Rcal10
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I have seen various reports that have the Cubs over the LT line. I thought they were a few million under. If they are over a few million or plan on going over at the trade deadline why not use some money now to add a bat and eliminate the discussion of who is the last guy on the team. Add either Belt or JDM. Just stay under the next line and leave some room to add at the deadline and still be under the second tier. What could Belt cost? $10M. They would still be $10M under the second tier so they could still add at the deadline. Unless Jed really likes one of Peralta, Smith or Mervis, I don’t see why they don’t go after Belt. Might be tougher with JDM.
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Has to laugh a little at this because I was just thinking that the Cubs could go 90-72 this year. Then I stopped myself and realized I may be drinking too much cubbie kool aid. And then you suggest 93 wins. I will give you this, when you believe something you go all in. But I think 93 is a bit aggressive. I do believe they will win this division. But I am thinking more like 87-90 win range.
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I respect your opinion but don’t agree. We will see how it ends up. I wouldn’t play Smirh over Busch, however.
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The only argument for Smith is if the last 3 years were due to a injured hand then maybe he could be a lot better than anyone else they may keep. He could be the somewhat regular DH. It might be worth finding out. Not like he is replacing someone who is all that good anyway. He would basically be taking the spot of either Madrigal or Mastro.
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He is still in the game.
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I just saw him dive back to first and get up slowly. Hope he is ok.
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This does make sense and very well could be what they do. But I do think if Wisdom is in the team Cooper won’t be. I think it is closer to one of Wisdom , Bote or Cooper, one of Peralta, Mervis or Smith and one of Madrigal or Mastro. If both Madrigal and Madrigal have options left I would go Wisdom, Smith, Mastro. The Mastro/Madrigal spot would depend on if either has options left. If only 1 did, that would be the guy I would send down. Because I don’t want Mastro and Madrigal on the bench I would keep Wisdom over Cooper. They have to have more than one guy who can play 3rd besides Morel.
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I doubt a trade of Mervis for a reliever. I don’t think the Cubs want another established pen arm without minor league options left.
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So when all healthy it is Tauchman, Amaya, Wisdom one of Madrigal/Mastrobouni and one of Cooper/Peralta/Smith? If Wisdom is on the team I don’t see Cooper making it. I would think if the Cubs really believe Smith’s issues were from an injury I think he takes the last spot. Plus, we do know Jed has always liked Smith. As for Madrigal or Mastrobouni, if they both still have options you might see them both up and down this year.
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So do you have Mastrobuoni, Wisdom and Madrigal in the team with Amaya and Tauchman? Is that your 5?
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I agree there is no way the Cubs start with Morel at 3rd and only Mastrobuoni as another 3rd base option. I am sure either Madrigal or Wisdom is in the team. I am not sure they both are. I think one of them can be traded. I don’t think $3M for Wisdom would make him intradable. Probably get a low minor leaguer not on the 40 man for him, but that doesn’t matter. If they like Cooper more than Wisdom they will trade Wisdom. So either of them have options left? Does Mastrobouni?
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It is very hard to decide. That is why I asked. You know whatever they do people will complain. So I was just wondering thoughts before they make moves.
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Can the Cubs send Smith to Iowa, or can he refuse and become a FA? I like the idea of him proving he might actually be good, in Iowa.
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Same question with the pen. If Wicks is the 5th starter who is in the pen? Obviously they have one more spot if Taillon starts on the IL. But once he is back they have 8 guys. I would think Alzolay, Merryweather, Smyly, Neris, Lieter and Almonte are on the team. But now they need two from: Wesneski, Assad, Little, Escobar, Palencia, Edwards, Sanders, and maybe Thompson. A NRI they probably lose if they don’t make OD. That is 8 guys for 2 spots. And that doesn’t even include guys like Lovelady and Paccone.
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With 2 weeks to go before opening day, who gets the last 3 spots in the bench? You have your 8 starters, Tauchman and a back up catcher for the first 10. Cubs have to pick 3 of Madrigal, Mastrobouni, Wisdom, Canario, Mervis, Smith, Peralta, Cooper and even Bote. Some would have to be out on the 30 man, but there is one open spot. Some they may lose if they don’t make the OD team. Tough call.
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That is exactly what I saw. Mainly 92-93, but I did see 94 a few times. I did not see 95. Like you said, who cares.
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I was at the game. He hit 94 a few times. Typically was throwing 93. That is fast enough for him to be successful.
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Much less than what they were said to be looking for earlier. Which I always felt was ridiculous anyway.
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Honestly to me it is splitting hairs beteeen Cooper and Wisdom. I like Cooper’s ability to hit lefties and to hit for a higher average and get on base more than Wisdom. But I do see the point of others who like the pure power of Wisdom. If that last guy comes down to either of them and they are more concerned about a right handed platoon at first then they would be having a guy who can play third, I would rather go with Cooper. If they want more insurance at 3rd then they can stay with Wisdom. But if dealing Wisdom saves them a few million that is another reason I would go Cooper. TBH, I am not really all that concerned with whoever they decide to keep or drop between those two.
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I’m not sure about JD Davis signing for the minimum. I think there was something in his contract with the Giants that doesn’t have them paying him $6.9M, but I am not sure. I think whoever signs Davis actually has to pay him real money. But again, I am not sure.
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I honestly don’t see the need for Wisdom. If Morel can handle third you have Madrigal and Mastrobouni as a defensive replacement/ utility infielders. If he can’t handle it one of them plays 3rd and Morel is the DH. For a bench bat / platoon at first I would rather see Cooper. IMO if you can get a young guy they don’t have to put on the 40 man for Wisdom they should trade him and save a few dollars.
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Let’s make is simple. My expectation of him is for him to be a solid everyday player. Honestly I don’t know what goes into that to get him to a 2.6-4.0 WAR ballplayer year in and year out. But that’s my hope for him. Solid major league ballplayer. That is not too high a bar for a top 20 prospect in the game.
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Who put him at 128? I said during his peak years(I probably should have said prime) is it realistic to hope for his offensive production to be 10% to 15% above league average. Basically right around Happ OPS+ average. Is that fair expectation. Or are we looking offensively at Badar/Kiermaier offensively? Is that what we should realistically expect. Also a WAR if 2.0 or 2.2 is not that valuable. Maybe an average ballplayer. Kiermaier did that with being possibly the best defensive centerfielder ever(and definitely the best now). So if he was just a very good defender that WAR might be closer to 1.5-1.8. Is that something we should be hoping for PCA? I think it is equally unrealistic to expect PCA to be as good as Kiermaier defensively as it is to expect him to have OPS of 800. So again, is it realistic to put expectations of PCA to be a guy about 10% to 15% over league average and a top 3-5 centerfielder in the game today. Unrealistic or not, that is what I am hoping for him. Most likely not in 24. I am talking about when he hits his prime. I certainly hope that is the ballplayer he becomes.
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So are we all in agreement that a good peak year season for PCA would be a top 3-5 centerfielder in the game today with maybe OPS+ of around 110-115? No one is arguing if he is less than that he won’t be valuable. I get his defense alone makes him have value. My entire discussion was strictly on his offensive ability. To me, a peak year offensive number that has him 10% over league average is not being unrealistic. Or is it? Is the view on PCA he is strictly a glove guy and be happy with 5-10% below league average offensively? To me, that would be disappointing, even though he would provide value with defense alone. That sort of guy isn’t a everyday player for long. Kind of a Bader, Bradley Jr sort of guy. .
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Mike Cameron has a career batting line line of .249/.338/.444 for OPS of 782. OPS+ of 106. So now that is too much to ask for from PCA offensively? That is too high a bar? I feel the bar keeps getting lower on what people hope/expect out of him. If you read my post I didn’t suggest he would be Cameron defensively. I said I would like him to be a top 3 centerfielder in the game today. That is actually lowering the bar that some use when they want to talk about his defense being that of Kieemaier. I was only pointing out he didn’t have to be Kiermaier. Going back to Cameron, he averaged about 16-17 homers a year and about 17-18 SB a year over his 17 year career. He did that during the live ball steroids era as well. So dialing that homer average down a few to maybe 12-14 a year and I think PCA should steal more bases on a yearly average, why is a typical Cameron year unrealistic to suggest for PCA? Why is OPS of 106 something we should not hope for over his career? What is a realistic expectancy out of PCA? What does he need to do to be considered a guy who played as expected? Is Harrison Bader the bar? Jackie Bradley Jr2018(.234/314/.403) He won the GG that year.
