Victor Reichman
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Everything posted by Victor Reichman
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Shaw was terrific on D, giving the Cubs the best IF defense in the majors. The writer doesn't acknowledge that while Shaw's playoff offense was sub par, he did take 5 walks. Yes, he needs to work on offense, but remember Rizzo and other Cubs struggled in their 1st yr. There are likely 15 teams that would want Shaw. Don't even think of trading him. With speed, 2nd only to PCA and his defense he was only behind Hayes in D. The writer ignores defensive runs saved which are as good as RBIs, maybe even better as you are saving runs and RBIs can be irrelevant in blow out games. I hope Turner stays as a coach, but neither he nor Castro have earned a contract. The bench for the Cubs last yr. was pathetic. I give it a solid F.
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Compliment to Reese for doing a good job as a back up catcher. Even if the Cubs non tender him, he has shown to be a capable catcher with a some pop. I gave him a C+. We shouldn't trade Moises and Kelly had a solid year, I gave him a B. I still like Amaya who is young, so it's a crowded position. By his play, Reese has earned another year in MLB, it just might not happen with the Cubs. Seemed to be an excellent teammate as well.
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I posted my grades using plus and minus some time ago. I gave Happ a C+. Defense was outstanding and he took a lot of walks and saw a lot of pitches. 2nd half of the year, power was up. I gave PCA a B- because of a failed 2nd half offensively. I gave Tucker a C+, but would be OK with just a C as he underperformed in all aspects in 2nd half. Am hoping Cubs don't resign him. Cassie's fielding so far has been excellent. I didn't see gold glove defense from Tucker. Suzuki I gave a B. His first 1/2 was outstanding, worthy of an All Star slot. Like most Cubs dropped off 2nd 1/2. His fielding was fine. I wish he would swing at more 1st pitches as that's usually a strike and the best pitch he will see as he starts 0-1 almost always.
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Beyond ignorant to trade Shaw and break up the best IF defense in the Majors. He is streaky with the bat but he provided needed power after the AS Game before slipping at the very end. This was his 1st year. He will eventually be a foundational piece like Hoerner. He has defense, speed and has pop when he is on. Want a guy like Suarez who was like 1 for 32 at the end of the year. No thanks. Shaw is inexpensive and has lots of potential.
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I would like to see Cassie in RF instead of Tucker. With the money we save and avoiding the long term contract Tucker wants, an easy choice. He can share RF with Suzuki.
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Hoerner, MVP of team followed by Horton and Busch. Here are my grades for all: Busch B, Hoerner A+, Tucker C+, Happ C+, Suzuki B, Kelly B, Swanson C, PCA B-, Shaw C, McGuire C+, Turner D, Castro D-, Amaya B. Horton A+ Imogena B, Rea B, Boyd B+, Brown D, Palencia B+, Kittridge B, Theilbar B+Pomeranz B+ Assad B, Keller A-, Soroka D. Counsel C
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I said at the onset of the season, that the Bellinger dump (+$,000) to Yanks was a mistake to get Bellinger who is a good, but not a great player. I opined that there wasn't much difference. Actually Belli outperformed Tucker by a little. And we gave up 3 players whom we could have used for trade bait. Here are the Stats: Tucker 4.5 WAR, 136 G, 597 PA, 133 H, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 25 SB, .266 BA, .377 OBP, .464 Slug, .841 OPS Belli, 5..0 War, 152 G, 656 PA 160 H, 29 HR, 90 RBI, 13 SB, .272 BA, .334 OBP, .480 Slug .813 OPS I wouldn't resign Tucker or Belli. Both represented by Boras. No long term deals wanted for either. I would sign PCA to a long time deal. His hitting collapsed in 2nd 1/2, but he is a centerpiece (pun intended) for the future.
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Ridiculous to suggest benching Shaw. How many defensive runs has he saved? He isn't hitting well now, but helps us form the best defensive IF in the majors. He has 4 or 5 walks in the series and steals bases as well. I believe he got 2 hits yesterday, tho 1 was a blooper. Justin Turner is a great guy and I hope the Cubs retain him as a Coach, but between Turner and Shaw, it isn't even close.
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We had 2 SP pitchers that were performing well going into the playoffs, Tallion and Rea. Boyd was teetering a little after a very good year. Shota was failing on all levels with giving up home run after home run. So what did Counsel do? He starts Shota instead of Rea. I posted days before that Shota should not start and now we have a hill to climb that looks almost impossible. I also said that Tucker shouldn't be the DH, but Moises B. should.
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- shota imanaga
- justin turner
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Tucker unfortunately didn't get any rehab starts. He IMO isn't ready for this round and Mo should replace him as DH.
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Outstanding article. Tucker isn't ready IMO yet. As DH, don't yell at me too much, but right now I would go with Moises B. I also think Tucker's defense has been adequate, but not outstanding even when he's not bothered by his calf.
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I really hope Mo makes the roster. He is swinging less at bad pitches and is now effective. I actually wish Suzuki would swing at most 1st pitches as he normally doesn't. Usually, that's the best pitch you will see as the pitcher wants to throw a strike. Also, last yr. Suzuki was rated the player with the most bad calls against him. Swinging more at the 1st pitch if it looks good could prevent that from happening more.
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Shota has not looked good lately. But Tallion and Rea have. Do you go with the hot hands or gamble with Shota? You decide.
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I have little confidence in Castro. He is still under the Mendoza line. I would rather have either Cassie or Alcantara get those at bats in RF. He has been a tremendous disappointment. so far. I hope I am proved wrong.
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The MVP of the Cubs isn't Tucker, PCA,or Suzuki, but Nico. He has been consistently good all year both on offense and defense. I remember when the front office rumors were they were thinking of trading him. That would have been so ignorant. He has a chance to hit .300 and If Trea Turner comes back maybe lead the NL in BA. His defense is spectacular and he is baseball savvy. I don't want to hear about trading him. He is a top asset.
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Agree, Castro has been a total disappointment. Pretty sure that Alcantra or Cassie would have done far better. Many other "utility" players were available like Ha Son Kim, India, Chan and several others. I posted before that ABs for Turner and Castro just shouldn't happen. I do hope Cubs keep Turner in some capacity, maybe in player personnel, but tired of poor performance.
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Assad was fine yesterday and unlucky. He had a batter fly out to PCA, the best in the game. It would have been the 3rd out. But, PCA lost it in the sun and the next guy up hits a HR, for 2 runs. Inning should have been over and he would have only given up 2 runs on a day with the wind blowing out.
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IMO, Both Castro and Turner need to have minimum time at the plate or in the field. And I would not sit Busch for every LHP. That's being over done.
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Turner is a great clubhouse guy. He deserves a position with the Cubs org. if he wants one. However, he should be removed from the roster as he is struggling offensively and is being used only as a DH or PH. His value is leadership, but no longer on the field.
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I remember how panicked the Front Office was in trying to sign a 3rd baseman to supplant Shaw. I posted that it would be a huge mistake to give up on him and have to give up either Cassie or Alcantra or other top prospects. Matt Shaw will have ups and downs at the plate. But right now, he and Hoerner are playing Gold Glove defense and both have saved runs. Matt has been outstanding on D. There is no reason to search for a 3rd baseman as we potentially have a great one. His offense and Hoerner's have solidified the Cubs lately.
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I wouldn't solely bench Happ. He has hit better and how many times has he hit the ball to be robbed by a great OF play or a catch at the wall. Cassie should play more until he proves otherwise, but Suzuki should be in the mix to lose time. The 1st pitch is his failure. He fails to swing at what usually is the best pitch to hit, then is in the hole 0-1 and goes downward from there.
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As I said from the start of the season, Tucker was a very slight upgrade over Belli. I was wrong. Belli is the upgrade over Tucker. He can play 4 positions well. His year thus far has been better. Hoyer, who got an undeserved extension is to blame. Giving up 2 good players and possibly a third in Hayden W. plus paying the Yanks $5 million. to take Belli was ridiculous. We could have used that package (many teams wanted Paredes) to get a SP. I would not extend Tucker now, even if he has a good rest of the year. Boras will make too many demands and we have some good OF prospects, not just Cassie and Alcantara, who will be inexpensive and allow us more room in free agency.
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So glad we didn't take the bait to sign Suarez and give up top prospects. I urged long ago that Shaw is our 3B period. Of course he struggled when he first came up, but even then his defense has saved several runs. We have a terrific IF and a terrific OF. However, I would not sign Tucker to a long term deal which Boras will want. We have Cassie, Alcantara and more and Suzuki plays a respectable RF.
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I would not extend Tucker. As I stated at the beginning of the season, he isn't much of an upgrade from Bellinger. Both are good players. But check the stats, they are similar with a slight edge to Belli. And we stupidly paid $5 mil of his salary to NY and gave up 3 decent players. IMO, Hoyer signed Tucker as his job was in jeopardy. There is about a 5% chance that Tucker will resign as his agent is Boras, who puts money over comfort levels. Tucker is not worth a long term contract at funny money. If he were to sign for 3 yrs. at $40 mil. per, I would be OK with that. But he won't and I don't want another Jason Heyward deal.
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NO to Suarez, a 60 day rental. I think Cam Smith is the answer at 3B. How many runs has he already saved? His bat is coming around. May Ryno rest in peace, but he struggled badly when he first came up. So did Tucker who was also sent down. I wouldn't trade for Suarez under any circumstances. Offense is not normally the problem and he is not a good fielder. Right now we have close to a Gold Glove IF and OF. Don't mess up the chemistry. Cam Smith will be an excellent player.
