Author Topic: Cubs in '20  (Read 49234 times)

craig

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13098
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #585 on: November 04, 2019, 10:42:13 am »
Ron, what do you take from that?  Or maybe, what's wrong with the following take?
1.  Q, as with most pitchers, needs to have mechanics relatively optimized.  If his mechanics are off, things go wrong.  Location, deception, spin, movement, velocity, velocity-gap, all of those things deteriorate when mechanics aren't optimal.
2.  Hottovy and Q are well aware, and know the checkpoints.  Have for some time.
3.  Knowing and implementing aren't the same.
4.  Implementing is more difficult when fatigued.
5.  The mechanical understanding remained in H and Q's knowledge bank entering September, and were already there in April.  He just wasn't able to implement during his first half slump or his September disaster.

Sounds like H and Q have a good understanding.  When Q's locked into optimal, he's solid.  But no pitcher stays locked, and he's drifted into and out of optimal, perhaps particularly when fatigued.  His stuff doesn't allow him great margin for sub-optimal.  Hottovy knew the check points during the first half slump, during the strong August run, and during the disastrous September.  A dramatic new breakthrough insight is unlikely in year 4 with Cubs and 1700 pro innings in. So probably his upcoming season will hinge less on dramatic new analytics insights, and more on the ability to more consistently implement checkpoints he's been aware of for years.  Most likely he'll be a kind of similar guy, drifting in and out of optimal. 

Ron

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8430
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #586 on: November 04, 2019, 10:52:31 am »
Ron, what do you take from that?  Or maybe, what's wrong with the following take?
1.  Q, as with most pitchers, needs to have mechanics relatively optimized.  If his mechanics are off, things go wrong.  Location, deception, spin, movement, velocity, velocity-gap, all of those things deteriorate when mechanics aren't optimal.
2.  Hottovy and Q are well aware, and know the checkpoints.  Have for some time.
3.  Knowing and implementing aren't the same.
4.  Implementing is more difficult when fatigued.
5.  The mechanical understanding remained in H and Q's knowledge bank entering September, and were already there in April.  He just wasn't able to implement during his first half slump or his September disaster.

Sounds like H and Q have a good understanding.  When Q's locked into optimal, he's solid.  But no pitcher stays locked, and he's drifted into and out of optimal, perhaps particularly when fatigued.  His stuff doesn't allow him great margin for sub-optimal.  Hottovy knew the check points during the first half slump, during the strong August run, and during the disastrous September.  A dramatic new breakthrough insight is unlikely in year 4 with Cubs and 1700 pro innings in. So probably his upcoming season will hinge less on dramatic new analytics insights, and more on the ability to more consistently implement checkpoints he's been aware of for years.  Most likely he'll be a kind of similar guy, drifting in and out of optimal. 


Seems about right to me. 

Ron

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8430
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #587 on: November 04, 2019, 11:03:23 am »

Jesse Rogers
@ESPNChiCubs

So Cubs are done with their decisions on players with options for 2020. Rizzo and Quintana get picked up. Holland, Phelps, Graveman, Barnette and Morrow were declined.

Reb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5091
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #588 on: November 04, 2019, 11:44:14 am »

...But having re-committed to Q, and now clearing out Graveman from the "competition" group, that probably reflects a plan to again split the discretionary rotation dollars.

Cubs have not “cleared out” Graveman—-at least not yet. He’s now arb eligible.

Maybe they already have an agreement in place for less than the $3 option, or maybe Cubs are willing to take their chances in the arb process, or maybe Cubs will non-tender Graveman. Remains to be seen.

JR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13654
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #589 on: November 04, 2019, 12:12:57 pm »
I guess the Cubs didn't totally like what they saw during Graveman's rehab? 

CUBluejays

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17347
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #590 on: November 04, 2019, 12:15:01 pm »
Cubs have not “cleared out” Graveman—-at least not yet. He’s now arb eligible.

Maybe they already have an agreement in place for less than the $3 option, or maybe Cubs are willing to take their chances in the arb process, or maybe Cubs will non-tender Graveman. Remains to be seen.

Part of his contract was that if the Cubs declined his option he becomes a free agent. 

Reb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5091
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #591 on: November 04, 2019, 12:33:52 pm »
Okay, thanks. Agreed to non-tender him if declined option.

Reb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5091
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #592 on: November 04, 2019, 12:38:12 pm »
For Athletic subscribers, Jon Greenberg has a really good piece up there about David Ross—-mostly former teammates around baseball talking about him.

Dave23

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12698
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #593 on: November 04, 2019, 02:04:26 pm »
MLB Now just did a roundtable discussion on FA players who could end up re-signing with their '19 clubs...

When Castellanos was brought up, Rosenthal made it a point to mention that the Cubs were looking to get edgier, and that Castellanos was a player who certainly had some edge to him.

I was not aware of this. I can understand him not wanting to take that role on the '19 club, being the new guy and all...but a multi year deal might give him the "right" to be a voice in the clubhouse.

If he is indeed known as a fiery player, I want him re-signed even more than before...
Like Like x 1 Agree Agree x 1 View List

CUBluejays

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17347
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #594 on: November 04, 2019, 03:14:01 pm »
Jordan Bastian
@MLBastian
Per a source, the Cubs will add RHP Colin Rea to the 40-man roster today.

Rea went 14-4, 3.95 ERA in 148 IP for Triple-A Iowa last season. Was surprised he wasn't added at some point as a callup last year. Missed 2017 after TJ surgery.

Fangraphs has Rea with 2 minor league options left.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2019, 03:15:53 pm by CUBluejays »
Like Like x 1 View List

Bennett

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7414
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #595 on: November 04, 2019, 03:37:53 pm »
RHP Allen Webster has been assigned outright to the Triple-A Iowa roster.

guest61

  • Guest
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #596 on: November 04, 2019, 04:24:30 pm »
We do need to try to keep Castellanos if at all possible and you couldnt get rid of Heyward if Lily Thai came with him so that's why I think we trade Schwarber especially since his value should be at an all time high.

Bennett

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7414
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #597 on: November 04, 2019, 04:39:28 pm »
Jordan Bastian  @MLBastian  14m14 minutes ago
Source: Cubs did not make a qualifying offer (one year, $17.8M) to Cole Hamels. There will be no compensatory Draft pick linked to his signing elsewhere.

Reb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5091
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #598 on: November 04, 2019, 05:31:46 pm »
Jordan Bastian  @MLBastian  14m14 minutes ago
Source: Cubs did not make a qualifying offer (one year, $17.8M) to Cole Hamels. There will be no compensatory Draft pick linked to his signing elsewhere.

Compensation pick for Hamels would have been at end of the 4th round, so not a premium pick in any case.
Informative Informative x 1 View List

guest61

  • Guest
Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #599 on: November 04, 2019, 05:52:49 pm »
Let Hamels go.