Cubs get Rizzo in exchange for Cashner

[Rice Cube]

Thanks to our friends at MLBDepthCharts.com, if the season started today:
1 RF David DeJesus
2 SS Starlin Castro
3 CF Marlon Byrd
4 1B Bryan LaHair
5 LF Alfonso Soriano
6 C Geovany Soto
7 3B Ian Stewart
8 2B Darwin Barney

C Welington Castillo
IF/OF Blake DeWitt
IF/OF Jeff Baker
OF Tony Campana
OF Reed Johnson

1 RHP Matt Garza
2 RHP Ryan Dempster
3 RHP Randy Wells
4 RHP Chris Volstad
5 LHP Travis Wood

CL RHP Carlos Marmol
SU RHP Chris Carpenter
SU RHP Jeff Samardzija
MID LHP Scott Maine
MID RHP Manuel Corpas
MID LHP James Russell
LR RHP Lendy Castillo

They could probably squeeze 70 wins out of that mess

 

[DewsSox79]

"R-I-Z-Z-O! Open your fucking ears, jackass!"

love the jerky boys ref

 

[brett05]

They could probably squeeze 70 wins out of that mess

Over 200 games you might be right

 

[Rice Cube]

Over 200 games you might be right

O ye of little faith.

 

[brett05]

O ye of little faith.

Just more realistic is all. Christmas is over so I'm not pouring Kool aid.

That lineup and d us worse than last year. They won 71 last year. At best they win 60

 

[X]

Just more realistic is all. Christmas is over so I'm not pouring Kool aid.

That lineup and d us worse than last year. They won 71 last year. At best they win 60

I think you overestimate the rest of the division.

St. Louis is going to have a new coach, new pitching coach, and new best player. They arguably had the best of each in baseball.

Milwaukee is losing Fielder, and won't have Braun for the first 50.

Cincinnati is going to be good, or at least should be better than the rest of the division, but the whole division took a step back this off-season.

 

[Rice Cube]

Just more realistic is all. Christmas is over so I'm not pouring Kool aid.

That lineup and d us worse than last year. They won 71 last year. At best they win 60

The Astros are projected to win 60. I think the Cubs can snag a few off the Astros. Cubs are still projected at 70-74 wins. They might overperform, they might completely suck. But 70 seems about right. The 71 last year was partly because of injuries and partly due to bad luck, but mostly because they did suck. They were projected around 75-79 last year.

I think I'm still comfortable setting the over/under at 70.

 

[dabynsky]

Just more realistic is all. Christmas is over so I'm not pouring Kool aid.

That lineup and d us worse than last year. They won 71 last year. At best they win 60

How is the defense worse than last year with this lineup? It is the same lineup except for 3 players. 2 of them are better defensively than the players they are replacing (Stewart and DeJesus) and 1 is worse (LaHair). I don't see how they got worse on defense. Now hitting is another story...

 

[brett05]

Brian makes Castro worse unfortunately. I'd rather have Ramirez at 3G glove wise. David is better than fuku?

 

[brett05]

Anyone got a Vegas line on wins for 2012?

 

[bleacherbum54]

Anyone got a Vegas line on wins for 2012?

why would a line be out yet we dont even have our roster set

 

[brett05]

They come out as soon as the regular season ends as do world series odds

 

[dabynsky]

Brian makes Castro worse unfortunately. I'd rather have Ramirez at 3G glove wise. David is better than fuku?

I might buy the first line and that is about it. Stewart is clearly a better defender at 3B. Stewart is usually an average defender while Ramirez is typically a below average defender. I always thought Fukudome played a solid right field, but statistics and a lot of chatter was that he was below average at the position. DeJesus isn't amazing, especially arm strength wise, but he covers a lot of ground in right field.

As it stands now I see the Cubs upgrading two spots and downgrading in one spot from a defensive standpoint. Moving Soriano could result in three spots being upgraded, and just a general improvement of the defense as a whole.

 

[bleacherbum54]

Comcast SportsNet Chicago


Yep they viewed him just like I do a back of the bullpen pitcher. Says they made the trade because a 1B man with legit upside with 6 yrs of control is better than a good back of the pen guy with 5.

 

[X]

Brian makes Castro worse unfortunately.

But experience should cut down on the error total, no?

 

[X]

Nice shot by Deng.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Nice shot by Deng.

Agreed

 

[ZDemp34]

If Hoyer has now traded for Rizzo twice in different cities, he must be pretty good if Hoyer keeps wanting to acquire him.

 

[bleacherbum54]

I have been reading scouting reports and watching some tape. He is left handed but he reminds me of Dlee with his open stance and his good defense. Is that the ceiling for this guy a Derrick Lee?? I honestly have no idea is it higher or lower? It is just who he reminds me of at least in watching him swing and play defense. He needs to shorten his swing a bit wonder how long it will take luckily we have a great hitting coach and he has the work ethic to change.

Obviously ceiling means his full potential which a lot of players never come close too.

Now I get why they say he was a terrible fit for PETCO .....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1icMpCv-uI0[/ame]



[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXdQfp1lGos[/ame]

isnt the best 6?? He seems to have an insane amount of potential in this dudes opinion who is a former
GM.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpvOvei0onk[/ame]


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB0EMUlksjs&feature=related[/ame]

Love his attitude and that chicks Rack!!

 

[brett05]

But experience should cut down on the error total, no?

Perhaps but without a gold glove 1b his error totals would gave been even higher. Castro is still an immature adult. Evidence so far doesn't show maturity coming anytime soon I think