Author Topic: Today's Game 2019  (Read 53308 times)

Reb

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5670 on: September 29, 2019, 04:42:45 pm »
Zobrist strikes out a future HOFer.

The guy can do anything.

Thanks for the memories.

Deeg

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5671 on: September 29, 2019, 04:49:34 pm »
Zobrist hit the 80s on a few pitches.  Though pitchtrack had all of them as sliders, ROFL.

Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5672 on: September 29, 2019, 04:55:11 pm »
The Cubs saw 91 pitches today. Must be a golf course awaiting.

The Cardinals saw 170 in 8 innings.

craig

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5673 on: September 29, 2019, 10:41:41 pm »
...Although I mostly expect Russell be gone, it's possible that Theo et al want to find out if he can get back to where he was a few years ago as an excellent defensive middle infielder and a useful bat....

Russell was $3.4 this year.  Assuming the Cubs non-tender him to get out from underneath his $3.4 contract, I wonder what kind of contract he'll get as a FA?  With his baggage and bat, is it possible he won't get a guaranteed contract anywhere, and might settle for some kind of a split contract? 

Deeg

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5674 on: September 29, 2019, 10:44:55 pm »
Yes.

Reb

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5675 on: September 30, 2019, 12:14:31 am »
Russell was $3.4 this year.  Assuming the Cubs non-tender him to get out from underneath his $3.4 contract, I wonder what kind of contract he'll get as a FA?  With his baggage and bat, is it possible he won't get a guaranteed contract anywhere, and might settle for some kind of a split contract? 

If Russell is non-tendered and signs a full major league one-year deal for 2020 only, that deal typically is not guaranteed until the season starts. Even a major league deal. (A multi- year deal is different—-see Daniel Descalso).

A split contract is something else entirely, with different major and minor salaries.

Will be surprised if Russell doesn’t get a full major league deal in the event he’s non- tendered, as a superior defensive SS entering his prime age years and a .150 iso. That would be unusual for a player of his caliber, even with his domestic abuse history.

Think it's even conceivable that there will be a limited trade market for him with a club willing to take on the arb salary into spring training, perhaps as a piece in a multi-player deal. Don’t think the domestic abuse history will be quite the impediment it was a year ago regarding a market for him .

Think it unlikely Russell is back with Cubs one way or the other, in no small part because of Hoerner’s arrival. Cubs just don’t really need him anymore. Think it also likely that Cubs actively pursue a leadoff guy, perhaps impacting games available at 2B for Russell.

Russell is a premier defensive SS and these kind of guys, one way or another, end up playing SS. So, clubs needing a SS will take a look.

davep

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5676 on: September 30, 2019, 10:12:34 am »
I believe that Russell's return to the Cubs depends upon whether or not he is willing to be non-tendered and sign at a lower rate, probably 1.5 million.  As Reb says, superior defensive shortstops are valuable in the MLB, but probably not as valuable as 3.4 million, especially with his backgroung.

But he probably has more value than most defensive shortstops, because he DOES have more power than most strictly D shortstops, and has some history of good offensive value at the MLB level.  If the Cubs sign him as a defensive backup, they enjoy the possibility that a resurgence in his offensive could raise his trade value immensely, just about the time that Hoerner is ready.

And my personal opinion is that Hoerner is NOT ready at this point.  Even the adjustments that the league has made in the short time he has been here has dropped his offensive production from the 350s down to the 280s.  I would like to see him with a full year of AAA experience behind him before he comes up again.  A young player has only 6 years of control at the MLB level before he is able to leave.  Why waste the first one or even two at relatively poor performance levels, and lose him just as he hits his prime?

CurtOne

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Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2019
« Reply #5678 on: October 01, 2019, 11:59:29 pm »
The Brewers are going to win the division and have a better collection of players than either team.

Narrator: The Brewers didn't win the division and failed to win the wild card game, nor do they have better players.
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