IST: Cubs @ Pirates

[CSF77]

I think this will work out. Rotation is left hand dominant. Pen is right hand dominant. Every game a team has to do a major readjustment when the pen takes over.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Well Staff ace acquired.

Set up acquired

2 inning guy acquired

Theo is a fucking genous and a thief.

If only he was this good signing FA. That is his one spot I think is his weakest. He organizes well, drafts well, makes solid trades at deadline, etc.

 

[beckdawg]

Some interesting notes from todays game. Hamels average velocity this year on his 4 seam was 92.25. Today his average velocity was 94.3 peaking at 96.7. His 2 seam prior to today was 92.43. Today was 93.3 peaking at 95.8. Also all his stuff was getting higher whiff rates than his season average. Obviously its one game so take that with a grain of salt. But the increase in velocity is interesting. In 2017 he was 92.24/92.20 on his 4/2 seam. Last time he was in this range was 2016 where he was 93.64/93.56. He was a 3 win pitcher that year. So, if this velocity is here to stay it's a good sign.

 

[beckdawg]

Secondary thoughts re: Hamels. I think there's a very good chance they pick up his 2019 option. Given Texas is eating $9 mil of the remaining $14 mil($8 this year plus $6 mil buyout next), that effectively means you're paying him $5 mil the rest of 2018 and if you choose to pick up that option next year he costs you $14 mil. Chatwood is making $12.5 mil. So, as prices go if he's decent the rest of the way that's not a bad price to pay.

However, if we also assume your 1-3 is Darvish, Lester, and Hendricks with Hamels returning then you suddenly have a **** ton of pitchers. I mean you're talking about Q, Monty, Chatwood, Smyly and probably Alzolay all in the mix for one rotation slot. Given there's only 3-4 interesting FA pitchers(gio gonzo, kershaw, Corbin and Keuchel), that could lead to some interesting possibilities trade wise. I doubt they have a way to use those 5 pieces to turn into another TOR pitcher. but you might be able to move say Monty for a back end top 100 guy and something else and then replace his role with Smyly. Then you could have Q and Chatwood battle it out for the #5 slot with Smyly as a swing arm as needed and Alzolay continuing to develop in AAA. You might even go more aggressive than that. If you really like Alzolay you could consider moving Monty and Q and have Alzolay, Chatwood and Smyly battle it out for the #5. I think a team like SD who's got a great farm system but could use some players ready today offers an interesting team to potentially deal with.

Just an interesting thought I had when considering Hamels' potential impact.

 

[CSF77]

I have been saying that this might end up more than a chew and screw thing.

Theo makes intelligent decisions when he has time to think it out. When it is a reaction it turns out poor.

E-Jax reaction to Sanchez snub
Chatwood reaction to Otahni snub.

Those are the big 2.

But Lester: worth the deal. Year 1 was rough.
Yu injured but performance strong. Injuries are not player underperformance issues. Morrow educated move that turned out well. Again injuries are not underperforming issues.

So I just see it as when he makes emotional decisions they come up short. When they are calculated the look brilliant

 

[anotheridiot]

I have been saying that this might end up more than a chew and screw thing.

Theo makes intelligent decisions when he has time to think it out. When it is a reaction it turns out poor.

E-Jax reaction to Sanchez snub
Chatwood reaction to Otahni snub.

Those are the big 2.

But Lester: worth the deal. Year 1 was rough.
Yu injured but performance strong. Injuries are not player underperformance issues. Morrow educated move that turned out well. Again injuries are not underperforming issues.

So I just see it as when he makes emotional decisions they come up short. When they are calculated the look brilliant

So do you consider Heyward a reaction for Fowler leaving? I guess we can say it turned out well, now, but we can also say that Heyward really performs in contract years.

 

[anotheridiot]

Russell has been hot garbage lately.

They had him on the pregame show on the radio, they said "candid comments" from Russell. He kept saying, as soon as I hit the ball I thought I was going to be on 3. Said he was safe all day. Said 99/100 the ump will call him safe because he beat the throw. They asked what Maddon said to him about making the first out at third base and he said he did not talk to him about it.

Seemed like a real cocky and arrogant prick in all honesty. There was clearly the time neither hand was on the base when he was tagged.

 

[brett05]

So do you consider Heyward a reaction for Fowler leaving? I guess we can say it turned out well, now, but we can also say that Heyward really performs in contract years.

You cannot because Heyward was a target before Lester was a Cub. Heyward was a future move that Theo used to convince Lester to sign.

 

[CSF77]

So do you consider Heyward a reaction for Fowler leaving? I guess we can say it turned out well, now, but we can also say that Heyward really performs in contract years.

No. That was because Soler was a left fielder

 

[CSF77]

You cannot because Heyward was a target before Lester was a Cub. Heyward was a future move that Theo used to convince Lester to sign.

I kinda agree here. Fowler was 11th hour returning and it worked out. But at the time there was some talk that Heyward would see time in CF and it became nil when Fowler signed. But there was a possibility that Heyward would have been CF and Soler would have been the oft injured RF.

Who knows the Schwarber knee blast never happened. WS never won because Schwarber was not a 11 hr weapon vs a known commodity.

Parrell worlds are fun sci-fi

 

[anotheridiot]

I kinda agree here. Fowler was 11th hour returning and it worked out. But at the time there was some talk that Heyward would see time in CF and it became nil when Fowler signed. But there was a possibility that Heyward would have been CF and Soler would have been the oft injured RF.

Who knows the Schwarber knee blast never happened. WS never won because Schwarber was not a 11 hr weapon vs a known commodity.

Parrell worlds are fun sci-fi

No, Fowler was here in 2015, the cubs made a qualifying offer and he chose free agency. The only team showing interest was Baltimore.

So when Heyward signed it was after Fowler turned the team down and was the primary replacement for center field. The 11th hour was Fowler returning in 2016 AFTER Heyward signed.

That is why I made the comment that the Heyward signing was a reaction AFTER fowler left the first time.

 

[brett05]

No, Fowler was here in 2015, the cubs made a qualifying offer and he chose free agency. The only team showing interest was Baltimore.

So when Heyward signed it was after Fowler turned the team down and was the primary replacement for center field. The 11th hour was Fowler returning in 2016 AFTER Heyward signed.

That is why I made the comment that the Heyward signing was a reaction AFTER fowler left the first time.

Heyward though was part of the plan in 2014 and the signing of Lester in December.

 

[fatbeard]

No, Fowler was here in 2015, the cubs made a qualifying offer and he chose free agency. The only team showing interest was Baltimore.

So when Heyward signed it was after Fowler turned the team down and was the primary replacement for center field. The 11th hour was Fowler returning in 2016 AFTER Heyward signed.

That is why I made the comment that the Heyward signing was a reaction AFTER fowler left the first time.

No. As Brett correctly pointed out, the Cubs knew they were going to be in on Heyward after 2014 and they even pitched it to Lester as a way of showing him they were going to start spending to compete. Heyward's signing was not a reaction to anything. Here's the proof:

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...to-jon-lester-included-signing-jason-heyward/