; discussing the merits of Frank Schwindel?

 

These are super fun posts to read, over and over, 2 weeks into this rebuild. We get it, the team sucks. Last I checked, Cubs message board, Cubs discussion.

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

[squally1313]

So this is what it’s come to; discussing the merits of Frank Schwindel?

 

These are super fun posts to read, over and over, 2 weeks into this rebuild. We get it, the team sucks. Last I checked, Cubs message board, Cubs discussion.

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

 

That’s not it at all. It’s this mock disbelief that people on the cubs message board are discussing the players who are currently playing for the cubs. You chose to click on a topic with a very clear subject that fits in pretty well with the purpose of the board.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

These are super fun posts to read, over and over, 2 weeks into this rebuild. We get it, the team sucks. Last I checked, Cubs message board, Cubs discussion.

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

 

That’s not it at all. It’s this mock disbelief that people on the cubs message board are discussing the players who are currently playing for the cubs. You chose to click on a topic with a very clear subject that fits in pretty well with the purpose of the board.

 

On the flip side, the Cubs actively chose to tank this year and put the fans in a situation where if they want to think about their team they have to discuss garbage players and whether those garbage players have a chance to play for the team next year. That sucks, it should be inexcusable for a fan base that provides a tremendous financial cushion to the owners who are acting as though they are the greatest victims of the covid shutdown. If a fan wants to express his frustration with the situation that the owners of the team chose to the put them into, then they should feel free to do so without being criticized by fans who think we should just shut up and accept the situation.

[Cubfanintheknow]

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

 

That’s not it at all. It’s this mock disbelief that people on the cubs message board are discussing the players who are currently playing for the cubs. You chose to click on a topic with a very clear subject that fits in pretty well with the purpose of the board.

 

On the flip side, the Cubs actively chose to tank this year and put the fans in a situation where if they want to think about their team they have to discuss garbage players and whether those garbage players have a chance to play for the team next year. That sucks, it should be inexcusable for a fan base that provides a tremendous financial cushion to the owners who are acting as though they are the greatest victims of the covid shutdown. If a fan wants to express his frustration with the situation that the owners of the team chose to the put them into, then they should feel free to do so without being criticized by fans who think we should just shut up and accept the situation.

 

^^^^^^^^^^

What he said.

[squally1313]

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

 

That’s not it at all. It’s this mock disbelief that people on the cubs message board are discussing the players who are currently playing for the cubs. You chose to click on a topic with a very clear subject that fits in pretty well with the purpose of the board.

 

On the flip side, the Cubs actively chose to tank this year and put the fans in a situation where if they want to think about their team they have to discuss garbage players and whether those garbage players have a chance to play for the team next year. That sucks, it should be inexcusable for a fan base that provides a tremendous financial cushion to the owners who are acting as though they are the greatest victims of the covid shutdown. If a fan wants to express his frustration with the situation that the owners of the team chose to the put them into, then they should feel free to do so without being criticized by fans who think we should just shut up and accept the situation.

 

More than one thing can be true at once. The Ricketts dealt Cubs fans an unnecessary, garbage filled hand. How people react to that is totally up to the individual. You can be pissed off at them, at the system of MLB, at capitalism, etc etc etc and still enjoy talking about the baseball team/players, and discussing how to theoretically improve the team (which, I believe, most everyone here still wants).

 

It's like going into the minor league discussions and being like 'who gives a horsefeathers, the Ricketts are going to trade them anyways, why are you wasting your time talking about this'. A reasonable contribution is 'This guy sucks and has no place on a competitive Cubs team'. That's also, in this case, the correct contribution in my opinion. 'lol these guys all suck so stop talking about them' doesn't really do anything.

[muntjack]

I've wanted for some time to see a mid or major market team try a lineup of AAAA players and spend 70% of their payroll on the rotation. I doubt that happens here but, Wisdom, Ortega, Schwindel, and to a lesser extent Hermosillo and Rivas fit the bill. Guys who have a history of performing when given consistent PAs but were never a top prospect are the new market inefficiency.

 

Of course it only (theoretically) works if you go out and sign the best FA starters (or ideally trade for them when you have surplus assets).

[NOLA]

I've wanted for some time to see a mid or major market team try a lineup of AAAA players and spend 70% of their payroll on the rotation. I doubt that happens here but, Wisdom, Ortega, Schwindel, and to a lesser extent Hermosillo and Rivas fit the bill. Guys who have a history of performing when given consistent PAs but were never a top prospect are the new market inefficiency.

 

Of course it only (theoretically) works if you go out and sign the best FA starters (or ideally trade for them when you have surplus assets).

The closest thing to that I can think of were the 2001 Diamondbacks, except they had Luis Gonzalez.

[sneakypower]

 

Just my opinion, but I see Schwindel as a guy who's rounding out the ML roster right now... nothing more. I'll be incredibly disappointed if he breaks camp next spring.

 

Sorry if this post serves as a reminder of how bad this team is. Guess what? There's still 8 weeks of this crap ahead of us. Suck it up.

 

That’s not it at all. It’s this mock disbelief that people on the cubs message board are discussing the players who are currently playing for the cubs. You chose to click on a topic with a very clear subject that fits in pretty well with the purpose of the board.

 

On the flip side, the Cubs actively chose to tank this year and put the fans in a situation where if they want to think about their team they have to discuss garbage players and whether those garbage players have a chance to play for the team next year. That sucks, it should be inexcusable for a fan base that provides a tremendous financial cushion to the owners who are acting as though they are the greatest victims of the covid shutdown. If a fan wants to express his frustration with the situation that the owners of the team chose to the put them into, then they should feel free to do so without being criticized by fans who think we should just shut up and accept the situation.

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[Backtobanks]

One of my biggest issues with him—and I acknowledge this is completely irrational—is that his name sounds like someone who would have played on the Cubs in the early 1900s.

 

I could hear Boog saying, “He’s the first Cubs rookie to get a hit in his first five games since Frank Schwindel in 1912.”

 

He'll fit right in when the Cubs play the Field of Dreams game next year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I've wanted for some time to see a mid or major market team try a lineup of AAAA players and spend 70% of their payroll on the rotation. I doubt that happens here but, Wisdom, Ortega, Schwindel, and to a lesser extent Hermosillo and Rivas fit the bill. Guys who have a history of performing when given consistent PAs but were never a top prospect are the new market inefficiency.

 

Of course it only (theoretically) works if you go out and sign the best FA starters (or ideally trade for them when you have surplus assets).

 

Maybe if the Cubs relocate to Japan.

[Post Count Padder]

I'm fine riding out this hot streak as someone put it. He'll come back to earth at some point. I could see him being a guy that uses this brief success as a jumping off point to a nice contract in Japan or Korea next year to build up some more value. I assumed he and Fargas were called up out of need and they were on the 40 man. Maybe they'll keep hitting but I wonder if/when some more interesting guys in AAA get a call up.

 

Related: what's the deal with September rosters this year?

[Bertz]

I'm fine riding out this hot streak as someone put it. He'll come back to earth at some point. I could see him being a guy that uses this brief success as a jumping off point to a nice contract in Japan or Korea next year to build up some more value. I assumed he and Fargas were called up out of need and they were on the 40 man. Maybe they'll keep hitting but I wonder if/when some more interesting guys in AAA get a call up.

 

Related: what's the deal with September rosters this year?

 

I was wondering that too. I believe the plan going into 2020 before the pandemic was they'd expand to 28. I know we're now using a lot of the rules from the '19-'20 offseason, but havent seen any confirmation if that's one of them.

[BigSlick]

It's honestly a shame he's doing his best Jake Fox impression right now, and not during a season where they Cubs are trying. At least in a future year we could bank some value with this guy, because I don't think its gonna continue.

 

Or maybe it will? Who knows, he got a kinda raw deal with how history has played out, so maybe he has a few good hitting years in him. But the vast majority of the time there are some pitching adjustments and blam, thats it.

[Backtobanks]

It's honestly a shame he's doing his best Jake Fox impression right now, and not during a season where they Cubs are trying. At least in a future year we could bank some value with this guy, because I don't think its gonna continue.

 

Or maybe it will? Who knows, he got a kinda raw deal with how history has played out, so maybe he has a few good hitting years in him. But the vast majority of the time there are some pitching adjustments and blam, thats it.

 

Platoon DH with Ortega next year.

[Derwood]

He's been worth 0.7 fWAR in 78 PA's coming into today, so on pace for around 1.0 fWAR per 100 PA's.

 

I'll take that on the cheap

[squally1313]

He can't play defense, has a 16/3 K/BB ratio so far, and is outperforming his xwOBA by about 75 points going into today. He'll be 30 next year. Find an actual first baseman and keep this dude in the minors to the extent we even can in case of injury.

[UMFan83]

He can't play defense, has a 16/3 K/BB ratio so far, and is outperforming his xwOBA by about 75 points going into today. He'll be 30 next year. Find an actual first baseman and keep this dude in the minors to the extent we even can in case of injury.

 

I never expected the drop off between Rizzo and another 1B to be so obvious. It's not like I'm even watching a ton of the games either, but when I do he's usually botching a scoop or not covering enough ground to his right.

[squally1313]

He can't play defense, has a 16/3 K/BB ratio so far, and is outperforming his xwOBA by about 75 points going into today. He'll be 30 next year. Find an actual first baseman and keep this dude in the minors to the extent we even can in case of injury.

 

I never expected the drop off between Rizzo and another 1B to be so obvious. It's not like I'm even watching a ton of the games either, but when I do he's usually botching a scoop or not covering enough ground to his right.

 

Yeah we were spoiled with Rizzo, but I trust the advanced statistics enough to understand that it's not a very important position, and that you should be able to teach most anyone with any defensive skill how to be passable there and not hurt your team relative to the rest of the league. Which is why you go find some fat corner outfielder who can actually hit, not this dork taking advantage of pitchers going on cruise control with 8 run leads by the fourth inning every day.