2014 CUBS TRADE RUMOR CHAT

[dabynsky]

I've been convinced that Alcantara's future role is likely that of a Martin Prado type that plays 4-5 times in a week in three to four different spots in the field. I think he will be a useful player, but I doubt he is a star player either that needs a spot carved out in the lineup. Ultimately I think Alcantara is going to be what I was hoping Junior Lake could be in that super sub role.

 

[SilenceS]

I've been convinced that Alcantara's future role is likely that of a Martin Prado type that plays 4-5 times in a week in three to four different spots in the field. I think he will be a useful player, but I doubt he is a star player either that needs a spot carved out in the lineup. Ultimately I think Alcantara is going to be what I was hoping Junior Lake could be in that super sub role.

I am very much in agreement with this.

 

[2323]

He was also great at unnecessarily diving for the ball to make plays look better.

Totally agree. But his ability to judge the ball allowed him to make easy plays look hard.

 

[dabynsky]

Totally agree. But his ability to judge the ball allowed him to make easy plays look hard.

He was a good defensive CF, not in Andruw Jones class but basically no one of that generation was. He was also a noted showboat that purposely made plays look more difficult to get on highlight reels/more pub.

 

[2323]

He was a good defensive CF, not in Andruw Jones class but basically no one of that generation was. He was also a noted showboat that purposely made plays look more difficult to get on highlight reels/more pub.

Didn't you just say the same thing regarding Edmonds, to which I agreed?

 

[TL1961]

Alcantara is best suited for CF in the long term for the Cubs. If Almora pushes him in a couple of years, so be it. I'd rather not tax Baez in the outfield, and frankly, I'd like to see Bryant in RF. His profile to me seems a little similar to Jason Werth.

I hope they go out and get a 3B and LF for now, and let Soler, Almora, Vogelbach, and Schwarber ease themselves up the ladder. I don't want all kids playing. As great as it sounds, it is a pipedream and the Cubs need some veteran leadership from outside the organization. Depth is a good thing to have and there is absolutely nothing wrong with free agents. Every good team has them.

It seems every prospect we have is destined for 3B. The last thing I want to see is for them to go get a 3rd baseman from outside the organization.

 

[TL1961]

I've been convinced that Alcantara's future role is likely that of a Martin Prado type that plays 4-5 times in a week in three to four different spots in the field. I think he will be a useful player, but I doubt he is a star player either that needs a spot carved out in the lineup. Ultimately I think Alcantara is going to be what I was hoping Junior Lake could be in that super sub role.

I would like to see guys come up and settle in at a position. I don't want several "jacks of all trades".

 

[Boobaby1]

It seems every prospect we have is destined for 3B. The last thing I want to see is for them to go get a 3rd baseman from outside the organization.

Bryant is the only one as of now at 3B and they project a shift to the outfield if he doesn't defend as well as hoped. If they sign a yhird sacker, maybe Bryant shifts to the outfield for a while, or maybe permanently. Alcantara and Baez are 2B and SS. Baez projects to go to 2B unless they dump Castro. We really don't have CF to speaK of until Almora, and he is not a sure thing as he is still in A ball. Not sure where all of the 3B'men are? Even if you are right, depth equals trade candidates, and last I checked, the Cubs still have gaping holes all over the diamond.

The Cubs also have a plethora of potential 1b'men in Rizzo, Chunk, and Schwarber. Realistically, Bryant could probably play there too.

The last thing I worry about is where players will play as the bats are the main concern for me.

Pujols played three different positions before settling at 1B for the Cardinals. Carpenter played 2B last year before going to 3B. Craig played 1B before going to RF. Nothing wrong with having versatile players on the team capable of switching positions.

When they find their position in time, then they can settle in. They are young........who cares at this point?

 

[JZsportsfan]

I wish the Cubs would decide now if Baez would play 2B and have him start there now in AAA. Bryant is still working on his glove to see if he can play 3rd which I think would be in the best interest of the team going forward.

 

[beckdawg]

Villanueva cant play second from what I am reading. He got to heavy. We will see where these guys end up, but I would venture to guess we will see Alcantara play second and Center for the Cubs at some point.

I mean Villanueva at 3B and move Baez to 2B if I wasn't clear not playing Villanueva at 2B.

 

[beckdawg]

I've been convinced that Alcantara's future role is likely that of a Martin Prado type that plays 4-5 times in a week in three to four different spots in the field. I think he will be a useful player, but I doubt he is a star player either that needs a spot carved out in the lineup. Ultimately I think Alcantara is going to be what I was hoping Junior Lake could be in that super sub role.

I honestly think Alcantara is going to be an all-star level player not a super sub. If you project his AAA numbers over a full season you're talking about a 20/35 season with .303/.344/.544. That's probably some what inflated by the PCL if you compare his numbers to Castro as another middle infielder you're talking about a fringe all-star player and Castro doesn't have the stolen bases.

 

[CSF77]

It depend on if Baez carries his current hitting through July. If he and Alcantara are hitting above .300 for this month I see them both promoted. I then see 2B and CF opened for them.

If Baez struggles then I see Alcantara promoted only to 2B.

The Cubs are going to go with their current development vs projections. They will create openings if they are that good.

 

[2323]

Your short stop needs to be good defensively. However, he shouldn't be so good offensively where it would affect how he plays defense. It seems like this is the case with Baez. It's a smart strategy to draft SSs. The best players are often SSs and they transition well to other positions--at least typically.

 

[dabynsky]

I would like to see guys come up and settle in at a position. I don't want several "jacks of all trades".

Where are the several jack of all trades? Baez is going to get moved to a spot and left there once he gets called up. They aren't going to play Bryant at 3B and OF. It is going to be one or the other. Alcantara is the only guy that currently seems to be groomed for this super sub role.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Where are the several jack of all trades? Baez is going to get moved to a spot and left there once he gets called up. They aren't going to play Bryant at 3B and OF. It is going to be one or the other. Alcantara is the only guy that currently seems to be groomed for this super sub role.

Even Omar Infante was an All-Star.

 

[dabynsky]

Even Omar Infante was an All-Star.

Que?

 

[Captain Obvious]

Que?

Just saying that a super sub and definition of mediocre baseball player, Omar Infante, was an all-star in 2010. So even if Alcantara is the super sub type, he could still be an all-star

 

[beckdawg]

Just saying that a super sub and definition of mediocre baseball player, Omar Infante, was an all-star in 2010. So even if Alcantara is the super sub type, he could still be an all-star

You should probably say usually. I mean I don't agree with the idea of Alcantara being that but Ben Zobrist essentially played everywhere for the rays. Since he debuted in 2006 he has 31.0 WAR good for 23rd best for hitters over that span. I tend to believe players are better if they are situated at one position at least defensively. So, I hope they don't do that with Alcantara but if Alcantara turns out to be Zobrist you'd have to consider that a pretty big win regardless.

 

[TL1961]

Where are the several jack of all trades? Baez is going to get moved to a spot and left there once he gets called up. They aren't going to play Bryant at 3B and OF. It is going to be one or the other. Alcantara is the only guy that currently seems to be groomed for this super sub role.

I was responding specifically to the post about Alcantara being a 4-5 day a week "super sub", an idea I hate.

But Lake has been mentioned in this vein as well, as he has zero instincts in the OF (or at the plate, for that matter).

I am impressed with Lake's power and speed, but baffled as to why on earth the Cubs have produced so many guys who don't "get" the game of baseball, even as they play it professionally.

I have no issue with moving guys to different positions as they move up the ladder, or as circumstances warrant. But I am so sick of the platooning. I am ready for a team that has guys who can actually stick at a position and play every day.

We're close to seeing that. And I hope I don't see Alcantara playing 2B, then CF, and bouncing all over.

I get that we are in discovery stage with some guys like lake and Olt. But as has been stated here many times, we won't know what they are capable of playing them every 3rd day. Sink or swim. Some will sink. Let's find that out and move on!

 

[dabynsky]

I was responding specifically to the post about Alcantara being a 4-5 day a week "super sub", an idea I hate.

But Lake has been mentioned in this vein as well, as he has zero instincts in the OF (or at the plate, for that matter).

I am impressed with Lake's power and speed, but baffled as to why on earth the Cubs have produced so many guys who don't "get" the game of baseball, even as they play it professionally.

I have no issue with moving guys to different positions as they move up the ladder, or as circumstances warrant. But I am so sick of the platooning. I am ready for a team that has guys who can actually stick at a position and play every day.

We're close to seeing that. And I hope I don't see Alcantara playing 2B, then CF, and bouncing all over.

I get that we are in discovery stage with some guys like lake and Olt. But as has been stated here many times, we won't know what they are capable of playing them every 3rd day. Sink or swim. Some will sink. Let's find that out and move on!

The idea with Alcantara is that eventually you have everyday players across the infield and outfield. But guys need days off to stay fresh, and so Alcantara becomes a plus player that can fill in a bunch of different spots.

And frankly I am sick of the anti-platoon nonsense. One of the best teams in baseball using platoons effectively to maximize their talent. Just because the Cubs haven't been effective at it doesn't mean that a concept that has been used by Hall of Famer managers like Earl Weaver is junk.