IST: Cubs vs Padres

[Diehardfan]

I understand getting a lot of guys playing time, and that's Joe's M.O. And he has been successful, and I am OK with him in the macro. Some days, in the micro, it seems frustrating. Our goal is not to split time evenly. Our goal is to win the division first, and then the WS.

Bote may not get better riding the pine, but the team may be better if he does.

Yep, I agree. But when they win you could say "maybe" it could've been easier with someone else in there...maybe. But also, "maybe" for whatever reason you don't win with someone else in there. That's why I laugh at some of the buffoons in here that are on Maddon all the time. The guy wins 60% of his games.....I've witnessed years where I didn't think the Cubs would win 60 games in a season. I don't know how old you are but I'm guessing you have seen a lot of the same crap I have with this team. I'm still stunned sometimes at how well they keep doing. They have been playing in the post season every year he's been here. Just don't know how anyone other than bandwagon jumpers, can question that.

 

[CSF77]

We weren't talking about Russell, it was Bote. For good reason as in lack of production, TL has been saying this for awhile. My only point is that Joe tries to keep everyone involved and Bote won't get back to being Bote riding the pines.

Ok here is the break down:

Apr 74 PA 127 wRC+
May 82 PA 106 wRC+
June 78 PA 81 wRC+
July 28 PA 44 wRC+

His PA has been steady. His wRC+ has been steady on the down turn.

So what does this mean?
1. More exposure. Which means now the pitching has him fully scouted.
2. Lack of adjustment. There has not been a up and down trend. It has gone just down.


What to do?

The real problem is a lack of O in the OF. That is why Bryant is seeing more time out there. That is why Bote is been the primary 3B.

So I see this as they can keep this internal or go external. Garcia is a internal answer and they could push him to the OF. Which I don't agree with. We can't expect him to man CF or RF. That leaves just LF. Which is no net gain.

3B we really don't know if he is a viable answer over Bote at this point. 2B you could argue just because that is his main position. Add to it I just don't see moving Bryant off position as the best answer.

So I see this as a external issue right now. They need a lead off.
they need to push Schwarber into a RBI slot again. Which means go get a OF that can either push Heyward to CF to man it.

Some names that were tossed out on MLTR

Freddy Gavis. Don't dislike. Would end up as the starting 2B. Can cover SS. Makes Russell expendable.

Eric Sogard. Same thing as his team mate except Russell would fall into a true UI.

Kole Calhoun LH RF from Azl. 21 HR's. Almost a likable idea.

Now thinking of multi moves. Say trade with Tor and bring back Gavis. He has a opt for 2020 for 5.5M Send back Russell and a pitcher like Mills. Then go after Calhoun He is owed 14M in 2020. I would send quality prospects and get cash back. It would be a pay dump for 2020 for them for solid prospects. I would say Happ and Tyson Miller with a plus arm like ODLC.

Final move would be going after Wil Smith. He is on a expiring contract. But I feel that his would be vital as a 8th inning lock down arm. Strop has been sketchy this year. I could see Marquez and a BP pitcher flipped back like Brach. Just to clear a roster spot.

 

[anotheridiot]

8-2 over last 10, lets blow this up

 

[CSF77]

8-2 over last 10, lets blow this up

Not really about blowing anything up. My mind set right now is not winning the division. They can do that just by getting Cole back. It is more so about beating the teams with better records than them.

Let's face it. The Reds and the Bucks. The Pads. These are teams that they should be smacking around. 8-2 should be expected from the current roster.

What is being discussed is not about the core of the team. It is more so about support players.

 

[bamainatlanta]

Bote needs to turn it around. He's been dreadful this last month.

 

[TL1961]

Joe has Robel Garcia playing an unfamiliar position - LF - so he can get the bats of Almora, Bote and Russell in the lineup.

Schwarber, after homering in three straight, and Heyward who has been hot, are benched, but Bote plays daily. Righty-Lefty!!!

(Not trying to echo that Choyne tool, but I hope Bote breaks out and shuts me up!)

 

[ijustposthere]

^^Is Schwarber hurt? Seems odd to take him out of the lineup for so long when he was actually hitting well.

 

[TL1961]

^^Is Schwarber hurt? Seems odd to take him out of the lineup for so long when he was actually hitting well.

I read he has done poorly against lefties since June 1, so it appears simply a matchup thing. But the question is....has he done more poorly against lefties than Russell and Bote, because that's the decision that was made.

 

[ijustposthere]

I read he has done poorly against lefties since June 1, so it appears simply a matchup thing. But the question is....has he done more poorly against lefties than Russell and Bote, because that's the decision that was made.

Bote has been really bad lately. At least Russell somewhat makes up for it with his defense. Why Bote has been getting all this playing time when he clearly needs a break is beyond me. This is where I think Maddon outsmarts himself. J-Hey and Schwarber should be in the lineup just because of how they're hitting, match-up be damned.

 

[CSF77]

Bote has been really bad lately. At least Russell somewhat makes up for it with his defense. Why Bote has been getting all this playing time when he clearly needs a break is beyond me. This is where I think Maddon outsmarts himself. J-Hey and Schwarber should be in the lineup just because of how they're hitting, match-up be damned.

It should be on Theo and Jed to take that decision away from Joe. Add a bat.

What I'm seeing is Joe is now testing Garcia at LF. This would put him into a LF and 2B platoon to push match ups.

In general I do like this approach. It works out then you have a working solution.

Now I am not a fan of moving Bryant around. If you want him in RF then make a decision. If Bote was stable at 127 wRC+ then it choice would be simple. Right now he is a worse option than pushing Almora to the bench.

Trading for Calhoun is something Theo can control. It would lock down RF. It would keep Bryant on 3B.

 

[choyne35]

Joe has Robel Garcia playing an unfamiliar position - LF - so he can get the bats of Almora, Bote and Russell in the lineup.

Schwarber, after homering in three straight, and Heyward who has been hot, are benched, but Bote plays daily. Righty-Lefty!!!

(Not trying to echo that Choyne tool, but I hope Bote breaks out and shuts me up!)

Tool huh? Well Bote was a one hit wonder last year and he’s proving that this year and not playing to keep a roster spot unlike last year when he was trying to prove he belonged. Bote should have been traded in the offseason and now his trade value keeps going down but he still could be traded in the next 11 days. Cubs need a right handed bat and pence is probably going to be available and I would like to see the cubs add him and have him hit leadoff or 2nd. He brings energy and is pretty good still defensively and I believe I seen where the cubs had scouts last night at the rangers and astros game in addition to scouts at the tigers and blue jays game

 

[ijustposthere]

It should be on Theo and Jed to take that decision away from Joe. Add a bat.

What I'm seeing is Joe is now testing Garcia at LF. This would put him into a LF and 2B platoon to push match ups.

In general I do like this approach. It works out then you have a working solution.

Now I am not a fan of moving Bryant around. If you want him in RF then make a decision. If Bote was stable at 127 wRC+ then it choice would be simple. Right now he is a worse option than pushing Almora to the bench.

Trading for Calhoun is something Theo can control. It would lock down RF. It would keep Bryant on 3B.

They've had plenty of bats and it has never stopped Joe from tinkering like this. Why trade for an older, worse RF than what we already have? That makes no sense. What they need, and have needed since Fowler left, is a true leadoff guy.

 

[Omeletpants]

Tool huh? Well Bote was a one hit wonder last year and he’s proving that this year and not playing to keep a roster spot unlike last year when he was trying to prove he belonged. Bote should have been traded in the offseason and now his trade value keeps going down but he still could be traded in the next 11 days. Cubs need a right handed bat and pence is probably going to be available and I would like to see the cubs add him and have him hit leadoff or 2nd. He brings energy and is pretty good still defensively and I believe I seen where the cubs had scouts last night at the rangers and astros game in addition to scouts at the tigers and blue jays game

Hunter Pence is a freakshow with his hair and beard. **** no

 

[choyne35]

They've had plenty of bats and it has never stopped Joe from tinkering like this. Why trade for an older, worse RF than what we already have? That makes no sense. What they need, and have needed since Fowler left, is a true leadoff guy.

Pence is having a good year, 36 yrs old or not and he’s produced more so than anyone in the cubs outfield this year including Heyward.
The cubs do need a leadoff but who’s going to do that? Nobody on this roster and the cubs probably don’t have enough good prospects to get Merrifield so that’s why I think Pence would be the best alternative to lead off, he plays the game hard and is good defensively and will help big time against the lefties that the cubs are terrible against. Zobrist was
Leading off for crying out loud and he’s older than pence and slower and not near the hitter that pence is currently. Zo’s best days are in the rear view and it’s very much in the air that they get him back

 

[Diehardfan]

One of the dildo/alts has returned. Currently sitting at -41 Reaction Score....I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a minus number. And to think, I've never contributed to it....shame on me.

 

[choyne35]

Hunter Pence is a freakshow with his hair and beard. **** no

So that makes a bad ball player? He’s actually a
Really class act guy and good for a clubhouse unlike Russell

 

[SilenceS]

Tool huh? Well Bote was a one hit wonder last year and he’s proving that this year and not playing to keep a roster spot unlike last year when he was trying to prove he belonged. Bote should have been traded in the offseason and now his trade value keeps going down but he still could be traded in the next 11 days. Cubs need a right handed bat and pence is probably going to be available and I would like to see the cubs add him and have him hit leadoff or 2nd. He brings energy and is pretty good still defensively and I believe I seen where the cubs had scouts last night at the rangers and astros game in addition to scouts at the tigers and blue jays game

No he isnt. He is a bad OF by all OF metrics. His arm is a wet noodle. Do you just say random things? If the Cubs did get him, it would be for his bat and he would be terrible on defense in right. The hardest OF position to play at Wrigley.

 

[choyne35]

No he isnt. He is a bad OF by all OF metrics. His arm is a wet noodle. Do you just say random things? If the Cubs did get him, it would be for his bat and he would be terrible on defense in right. The hardest OF position to play at Wrigley.

Well I’m sure he’s a better outfielder than Castellanos that a lot of cubs fans are hoping they get and I’m sure offensively it’s a push with those 2. He played right in San Fran and that is a huge outfield compared to Wrigley

 

[PickSix]

wth was that display in LF. That made Schwarbs look like a gold glover.

 

[SilenceS]

Cue shot from Rizzo gives us the lead. Take that all day