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Author Topic: Cubs in '13 1/15/13 - 6/11/13  (Read 55393 times)

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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #540 on: March 10, 2013, 01:31:18 pm »
This tells you all you need to know about the bunting acumen in the organization:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-chicago-cubs-news-bunting-tournament-20130310,0,7363937.story
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #541 on: March 11, 2013, 01:37:45 am »
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #542 on: March 11, 2013, 06:52:43 am »
The key to the Stewart article is this sentence:

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Stewart, though injured most of the spring, is really the only true third baseman in camp who can be projected as the every day starter.

If true, then the argument that the Cubs can't afford to let Stewart go is right.  But I think it's possible that the Cubs just don't see Stewart that way anymore, and I think they just like Valbuena more than most people outside the organization.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #543 on: March 11, 2013, 08:01:42 am »
Quote from: brjones on March 11, 2013, 06:52:43 am
The key to the Stewart article is this sentence:
Stewart, though injured most of the spring, is really the only true third baseman in camp who can be projected as the every day starter.
If true, then the argument that the Cubs can't afford to let Stewart go is right.

The 1975 Reds made it to the WS with Dennis Menke the team's everyday starter at 3B, and Menke was no "true third baseman."  In 1975 and again in 1976 the Reds won the WS with Pete Rose as the team's  everyday starter at 3B, and Rose was no "true third baseman."  In 1983 the Baltimore Orioles won the WS with Todd Cruz as the team's primary starter at 3B, and Cruz  was no "true third baseman."

Before it is pointed out that the 2013 Cubs are not the 70's Reds or the 1983 Orioles, let me point out that that is one of the reasons that it doesn't make that much difference who is the Cubs everyday starter at 3B.  Those Reds teams and the 1983 Orioles were teams which went into the season with the WS as their goals, and realistically so.

That simply is not the case with the 2013 Cubs.

I am not saying the Cubs will or will not cut Stewart, but simply pointing out that the idea that the Cubs can not afford to cut Stewart, because he is the only "true third baseman" in camp ignores two very important points:

1) Teams can win without a "true third baseman" on the team, whether the guy they put at 3rd is putting up an OPS+ of 130 or better as Rose did or an OPS+ of 55 as Cruz did.

2) The Cubs have no post season illusions for 2013 and roster decisions are simply not going to be made in the hope of making the playoffs in a season where it would be as likely to find a unicorn.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #544 on: March 11, 2013, 08:28:46 am »
I don't think that's the key.  I think there are two keys:
a) the $1.5 million.  Given where the budget is at, is recouping $1.5 million important?  And will there be some way to reinvest that money in a better risk than Stewart?  (Actually, it's probably more like $1, since you'll have to pay major-league salary to the guy who replaces him.) 

b) VORP/scouting/25th man/4th IFer.  If you cut Stewart, that enables you to carry somebody else on the roster as your 25th man.  Will that person, whether Maysonet or whomever, be as good or better risk than Stewart?  Does Stewart have any value, and if so how much, over the guy who replaces him?

4th man:  There are 486 games total between 2B/SS/3B.   Valbuena, Castro, and Barney won't play all 486, somebodies will need to fill in the "X" missing games due to injury, rest, or failure.  If Stewart ends up staying, he might be used ahead of Lillibridge/Maysonet/Watkins.   With Stewart among the top 4, Valbuena's and Barney's positional flexibility would allow Sveum to adjust for an injury or a major slump by any one of the four.  But if Stewart gets cut, who's going to pick up the "X" out of 486 that Castro/Barney/Valbu don't?  Lillibridge/Maysonet/Gonzalez. 

So is it worth the $1 to have Stewart available among the front four or not?  That's key. 

The question of Stewart versus Valbuena as the 3rd man is interesting, but I think it's really the question about Stewart versus the replacement 4th man that determines whether they cut or pay Stewart. 
« Last Edit: March 11, 2013, 10:59:49 am by craig »
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #545 on: March 11, 2013, 09:55:03 am »
One thing that the article doesn't make clear is that, although Stewart has one option left, he must clear waivers in order to be optioned.

There were several teams that were interested in Stewart when he was a free agent, and I doubt that he would clear waivers.  If he doesn't, the DL is the only way to keep him without having him count against the 25 man roster.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #546 on: March 11, 2013, 10:39:56 am »
Six players have been cut:

McNutt, Cabrera, Raley, and Watkins to AAA
Whitenack to AA
Struck to minor league camp
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #547 on: March 11, 2013, 10:42:34 am »
Hoping Whitenack has a bounce back season...
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #548 on: March 11, 2013, 01:05:33 pm »
If he doesn't do it this season, he probably won't get another chance.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #549 on: March 11, 2013, 02:35:17 pm »
Garza is throwing again. 25 throws at 45 feet today.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #550 on: March 11, 2013, 03:13:21 pm »
Castro will start Wednesday; Lillibridge will be back that day too.  Stewart makes his Cactus League debut as a pinch hitter on Thursday.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #551 on: March 12, 2013, 03:13:20 pm »
Keith Law was at the Cubs game yesterday and has some comments:

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Jeff Samardzija was mostly the Good Shark on Monday, working at 93-96 mph for much of his outing, keeping the ball down, flashing a plus slider at 83-87 as well as a cutter at 90-91. He had one bad inning where he was getting way too much of the plate, walking pitcher Trevor Cahill (a felony) and then allowing a homer to Adam Eaton (whose home run trot was so fast he nearly caught up to Cahill as they approached home plate), as well as two other hard-hit balls in the inning.

"One bad inning" is often an excuse -- other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how'd you like the game? -- although the positive for Cubs fans is that Samardzija's stuff looked strong and he had stretches where the command was actually good, especially side to side. He also homered off a lefty, so perhaps he can pinch-hit for Darwin Barney a few times this year.

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One final note on the game -- Hector Rondon, the Cubs' rule 5 pick from Cleveland this year, was disappointing at 90-93 with no life on the fastball and a slurvy slider at 77-78. Rondon had Tommy John surgery in mid-2010 but has thrown just 10 innings in the minors since the surgery, as well as 21 innings in Venezuela this winter. He used to have more velocity and some more life to the fastball, but the version I saw on Monday wouldn't be more than a 12th man on a staff. (Note: No team needs to carry 12 pitchers.)

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/9043647/jeff-samardzija-trevor-cahill-look-ready-opening-day-mlb
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #552 on: March 12, 2013, 03:16:49 pm »
Very disappointing assessment of Rondon and surprising given his sparkling work so far.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #553 on: March 12, 2013, 03:21:48 pm »
Just goes to show you can't tell much from stats in spring training. 

Maybe Law just caught him on a bad day.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #554 on: March 12, 2013, 03:24:49 pm »
Or ...
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