Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75529 times)

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #165 on: November 02, 2017, 10:05:19 pm »
Tipping his pitches wouldn't explain how flat Darvish's breaking stuff was, though.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #166 on: November 02, 2017, 10:10:07 pm »
Smooth ball also wouldn't explain why he was way, way, way, way, way worse than anybody else who pitched in the series. 

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #167 on: November 02, 2017, 11:15:29 pm »
Could be a combo of fatigue, the ball and tipping his pitches. It just doesn’t have to be 1 thing.

I am generally against giving post TJS guys multiple years and $100+ million.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #168 on: November 02, 2017, 11:33:57 pm »
Smooth ball also wouldn't explain why he was way, way, way, way, way worse than anybody else who pitched in the series. 

Lots of guys were worse pitchers in the series than they had been before, especially on the Dodgers.  And I would argue that Darvish is more of a "feel" pitcher than almost anyone else in baseball.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #169 on: November 03, 2017, 12:41:16 pm »
INteresting to compare the core position groups. 
Houston: Springer, Bergman, Altuve, Correa, and Gonzalez.  That's a REALLY good core. 
Cubs:  Rizzo, Bryant, Contreras, Russell, Baez, Schwarber, Almora, Happ, Heyward.  That's actually a longer collection of young position players. 

The extra volume of guys could hypothetically make that a better core for the Cubs. 

But Houston has 5 really, really good hitters, maybe 4 if you don't want to include Marwin. 

Not sure if the Cubs will have more than 3 really good hitters. 

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #170 on: November 03, 2017, 12:57:33 pm »
Have just started the Cubs Way book.  Theo talks about a concept where you need to have 4 "impact" players.  Got three with Rizzo, Bryant, and Contreras.  For the moment, not sure we've got the fourth? 

Part-way through Schwarber chapter.  Appears that Theo just loved the guy, so fired up because Schwarber used F-word in interview, and so enthusiastic about Schwarber's leadership potential.  Theo's perspective was that Schwarber is/was an impact bat.  Theo routinely references his Boston experiences; so talks about Schwarber as a Big Papi bat.

Some hyperbole, and Schwarber isn't likely to reproduce Ortiz's offense, or Rizzo's.  But Ortiz had a .234 season with Twins; Rizzo hit .141 for Padres, and then .233 in his second year in Chicago. 

So I suspect Theo's still pretty reluctant to trade Schwarber, and will hope that like Ortiz and Rizzo, that Kyle will be able to make some adjustments.  Perhaps blossom into a guy who might be able to support and sustain a .250 batting average in future, or even better.   

Schwarber hit .211 while K'ing over 35% of his AB and strugglied with both spin and velocity, so maybe Theo will reassess the dream.  But think they'll look at his 2nd-half numbers, where he hit .253/.335/.559/.894, and and think that might be sustainable, or perhaps even improvable.  I expect he'll be back. 

Would make a huge impact if Schwarber could evolve into an asset impact bat, even if platoon only. 

Will be curious to see what ideas he and the Cubs have for improving his hitting.  Maybe won't, just figure that his second half is good, don't mess with anything.

JeffH

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Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #172 on: November 03, 2017, 02:53:24 pm »
Averaged 93.5 last season, FWIW.

JeffH

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #173 on: November 03, 2017, 02:59:38 pm »
Fairly anti-HR in the minors.

DelMarFan

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #174 on: November 03, 2017, 03:03:24 pm »
Quote
But think they'll look at his 2nd-half numbers, where he hit .253/.335/.559/.894, and and think that might be sustainable, or perhaps even improvable.  I expect he'll be back.

Agree.  Lots of reasons why his first-half numbers could have been anomalous (WS pressure/hangover, leadoff pressure, natural recovery from year off, etc).

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #175 on: November 03, 2017, 05:05:25 pm »
INteresting to compare the core position groups. 
Houston: Springer, Bergman, Altuve, Correa, and Gonzalez.  That's a REALLY good core. 
Cubs:  Rizzo, Bryant, Contreras, Russell, Baez, Schwarber, Almora, Happ, Heyward.  That's actually a longer collection of young position players. 


Cubs really have a lot more control of their players.

Cubs Insider has Rosario up to 97 with the fastball and a 90 mph slider. That is interesting and he was good against lefties in a SSS.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2017, 05:52:08 pm by CUBluejays »

JeffH

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #176 on: November 03, 2017, 06:26:15 pm »
Tanaka opts in with the Yankees.  One less free agent.

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #177 on: November 03, 2017, 06:37:09 pm »
Didnt want Tanaka.

Dont want Darvish either.

Ill take Arietta over both of them and Im not 100% certain I want him back.


JeffH

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #178 on: November 03, 2017, 06:59:54 pm »
What would a Cubs-Rays trade involving Brent Honeywell look like?

Pipe dream?

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #179 on: November 03, 2017, 07:36:40 pm »
Didnt want Tanaka.

Dont want Darvish either.


What a coincidence.
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