Cubs (Horton) vs Rockies (Márquez): 8/29/25, 7:40pm

[Geographyhater8888]

48 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

To me the biggest complaint about Swanson has always been his contract.  

Your problem is with Jed then. 

 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

41 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

To me the biggest complaint about Swanson has always been his contract.  

Fact is, he’s pretty much lived up to his contract. He’s flawed, which is why he was the fourth highest paid short stop of that 2022/23 free agent class. He’s also 2nd in fWAR from that MI free agent class at 11.9, making $100 million fewer than Boggarts and Turner. He in no way has been a flop like Heyward. 

 

[Geographyhater8888]

1 hour ago, Jason Ross said:

Yep! 97 wRC+ isn't great but is enough (he was a 98 wRC+ last year) and he has 2.5 fWAR on the year. His batted ball data suggests he's been unlucky offensively (.305 wOBA vs .355 xwOBA). His defense is a little down and we'll have to see if this falls into post-30 defensive decline or "just unlucky data blip" next year, but even so, he's been worth 2.5 fWAR and will probably lock in another 3 win season this year (or so - probably fractionally off). 

Funny how much Fangraphs and baseball reference contrast. Swanson is sitting at a 4.2 bar with a +112 rbat, their version of wRC+ and league adjusted rOBA. Same deal with Nico who’s sitting at a 3.7 fWAR and a 5.3 bWAR.

[17 Seconds]

1 hour ago, Backtobanks said:

An example of not cashing in on his trade value as a "highly touted prospect".  I worry that the same is going to happen with many of our "highly touted prospects."

so do you just never want the cubs to try and develop young players or what? most prospects don't pan out, that's the way it works

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, 17 Seconds said:

so do you just never want the cubs to try and develop young players or what? most prospects don't pan out, that's the way it works

The people complaining about Brown sucking are most likely the same ones who complained about Jason Adam and Jerome Estrada. And they will be the same ones who complain when Brown is a great bullpen arm somewhere else. I am sure they complained about Palencia last year, too. Most fans don’t have the patience to watch a guy struggle. But then they will be the first to criticize the Cubs if they let that guy go and he turns up good elsewhere. 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Rcal10

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Yep! 97 wRC+ isn't great but is enough (he was a 98 wRC+ last year) and he has 2.5 fWAR on the year. His batted ball data suggests he's been unlucky offensively (.305 wOBA vs .355 xwOBA). His defense is a little down and we'll have to see if this falls into post-30 defensive decline or "just unlucky data blip" next year, but even so, he's been worth 2.5 fWAR and will probably lock in another 3 win season this year (or so - probably fractionally off). 

Been disappointed in his defense this year.  Hopefully he comes back sharp next year.

[Rcal10]

50 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Been disappointed in his defense this year.  Hopefully he comes back sharp next year.

Disappointed with his defense? I mean maybe not what he is in his best seasons, but I really think people need to watch games other than the Cubs. They will see a lot of plays not made that we, as cubs fans, take for granted. 

[Backtobanks]

4 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Your problem is with Jed then. 

 

Amen to that.  I sure can't blame Swanson for taking that kind of contract if someone is craze enough to offer it.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Backtobanks said:

Amen to that.  I sure can't blame Swanson for taking that kind of contract if someone is craze enough to offer it.

Except the contract was very reasonable. 

[Backtobanks]

3 hours ago, 17 Seconds said:

so do you just never want the cubs to try and develop young players or what? most prospects don't pan out, that's the way it works

What I want is for the Cubs to realize that developing young players helps the team in two different ways.  One way is to contribute to the ML team by playing and the other way is to use their value to obtain ML players when the time is right.  This year was the perfect time to trade some "highly touted prospects" to get a controlled TOR starter.  

[Backtobanks]

8 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Except the contract was very reasonable. 

If you're into watching an excellent fielder who is an average hitter and is still owed over $110 million.

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

If you're into watching an excellent fielder who is an average hitter and is still owed over $110 million.

I outlined above his contract and what it takes to equal that value (you seem to have missed that). If it was 2000, yes a $118m contract for what Swanson provides would be an overpay. In 2022 and beyond, however it's perfectly acceptable. He's thus far out played what he's been paid. 

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Disappointed with his defense? I mean maybe not what he is in his best seasons, but I really think people need to watch games other than the Cubs. They will see a lot of plays not made that we, as cubs fans, take for granted. 

Just compared to the other seasons he's had with us.

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Just compared to the other seasons he's had with us.

That is fair. He still is a very solid SS. But he hasn’t been as good defensively this year as previous. 

[PeanutPunch33]

Cubs playing one of the worst teams in baseball and the Brewers one of the best.  If they can't net +2 games in these next few days, I've officially given up on any hope the Cubs can win the division.  

[Backtobanks]

4 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

I outlined above his contract and what it takes to equal that value (you seem to have missed that). If it was 2000, yes a $118m contract for what Swanson provides would be an overpay. In 2022 and beyond, however it's perfectly acceptable. He's thus far out played what he's been paid. 

Tell me which GM would be willing to take Swanson with his $109 million contract and text Jed with the information.  His hitting comps are:

1. Didi Gregorius (945.9)
2. Stephen Drew (932.7)
3. Alex Gonzalez (915.1)
4. Javier Báez (914.3)
5. Jeff Blauser (908.5)
6. Jason Kipnis (906.5)
7. Darren Daulton (901.1)
8. Brian Dozier (898.4)
9. Willy Adames (896.3)
10. Freddy Galvis (

[UMFan83]

Hector doesn’t always have the best track record but worth posting:

 

[Neuby]

1 hour ago, UMFan83 said:

Hector doesn’t always have the best track record but worth posting:

 

Great glove, takes a walk, 11 HR/ 7 SB baseball card stats. Emergency third catcher. 

[UMFan83]

Dammit wrong thread

Edited August 31, 2025 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

Dammit wrong thread

Edited August 31, 2025 by UMFan83