Transmogrified Tiger

It has been [ 0 ] days since an umpire cowardly refused to call an obvious balk

I like Happ quite a bit and think he's a guy who can potentially give Zobristian production(in slightly different proportions) and positional flexibility, but that's a lot to put on him when he didn't really hit in AA and he's got 40 games above that level. We haven't seen how he's going to react to the inevitable adjustments that are coming. I've written before about adjustments he's made, but doing so in the Carolina League isn't quite the same. For an example of how sample sizes deceive, Aledmys Diaz hit about .450/.500/.800 for a month and he's been mediocre trending towards bad ever since. If Happ can play a capable CF then that's a big point in his favor, but that's far from decided at the moment. As far as Eloy goes, he's definitely a corner OF, but there aren't many players regardless of position that have shown his ability to hit for both average and power, especially with age considered. Here's the list of minor leaguers in full season ball who hit .320 with a .200 IsoP that weren't AAAA guys: Mitch Haniger (25 at AAA, .446 wOBA for the Mariners this year) Yermin Sanchez (24 at Low/High A) Eloy (19 at Low A) It's early but you're seeing Eloy become more selective as pitchers get more afraid of him too, he's got 5 walks in 37 PAs in the early going. The only thing that gives me pause about Eloy is the multiple muscle injuries are worrisome, it's an equalizer in the other direction like Happ playing a capable CF. So in my mind, Happ is doing good work and by virtue of being at AAA/MLB already has a non-trivial head start in contributing, but I'm still trading him before Eloy.

someone's gettin' a little cocky that their offense started hitting better than a group of homeless guys against LHP

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But we do know that he more than likely watched Office Space. He probably has not: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/21753540/v1348506883/bryzzo-souvenir-companys-outtakes

if the Dodgers hold that 3 run lead for 3 innings then the Cubs are alone in first. How many days ago were we getting the 'maybe the Cubs are actually bad' thinkpieces? It can't have been more than ten.

The Brewers are 0-4 since their rainout tantrum, and tonight Braun left with an injury to the same calf that sent him to the DL earlier this month.

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From Brisbee's recap: http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2017/5/25/15692950/sf-giants-cubs-whatever-pal-see-if-i-care?utm_campaign=mccoveychronicles&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Someone's gonna do an innocuous interview with him and we're gonna find out his favorite TV show is Dexter and this place is gonna burn to the ground.

He's like Kenneth the page, instead of seeing everyone as a muppet he sees Cubs logos on everyone's clothes.

thank goodness they added the visiting team dugout killswitch to the renovation project

Samardzija has 3 starts against the Cubs since being traded: 12 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 9/6 K/BB, 3 HR

I'm glad I missed the latter half of the game playing softball or I might've lost my mind watching that live. About as bad as Baez being called out last year when his elbow was on the plate.

A) Montero has had some good swings of late and Contreras is on pace for 108 starts behind the plate plus another couple dozen appearances, so give him rest while you can before the summer gets into full swing. B) He could be a little banged up. He did mention he was sore after that marathon game earlier this month. Those make sense, but why start Montero in consecutive games(night then day) with one against a LHP to do it? If he's banged up why did they double switch him into the game to get 2 plate appearances? I'm not arguing that Contreras should play more, I just don't understand the rationale for the last couple days. If it's planned then you can plan better than that, and if Contreras is banged up then don't double switch him into catch the 8th and 9th and get a 2nd PA.

The Brewers are not going to empty their system for a SP, and if Carson Kelly is the selling point for a TOR starter, then the Cubs have no shortage of guys to counter with. The Red Sox have pieces but Devers also is like a week from being their starting 3B. If the starter is in the AL East anyway(and a disproportionate number of targets are) then the Red Sox and Yankees are pretty unlikely too. That doesn't mean that the Cubs will be able to leverage some seller into giving away a real good SP, but "I'm not sure if the Cubs have the pieces" is not a serious argument.

[tweet] [/tweet] I don't really understand what's going on with Contreras.

I like this. [tweet]https://twitter.com/robusry/status/867705825829277696[/tweet]

Odorizzi went #32 and from a quick search was #32 on BA's board that year. He is the caliber of player you're very likely to get at the end of the 1st round, having someone be reminiscent of him is not a disappointment.

see, what you want at the top of the order are hitters like Bryant who work deep counts and are fast enough to avoid doub- *forcibly yanked off stage*

sure Baez hit a laser beam single but it only took 3 pitches NOT LEADOFF MATERIAL

I'm not really worried about them being unproductive, but it's not great making them the players who get the most PAs today when they're both have a decent risk of having multiple at bats over in 1-2 pitches where they're duped into rolling over or something. It's a nitpicky complaint, but the reason that Zobrist, Schwarber, and Bryant are great for the top of the order is not only their production, but that they're properly selective. Almora has shown glimpses of doing so this year but never in MiLB, and Baez has never been close. In other words, a lineup spearheaded by Baez and Almora isn't going to run Moore's pitch count to 100 in the 5th inning unless they're knocking the crap out of him. It's a small effect, but it does matter when there are alternatives that could give you a better shot at that opportunity without doing something silly like hitting Heyward 2nd against a LHP.

Their plate discipline/approach is...questionable, even facing off handed pitchers. Personally I'd go Happ/Bryant/Rizzo/Baez/Heyward/Russell/Almora/Montero if you're not going to play Contreras, Zobrist, or Schwarber.

I'd call this the 'on Wednesdays we play defense' lineup but it's got Montero so I'm still a little confused.