Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75496 times)

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #465 on: December 01, 2017, 12:48:40 pm »
NOtani.
That crap only works in Tennessee.

Bennett

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #466 on: December 01, 2017, 12:48:58 pm »
Latest Wrigley Field renovations underway
New club box and field box seats, improved concourse on agenda


While the Cubs' front office is focused on finding players for the 2018 season, the next phase of the renovation at Wrigley Field is underway, and this offseason's work will result in new club box and field box seats, an improved concourse, more netting to protect fans and wider dugouts.  The dugouts will move closer to the first and third base bags and will be wider.

The dugouts will not only move closer to the first- and third-base bags, respectively, but they will be wider.

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chgojhawk

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #467 on: December 01, 2017, 12:55:43 pm »
It also has been rumored he might want to go to a team that hasn't had a significant Japanese player in the past, so he could be orginal star.

I have no clue what the guy wants, but I have every confidence that Theo will put the Cubs in the best position possible to win.

Alvarez was announced and he apparently has an option remaining.  That makes him more interesting.

I hope Fukudome doesn't hurt us here. :)

Bennett

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #468 on: December 01, 2017, 01:03:48 pm »
Happy 25th birthday to El Mago


The video lasts 5:10


craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #469 on: December 01, 2017, 01:13:35 pm »
I hope Fukudome doesn't hurt us here. :)

:):):) 

Fukudome, Kawasaki, Koji, what chance to we have?  :) 

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #470 on: December 01, 2017, 01:17:57 pm »
Once Otani signs, the truly fascinating question is how and when his new club will propose a contract extension, and how MLB will react.

There is absolute precedent for offering players with little-to-no major league experience significant major league contracts. Not if, but WHEN this happens, what will the Commissioner's Office do?

Yeah, great point.  I've wondered about that too.  How do you keep the Dodgers or Yankees from saying we'll give you $200/7 deal once your first year or first month is done? 

No idea what commissioner can do to prevent either the reality, or the promise thereof? 

Jack Birdbath

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #471 on: December 01, 2017, 01:19:35 pm »
Yeah, great point.  I've wondered about that too.  How do you keep the Dodgers or Yankees from saying we'll give you $200/7 deal once your first year or first month is done? 

No idea what commissioner can do to prevent either the reality, or the promise thereof?

They'd have to justify the extension based on performance. Maybe he'll do enough to justify it but if it's just a way to work around the rules, the commissioner will not allow it and the team will probably have some punishment issues.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #472 on: December 01, 2017, 01:20:11 pm »
Craig, I think you underestimate the popularity of the Cubs in Japan.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #473 on: December 01, 2017, 01:41:49 pm »
I don't know what the source of the information was, but I read in a chat yesterday that the Cubs have said they would play him as an OF as well as a pitcher. Not sure if that's as a bullpen pitcher or as an SP, but if the Cubs are willing to let him play wherever he wants, whenever he wants, they should be a strong contender. Extraordinary recent success, extraordinary future potential, major market, excellent management, etc. We may not be able to offer the cultural comforts of a place like Seattle, and we may not have the mythos of the Yankees, but the Cubs can position very well for the majority of the questions asked by Otani's "RFP," for lack of a better term.

From the Cubs view, I think that could actually make a ton of sense.  Cubs may not be very deep or strong in the outfield.  Heyward can't hit, and we don't really know how much Schwarber can hit (and we know he fields kinda badly); so adding another weapon option to the OF conglomerate could be really beneficial to the Cubs. It's not like the Cubs wouldn't have plenty of AB's to share, if Ohtani deserved them, and within whatever constraints pitching allowed. 

Still, the AL/DH makes so much more sense.  Signing with an AL team doesn't mean he can't play OF, so your "Baseball Jesus" emphasis doesn't preclude signing AL and playing OF , within the constraints that pitching allows.  But there might be many days where the constraints of pitching does NOT allow outfielding, but DOES allow hitting.  On days when he's not pitching and his pitching-arm needs rest, he can still DH.   

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #474 on: December 01, 2017, 01:46:44 pm »
I don't think the two-way player thing will end - Otani is a terrific hitter.  But I think it's going to be as a DH on an American League club.

I find reports the Cubs are making a serious play not at all surprising.  They'd be fools not to, first of all, and they do have some things that would be attractive to Otani.  But in the end, it just seems very unlikely to me he'd sign with an NL club when the DH gives him his best chance at 3-400 ABs.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #475 on: December 01, 2017, 01:49:31 pm »
Craig, I think you underestimate the popularity of the Cubs in Japan.

In the time I lived there I never noticed any Cubs presence outside of Kagurazaka, where they were very popular (with two people).

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #476 on: December 01, 2017, 01:54:39 pm »
I suspect the two way player thing will end pretty quickly. So, if he wants to get a decent number of at bats, the NL is the spot since he'll have to hit every 5th day and there is more pinch hitting in the NL. Finally, playing for Maddon and being part of his unconventional and creative use of his roster may get him some additional at bats and non-pitching playing time.  For the other stuff, the Cubs stack up well - Chicago is a big, global city; the team is really good now and set up to be good for awhile; and they have an absolute need for him where he'll be the #1 guy immediately. 

Time will tell how long the two-way thing will last.  Maybe it won't.  But that doesn't impact the decision now.  Tico has articulated the desire for glory.  The reality may prove very different, and the 2-way may not end up lasting.  But the kid isn't making his decision three years from now after which perhaps he realizes the 2-way thing isn't realistic, he's making the decision this month.  The hunt for glory would seem to want at least the opportunity to be an amazing 2-way guy, and to have at least the opportunity to bat, whether as an outfielder or as a DH, on any day that his arm permits. 

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #477 on: December 01, 2017, 02:39:42 pm »
People are very closed-minded about this two-way thing. “No one’s done it in a long time, so it can’t be done.”  Otani is going to leave a lot of small-minded doubters in his wake.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #478 on: December 01, 2017, 03:14:33 pm »
Yeah, great point.  I've wondered about that too.  How do you keep the Dodgers or Yankees from saying we'll give you $200/7 deal once your first year or first month is done? 

No idea what commissioner can do to prevent either the reality, or the promise thereof? 

Trout signed a $144.5 million/6 year contract after 3 years in the bigs and 28.7 fWAR in those 3 years.  Anything bigger and sooner than that will draw a lot of intrest from MLB.

I don't think the two-way player thing will end - Otani is a terrific hitter.  But I think it's going to be as a DH on an American League club.

I find reports the Cubs are making a serious play not at all surprising.  They'd be fools not to, first of all, and they do have some things that would be attractive to Otani.  But in the end, it just seems very unlikely to me he'd sign with an NL club when the DH gives him his best chance at 3-400 ABs.

I think his best chance to keep hitting is going to be in the NL.  The guy has strike out issues in the Japan league and that isn't MLB pitching.  Between the amount of time it will take to improve his swing and the level of hitting it will require to be a DH I don't think it will last long.  The guy seems to want detail plans and evaluations of himself as a player, so I think Theo could make a strong case on scouting/development that the NL is better for him.  Maybe he won't agree, but I think there is a decent chance he would listen.

ticohans

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #479 on: December 01, 2017, 03:38:52 pm »
They'd have to justify the extension based on performance.

His performance in Japan justifies it, as it has for so many free agents who came over before the restrictions in international spending. Moreover, if you can extend multimillion-dollar, multi-year offers to minor leaguers, who have no history of major league performance, why can't you do that with Otani the instant he signs?