What should we be worried about next year?

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

The Giants dumped Farhan Zaidi.  SFG is going to be an interesting team to follow.  Farhan and Jed are basically the same guy, both teams are pretty reticent to cross the LT to a meaningful degree, and both teams end the 2024 season within a few games of each other.  The Cubs have more young talent on hand, while the Giants have more money on hand, but overall I'd put their respective org health in a similar place?

SFG will presumably get the top GM on the market this winter, so if you want a glimpse at the alternate reality where PTR dumps Jed it's a pretty good analogue to track the next year or two.

Does your opinion change any with Posey as the head of their baseball ops now?  Feels like a premature promotion to me.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4 minutes ago, Bertz said:

The Giants dumped Farhan Zaidi.  SFG is going to be an interesting team to follow.  Farhan and Jed are basically the same guy, both teams are pretty reticent to cross the LT to a meaningful degree, and both teams end the 2024 season within a few games of each other.  The Cubs have more young talent on hand, while the Giants have more money on hand, but overall I'd put their respective org health in a similar place?

SFG will presumably get the top GM on the market this winter, so if you want a glimpse at the alternate reality where PTR dumps Jed it's a pretty good analogue to track the next year or two.

They gave the job to Buster Posey, so...time to sharpen up any proposals you have for Giants players.

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

They gave the job to Buster Posey, so...time to sharpen up any proposals you have for Giants players.

I had not gotten to that part of the news yet!  That seems....very ill advised to put it lightly.

[Rob]

16 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

They gave the job to Buster Posey, so...time to sharpen up any proposals you have for Giants players.

I'd love to get my hands on Patrick Bailey.

Part of me thinks that Posey might overvalue catchers. But another part thinks that he might want a higher offensive floor from his catchers just based on his own performance.

Either way, it's criminal if Jed isn't checking in there.

[Tryptamine]

Man, the Giant farm is kind of ass, but I can't imagine they're going to sell given they just extended Chapman. Tibbs hard struggled too even if we shouldn't make too much of his ABs immediately following the draft. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Rob said:

I'd love to get my hands on Patrick Bailey.

Part of me thinks that Posey might overvalue catchers. But another part thinks that he might want a higher offensive floor from his catchers just based on his own performance.

Either way, it's criminal if Jed isn't checking in there.

Is Bailey an improvement offensively to Amaya? Seems pretty similar. I get wanting to get a better offensive catcher than Amaya . Just not sure Bailey is better. I would rather aim higher for a better bat. 

[Rob]

11 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Is Bailey an improvement offensively to Amaya? Seems pretty similar. I get wanting to get a better offensive catcher than Amaya . Just not sure Bailey is better. I would rather aim higher for a better bat. 

Bailey is the best defensive catcher in baseball by a mile.

Most of his value comes from framing, so robot umps will ruin him. But he's a 4 win player this year despite a miserable bat.

[thawv]

On 9/27/2024 at 12:10 PM, jersey cubs fan said:

If we should expect PCA and Amaya to be bad hitters (#1) then I’m not quite sure how we can say the starting lineup is very good (#3). I think it’s more accurate to describe the starting lineup as average to above with very limited upside. And the same injury concerns about the rotation apply to this aging lineup, as most of the guys have spent time on the IL with regularity. 

I agree.  And using WAR, the starting lineup is filled with solid starters, and good players.  No lineup at the very best MAY be considered above average. 

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Rob said:

Bailey is the best defensive catcher in baseball by a mile.

Most of his value comes from framing, so robot umps will ruin him. But he's a 4 win player this year despite a miserable bat.

With the Cubs needing offense I am not sure I would want too many resources going to the giants for a bat similar to Amaya. I like him and appreciate good defense, but as you said, pitch framing may become a thing of the past. If they can get him relatively cheap, which I doubt, he would be a good pick up. But needing more offense, he just doesn’t do that. 

[thawv]

4 hours ago, Tim said:

Geez, I just looked at the final numbers. The Cubs had five guys who ended their (complete) season at 3.4 WAR or better, and PCA would have joined them with more playing time. That's a hell of a foundation to build from.

Those are complimentary players that need to be under great players.  Those WAR's are just simply not good enough.  A 3.4 WAR is good, but not winning anything.  Those need to be under great players.  That can't be the best they have. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, thawv said:

Those are complimentary players that need to be under great players.  Those WAR's are just simply not good enough.  A 3.4 WAR is good, but not winning anything.  Those need to be under great players.  That can't be the best they have. 

I disagree. If you have a starting line up of all guys who end up 3.4WAR or better you have a top 5 line up in baseball. With a solid rotation and a decent pen you are winning 90+ games. Sure, a star player helps to improve the line up even more. But you win a lot of games with 3.4WAR players through the entire line up. 

[thawv]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I disagree. If you have a starting line up of all guys who end up 3.4WAR or better you have a top 5 line up in baseball. With a solid rotation and a decent pen you are winning 90+ games. Sure, a star player helps to improve the line up even more. But you win a lot of games with 3.4WAR players through the entire line up. 

It depends where they get their WAR from.  Dansby led the team this year, and got it from his defense.  Nico also.  PCA also.  I'll take a couple of 6-7 WAR players over (4) 3.4 WAR players.   But to your point....if they had nine 3.4 win players, you would be correct.  It's just never going to happen for any team.

[Derwood]

My biggest concern going into next year is that it will be yet another "bullpen by committee" (i.e. scrap heap dumpster diving) with no lock down setup/closer

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

My biggest concern going into next year is that it will be yet another "bullpen by committee" (i.e. scrap heap dumpster diving) with no lock down setup/closer

I would expect that to be the pen. Truth is that is most pens in baseball. The middle relief market is basically a crap shoot with different pitchers being good different years. Look at Cleveland’s pen. They were middle of the pack in 23’ and top in 24. Similar personal.