Theo's first pick as Cubs' GM was Albert Amora. Amora has always been stellar defensively, but appears to be making strides offensively as well. In his last 50 games between AA and AAA, he's is slashing .328/.399/.474 with a 10% walk rate and 10% K rate. No one is going to replace Schwarber, but in September/October, Chicago may have the option of running the best defensive OF in baseball on the field, to support one of the best rotations, and a pretty dangerous offensive lineup (that is striking out less, and taking more walks so far).
I know you guys are going to hate Cubs' updates by the end of the year, if not already, but I'm geeked about this team and the future. I've never seen this in Chicago, meaning we're set-up for success now and despite all of the young players starting, the farm is still deep. Lacking in TOR pitching, but deep. Some Iowa Cubs batting averages:
Contreras: .421.
Vogelbach: .405.
Almora Jr.: 324.
Contreras is the Cubs' future catcher and improving defensively (probably ready in '17), Vogelbach will be traded to the AL for pitching soon (not a great athlete even at 1B, but he'll hit in the AL), and Almora is the future in CF. I'll spare you a run-down on all of the farm talent, but it's still a top 10 system despite 5 major contributors coming up last year. No guarantees of a championship or anything like that, and half our wins are against Cincinnati, but this feels like the start of something special.
NL playoffs are going to be special the next few years.
Every reason for you to be gushing over that franchise. They're doing some remarkable things.
I think my Mets may fly under the radar most of the year, and I'm just fine with that. We're living and dying by the long ball at the moment, but if our contact guys can settle in, we should have plenty of offense to support this pitching staff. After a 2-5 start they've won 8 of their last 10.
Nationals will be a problem though. And I don't see a Wild Card coming out of the East. We pretty much need to ensure that Thor pitches in every single series with Washington this season.
Nationals, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants all seem to be really good. I've seen Buster's power rankings, and I haven't had a chance to watch everyone so far, but I can easily see where those 5 teams are consider 5 of the top 6 (with Kansas City). NL is really good, and I didn't mention StL, Pittsburgh or Arizona (plus Colorado has been good early).
I think we'll see two from the Central and two from the East in the playoffs this year. I'm excited, but Cubs were outmatched by Mets last year.
(04-25-2016 11:16 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote: [ -> ]We pretty much need to ensure that Thor pitches in every single series with Washington this season.
Cubs have a series with Washington in 10 days. 4 game series with Hammel, Hendricks, Arrieta and Lester starting.
Cubs' May schedule gets tougher after ending April with Brewers and Bravos.
(04-25-2016 11:32 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ]Cubs have a series with Washington in 10 days. 4 game series with Hammel, Hendricks, Arrieta and Lester starting.
Cubs' May schedule gets tougher after ending April with Brewers and Bravos.
Hope you sweep those f*ckers.
Bryce Harper is seeing a beach ball up there! That manager ought to be shot for pitching to him with first base open ahead by a run. I'd roll 4 pitches to there was no way he could hit it.
BTW my team stinks! I wish they would lose about 25 in a row so they would be forced to make some changes. I'm tired of status Quo in the Bronx!
(04-25-2016 01:41 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ]Bryce Harper is seeing a beach ball up there! That manager ought to be shot for pitching to him with first base open ahead by a run. I'd roll 4 pitches to there was no way he could hit it.
BTW my team stinks! I wish they would lose about 25 in a row so they would be forced to make some changes. I'm tired of status Quo in the Bronx!
Kinda weird how the few times in franchise history the Mets have been "up", the Yankees have always seemed to be be down. Late 60s-early 70s the Yankees were owned by CBS and terrible. Mid-80s Mets were up, Yankees down.
The only exception was 1999-2000, when the Mets were very good but the Yankees still won titles, including, of course, the Subway Series.
Go Cubs.
Keep those updates coming Bricks!!
(04-25-2016 03:36 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Go Cubs.
Keep those updates coming Bricks!!
Enjoy this video from Daniel Vogelbach last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkpsxsti...e=youtu.be
Listening to the play-by-play, you'll hear a reference to Ryan Kalish too. Kalish was a high-profile player in the Sox system before injuries...parents live in Leland.
(04-26-2016 07:46 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-25-2016 03:36 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Go Cubs.
Keep those updates coming Bricks!!
Enjoy this video from Daniel Vogelbach last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkpsxsti...e=youtu.be
Listening to the play-by-play, you'll hear a reference to Ryan Kalish too. Kalish was a high-profile player in the Sox system before injuries...parents live in Leland.
What position does he play? Seems exciting, but it doesn't always translate, remember Baez had like 50 HR year before last in the minors.
(04-26-2016 07:52 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ] (04-26-2016 07:46 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-25-2016 03:36 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Go Cubs.
Keep those updates coming Bricks!!
Enjoy this video from Daniel Vogelbach last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkpsxsti...e=youtu.be
Listening to the play-by-play, you'll hear a reference to Ryan Kalish too. Kalish was a high-profile player in the Sox system before injuries...parents live in Leland.
What position does he play? Seems exciting, but it doesn't always translate, remember Baez had like 50 HR year before last in the minors.
"He’s a stocky, slugging first baseman who doesn’t really have the ability to play anywhere else on the diamond. He’s worked out at other positions, but game experience is strictly at first base and DH....He hits for power, but doesn’t strike out like a prototypical power hitter. He takes his walks and has slugged .473 in five season in the minors. He hit for a high average early on in his career, but he’s leveled out around .275-.280."
He's trade bait, or a back-up for Rizzo. He was drafted out of high school the summer before Chicago traded for Rizzo. If he continues to hit in AAA Iowa, I think he'll be part of a package for a pitcher from the AL.
FWIW, I'm still very high on Baez. Whether or not he can cut-down on his big strikeout rates remains to be seen, but he is a magician with the glove and it's hard not to get excited about his power potential. If Soler struggles or is traded, I think we'll see a lot of Baez at third and Bryant in LF.
Personally, I think Baez or Soler are traded this year for pitching. Both are talented, but questions remain. Soler has more questions than Baez IMO. I'm not a GM, and SN08 can probably give a better evaluation of the realistic possibility of this happening, but I think Soler, Vogelbach and Gleyber Torres would yield a TOR pitcher at the deadline. Not enough for someone like Sonny Gray, but that is a pretty good start.
Yeah with him at 1b i agree with you, if he keeps tearing it up he'd be a perfect haul for a team needing a 1B. Probably too good to keep around as a backup
Rizzo certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
(04-26-2016 07:54 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Rizzo certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
There are only a few untouchable guys for Chicago. Highly unlikely that Russell or Scwharber go anywhere, but there is enough redundancy within the organization to fill in for them. Rizzo, Bryant and Arrieta are part of the three-year-plan and beyond.
Interestingly, I read a Cubs article today that suggested Baez may be the team's best all-around baseball player. Great baseball IQ/instincts.
(04-27-2016 07:28 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-26-2016 07:54 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Rizzo certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
There are only a few untouchable guys for Chicago. Highly unlikely that Russell or Scwharber go anywhere, but there is enough redundancy within the organization to fill in for them. Rizzo, Bryant and Arrieta are part of the three-year-plan and beyond.
Interestingly, I read a Cubs article today that suggested Baez may be the team's best all-around baseball player. Great baseball IQ/instincts.
Why has it taken so long for him to click? (Baez that is)
(04-28-2016 09:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ]Why has it taken so long for him to click? (Baez that is)
He's only 23. Players operate on different timetables. Bryce Harper "only" hit 55 total HR's his first 3 years in the bigs. People were getting impatient, but failed to remember that he was only 21.
At the age of 22, he hit 42 bombs in his 4th season.
And like many young hitters, Baez struggles to avoid strikeouts against big league pitching. He K'd 95 times in 229 plate appearances in 2013, then K'd 24 times in 80 PA's last season. So far he's K'd 8 times in 25 PA's. Just takes time to adapt.
Harper only played 357 of 486 games of that said time period. His 162 game average is still over 30 HR.
(04-28-2016 09:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ] (04-27-2016 07:28 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-26-2016 07:54 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Rizzo certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
There are only a few untouchable guys for Chicago. Highly unlikely that Russell or Scwharber go anywhere, but there is enough redundancy within the organization to fill in for them. Rizzo, Bryant and Arrieta are part of the three-year-plan and beyond.
Interestingly, I read a Cubs article today that suggested Baez may be the team's best all-around baseball player. Great baseball IQ/instincts.
Why has it taken so long for him to click? (Baez that is)
I should clarify that I think this is a ceiling/floor assessment. There are still legitimate questions about his strikeout rates and low contact ability, but his glove will play.
In 2014, when Baez struggled mightily, he was only 21. Last April his sister passed (they were very close) and when he returned, he broke his finger. He was horrific in 2014, but he just never had an opportunity to settle in last year.
What gives Cubs fans so much hope is his hand/eye coordination, his overall body control with speed and strength that is superior to most. At 23/24, I think he still has a chance to be special.
(04-28-2016 10:31 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-28-2016 09:49 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ] (04-27-2016 07:28 AM)bricksnivy Wrote: [ -> ] (04-26-2016 07:54 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote: [ -> ]Rizzo certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
There are only a few untouchable guys for Chicago. Highly unlikely that Russell or Scwharber go anywhere, but there is enough redundancy within the organization to fill in for them. Rizzo, Bryant and Arrieta are part of the three-year-plan and beyond.
Interestingly, I read a Cubs article today that suggested Baez may be the team's best all-around baseball player. Great baseball IQ/instincts.
Why has it taken so long for him to click? (Baez that is)
I should clarify that I think this is a ceiling/floor assessment. There are still legitimate questions about his strikeout rates and low contact ability, but his glove will play.
In 2014, when Baez struggled mightily, he was only 21. Last April his sister passed (they were very close) and when he returned, he broke his finger. He was horrific in 2014, but he just never had an opportunity to settle in last year.
What gives Cubs fans so much hope is his hand/eye coordination, his overall body control with speed and strength that is superior to most. At 23/24, I think he still has a chance to be special.
Fair points. It would be mind boggling if someone hit 50 hrs in triple A then fell off the face of the earth. It's an adjustment to the bigs, but not that huge.
I think the most he homered in minors was 37 in a split season at AA and AAA. Even in that season his k rate was >20%.
I don't want to repeat that line too much, or I'm going to temper my expectations.