Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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I have my first spring game Sunday. Hope I see someone interesting.
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Is Horton in camp? I thought they were holding him back.
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I agree with you in his hitting upside. I also believe if he can play 3rd it would be a major win. But if he can’t he is still a solid DH(next year)Just would much rather see him at 3rd so they can sign a DH bat to take AB away from Wisdom and Madrigal. I also agree with you that if he can’t play 3rd he might not be long for the Cubs. But for next year he would DH.
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Wildly surprised? I am not going to argue with you on this. Some people just love to use analytics to predict everything. I am not an analytical person. I just see a young guy put up the number he did, get better from one year to the next and still not be in his prime and say “he should get even a bit better” since prime age for a ballplayer js 27-30. But if I had to bet, I would say he is closer to 115 than he is 108 next year. And maybe even 120’s. I would be mildly surprised if he regressed. And, keep in mind I am only talking offensively. I honestly don’t know if he can handle 3rd. I am just glad they are trying him there. BTW, I am in no way criticizing you for your POV. I just don’t share it. I watched baseball long before analytics became a huge thing. I am too old and don’t really want to dig deep into numbers so that I can prove what someone did one year he shouldn’t be able to do again. I just choose to believe if someone did it before and improved for 2 straight years and is still young”ish” there may be more upside. I have at least enough believe to not be wildly surprised if he did it again.
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Keeping it in perspective my comment is IF Morel can handle 3rd base it would be a huge win for the Cubs. Offensively he doesn’t even have to improve to be valuable. I am sure a guy with OPS of .821 and OPS+ of 116 has a spot in the line up assuming he also plays a passable 3rd base. I do expect some improvement as well. But my biggest worry is he can’t play 3rd. Then your point in what happens with him in 3 or 4 years becomes a valid point.
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But again, so what if he doesn’t develop at all? If he post 821 with OPS+ of 116, he is a bat that deserves to be in the line up. So IF he can play 3rd it would be a huge win. I also find it odd that anyone can say a guy who is under 25 with little AAA experience and basically learned in the majors, won’t develop. Especially so if that someone likes the player and doesn’t want to bash him. Interesting that you mentioned Garcia as if it some dream for Morel to turn into him. They had the same slugging % and Garcia beat Morel in OPS .836 to .821. Alonso checked in at .821 as well. So exactly how much growth does Morel really need to be considered a good offensive player.
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What he said.
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So modest improvements on 821 OPS? So what is that, 840 OPS? I would consider that very good. Even if he settles into numbers like last year he would be a good offensive player. I understand some people not liking the swing and miss in his game. But in the end, anyone with OPS over 800 and OPS+ of 116 is a solid offensive player. Those place in 3rd on the team last year and 2nd in the current team.
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If he is going to use DH for Wisdom he might as well just play Wisdom at 3rd and DH Morel. I see more as a move so they can bring a bat in regardless of that bats position. If Morel can play 3rd this allows them to sign someone like Belt or JDM who would take AB away from Wisdom and Madrigal instead of Morel.
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Last year Morel had OPS of 821 with OPS+ of 116. 2nd year in the majors with very few AB over AA. How is is offensive ceiling not particularly high? Even if last year was his ceiling, that is a good offensive player. If he could handle 3rd it would be a huge plus for the team.
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Love that Counsell is trying it. I have suggested it all off season. Guess we will see if he can handle it. If he can, that does allow the Cubs to add a bat only guy. Which could make for a much more exciting offense.
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That would be an awesome end to the off season.
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Sounds like he wants him to stick with the position. Some consistency at the position makes me feel he is hoping this could be where he is used. Which would be awesome.
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What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I agree that 1 month ago I thought it was more likely one of them was packaged with others in a bigger trade to bring in major league talent. But now I am thinking of a different use for one of them. I can see a team have a starter go down in spring and the Cubs offer one of Assad or Wesneski for a young prospect not in the 40 man roster. There is still a possibility of the trade for major league talent, but less likely than before. But now the opposite sort of trade could happen once pitchers are in and we see who goes down. -
This would be great development if he could do it. Opens up the idea of signing the best bat available, regardless of position. JDM would work well if Morel can play 3rd. Belt would be my second choice, and probably 1A if the Cubs don’t get Bellinger.
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4 with opt outs sound right. But I think $114M is a bit much(annually) If he has to get more then do 5/$130 with the opt outs. Or maybe do something like they did with Imanaga. Maybe they can structure something where the final number is at the $170M mark so Boras can save face. But realistically know the Cubs won’t go that far and that much so allow Bellinger to opt out. A similar type of complicated deal. As as Derwood just shared: DO SOMETHING!!!!
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What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I think Assad or Wesneski gets traded before the start of the season. I do expect Wicks is the 5th starter. If he isn’t, then he is traded instead of Assad or Wesneski. I also wouldn’t mind if Mastrobuoni won the job at 3rd. If they don’t get Bellinger he could be the left handed bat they need. I feel we know what Madrigal and Wisdom are. So if Mastrobuoni wins the job that means he is better than those two. IMO that is a good thing. -
What roster/playing time surprises do you anticipate?
Rcal10 replied to Transmogrified Tiger's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I really can’t see Morel traded or starting the season in Iowa. He is their biggest home run threat. There are obviously similarities, between him and Wisdom, but Morel is a much better player. Has more control left, is much younger and far more valuable. Or at least, for the Cubs sake, he better be. If Morel doesn’t play well enough to earn 500+ AB, I fear this could be a long season. -
I definitely don’t agree with 20thK. But if other people are going to say something from the other side, we are going to see these stupid comments. Maybe we should just leave political views to other discussion sites.
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I love the game of baseball. I enjoy watching it live. I am a Cubs fan. So I buy tickets and go to Cubs games. Cubs have had far worse owners than Ricketts. And that is the best thing I can say about him.
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They will be signed by the start of the season. Honestly I want to see some signings, but I have become numb to it a bit. It will happen when it happens. Until then I hope Jed is at least looking at other ways to improve the team. Sadly I think the 2 guys that made the most sense for the Cubs to sign were Belt and/or Hoskins. Neither cost as much, both in years and yearly salary, as Boras guys and each played a position of need, until they traded for Busch. Now if they sign Chapman he isn’t exactly an offensive force, and he could block Shaw or Murray in a few years. And if they sign Bellinger he blocks PCA, or they have to do a lot of mixing and matching to get them both in the line up. I am starting to lean into the Chapman idea if they can get him for 4 years. Imagine the defense with him and PCA added. They might not score the most runs, but I think they will prevent a lot of runs. And if Shaw or Murray do develope I am sure they can figure something out. Maybe trade Morel when those guys are ready.
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I have season tickets. I have about 18 games left. If you know any games you want, IM me. Selling at my face price. Just want to get rid of my last few games. BTW, I live in Az too. Which is why I have some to sell.
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I agree. But the problem is Boras needs to realize this. He and his players need to realize there just are not many options left. When does a player walk into Boras’ office and tell him enough is enough, time to make a deal?
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My guess is if he approaches the Ricketts he will hit the same wall he is hitting with Jed. They are the people who put the limits on Jed, IMO.
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I don’t really view it as the owners winning if these guys have to come down in their demands. Fact is, maybe the players are being unreasonable. I generally side with the players, but if all 30 teams aren’t even discussing these guys at the terms Boras is supposedly asking, maybe the players are asking too much.
