Who's gaga for Imanaga? - It's the Cubs! Cubs sign Imanaga per Heyman/Nightengale

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Justin Steele doesn’t have a burner fastball but still dominant, they see something they love with this guy can’t wait to see it  

Velo is overrated.  It obviously makes a difference but you can get guys out various ways like movement, command, changing speeds, deception, keeping the ball on the ground, and velo is only one of those things, and you can't get guys out with just one of those, you need a combo of 2 or 3 at least, and velo doesn't have to be one of them.  Nobody says "we need more pitchers who can change speeds well".

We also tend to get a lot more excited about K% than BB%, but I don't think one is more important than the other.

 

[PeanutPunch33]

4 minutes ago, Petrey10 said:

You are crazy…. There may never be another rotation as good as 2016. Absolutely crazy statement

Arrieta and Lackey fell off so quickly..  with this team it just seems like 1 option after another.  Wicks seems like an after thought sometimes but even he reminds me a bit of a young Lester.  Just so many arms everywhere and control on everyone 

[Outshined_One]

FINALLY.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, JBears79 said:

Easily. That rotation was incredible and got ran into the ground.

If you want to build a pitcher in a lab it comes out as Mark Prior.

[ILMindState]

20 minutes ago, muntjack said:

Juan Cruz's 2 seamer moved like a whiffle ball.  I thought he was going to be the best of them.  

I thought Angel Guzman had more hype and was supposed to be better than Cruz. 

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Velo is overrated.  It obviously makes a difference but you can get guys out various ways like movement, command, changing speeds, deception, keeping the ball on the ground, and velo is only one of those things, and you can't get guys out with just one of those, you need a combo of 2 or 3 at least, and velo doesn't have to be one of them.  Nobody says "we need more pitchers who can change speeds well".

We also tend to get a lot more excited about K% than BB%, but I don't think one is more important than the other.

 

Definitely. I’m intrigued that the Cubs just swapped out basically heavy ground-ball guy (Stro) to a heavy fly-ball guy from what I’ve read in Shota.  Hawkins and team have completely changed the pitching here in just a few years 

[ILMindState]

Also….I thought the offseason was over. We can still sign people?

[Petrey10]

I’m gonna say our starters next year potentially may not even be as good as last year. But this is no way near best in your life time if you are anywhere near 20+ years old. Stop being so dramatic. Great signing. Much needed. But we need a few more to compete or we will be 82ish wins next year

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

So if we assume the Cubshave $60-$70m to spend, Imanaga coming in around $15m AAV leaves the Cubs with maybe $55m left to go. That's enough to get a hitter (Bellinger), another player (Hoskins?) and two pretty good RP's in. 

If they stay under the CBT line they have about 35m left to spend.  They were at 185m before this signing.  But could be your number if they go over.

[Stratos]

Can watch Imanaga start the WBC final vs team USA:

 

 

Edited January 10, 2024 by Stratos

[JBears79]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Yeah, Prior was, at least IMO, the start of the hyped prospect. I was 15/16 and I was following him through the MiLB...and I wasn't the MiLB shill I am today. David Price kicked it all into a new level. 

I constantly remember hearing perfect mechanics when it came to Prior during his draft year and the short time he spent on the minors 

[JBears79]

1 hour ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Justin Steele doesn’t have a burner fastball but still dominant, they see something they love with this guy can’t wait to see it  

1908 had a really good post and linked a video a few months ago on PSD about Steele and seam shifted wake which explained why his fastball was so interesting and tough to hit

[Transmogrified Tiger]

51 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I don't know if we see any more big signings, I think those are on Boras' timeline rather than Jed's.  That said I wouldn't be surprised if any of the trades that Jed is apparently working on are fast follows.  Or bullpen arms.  It's very clear Bellinger is going to hold out til ST or just moments before, so there's not really any impotice to wait on him to do more.  If anything getting everything else locked in probably pushes Boras to the table faster.

The best day to announce a trade for Hunter Harvey was every day before now, the second best day is tomorrow.

[Bull]

26 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

I just went down a tiny rabbit hole and learned Andy Sisco pitched professionally through 2016:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sisco-001and

Loved me some Andy Sisco. I thought he was going to be the best of them.

[JBears79]

16 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

Also….I thought the offseason was over. We can still sign people?

For every 5 players the Dodgers sign, one team is allowed to sign another FA

[jersey cubs fan]

22 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Arrieta and Lackey fell off so quickly..  with this team it just seems like 1 option after another.  Wicks seems like an after thought sometimes but even he reminds me a bit of a young Lester.  Just so many arms everywhere and control on everyone 

This is ridiculous nonsense 

[Derwood]

2 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

I am happy the Cubs did something and from what I've read I like Imanaga but funny that we went after another starter with a 91-92 mph fastball.  But hey he's got electric stuff from what I see, good stuff.

I saw him hitting 96 in the WBC Final

[squally1313]

Guess Jed finally woke up from his nap lol am i right guys

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jed waited til mid-January to sign someone and apparently decided to throw the kitchen sink of contract weirdness at his target, sicko stuff

 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

Guess Jed finally woke up from his nap lol am i right guys

this one doesn’t count you see because he only got $15 million AAV so no one else wanted him. lol leave it to Jed to go dumpster diving.

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Jed waited til mid-January to sign someone and apparently decided to throw the kitchen sink of contract weirdness at his target, sicko stuff

 

We'll wait for details obviously but sounds like Kenta Maeda's first deal.  Wonder if Shota's health is a little more suspect than we realize.

[Stratos]

12 minutes ago, Derwood said:

I saw him hitting 96 in the WBC Final

He sat 93-94mph.  But was also on a short leash.  Only pitched 2 innings.

[ILMindState]

43 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

this one doesn’t count you see because he only got $15 million AAV so no one else wanted him. lol leave it to Jed to go dumpster diving.

Can’t wait for the next signing when Jed will be an idiot because he paid too much. 

Edited January 10, 2024 by ILMindState

[Derwood]

11 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

Can’t wait for the next signing Jed where will be an idiot because he paid too much. 

 

hE bId aGaInSt hImSeLf

[Bertz]

This is an extremely cool gif