Marlon Byrd is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $6.5 million in 2012. He's been a very good producer for the Cubs relative to what he's been paid. He's contributed 6.4 fWAR so far. 4.4 of that came in his first season in a Cubs uniform and last year he was worth 2 fWAR. It's worth …
Ballhawks can take 2012 off
One thing I've noticed while looking over the projections the past couple months is just how little power the Cubs have. Their starting lineup is practically filled with singles hitters. Alfonso Soriano still has some pop and so does Geovany Soto, but the rest of the lineup has none. I was wondering when the last time the Cubs starting lineup …
Projecting the 2012 Cubs: Left Field
We've yet to show the projections for any of the outfielders and since I've been going around the horn, we'll start with left field. I'm breaking this into four posts: one for each position and then one for the backups. Despite a .289 OBP last season, Alfonso Soriano managed to post a .325 wOBA, which was good for league average …
Players told to get sleep or else
MESA, Ariz. — Theo Epstein laid down the law at the Cubs Convention, stating firmly the organization would no longer tolerate players who enjoy the nightlife at the expense of getting a good night's sleep. "It's been a factor in ruining some careers," the team president said. "And I'm sure it's been an impediment to the Cubs in winning. … …
Spring Training Game 3: Rockies @ Cubs
Rockies Lineup Dexter Fowler, CF Jordan Pacheco, 1B Michael Cuddyer, RF Ramon Hernandez, C Casey Blake, 3B Brandon Wood, SS Tyler Colvin, LF Chris Nelson, 2B Wilkin Castillo, DH Pitcher: Guillermo Moscoso Cubs Lineup David DeJesus, RF Marlon Byrd, CF Blake DeWitt, 2B Alfonso Soriano, DH Ian Stewart, 3B Junior Lake, SS Anthony Rizzo, 1B Welington Castillo, C Brett Jackson, …
Spring Training Game 2: A’s @ Cubs
A's Lineup Eric Sogard, SS Collin Cowgill, CF Seth Smith, LF Jonny Gomes, DH Josh Reddick, RF Brandon Allen, 1B Wes Timmons, 3B Landon Powell, C Josh Horton, 2B Pitcher: Bartolo Colon, RHP Cubs Lineup Tony Campana, CF Darwin Barney, 2B Starlin Castro, SS Bryan LaHair, 1B Jeff Baker, RF Reed Johnson, LF Steve Clevenger, C Blake DeWitt, DH Josh …
Spring Training Game 1: A’s @ Cubs
Rodrigo Lopez gets the first Cactus League start today at 2:05 pm. Starters generally pitch a couple innings their first start and then build up after that. You can click here to get Gameday. I wish I could write something about how important it is to get off to a good start, but I can't. Not only is it mostly …
Luke Scott is racist
We already knew Luke Scott was a dumbass and probably already assumed he was racist, but now we have proof of it. The article stresses Scott’s relationship with his teammates, particularly the Latinos and African Americans. I searched the article for the phrase”I’m not racist. I have a black friend. See?” but I surprisingly could not find them. Felix Pie …
What’s all this Jeff Samardzija starting crap?
I paid so little attention to Cubs baseball after the first few weeks that it's hard for me to believe that Jeff Samardzija threw 88 innings a year ago. I did know that however many innings he threw that they weren't the typically bad Jeff Samardzija innings. I also knew he got lucky. I probably paid no attention to Samardzija's …
Carroll’s Team Health Reports
For several years now Will Carroll has published Team Health Reports. He previously did so at Baseball Prospectus and now does so at SI. I've never been the biggest fan. It seems far too random. Let's take a look at this year's. 2B Darwin Barney Darwin Barney doesn't sound like a 2B, but he sure played like one last year. …