Author Topic: Cubs in '19 (Read 72470 times)

guest61 · « **Reply #420 on:** November 05, 2018, 06:59:41 pm »

#Cubs unlikely to add significant $ this offseason. Best chance for substantial change would be if they move a core piece such as Schwarber to address other needs.--Joel Sherman

guest61 · « **Reply #421 on:** November 05, 2018, 07:31:16 pm »

Theo Epstein confirms the Cubs are digging into the Addison Russell case and feel a responsibility to get it right because "this happened on our watch." Epstein says: "Everything remains an open question."--Patrick Mooney

CUBluejays · « **Reply #422 on:** November 05, 2018, 07:50:40 pm »

Biggest news so far is no extension for Joe and they won’t talk about until the end of the next season.

Reb · « **Reply #423 on:** November 05, 2018, 07:59:07 pm »

Insofar as Merrifield’s defense goes, we can’t use RZR. That tells us that Zobrist is a better 2B last two seasons than LeMahieu, Wong, and Baez. So, let’s discount that.

DRS says Merrifield has been better than Albies but not as good as the premier guys.

As I said before, you have to mix in some eyeballing scouting and would like to hear from anybody who has been watching Royals games regularly last two seasons.

Reb · « **Reply #424 on:** November 05, 2018, 08:09:43 pm »

Quote from: Deeg on November 05, 2018, 06:22:04 pm

I don't see any chance KC would take Happ and Russell for Merrifield, largely because right now I don't think Russell has any positive trade value. If they would I'd make that deal in a heartbeat.

Really hard to know about Russell value. If the perception is that 28 other teams don’t want him, period, or that Cubs will non-tender him in the end, then the one other club who maybe wants him will get him for next to nothing.

But, not so sure either is true. Mostly guesswork to know what the industry thinks at this point.

Deeg · « **Reply #425 on:** November 05, 2018, 08:30:30 pm »

Quote from: Reb on November 05, 2018, 07:59:07 pm

Insofar as Merrifield’s defense goes, we can’t use RZR. That tells us that Zobrist is a better 2B last two seasons than LeMahieu, Wong, and Baez. So, let’s discount that.

DRS says Merrifield has been better than Albies but not as good as the premier guys.

As I said before, you have to mix in some eyeballing scouting and would like to hear from anybody who has been watching Royals games regularly last two seasons.

Also worth considering that in a small but not minuscule sample size both scouts and advanced defensive metrics liked Merrifield's defense in CF pretty well. And that could be his primary role as a Cub, depending on what else they might do this offseason.

brjones · « **Reply #426 on:** November 05, 2018, 08:52:17 pm »

This sounds like Theo is walking back his end-of-season press conference where he accurately defined the offense as "broken." I guess two years of dysfunctional offense and lack of development from several young hitters isn't enough to convince him that they need to make some changes. He'd fit in well on this board.

Gordon Wittenmyer @GDubCub
Theo says 2019 is big year for where team goes next/competitive window (for him, mgr player core): "I think we’re really talented. … It’s time to produce or else there’s a chance for significant change for the group. So that’s really where our focus is. … It’s a pivotal year."

Hopefully this is just posturing. This team will be hoping to sneak in to the playoffs through a wild card spot next year if they don't make significant changes to the offense.

CUBluejays · « **Reply #427 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:07:14 pm »

Quote from: Reb on November 05, 2018, 07:59:07 pm

Insofar as Merrifield’s defense goes, we can’t use RZR. That tells us that Zobrist is a better 2B last two seasons than LeMahieu, Wong, and Baez. So, let’s discount that.

DRS says Merrifield has been better than Albies but not as good as the premier guys.

As I said before, you have to mix in some eyeballing scouting and would like to hear from anybody who has been watching Royals games regularly last two seasons.

Tango Tiger runs a fan scouting report at his site and Fangraphs posts it.

Baez had a 77, 84, 73 overall the last 3 years
Zobrist 47, 54, 43
Merrifield 53, 58

Merrifield

CUBluejays · « **Reply #428 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:17:59 pm »

Quote from: Deeg on November 05, 2018, 08:30:30 pm

Also worth considering that in a small but not minuscule sample size both scouts and advanced defensive metrics liked Merrifield's defense in CF pretty well. And that could be his primary role as a Cub, depending on what else they might do this offseason.

They also liked Happ’s CF defense in 100 more innings than Merrifield in 2017.

Reb · « **Reply #429 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:23:26 pm »

Quote from: Deeg on November 05, 2018, 08:30:30 pm

Also worth considering that in a small but not minuscule sample size both scouts and advanced defensive metrics liked Merrifield's defense in CF pretty well. And that could be his primary role as a Cub, depending on what else they might do this offseason.

It’s possible that Merrifield could have a Zobrist-Lite type career, without the HR power but more speed. Zobrist too didn’t become a major league regular until age 28. That would be optimistic. Zobrist is moving up the all-time 2B career bWAR totals—-ahead of a couple HOFers already (Schoendiest and Maz). Of course we know Cubs brass values versatility.

CUBluejays · « **Reply #430 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:25:23 pm »

Quote from: brjones on November 05, 2018, 08:52:17 pm

This sounds like Theo is walking back his end-of-season press conference where he accurately defined the offense as "broken." I guess two years of dysfunctional offense and lack of development from several young hitters isn't enough to convince him that they need to make some changes. He'd fit in well on this board.

Gordon Wittenmyer @GDubCub
Theo says 2019 is big year for where team goes next/competitive window (for him, mgr player core): "I think we’re really talented. … It’s time to produce or else there’s a chance for significant change for the group. So that’s really where our focus is. … It’s a pivotal year."

Hopefully this is just posturing. This team will be hoping to sneak in to the playoffs through a wild card spot next year if they don't make significant changes to the offense.

The quote was broken in the second half.

Deeg · « **Reply #431 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:41:05 pm »

One way the events of the past few weeks could be interpreted is that Theo has a lot less money to spend then he thought he did when he had that press conference.

Playtwo · « **Reply #432 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:45:43 pm »

I'm highly skeptical about the speculation concerning Theo's plans for 2019. He plays it close to the vest. I'm looking forward to some significant moves.

Deeg · « **Reply #433 on:** November 06, 2018, 12:11:59 am »

I don't buy it. This whole situation surrounding the Cubs is taking on the air of the surreal. First Theo says things are broken and - quire testily by his standards - implies big changes are coming. Now he says he's basically rolling with what he has but that the manager and the team are effectively on trial, and if things don't improve he's going to blow it up?

Don't care what anybody says - this is not normal. And after what's gone down if the team does struggle next season things could get really ugly. Management by ultimatum almost never works, and it seems very out of character for Theo.

guest61 · « **Reply #434 on:** November 06, 2018, 02:45:01 am »

I just read a few articles mentioning DJ LeMahieu as someone to keep an eye on.

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