DanTown
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You'd love to see someone in that Strop/Rondon/Uehera group take command of being the seventh inning guy.
TL1961
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9-0, and our closer may wind up in the game.
Again.
Again.
CSF77
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Was thinking the same thing. Strop is off. Rondon is better when starting a inning vs in a pinch. Uehara is all split.
Honestly the best line up is Montgomery, Edwards, Wade. But they can't pitch every day.
chibears55
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I agree...
But we know how much he loves having 8 relievers..
Probably need to them all this weekend with Butler Lackey and Arrieta against the Brewers
I can't think of who else they'd send down ..
I'd be surprise if it were LaStella again, with how well he been doing off bench
We'll see
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chibears55
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Yep..
Hate to see them have to deal away someone just to get a reliable reliever to get outs in 7th and or 8th inning..
Maybe they get lucky with a kid from minors , like Johnson
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CSF77
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Maddon seems like he is edging towards Happ in Zobrist's old role. Moving around every game playing the match up with Zobrist.
The way I look at it is him hitting #4 coincides with a much needed sweep/O wake up. So in view of that there is really no choice to be made. He has to play.
Now the question becomes who goes down? LaStella would be the likely but he is hitting .318. Jay? He is owed some cash and I'm not sure if they would go there unless he was under performing. Which he is not. Almora is another likely. Jay can cover CF and it opens up the majority of CF to Happ.
Add to it Almora has not sealed off other CF from his position. This is kinda on him for not being a dynamic hitter. The glove is.
In a perfect world they cut Jay. And they still might but I'm thinks by it will be Almora as he has options. Then they try to sell Jay.
The way I look at it is him hitting #4 coincides with a much needed sweep/O wake up. So in view of that there is really no choice to be made. He has to play.
Now the question becomes who goes down? LaStella would be the likely but he is hitting .318. Jay? He is owed some cash and I'm not sure if they would go there unless he was under performing. Which he is not. Almora is another likely. Jay can cover CF and it opens up the majority of CF to Happ.
Add to it Almora has not sealed off other CF from his position. This is kinda on him for not being a dynamic hitter. The glove is.
In a perfect world they cut Jay. And they still might but I'm thinks by it will be Almora as he has options. Then they try to sell Jay.
TC in Mississippi
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Happ in CF is a disaster waiting to happen. Almora is the only true CF on the team.
CSF77
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He has a bad rap. McLoed said that they viewed him as he can play many spots well. 2B they saw as league avg. rest about the same. The main problem they had with him was they couldn't figure where he would end up because he covered so many. Even Joe thought he was a bat guy and was pleased.
Most of the negativity is unwarranted. He is not a plus like Almora but neither is he a negative like Schwarber. Fowler would be a better Comp as a OF.
CSF77
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Maddon rarely shows a different side during his postgame media sessions, but the smirking manager did seem to be in a good mood after Thursday’s 9-5 win swept the Cincinnati Reds out of Wrigley Field. That night, Jason Heyward planned to test his sprained right finger at Class-A South Bend as a final step before getting activated from the disabled list.
This is assuming the Cubs haven’t already decided to keep Happ, who’s gone 6-for-17 with two homers, two doubles, five walks, five runs and four RBI through his first five games in The Show.
“Of course, we have to have that discussion,” Maddon said. “He’s doing really well and my message to him when he came up was: Why don’t you just stay a while? Just stay as long as you need to or want to.
“We’ll have that conversation when Jason’s well. Hopefully, that turns out good today, and then there’s no reason that Jason has to be back tomorrow. We’ll just wait and see.
“Of course, Ian obviously…does not want to go anywhere.”
Happ’s long-term development isn’t a consideration for Maddon if the Cubs want to weigh more experience at Triple-A Iowa against the chance to contribute to the defending World Series champs in multiple ways.
“No, not at all,” Maddon said. “Just like Javy’s development wasn’t a concern. It just has a way of working itself out.”
While not as spectacular as Javier Baez, Happ is a versatile player who gives an open-minded manager different lineup options and in-game flexibility. Maddon focuses on the 25 guys who will maximize his chances to win that day – and not a prospect putting the finishing touches on his game in Des Moines.
“I’m just staying in the present moment,” Happ said. “My job is to come out here and go play hard and just try to get on base.”
Maddon signaled he liked the idea of keeping an eight-man bullpen, which could force Tommy La Stella back down to Triple-A. Maddon isn’t at all worried about finding at-bats for Happ, a switch-hitter who’s started at all three outfield spots and can play second base and maybe develop into a backup at the corner infield spots.
Maddon sees depth as an essential component to a team that played into early November last year, viewing sports science as a next frontier for the industry.
“There’s still the ability to balance it,” Maddon said. “That’s what we’ve been talking about the whole way – to not get anybody tired early. Look how good ‘Zo’ (Ben Zobrist) looked (Wednesday night). He had a couple days off – his back was a little bit tight – but he looked really refreshed.
“That’s a perfect example of when you give guys a couple consecutive days off and what it can look like. Not everybody can do that. If you don’t have the requisite talent on the bench to permit that to occur, you don’t want to do it. You’re always fighting against it.”
This is assuming the Cubs haven’t already decided to keep Happ, who’s gone 6-for-17 with two homers, two doubles, five walks, five runs and four RBI through his first five games in The Show.
“Of course, we have to have that discussion,” Maddon said. “He’s doing really well and my message to him when he came up was: Why don’t you just stay a while? Just stay as long as you need to or want to.
“We’ll have that conversation when Jason’s well. Hopefully, that turns out good today, and then there’s no reason that Jason has to be back tomorrow. We’ll just wait and see.
“Of course, Ian obviously…does not want to go anywhere.”
Happ’s long-term development isn’t a consideration for Maddon if the Cubs want to weigh more experience at Triple-A Iowa against the chance to contribute to the defending World Series champs in multiple ways.
“No, not at all,” Maddon said. “Just like Javy’s development wasn’t a concern. It just has a way of working itself out.”
While not as spectacular as Javier Baez, Happ is a versatile player who gives an open-minded manager different lineup options and in-game flexibility. Maddon focuses on the 25 guys who will maximize his chances to win that day – and not a prospect putting the finishing touches on his game in Des Moines.
“I’m just staying in the present moment,” Happ said. “My job is to come out here and go play hard and just try to get on base.”
Maddon signaled he liked the idea of keeping an eight-man bullpen, which could force Tommy La Stella back down to Triple-A. Maddon isn’t at all worried about finding at-bats for Happ, a switch-hitter who’s started at all three outfield spots and can play second base and maybe develop into a backup at the corner infield spots.
Maddon sees depth as an essential component to a team that played into early November last year, viewing sports science as a next frontier for the industry.
“There’s still the ability to balance it,” Maddon said. “That’s what we’ve been talking about the whole way – to not get anybody tired early. Look how good ‘Zo’ (Ben Zobrist) looked (Wednesday night). He had a couple days off – his back was a little bit tight – but he looked really refreshed.
“That’s a perfect example of when you give guys a couple consecutive days off and what it can look like. Not everybody can do that. If you don’t have the requisite talent on the bench to permit that to occur, you don’t want to do it. You’re always fighting against it.”
CSF77
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So the writer felt it would be LaStella. Cubs would have to pay Jay regardless if they released him. If he resigns a team can pay him the league min and that amount is deducted from what is owed to Jay from the Cubs.
So trading Jay is unlikely.
I can see LaStella demoted with Almora late inning D.
So trading Jay is unlikely.
I can see LaStella demoted with Almora late inning D.
TL1961
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Nobody will trade for Jay.
Worst in mlb, and we are paying $8 million.
Worst in mlb, and we are paying $8 million.
brett05
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The Reds can cure all for the Cubs.
CSF77
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Hitting .292 with a .400 OBA? Mmmk
CSF77
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Anywho.
Joe was saying that he wanted 2 utility guys so he can go with a short bench. He is obsessed with 8 in the pen. So I see it as flexibility.
With the Crew inc, starters wise they are RH. Pen lacks a eye opening lefty. So I can see Joe stacking left this series.
Joe was saying that he wanted 2 utility guys so he can go with a short bench. He is obsessed with 8 in the pen. So I see it as flexibility.
With the Crew inc, starters wise they are RH. Pen lacks a eye opening lefty. So I can see Joe stacking left this series.
TC in Mississippi
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Plus he's accumulated .5 WAR in limited play. They could certainly move him if they so desired. I'm not sure how that helps though. There is no way you can keep Happ in CF long term.
TC in Mississippi
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Hard to see how they get this game in. with the rain but tomorrow doesn't look much better.
fatbeard
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Meh. Defensive projections for young players are sketchy. Bryant was called a guy who would be an average 3B at best and a lot of people thought he'd have to move to the OF. His 2015 ST was pretty bad. Now he's a solidly above-average 3B.
CSF77
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Exactly my point. Happ had a label coming in.
chibears55
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Jay in RF , Happ in CF
Looks like Maddon thinks Happ better then Jay in CF..
They were talking to Derosa the other day on ESPN radio..
Derosa was saying Happ not flashy at any one position but he at worse average with the glove at each position .
That how Cubs management sees him defensively..
So.. it wouldn't kill them if they went with Happ most games in CF with Almora coming in late and Happ going to LF
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CSF77
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Pretty much what Joe is doing