2015 Spring Training Thread

[chibears55]

Attendance records aren't going to be great in April anyway. Mostly day games and the kiddies are still in school.

And no Bleachers to sit in...

 

[Bear Pride]

Many around here and many in the professional world think it's foolish before ST

You have no idea what would have happened. Hayward so far is a bust bat wise with his potential. Most studs sign thru the extra year...see Trout, pujols as two examples


It hurts the business by keeping him down instead of setting records with attendance in April. Only time will tell if they just miss.

While his d needs work everyone pretty much agrees he can work on that at the big league level

Seriously dude? Attendance records? W/o the RF bleachers? If your not bitching about our C, your complaining about our management. In a ST thread? Don't you have a Sox ST thread you can peruse? Seriously, all you do is spew negative shit here. It's a ST thread dude.

 

[chibears55]

Travis Wood has the upper hand even more now for the 5th spot with Turner and Wada hurting ...

 

[Parade_Rain]

And no Bleachers to sit in...

Excellent point, cb55.

 

[TL1961]

The question is not who they are close to. It is are they close to a WC or HFA. If they are and miss out because of keeping who arguably is their most valuable player down for a year that will never ever be seen it is foolish.

C'mon already.

When it was mentioned that Maddon could be worth 5 games over the course of the 162 game season, some laughed and said that is way too much to figure.

But now Bryant being in the minors for two weeks is going to mean a 2 or 3 game swing? If he accounts for 2 or 3 wins every 14 - 17 games, bring him up and start printing playoff tickets, right?

If he alone wins the club 2 or 3 more games by Mid April, he is league MVP.

 

[TL1961]

I never said Trout was repped by Boras.

The risk of losing something that rarely happens?..AKA the playoffs? For a year that will never ever come? No thanks. This is one of the Negatives for this management.

You keep saying that if they keep him down to get an extra year of control that the extra year "will never come". But you are assuming it, and never explaining why.

Are you assuming they extend him somewhere and therefore never need that extra year? If so, not having that year costs them a bundle, as they would re-do his contract a year earlier than if they did have the extra year.

Are you assuming he won't sign an extension because he's a Boras client? If that was the case, the extra year would be that much more important.

Here's an example for you to look at: Jason Heyward. Atlanta traded him prior to 2015 because it was his last year and they didn't want to lose him for nothing in return. They played him opening day his first year. Had they held him down, they would have had him under control for 2016.

So by not holding him down for a measly two weeks, they essentially gave up TWO years of having him - two years of his prime.

 

[TL1961]

Well, I see the Heyward example was already discussed.

Heyward, who you describe as a "bust with the bat" has 84 HR by age 25 (one of best in baseball) and has a ridiculous career War already (though I have to admit I argue that his War is way overstated - whoever figures a RF wins so many games with defense is nuts).

But Heyward is considered Top 45 player in baseball on the list I read this offseason, and the Braves had to get rid of him.

Brett, you keep saying "the extra year doesn't come" because they sign extensions. But the extensions - and the corresponding much higher salary - start a year earlier because of the number of years of control!!!

 

[justaChifan]

First real time AB by Kris Bryant I've seen. Smoked it, unfortunately to the LFer. The Kid can swing.
Cubs just expanded the lead to 5-1.
It's on Comcast right now..... Oh, sorry if you don't get Comcast. I guess thats one of the benefits of actually living in the Chicago area and rooting for your team.
To the "long suffering" distant fans, there looks to be hope.

 

[Boobaby1]

Attendance records aren't going to be great in April anyway. Mostly day games and the kiddies are still in school.

And it's freaking cold in Chicago at that time.

 

[SilenceS]

First real time AB by Kris Bryant I've seen. Smoked it, unfortunately to the LFer. The Kid can swing.
Cubs just expanded the lead to 5-1.
It's on Comcast right now..... Oh, sorry if you don't get Comcast. I guess thats one of the benefits of actually living in the Chicago area and rooting for your team.
To the "long suffering" distant fans, there looks to be hope.

MLB package works just the same. :shrug:

 

[Bear Pride]

First real time AB by Kris Bryant I've seen. Smoked it, unfortunately to the LFer. The Kid can swing.
Cubs just expanded the lead to 5-1.
It's on Comcast right now..... Oh, sorry if you don't get Comcast. I guess thats one of the benefits of actually living in the Chicago area and rooting for your team.
To the "long suffering" distant fans, there looks to be hope.

What exactly do you mean by 'the "long suffering" distant fans'? :dunno:

 

[JP Hochbaum]

C'mon already.

When it was mentioned that Maddon could be worth 5 games over the course of the 162 game season, some laughed and said that is way too much to figure.

But now Bryant being in the minors for two weeks is going to mean a 2 or 3 game swing? If he accounts for 2 or 3 wins every 14 - 17 games, bring him up and start printing playoff tickets, right?

If he alone wins the club 2 or 3 more games by Mid April, he is league MVP.

Not to mention it would mean his WAR is nearing 20 for the season in that span.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

It is a business and needs to be treated as such. 9 games is not going to make or break the Cubs without Bryant, and from what I gather, his defense still needs work too. People need to temper the emotions and think long term. This is the year they are suppose to make some strides. It is not as if the Cubs were a 90 win team last year.

Agree with this. If Bryant is the real deal; then Boras, representing him will negotiate his next big deal you worry about that when you get there. We're talking several years, guys.

Don't expect a Rizzo or Castro team friendly deal. This kid will get Trout money if he's what we all hope. The Cubs gotta decide if he get Miggy money or becomes a Yankee.

Because now we have 30 mil a year players, albeit recent and very few (Kershaw, Miggy, Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Stanton in a couple years). Within 5 years do any of you guys think we'll have the first $40 million dollar per year player?

 

[theberserkfury]

Agree with this. If Bryant is the real deal; then Boras, representing him will negotiate his next big deal you worry about that when you get there. We're talking several years, guys.

Don't expect a Rizzo or Castro team friendly deal. This kid will get Trout money if he's what we all hope. The Cubs gotta decide if he get Miggy money or becomes a Yankee.

Because now we have 30 mil a year players, albeit recent and very few (Kershaw, Miggy, Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Stanton in a couple years). Within 5 years do any of you guys think we'll have the first $40 million dollar per year player?

It seems like brett's the only one expecting a team-friendly deal... I think the rest of us are pretty much on the same page.

I'm not sure I see the first $40-million-a-year-man in 5 years... I lean towards more like 10. But who knows...

 

[SilenceS]

Bryant breaking camp is a dumb business move. I bet Kris Bryant even knows that.

 

[brett05]

Attendance records aren't going to be great in April anyway. Mostly day games and the kiddies are still in school.

The record may not be great but attendance in April is huge business wise

 

[brett05]

And no Bleachers to sit in...

Given its what two to three thousand seats not a big loss which is why a Bryant would mean even more [emoji2]

 

[brett05]

C'mon already.

When it was mentioned that Maddon could be worth 5 games over the course of the 162 game season, some laughed and said that is way too much to figure.

But now Bryant being in the minors for two weeks is going to mean a 2 or 3 game swing? If he accounts for 2 or 3 wins every 14 - 17 games, bring him up and start printing playoff tickets, right?

If he alone wins the club 2 or 3 more games by Mid April, he is league MVP.

He might be in the Albert mold. His projections are greater at the same point

 

[brett05]

You keep saying that if they keep him down to get an extra year of control that the extra year "will never come". But you are assuming it, and never explaining why.

Are you assuming they extend him somewhere and therefore never need that extra year? If so, not having that year costs them a bundle, as they would re-do his contract a year earlier than if they did have the extra year.

Are you assuming he won't sign an extension because he's a Boras client? If that was the case, the extra year would be that much more important.

Here's an example for you to look at: Jason Heyward. Atlanta traded him prior to 2015 because it was his last year and they didn't want to lose him for nothing in return. They played him opening day his first year. Had they held him down, they would have had him under control for 2016.

So by not holding him down for a measly two weeks, they essentially gave up TWO years of having him - two years of his prime.

We addressed this already. Hayward that is...no need to repeat

Bryant isn't getting less money by sitting nine games. He either can play and will be paid or he can't and won't. I'd say there is little chance that he plays well and goes year by year as history of not only Boras but the Cubs shows that is simply not true

 

[brett05]

It seems like brett's the only one expecting a team-friendly deal... I think the rest of us are pretty much on the same page.

I'm not sure I see the first $40-million-a-year-man in 5 years... I lean towards more like 10. But who knows...

Never once said or indicated anything toward team friendly