Sweet Spot Blog: Who's better: White Sox versus Cubs

[Bear Pride]

Arrieta has a lot to prove. penciling him in as a lock is premature when you look at his full career.


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Yeah, the Sox don't have anything to prove, but the Cubs have everything to prove........

 

[brett05]

why is it that guys like parade understand trolling and understand baseball talk but others think talking about other teams are trolls. if we had every mlb team board here i would be in every forum because i love baseball.




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:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[brett05]

And they have put a focus on that this offseason with Lester and pursuing Shields, plus taking chances the past couple years on Arrieta, Turner, Doubront, etc. one of which has worked out really good so far. Their rationale must be that position players advance quicker (unless it is Sale) while they can add big pitchers through free agency or trades if need be.

The rotation is Lester, Arrieta, Hammel, Hendricks and ____.
The top three is solid, especially if Arrieta is legit. Hendricks I wouldn't count on to maintain last year's numbers, but one more splash this coming offseason) hopefully Price) and the Cubs have a pitching staff and a lineup (if Bryant and one of Baez or Russell pan out) no team will want to see on their schedule. The bullpen is pretty good already too.

I'm not sold on Hammel. For me he's one of the AAAA pitchers the Cubs have. But like you point out, they took shots and landed Arrieta who if he's only let's say 80% of what he was last year is at worst a solid #3. I think the Cubs should have pursued harder for Shields. No guarantee on what if any FA studs are available in 2015 let alone sign with any specific team Cubs included.

But you are right, if the "IF's" pan out, I'm going to be MUD!

 

[brett05]

Yeah, the Sox don't have anything to prove, but the Cubs have everything to prove........

Why do you keep bringing up the White Sox in a Cubs forum?

 

[Bear Pride]

Why do you keep bringing up the White Sox in a Cubs forum?

You mean in the White Sox vs the Cubs thread? The better question is why are you a Sox fan when you are a Cowboys and Red Wing fan?

 

[brett05]

You mean in the White Sox vs the Cubs thread? The better question is why are you a Sox fan when you are a Cowboys and Red Wing fan?

touche, I forgot the thread I was in. :clap:

Cowboys Fan because of Tom Landry. All class and he's the image I think of when I think of a true professional at the coaching position in sports.
Red Wings Fan because of Strat-O-Matic Hockey. My neighbor would kill me playing the Blues and Bobby Hull. The only team I could beat him with was the Red Wings and thus a fan was born.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Only if you're wearing a shiny new pair of beer goggles. :dunno:

LOL, Beer Pride.

 

[CSF77]

I'm not sold on Hammel. For me he's one of the AAAA pitchers the Cubs have. But like you point out, they took shots and landed Arrieta who if he's only let's say 80% of what he was last year is at worst a solid #3. I think the Cubs should have pursued harder for Shields. No guarantee on what if any FA studs are available in 2015 let alone sign with any specific team Cubs included.

But you are right, if the "IF's" pan out, I'm going to be MUD!

Steamer has him at: 10-9 3.89 ERA. 163 IP. 1.8 WAR. I feel that is a very likely result.

He is a league #4 starter. But IMO he is a proven commodity.

What is going to make the Cubs strong is the back end of the pen.

CL: Rondon: 2.42 FIP
8th: Strop: 2.21 FIP
7th: Ramirez: 1.44 FIP

Added: Motte into the mix who really doesn't have to be that guy.

It is going to end up who has the lead going into the 7th because the Cubs have a pen that can shut the door.

 

[Bear Pride]

touche, I forgot the thread I was in. :clap:

Cowboys Fan because of Tom Landry. All class and he's the image I think of when I think of a true professional at the coaching position in sports.
Red Wings Fan because of Strat-O-Matic Hockey. My neighbor would kill me playing the Blues and Bobby Hull. The only team I could beat him with was the Red Wings and thus a fan was born.

It's alright, I won't hold it against you. You did kinda set me up on that one, though. I could pick apart your choices of teams, but I suppose every fan has the right to root for who they want. However, I tend to root for Chicago teams as I'm from Chicago. I'm kinda loyal that way. It doesn't mean I don't have respect for the other teams, however.

 

[Bear Pride]

Steamer has him at: 10-9 3.89 ERA. 163 IP. 1.8 WAR. I feel that is a very likely result.

He is a league #4 starter. But IMO he is a proven commodity.

What is going to make the Cubs strong is the back end of the pen.

CL: Rondon: 2.42 FIP
8th: Strop: 2.21 FIP
7th: Ramirez: 1.44 FIP

Added: Motte into the mix who really doesn't have to be that guy.

It is going to end up who has the lead going into the 7th because the Cubs have a pen that can shut the door.

I'm really interested to see what Motte brings to the table this year. You're right, the Cubs will be formidable at the end of the bullpen, but their middle relief was pretty good the 2nd half last year as well. This has been somewhat overlooked with all the talk about the starting rotation, imo.

 

[brett05]

It's alright, I won't hold it against you. You did kinda set me up on that one, though. I could pick apart your choices of teams, but I suppose every fan has the right to root for who they want. However, I tend to root for Chicago teams as I'm from Chicago. I'm kinda loyal that way. It doesn't mean I don't have respect for the other teams, however.

I'll make it weirder. As A Red Wing Fan, I like the Hawks.

 

[2323]

I'm really interested to see what Motte brings to the table this year. You're right, the Cubs will be formidable at the end of the bullpen, but their middle relief was pretty good the 2nd half last year as well. This has been somewhat overlooked with all the talk about the starting rotation, imo.

If you were to weigh the value of the bullpen, what would you say a bullpens worth is relative to a #1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 starter?

 

[brett05]

I'm really interested to see what Motte brings to the table this year. You're right, the Cubs will be formidable at the end of the bullpen, but their middle relief was pretty good the 2nd half last year as well. This has been somewhat overlooked with all the talk about the starting rotation, imo.

They could very well be. The issues with just about everyone is that relievers are highly inconsistent. They can be lights out one year and then Danks/Jacksonesque the next outside a handful of guys.

 

[Bear Pride]

I'll make it weirder. As A Red Wing Fan, I like the Hawks.

That is weird. Liking and respecting are two different things, imo. Maybe we should consult Parade on the true meaning of each? :dunno:

 

[Bear Pride]

If you were to weigh the value of the bullpen, what would you say a bullpens worth is relative to a #1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 starter?

I think if your 1 and 2 can give you 7 good innings, it can help keep a pitching staff fresh. But a good bullpen can keep the starting rotation fresh too if they are deep, and I think the Cubs is deep. Like what was said above, however, if the Cubs have the lead after 6 innings, they'll have a pretty good chance to close the game out, imo.

 

[Bear Pride]

They could very well be. The issues with just about everyone is that relievers are highly inconsistent. They can be lights out one year and then Danks/Jacksonesque the next outside a handful of guys.

Well, very true, but I'm hoping we only saw a glimpse of what the staff can be. As far as Jackson, I'm hoping he's somewhere else before we get going. I've never seen a P get his team down and out of the game so fast in a game in my life. Seriously, many times the Cubs were down 4+ runs before they even bat. It was tough to watch.

Couple things I think will help..... Montero should help a lot as he will get the Cubs pitchers a lot of low strikes, imo, and keep the ball in the park hopefully. I also think Maddon has a pretty good rep of working with young pitchers as well, so I'm eager to see how he handles the staff.

 

[Parade_Rain]

That is weird. Liking and respecting are two different things, imo. Maybe we should consult Parade on the true meaning of each? :dunno:

"Like" in this case is defined as to enjoy or get pleasure from, to regard something in a favorable way, or to feel affection for someone/to enjoy being with someone.

"Respect" is a feeling of admiration toward someone or something that is good, valuable, important or a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way.

Sourced from merriam-webster.com

So essentially, Brett feels a deeper affection for the Wings, but admires the Hawks.

 

[brett05]

That is weird. Liking and respecting are two different things, imo. Maybe we should consult Parade on the true meaning of each? :dunno:

I've not always respected them (Wirtz) but I like them. I know, I get hate from both sides.

 

[2323]

I think if your 1 and 2 can give you 7 good innings, it can help keep a pitching staff fresh. But a good bullpen can keep the starting rotation fresh too if they are deep, and I think the Cubs is deep. Like what was said above, however, if the Cubs have the lead after 6 innings, they'll have a pretty good chance to close the game out, imo.

Ok. But you didn't answer the question.

 

[DewsSox79]

Yeah, the Sox don't have anything to prove, but the Cubs have everything to prove........

so sale, quintana, shark have something to prove? how are the white sox getting involved in this again?????????

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arrieja01.shtml <<<<<<