Clark_Addison

Why do so many people write articles about these topics with such small sample sizes. (and yes you mention the small sample size at the end and its not just this article but so many filling up space on websites this time of year) One swing can skew the numbers. Batters don't swing all out on every swing. Some swings are full power swings and some are just trying to do something with a tough pitch, some they just get fooled and have a bad swing. Overtime these average out, but after so few AB's this is a waste of time to even consider anything from it.

So missing 2 starts or 6 weeks…..do you have any info or just making it up as you go.

Alcantara’s floor is that of a 4th OF so his 8 year contract would be $10-$12m if paying for his floor. His ceiling, which he has small chance to reach, is that of a superstar. Alcantara would take 8/50m fast and then I doubt he would ever reach his ceiling for sure.

I can see them doing this and using Alcantara this season as the 4th OF starting against LH's. But I think he needs real reps and needs to dominate AAA a little more before they do it. Plus, he has also shown to heat up with the temperatures so having him start the year in Iowa seems to be the right call. So I could see him being called up once the weather decides to stay on the warm setting instead of bouncing back and forth. They need to find out if he is a good option for LF or RF with both Happ and Suzuki about to be FA's.

I think we can all agree Shaw is not an OF and will take lots of time to get where he could be considered even a real option to cover LF on a regular basis. Conforto is not a great defensive OF either and bat looks done. But what about Carlson? Really surprised he hasn’t been given a start with Suzuki out and he is the best defensive OF option we have to cover for Suzuki.

If you watched a replay you can see that wind blew back to the direction he was coming from and led to the miss. Mike Trout missed a routine fly ball and players drop pop ups. I think I will give him this one and still award him the Gold Glove.

So many good articles you put out and then you guys go to stuff like this that is just awful. Plus adding in PCA not catching that ball as the single biggest individual mistake....what was the catch probability on that one....because I bet it would have made PCA's Top 10 catches reel for this season.

Not sure this is a major surprise as Hoerner has been very open about wanting to stay in Chicago and Jed has always talked about how much they like Hoerner. Just because Jed didn't do this during the unofficial "rebuild" doesn't mean he didn't want to do things like sign a big free agent, extend a young prospect, or extend a key player before he reaches free agency, its all about the timing of when to lock up these roster spots and future payroll. Happ and Suzuki will be different as hard to see them bringing more than one back and I would expect the Cubs would want a 1 or 2 year deal max with Shaw, Conrad, Alcantara let alone Kepley and Hartshorn at lower levels.

Crazy it didn't load right, refreshed and there it is #5! I like the mix of arms in the bullpen and Brown could be great as a reliever, especially with a 3rd pitch finally. Opening Day is here!!

Now this is a great article with good points. Dansby has a year or two left at SS until he needs to move to 2B, which is a great questions when you consider we all want Hoerner to be extended. Where will both play if that happens as Nico will be 31 in 2 years so would seem strange to swap them then. Could the Cubs switch them next season? Will Nico jump at the best opportunity to play SS, which would likely pay him more if a team views him that way. Tyler Chatwood....such a disappointment. I never watched video of him before seeing him pitch in a Cubs uniform and the first pitch I saw I was like what is he doing. So obvious that he had basic flaws that HAD to be corrected in his mechanics. Cabrera on the other hand passed the eye test very well. I have wanted Cabrera on the Cubs for awhile and can't wait to see how he does with an elite defense behind him and an infrastructure behind him like the Cubs (vs the Marlins). I believe PCA has a chance to be an elite bat, but he has to learn the strike zone better and learn to swing at pitches he can do damage with and not pitchers pitches that he can get to (and yet not just get to but crush some of those). I really didn't get why any pitcher was throwing him strikes after a few months last year. If he learns patience and how to work counts he is going to get better pitches to hit as a walk can turn into a double or triple so fast with his speed. Shaw is a ballplayer and I expect he will be good moving around but will fans give him any leeway when he does make a bad play which is going to happen, especially at positions he has very little time playing. Did I miss #5? Don't see it. Maybe it didn't load right.

Unreal.....last guy on the bench is a utility guy.....how many teams have the last guy on the bench that should be a starter on another team...pretty rare....yet you have found a way to complain about it. Suzuki will be back shortly and Austin got hurt. One spot is always a catcher, right? So out of 4 non catcher bench spots - 2 spots got taken away with those injuries. They could have went with Ben Cowles, would you have complained as much? Still just a utility guy. They could have went with Alcantara and had him start in RF for a week, would that have been good, but what if he was on the bench, would that be ruining him? Could have put Dean on the bench for a pinch runner chance each game. Instead they went with Kingery to give a little more flexibility the first week or so in case they need someone to play infield late in the game (hopefully because we are winning by a lot). Over the whole season this is nothing. Can you believe how bad the Dodgers are at building a bench....they have all this money yet Santiago Espinal is their last guy on the bench....he had a negative WAR last.....below replacement of a AAA player by 1.4 wins (serioulsy -1.4 WAR last year, is it possible to find a worse player) . His line 243/292/282 This is the Dodgers....man do they not know what they are doing.

They can extend a player and have the new contract start next year, and not affect this years luxury tax number. Next season they will almost for sure be below the luxury tax (depending on the changes to the CBA).

Bullpen does NOT have optionality Palencia - not going down unless he is bad. Maton, Harvey, Thielbar, Webb, Milner, Rea don't have options and that is 6 guys for 8 spots with Palencia likely not going anywhere that is 7 of 8 spots where you need an IL stint to open a spot. The last spot is it. Assad could take that spot or start everyday in Iowa. Brown, Hodge, Hollowell, Little, Martin, Neely, Roberts, Rolison, Wicks are the other 40 man guys and have options but only 1 spot there. IF, they add a SP they will be locked without injuries on the pitching staff. All that means is if one of the guys without options is bad they get released. But they will let a guy go longer before releasing than they would if they get optioned. But no way this pitching staff has optionality going. It is actually just the opposite.

I love how you take 125 wRC+ and say only 25% better and then say batting a little above league average.....yeah if little above is a Top 40 bat. We get you don't like Bregman, don't like the signing. Maybe after watching him daily you will change your mind. Also Bregman is better defensive player than Shaw. Shaw got to his very high level of 3B defense differently. Bregman has an arm and is more natural 3B that can play differently than a Shaw who had to cheat in on plays to make his arm play 3B. Shaw fits way better at 2B. I like Shaw and think he will do great in the Ben Zobrist role.

Shorter version - Pitchers arms can break (See Justin Steele) and prospects traded can end up good Pitchers arms can win playoff games and prospects fail more often they they become All Stars