In season thread

[TC in Mississippi]

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

Actually just this past week they've given indications of Schwarber coming up this year and it's clear that it's an organizational message. Jason McCleod, Jaron Madison and even Joe Maddon have all made statements to that effect. I do think they're still counting on him being a catcher but if he comes up this year it will be in LF, maybe with a few games behind the plate to get his feet wet. If he hits and looks to stay maybe he catches twice a week next year and when they're comfortable with him they deal Montero. I don't know, it's going to take some creative thinking to be sure but if Baez is dealt I'd bet on Schwarber moving to AAA and playing some LF there.

 

[CSF77]

If I had to make a prediction: Baez traded at the deadline. Schwarber added for the play off run right before the deadline to max out his AAA time.

137 AB's at AA. Bryant had 248 AB's. So I would expect that to be his max AB's at AA. So about game 70 is where you would expect it. So we are talking about a mid June to early July promotion. And I'll bet it will be him and Almora. Maybe Vogelbach added in. I can see Edwards bumped up to start in AAA at that point. He was held back this year at AA. If he was 100% last year he would have started in Iowa.

So it should not just be Schwarber promoting but his posse. Now on Sept call ups. Well Almora as a 4th OF? Sure could see that. Vogelbach as a PH. Why not. That is if they are not traded. I see it as if they are play off bound then they make trades to get a TOR. If they are on the outside looking in then they keep at developing and add a F/A pitcher in the off season.

 

[Boobaby1]

Actually just this past week they've given indications of Schwarber coming up this year and it's clear that it's an organizational message. Jason McCleod, Jaron Madison and even Joe Maddon have all made statements to that effect. I do think they're still counting on him being a catcher but if he comes up this year it will be in LF, maybe with a few games behind the plate to get his feet wet. If he hits and looks to stay maybe he catches twice a week next year and when they're comfortable with him they deal Montero. I don't know, it's going to take some creative thinking to be sure but if Baez is dealt I'd bet on Schwarber moving to AAA and playing some LF there.

Albert Pujols played multiple positions before settling in at 1st base. Also, it would in essence give them three catchers (again), but he could play the outfield every day while learning the catching game from Montero and Ross.

 

[chibears55]

@andruwgreen: Kyle Schwarber v. Kris Bryant through 1st 45 AA games. Schwarber has a higher OBP, SLG & OPS, and same amount of HRs. pic.twitter.com/TUYZYMsv4S

Just a thought, as some here thinks schwarber will be up this season.. im wondering why wouldn't they give him the Bryant treatment and wait til end of April next year to gain extra year..

 

[TC in Mississippi]

@andruwgreen: Kyle Schwarber v. Kris Bryant through 1st 45 AA games. Schwarber has a higher OBP, SLG & OPS, and same amount of HRs. pic.twitter.com/TUYZYMsv4S

Just a thought, as some here thinks schwarber will be up this season.. im wondering why wouldn't they give him the Bryant treatment and wait til end of April next year to gain extra year..

Five words: Scott Boras is not involved. They believe Schwarber will listen to a long term offer like Rizzo, Castro and Soler have signed. That's a lot tougher with Boras clients. The other factor of course, and likely more important, is that this is a competitive team and last year it wasn't so there was no temptation to bring up Bryant. I don't think these guys are likely to play money games when wins are on the line. Schwarber may very well come up if they feel they need his bat in a WC or Divisional race. A lot of it is going to depend on who get dealt for pitching, etc. I think Baez is coming up in June most likely to play LF. I also think either Baez or Castro goes in a trade. Lots of movong parts that could ultimately land Schwarber in LF in August or September. Lots of moving parts but whatever happens it's about winning this year and of they have an asset that help they'll take that.

 

[SilenceS]

If Schwarber is a catcher, the Cubs won't even entice bringing him up this year. If they don't see him as a catcher, he could get a call up at the very end. I don't think people realize that his catching needs a ton of work still. Major League base stealers and pitches would eat him alive.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

If Schwarber is a catcher, the Cubs won't even entice bringing him up this year. If they don't see him as a catcher, he could get a call up at the very end. I don't think people realize that his catching needs a ton of work still. Major League base stealers and pitches would eat him alive.

No he's bad a catching and IMHO he's just not going to stick there. Even in the best case scenario he's two years away from even being a mediocre catcher (which is apparently all the Cubs want out of him) but his bat is close to ready now. They're not going to be able to wait. If they really want to keep trying what they might do is bring him up in September for LF, get him some winter work at catcher and have him there again in ST. Maybe they use him a 3rd C next year. It's a complicated decision and will be interesting to watch.

 

[chibears55]

If Schwarber is a catcher, the Cubs won't even entice bringing him up this year. If they don't see him as a catcher, he could get a call up at the very end. I don't think people realize that his catching needs a ton of work still. Major League base stealers and pitches would eat him alive.

This is how i see it playing out...

Having Schwarber still learning the catching skills, gives them their excuse to hold him down all year and maybe into part of next year..

I honestly dont see Schwarber athletic enough to be a full time OFer.. Bryant looks a bit clumsy out there at times. .
I just dont see a stocky catcher being able to run down balls too often..

 

[TC in Mississippi]

This is how i see it playing out...

Having Schwarber still learning the catching skills, gives them their excuse to hold him down all year and maybe into part of next year..

I honestly dont see Schwarber athletic enough to be a full time OFer.. Bryant looks a bit clumsy out there at times. .
I just dont see a stocky catcher being able to run down balls too often..

For that kind of bat you'd put a one legged man in LF. I wouldn't be concerned with the defense there. If he plays this year that's where it's going to be and they've been telegraphing all over the place that he may come up late. This FO doesn't talk just to talk. Now if a trade is made that addresses getting a better bat as your LF then this all might be moot, but it's being considered. Who knows, maybe Baez comes up in 2 weeks, plays LF and problem is solved. Until someone's traded for a pitcher of course.

 

[chibears55]

For that kind of bat you'd put a one legged man in LF. I wouldn't be concerned with the defense there. If he plays this year that's where it's going to be and they've been telegraphing all over the place that he may come up late. This FO doesn't talk just to talk. Now if a trade is made that addresses getting a better bat as your LF then this all might be moot, but it's being considered. Who knows, maybe Baez comes up in 2 weeks, plays LF and problem is solved. Until someone's traded for a pitcher of course.

Tell that to the guy on the mound, that OF defense isnt a concern. ..


When he starts playing games in LF in Iowa, then ill believe they are looking at him to play there with the cubs..

I dont know who telegraphing a late call up for him all over the place besides the media, but i doubt its coming from the front office....

 

[beckdawg]

While I think Bryant and Schwarber are on similar timetables I'd argue that Bryant's situation is different. For one, the cubs were as low 70's win team last year. Had they been in the playoff hunt opinions on bringing him up could have changed. As far as positions for Schwarber, he's not playing C at the MLB level this year. Think almost anyone would tell you that. But I don't think that has to be a barrier stopping the team. For example, what's to stop them from bringing him up to play LF this year and then have him continue working C in the offseason?

Normally I'm not for calling up people to play positions they aren't playing/haven't played. But in Schwarber's case LF may be his eventual position anyways and the only reason he's not playing there right now is the hope that he can C. So, if they called him up for essentially his bat probably around the 40 man roster expansion he could offer you a potential impact piece. If he hits it would leave you with a tough decision for 2016 because he still might not be ready as a C.

All that being said, I honestly think that if he plays C he's likely a 2nd or 3rd C on the team who splits time in the outfield. Often times you don't want his kind of bat their long term anyways as you get beat to hell but having that sort of positional flexibility could come in handy. If he started a game in LF that gives you the option of double switching and having him play C later in the game where typically you can't do that with C's.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I dont know who telegraphing a late call up for him all over the place besides the media, but i doubt its coming from the front office....

There have been quotes from Joe Maddon, Jason McCleod and Jaron Madison all in the last few weeks all saying it was possibel he could help late in the season. In the same breath however both Madison and McCleod have said he's still a catcher in their plans. How does that jibe with a call up? Creative thinking.

There are some ideas here http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/...soon-as-this-year-is-catching-still-the-plan/

and here's a Maddon quote supporting the "cup of coffee" possibility from a Mark Gonzales piece last week:

"Every time I look at that scoreboard back home, it's 'Schwarber, 3-for-5, home run, 3 RBIs,' " Maddon said. "Even if it's 1-for-5, it's a game-winning RBI.

"So I got to know him in camp. He's definitely got the hitting chip. He thinks he knows he can.''

A promotion to the majors doesn't seem immiment, but Maddon acknowledged the possibility of Schwarber joining the Cubs as a left-handed hitter when 25-man rosters are expanded in September.

 

[chibears55]

There have been quotes from Joe Maddon, Jason McCleod and Jaron Madison all in the last few weeks all saying it was possibel he could help late in the season. In the same breath however both Madison and McCleod have said he's still a catcher in their plans. How does that jibe with a call up? Creative thinking.

There are some ideas here http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/...soon-as-this-year-is-catching-still-the-plan/

and here's a Maddon quote supporting the "cup of coffee" possibility from a Mark Gonzales piece last week:

Ehhh..
They were saying stuff like that about Bryant last year to where everyone thought hed be up in September. .

Of course its possible, doesn't necessarily mean theyll do it.. Bryant was possible, they didn't do it..

Im not saying they wont.. just as i said in my original statement, no reason they wouldn't hold him down like they did bryant to get extra year.. they have him learning the catching skills as good excuse to do so..

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Ehhh..
They were saying stuff like that about Bryant last year to where everyone thought hed be up in September. .

Of course its possible, doesn't necessarily mean theyll do it.. Bryant was possible, they didn't do it..

Im not saying they wont.. just as i said in my original statement, no reason they wouldn't hold him down like they did bryant to get extra year.. they have him learning the catching skills as good excuse to do so..

Actually they didn't say that about Bryant. At first they were talking about not giving fans a "cookie" and then they stopped talking about him entirely once the other "cookies" came up. Plus this is a different year, a competitive year. We'll see how it goes.

 

[TL1961]

Schwarber will be up before the year ends.

Schwarber will not start a game at C - and hopefully won't play an inning there. But since Maddon runs himself out of players regularly, Schwarber probably will be behind the plate at some point. And it will be ugly.

But that bat will be welcome.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Soler out for 6 weeks, definitely not what you want to hear. Let's hope Junior Lake is up for the challenge. In other news Javy Baez starts playing 3B tonight for Iowa so don't be surprised when he comes up a week from tomorrow 6/11 when the Cubs gain the extra year of control.

 

[CSF77]

Promoted Baxter again. Temp move til Baez promotes.

Manager at Iowa said Baez at 3B day by day for now. See how he adapts. He has looked uncomfortable there in the past. Has been taking reps. They are hopeful that he has matured enough as a player to handle it. His persona was middle of the action type and looked like a caged tiger at 3B in the past. But his skill set is GG worthy

 

[SilenceS]

Soler out for 6 weeks, definitely not what you want to hear. Let's hope Junior Lake is up for the challenge. In other news Javy Baez starts playing 3B tonight for Iowa so don't be surprised when he comes up a week from tomorrow 6/11 when the Cubs gain the extra year of control.

Does Bryant go to right when Coughlan plays?

 

[DaBullsDaCubsDaHawksDitka]

I read a piece where Maddon said the Soler injury will 2 to 3 weeks. I hope it isn’t just coach speak because I did see the initial report of 6 weeks.

 

[chibears55]

I read a piece where Maddon said the Soler injury will 2 to 3 weeks. I hope it isn’t just coach speak because I did see the initial report of 6 weeks.

It's 2 to 3 weeks but could be 6 depending on how it heels. .

My initial thought are if it just a sprain, it shouldn't take more then the 15 days to heal...