In season thread

[Parade_Rain]

That would be true if it were end of june/july and the 3 been with them since day 1...

Bryant been up a month, russell a week less, Baez in the minors.. its not wholesale position changes, exaggerating a bit...

Baez will go back to where he was all of last yr when he was up, Russell going back to Left side of IF but to 3B, and bryant just going to LF where they probably prefer him to be...
Not like moving a CFer to catch or RFer to short .
Simple move with 3 talented rookies in may, which would probably make their defense better overall. ..

1. Bryant is not getting moved off of 3B this season.
2. The only place Russell moves to this season is SS, if, and only if, Castro is traded.
3. Both Bryant and Russell have proven already that they have MLB sticks. Baez has not done so. That fact alone is why neither will get moved.
4. The hole in the lineup is LF. Unlike the other 2 players you want to move, Baez actually played CF...a lot. Moving to LF temporarily for part of a season isn't a big deal. And he can concentrate on the stick.
5. Your move makes the defense worse. The team is in the hunt.
6. Bryant has proven to be a viable 3B. Why are you interested in negatively impacting his mental focus just to call another player up?

Yikes! Maddon isn't likely to do that. Again, moving that many players at once is an off season maneuver.

 

[beckdawg]

Simple move with 3 talented rookies in may, which would probably make their defense better overall. ..

Still think people are trying to force this. To me the move is to trade Baez(with others) for likely a front line starter and likely an additional bullpen piece. Right now the worst two hitters in the cubs line up by OBP if you exclude Russell's first 5 games are Castro(.302) and Cogs(.279). Everyone else is above .330. The cubs are 5th in the NL in OBP at .324 for the year. And Cogs in particular has hit into some bad sequencing. He's actually hit the ball harder than last year if you look at his batted ball stats. So it is entirely probably he will be much better the rest of the way. But even if he's only say .250/.315 he's not a terrible 8th hitter and Castro is a former all-star player. In other words, they got plenty of hitting.

Additionally, if you were really forced to make a move it's entirely possible you could bring Schwarber up around the deadline. Bryant who was hitting at a similar level ended up with 297 PAs in AA. Fangraphs has him at 158 right now so you're talking about another 25-30 games or so before they like would call him up to AAA anyways which would probably be around the start of July. There's also the possibility of Alcantara turning things around. And they could always add a lessor piece at the deadline.

 

[chibears55]

Still think people are trying to force this. To me the move is to trade Baez(with others) for likely a front line starter and likely an additional bullpen piece. Right now the worst two hitters in the cubs line up by OBP if you exclude Russell's first 5 games are Castro(.302) and Cogs(.279). Everyone else is above .330. The cubs are 5th in the NL in OBP at .324 for the year. And Cogs in particular has hit into some bad sequencing. He's actually hit the ball harder than last year if you look at his batted ball stats. So it is entirely probably he will be much better the rest of the way. But even if he's only say .250/.315 he's not a terrible 8th hitter and Castro is a former all-star player. In other words, they got plenty of hitting.

Additionally, if you were really forced to make a move it's entirely possible you could bring Schwarber up around the deadline. Bryant who was hitting at a similar level ended up with 297 PAs in AA. Fangraphs has him at 158 right now so you're talking about another 25-30 games or so before they like would call him up to AAA anyways which would probably be around the start of July. There's also the possibility of Alcantara turning things around. And they could always add a lessor piece at the deadline.

Baez just may be the main piece to a big deadline trade ..

If not traded, Baez will be called up before Schwarber who still catching in AA and has just been reported a mainstay behind the plate for what it worth. . Alcantara still struggling a bit in Iowa.. there no one else in Iowa worth a call up..

All im saying is if they plan on making a change with Cogs soon, baez will most likely be the guy they plug into the lineup next... Wheather its 2B or LF depends on Maddon who we all know loves his defense at 2B...

 

[SilenceS]

If Schwarber stays at catcher, he isn't coming up to late next season.

I have read from numerous Cubs insiders that the Cubs would put Bryant in left over anyone else.

I don't know where these trades are coming from but its awful early. Baez is starting to force the hand now and people need to realize if the Cubs want something. It isn't just as easy as saying hey you can have Baez. A team may want Russell, Castro, or others. No one is untradeable and one is no bigger then the other except Castro because he is proven. Also, I can see Alcantara being gone before Baez. He is from the old regime as well.

Also, lets pump the brakes on Russell. He is still carrying a high BABIP and striking out over 36% of the time. Like the kid and super young, but he is not without his concerns.

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: Baez with another homer ... #Cubs https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/602542524469628929

 

[TL1961]

1. Bryant is not getting moved off of 3B this season.
2. The only place Russell moves to this season is SS, if, and only if, Castro is traded.
3. Both Bryant and Russell have proven already that they have MLB sticks. Baez has not done so. That fact alone is why neither will get moved.
4. The hole in the lineup is LF. Unlike the other 2 players you want to move, Baez actually played CF...a lot. Moving to LF temporarily for part of a season isn't a big deal. And he can concentrate on the stick.
5. Your move makes the defense worse. The team is in the hunt.
6. Bryant has proven to be a viable 3B. Why are you interested in negatively impacting his mental focus just to call another player up?

Yikes! Maddon isn't likely to do that. Again, moving that many players at once is an off season maneuver.

LF is not the only hole. We aren't getting enough from RF, though we expect Soler to improve with time.

And as hesitant as some are to admit it, our SS is hitting <.265 while playing the worst defense in the league at the position. We say he is "better", which is actually true, but of all NL SS, he is the worst. And is not hitting anywhere close to enough to offset that. a .302 OBP doesn't cut it. Way too many times he is hitting ground balls. Avg is poor. OPS is poor. And this is in a year in which defenders say he is having a good year. It simply isn't so.

 

[TL1961]

Baez just may be the main piece to a big deadline trade ..

If not traded, Baez will be called up before Schwarber who still catching in AA and has just been reported a mainstay behind the plate for what it worth. . Alcantara still struggling a bit in Iowa.. there no one else in Iowa worth a call up..

All im saying is if they plan on making a change with Cogs soon, baez will most likely be the guy they plug into the lineup next... Wheather its 2B or LF depends on Maddon who we all know loves his defense at 2B...

Let's get Baez back in this lineup.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Castro is not the worst SS in the league. This stuff about Castro is getting beyond ridiculous.

 

[chibears55]

@TheCCO: Javier Baez hit second HR of the day ... #Cubs https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/602560224445075456

Wont be much longer.... nope

 

[SilenceS]

@TheCCO: Javier Baez hit second HR of the day ... #Cubs https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/602560224445075456

Wont be much longer.... nope

It can't. He is destroying AAA and I have watched a lot of his games. His two strike approach has been so much better. I have watched him hit singles with two strikes. He does swing for the fence every now and then but he is so much more controlled


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[chibears55]

It can't. He is destroying AAA and I have watched a lot of his games. His two strike approach has been so much better. I have watched him hit singles with two strikes. He does swing for the fence every now and then but he is so much more controlled


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The kid is too talented to not take that next step. .

I think the weight of constantly having his sister on his mind ended up being too much for him. . We as fans sometimes forget these athletes have private lives and expect them to be on top of their game everyday. ..

I have no doubt he dedicating his career to her and has all his focus on being the best he can be now...

 

[SilenceS]

The kid is too talented to not take that next step. .

I think the weight of constantly having his sister on his mind ended up being too much for him. . We as fans sometimes forget these athletes have private lives and expect them to be on top of their game everyday. ..

I have no doubt he dedicating his career to her and has all his focus on being the best he can be now...

I watched a doc the other day about Allen iverson the other day. The best thing he said. The day you realize we are human like you is the day me and you will get along. He was talking to a media guy. Fans and media alike do think athletes are invincible. No, they bleed. Hurt, and learn the same. Baez talent is incredible


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[2323]

LF is not the only hole. We aren't getting enough from RF, though we expect Soler to improve with time.

And as hesitant as some are to admit it, our SS is hitting <.265 while playing the worst defense in the league at the position. We say he is "better", which is actually true, but of all NL SS, he is the worst. And is not hitting anywhere close to enough to offset that. a .302 OBP doesn't cut it. Way too many times he is hitting ground balls. Avg is poor. OPS is poor. And this is in a year in which defenders say he is having a good year. It simply isn't so.

I think and hope Castro remaining with Cubs depends on improvements with Baez.

 

[beckdawg]

Also, I can see Alcantara being gone before Baez. He is from the old regime as well.

Have to be playing well to warrant a trade as silly as that sounds. Right now Alcantara wont get you much. Baez might. As for trading Russell or Castro, I'm not going to talk like i know for certain what their plans for them are but it seems like they have made it clear Russell is off the table. And given Castro is one of the few vets it seems like they'd also have to get something fairly amazing to even talk about trading him.

Ultimately the thing about the deadline is the teams trading away can't always get what they want. They are limited by what's out there and often there's far more pressure on the team trading away to get the most value they can than the teams trying to trade for someone. For example, let's say you're a team with the best available player. Who is seriously going to have a talent better than Baez as a realistic trade offer? Just doing a quick glance at the top 20 prospects, the only names I've even heard mentioned in possible trades are Syndergaard, Daniel Norris, Blake Swihart and Henry Owens. Last season when Baez was still on top 100 lists he was almost universally higher rated. Baez would arguably be close to the value Russell was and no one else could touch the offer the A's made to the Cubs.

I just don't see how you get a trade done for a true front line starter without someone like Baez. Vogelbach, Johnson and something else might get you a #3 starter but it's not going to get you someone like Hamels. Perhaps that trade never comes but it seems to be where we are going.

 

[chibears55]

These next 30 games will determine the direction the cubs are going to take as far as do they give up top prospect(s) to get a major piece or make minor moves and wait til off season. ..

Looking at schedule these next 15 games are going to show us alot about this team. .
7 vs Nationals 3 vs Royals 2 vs Tigers and 3 vs Marlins
If they win 7 or 8 here, ill be happy

 

[Parade_Rain]

They need to hang right about .500 through that stretch.

 

[chibears55]

Anyone think putting Castro in LF for the rest of this season something to try..
Baez 2B. Russell SS

I think he might handle it ok out there

 

[CSF77]

Anyone think putting Castro in LF for the rest of this season something to try..
Baez 2B. Russell SS

I think he might handle it ok out there

Doubt it. I still think Schwarber will be out there later year with Baez traded for a TOR. I would be surprised if they moved Castro off SS. Maybe to 2B with Russell taking over SS next year. Even that might be a reach.

 

[CSF77]

Have to be playing well to warrant a trade as silly as that sounds. Right now Alcantara wont get you much. Baez might. As for trading Russell or Castro, I'm not going to talk like i know for certain what their plans for them are but it seems like they have made it clear Russell is off the table. And given Castro is one of the few vets it seems like they'd also have to get something fairly amazing to even talk about trading him.

Ultimately the thing about the deadline is the teams trading away can't always get what they want. They are limited by what's out there and often there's far more pressure on the team trading away to get the most value they can than the teams trying to trade for someone. For example, let's say you're a team with the best available player. Who is seriously going to have a talent better than Baez as a realistic trade offer? Just doing a quick glance at the top 20 prospects, the only names I've even heard mentioned in possible trades are Syndergaard, Daniel Norris, Blake Swihart and Henry Owens. Last season when Baez was still on top 100 lists he was almost universally higher rated. Baez would arguably be close to the value Russell was and no one else could touch the offer the A's made to the Cubs.

I just don't see how you get a trade done for a true front line starter without someone like Baez. Vogelbach, Johnson and something else might get you a #3 starter but it's not going to get you someone like Hamels. Perhaps that trade never comes but it seems to be where we are going.

Alcantara has picked his BA up .050. .252 now. So something is clicking with him. He has a solid skill set and him hitting anything near .280 makes him desirable.

 

[chibears55]

Doubt it. I still think Schwarber will be out there later year with Baez traded for a TOR. I would be surprised if they moved Castro off SS. Maybe to 2B with Russell taking over SS next year. Even that might be a reach.

They dont have time to wait til later for maybe schwarber. plus theyve given no indication of schwarber moving to LF, its been all about him sticking at catcher ..

With Cogs struggling and Baez hitting , their going to have to make a move sooner rather then later