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Author Topic: Cubs in '13 1/15/13 - 6/11/13  (Read 55351 times)

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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #600 on: March 18, 2013, 07:10:25 pm »
Quote from: craig on March 18, 2013, 05:27:44 pm
Theo is on a 5-year contract, and he's basically blowing off two seasons.

sssshhhhhh..... davep might hear you
« Last Edit: March 18, 2013, 07:17:11 pm by Jes Beard »
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #601 on: March 18, 2013, 07:15:14 pm »
Quote from: craig on March 18, 2013, 03:13:38 pm
Interesting.  br, why would that push him back another week or two?  I thought an MRI was a non-intrusive scan and would make no difference?  Is that wrong?  And that the scan results come up immediately? 

Well, I'm really just assuming that if there's enough soreness to get an MRI, then they'll probably delay his next start a few days.  And since he's only made one start, that delay may be enough to more or less reset his spring training season so that his next start is essentially treated as his first (another 2 inning/30 pitch start, instead of progressing to 45 pitches or whatever).  Maybe not...just my speculation.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #602 on: March 18, 2013, 08:00:41 pm »
Quote from: Deeg on March 18, 2013, 07:10:14 pm
I remain highly skeptical that Lake can play 3B defense adequately at the major league level.  But since Vitters basically has no chance to be anything more than a fringe major-leaguer you may as well see what Lake can do.

Why the skepticism, Deeg? Lake's primarily played SS, so he's got the quick reflexes and range. And he certainly has the arm strength to play 3B. Unless Stewart gets healthy and turns into an RBI monster or Valbuena finally starts hitting, I expect to see him with the Cubs by the All-Star break.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #603 on: March 18, 2013, 08:02:06 pm »
Quote from: Cubsin on March 18, 2013, 08:00:41 pm
Why the skepticism, Deeg? Lake's primarily played SS, so he's got the quick reflexes and range. And he certainly has the arm strength to play 3B. Unless Stewart gets healthy and turns into an RBI monster or Valbuena finally starts hitting, I expect to see him with the Cubs by the All-Star break.

Honestly?  All we really know about Lake is that he's been an error machine at every position at every level, and hasn't really made the progress you'd hope he would have.  There's a reason there was talk of moving him to a corner OF spot, and that's where I think he ends up.  Soriano was a SS too, once.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #604 on: March 18, 2013, 08:19:44 pm »
Quote from: Deeg on March 18, 2013, 08:02:06 pm
Honestly?  All we really know about Lake is that he's been an error machine at every position at every level, and hasn't really made the progress you'd hope he would have.  There's a reason there was talk of moving him to a corner OF spot, and that's where I think he ends up.

In lake's minor league career, he has a fielding percentage of .924 at SS, and it hasn't really been improving -- it was .921 in 72 games at ss in 2012.  Pretty poor.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, at 3B he is even worse.  By quite a bit.  In 57 games at 3B he has a fielding percentage of .866.

Who knows where the guy will eventually end up if he ever makes it to the majors, but there certainly is reason to doubt whether it will be at SS or 3B.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2013, 08:21:18 pm by Jes Beard »
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #605 on: March 19, 2013, 12:15:03 pm »
Stewart will start the season on the DL, and Baker has been shut down with inflammation in his elbow.  He'll be examined this weekend.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #606 on: March 19, 2013, 01:00:27 pm »
The guy that ends up playing most of the year at third for the Cubs is probably in some other team's camp right now.  The Theocracy has completely dropped the ball when it comes to third base and they know it.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #607 on: March 19, 2013, 01:22:21 pm »
The front office had neither the intention nor the desire to fill every possible hole in the team.  They spent their time and effort trying to build a fundamental structure for the team, especially the starting and and relief pitching staff.  There was no one out there for a reasonable price that could be expected to make much difference in the short run, and no one that would make difference in the long run, either at third base or in center field.

If they had gotten fortunate (which they still might) and Stewart had been healthy, he would have been much better at third base than those available on the market, and it is still possible that either Valbuena or Stewart could yet do so.

With Baez on the horizen, third base is hardly the place to put your money right now.  The same applies to center and left field.  If a couple of players have career years, and the Cubs perform well enough that they seem to have a reasonable chance to go to the playoffs, they might look to improve at a position or two.  If not, they are still poised to field a much better team next season.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #608 on: March 19, 2013, 02:30:37 pm »
Quote from: davep on March 19, 2013, 01:22:21 pm
The front office had neither the intention nor the desire to fill every possible hole in the team.  They spent their time and effort trying to build a fundamental structure for the team, especially the starting and and relief pitching staff.  There was no one out there for a reasonable price that could be expected to make much difference in the short run, and no one that would make difference in the long run, either at third base or in center field.

If they had gotten fortunate (which they still might) and Stewart had been healthy, he would have been much better at third base than those available on the market, and it is still possible that either Valbuena or Stewart could yet do so.

With Baez on the horizen, third base is hardly the place to put your money right now.  The same applies to center and left field.  If a couple of players have career years, and the Cubs perform well enough that they seem to have a reasonable chance to go to the playoffs, they might look to improve at a position or two.  If not, they are still poised to field a much better team next season.

To say or imply that Theo had no intention or desire to fill the hole at 3B--after a historically awful performance at the position in 2012--is selling him short.  Actually, Theo would deserve some criticism if entered the off-season with no intention or desire.

I think he made an attempt to fix the hole. Was it his top priority?  No, starting pitching depth was his top priority--as it should have been. 

Evidently he pursued Keppinger (from reports) to fill the hole at the position and other club's major league ready prospects.  Maybe he pursued Wigginton, I don't know, or others.

After all, the position is going to get over 600 plate appearances.  To be sure, Theo would have tried harder at 3B if Cubs looked a contender.   So, once he couldn't get the guys he preferred, Stewart was the fallback option on a one-year deal and I understand that under the circumstances. 
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #609 on: March 19, 2013, 02:52:10 pm »
The Cubs have acquired prospect Jose Dore from the Padres for a PTBNL or cash.  He was originally drafted by the Hoyer regime.  Seems like weird timing to acquire a minor leaguer who isn't the victim of a 40 man roster crunch.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #610 on: March 19, 2013, 03:04:39 pm »
I saw some speculation (at Cubs Den?) that he would fill in at Kane County til Almora healed.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #611 on: March 19, 2013, 04:00:21 pm »
Seems like Trey Martin would be the Kane County CF until Almora returns.  Or even Dunston. I like both of them more than the little we know about the guy off the Padres scrap heap.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #612 on: March 19, 2013, 04:23:45 pm »
Quote from: shasson on March 19, 2013, 04:00:21 pm
Seems like Trey Martin would be the Kane County CF until Almora returns.  Or even Dunston. I like both of them more than the little we know about the guy off the Padres scrap heap.

Maybe he's got a good arm, and Hoyer always thought they might want to try him at pitcher if couldn't hit pro pitching?  Martin would seem a much more promising OF candidate, but it may be that they'd rather roster-fill at peoria than throw Martin in over his head?  Maybe Peoria would be developmentally counterproductive? 

The timing might suggest a guy like this might be on the release list for SanD, and Hoyer just wanted to give him another look? 
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #613 on: March 19, 2013, 04:51:10 pm »
Quote from: Reb on March 19, 2013, 02:30:37 pm
To say or imply that Theo had no intention or desire to fill the hole at 3B--after a historically awful performance at the position in 2012--is selling him short.  Actually, Theo would deserve some criticism if entered the off-season with no intention or desire.


I didn't say that he had no intention or desire to fill the hole at 3B.  I said that he had no intention or desire (or ability) to fill EVERY hole on the club, and he concentrated in other areas.  He had one, and possibly two players on the team that, with a lot of luck, could fill the hole at 3B.  But there was NO ONE in the system that could fill the starting and relieving staff holes.  So, not being able to do everything, he started there, plus right field. 

If 3B and CF didn't work out within the system, then look to next year.
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Re: Cubs in '13
« Reply #614 on: March 19, 2013, 05:16:55 pm »
Quote from: davep on March 19, 2013, 04:51:10 pm
I didn't say that he had no intention or desire to fill the hole at 3B.  I said that he had no intention or desire (or ability) to fill EVERY hole on the club, and he concentrated in other areas.  He had one, and possibly two players on the team that, with a lot of luck, could fill the hole at 3B.  But there was NO ONE in the system that could fill the starting and relieving staff holes.  So, not being able to do everything, he started there, plus right field. 

If 3B and CF didn't work out within the system, then look to next year.

Not following you there.  If Theo had no intention or desire to fill EVERY hole--as you say--then it follows that he was willing to leave a hole SOMEWHERE.  We were talking about 3B.  So, it follows that leaving a hole at 3B was acceptable, according to your theory.

I think Theo tried to fill the 3B hole from outside the organization--and failed.  The price was too high or whatever and I think he's disappointed that happened.

Signing FA pitchers and Hairston for the OF had nothing to do with retaining the status quo at 3B in my opinion.  The payroll is low and Theo is able to multi-task. He can "concentrate" on whatever it takes to improve the club. Rather, he felt the price was too high--in the end--for the guys at 3B that he pursued from outside.  So, that left him with bringing back the status quo.

As you say, this may well turn out to be at least an adequate course.  The same guys are not going to hit .201 again and there is some limited upside compared to 2012.  So, we'll see.
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