Sammy Sofa

Cubs' offense:

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I would definitely rather have Machado over Rizzo (not that this head to head really makes any sense).

I will admit to less than 100% rationality, but I would be bitterly disappointed with Machado. I don't believe in his bat, I don't believe in his glove, and adding him requires doing suboptimal things with other core players. Or let's put this another way, I expect Machado to be a .360ish wOBA guy with average defense at 3B, and unplayable at SS. That's Travis Shaw/Mike Moustakas caliber. Yeah this is how I feel. With him proving not to be a SS at all I really don’t care to get him. Fair enough (from both of you). I'd technically prefer Harper, but I like Machado a lot, and would like to think Theo and co. have him in mind as a backup plan if they can't work things out with Harper or change their mind about him.

Both really came into their own offensively in 2015. wOBA Harper 15: .461 16: .343 (injury shortened) 17: .416 (injury shortened) 18: .361 (as discussed elsewhere, this looks likely to jump higher) ZiPS Rest of Season: .389 Career: .381 Machado 15: .370 16: .366 17: .328 18: .395 ZiPS Rest of Season: .359 Career: .348 Machado is only equivalent with the bat if you think his first 10 weeks of 2018 are the new norm indefinitely. Considering Machado's defense is no longer a value add at all(which coincided with him maturing physically and his offense taking off), there's no reason to consider the overall package better unless you make that assumption either. Ah, but I don't think they're equivalent offensively. I was never saying that Harper wasn't technically the better choice; I'm just not really sold as him being this OBVIOUSLY, significantly better option worth a no doubt historic contract (I mean, I'm kind of assuming he's going to get a LOT more than Machado, so maybe I'm wrong there), and, to be honest, what you're posting doesn't really dissuade me of that. I guess I'll ask it this way: is anyone here looking it as a "Harper or bust" kind of situation? Like, would it be a huge disappointment/downgrade to have to "settle" for Machado instead? Bonus dumb question: how much better would Bryant be in RF than Bryant there?

So why does Fangraphs seemingly not view there to be a huge difference between their value offensively (again, minus Harper's bat horsefeathers bonkers 2015)? This largely seems like, as mentioned, the appeal of Harper's ceiling more than anything. Which, hey, makes sense! I just don't think signing Machado instead is this terrible consolation prize.

Yeah, it's this kinda stuff, plus that he's generally talked about here like the Cubs would be a lock to be signing basically the next best thing to Trout, which seems to be overstating things just a wee bit.

This seems even more debatable. But again...willing to learn. Are you arguing that Machado is a better 3rd baseman than Bryant? Defensively? Yes...I feel really nervous as to why this would be controversial, like I'm missing something painfully obvious.

We’re signing the bat and not the defense is how I’m looking at it and Harper is just better at everything offensively. I know that’s a flawed way to look at it but Harper is just such a better hitter Is he......? I know I'm opening myself up to be torn to shreds, but again, just doing a quick Fangraphs glance at the two of them it still doesn't seem like this crazy talent/value gap between them. Like, it feels kinda like this perception is based so much on Harper's insane 2015, which, hey, that's a thing that happened! I'm not saying ignore it, but.... Again, it's not like I'd think signing Harper would be a bad thing, but I guess I just kinda want to be sold that Harper is a such a, "d'uh, OF COURSE" kind of signing over Machado.

This seems even more debatable. But again...willing to learn.

I mean, obviously I wouldn't be bummed if they signed Harper, but to my super dumb eye there doesn't seem to be this yawning gap of talent/value between the two that makes Harper such a slam dunk obvious choice over Machado (and it all hinges on most definitely NOT signing Machado with the idea of him playing SS). BUT....I am always willing to learn!

Slap hitting, average'ish defensive COF'er just won't fly. I love/hate this meme.

I still kinda would rather sign Machado for 3B and move Bryant to RF than sign Harper.

My guess is he had just read that right before they took this: http://www.milb.com/images/430599/generic/180x270/430599.jpg

It's obviously fake mustache Theo trying to craftily drive the price down.

http://33.media.tumblr.com/8308b7315ec996958c18264aeb4ff7af/tumblr_nbvnikJ6WH1sppry2o1_250.gif

Yeah, it's hard to give a horsefeathers that Chatwood has "only" given up X number of runs when he's just so ridiculously bad. Like, how can anyone possibly attribute that to him?

Dodged getting swept by the bum ass Brewers thanks to one pretty fluke-y extra inning? Yeesh. Get it together, jerks.

Man, I want the Brewers to be this dumb kid so bad: https://youtu.be/tKm205ugvgE

Votto's been pretty awesome ever since he embraced going full heel.

thats dumb though? what does the run differential have to do with anything I mean, that's kinda exactly my irrational thought process right there. "This dumb useless stat clearly just padded by insane blowout wins can go and get fucked; this offense obviously sucks."