2015 position players to date

[CSF77]

Gotcha, but he's still a "starter" in a sense then right? Basically taking a turn at every position he plays and getting about the same amount of time as the "starters".

As far as possible. I expect him playing 150 games this year. He is good for 500 AB's.

I realize you are talking about opening day roster, but I really don't care about Olt. 9 games doesn't amount to jack for mention, IMHO. Olt is a bench player and if he proves to be decent, he's trade bait, IMHO.

I get that but it would not hut at all if he takes off. His glove is gold glove potential vs Bryant who is passable.

Before demote: .144/.230/.367 180 AB's.
AAA: .302/.348/.585 106 AB's
After promote: .222/.315/.311 45 AB's.

So I see him focusing on making contact in Iowa as his OBA jumped. He could very well put it together this year.

Now lets say he comes out strong the first 3 weeks and Bryant comes up I'm thinking of moving Bryant to LF. Then let Olt's value go up until the trade deadline. At that point Russell should be ready. Trade Olt and push Russell to 3B.

 

[chibears55]

What more do you expect out of a bench? Im not saying they are the best bench in the game but you have power and speed. You have lefties and righties. You have guys who get on base. I dont know where your main issue lies.

who providing the power? Denorfia ? lastella ? Ross ? Sweeney? Alcantara the best of them all and that not alot...

who are the on base guys ? Unless you consider denorfia .320 OBP good.. everyone else i believe was under .300 last year


What I expect from a bench is guys like Valbuena..
AND
Someone you have confidence in getting you a PH late in a close game..
AND
Someone you have confidence in maybe getting a PH HR late in a close game..
AND
Someone you have confidence in that when he starts he not just gonna be an easy out


I have zero confidence in those guys right now providing much of anything off the bench .. let alone come through with a big PH when needed.. Denorfia probably the best of the bunch and that just saying he the tallest midget. .

Those 5 probably combined to hit .230 last year if that and that with Denorfia hitting .270...
Alcantara had 10 Hrs,, the others combined probably dont come close to 10..

Their OBP combined, ill be surprise if it was near .300


I just dont see how some of you think these 5 are good players on the bench..

Denorfia is ok.. Alcantara a rookie.. the other 3 are useless

 

[chibears55]

Gotcha, but he's still a "starter" in a sense then right? Basically taking a turn at every position he plays and getting about the same amount of time as the "starters".

Besides possibly taking over for Baez at 2B, who would Alcantara start over to get 500 AB ?

Bryant ? No. Castro ? No.
Fowler? Platoon, depending on how Fowler plays

Unless someone struggles and Alcantara hits better then he did last season, i dont see him getting more then 200 -250 AB..

 

[SilenceS]

who providing the power? Denorfia ? lastella ? Ross ? Sweeney? Alcantara the best of them all and that not alot...

who are the on base guys ? Unless you consider denorfia .320 OBP good.. everyone else i believe was under .300 last year


What I expect from a bench is guys like Valbuena..
AND
Someone you have confidence in getting you a PH late in a close game..
AND
Someone you have confidence in maybe getting a PH HR late in a close game..
AND
Someone you have confidence in that when he starts he not just gonna be an easy out


I have zero confidence in those guys right now providing much of anything off the bench .. let alone come through with a big PH when needed.. Denorfia probably the best of the bunch and that just saying he the tallest midget. .

Those 5 probably combined to hit .230 last year if that and that with Denorfia hitting .270...
Alcantara had 10 Hrs,, the others combined probably dont come close to 10..

Their OBP combined, ill be surprise if it was near .300


I just dont see how some of you think these 5 are good players on the bench..

Denorfia is ok.. Alcantara a rookie.. the other 3 are useless

Couple of things, 1. Olt has a ton of power. He may strike out but the power is very real. 2. LaStella is an OBP machine. e hits .251 in limites at bats and had a .320 something OBP. 3. Coughlan/Defornia is nothing to sneeze at. 4. Sweeney is a great 5th OF. 5. Ross was signed for LEster and he isnt good. 6. Alcantara is a switch hitter with pop. I think you are way overthinking this. They are not starters. They are a bench for a reason. Show me another team that has a bench full of starters? The Cubs have more balance on their bench then I have seen in years. Tuthfully, our bench would have started 2 years ago for this team. I think you are out of sorts on this.

 

[CSF77]

Say Olt holds his own and they move Bryant to LF.

Bench:
Alcantara (#1 bench guy)
LaStella: UI
Denorfia RH OF
Coghlan LH OF
Ross C

Line up:
LF: Bryant
CF: Fowler
RF: Soler
3B: Olt
SS: Castro
2B: Baez
1B: Rizzo
C: Montenero

I think they could go with 1 more and use Castillo as a PH/back up catcher. He would be fine in that role as he hits LH pitching well. That is 14 position players.

Rotation:
Lester
Arrieta
Hammel
Wood
Hendricks

Pen:
Rondon
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Motte

Leaves 1 spot for Wada/Turner/Schlitter/Jackson/Doubront

I'm still wondering why they committed cash to Wada/Wood/Turner etc as they are pretty much over loaded.

IMO they need to trade Castillo, Wood and Jackson. They have Wada and Turner to fight over the 5th spot in the rotation (even though I feel Wood will bounce back/As I was figuring he has been hanging with Lester/was with him when he hit a hole in one/picking his brain on pitching etc)

Regardless the bench is a minor concern. Rounding out the #5 spot and sorting the pen. Baez/Olt are bigger questions going on.

 

[chibears55]

Couple of things, 1. Olt has a ton of power. He may strike out but the power is very real. 2. LaStella is an OBP machine. e hits .251 in limites at bats and had a .320 something OBP. 3. Coughlan/Defornia is nothing to sneeze at. 4. Sweeney is a great 5th OF. 5. Ross was signed for LEster and he isnt good. 6. Alcantara is a switch hitter with pop. I think you are way overthinking this. They are not starters. They are a bench for a reason. Show me another team that has a bench full of starters? The Cubs have more balance on their bench then I have seen in years. Tuthfully, our bench would have started 2 years ago for this team. I think you are out of sorts on this.

Olt may not even be on team once bryant comes up unless they go with 11 pitchers. ..

La Stella ... I bet he wont even be on team in 2nd half of season. ..

I said denorfia was ok...

Sweeney and ross.. garbage

Alcantara. . We have to see how he bounces back, maybe he will be better as a role player then everyday



Denorfia is the best if this group.. a .270 hitter , after him it goes way down hill based on what they done the last yr or 2..
I think your hoping these guys are what you want them to be... if these guys were starters 2 yrs ago.. 100 losses easy...


I understand it just the bench... I just look at these guys and what they've done and dont see much production from them when needed as a group. .

Most teams , especially contending ones have at least 1 or 2 guys they can strongly count on to spot start or fill in a couple games if a starter injured and produce ...

Just don't see any of these guys we have that they can feel strongly enough to count on like that and will produce..

 

[CSF77]

Olt may not even be on team once bryant comes up unless they go with 11 pitchers. ..

La Stella ... I bet he wont even be on team in 2nd half of season. ..

I said denorfia was ok...

Sweeney and ross.. garbage

Alcantara. . We have to see how he bounces back, maybe he will be better as a role player then everyday



Denorfia is the best if this group.. a .270 hitter , after him it goes way down hill based on what they done the last yr or 2..
I think your hoping these guys are what you want them to be... if these guys were starters 2 yrs ago.. 100 losses easy...


I understand it just the bench... I just look at these guys and what they've done and dont see much production from them when needed as a group. .

Most teams , especially contending ones have at least 1 or 2 guys they can strongly count on to spot start or fill in a couple games if a starter injured and produce ...

Just don't see any of these guys we have that they can feel strongly enough to count on like that and will produce..

They have 1 in Alcantara. LaStella has put up strong OBA. I wouldn't count him out. I'm not a fan of Ross but if Lester wanted Ross on his days I'm not going to argue what the ace wants. My opinion is they retain Castillo for RH PH and starting vs LHSP (not on Lester's day). Ross was a lux signing IMO.

 

[chibears55]

They have 1 in Alcantara. LaStella has put up strong OBA. I wouldn't count him out. I'm not a fan of Ross but if Lester wanted Ross on his days I'm not going to argue what the ace wants. My opinion is they retain Castillo for RH PH and starting vs LHSP (not on Lester's day). Ross was a lux signing IMO.

Alcantara hasnt proven anything yet.. he had a nice start and tailed off, so we have no idea how he going to perform on a MLB level yet, let alone as a role player...

I doubt they keep castillo as a 3rd catcher.. and unless they plan on going with just 11 pitchers ( 6 relievers ), then there no room for a 6th bench player. ..

 

[CSF77]

Alcantara hasnt proven anything yet.. he had a nice start and tailed off, so we have no idea how he going to perform on a MLB level yet, let alone as a role player...

I doubt they keep castillo as a 3rd catcher.. and unless they plan on going with just 11 pitchers ( 6 relievers ), then there no room for a 6th bench player. ..

IF: LaStella
OF: Defornia
IF/OF: Alcantara
C: Ross
C/PH: Castillo

I count 5 here. I doubt they keep Sweeney.

 

[Boobaby1]

How about we get to spring training first and see where these guys are?

LaStella is very underrated IMO and will be a good piece for this team moving forward. Alcantara and Baez should improve on their numbers. To what degree is yet to be determined naturally. Olt provides long ball threat always and Ross was brought in for one reason.

The bench will be fine, and if you look back just a couple of years ago when the Cubs had Joe Mather, Sappelt, Campana, Hairston, Barney, Murphy, Bogusevic, Schierholtz, Ransom, McDonald, Gillespie..................Yeah! I will take this team right now.

And unless he gets traded, you can always figure the Cubs have an additional bench bat in Travis Wood.

 

[CSF77]

And unless he gets traded, you can always figure the Cubs have an additional bench bat in Travis Wood.

Fair trade: Wood teaches Lester to hit. Lester helps Wood get back to 2013 production.

To be honest here. If Wood shifts back to 2013 the rotation looks pretty strong.

 

[Boobaby1]

Fair trade: Wood teaches Lester to hit. Lester helps Wood get back to 2013 production.

To be honest here. If Wood shifts back to 2013 the rotation looks pretty strong.

True. But even in mediocrity form, he still provides innings if they need him. The Cubs are fairly deep in pitching considering that last years starters, are this years depth between Wada, Wood, and E-Jax.

You never know what is going to happen up until the season starts. There could be injuries to the staff of the Cubs or other teams. Right now, they have a few cards to play if needed. Albeit not great cards, but cards nonetheless.

It's a lot better than the Rusin, Raley, Villanueva days as these guys were starters at one time or another to go along with Wood and E-Jax. Now, Wood and E-Jax are fighting for a spot or even a job.

My how times change so quickly.

 

[CSF77]

Last year:
Wood: FiP: 4.38 ERA: 5.03
2013: FiP: 3.89 ERA: 3.11

I've read that he had problems locating his fastball. That was the real problem.

BB/9 2014: 3.94
BB/9 2013: 2.97 So he jumped there.

2013 BABIP: .248 (Was lucky) 2014: .320 (not so lucky) League avg was .296.

So if he can be league avg in BABIP and get his BB/9 in line he would fall in around a 4.00 ERA. His FIP suggests that he is a 4.00 FIP guy on avg. Which is league avg. (IE #4 starter).

Jackson at 11 mil should not be in jeopardy of losing his job to a rookie (one that lacks TOR talent at that) The fact that he is (and 2 years in a row at that) should signal a contract buy out. I do not see him finding sucess all of a sudden due to a new catcher of Maddon as his manager. The fact that Bosio has fixed pitchers around him and he has gotten worse should signal that he is not that good anymore. (at best he was a league #4 anyways)

 

[Boobaby1]

Last year:
Wood: FiP: 4.38 ERA: 5.03
2013: FiP: 3.89 ERA: 3.11

I've read that he had problems locating his fastball. That was the real problem.

BB/9 2014: 3.94
BB/9 2013: 2.97 So he jumped there.

2013 BABIP: .248 (Was lucky) 2014: .320 (not so lucky) League avg was .296.

So if he can be league avg in BABIP and get his BB/9 in line he would fall in around a 4.00 ERA. His FIP suggests that he is a 4.00 FIP guy on avg. Which is league avg. (IE #4 starter).

Jackson at 11 mil should not be in jeopardy of losing his job to a rookie (one that lacks TOR talent at that) The fact that he is (and 2 years in a row at that) should signal a contract buy out. I do not see him finding sucess all of a sudden due to a new catcher of Maddon as his manager. The fact that Bosio has fixed pitchers around him and he has gotten worse should signal that he is not that good anymore. (at best he was a league #4 anyways)

I am by no means saying he will be anything, but Montero is on record stating that he had to constantly stay on E-Jax as he would go astray if he didn't. I would personally like to deal him, but at worst case scenario, if E-Jax can eat innings if the Cubs are getting blown out or come in for a couple of outs to get it into the specialists hands, he still has some value.

And like I said, ANY pitcher(s) for ANY team can go down out ANY time.

 

[CSF77]

I am by no means saying he will be anything, but Montero is on record stating that he had to constantly stay on E-Jax as he would go astray if he didn't. I would personally like to deal him, but at worst case scenario, if E-Jax can eat innings if the Cubs are getting blown out or come in for a couple of outs to get it into the specialists hands, he still has some value.

And like I said, ANY pitcher(s) for ANY team can go down out ANY time.

Rotation:

Lester
Arrieta
Hammel
(LH): Wood/Wada/Doubront/Jokivich
(RH): Hendricks/Turner/Jackson

That I believe is the competition going into S/T. I believe that is the pecking order also.

 

[Boobaby1]

Rotation:

Lester
Arrieta
Hammel
(LH): Wood/Wada/Doubront/Jokivich
(RH): Hendricks/Turner/Jackson

That I believe is the competition going into S/T. I believe that is the pecking order also.

And out of the last two spots, you have proven pitchers mainly in Wood, Wada, Hendricks, and E-Jax.

There is some depth in the staff.

If and when the Cubs get another TOR pitcher, coupled with the possible emergence of Edwards is when this Cubs team will be very strong from top to bottom.

 

[brett05]

And out of the last two spots, you have proven pitchers mainly in Wood, Wada, Hendricks, and E-Jax.

There is some depth in the staff.

If and when the Cubs get another TOR pitcher, coupled with the possible emergence of Edwards is when this Cubs team will be very strong from top to bottom.

Possibly. The window is small though as Lester and Arrietta are getting older.

 

[CSF77]

Johnny Cueto (30)
Yovani Gallardo (30)
Mat Latos (28)
Mike Leake (28)

These are the guys that they should be targeting. Price is going to command 200+ mil. Not so sure they are going to blow up payroll that much.

The Reds let go of Latos as they chose Cueto as the guy they were going to retain. The question is if they can pay what he will command. He is worth Scherzer $$$ but I could see a Scherzer type of deal where it is paid off after his retirement. That deal opened up the doors for small markets to retain their star players.

I wouldn't hold my breath on Edwards or any prospect yet. Until they are proven. Too many cases of what if's never panning out or injured (Cory Leubke for one/Mark Prior and the list goes on/ Add Rich Hill, ya never became what we hoped)

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Johnny Cueto (30)
Yovani Gallardo (30)
Mat Latos (28)
Mike Leake (28)

These are the guys that they should be targeting. Price is going to command 200+ mil. Not so sure they are going to blow up payroll that much.

The Reds let go of Latos as they chose Cueto as the guy they were going to retain. The question is if they can pay what he will command. He is worth Scherzer $$$ but I could see a Scherzer type of deal where it is paid off after his retirement. That deal opened up the doors for small markets to retain their star players.

I wouldn't hold my breath on Edwards or any prospect yet. Until they are proven. Too many cases of what if's never panning out or injured (Cory Leubke for one/Mark Prior and the list goes on/ Add Rich Hill, ya never became what we hoped)

I think you can probably call Edwards about as close to a can't miss pitcher as you're going to find, but what his upside is has yet to be determined. He has the skill set to be a #1 or #2 starter, but does he have the endurance? He could also be a closer but that takes a mental aspect that not everyone possesses. He could be just a bullpen guy though. We'll see.

You didn't mention Doug Fister on your list and I think with his grounball stuff he's a good fir for Wrigley. What I really want is for them to make a deal for a young pitcher like Sonny Gray or Noah Syndergaard. As you said Price and Zimmermann are going to get Scherzer money, maybe Cueto will too.

 

[CSF77]

I think you can probably call Edwards about as close to a can't miss pitcher as you're going to find, but what his upside is has yet to be determined. He has the skill set to be a #1 or #2 starter, but does he have the endurance? He could also be a closer but that takes a mental aspect that not everyone possesses. He could be just a bullpen guy though. We'll see.

You didn't mention Doug Fister on your list and I think with his grounball stuff he's a good fir for Wrigley. What I really want is for them to make a deal for a young pitcher like Sonny Gray or Noah Syndergaard. As you said Price and Zimmermann are going to get Scherzer money, maybe Cueto will too.

I kept Fister off the list because I feel Hendrick's top end will match. The rotation needs diversity vs the the same type day after day.

I felt the same about Rich Hill. Nasty curve like Zito's with a 91 mph fastball. He looked like a TOR. Never panned out.

We learn from the past.