The offesason obviously isn't over yet, but I thought I'd take a look over what everyone in the division has been up to. Before the Heyward signing my baseball-related focus was pretty much on what the Cubs would do (and bafflement at what they were doing), after it's pretty much just been lining up plans for spring training.
I'll list waiver claims etc., but will ignore anyone a team picked up and has already released (e.g. Brendan Ryan), as well as non-significant minor league deals. I'll list some front office changes I recently enjoyed if there's any I had forgotten (i.e. Milwaukee).
Cardinals
added:
Brayan Pena, C (FA)
Jedd Gyorko, 2B (trade)
Jason Aquino, LHP (waivers)
Matt Bowman, RHP (Rule 5)
Jonathan Broxton, RHP (re-signed)
Mike Leake, RHP (LOL)
departed:
John Lackey, RHP (FA)
Carlos Villanueva, RHP (FA)
Jason Heyward, OF (FA)
Mark Reynolds, 1B (FA)
Randy Choate, LHP (FA)
Jonathan Broxton, RHP (FA)
Matt Belisle, RHP (FA)
Steve Cishek, RHP (FA)
Peter Bourjos OF (waivers)
Jon Jay, OF (trade)
Tony Cruz, C (trade)
Luis Perdomo (waivers)
——————————–
U MAD BROS?
Seriously though, the Cardinals are still really good, and they've got good rookies who can fill up some of the slack for Heyward and the soul-less shell of Matt Holliday. One of their big question marks is whether their young pitchers (Wacha, Lynn, Martinez) can step it up this year after fading down the stretch in 2015. Martinez in particular is bouncing back from a shoulder strain, and we'll see if the durability questions that almost moved him to the bullpen are a problem again. The other big question mark is what form Cardinals Devil Magic will take this year. Two years ago it was BA w/ RISP, last year it was strand rate. I'm going to guess good old fashioned BABIP this year. If any team can post a .350 BABIP, it's these guys.
Pirates
added:
Gift Ngoepe, SS (waivers)
Allen Webster, RHP (trade)
Jake Goebbert, 1b (FA)
Jon Niese, RHP (trade)
Juan Nicasio, RHP (FA)
Sean Rodrigurez, tool player (re-signed)
David Whitehead, RHP (trade)
Ryan Vogelsong, RHP (FA)
Jason Rogers, 1b (trade)
Kyle Lobstein, LHP (trade)
Yoervis Medina, RHP (waiver)
John Jaso, 1B/C (FA)
departed:
Pedro Alvarez, 1B (FA)
Travis Ishikawa, 1B (FA)
Travis Snider, OF (FA)
Vance Worley, RHP (waivers)
AJ Burnett, RHP (FA, probably retired)
JA Happ, LHP (FA)
Joe Blanton, RHP (FA)
Corey Hart, 1B/OF (FA)
Antonio Bastardo, RHP (FA)
Joakim Soria, RHP (FA)
Aramis Ramirez, 3B (Retirement)
Charlie Morton, P (trade)
Andrew Lambo, OF (waivers)
Neil Walker, 2b (trade)
Deolis Guerra, P (rule 5)
Bobby LaFraboise, P (waiver)
—————————–
It's been a strange offseason for the Pirates, who nearly won 100 games last year but seem to be making the kind of marginal moves that a second-division squad would make. Maybe they feel like their core could get them back, but they're missing a good chunk of their rotation. Jon Niese and Ryan Vogelsong are some pretty shaky baskets to put your eggs in. Pedro Alvarez was non-tendered, but he had pretty much fallen out of favor anyway so not really a big loss. They've also been linked to guys like Bronson Arroyo and Mat Latos. At least Taillon should be back next year, I think.
No one in baseball was probably happier about the Jason Heyward signing than Andrew McCutchen, due to become a FA in 2018. Of course, he'll be older, but still.
Brewers
added:
Jonathan Villar, SS (trade)
Ramon Flores, OF (trade)
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF (waivers)
Josmil Pinto, C (waivers)
Andy Wilkins, 1b (waivers)
Garin Cecchini, 3b (trade)
Manny Pina, C (trade)
Will Middlebrooks, 3B (minor league deal)
Eric Young Jr, OF (minor league deal)
Dan Turkenkopf, Front Office
departed:
Kyle Lohse, RHP (FA)
Francisco Rodriguez, RHP (trade)
Luis Sardinas, 2B (trade)
Elian Herrera, 3B (FA)
Daniel Fields, OF (waivers)
Mike Strong, LHP (waivers)
Adam Lind, 1B (trade)
Jason Rogers, 1b (trade)
Doug Melvin, GM (sort of, he was moved up to team president, but it sounds like he's less involved)
——————————
You could say the Brewers are having a bad offseason, but expectations were so low to begin with that it's pretty much just ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Lucroy and maybe Segura were ticketed as trade chips going into the 2015 season, and both of them had shitty and/or scary years (in Lucroy's case, concussions). After those two their best chip was….Adam Lind? They got a few lottery tickets for him, and his maybe-promising backup (Rogers) was flipped to the Pirates. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with Pedro Alvarez, though I'm sure Yuniesky Betancourt is available. It's a long road ahead for this team. At least their manager looks younger than any prospects that will be joining the squad.
Cincinnati Reds
added:
Jose Peraza, 2B/SS (trade)
Blake Wood, RHP (FA)
Chris O'Grady, LHP (rule 5)
Jake Cave, OF (rule 5)
Dick Williams, GM
Walt Jocketty, PBO (promoted, but quasi-retiring following next season)
departed:
Aroldis Chapman, POS (trade)
Todd Frazier, 3B (trade)
Skip Schumaker, somehow still in baseball (FA)
Sean Marshall, LHP (FA)
Manny Parra, LHP (FA)
Brayan Pena, C (FA)
Burke Badenhop, RHP (FA)
Pedro VIllareal, RHP (FA)
———————
The Cardinals have certainly had the most frustrating offseason, but the Reds has to be the worst. They had a deal lined up with the Dodgers for Chapman, only to see it fall apart after some pretty awful sounding DV allegations coming to light at just the wrong time for CIN. They got four minor leaguers back, but all of them seem to be pretty low ceiling guys. If things break their way they'll get an average CIF/DH type and a back end starter out of the deal. Whee. Peraza is the big return on the Frazier deal, though he's been playing a lot of 2B of late. The Reds are trying to move Brandon Phillips and he's giving them a big middle finger wrt his ten and five no trade clause, which is within his rights. Still Brandon Phillips being a tool only happens on days that end in 'y'. The rest of the return was pretty meh.
Cubs
added:
Jason Heyward, OF (8/184, sort of)
Ben Zobrist, 2B (4/56)
John Lackey, RHP (2/32)
Trevor Cahill, RHP (re-signed, 1/4.25)
Adam Warren, RHP (trade)
Edgar Olmos, LHP (claimed twice!)
Rex Brothers, RHP (pre rule 5, inconsequential trade)
Spencer Patton, RHP (trade)
Aneury Acevedo, RHP
departing:
Starlin Castro, SS (trade)
Dexter Fowler, OF (FA – Qualifying offer)
Austin Jackson, OF (FA)
Tommy Hunter, RHP (FA)
Fernando Rodney, RHP (FA)
Quintin Berry, OF (FA)
Jonathan Herrera, INF (FA)
Jason Motte, RHP (FA)
Chris Denorfia, OF (FA)
Dan Haren, RHP (retired)
Yoervis Medina (DFA)
————————–
Not much to say that hasn't already been said elsewhere on this site. As down as I was on the Lackey and Zobrist signings originally, I like the deals now that they have Heyward in hand.
Comments
This makes me happy.
GBTSQuote Reply
Going into hillbilly Cardinals land today to pick up a puppy to take home. Just hope she doesn’t grow up to be a redneck whore.
dmick89Quote Reply
Someone needs to +/- this post. Where’s Phil Rogers when you need him.
dmick89Quote Reply
Chip Kelly —> Not PHI
His stock is down, but I’d gladly welcome him to Texas or SF.
RynoQuote Reply
Cubs ZiPS out, yo:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2016-zips-projections-chicago-cubs/
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
This was an offseason I recently enjoyed.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I’ll take those numbers.
dmick89Quote Reply
Big if true.
GWQuote Reply
dmick89,
Pics or it didn’t happen.
uncle daveQuote Reply
dmick89,
Just make sure she doesn’t turn her doghouse into a meth lab.
MeQuote Reply
GW,
He wasn’t kidding!
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=pit
HA!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Dan Haren is expected to contribute 1.6 zWAR just by retiring.
MVR
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Kazmir contract with Dodgers is really weird. One-year opt-out, with small base salaries and deferred signing bonus. Fangraphs has a take on it:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dodgers-give-iwakuma-money-to-scott-kazmir/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
She has been crying a lot, but I assume that’s just because she’s been around a lot of Cardinals fans.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Definitely tears of joy.
Good looking pooch, dude.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Is Denard Span still a possibility?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
That is one adorable dog, dmick. Good on you rescuing her from Cardinals country.
PerkinsQuote Reply
If I were a part of the current greatest front office on earth, I’d be suggesting of dem dere pillow contracts.
But Theo sure seems to think the current OF arrangement is more than satisfactory. On the cheap, Span makes a lot of sense, tho.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
Only if they pick up the likes of Carrasco by trading outfield depth. Maybe the fact that Cubs prospects haven’t been the best at what prospects do—you know, fail—but there are quite a few guys who should be ready in the next three years, so any deal beyond two or three years seems like it would be a misallocation of resources. I see it like this: Heyward in center should do for the next three years just fine with Baez and/or Alcantara as super-U’s capable of handling center; Coghlan, Soler, Schwarber (even Bryant some days) can do in the corners; McKinney, Almora, Happ et al are waiting in the wings. I’d rather use the savings from Span to contribute to an Arrieta extension.
ceruleanQuote Reply
There is a case to be made at getting him dirt cheap, but I am expecting above Zobrist AAV for a three year deal. Am I crazy? He has been injured and his defense is in decline. But even so, somebody will make him a better offer than the Cubs should, and if no one does, the Cubs should steer clear. If he does sign with the Cubs on the cheap despite better offers, that may be interesting come the trade deadline for Theo and Jed (not for trading Span, particularly, but their depth).
ceruleanQuote Reply
I think people are once again overestimating what Alcantara can do. I also believe the same is true of Baez, but he clearly has more potential. I still don’t think we’ll see Heyward start in CF on a regular basis. The Cubs will make another move so he’s the everyday RF. I wouldn’t want Span for more than 3 years, but the way the current team is built, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Cubs trade Soler for pitching (Carrasco???) and sign Span for 2-3 years.
Happ is at least a couple years away. Schwarber reached High A for almost 50 games the same season he was drafted and then raked in AA and AAA and was called up for good in the latter part of the year only because of injury. He’d have been called up in September was it not for Montero’s injury. Happ isn’t Schwarber by any means and I’d guess we won’t see him until mid-season 2018 at the earliest. That’s fine.
I don’t know what to think about Almora and McKinney, but I wouldn’t count on them being productive MLB players just yet. Good prospects, but they aren’t great.
The question is, can you get a decent pitcher with Soler plus a minor leaguer? I don’t see how you trade Baez. He’s got to be the super utility player at this point or last resort starting CF for this team in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
As much as I love the Heyward signing, and this is true even if he is the CF for a couple years, I’d much rather see him in RF where he doesn’t have to use his legs as much.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I think we are in agreement, though I would rather trade Soler+ for Carrasco or the like first, unless they got a good deal.
As for Alcantara—he is likely a complete bust, but he is not yet 25 and had a productive age 22 season in 2014. His chances are slim, but I still prefer his upside to Szczur.
ceruleanQuote Reply
An open question:
In thinking about prospects and their penchant for failure, which young Cub is most likely to be worth half or less of last year’s value over replacement: Bryant, Russell, Schwarber, Hendricks, Soler, Baez? And I am asking about over the whole season—a healthy Soler or Schwarber beginning the year then could be less productive per PA and still provide more value.
Happy New Year!
dmick89,
(That’s as good a way as any to start it.)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Happy New Year…see you all on the flip side.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Don’t tell me when you’ll see me.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
Nice. Good way to welcome in the new year.
mobile daveQuote Reply
mobile dave,
It’s been fun. I missed having a dog around.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I can’t argue with you today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
dmick89,
Happy New Dog!
aisle424Quote Reply
aisle424,
She’s pissing and shitting all over the house, but that’s what you get when it says “born in St. Louis” on a birth certificate.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs haven’t done anything all year *grumble*
Rice CubeQuote Reply
dmick89,
(dying laughing)
mobile daveQuote Reply
I really do like that the Cubs offseason was pretty much wrapped up so early.
dmick89Quote Reply
I like the absence of anxiety, fo sho. Cubs made themselves the BTIB fairly quickly.
Still wouldn’t mind something of significance happening before ST, but largely only because now I’m bored. Persistent offseason success has jaded me. (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
This. Fire Epstink.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
The Maeda deal appears to be 8 years/$25mm with heavy incentives. That’s a heck of a deal for the Dodgers.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So CHI ends up with the 11th pick in the 2016 draft. That works out well for them, because there appears to be about an 11-player top tier at first glance.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Sucks that Jaylon Smith is done. How far do you think he falls? Or do you think he will go back to school?
I was really liking him for CHI.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
That depends on the prognosis. If he’s going to be out a year, he should probably return to school (since there’s no physical risk) and maybe try to play in their bowl game. If he’s going to miss less time, it might not even drop him a full round.
Myles Jack is no slouch, though, and might even be ranked higher by some teams. Tough to say before watching them all.
RynoQuote Reply
Darn, now the Packers have to face Washington instead of Seattle.
berseliusQuote Reply
mb, I’m about halfway through Jane The Virgin S1. I’m really hoping they give Rogelio his own spin-off.
berseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
Thoughts on Chip Kelly reaching out to SF?
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
At WAS will likely be tougher than home against MIN again, but opponent shouldn’t matter to GB, imo. When they’re right, they can beat anyone.
RynoQuote Reply
The WRs just aren’t separating, but watching last night’s game leads me to believe it’s on the OC. That was the blandest bunch of route combos I’ve seen.
RynoQuote Reply
berselius,
I bet he’s reaching out to a lot of people.
I would have been great with that back when Tomsula was the coach. Now I’m hearing about interest in Sean Payton, Hue Jackson and others, so Kelly drops down my list. I like his scheme, but his player interaction was godawful. He gutted that roster.
Honestly, I think he’d be better off going to Texas.
RynoQuote Reply
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CX5CuXHWcAABjc3.mp4
RynoQuote Reply
If true, Payton makes a lot of sense in SF.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I figure he goes to SF unless Jerry Jones makes him a Godfather offer.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
It’s possible, but I’m convinced Jason Garrett is Jerry’s illegitimate child.
‘
SF will interview Hue Jackson and then make a play for Payton. I’m not so sure Jackson wouldn’t be the better hire, though.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Did SF can their GM too? Or are you guys stuck with the ‘reinvigorated’ Gabbert
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Not yet, but they’re making a move to do that. Apparently he’s solely responsible for the HC hire.
But yeah, Gabbert is likely the starting QB next year (though Kap is still an option too). Quite a few QBs might be available via FA, but this roster is likely a few years away. Draft is probably their best bet.
RynoQuote Reply
I don't know what they were thinking, they knew they would have to face the MVP next week in WAS if they lost. The whole "they really miss Jordy Nelson" excuse wore real thin as the season went on.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
They definitely miss him, but it’s like the WRs they have left can only run two routes each. In the MIN game, the DBs covered like they knew the route half the time.
Maybe they’ll open it up for the playoffs.
RynoQuote Reply
This morning I brushed my teeth, THEN had an orange, THEN drank my coffee.
I imagine this is what it feels like to be a Packers fan when they only make the playoffs as a wildcard instead of winning the division.
umbraQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
umbra,
We’re too busy being baffled that this team isn’t scoring 35 points a game.
berseliusQuote Reply
uh
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
The Browns just announced the hiring of new head coach Phil Jackson.
RynoQuote Reply
Six years ago, Texas was playing for a National Championship. Today, we have the sixth best football team in the state.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
At least you’re still ahead of the Dallas Cowboys
berseliusQuote Reply
I’d be happier if we had good young cost-controlled pitchers instead of good young cost-controlled batters. Can’t we find some ’18-year-old’ from Cuba? Maybe a Japanese guy who throws a Gyroball?
umbraQuote Reply
The Mets and Dave Stewart have done a lot to inflate that price in the past 6 months or so 🙁
berseliusQuote Reply
Alex Gordon—-> Royals 4 years $70 mil
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
He must really like KC.
dmick89Quote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/starlin-castro-cubs-yankees/
I hope Starlin has a career year with the Yankees.
PFDQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I hope he took out an insurance policy.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
PFD,
that’s great. i really hated to see him go. hope he kicks ass on the yankees.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
We’ve reached peak HOF bitching when people complaining that someone who will never be elected anyway falls off the ballot.
berseliusQuote Reply
Griffey and Piazza ——-> HOF
sounds like Raines and Bagwell fell just short, they were over the limit based on the public ballots.
berseliusQuote Reply
437/440 on Griffey, hoping it’s just people gaming the dumb ballot math.
berseliusQuote Reply
2 votes for Eckstein! (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Grit is a strong factor
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That’s a great letter. Sometime during that first homestand after he got called up, I was biking home from work going North on LaSalle and stopped at a red light. A white Rolls Royce convertible pulled up next to me with the top down and, lo and behold, it was Soriano driving and Castro in the passenger seat. Castro just had this wide-eyed, kid-like expression on his face as he looked up at all the skyscrapers. I shouted, “Hey Castro! Welcome to Chicago!” and he gave me this big smile and thumbs up right as the light turned green and they sped off.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
Nice.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
berselius,
Chip Kelly is the Vegas favorite to coach the 49ers at the moment. Odd.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
How the mighty have fallen, all the way down to UNC-Charlottte smh
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Even worse – I meant the SF 49ers!
RynoQuote Reply
I dont care wut he sez. You dont WALK into the endzone.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Oral history of the TOOTBLAN
https://slate.adobe.com/cp/pKnz1/
berseliusQuote Reply
really wished they published the HOF ballots. i am dying to know who the two jason kendall supporters are. they must either just be trolling, right? and/or related to jason kendall?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Fangraphs with 2016 prospects eval for Cubs
MuckerQuote Reply
Why didn’t the link post?
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-2016-prospects-chicago-cubs/
Nevermind. I figured out what I did.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
You know what you did.
berseliusQuote Reply
Span ———> SFG, 3/31
berseliusQuote Reply
Chances of Fowler returning to the Cubs ——–> slightly less slim
berseliusQuote Reply
Are you Bears fans concerned about losing Gase?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Not especially. It wouldn’t be ideal, but I’m more concerned with the general lack of talent on the Bears, specifically young talent. Fox seems like he’s pretty good at finding solid coordinators, so I think he’ll do an ok job replacing Gase, if neccessary.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Millertime,
Gase has been a “hot” name in coaching rumors for the last two off-seasons and I’ve been wondering why. Cutler seemed less Cutler than usual later in the season, but was the offense really better under Gase than it was under Trestman with McCown?
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
No, it wasn’t. I do believe Gase called gameplans based on the fact Jeffery and Royal were injured so much. But I wouldn’t be mad to see him go. I think Cutler will be fine if Loggains is promoted to OC or if Fox goes another direction. I’m more worried about Fangio leaving. Considering the lack of talent on D the Bears had, I think he did a great job. I’m more worried about adding talent on D then losing Gase.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
That’s kind of what I figured. Makes me wonder why he’s such a hot commodity.
And yeah, I definitely miss Fangio’s defense. Very simple scheme that limits big plays against yet enables splash plays.
RynoQuote Reply
Great read: http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/01/08/richard-sherman-tape-seahawks-defense-nfl-playoffs
RynoQuote Reply
Cardinals former scouting director ———> pled guilty to hacking charges
berseliusQuote Reply
haha i like how they used a pic of an NLCS game for this article
http://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-cardinals-scouting-director-to-plead-guilty-to-hacking-houston-astros-1452271222
salt in the wound.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Ryno,
And that was with a practically non-existent pass rush for most of the season. When the Bears add another pass rusher, the D can really improve. I don’t like the CBs and I think the Bears could use an improvement at the position. But if you have any insights on how Fangio uses his corners, I’d be interested to hear it. To me, it seems like he’s not asking for too much from them. No press at all it seems.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
They really like to disguise coverage. They usually line up a few yards off the LOS so they can press, bail, bracket, etc. They use a lot of pattern matching and zone coverage, at least they did in SF.
RynoQuote Reply
I used to really like NFL football. But then I saw Cam Newton dance in the endzone after scoring a touchdown, so now I hate it.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Ryno,
I only watched a handful of games but didn’t really notice any press. But that’s not saying they didn’t. And I imagine the 49ers had much better CBs in Rodgers and Culliver that were more capable of being physical press corners. That 49ers D was stacked though so Fangio could probably get very creative.
MuckerQuote Reply
Good read. The only big omission is that in those days you couldn’t swing a dead cat around Cubs internet-space without hitting a couple of fans who thought that the Cubs’ good players were actually bad. Aramis was worthless because he didn’t always run out grounders, Zambrano was totally falling short of his potential because he was a hothead, and Soriano was an aloof prima donna. Those fans always defaulted to Theriot as their shining star. Theriot always got more crap around here than he probably deserved, and it was mainly a reaction to those fans.
GWQuote Reply
https://youtu.be/Kg3zJYny5vE
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
(dying laughing), I miss Ronnie.
berseliusQuote Reply
That Bengals loss is one of the worst sports implosions I’ve ever seen.
berseliusQuote Reply
uncle daveQuote Reply
dm, I got Bill Kreutzmann’s book from my mom for Christmas (dying laughing). Any good?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I saw Bowie in the 80s at Rosemont Horizon which converted me from respecter to admirer. Quite the performer. I also saw an entourage moving through an airport once, and spotted a glamorous woman in her 40s at the center of it. Turned out to be Bowie (in his 50s) with shoulder-length golden hair the likes of which I’d never seen on a man.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Mucker,
They didn’t press much in SF either, but they started drafting more press-ish CBs and doing more of it in the last year or two.
The theme of the whole defense was versatility. It was a base 3-4, but they ran more nickel than anything. DL need to be able to drop into coverage, rush, read. LBs need to be 3-down players. DBs need to excel in all coverage techniques.
RynoQuote Reply
Millertime,
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’d rather more players act like Marvin Harrison. Be humble, hand the ball off quietly to the referee, let your gun be used in a shooting outside of the sports bar you own, act like you’ve been there before.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Welcome to Day 3… Might still go Day 2.
RynoQuote Reply
Millertime,
How will he have the energy to force himself on women with all that dancing?
RynoQuote Reply
Millertime,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Apparently Brown showed off HOF-level vibrato as he wailed on the ground.
RynoQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Sounds about right. The man could make going to the corner store in his bathrobe look elegant.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Eleven games better than the Cards and Pirates? I’ll take that, thank you.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
There’s going to be even more Reds and Brewers related win padding in the NL central this year.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Randomness being what it is, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Reds or Brewers had a decent record against even the Cubs. It would be nice if one or both of them made a run for the Tigers’ 2003 record, though.
ceruleanQuote Reply
SK, I haven’t read the book, but a close friend has suggested it before. He’d love everything Dead-related though.
Love how those projected standings look. Nice time to be a Cubs fan.
Anyone had a puppy that cries all night in a crate? I’ve tried just about everything, but she literally cries and screams all night.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I forget. Going into 2008, weren’t the Cubs roughly in the same spot? Clear frontrunner like this?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’m probably not the best person to ask, since I tried to adopt a puppy and ended up returning it (I was having health issues from the stress of a new puppy and trying to study for the CPA at the same time). Ours cried quite a bit at first, but got better as the week went on. I’ve heard giving the puppy a larger stuffed toy to sleep up next to can help (it didn’t with us). I ended up getting out an air mattress and slept close to the puppy, just so he knew someone was close by. That seemed to help a little. If you’ve had back issues in the past, though, I’m not sure how viable it is.
MillertimeQuote Reply
cerulean,
3rd best pitching staff in mlb?
offense bested only by 2 other teams (who both have a DH)?
i mean that would be great but i am a bit skeptical. actually, fuck that, i’ll take these at face value. it’s been a while since i’ve had even a shred of hope at this point in the year.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Our puppy cried and barked all night and on the second night I had a neighbor knocking on my door at 1:30 am to complain. No fun.
We tried everything. Playing a radio. A gadget that plugs into a socket and emits supposedly soothing pheremones to calm dogs’ hyper minds. Putting an old shirt that has the scent of one of us in the crate.
He just wouldn’t calm down until I slept one night on the couch with him next to me in the crate, and then we moved the crate outside our door. Maybe he could hear us sleeping or he just liked being close.
After a few days we were able to move the crate back downstairs. It was a long time before we were able to transition him to a normal bed though — at first he would scratch and cry at our door. Again, moving the bed upstairs to the hall outside our door helped.
18 months later he sleeps just fine on his own, but as a rescue dog, he still has separation anxiety issues and follows us around all day.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
My understanding is that the annual fan festival is happening soon.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I think that they were close to a consensus pick to win the division, but not many folks had them as the best in the league or all of baseball. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is easily the best Cubs team post-integration, at least on paper.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
Oh crap, I missed it?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
They were, but they also were in 2009. Average win projection of 95.3 wins. Not sure where this team would stand if we averaged all the projections. There’s not as many of them as there were in 2009. People forget how good that 2009 team was intended to be. Despite all the issues, they still finished above .500, which is a rarity for the Cubs.
FWIW, I think the 2016 team is better, but it’s not much better than the 2009 team was supposed to be. It’s close enough that either of them are a good enough pick for best team in the last 70 years or more.
dmick89Quote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
I keep trying to think of ways the Cubs could screw this up. Here is the list:
Charter jet crashes.
Zombie apocalypse.
Thermonuclear war.
Gamma-ray burst destroys all life.
But seriously, they have an astonishing amount of depth and flexibility to absorb a rash of injuries and still have a better-than-even shot at the playoffs. My biggest concern is the depth of the rotation against monster rotations in the playoffs—like the Mets.
What would it take for them to miss the playoffs? Let’s say the Cubs lose Arrieta, Rizzo, Heyward, and Bryant for the entire year. That’s 20 WAR easy. That would likely sink them, but they would still probably contend into September.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Saw some report about how Fowler might end up costing less than Span. If so, I hope the Cubs are the team who signs him.
dmick89Quote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
cerulean,
It could be as simple as pitching injuries, and then most position players taking a small to medium step back from last year, or from projections.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Millertime,
Indeed. But unlike other years, the amount of redundancies should make this a fun year no matter what happens*. And unlike with the Nationals last year, I feel like the coaching staff is great at keeping the game from becoming joyless work. As for the 2004/2009 Cubs teams, this team is so much younger and deeper that should the bad things happen, it will almost certainly be an entertaining year. (Everybody loves an underdog.)
*Mass extinction excluded
ceruleanQuote Reply
How long has it been? The puppy might just take awhile to get acclimated to its crate. You ALWAYS want to make sure the crate is place the puppy wants to be, rather than a punishment. If the puppy isn’t rewarded for going in the crate, all you are doing is putting it in a place where it doesn’t get the reward of play/companionship/food etc.
Start feeding him/her in her crate in the mornings and evenings. Leave the crate door open so the pup and enter and leave as he/she pleases. Give him/her a treat every time you put him/her in the crate. Many dogs have a natural “den” instinct where they naturally sleep in dens that are protected from larger predators. If you have a metal wire crate, put a heavy blanket over the crate to give it a feeling of being separated from the rest of the room.
If your pup doesn’t like it’s crate, first start with feeding just outside the crate. Each meal, test and see if your pup is starting to get comfortable and move it closer to or further into the crate.
If you didn’t do much research into your breeder, there’s a chance you bought from a puppy mill. Missouri is the #1 source of puppy mills in the U.S. If that is the case, you should immediately start puppy classes for socialization or it will just get worse and worse until your dog literally can’t leave your side without losing its shit.
My puppy is at 6 months now and it cried for about the first week. Now he sleeps in his crate willfully.
/dog owner, animal welfare enthusiast
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Millertime,
Or Big Jake taking a line drive off his elbow. Or maybe the fame gets to Schwarber and he’s all like, ‘why do I gotta wear this mask all the time? NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIIIIIIIIIIIKE…’ and he scuffles for a few months. Or the North Koreans finally finish tunneling through the Earth’s crust and emerge out of shallow left center and take Kris Bryant hostage.
Here is the part where I would normally say ‘It’s Gonna Happen!’TM, but that’s enabling a Culture of Losing. Instead, I will say that that will never happen because the Cubs are always good and always will be.
umbraQuote Reply
Crazy how accurate the MLB Abr model is over at MLBTR. Is it that easy?
Projections/actuals
Jake Arrieta (4.145) — $10.6 / 10.4MM
Chris Coghlan (5.148) — $3.9 / 3.9MM
Justin Grimm (2.170) — $1 / 1MM
Hector Rondon (3.000) — $3.6 / 3.6MM
Pedro Strop (4.156) — $4.7 / 4.7MM
Adam Warren (3.036) — $1.5 / 1.5MM
Travis Wood (5.004) — $6.4 / 6.4MM
sharpchicityQuote Reply
over under on this also being the thread when dm’s puppy celebrates its first birthday
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
put me down for banana
berseliusQuote Reply
StL ———–> two sport town
berseliusQuote Reply
ALL YOUR ROOFTOPS ARE BELONG TO CUBS
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160113/BLOGS04/160119941
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Somehow that bodes ill for BFIB’s BFIBness.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
i’ve got bicycle
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Thanks JKV. Definitely not a puppy mill. I was sure to check on that before reserving a puppy.
She actually her best night yet last night. Hoping it gets better and better. Thanks again.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-7UbU45a1U
RynoQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/687459472084697088
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Not a Shanahan fan?
MuckerQuote Reply
Not particularly.
But my biggest issue with them hiring Shanahan is that he was available last off-season. It sure seems like he’s their safety net.
They’re going to suck next year. At least give Chip Kelly a second shot (without the personnel power) and make it entertaining.
RynoQuote Reply
I’m trying to convince myself that they’re “slow playing” all these candidates because they’re trying for Todd Haley. Not that’s he’s the HR hire I would have liked, but I think he’ll be good the second time around.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I like Shanahan. His system works. You never have to worry about your run game with him. Defense is a different story though. If he can get the right DC, his team can make some noise.
I’m not sold on Chip Kelly. Not from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but how he practically gutted that Eagles team. Thought he was a little over his head. But if he’s going to just coach, I’d be interested to see how that would go.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
The run game will be strong and I really like the offense WAS ran in 2012, but I’m not sure how much of that was him v. Kyle. I guess we’ll find out soon.
What Chip Kelly does offensively is very smart. He’s progressive and adaptable and I think he could be be a successful head coach for a long time. As you said, he was just in over his head with roster control.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Same with Shanahan. I doubt they give him roster control but he should be far away from that. Coaches coach…GMs GM. That’s how it should be.
I really liked Kelly’s use of formations. I saw a lot of the stuff he did to try and create confusion and thought it was pretty great.
MuckerQuote Reply
This bothers me. SF talked to Shanahan last year and still hired Tomsula.
RynoQuote Reply
Mucker,
Apparently SF’s GM is not willing to budge on roster control…because he’s done such a great job with the roster since he took over the team McCloughan built through 2010… Part of why Hue Jackson went to CLE.
RynoQuote Reply
@Ryno how much do the Packers lose by this week? I’m going to go with 17.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Man, losing Adams doesn’t help, but their route combos were much improved. I think it’ll be closer than you think, but I still see them losing by a TD.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Memories of that beatdown in the same stadium a few weeks ago are still too fresh. If GB wins it’s going to be because of some fluke turnovers or something,
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
The difference between that game and last week’s game for GB offensively is ridiculous. You’re probably right about the turnovers, but this week’s game will be much closer.
And if you find yourself down about the Packers season, just remember that the 49ers had one of the best rosters in the NFL two seasons ago.
RynoQuote Reply
Well there you go.
RynoQuote Reply
Yeah, but the same goes for WAS’s defense and Arizona’s which is probably top 5 in the league, maybe even better than Seattle if they still had Mathieu.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m more confused than anything – I thought they could have won ten games with guys they pulled out of the stands at WR if Rodgers was throwing the ball. I’m used to simply wondering if the defense would give up more than they could score.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
It’s mostly what they’re doing with those WRs. Toward the end of the regular season, they were running the most basic routes imaginable with no variance. I think I mentioned before that the ARI DBs looked like they knew what was coming each time.
It didn’t look like that against WAS.
RynoQuote Reply
Got your wish Ryno….Kelly to 49ers
MuckerQuote Reply
I’m going to miss Ryno around here.
berseliusQuote Reply
How long before Sandberg quits his new role with the Cubs? Over/Under 2 years. I’ll take the under.
dmick89Quote Reply
Anybody beginning to think Theo might not be planning to stick around another 5 years?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
No, I’m pretty sure he’ll be signed to another 5-year contract.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, prolly right. I might have gotten swayed a bit into worry by the Sun-Times’ headline.
Just seems odd if “everybody’s on the same page” that they haven’t gotten around to finishing it yet.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Mucker,
I feel like Shanahan would have had SF as an 8-10 game winner every year, but never really a threat.
With Chip, I expect 6-7 wins or 11-12. And it’ll be fun to watch either way.
berselius,
You like how I jumped to my death in a cemetery?
RynoQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I imagine a lot goes into million dollar contracts.
dmick89Quote Reply
It was actually not a surprise at all. I’ve been wondering if No. 7 overall is too early for Carson Wentz, and it looks like the answer could be No.
RynoQuote Reply
Theo may also want only 3 years and a couple options or something like that. Who knows, but I’m pretty sure a deal will get done. It’s not something that worries me at all at this point.
dmick89Quote Reply
If anything, I think the CHI pick is more surprising. Jack and Allen are both larger upgrades and nearly elite prospects at this point.
I guess he assumes Jefferey walks.
RynoQuote Reply
Jack it is.
RynoQuote Reply
Seahawks DE Michael Bennett on the Panthers last year:
RynoQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
http://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/article/psst…-wanna-hire-tango
dmick89Quote Reply
Arrieta arb filings:
Arrieta: 13m
Cubs: 7.5m
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I expect they’ll reach middle ground at some point, but the Cubs will lose that if it goes to the arbitrator. At least I think they would.
dmick89Quote Reply
Went to the convention, and I must say that I was really shocked when the crowd gave John Lackey such an ovation. But then again, David Ross was heavily lauded. I think they brought out the good Budweiser§ for the event.
Dempster got some really great zingers in. The best was asking Bryant if he waited a little extra to purpose so he’d get another year of control. I saw last year when Dempster did his Friday Night Show for the first time—which was really good—and this was even better. The ratio of lovefest to ribbing was much lower than one might expect. So many uncomfortable moments of the later variety. So great.
§ I am fully aware such a beverage does not exist.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
*propose, not purpose. Idiot.
*also latter.
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-physics-of-broken-bat-homers/
dmick89Quote Reply
Not surprised Ross got a lot of love. I’d have liked him a lot more if he retired after 2015. Actually, it would have been even better if he retired after 2014.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Martinez only has to put up with him until Sandberg quits.
dmick89Quote Reply
That wasn’t as much an exciting ending so much as a colossal series of fuck ups by the refs. That game should never have gone into overtime.
berseliusQuote Reply
video or gtfo
Suburban kidQuote Reply
The Yankees haven’t signed a major league free agent in over a year. That’s crazy.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I see this and it gives me hope. Why? That 1996 Yankees team was really good, and only recently have the Yankees not been able to patch the holes on the FA market. That is depth.
Crazy that the worst record of Rivera’s and Jeter’s careers was 8 and 6 games over .500, their respective final years. Unbelievable. And then they catch some lightning in a bottle getting back to the playoffs last year despite making it known that they are gearing toward youth. For all the flack that FO has gotten recently, they are still one of the best.
Never underestimate the power of the dark side.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I’d like to thank the Packers and Cardinals for making me look like I know what I’m talking about. (dying laughing)
What a game…
RynoQuote Reply
cerulean,
I just think it’s crazy that the team that once had the most money by far is now not spending on MLB free agents. They still have a ton of money, but they’ve actually tried to spend less in recent years.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Well, when all your money is tied up in A-Rod, Texeira, Tanaka, CC, etc…
JonKneeVQuote Reply
dmick89,
I think it all comes back to age and fit. I am surprised that they didn’t go after Heyward, but not that they didn’t throw $20M+ to a guy on the cusp of 30. I have wondered if they might make a play at Cespedes, but not for Davis money. My guess is that they want to give some more of their young guys a chance to become stars while letting these old guys fall off the books. Even the Yankees have their limits on contracts to underperforming veterans. I think when Harper is available, the Yankees are going to have a lot of cash to throw at him.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I got five bucks on January 30th.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Feel free to contact my telecom, they’re only 13 months behind on their promised broadband access!
berseliusQuote Reply
Whoa, I missed Justin Upton signing with the Tigers over the weekend. I had just assumed the Cardinals would sign him to some crazy below market deal.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
In the meantime, why not use GuyFi
http://mashable.com/2016/01/15/guyfi-male-pleasure-booth/#475HZlFjGSqO
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Something tells me Mrs. Wittenmyer won’t be allowed back to a Cubs Convention anytime soon.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1263599/watch-cubs-fan-crazy-hat-rips-theo-epsteins-baseball-moves
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
That website is such a pile of shit.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Cubs sign Cespedes for 3/$110M
Cubs send Cespedes and $60M to the Mets
Mets send Harvey to Cubs
Who says no
GBTSQuote Reply
There’s no way that hand size is right. Or maybe he was attacked by a barracuda before he hatched.
RynoQuote Reply
GBTS,
MLB.
RynoQuote Reply
GBTS,
I thought there’s some restriction on trading a player that you just signed. I thought you have to wait a couple months into the season. Or maybe I’m just thinking of draft picks.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-called-their-shot-jason-heyward-signing
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
What they’re not telling us is that the same lineup had Miguel Cabrera at 1B, Bryce Harper in LF, and a resurrected Babe Ruth in RF.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
+1 LSA Rec’d
berseliusQuote Reply
No charges for Chapman.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/no-criminal-charges-filed-against-aroldis-chapman.html
Maybe I’m being dense here, but more difficult to see how MLB suspends him at this point; and if not, then man, the Yankees took the Reds to the cleaners.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
And somehow ended up with the Reds dirty laundry.
berseliusQuote Reply
If only being of questionable character meant you were also guaranteed to be bad at baseball.
Besides, this is the org that’s kept A-Rod for more than a decade. Chapman’s smooth sailing in comparison.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
And it seems at long last the NL will stop being fucking stupid and will seriously consider the DH for 2017.
Methinks the outcry from Meathead Nation will be especially loud on this one.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I “disagree” with this bit from “Yahoo” baseball “writer” Mike “Oz”.
It might shake baseball fans like an earthquake, but not baseball. I no longer believe there is an NL “style” of “ball” even if managers like “Joe” Maddon talk about it. OK, one slight change to a 25-man roster would probably happen with some or maybe even most teams, but that’s about it. Drafting would probably only barely change. I know there are all-bat no-glove guys that will now be useful in the NL, but I don’t think at the high school / international level where guys are drafted that there are players that are way behind on defense. I’m guessing they fall behind as they advance through the system — their bat keeping up but not their glove.
In conclusion, “Mr.” Oz:
deal with it.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
People who try and say that AL baseball is somehow different than NL baseball are just idiots. It’s still the same game. If someone thinks that they like NL baseball because of the pitcher batting, they’re lying to themselves.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Yeah, “people”.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
As you all know, the DH in the NL would make my day.
dmick89Quote Reply
I like the NL because of the pitcher batting. It’s not because I think that it involves strategy that I find interesting or any stylistic difference. I just like watching weird things happen on the baseball field, like having a pitcher run between left and right field because a team is out of outfielders, or watching batters pitch, or Bartolo Colon try to hit. (And as they used to say, yes, I’d rather watch a pitcher hit than Harold Baines.) YMMV, but I think it takes the monotony out of a long season.
That said, I watch way more AL baseball live and the DH doesn’t bother me.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
I like watching good baseball. Watching pitchers bunt or strike out with 2 on and 2 outs is pretty terrible. Sure, there are rare instances where the pitcher makes the game more entertaining (Bartolo, Arrieta HRs, etc.), but those are the exception. Most of the time, it’s just boring and pointless to have the pitcher bat.
With the pitcher batting, there is more “strategy” in terms of pinch hitting, double switches, etc. However, usually that involves putting in a lesser bench player and removing a starting position player from the game. Games with the best players > games with lesser players. It also eliminates the factor of when the next time the pitcher will bat in deciding whether to leave in the pitcher for another inning or pulling him.
The DH is just a better rule in today’s baseball where pitchers are completely inept at offense.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
You got your story and I got mine, but I feel like the ninth best hitter on any team isn’t usually all that good. At least, not good enough to justify creating playing time for him. I’m closer to indifferent than anything, but if I had the choice I’d vote for the status quo.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Pay no attention to the man behind this column.
GBTSQuote Reply
But playing time wouldn’t necessarily be created for him. the #9 hitter in the AL is typically your #8 hitter in the NL. Hitting for the pitcher would be the DH, which in 2015 had the highest wRC+ and wOBA of all the positions.
So, actually, playing time is being created to put a pretty good hitter in the lineup. 8, which gets playing time regardless, simply gets bumped down to 9.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I am against the DH coming to the NL. I happen to prefer the old school way. But I am open minded. I like that the leagues have different rules. But it being a league difference is rather arbitrary. So because I like both strategy and strategery, here’s my pitch to settle this debate:
What if the home team manager could decide before the game whether the DH would be allowed, regardless of league? If your opponent has a Madison Bumgarner and you have a Jon Lester, by all means, DH. If it’s reversed, force the Lesters of the world to hit for themselves, unless, maybe you have an unbelievable talent in the batter’s box that is way better than even the Bumgarner/Lester imbalance, then choose the DH. This would likely make homefield advantage matter more, which in turn would make the All-Star game more meaningful, maybe to the point of besting the most important game in baseball: the Hall of Fame game.
(And don’t forget about the betting opportunities on whether a DH will play that day. Because gambling plus baseball plus old people is as American as fucking apple pie.)
ceruleanQuote Reply
I think it’s different in some ways, but overall, yeah, it’s the same game. I’ve never bought that there’s more strategy in the NL. In fact, I believe there is even less, but it’s not by a huge amount. The manner in which I think it’s different is primarily in that it’s simply a worse game. If starting pitchers even tried to be good at hitting, I wouldn’t care. I’d prefer the current NL over the AL, but if your pitchers, team, coaches, managers and executives don’t even give a shit if you can hit worth a crap, it’s time to do away with it.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
I like the idea of letting the manager decide, but I think within 5-10 years it will be rare for the pitcher to hit if that’s how you chose to do it. Good hitting pitchers aren’t going to waste their time taking BP if the rest of the staff isn’t bothering to. I do like the option though.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Yeah, but I think most DHs in the AL are guys who would be starting at first or somewhere else in the NL, so that’s not necessarily a great comparison. No argument that the NL DH would have better hitters in the lineup on the whole, though.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
Maybe, but just looking at the Cubs situation… Schwarber moves to DH, and Cubs either start Coghlan in LF, or sign someone like Austin Jackson. Or maybe if they decide to push it they jump into the Cespedes sweeps. Are they better? Hell yes. Perhaps other teams will struggle to fill it as ably as the Cubs, but if the spot opens teams will find ways to fill it one way or another and we will see in pretty short order the same quality at DH as the AL does.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’d rather have pitchers who can hit worth a damn than adopt a DH rule, but I know that’s not realistic.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I enjoy watching pitchers who can (relatively) swing a bat, but have little patience for ones who can’t hit at all. Which is most of them nowadays.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
To me, this is what it comes down to. As a fan, I want to see the best baseball possible. I don’t think National League teams can be honest and say that they’re currently playing the best baseball possible. I also think it’s absurd that if I go to a National League game it’s likely I’ll see 5-6 plate appearances by a pitcher. That’s about 7% of all the plate appearances I’ve paid to see being taken by the guys least capable of doing it.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t get to see NL rules very often anymore. I live near Kansas City so if I want to go to a baseball game, it’s an AL game. I love that I don’t have to dread the pitcher coming to bat.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed. Only in the NL do you have a spot in the order where the player occupying it is incentivized by the nature of the modern game to not be good at hitting. Every other position on the diamond has every incentive in the world to be good at all aspects of the game. Not pitchers.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I know pitchers suck at hitting, but it still pisses me off to see some of them hit. Jon Lester is fucking horrible at it. I know he was in the AL for a long time, but seriously, you almost have to try to be as bad at hitting as he is.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
No kidding. To be a good modern hitter, it’s not just time in the cage, working with coaches, but studying video, studying pitchers, it’s as complete and thorough and time-consuming as the work needed to be a good pitcher. Asking a pitcher to do both is simply not realistic nor desirable, especially once factoring in the ever looming specter of injury (not to mention whether or not a pitcher has the talent to hit well to begin with; one can be an excellent pitcher but have zero aptitude for hitting).
And since pitchers aren’t and shouldn’t be encouraged to become good hitters, it’s stupid to keep trotting them out to do little more than make outs for 2-3 PA per game. DH is the sensible alternative, other than simply batting 8 guys and get rid of #9 altogether.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’d prefer 8 in the lineup to the DH, but that’s not going to happen.
dmick89Quote Reply
FYI the DH rule allows managers to pick whether they want DH in lineup or not in the AL, and stipulation (even though I’m sure it would have to be ratified by CBA negotiators) is that either league can choose to use DH at any time. It’s just a conscious choice by AL managers to mostly use DH unless Joe Maddon made a mistake and had to bat Andy Sonnanstine third, and NL just said “no to DH” for now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Thanks. I recall you telling me exactly that before, but I’m an idiot and can’t remember. Just do what the AL is already doing then. Pretty easy.
dmick89Quote Reply
UCLA LB Myles Jack is getting a lot of love these days, which is bad news for you Bears fans. You really don’t want to see Jack off the board.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’ve read some bad things about Myles Jack. Basically saying he’s a gifted athlete that needs a ton of development and discipline.
TBH, I don’t know much about NFL or football scouting in general. I just rely on those that do know. But it sounds like he’s more of a boom/bust player. His solo tackle production scares me.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
MillertimeQuote Reply
i was pretty indifferent about this argument until this season. in games where lester pitched, you had david ross and lester batting back-to-back. absolutely miserable to watch and guaranteed to kill any rally. even if you get the #4 hitter on with no outs, you’re still not confident he will score because lester and ross were just so awful at the plate. pretty unbearable to watch when the cubs were in such a tight playoff race and playing very meaningful games.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
holy shit, david ross’s OPS was .518 last season. i knew it was terrible but i did not think it was that bad.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Millertime,
You’re welcome.
RynoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Yeah, but what was his R+RBI? His CERA? What was his Hand Signal Clarity Coefficient?
RynoQuote Reply
David Ross fun fact I read: last year, he had his only homer as a pitcher, not as a catcher.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If David Ross was a team player, he’d have retired.
dmick89Quote Reply
I guess next week’s headline will be…
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
“Newton also had 35 touchdown passes, 10 scoring runs and was sacked 33 times in 16 starts. Kaepernick threw for six touchdowns, ran for one and was sacked 28 times in eight starts. The biggest difference: The Panthers won a lot of games, and the 49ers lost most of theirs.”
There may have been some other big differences.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Manfred’s all like my bad, sorry about all your DH convos. It’s not happening soon.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Still in it.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Millertime,
Like offense, defense and special teams? And definitely coaching.
RynoQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Definitely a bad projection. Schwarber is much better suited for LF than RF.
GWQuote Reply
I blame Donald Trump.
dmick89Quote Reply
Trueblood doing Trueblood things.
berseliusQuote Reply
How’s that puppy doing dm?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I read on the Twitter that apparently a Barstool ranked OV behind several dozen other Cubs blogs, so I guess OV is moving up in the world. People are taking notice of the rising quality of this blog journal.
MillertimeQuote Reply
With only one new article per month, it’s easier to concentrate on quality.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Millertime,
The less we publish new content, the higher we rise in the rankings IMO.
berseliusQuote Reply
Not great. She’s not eating and drinking as much water as she needs to be. We’ve treated for a few things, ran some blood tests, done some x-rays and she’s still not improving. It’s been a rough month for her and for us. She’s done so well with all the visits to the vet.
We’ve done just about everything we can that’s non-invasive and I don’t have a good feeling. I am really, really tired though. I’ve not gotten more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep since I got her. I’m starting to get the feeling that my role in life is to provide medical care to dogs above and beyond what almost anyone else would. It sucks. She’s happy at times and I love her, but if she doesn’t improve soon, I’m going to have to have her put to sleep. Really fucking sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
I saw something about this list or something so I checked my list of things I give a shit about and it wasn’t on it. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
New….pee? Am I doing this right? I can’t remember.
http://obstructedview.net/what-a-time-to-be-alive/
berseliusQuote Reply