Author Topic: On The Farm  (Read 324140 times)

ben

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #315 on: August 30, 2015, 10:37:16 am »
Very true, CUBluejays, re routes vs speed...both are great, but instincts/route to the ball are way more important than speed in CF and everyone agrees Baez takes great routes.

Almora looms as a VERY important piece for Cubs down the road some....we will likely have thumpers (without tons of range) on the corners...if Almora can hit enough, he can stabilize the OF defensively with plus play in CF, despite his lack of speed.

DelMarFan

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #316 on: August 30, 2015, 01:25:46 pm »
Outfield defense on the major league team hasn't been very good this year, especially lately.  It's part of why I'm still very interested in Almora.

ben

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #317 on: August 30, 2015, 01:43:55 pm »
I meant to say Almora (not Baez) takes great routes in CF...everyone seems to agree about that.   

(Baez may take pretty good routes going after pops from his infield position)

Chris27

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craig

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #319 on: August 30, 2015, 04:14:05 pm »
You can really see how slow he is in that video.  I'd guess a high fly with lots of hang-time like that, a lot of center fielders with speed might just run under it and catch that one in stride without being full-extension and falling down at the end.  Nice catch, though. 
I think it is important to remember that Almora isn't slow for a major league player. He is on the slower end for a CF, but routes and getting the correct jump can make up for that.
Very true, CUBluejays, re routes vs speed...both are great, but instincts/route to the ball are way more important than speed in CF and everyone agrees {Almoa} takes great routes..
Outfield defense on the major league team hasn't been very good this year, especially lately.  It's part of why I'm still very interested in Almora.
...if Almora can hit enough, he can stabilize the OF defensively with plus play in CF, despite his lack of speed.

Agree on all points.  Almora is slow only relative to the exceptional standard of big-league center fielders, not relative to major leaguers as a whole.  and CF speed is less important than jumps/instincts/routes, such that Almora can be a asset defensively despite being slow. 

I just thought that video, involving a high long-hang-time lots-of-time-to-run-under-it high fly, kind of showcased his lack of straight-away speed.

I expect he'll be good, and lots better than Szczur or Denorfia or Fowler, by a long shot.  I just don't think he'll be fast enough to be really a top-end guy, since top-end CFers combine jumps/instinct/routes AND speed besides. 

I do wonder whether perhaps CF speed isn't getting to be one of those things that sophisticates don't talk about any more.  Batting average, K's, outfield speed, sophisticates don't talk about those, that's left more for 5th grade simpletons.  But I think there may be some balls that get caught by guys who both get good jumps/run good routes AND can just run fast, that Almora may be unable to reach.  May keep him out of the 99th percentile. 

craig

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #320 on: August 30, 2015, 04:15:18 pm »
Baez, nice.

craig

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #321 on: August 30, 2015, 04:17:48 pm »
Beeler has allowed one or fewer runs in each of last four starts.  And has allowed more than 2 in only one of last ten starts.  His last Cub start was a total disaster, unfortunately, so it's probably not cool to give him another start.  But at this point, given how HR-philic Haren has been, I think I'd rather go back to Beeler. 

davep

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #322 on: August 30, 2015, 04:26:10 pm »
I would rather go back to Richard.

Dave23

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #323 on: August 30, 2015, 06:08:03 pm »
Id rather see Pierce Johnson than either of them...

CUBluejays

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #324 on: August 30, 2015, 06:09:39 pm »
Maddon already ruled out Johnson getting time, sorry.

Dave23

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #325 on: August 30, 2015, 06:11:31 pm »
Yeah, I know...just stating a personal preference...

CUBluejays

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #326 on: August 30, 2015, 06:30:34 pm »
I Really wish he would have moved up to AAA at least.


Chris27

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #328 on: August 30, 2015, 07:47:08 pm »
Baez's 4th hit today. The leg kick seems to happen randomly.

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=431386783&sid=milb

davep

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Re: On The Farm
« Reply #329 on: August 30, 2015, 07:47:10 pm »
Maddon certainly seems to like Herrera.  But he also seems to like Baez.

But most importantly, although Hoyer will certainly listen to Maddon's feedback, Hoyer is the one that will make the decision.  And if Baez performs well in September, I believe Hoyer will put him on the playoff roster.  He is a better defender than Herrera, he can play all the positions that Herrera can play plus probably the outfield in a pinch, and if he hits at all in September, he is as close to a lock for the playoff roster as any bench player can be.

If he strikes out at a 40 % rate, his season will end with the regular season.