The Cubs somehow managed to scratch together enough runs to take a series from the Pirates. Now they head to relatively warm Atlanta for another three game set. Atlanta beat up on their aging divisional rivals, the Phillies in their opening series.
Team Overviews
Here's how the teams looked in 2012. NL Ranks in parentheses.
| Cubs | Braves | |
| wRC+ | 80 (16th) | 92 (11th) |
| BSR | -8.1 (14th) | 7.4 (3rd) |
| UZR | 30.5 (2nd) | 62.5 (1st) |
| DRS | -7 (7th) | 70 (1st) |
| SP FIP- | 108 (13th) | 103 (11th) |
| RP FIP- | 116 (16th) | 83 (2nd) |
I think it's safe to say that the Braves had the best defense last year. Those numbers could take a blow with the loss of Michael Bourn, who was rated as a plus-plus fielder by both UZR and DRS. The Braves replaced him with BJ Upton, who has been more adventurous in CF. They'll still have a solid defensive outfield with Justin Upton and Heyward beside him, but they're probably going to drop down a peg from elite to simply very good. The only noted weak link defensively is 2b Dan Uggla.
The Braves offense, on the other hand, was not nearly as good as I remembered. They should see an improvement replacing their LF mishmash with Justin Upton, and Bourn to BJ Upton is probably a lateral move. However, Chipper Jones's .360 wOBA (at age 40!) is being replaced by Chris Johnson, who barely kept his starting job on the Astros last year. Catcher Brian McCann is out for a month finishing is recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.
The Braves bullpen is aces. They're out Johnny Venters, who probably needs TJS, but they've got Craig Kimbrel to anchor everything. Kimbrel had a ridiculous 2012, blasting past Marmol's K/9 record while walking a third of the batters.
Injuries
As mentioned above, the Braves are out McCann and Venters. They're also missing starter Brandon Beachy, who is bouncing back from a TJS last year and should be back sometime this summer.
For the Cubs, Matt Garza threw a bullpen session yesterday and apparently is feeling good. Most importantly, there doesn't seem to be any problems with his elbow. Darwin Barney is still out with his terribly unlucky knee injury. It's sounding like he might be out for more than the minimum fifteen days, so we're gifted with plenty of Lilypad and Gonzalez for the next few weeks. Emulating Ryan Dempster, I have been blindsided by the fact that I actually miss Darwin Barney at the plate. Ian Stewart is still out "a few weeks", according to his twitter account.
Storylines and Players to watch
GBTS speculated in yesterday's thread that the Braves could set a record for least number of doubles allowed. While I think last year's group was a little better, these outfielders cover a ton of ground. Given the number of batters that can't hit the ball out of the infield in the Cubs lineup, we probably won't get a great look (laughing).
On the Cubs side, the main storyline is off the field, as apparently the club and the city/neighborhood are close to finishing a deal that they can announce at the home opener. Brett at Bleacher Nation wrote a good recap yesterday of what's probably going to be included.
Pitching Matchups
For each pitcher I list his 2012 ERA, FIP-, and xFIP, and the ZiPS projected FIP for 2013
Friday: Scott Feldman, RHP (5.09, 86, 3.87, 3.83) vs Mike Minor, LHP (4.12, 112, 4.32, 4.01), 6:30 PM CT
Feldman was a crafty pickup by the Cubs FO, who likely noticed that his peripheral stats were much better than his ERA last year. Oh the other hand, during his time as a starter previously to 2012 he posted ERA and FIP numbers in the 4-5 range, so I don't really get why most of the projection systems like him. It's not like he's particularly young either – he turned 30 two months ago. He should be the odd man out when Garza returns, but I think it ends up being Villaneuva.
Minor had huge BABIP problems in his first two seasons as a starter (.379, .350). This is especially strange considering he is a fairly strong fly ball pitcher, which tells me that he's some combination of unlucky and hit pretty hard. He's got a fastball that averages around 90, and his secondary pitches are kind of meh. Oddly enough, he has a reverse platoon split over the course of his career, but the Cubs will probably still (rightly) pack the lineup with lefties.
Saturday: Carlos Villanueva, RHP (4.16, 113, 4.09, 4.06) vs Julio Teheran, RHP (5.68, , 3.84, 4.48), 6:10 PM CT
Teheran only made two appearances last year, so his 2012 numbers don't mean much. He was the BA number five overall prospect going into 2011, and seemed like a shoo-in for the rotation in 2012. However, he had a shitty spring and followed it up with a shitty year in AAA (5+ ERA). He had a great spring this year and won a spot in the rotation, but last year has to give the front office some pause.
Villaneueva is the quintessential swing man, having started 5-16 games in all but one season in his career. He has a 4.88 FIP in his career as a starter, but managed to snag a new deal based on….I'm not sure what. I thought he had a good run last year with the Jays after joining their rotation, but he posted a 4.50 ERA with a 4.62 FIP. He's been merely decent as a reliever over the course of his career.
Sunday: Jeff Samardzija, RHP (3.81, 89, 3.55, 3.49) vs Tim Hudson, RHP (3.62, 97, 4.10, 3.91), 12:35 PM CT
Samardzija was great on opening day, aside from a few first inning jitters that weren't helped by a Lilypad fielding error. He said that his stuff wasn't even that great on Monday, but it sure seemed great to me. Check out this filthy splitter:
Samardzija threw 110 pitches in the game, but I'm not bothered. Bosio has said that they're taking the reins off Samardzija this year, and he was cruising in that outing.
Hudson had TJS in 2008 and bounced back surprisingly quickly. After pitching about 55 innings in his rehab year, he threw 228 in 2010. His stuff isn't quite as good as it was pre-TJS, but he still generates a ton of ground balls. In 2011, he accomplished the rare feat of a .249 BABIP with a 64.1% GB rate, and that was with Dan Uggla behind him. He turns 38 this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he pitches into his 40s.
Prediction
Braves take first two games, Samardzija wins the getaway day game.
Comments
Isn’t BJ hurt? Man, I didn’t realize how good Michael Bourn was defensively. UZR REALLY likes him. His offense is decent. I always thought of him as replacement level or a little above. The eyes deceive me again!
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
He’s a Wandy Rodriguez HOFer – he posted a .288 OBP/.300 SLG (in 514 PAs!) in his first year as a full timer, but turned it on since then he’s been a solid OBP guy.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Gotcha. I’m equally surprised BJ is not as good as I thought. Looks like he did the opposite, coming on strong, then fading away somewhat.
joshQuote Reply
For the last two days, the Yankees seem to be pretty close to a book-optimized lineup 1-5:
gardner/cano/youk/hafner/boesch
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
It’s amazing what 6-7 key injuries will do.
joshQuote Reply
probably should switch youk and gardner, I guess.
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
Not based on last year’s stats…
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
well, gardner didn’t play last year, so…
the projections seem to like youk to bounce back
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
But in those 16 games, he got on base like a boss!
joshQuote Reply
Yankees/Tigers or Angels/Rangers? I’m thinking the latter.
joshQuote Reply
Theo wants a DH in the NL
http://baseballmusings.com/?p=92249
MishQuote Reply
It’s Friday. Who has the coleslaw?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mish:
Sveum not so much.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-chicago-cubs-dale-sveum-dh-20130404,0,1206014.story
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Mish:
But what about EMOTION and REASONS!?!
joshQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Is that a euphemism?
joshQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Weird Al’s mom apparently.
WaLiQuote Reply
Hey guys, at the hospital still. Today’s going to be the day. My dad was looking at the blog and thinks GW looks like a sex offender (dying laughing)
MylesQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Weird Al’s mom is dead, dick.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Show him a picture of Lillibridge instead
BerseliusQuote Reply
Rooftops now threatening to sue everyone.
BerseliusQuote Reply
GW wrote:
False. I own him on my money fantasy team. Gardner is also screwed because i own him, but that’s on my free league so the curse isn’t as strong.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Berselius wrote:
This is my shocked face.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Awesome: http://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/rock-shoulders-surrounded-by-the-rocks-shoulder/
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
http://deadspin.com/prince-fielders-home-run-knocked-some-poor-fan-right-t-470899132?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Aisle424Quote Reply
Same lineup as yesterday, except Castillo in for Navarro
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
What the fuck did I ever do to them?
uncle daveQuote Reply
josh wrote:
MJKQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
GBTS needs to check on the legality of carpet bombing them.
joshQuote Reply
@ Myles:
First day of the rest of your life etc.
My parents are in town and Dad mentioned that my son Cashen needs a baby sister.
I guess that answers the question of whether my parents have as yet inferred that I had a vasectomy.
joshQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Berselius:
I hope they win and the judge gives them the Ricketts family debt because, fuck em.
dmick89Quote Reply
Marquis getting his ass pounded
WaLiQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Anyone know why Josh Vitters isn’t playing at AAA?
dmick89Quote Reply
Baez ———> yard
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Game thread up
http://obstructedview.net/games/45-game-thread-cubs-at-braves.html
BerseliusQuote Reply