2014 Chicago Cubs In-Season Discussion Thread

[CSF77]

Starters break downs:

Apr:

Shark 34.2 IP 0-3 2.38 ERA 1.29 WHIP
Hammel 34.2 IP 4-1 2.08 ERA 0.69 WHIP
Wood 30.2 IP 1-3 3.52 ERA 1.34 WHIP
Jackson 34.1 IP 2-2 5.24 ERA 1.57 WHIP

May:

Hammel 36.2 IP 2-2 3.44 ERA 1.04 WHIP
Shark 34.0 IP 1-1 1.32 ERA 0.85 WHIP
Wood 34.0 IP 4-2 6.62 ERA 1.41 WHIP
Jackson 29.1 IP 1-3 4.30 ERA 1.23 WHIP
Arrieta 25.1 IP 1-1 3.20 ERA 1.50 WHIP

June

Arrieta 31.2 IP 3-0 1.14 ERA 0.79 WHIP
Wood 24.1 IP 2-1 2.96 ERA 1.36 WHIP
Hammel 25.0 IP 0-2 3.60 ERA 1.44 WHIP
Shark 28.0 IP 1-2 4.82 ERA 1.54 WHIP
Jackson 20.2 IP 2-2 6.10 ERA 1.74 WHIP

This month from Arrieta has been the strongest month by any Cubs starter. He was picked as a player to watch this year. He was throwing sliders last night that were coming in at 93 MPH than tailed out of the zone last second. Made the Reds look stupid.

He is starting to look like a top of the rotation.

June Hammel became human again.
Shark looked like his old self.
Jackson has stayed solid at sucking.
Wood has been 2013 1 game than 2012 the next. Not sure what is up with him.

Going into July should be interesting. Right now it looks like Arrieta is looking like the ace of the staff going into the 2nd half.

 

[chibears55]

He really is not exciting.

1522 ab's .275/.338/.380 *17 HR's. 47 SB.

He really is meh. Nothing stands out.

pass

cant be worse then Coghlan Ruggiano and Kalish

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[Parade_Rain]

I'd take a look at someone for the OF who can hit .275.

 

[brett05]

He really is not exciting.

1522 ab's .275/.338/.380 *17 HR's. 47 SB.

He really is meh. Nothing stands out.

pass

immediately becomes the team's best of

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[JZsportsfan]

I would be happy if the Cubs picked up Tabata.

An OF that could hit .275 would be swell

 

[CSF77]

immediately becomes the team's best of

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That is the point. He hits .275. Has no power. Not fast. No major upside.

Right now:

Lake: 458 MLB AB's: .264/.304/.428 15 HR's 11 SB.

So in 1/3 of the AB's he has almost matched him....

I do not value BA as much as some do here.

I value OBA/SLG more. If he is a corner OF I value SLG. CF OBA.

Pretty basic stuff. He bring nothing.

Sad thing Lake is an incomplete player and I would rather give him the playing time.

Don't get into the platoons. Ricky is a Special person about that stuff. Most of them have no business out there.

 

[JZsportsfan]

Vitters may deserve a shot in the OF once his season at Iowa ends if he keeps playing well

 

[CSF77]

Last 30 days:

Ruggiano 56 AB .214/.328/.357
Coghlan 61 AB .213/.304/.428
Schierholtz 84 AB .202/.253/.381
Sweeney 31 AB .194/.219/.226
Lake 83 AB .193/.221/.337

Pretty sad for sure.

This is a big reason why I want to see Alcantara promoted.

But in the last 30 days:

OBA:
Rizzo .418
Castro .357
Ruggiano .328
Valbuena .312
Coghland .304

Those have been the guys getting on base.

RBI counts:
Rizzo 21
Castro 19
Schierholtz 13

Only guys in double digits.

SLG leaders last 30:
Rizzo .701
Castro .514
Cog .426

No other player over .400

In view of this:

Ruggiano has the 4th best OBA. Bat him #2 full time
Cog 3rd best SLG bat him 5th.

Rizzo and Castro have been the best hitters 3/4 same as before.

So that puts Cog in LF, Lake and Sweeney platoon in CF and Ruggiano full time in RF. Schierholtz it is about time to cut the losses.

Line up:

3B Valbuena
RF Ruggiano
1B Rizzo
SS Castro
LF Cog
CF Lake/Sweeneey
C: Castillo
2B Barney

Olt last 30: .075/.159/.175
Barney .222/.231/.333

I think it is time to cut him.

 

[JZsportsfan]

I think they should send Olt back down to AAA and just have him play 1st there for awhile

 

[CSF77]

I think they should send Olt back down to AAA and just have him play 1st there for awhile

Why? Does he have a place? Has he build up any trade value?

Right now I would say no. Sure he can hit a HR. When he was good he was taking BB at a 15% clip. I expected a RH version of Valbuena at 3B. What we are getting is garbage.

 

[CSF77]

Vitters may deserve a shot in the OF once his season at Iowa ends if he keeps playing well

Wait and see. His first 2 months he was hitting around .215. Now that Bryant is batting behind him he is hitting .300. I'm suspecting Bryant's bat protecting him is getting him better pitches to look at.

It is hard to tell with him. For a high draft pick it has been a huge bust.

 

[CSF77]

I would roll out Ruggiano and Cog for now. Let Sweeney and Lake split CF until Bonifacio gets back.

Then build up trade value with Bonifacio and Barney. Maybe Schierholtz if he starts to hit. If not it is time to just make him a PH before his 1 year wonder last year.

When Bonifacio gets back play him in CF full time. Barney 2B full time. Make Schierholtz a PH again as try to sell him as a PH.

Lake I would demote to Iowa to get full time play. Have him work on taking BB. His playing time is too erratic right now. Just getting him away from Rick will help him develop. No platoons and no bunting for singles. Shoot take a walk. Not as flashy but on 1B with out the risk of an out. 8:1 SO per BB screams no mastery of the strike zone.

At that point run Cog/Rugg full time in the corners with Bonifacio in CF. Sweeny can be depth for all I care. Guy just plays solid D. Brings nothing else.

 

[CSF77]

Not to mention Manny should be hitting Iowa soon. If any one can teach Lake something about being a major league hitter is is Manny. It could save his career. Right now his approach will never last.

 

[dabears253313]

Vitters may deserve a shot in the OF once his season at Iowa ends if he keeps playing well

I hope he comes up, especially with Coghlan, Schierholtz, Sweeney and Ruggiano batting .200. Vitters is 25 or will be turning 25, they need to see what they have in him. If they don't bring him up soon then they should bring some one else up to get some MLB experience. Junior Lake is 24, they need to keep playing him as well.

 

[brett05]

Build up trade value?!?!??!

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[Boobaby1]

I hope he comes up, especially with Coghlan, Schierholtz, Sweeney and Ruggiano batting .200. Vitters is 25 or will be turning 25, they need to see what they have in him. If they don't bring him up soon then they should bring some one else up to get some MLB experience. Junior Lake is 24, they need to keep playing him as well.

We need guys who can hit and know how to get on base. Enough with the "give the guy a chance because we still have a soft spot in our hearts for him" or that it's a feel good story.

There is a reason he is still down in AAA and being surpassed by many behind him and not given a shot to make the team to players like Kalish, Cog, Ruggiano, and Sweeney, who combined, aren't good enough to hold FA Melky Cabrera's jockstrap. That shows you how low on the totem pole Vitters is.

Pay for a left fielder. It really isn't a hard thing to do and then you can cross that position off the list as a must fix. I can't remember a team that was 100% home grown. They always bring in free agents. The bigger market teams bring in the bigger players, so why shouldn't the Cubs. It is time to start making moves, spending some money, and being buyers at the deadline instead of sellers.

Imagine where the Cubs might be if they actually had something besides Castro and Rizzo this year offensively.

Frankly, the sooner guys like B-Jax and Vitters are out of the organization, the better the organization will be.

 

[dabears253313]

Oh I'm not against the Cubs paying more money to improve the team.

I actually agree with you that you can't just make a team through the farm system. It has to be a combination draft picks AND free agents. I was just saying they should bring someone up since the other outfielders are cutting it. It's just the fact that the Cubs won't spend the money. It's like they're losing on purpose. They are legit trying to compete for the worst record in baseball (even though I think they have the best record since May 16th or something lol.)

I know those prospects aren't as highly touted as someone like Gregory Polanco, but the Pirates and Astros and I think the Rays have all promoted players this season since they have some of the worst records. The Cubs are in the same boat as them and their current outfielders aren't the future, they're just filling holes for a season and aren't making that much money. The Cubs are a "rebuilding" team and that's what rebuilding teams do.

Again, I agree with you on bringing in free agents. I just know that the Cubs won't do it so they will look to their farm system as the only option. Wasn't 2003 a combination of home grown players and free agents? Same with 2007 and 2008?

 

[CSF77]

Imagine where the Cubs might be if they actually had something besides Castro and Rizzo this year offensively.

A 1 year fix will not gain a long term solution.

Frankly, the sooner guys like B-Jax and Vitters are out of the organization, the better the organization will be.

Can not disagree. Jaxx has never produced at AAA. Olt has never produced at AAA. Vitters has. He is a maybe.

But I would not want to slow down Bryant and Baez's promotion over it.

Right now we are probable looking at Alcantara and Hendricks. Baez if he progresses. Bryant a big maybe.

Next year we are looking at:

Alcantara
Castro
Rizzo
Bryant
Baez

On the team. I for one do not want to add players just to add them. Looking at that line up it needs 1 power LH bat until Schwarber promotes. Seth Smith IMO is a prime target. After that they have to figure who is playing what position.

The more I look at it. They could pull a shocker trade and deal out Castro. He is looking like he will get a All star bid and will be a hot ticket with Shark. Also a All star most likely.

They could sell high on both. Then promote both Baez and Alcantara.

This puts the team at:
LF: Lake
CF: Bonifacio
RF: Schierholtz
3B: Valbuena
SS: Baez
2B: Alcantara
1B: Rizzo
C: Castillo

Return wise they could add a MLB ready arm.

This puts the line up at:
Bonifacio
Alcantara
Rizzo
Baez
Valbuena
Lake
Schierholtz
Castillo

Now this also leaves 3B open for Bryant next year and If they went out and signed Smith to a 2 year deal. I'm thinking right now that Schwarber will hit AA next spring. His development is along the same lines as Bryant's was. We could be seeing him in 2016 and I for one do not want to see him road blocked by contract. In view of this Smith in LF and Ruggiano, Vitters or Lake in RF works.

Ideal situation in the OF is Schwarber in LF, Almora in CF, Soler in RF long term. Almora has struggled this year and Soler has not played. So in view of this they have to take it more seriously on finding realistic answers vs plug and play.

Seth Smith is my #1 target. Melky is interesting but frankly they need to replace Shark more than add another bat looking at it next year.

They could just run out:
LF: Lake
CF: Alcantara
RF: Bryant
3B: Valbuena
SS: Castro
2B: Baez
1B: Rizzo
C: Castillo

You take the 4 best players on the team now and then add 3 top 100 prospects. Lake would be the only one I would be concerned with here.
Then use that payroll flexibility to sign a legit Ace. Eat Jackson's contract and sign another SP.

 

[brett05]

Manny is the AAA manager? They fire someone???

 

[beckdawg]

Manny is the AAA manager? They fire someone???

He's just a special assistant hitting coach AFAIK.