Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75631 times)

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1050 on: December 18, 2017, 10:47:36 pm »
Free agents don't normally tweet about talking to specific teams before they sign.

Yeah, this is starting to sound pretty serious. 
I thought it was just "kicking tires" and due diligence, but this indeed sounds like it's moved past that. 

I wonder about the 3.5-hour interview in English.  I imagine Cubs wanted that?  I wonder if they always do that?  Or if the magnitude of a Darvish deal provokes greater precaution?  I admit I wonder whether some of the Chapman story makes them even more cautious perhaps than may have been true formerly? 

Will be very curious to see whether anything happens with this over the next few days. 

And if we get him, whether or not he'll be good for the Cubs?  Or a HR-factory who's more #3-ish.   

davep

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1051 on: December 18, 2017, 10:51:10 pm »
It is unusual for this front office to go public with their efforts to sign a free agent.  The only other one I remember was when they went after Tanaka.

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1052 on: December 18, 2017, 10:52:20 pm »
Nothing is signed yet, but as others have mentioned, we almost never hear of Theo & Co’s specific moves as they unfold, and it’s very rare for a player to telegraph so publicly his positive meeting with a suitor team. Sure feels like this could happen...

If you had told me at the start of the offseason that the Cubs would sign Darvish, Chatwood, Morrow, and Smyly, I’d have said no way. You could have substituted Cobb for Darvish and I’d have been thrilled with that list. But a rotation of Darvish, Lester, Quintana, Hendricks, Chatwood... wow.

You guys are getting my hopes up on this. Stop it!

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1053 on: December 18, 2017, 10:53:24 pm »
It is unusual for this front office to go public with their efforts to sign a free agent.  The only other one I remember was when they went after Tanaka.

I don't think that the Cubs have gone public on this.
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Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1054 on: December 18, 2017, 10:54:43 pm »
I don't think that the Cubs have gone public on this.

ITA - none of this came from them.  But clearly, Darvish had no problem with it being public.  That's kind of his personality though.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1055 on: December 18, 2017, 11:07:35 pm »
It is unusual for this front office to go public with their efforts to sign a free agent.  The only other one I remember was when they went after Tanaka.
I seem to recall our pursuit of Lester was pretty public.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1056 on: December 18, 2017, 11:16:45 pm »
Sharma had a nice piece on the Athletic.  He thinks initially the Cubs went after Cobb, but his price was too high so they looked into Duffy and the trading cost was too high and they moved onto Darvish and it sounds like the price is more to the Cubs liking. Another interesting tidbit is the Cubs haven’t talked to the Rays about Archer.

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1057 on: December 18, 2017, 11:39:27 pm »
Cobb's price is higher than Darvish's?  Hmmmm...

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1058 on: December 18, 2017, 11:41:23 pm »
Sharma had a nice piece on the Athletic.  He thinks initially the Cubs went after Cobb, but his price was too high so they looked into Duffy and the trading cost was too high and they moved onto Darvish and it sounds like the price is more to the Cubs liking. Another interesting tidbit is the Cubs haven’t talked to the Rays about Archer.

Here is the link: https://theathletic.com/189473/2017/12/18/cubs-pursuit-of-yu-darvish-wasnt-part-of-the-plan-but-now-he-might-be-their-best-option/

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1059 on: December 18, 2017, 11:43:11 pm »
Cobb's price is higher than Darvish's?  Hmmmm...

Sharma does not say that. He says that Cobb's price appears to have crept closer to the price for Darvish, enough closer that it may make more sense for the Cubs to go for Darvish, the better pitcher, instead.

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1060 on: December 19, 2017, 12:28:08 am »
Sharma does not say that. He says that Cobb's price appears to have crept closer to the price for Darvish, enough closer that it may make more sense for the Cubs to go for Darvish, the better pitcher, instead.

Well that makes more sense I suppose.

I'm not sure Darvish' perceived value has ever really matched his talent though.

Jack Birdbath

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1061 on: December 19, 2017, 06:25:48 am »
I wonder if you’d complain that Babe Ruth wasn’t a switch hitter?
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craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1062 on: December 19, 2017, 08:34:19 am »
Career 3.42 ERA, last year 3.86. 
*Over is career, he's basically been a 6-inning-per-start guy.
*Career average is 1.0 HR/game, lower early in his career, higher lately. 
*Turns 32 this summer. 
*The hope will be that he can maintain his stuff and his performance for several years, but it's obviously probable that at some point during the contract is stuff is going to decline to some extent going into his mid-30's. 
*Fastball has good velocity, but not especially good movement.  (Sometimes hitters anticipate fastball against good-fastball guys, but still can't kill it because the life is good.  Houston killed them.) 

Seems like a solid pitcher, very good, I'd love to get him, and the 2018 Cubs will probably be a LOT more competitive with him than with Lackey or some back-end rotation filler.  So I'm fired up about the possibilities.  I'm also guessing that he's got stuff so that on his better days, he can probably be really good.  Hopefully some of those will be in October and November.  But I can't expect him to be great, he's a 3.42 guy who gives up a lot of HR's, and who probably uses a lot of pitches to get through his 6 and once-in-a-while 7 innings.   


craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1063 on: December 19, 2017, 08:44:38 am »
Think Wrigley April could be a good thing if they were to sign him.  In "Cubs Way", Lester talked about his first season, when he didn't start off very well and he said he felt a lot of pressure to try to justify the contract and expectations.

Darvish's biggest vulnerability is HR.  But Wrigley in spring is NOT HR-friendly.  So if you're protected from your biggest vulnerability early, I'd think you could maybe get some success early, so that fans and media and teammates and yourself all settle down and get past the gotta-make-a-good-impression pressure.

davep

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1064 on: December 19, 2017, 08:46:03 am »
I don't think that the Cubs have gone public on this.

They have not gone public, but nor have they kept it under wraps, as they usually do.