Author Topic: Cubs in '18  (Read 75521 times)

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1185 on: December 27, 2017, 01:15:35 pm »
No way Zobrist is getting traded.  Look elsewhere for roster fixes.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1186 on: December 27, 2017, 01:27:23 pm »
Good points, craig.  The issue for me is how to get Almora more playing time without eating into the ABs for Happ or Baez.  It will probably require fewer starts for Zobrist (he had almost 500 PAs last season).  It would help a lot if Zobrist would rebound from his terrible season vs. LHP.  That would give him plenty of time at corner OF vs. tough LH pitchers.  Over half his ABs last year came at 2B, and I think that number needs to drop.

Yes, good points, I agree on all of them.
1.  **Very** desirable that Zobrist rebounds vs LHP.  Need that to lift starts from Heyward and Schwarber vs lefties.  (*IF* both Zo and Happ well vs LHP, you could start Happ-Almora-Zo, and have Rizzo-only-lefty lineup.  With La Stella, Heyward, and Schwarber on bench.)   

2.  Agree that Zobrist could cut way back at 2B.  More for Baez, and perhaps also more for La Stella?  (If Heyward is status quo or worse, I could see more starts for Tommy at 2B, with Baez at 3rd and Bryant in OF.)

3.  I just think Zo should probably cut back altogether, unless his hitting picks up a lot.  If he got "only" 350 PA, (which is still a lot for a bench guy), then taking 150 from him and 430 from Jay and you've got 580 extras to divvy up between Almora, Happ, and Baez.  No worries about Almora or Happ getting blocked. 

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1187 on: December 27, 2017, 04:12:00 pm »
Tommy La Stella is an excellent pinch hitter.  Ben Zobrist, despite his age, is better a better at 2B than La Stella.

I really think a lot of Zobrist's issues with hitting last year was due to the wrist injury and it wouldn't shock me if he hits lead off and plays in RF fairly often, unless Heyward somehow remembers how to not be Darwin Barney on offense.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1188 on: December 27, 2017, 04:42:18 pm »
Agree, TLS is the worse than Zo defensively; probably worse than Happ too. 

Think he's so good a PH because he's just a very good hitter.  Had 3rd best OPS on team last year (Rizz, Bryant). 

If Zo and the other guys are all hitting, and I hope they do, then can afford to go defense-over-offense at 2B (and RF, CF, etc.)  No reason for TLS to get many starts if Zo and Heyward and Almora and Happ and Russell and Baez are all hitting well.   

If Zo/Heyward/Schwarber are all hitting as well or better than TLS, then it's probably going to be a really good year.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1189 on: December 27, 2017, 05:06:02 pm »
I will be very, very disappointed if Schwarber isn't a better offensive player in 2018 than La Stella.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1190 on: December 27, 2017, 05:29:50 pm »
TLS was .861 OPS last year.  That may have been a small-sample career year fluke, I get that.  But I'm not actually so sure it was.... 

Put it this way:  ***IF*** TLS reproduces another .861 OPS, and **IF** Schwarber out-produces that, we will all be VERY happy. 

And **IF** TLS is posting .861, but Zobrist still gets a million starts ahead of TLS, I'm guessing that won't happen unless Zobrist's OPS is a lot higher than the .693 from last year.  An extra .150+ in OPS can at least begin to steal some starts from a better fielder.  Maybe if the difference is <.100, not so much. 

Same with Heyward, if La Stella is firing it up at .861, but Heyward is still starting all the time, that might mean that somehow Heyward is hanging out north of .700, perhaps even north of .730.  Which would be really nice. 

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1191 on: December 27, 2017, 06:19:00 pm »
Craig, La Stella's career OPS is .721.  If you think it's likely he'll repeat .861, great - I don't.  But there's a hell of a lot of wiggle room north of that career OPS for me to still be disappointed if Schwarber doesn't beat it.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2017, 07:41:05 pm by Deeg »

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1192 on: December 27, 2017, 07:37:01 pm »
I also think with Happ, Almora, Schwarber, Heyward, Baez, Heyward, Cubs have a lot of guys who are probably kind of hot-and-cold guys, and with matchup vulnerabilities.  Want to keep some depth so you can depend less on guys when they're cold, or facing a bad pitching matchup, or are dinged up.

Obviously Heyward is twice as streaky as the others.....

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1193 on: December 27, 2017, 07:48:40 pm »
I'm also hoping that Happ will improve in LF and RF.  Those are obviously harder spots to pick up; the foul walls add difficulty, fly balls get to the wall more easily, the lighting in RF is tough, and in general the spin and slice on balls hit opposite field can be much more difficult than in center.  But the guy really doesn't have much LF/OF experience.  Hopefully he'll improve there with time and practice.

Has anyone seen anything on whether Happ is doing anything this offseason to work on his OF defense?

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1194 on: December 30, 2017, 03:07:47 am »
Dont expect Theo and Jed to spend much more on the pen. A starter on the other hand...

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/29/wade-davis-exit-expected-cubs-jake-arrieta-free-agency/

craig

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1195 on: December 30, 2017, 11:59:48 am »
"Cubs remain in the conversation to re-sign Arrieta, sources said."

Mentions Darvish, Cobb and Arrieta, but does not include Lynn in that group.

I don't imagine Levine really has much more info than you or I do, though. 

Bennett

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1196 on: December 30, 2017, 04:37:49 pm »
Jon Heyman has taken a look at all 30 teams

CHICAGO CUBS

  • They are said to have made a spirited attempt to trade for Machado – though it couldn’t be confirmed that all of Russell, Almora and Montgomery were offered. Montgomery was in the mix, and it is apparent Machado would have taken Russell’s shortstop spot, so he may well have been, too. Russell had a rough year last year.
  • The Cubs’ interest and meeting with Yu Darvish seemed to come after hearing what they saw as a high asking price from Alex Cobb. Cobb has seemed like the logical fit for the Cubs since he has strong connections to manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey, and perhaps that will still work. But the Cubs, as is wise, are considering everything. Makes sense, if Darvish was willing to come for a similar price (or even a bit more), that might be the better deal.
  • One rival exec speculated that the Cubs are probably the favorite for Bryce Harper in a year, noting that he and Kris Bryant are great friends, and also that “their wives are great friends.” That certainly would give the Cubs quite a righty-lefty combo for years.
  • The Cubs still seem to believe strongly in Kyle Schwarber, who has been putting himself through quite the workout regimen this winter in hopes of avoiding a second straight slow start. With his dedication, it is hard to see him as anything but a star.
https://www.fanragsports.com/inside-baseball-mlb-notes-astros-targeting-long-term-catcher/

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1197 on: December 30, 2017, 09:44:28 pm »
Jon Heyman has taken a look at all 30 teams

CHICAGO CUBS

  • One rival exec speculated that the Cubs are probably the favorite for Bryce Harper in a year, noting that he and Kris Bryant are great friends, and also that “their wives are great friends.” That certainly would give the Cubs quite a righty-lefty combo for years.


How many athletes sign lucrative deals based on their and their wives' friendships?

guest61

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1198 on: December 30, 2017, 10:00:48 pm »
Like UT fans chasing Jon Gruden.

Harper may very well end up a Cub but it's far from already decided and who do we decide to let walk if we invest 300 million in Harper?

Rizzo?

I think Ill pass.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '18
« Reply #1199 on: December 30, 2017, 10:06:50 pm »
How many athletes sign lucrative deals based on their and their wives' friendships?
The ones that want regular nookie.
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