SG has released version 0.1 of his annual project, CAIRO, to the public. Now it's time to post some of the Cubs players here and talk about a few things. First, this is version 0.1 and there are still some errors. Mike Olt is listed as a 1st baseman. He's not, but that will get fixed. Due to this, I have …
2013 Cubs Projections: Starlin Castro
Before we get to Starlin Castro's 2013 Cubs Projections, I wanted to talk a little bit about something else in regard to Castro. An awful lot has been written about Starlin Castro over his young career. It seems that most of this has been at the two extremes. We've heard and read countless times about how Castro is a future …
2013 Cubs Projections: Ian Stewart and Luis Valbuena
Our 2013 Cubs Projections series continues with a look at 3rd base. The starting job is Ian Stewart's according to Dale Sveum, which leaves Luis Valbuena as a back-up, but even that job may be in question. It's hard to see both Valbuena and Brent Lillibridge making the roster. I wrote a little bit about Ian Stewart a couple weeks …
2013 Cubs Projections: Darwin Barney
Continuing our series, it's time to look at the 2013 Cubs Projections for Darwin Barney. Last spring Barney talked about hitting for more power. We knew he wouldn't be a power hitter or anything, but it was clear he and the Cubs wanted him to hit for a little more than he had. He did to some extent. He hit …
2013 Cubs projections: Anthony Rizzo
A little over a week ago, we started our 2013 Cubs projections series by looking at Welington Castillo. The plan is to just go from catcher to 1st to 2nd and so on. Up today is Anthony Rizzo. For more than half a decade the Cubs got a .385 wOBA out of their 1st baseman. Derrek Lee was traded midseason …
Four most likely to exceed expectations
I was working on an idea for a post using the 2013 Cubs projections. The idea was to calculate an approximation of the best case scenario win total. I was going to use the 65th percentile projection for every player just for fun. I'll finish that before the season, but as I was getting the position player projections into a …
Updated and early CAIRO projected standings
RLYW has released the 3rd version of CAIRO projections and a very early simulation of the 2013 season. The Cubs finish in 5th place in the NL Central and win 73 games. They would also pick 7th in the 2014 Draft. TM W L RS RA Div WC WC2 PS% Reds 90 72 739 659 38.7% 8.4% 8.0% 55.0% Cardinals …
It’s time to get excited about the 2013 Cubs
Spring training is just around the corner and the 2013 Cubs are set to kick off their Cactus League schedule on February 23rd. It's a split squad game and the game against the Angels will even be televised on WGN. It's not until April 1st that non-practice games will be played, but it's time to get excited. They might be …
Cubs and Matt Garza avoid arbitration
The Cubs have avoided arbitration with another of their players. Last week they re-signed Luis Valbuena and they have now reached an agreement with Matt Garza for $10.25 million. Cubs right-hander Matt Garza avoided arbitration and agreed to a new $10.25 million contract on Thursday. Garza's representatives at CAA announced the new deal on Twitter: "#Cubs Matt Garza (@Gdeuceswild) agrees …
Copying what other sucky team’s bloggers do
Having difficulty thinking of something to write about, I decided to look to other bloggers for teams that suck for ideas. The first idea came from a Royals blog that was comparing all the starters at each position in the division. Previous positions: Catcher We'll go around the diamond so 1st base is next. The starters for the NL Central …