2014 Chicago Cubs In-Season Discussion Thread

[nwfisch]

That the main reason why Sammy hasn't been offered to come back yet.. its because there sdtill alot of fans that will react to him in that manner.

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But people will fall all over themselves for Manny?

Also, the current administration hasn't cared about what the fans at any point throughout the year, so why start now?

 

[chibears55]

But people will fall all over themselves for Manny?

Also, the current administration hasn't cared about what the fans at any point throughout the year, so why start now?

Who falling over themselves for manny being a minor lge coach ?

I personally don't care, if those players accept him for what he has to offer then that all that really matters.

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[chibears55]

@CSNMooney: Mike Olt played with Manny Ramirez last year at Texas AAA affiliate: "It was really an awesome experience and I learned a lot from him."

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[CSF77]

@CSNMooney: Mike Olt played with Manny Ramirez last year at Texas AAA affiliate: "It was really an awesome experience and I learned a lot from him."

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How to properly stick a needle?

 

[beckdawg]

Yeah a me-first cheater is a great mentor Theo.




For that, we could have brought back Sammy Sosa.

Manny was one of the best hitters in the game long prior to using steroids. Sosa was a career .273/.344/.534 hitter. Manny was a career .312/.411/.585 hitter. Now whether or not Manny can impart that on prospects remains to be seen but his 13.6%/18.5% career walk/k rate is the very definition of what this front office is trying to do. I don't really see the issue here.

 

[theberserkfury]

I don't really see the issue here.

It's not obvious?

It's something that the Cubs FO did...

 

[beckdawg]

It's not obvious?

It's something that the Cubs FO did...

Hmm... well i was debating that or the fact they didn't sign him to play OF at the major league level.

 

[CSF77]

Non issue. If Theo wants to keep paying for his drug ERR life choices that is fine.

 

[CSF77]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Justin Ruggiano from the disabled list while sending outfielder Ryan Kalish to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

Ruggiano, 32, has been on DL since April 24 with a hamstring strain suffered while chasing a fly ball in right field. He was 3 for 21 in six rehab games in Iowa.

He was hitting .229 with a home run in six RBIs when he got hurt.

Kalish, 26, was a surprise roster addition out of spring training after spending several seasons rehabbing from neck and shoulder injuries.

"I just know I need to play," Kalish said Monday morning before leaving town. "I haven't played in so long and the playing time right now has been sparse, so it makes sense."

Kalish was hitting .242 in 39 games. Cubs manager Rick Renteria concurred with Kalish's assessment of needing more playing time.

"He's going to get down there and just get some more at-bats," Renteria said. "He's been out for two years and I just haven't been able to get him enough at-bats here for my liking and his continued improvement and development.

"We'll see him again."

 

[dabynsky]

A 60ish win team that we've seen the past several seasons and what we've seen more often than not in the past six decades. Look we've seen this script before. They will win another game or two before the end of April and be buried for the season at this point. We will see a two month stretch of .500ish play from this bunch and then a sell off that result in the record dropping into the 65 win range.

I wrote the above on 4-26. The Cubs record at the end of the day on 4-26 was 7-16. A bunch of people went on various rants about how this team was the worst ever and all that other nonsense. Since that point in time the club has gone 18-18. Does that change the outlook of this season any, not really since just like the previous two years they got off to such a poor start that they were buried. However, 42 days into that predicted two month stretch they sit at exactly .500. I don't get many right, but I am well on my way to calling this one.

 

[CSF77]

I can see that. The sell off part. I'm seeing Schierholtz and Hammel around 100% gone. Bonifico 75% gone.

Shark is 50/50. Depends on if a team wants him enough.

Barney should be gone. Some team will value his glove as a UI.

Castro 25% max right now. If some team offers a top of the rotation prospect it goes up.


Good call though on the .500 run. This win streak is their high point this year. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[beckdawg]

I wrote the above on 4-26. The Cubs record at the end of the day on 4-26 was 7-16. A bunch of people went on various rants about how this team was the worst ever and all that other nonsense. Since that point in time the club has gone 18-18. Does that change the outlook of this season any, not really since just like the previous two years they got off to such a poor start that they were buried. However, 42 days into that predicted two month stretch they sit at exactly .500. I don't get many right, but I am well on my way to calling this one.

I agreed with you at the time. However, I'm not sure the fall off will be as hard as some think barring a trade of Shark. If it's Hammel and a few of the motley crue of positional players with no long term staying power, I think they have enough staying power especially if some hitters come up and actually hit. We have seen the past 5 games when the team scores they can win games. So, even if they take a step back pitching if they get a big boost in hitting I still feel they can be in that 70-75 win range. However, the elephant in the room is trading Shark. Replacing him would be hard especially if they get someone who's in A ball to headline the trade. If they get someone like Butler or Gray from the Rockies that is lessened a bit as Butler is already in the MLB and Gray in theory could be soon if they so desire. With out some higher level pitching things could get ugly if they deal both Hammel and Shark especially if anyone goes down.

 

[beckdawg]

After today Arrieta has a 2.50 ERA, 2.58 FIP and 3.15 xFIP in 36.0 innings. His k/9 is 8.75 and bb/9 is 3.25. You'd like to see that bb/9 below 3 for sure but it's not atrocious. His BABIP is a bit high at .349. I'd like to see him be more efficient because he's averaging a little over 5 innings per start. Overall he's kind of a confusing player from a numbers standpoint. His 80.7% strand rate is pretty high. He's also got a 3.8% HR/FB rate which is going to go up and going to inflate his ERA. However, that BABIP would suggest he's been some what unlucky. I could see the BABIP and strand rate evening each other out more or less. The HR/FB is a bit worrisome. That said, he's upped his GB% from a career 43.7% to 51% this year. That obviously is a positive. It's hard to say what impact it will have if he continues long term. 11% is typically league average and ground ball pitchers are clearly less likely too be that high. Maybe 8-9% is a good hope but 5% more homers/FB may end up being like a 1 or more in ERA.

Perhaps he is kind of like Wood with stretches where he's great and then like as of late where he's been spotty.

 

[CSF77]

All I know is they need to have their set up crew set with the lead. If they need 3 innings they need to pick the best arm for the 7th and have Ramirez and Rondon close it out.

Right now Grimm is the team's best 7th inning arm. Strop and Schlitter should be used in ties or behind situations.

Arrieta put up a solid 6. Can't ask for more.

I'm still not a fan of Lake hitting #2. 2 for 5 no BB. .200 OBA

While Valbuena 1-3 with a BB. Or a .500 OBA for the game.

Makes little sense.

Other than that Bonficao solid game. Rizzo and Castro went flat and well...

 

[dabynsky]

Ramirez amd Rondon weremt available today. That is why Strop got the call in that situation. Those two cant pitch four out of every five games the whole season.

 

[beckdawg]

Ramirez amd Rondon weremt available today. That is why Strop got the call in that situation. Those two cant pitch four out of every five games the whole season.

They've pitched like 28 1/3 innings over the past 7 days. The starters really aren't helping the bullpen out.

 

[dabynsky]

They've pitched like 28 1/3 innings over the past 7 days. The starters really aren't helping the bullpen out.

No it is a whole trickle down effect of a tired 8 man bullpen, but Roscup is likely back soon so that will add a fresher arm.

 

[CSF77]

Ramirez amd Rondon weremt available today. That is why Strop got the call in that situation. Those two cant pitch four out of every five games the whole season.

Winning streaks tend to do that.

2008 they had Wood, Marmol and Bob Howry as the ahead team. Wuertz as the main middle relief. Cotts was the main LH out of the pen.

Wood 65 games
Marmol 82 games
Howry 72. Howry ran a 5.35 ERA that year so was not stable.

Eyre only appeared in 19 games.

Shark 26 games with a 2.28 ERA in the pen.

They need a 3rd goto guy. (not Strop)

Rondon 2.45 ERA 1.17 WHIP
Ramirez .64 ERA .71 WHIP

One of those 2 should be closing all games.

Best 7th inning guy IMO
Wright 2.84 ERA 1.16 WHIP

RH version
Schlitter 2.43 ERA 0.91 WHIP (Ya they got to him)

Strop: 4.58 ERA/1.36 WHIP is really a back for the pen production. He should be in mop up games. Seeing how the Cubs are 10 games under he should be getting a heavier work load.

Grimm 3.10 ERA 1.31 WHIP same as Strop.
Russell 3.00 1.33 again when behind or in a blow out.

Now Arrieta was mowing the Mets down. When Schlitter came in they hammered him. I believe it had to do with he pitches from the same side and is not as good as Arrieta.

So when a starter dominates like that the "first arm to bring in should be from the opposite side. regardless for the match up. So Wright or Russell after a RH. Unless the starter goes into the 7th then you got directlly to Ramirez who keeps a high SO/9.

 

[CSF77]

Unless u got a side swinger in the pen. Cubs don't have one of those. IE offset the hitters some. Putting a lesser quality BP who pitches similar to your starter but not as good is letting up the pressure on the other team. That is why they blew up the pen.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Cahill was DFA'd. I'd love to see the Cubs pick him up. He could be a really nice piece for us next year.