Get. Excited.

In Major League Baseball by myles79 Comments

This is it, ladies and gentlemen. The first spring training game of the season.

As an appetizer, please watch this video (h/t Bleacher Nation). Get lost in Kris Bryant's eyes. Wonder aloud why all Mike Olt cares about is being healthy. Wince at Albert Almora mentioning a groin injury. Contemplate whether or not Javier Baez is comfortable in front of a camera. Fall in love with Kyle Hendricks talking like a Dartmouth grad. Become one with baseball.

For the main course, the Cubs play the Diamondbacks at 2:05 CT. Jeff Samardzija takes the mound against the always interesting Bronson Arroyo. This is the lineup the Boys in Blue will deploy:

Pretty exciting! This is probably really close to the opening day lineup. I'd have Schierholtz in RF and switchings positions with Lake, and obviously there is no DH. Other than that, it looks legit. 

The Diamondbacks lineup is

Parra – RF
Prado – 3B
Goldy – 1B
Hill – 2B
Chavez – DH
Trumbo – LF
Montero – C
Pollock – CF
Gregorius – SS

They are a split squad today, but that should be their starting lineup this season. The B-squad plays the Dodgers (who they played yesterday); if you were hoping for the Tony Campana reunion special, that's where he'll be, unfortunately. In fact, that's also where top prospect Chris Owings will play today. 

For dessert, check out this list. Who's your daddy?

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  1. Like You Care

    Nice try, Myles. You almost New Shit Upped me…

    Here’s a question for you Bears fans: How would you feel about a trade of first-round picks with SF?

    SF gets: No. 14
    CHI gets: No. 30, No. 61 and No. 94

    I’d rather SF keep all their picks and reload this team, but they need elite talent and I’m not sure they could keep all their picks anyway.

    From CHI’s perspective, they’d turn one pick in the elite range of this draft into three picks in the very good range. The trade favors SF according to the draft value chart, but I think it balances out when you consider the quality and depth of this year’s players.

    I’ll do a CHI mock for each…

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  2. Aisle424

    @ Like You Care:

    I’d probably take the extra picks for the Bears. They need impact players on defense, but they also just plain need to get younger and healthier. Maybe then Briggs and Tillman have one last hurrah as leaders of the defense and primary playmakers in an average defense.

    I mean, if the Bears had even had an average defense last year, they would have been incredibly dangerous in the playoffs. If they go younger, they have a shot at building another pretty decent defense after a couple of years while the offense is still fairly young overall.

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  3. Like You Care

    I’m not using the simulator for these.

    Mock A (no trade)

    1 (14). Aaron Donald, DT, PITT
    2. (51). Jimmy Ward, S, N. Ill. – Probably ends up going higher than this.
    3 (82). Kareem Martin, DE, UNC – First-round talent underwhelmed on the field last season.
    4 (113). EJ Gaines, CB, Mizzou – Tenacious on D.
    5 (144). David Fales, QB, SJSU – You have three years to find Cutler’s replacement. I’d start now.

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  4. Like You Care

    Mock B (trade)

    1 (30). Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford – Yeah, yeah, white, gritty, whatever. Much more athletic that given credit for.
    2. (51). Dom Easley, DT, Florida – Extra picks let you take a risk.
    2. (61). Ed Reynolds, FS, Stanford – Dashon Goldson clone.
    3 (82). DeOne Bucannon, SS, Wash. – Back to back physical safeties that can cover.
    3 (94). Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana – I think he can play any LB spot.
    4 (113). EJ Gaines, CB, Mizzou – Tenacious on D.
    5 (144). David Fales, QB, SJSU – You have three years to find Cutler’s replacement. I’d start now.

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  5. Like You Care

    @ Myles:

    Holy shit. Yeah, I pretty much felt the same as soon as I listed the picks for the second mock. That would essentially be a trade of drafts.

    Aisle424 wrote:

    I’d probably take the extra picks for the Bears. They need impact players on defense, but they also just plain need to get younger and healthier.

    And this the year to do that. With the record number of underclassman entering, you basically added a round of early talent.

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  6. Like You Care

    So even though that trade favored SF on the value chart (which I think needs an update), CHI clearly wins.

    So a better question, I guess, is what do you CHI fans want minimum to trade firsts?

    CHI: 14, 51, 82, 113, 144
    SF: 30, 56, 61, 77, 94, 125, 158

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  7. Like You Care

    Either way, it sounds like $15M to $16M is the floor for an average salary here, which is a lot higher than I originally thought and would bring Kaepernick near the top echelon of QB salaries.
    — Tim Kawakami, San Jose Mercury News

    I know we already discussed, but this “floor” is higher than I thought it would be. If this is right, do you pay Kaepernick $17-$20 million per year?

    What about this: Do you think HOU would consider trading the first overall pick for him? What about JAX and No. 3? Who says no?

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  8. Mucker

    @ Like You Care:
    First, yes, I would do that trade in a heartbeat for the reasons listed by Aisley and yourself. The Bears need so much help on defense and it’s time to get younger.

    Kaerpernick for the first overall pick? Man I don’t know about that. They don’t have the benefit of paying him the rookie contract so that’s using the 1st pick and $17-$20 mil per year. I don’t think that’s a smart play by Houston.

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  9. Like You Care

    @ Mucker:

    If they’re considering Bridgewater, Manziel or Bortles with the first overall pick, they’d have to consider Kaepernick. He’s one of the more marketable players in the NFL at the moment and you know what you’re getting with him.

    I can’t remember anything like that ever happening, but it’s interesting to consider.

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  10. Mucker

    @ Like You Care:
    Yeah, it’s definitely interesting to consider. But if they swing and miss with one of the QBs, then it’s a wasted draft pick and about $22 mil. If they trade for Kaepernick and he doesn’t perform, then it’s a wasted draft pick and about $56-$60 mil. They are going to have to sign him to an extension if they trade for him and he’ll most likely get at least that much in guaranteed money considering the amount of money QBs are making these days. I wouldn’t do it if I were the Texans because I would be taking Clowney and looking to see what’s available in the 2nd or possibly trading back into 1st if a QB falls. I’d be interested to know if anything like this has every happened before….

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  11. Mercurial Outfielder

    I’d do that trade in a heartbeat, and given the noise out of the Bears’ FO about focusing on defense in the draft the last few days, I think Emery is basically putting the 14 pick on the block. I think he’d like to add at least a 2 & a 3, and probably a 4 if he can get it. That defense needs players, badly.

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  12. Mercurial Outfielder

    Most of you know, I am not high on Kapernick, but I think he’s probably Manziel’s ceiling. Bridgewater will likely be better, but he’s going to need some time, and the SF window is now. Bortles…I just don’t know. I think his ceiling is probably in the Flacco/Cutler range. Would you trade up for that? I don’t think I’m willing to deal Kaepernick for a shot at any of the 3, TBH. And I’m not high on CK.

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  13. Like You Care

    Mucker wrote:

    But if they swing and miss with one of the QBs, then it’s a wasted draft pick and about $22 mil. If they trade for Kaepernick and he doesn’t perform, then it’s a wasted draft pick and about $56-$60 mil.

    That’s what you have to weigh: The likelihood that a draft QB will bust versus Kaepernick. Kaepernick is about to hit his ceiling, imo. Bridgewater/Manziel/Bortles could step in and play like Luck/Griffin did their rookie years, but it’s more likely that they’ll have the worst year of their career.

    If it’s JAX, I totally agree with you on this, btw. I just think HOU is in a position to compete for a Super Bowl with a QB upgrade.

    I’m not even sure I’d want this to happen, tbh. I do know that I wouldn’t complain about having Bridgewater and the extra cash instead of Kaepernick. I think Harbaugh (if he’s still around) could help Bridgewater turn into Aaron Rodgers.

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  14. Like You Care

    @ Mercurial Outfielder:

    For me, there are 12 elite players in this draft, with six on defense. If I’m CHI, I sit at 14 and hope one falls. If not, then dangle that pick and see who bites.

    There are 32 players available this year that I’d spend a first-round pick on (up from about 22 last year), and I guarantee that at least a handful drop to the second.

    I guess my point is that I think CHI can’t lose either way:

    Stand pat with your picks and you’ll (probably) get an elite player, a fringe first rounder in the second round and maybe three or four Day 2-quality players. The draft is that deep.

    Trade back and completely reload your team if you draft well.

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  15. Mucker

    @ Like You Care:
    Right, Kaepernick is a known commodity so the chances of him being a bust is less compared to a rookie QB. And I think Kaepernick has the ability to be one of the better QBs in the league but I think he has a ways to go. HOU could draft Clowney and have arguably one of the best pass rushing tandems in the history of football. And regardless of the spike in offenses, I still say defenses win championships. I just don’t know how HOU passes on Clowney. But if they do and are looking at QB for their pick, then Kap is probably a better option for them considering that they aren’t as bad a team as they were last year and could compete in that division.

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  16. Edwin

    George Brett as a hitting coach:

    One of Brett’s favorite motivational tactics was to approach each player with a little exercise in self-awareness.

    “I would ask Mike Moustakas, ‘What’s your name?'” Brett said. “He would say Mike Moustakas. And I would say, ‘Then be Mike Moustakas. You’re not Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire.’ Then I’d do the same thing with Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler and the other guys. In the end, I think they learned a little bit last year that they can only do what they’re capable of doing. Once you try to do more than that, you’re not going to succeed.”

    I don’t even know what to make of that.

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  17. Like You Care

    @ Mucker:

    For sure, and I don’t disagree with any of what you said. Just an interesting thing to consider because it could make sense for both teams.

    SF will pay Kaepernick. He’s not elite, but he’s a top-10 QB in that offense right now. Having somehow lived through the Tim Rattay, Shaun Hill and JT O’Sullivan years, paying a QB like Kaepernick is a good problem to have.

    As for HOU, there are nine QBs I’d be comfortable naming as the starter in HOU available in the draft. I’m pretty sure five of them would be an upgrade over what they ran out there last year. Clowney is the easy choice at No. 1 overall.

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  18. Like You Care

    Edwin wrote:

    “I would ask Mike Moustakas, ‘What’s your name?’” Brett said. “He would say Mike Moustakas. And I would say, ‘IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOUR NAME IS!'”

    [img]http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/3738992/the-people-s-eyebrow-o.gif[/img]

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  19. Mucker

    @ Like You Care:
    Definitely. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Talking about the NFL draft and offseason. What are your thoughts on the upcoming free agency? Do you think any big name players will be on the move? There are a lot of teams with some serious cap space.

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  20. Mercurial Outfielder

    Also, if Maclin can’t get a deal done with PHI, I would like to see the Bears make a run at him. Marshall–Alshon–Bennett–Maclin? Yes, please.

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  21. Author
    Myles

    Shark has a bad first inning but escapes unscathed. First Spring Training AB for Bonifacio and he scorches one down the line for a triple. Apparently, he’s very fast.

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  22. Like You Care

    @ Mucker:

    I’m no good at this, but I could see Eric Decker, Sam Shields, Alterraun Verner, Malcolm Jenkins, Lamarr Houston, Michael Bennett and Michael Johnson on the move.

    I think a lot of teams will look at the deep draft and there will be less demand for free agents.

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  23. EnricoPallazzo

    Just plain BVS wrote:

    Let’s hope he goes back to being Starlin Castro, or picks a better model to emulate. Last year, Starlin was clearly not objectively hot.

    his troubles are clearly a thing of the past. he is on pace to bat 1.000 with a few hundred RBIs.

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  24. GBTS

    So I see Tee Spring changed their Cubs Make Me Drink shirt:
    [img]http://images.teespring.com/shirt_pic/388089/front.jpg?v=2014-02-19-00-01[/img]
    http://teespring.com/makesmedrinkroyal?fbid=2152

    But I also now see this all over my Facebook:
    [img]http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0284/3802/products/site1_a9411df8-855e-4002-a0bc-439507a0dd32_1024x1024.jpg?v=1393186268[/img]
    http://www.justonesports.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-cubbies-make-me-drink-chicago

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  25. GBTS

    “Just One Sports” is a Shopify website. Terms of service:

    4. You may not use the Shopify service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose nor may you, in the use of the Service, violate any laws in your jurisdiction (including but not limited to copyright laws) as well as the laws of Canada and the Province of Ontario.

    7. A breach or violation of any of the Account Terms as determined in the sole discretion of Shopify will result in an immediate termination of your services.

    http://www.shopify.com/legal/terms

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  26. dmick89, Sweatpants Guru

    @ GBTS:
    I saw that yesterday and before contacting them a second time I formally requested it be taken down through Blue Host. I’ll send one to Shopify if they don’t comply, but Adam may not have gotten back to them yet.

    As Alvin would say, patience. (dying laughing)

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  27. GBTS

    @ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
    Who is “they,” Teespring? If I were a betting man I’d say the same person just fled to another host website. Or is this Just One Sports site the same one you were talking about before? I might be a little behind in the Facepalm drama, I don’t read every word.

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  28. dmick89, Sweatpants Guru

    GBTS wrote:

    If I were a betting man I’d say the same person just fled to another host website.

    I thought of that. They’re registered to different people and I’m pretty sure they’re at different hosts. Still possible, but why not just use anonymous domain registration if you’ve already been busted?

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  29. dmick89, Sweatpants Guru

    @ GBTS:
    Teespring happened a few weeks ago and they took it down fairly quickly. Justonesports has been more stubborn and ignored my first email as well as a shitload of tweets. They finally got back to me after I threatened a lawsuit as you and another person mentioned I should do. We’ll see where it goes from here, but I’ll give them a few days, which is a few days more than they need.

    It’s not my design, but if they didn’t take it down, I’d encourage Adam to give the design away so people can make cheaper shirts than they could buy anywhere else. Not sure he’d do it (it’s his), but I know I’d rather do that if it was mine. Last thing I’d want is some asshole making money off of it.

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  30. JimL

    Wouldn’t the Cubs regular season starting lineup have Sweeney in center because the opposing team had a right handed pitcher starting?

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  31. Edwin

    Hannibal Season 2 starts up tonight at 9:00. I don’t know if anyone on here was a fan, but early reviews of the second season are quite high.

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  32. akabari

    Man, so I joined the quitting smoking bandwagon like everyone else that has. It’s weird, my stomach feels like shit (literally and figuratively) and I have a sweet tooth all of a sudden. And I don’t like candy at all, normally.
    Anyone else get this?

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