IST: Cubs vs Braves

[JZsportsfan]

Hopefully this is only the start of a fantastic 2nd half for Lester

Hard to believe he only has 5 wins. ERA at 3.37 now

 

[JZsportsfan]

On January 1, 2015, Banuelos was traded to the Atlanta Braves for pitchers David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve.[14]

That move went under the radar. Banuelos was a cant miss guy a couple years ago

 

[beckdawg]

Missed the game tonight but Fowler walked another 3 times despite being 0-2. In the two games after the all star break he's been on base 6 times

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Hopefully this is only the start of a fantastic 2nd half for Lester

Hard to believe he only has 5 wins. ERA at 3.37 now

Does anyone pay any attention to pitcher W-L stats anymore? It really should be eliminated as it has almost nothing to do with a pitchers performance based on real metrics.

 

[CSF77]

That move went under the radar. Banuelos was a cant miss guy a couple years ago

He went through injury. This year he went through dehydration in S/T that delayed him. I thought that his current low value would be an ideal buy low scenario. Braves must have also as they did just that.

 

[CSF77]

Missed the game tonight but Fowler walked another 3 times despite being 0-2. In the two games after the all star break he's been on base 6 times

VS a LH pitcher. When he gets his RH split over .240 then we can debate this more.

2015:
VS LH: .314/.380/.386
VS RH: .209/.296/.361

That includes last night. He has a .380 OBA vs lefties so what he did was not that remarkable.

2014:
LH: .327/.419/.467
RH: .260/.361/.376

2013:
LH: .323/.417/.444
RH: .237/.349/.392

2012:
LH: .315/.395/.462
RH: .293/.387/.479

He has always been a better RH hitter but his LH side of it has slipped and is at a all time low right now. You have to take into account that his last 2 teams were notorious hitter parks. So take it for what it is worth.

My take is he is not worth extending with those splits. If he was a strong LH hitter and a weak RH hitter then I could see it with the RH depth of hitting up welling. But if he is nothing more than a over glorified RH hitter 9 mil per is too much.

I do not see them extending him.

 

[CSF77]

This is the kicker:
Alcantara:
2015:
VS LH: .241/.297/.435
VS RH: .262/.317/.495

Figures that they traded for a CF upgrade but in reality Alcantara would have adjusted with regular play. He is pretty close to a even split. 8 of his 11 HR's have been LH. So there is no power drop. OPS .812 LH hitting. .732 RH hitting.

They should have held the deck. Pushing Alcantata into a sub role this early into his development was pretty dumb. Thus he struggled with limited play then demoted and forgotten.

Some decisions the brass makes are just dumb.

 

[TL1961]

Missed the game tonight but Fowler walked another 3 times despite being 0-2. In the two games after the all star break he's been on base 6 times

I was happy to see him taking walks. I don't care how he gets there, he just needs to be on base. Good sign.

 

[TL1961]

VS a LH pitcher. When he gets his RH split over .240 then we can debate this more.

2015:
VS LH: .314/.380/.386
VS RH: .209/.296/.361

That includes last night. He has a .380 OBA vs lefties so what he did was not that remarkable.

2014:
LH: .327/.419/.467
RH: .260/.361/.376

2013:
LH: .323/.417/.444
RH: .237/.349/.392

2012:
LH: .315/.395/.462
RH: .293/.387/.479

He has always been a better RH hitter but his LH side of it has slipped and is at a all time low right now. You have to take into account that his last 2 teams were notorious hitter parks. So take it for what it is worth.

My take is he is not worth extending with those splits. If he was a strong LH hitter and a weak RH hitter then I could see it with the RH depth of hitting up welling. But if he is nothing more than a over glorified RH hitter 9 mil per is too much.

I do not see them extending him.

I have no worries that they will extend him. I would think they're searching for replacements/platoon partners now. No way they extend this guy. I never thought that was a likelihood, and certainly not after what he has shown.

And as I have been saying - the offensive numbers are only half the story. You can't win with subpar D in CF.

 

[CSF77]

I have no worries that they will extend him. I would think they're searching for replacements/platoon partners now. No way they extend this guy. I never thought that was a likelihood, and certainly not after what he has shown.

And as I have been saying - the offensive numbers are only half the story. You can't win with subpar D in CF.

Actually looking over Alcantara's numbers they would be smart to promote him and start him in CF vs RH pitching. His cost holds little against the team. You can move him around when Lefties are on the mound as Fowler provides better production in CF then. But Alcantara's bat is not bad so still useful.

I would start him in CF next year, Now I believe the reason why the made the change was Alcantara's OBA. Hovered around .300. I personally think he would be better suited as a 9 hitter. Now if he could get his BB% up it would end the debate.

The bottom line is the Cubs have enough talent ready to near ready to not look outside for help.

Even so they are going to have to make a change to get Soriano a roster spot. Maddon said that move is close to happening. I can see Jackson removed very soon now.

Not to mention the Cubs are in on the Cole Hamels stakes so the deadline could prove to be interesting.

 

[beckdawg]

Some decisions the brass makes are just dumb.

You realize that Baez had a horrible spring training plus his sister's death and they were mainly using Alcantara at 2B and 3B early season right? If Alcantara had played well to start the season Russell probably would still be in the minors. So either way they would have needed a CF. Plus, you're counting on a young player with no back up plan there. At least with the plan they went through with when Alcantara failed they had Russell behind him and an established major league player in CF.

 

[CSF77]

You realize that Baez had a horrible spring training plus his sister's death and they were mainly using Alcantara at 2B and 3B early season right? If Alcantara had played well to start the season Russell probably would still be in the minors. So either way they would have needed a CF. Plus, you're counting on a young player with no back up plan there. At least with the plan they went through with when Alcantara failed they had Russell behind him and an established major league player in CF.

They were splitting his time with Olt and LaStella between 2 positions. Not really stable play. LaStella wnt down after 2 games. Olt 6 games. Alcantara got 11 games in. After Olt went down Bryant took over. Herrera was hitting .235 vs Alcantara .077. So he got the playing time until the Russell promote.

Regardless Alcantara picked it up playing full time vs avg 2.36 AB's per game played. (IE mostly a bench player)

 

[chibears55]

Alcantara will either be traded or be on bench for cubs in 2016..
He will not be a starter with cubs next year. .
Too many better options to go with..

 

[CSF77]

Alcantara will either be traded or be on bench for cubs in 2016..
He will not be a starter with cubs next year. .
Too many better options to go with..

So name a few CF options then?

 

[CSF77]

Center Fielders

Endy Chavez (38)
Rajai Davis (35)
Alejandro De Aza (32)
David DeJesus (36) – $5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Dexter Fowler (30)
Tony Gwynn Jr. (33)
Austin Jackson (29)
Nate McLouth (34) – $6.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Gerardo Parra (29)
Colby Rasmus (29)
Cody Ross (35) – $9.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Skip Schumaker (36) – $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Grady Sizemore (33)
Denard Span (32)
Drew Stubbs (31)
Ryan Sweeney (31) – $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Shane Victorino (35)

Not seeing this great option here.

On Cubs:
Almora struggling in AA
AAA Matt Szczur... oh and Alcantara...

There is always the trade front...oh that is right. That is how they got Fowler.

Not to mention the first 2 picks were CF optons so the front office targeted CF as a major need....But it is not like it is draft and poof opening day CF...

So I'm not sure of this great wealth of CF out there.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Big win yesterday.

Glad to see Lester starting to become what we though he would be.

 

[chibears55]

Center Fielders

Endy Chavez (38)
Rajai Davis (35)
Alejandro De Aza (32)
David DeJesus (36) – $5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Dexter Fowler (30)
Tony Gwynn Jr. (33)
Austin Jackson (29)
Nate McLouth (34) – $6.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Gerardo Parra (29)
Colby Rasmus (29)
Cody Ross (35) – $9.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Skip Schumaker (36) – $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Grady Sizemore (33)
Denard Span (32)
Drew Stubbs (31)
Ryan Sweeney (31) – $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Shane Victorino (35)

Not seeing this great option here.

On Cubs:
Almora struggling in AA
AAA Matt Szczur... oh and Alcantara...

There is always the trade front...oh that is right. That is how they got Fowler.

Not to mention the first 2 picks were CF optons so the front office targeted CF as a major need....But it is not like it is draft and poof opening day CF...

So I'm not sure of this great wealth of CF out there.

I would take my chances with a couple of those FA over playing Alcantara everyday out there. .

Alcantara has struggled defensively , shown a weak arm for CF, and has hit for shit on major league level since his first few weeks last year. .

He been an Average player in AAA.. what has he shown to trust him being an everyday CFer on a team that now looking to win in 2016..

Alcantara can be a solid utility player in the majors..
He might even become a decent 2B option for a team just looking more for a defensive player ..

But as an everyday CFer, his defense alone will be a liability as teams wouldn't think twice running on him..
First to third, 2nd to home..
We saw all that last year.....

Then add if he struggles again on offense. ..

What their option then ?




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[TL1961]

Big win yesterday.

Glad to see Lester starting to become what we though he would be.

"Starting"?

Three times in July he has pitched 7IP or more with zero ER allowed.


He has started 19 games.
8 times he has gone at least 7 IP with 1 or fewer ER. (He won only 4 of those terrific starts)

1 more he went 6.1 with 1 ER - no decision

1 more with 7 IP and 2 ER - no decision

So 10 very good starts amounted to 4 wins.

He certainly has had some poor starts. But saying he is "starting to become what we though he would be" fails to recognize how many really good starts he has had.

Not as consistent as we would like, but he has given us a chance to win many times where we failed to do so. With even decent run support, he'd have 5 or 6 more wins.

Meanwhile, I have read some poster here (not you) suggesting his signing was "the worst ever". Sigh.

 

[TL1961]

I would take my chances with a couple of those FA over playing Alcantara everyday out there. .

Alcantara has struggled defensively , shown a weak arm for CF, and has hit for shit on major league level since his first few weeks last year. .

He been an Average player in AAA.. what has he shown to trust him being an everyday CFer on a team that now looking to win in 2016..

Alcantara can be a solid utility player in the majors..
He might even become a decent 2B option for a team just looking more for a defensive player ..

But as an everyday CFer, his defense alone will be a liability as teams wouldn't think twice running on him..
First to third, 2nd to home..
We saw all that last year.....

Then add if he struggles again on offense. ..

What their option then ?




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Alcantara would have to get acclimated to CF every day, but his arm would be plenty strong enough to play CF.

 

[chibears55]

Alcantara would have to get acclimated to CF every day, but his arm would be plenty strong enough to play CF.

We can disagree on the arm...

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