Bull

This thread is becoming legendary. Right up there with the Brian Roberts thread.

Yes, and that moment will almost surely not pass. When Theo came, there was a theory that hitting would become scarce and teams with hitters would have a trade leverage advantage. That theory does not appear to have been fulfilled. It's not that hitting would become scarce, it's that hitters are a more predictable, less volatile asset, which is undeniably true. So while other teams have tried to ransom young pitchers with some pedigree, or build a rotation full of guys with great stuff and injury/control risks, the Cubs have won 200 games the last 2 years and a world series with a rotation that's 40% a pre-arb reject(Arrieta) and a low-ceiling prospect(Hendricks) providing about 19 fWAR over that time. There was an observation that power numbers were dropping precipitously, and a perception that Theo was accumulating power as a market inefficiency. That trend reversed in 2015 and even more so in 2016 with the 2nd highest hr/game rate in history, second only to 2000 (1.17 vs 1.16).

I like your line ups, but personally I'm not sold on the Almora/Jay platoon in CF. Baez and Zobrist are both better players than Almora and Jay. Playing Almora and Jay regularly will cut into Zobrist and Baez's playing time, unless the Cubs decide to make Heyward the odd man out. To me it seems the best option is to move Heyward to CF full time, Zo in RF full time, Schwarber in LF full time, and Baez at 2B full time. I want Baez's defense on the field as many games as possible, especially at 2B. Almora and Jay can spot start when the match ups favor them or someone needs a day off. Almora will see plenty of playing time late in games as well. Jay to me is nothing more than a 5th outfielder, probably a tier or two better than Coghlan. Trust me, I'm not in love with the idea of moving a perennial gold glover, Heyward, out of his comfort zone in RF to CF, but to maximize Zobrist and Baez's playing time this seems like the only option. This is where I'm at opening day: Zobrist RF Schwarbs LF Bryant 3B Rizzo 1B Russell SS Contreras C Heyward CF Baez 2B You want javys defense in there as much as possible and in order to do that want an of of schwarber, heyward, zobrist. I'll ask David to do the math but to my human eyes that doesn't add up. Yeah, I don't mind that lineup once a week, if the matches are favorable, but most days I prefer a centerfielder in centerfield, especially if he's sandwiched between a catcher on a recently reconstructed knee and a second baseman who seems less than confident in wrigley's difficult right field.

They were planning on it, but the loss of evanstonian as a season ticket holder sustaining them really put a long-term damper on their capital expenditures No way. They decided to sell his tickets individually on StubHub and make an extra 20 grand.

Is there a waitlist? I'm pretty sure there are over 100k people on it. I'm number 37094. I've been on the list since 2011 or so.

Cup of Ross

Kinda like that its vs the Dodgers though.

I'm not that type of guy. I probably shouldn't have posted about him in 3 different threads - especially don't want to annoy a forum that's new to me, that I love reading and think there are several great posters I enjoy - but I just like the idea of adding that power lefty. It's not a matter of LOOGYs and getting lefties out, there aren't many hitters, period, who don't struggle with 95-97 from the LH side. So I think a guy like him, or Diekman, or the like, would add another dimension to the pen. Plus he has 3 years of control and if he comes as cheap as you guys suggested, that's a no-brainer to me. That's a guy who improves the pen IMO. But I'm not gonna come here with 'told ya so' type of crap posts. Honestly our FO turns over every stone anyway so if there is a name I'd like them to target, the probability is extremely high that they already have kicked the tires. I trust they will patch any weakness that remains. I'm still skeptical that we could get him for Szczur+, but we'll just have to wait and see. Rub it in! Rub it in! Rub it in! Right?!? Some people can't leave well enough alone. ;)

So apparently Hinske and Heyward live together in Arizona now, and Hiske has been instructed to either fix him or drag him out into the desert for a meeting with Tuco.

Is this a bit, or ignorance? He was making a poor joke about Judaism, I think. It's a pretty common reference. You guys should know not to take any of what I say seriously by now.

As long as its his maternal grandmother, right? It's his grandfather, don't know what side of his family. Then he's not Puerto Rican. I think he can still covert though.

Arrieta is half Puerto Rican (I think), does that count? He's 1/4 Puerto Rican. As long as its his maternal grandmother, right?

I was the same way with Andy Sisco. Sisco is everything that is wrong with the rule 5 draft. He's now playing in China.

Again, he never actually goes to AAA. I'm just saying there is no such thing as too much bullpen depth, especially with the RECENT injury history of Davis, Rondon, Strop and Duensing.

What are you even saying then? So many options Edwards may be in Iowa for depth but then 1 of those 4 other guys also isn't on the OD roster? I'm saying add until there's one too many guys walking into spring training, so that OSTENSIBLY, Edwards, being the one with options, would APPEAR to be just off the depth chart. And then somebody has a real tight forearm at the beginning of ST or a fake tight oblique at the end of it, and, voila, he's needed.

But, no, you don't because he's likely one of their best 2-3 relievers. I'm talking theory/roster juggling, not practice. Of course, someone would be cut or develop a phantom injury, but I'm saying there is so much likelihood of there being a real injury you have to have more bullpen options than you can fit. Take Edwards' name out of it if it makes you feel better. Counting Edwards, you have to have one too many bullpen guys walking in. That's all I'm saying.

Read it again. I don't think there's any chance he is there by opening day, but with the injury history of this bullpen you have to have so many options that on paper you open spring training with Edwards off the 25 man. To put it another way, I don't think theres any way that all four of Rondon, Strop, Davis and Duensing are on the opening day roster.

But Duensing is nothing to hang your hat on and that 2nd LHP is a big question. So I see 5 solid spots, three of them being injury concerns that may need the occasional preventive 10 day DL stint, plus these guys are not afraid of an 8 man pen. I think you want to go into spring training with Edwards and Zastryzny slotted for Iowa, fully expecting one or both to be on the ML roster (25 or 26?) by April 1. Too much potential for injury there. I think adding either another starter or another lefty 'pen arm is a must.

those neon lights scream vegas stip club for bryce.

If Contreras is in LF, that means Montero is behind the plate vs a tough lefty? No thanks. I don't think it will be a straight platoon. Among lefties you might sit against a tough lefty, (i.e., sans rizzo) you have Schwarber, Jay, Heyward and Montero. To replace them you have one of Javy/Zobrist, Almora, Szczur, and Contreras. I'm guessing that 2 of Schwarber, Jay and Heyward stay in the lineup vs. lefties. Soler will be missed. Assuming they don't carry a 3rd catcher. I think Schwarber is your emergency third catcher.

I'm not really sure I want to see the Cubs use Schwarber as a straight platoon. I'd like to see him become an everyday player. Given that he will likely sit a lot versus lefties, I'd probably still rather see Contreras or Zobrist out there ahead of Soler. The Cubs can time their behind the plate rest days for Contreras for an upcoming lefty matchup where he can play LF. If Contreras is in LF, that means Montero is behind the plate vs a tough lefty? No thanks. I don't think it will be a straight platoon. Among lefties you might sit against a tough lefty, (i.e., sans rizzo) you have Schwarber, Jay, Heyward and Montero. To replace them you have one of Javy/Zobrist, Almora, Szczur, and Contreras. I'm guessing that 2 of Schwarber, Jay and Heyward stay in the lineup vs. lefties. Soler will be missed.

The system is not very good at the moment. I'm more than fine with keeping Javy and getting a different pitcher, but if you want someone of Quintana's caliber there's very likely only one way to get there, and that's by trading Baez. And now is the time to trade him. Jay's value has never been higher, thanks to the attention he received during the playoffs. I also doubt it goes up from here.

I predict down years for all involved. After all, it's bad luck to change your sox in baseball. :hello:

What organization currently has 4 "can't miss" prospects based on JR's definition of one? Not sure it was a definition, as much as a valid point followed by hyperbole.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/war-and-relievers/ does anyone know if the information in the link above has changed? Is each at bat in a save situation 80% more important than average? If 1 war is worth $8MM, and Kenley Jansen is 3.2 WIN pitcher, is Jansen worth as much as a 6.4 win player? If a 1 war is worth 8MM is a 1 win pitcher worth 8MM and 6 war player worth $48MM AAV? As a players WAR increase does value/war decrease? Shouldn't it be the other way around, since you're getting more out of each position?