2015 Spring Training Thread

[Parade_Rain]

Yu Darvish facing Tommy John surgery, possibly.

I think Edwin Jackson would fit perfectly there.

And by "fit perfectly", I mean only that Cub fans would love for it to happen.

C'mon, Rangers. We'll even give you Olt back.

Perhaps you said this in jest about Olt, but if that's the way you have to unload Jackson, I would do that trade. Also, there is a reason Alcantara has been practicing some 3B. I wonder if Olt is on the trading block. He is seemingly blocked by Bryant.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Perhaps you said this in jest about Olt, but if that's the way you have to unload Jackson, I would do that trade. Also, there is a reason Alcantara has been practicing some 3B. I wonder if Olt is on the trading block. He is seemingly blocked by Bryant.

Olt is a bust, so can we stop with the blind hope? He's a AAAA player with nothing particularly special about him. Cut your losses and move on.

But back to this, the Rangers are being linked again to Cole Hamels post bad news for Darvish. They were linked to him in January, but like most teams, talks fell apart because the asking price is considered too high.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

No, you are over emotional and this post shows it. Whats funny is I am not a Sabers guy at all. I understand Sabers and realize how they help in evaluating. It seems like you do not and think everyone that does is a saber geek. I suggest calming down and stop being so emotional over every post. Schwarber grand slam means absolutely nothing. Evaluate him during his actual season. You are the same guy that didnt want Lester over 1 start. You are over emotional.

What? A meatball cubs fan?

Nope. Never seen one of those.......

 

[TL1961]

Perhaps you said this in jest about Olt, but if that's the way you have to unload Jackson, I would do that trade. Also, there is a reason Alcantara has been practicing some 3B. I wonder if Olt is on the trading block. He is seemingly blocked by Bryant.

I would love nothing more than to see Olt become a player with value. He was considered a pretty high prospect at one point. But realistically, i don't expect it to happen. And if it unloads Jackson's salary, it would be worth it.

As it is, we are paying both of them, and may wind up cutting either or both, with no salary relief.

But I am not realistically expecting Texas or anyone else to do this. That was in jest.

 

[chibears55]

Importance of Spring Training. ..

Wins and Losses, i care less until the final 5 games then i look at it as being good to win those because you sometime see the regulars play a bit more .....

As far as this cubs team goes , we all know pretty much who going north no matter what they do in ST.. the only unknown right now is the no.5 starter and a couple bullpen guys on pitching side and probably the last bench spot...

Seeing Jackson and Castillo having a good ST could help in trades..

Everyone is watching Bryant because even though no matter what he does he going down for 3 weeks and they want to see if he goes crazy if that forces the cubs to bring him north.

Otherwise its good to see the young kids like schwarber, Almora , and the young pitchers do well cause it gives them a bit of confidence as they go back down and work their way up...

 

[JP Hochbaum]

It is best to just measure people based on ceilings and floors, as what is between someones ears determines what level they reach.

With Schwarber I think his ceiling is that of Berkman, Bryant will likely be a .280 BA version of Adam Dunn, and Baez ceiling is Cabrera like with a floor of Mark Reynolds.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Olt is a bust, so can we stop with the blind hope? He's a AAAA player with nothing particularly special about him. Cut your losses and move on.

I'm glad the Bears got a fifth round pick for a player they were going to cut.

 

[TL1961]

It is best to just measure people based on ceilings and floors, as what is between someones ears determines what level they reach.

With Schwarber I think his ceiling is that of Berkman, Bryant will likely be a .280 BA version of Adam Dunne, and Baez ceiling is Cabrera like with a floor of Mark Reynolds.

Bryant is a 280 version of Adam Dunn? Really?

I think most every scout expects more. I guess if you're saying .280 lifetime average and 45 HRs, nobody would complain. But when I hear Adam Dunn as a comparison, I think someone is saying he's a HR or K kind of guy, and I don't know anyone who pictures Bryant as that.

I'll stick with my hope that the most accurate scout is the one who "will be shocked if he doesn't win multiple MVP's".

 

[TL1961]

Cliff Lee already shut down by Phillies. Elbow soreness.

 

[SilenceS]

Bryant is a 280 version of Adam Dunn? Really?

I think most every scout expects more. I guess if you're saying .280 lifetime average and 45 HRs, nobody would complain. But when I hear Adam Dunn as a comparison, I think someone is saying he's a HR or K kind of guy, and I don't know anyone who pictures Bryant as that.

I'll stick with my hope that the most accurate scout is the one who "will be shocked if he doesn't win multiple MVP's".

Its not a bad comparison. He will probably hit for better average but Dunn walked a ton, hit a ton of homers, and struck out a ton. Bryant is like that now. Bryant will K at a pretty big rate, but his walk rate should counter act it.

 

[JP Hochbaum]

Bryant is a 280 version of Adam Dunn? Really?

I think most every scout expects more. I guess if you're saying .280 lifetime average and 45 HRs, nobody would complain. But when I hear Adam Dunn as a comparison, I think someone is saying he's a HR or K kind of guy, and I don't know anyone who pictures Bryant as that.

I'll stick with my hope that the most accurate scout is the one who "will be shocked if he doesn't win multiple MVP's".

Well yeah .280 45 hr's a year is a multiple MVP player, and so far his K/BB rate is pretty much just like Dunn's

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Well yeah .280 45 hr's a year is a multiple MVP player, and so far his K/BB rate is pretty much just like Dunn's

Dunn was a so called "3 outcome" player in that he would homer, walk or strike out. By saying Bryant will hit .280 it puts him out if that group because he's likely to do well with extra base hits. The guy that could very well be a "3 outcome" player is Baez and the fact that he has defensive value as an infielder is why, despite that kind of player falling a out of favor in recent years, is why nobody is even close to giving up on him. I do think you're overestimating Bryant's power a bit and maybe underestimating his average. His ceiling is probably .300/.380/.540 averaging 40 HR/yr.

 

[TL1961]

Well yeah .280 45 hr's a year is a multiple MVP player, and so far his K/BB rate is pretty much just like Dunn's

That was supposed to say 450 HR's - as in lifetime. Nobody would complain with 450, but that's far from 45/yr.

I am looking for results from Bryant better than a typical Adam Dunn season. If that is unrealistic, so be it. I don't think so. Adam Dunn wasn't even an All Star caliber player, let alone MVP material.

 

[beckdawg]

I dont see near the power potential. I see 30ish power in Schwarber. I see 50ish in Bryant or high 40's some years. I think Schwarber will strike out less. I wouldnt call him Bryant IMO, but his bat is really good. He needs to keep his weight in check and the Cubs def. need another power lefty.

I'm not personally saying he's as good as Bryant but if you're someone who does think that you could easily point to Bryant's high K rate and suggest that is an area where Schwarber doesn't have issues. Honestly, the power really doesn't matter to me that much. If Schwarber hits for average and walks at a similar rate to Bryant on the way up you're going to be talking about a pretty sick prospect. Obviously the power potential makes Bryant a bit more special but the average and on base can make that player really productive.

 

[brett05]

To the guys on the bubble/in position battles pre-season football does matter just as Spring Training matters to figure out who that fifth starter will be when breaking camp, etc. To suggest Spring Training matters not at all makes zero sense. In the case of Schwarber it doesn't matter much. They aren't going to change the track he is on simply because of what he does in ST.

No one is saying that though. It's the stats that are meaningless. That's the point.

 

[Parade_Rain]

No one is saying that though. It's the stats that are meaningless. That's the point.

If they were meaningless, someone would already have the fifth starter role, etc. Stats happen based upon performance.

 

[brett05]

If they were meaningless, someone would already have the fifth starter role, etc. Stats happen based upon performance.

Not necessarily. The numbers don't tell you who wins the battle. As a coach I think you know that. Its a lot to do with mechanics.

Especially in AZ where the ball flies and pitchers pitches aren't the same.

EDIT: So meaningless =0? That is probably wrong. Meaningless equal to near zero would be more accurate.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Not necessarily. The numbers don't tell you who wins the battle. As a coach I think you know that. Its a lot to do with mechanics.

Especially in AZ where the ball flies and pitchers pitches aren't the same.

EDIT: So meaningless =0? That is probably wrong. Meaningless equal to near zero would be more accurate.

I can tell you while I don't set my HS batting order based upon stats, that order ended up perfectly squared with batting average. I hadn't even bothered to look at the stats until after the season was over. Stats happen based upon performance. Performance wins the spot. I'm not certain what you mean by mechanics.

 

[brett05]

I can tell you while I don't set my HS batting order based upon stats, that order ended up perfectly squared with batting average. I hadn't even bothered to look at the stats until after the season was over. Stats happen based upon performance. Performance wins the spot. I'm not certain what you mean by mechanics.

Bad choice of words to a degree. Look, Rizzo goes ofer in ST. He's still starting at 1b unless there is something obviously wrong mechanically/injury wise. No matter how Olt hits, he ain't starting 1b.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Bad choice of words to a degree. Look, Rizzo goes ofer in ST. He's still starting at 1b unless there is something obviously wrong mechanically/injury wise. No matter how Olt hits, he ain't starting 1b.

This conversation has already been done over the weekend.