Just like last night, right? Schwarber is pretty brutal as an OF too, but that's to be expected from someone with limited experience playing out there.
MLB: ***Chicago Cubs 2015 Season***
- Thread starter ISUCubswin
- Start date
Just like last night, right? Schwarber is pretty brutal as an OF too, but that's to be expected from someone with limited experience playing out there.
In his defense, he was playing pretty far up in left to guard against the 4th run, but regardless, he got into position to make the play and he didn't. I just cant see a world series outfield with either of those two starting in it, but then, what do you do with them? If the NL were to move to a DH this off season, I think the Cubs front office would be very excited.
I could certainly see it with either of those guys, just maybe not both. LF in Wrigley is pretty easy to play. If the Cubs do move Bryant to the OF, I see no reason why he can't become a plus defender, pair him with an elite defensive CF and you'd have a pretty solid OF, even with one of Soler or Schwarber in the other spot.
The DH would benefit this current Cubs squad but I hope the NL never goes to it, takes away so much strategy.
I happen to think Schwarber can turn himself into a good enough outfielder that he wouldn't be a big liability out there. By all accounts, he has an amazing work ethic.
Soler's problem is that he's spent all of his professional career in the outfield and he still plays it like it's his first day out there.
Both guys might hit well enough to be worth it but Soler's injury history is bad enough that if the Cubs can get a meaningful piece back in return they should do it.
I'm a Baez fan, and think he needs to be an everyday player for the Cubs next year. If they can't get a decent return for Starlin they might as well keep him (never would have thought in August those words would come out of my mouth). With Torres in the minors it makes sense to move Baez to third long-term and Bryant could be a plus defensive right fielder.
If they can get a quality return for Starlin, this entire discussion is moot because he's obviously the guy the team could replace easier.
I like Baez too and would really hate to give him up, but he's really been regressing in the NLCS. He really showed a changed approach after his call up but he's had some bad looking at bats the last few games, not that I expect the front office to make decisions based on one series.
I think the biggest off season decision will be where they see Bryant long term. That's the decision that will affect who is more available, if they move any of them, out of Soler, Baez and Castro.
he's had 7 at bats. In those seven at bats he has just one hit, but Bryant and Rizzo each have two hits, in nearly twice the amount of at-bats.
Hell, you can go through the entire batting order short of Schwarber in this series and find a whole lot of fail.
Did a lot of research today and thought I'd give you guys me dream scenario at this moment, though it will likely change a ton in the next week...
1. Cubs sign Jordan Zimmerman. Dude is probably going to be the cheapest of the 4 but I also think he'll be just as effective as David Price 2-3 years from now. Price throws a ton of innings now and has shown he can't pitch in the postseason.
2. Cubs resign Dexter Fowler
3. Cubs trade Soler and Christian Villanueva for Tyson Ross, the Padres #2 SP. Why this makes sense - Pads need a corner outfielder and outfield depth. As for Villanueva, he provides a third baseman spot where he can start right away and give their current third baseman the chance to play second and replace the **** storm they have at that position. The Pads were also interested in trading this young stud at the deadline. This creates an outfield of Schwarber, Fowler, and Bryant. Not too awful defensively. Still not great. As for our pitching rotation...it becomes Arrieta, Lester, Zimmerman, Ross, and Hammel vs. Hendricks to take the last spot.
4. Cubs sign Ben Zobrist. At 35, Zobrists offers a small contract, which is what the Cubs need with the youth coming up. He becomes our bench player but plays in damn near every game (looks at Mark DeRosa.) This would allow Baez to start at third...the rest of our infield remaining the same. Zobrist can literally play any position just fine.
Ricketts said financially, we can easily meet where Hendry/The Tribune was their final year. It's a matter of making sure we spend it wisely.
All of this will likely put the Cubs right at where they were when they left, with roughly $20-25 more million coming off the books the following postseason, which I'm assuming will be spent on working towards longterm contracts with our young stars today.
1. Cubs sign Jordan Zimmerman. Dude is probably going to be the cheapest of the 4 but I also think he'll be just as effective as David Price 2-3 years from now. Price throws a ton of innings now and has shown he can't pitch in the postseason.
2. Cubs resign Dexter Fowler
3. Cubs trade Soler and Christian Villanueva for Tyson Ross, the Padres #2 SP. Why this makes sense - Pads need a corner outfielder and outfield depth. As for Villanueva, he provides a third baseman spot where he can start right away and give their current third baseman the chance to play second and replace the **** storm they have at that position. The Pads were also interested in trading this young stud at the deadline. This creates an outfield of Schwarber, Fowler, and Bryant. Not too awful defensively. Still not great. As for our pitching rotation...it becomes Arrieta, Lester, Zimmerman, Ross, and Hammel vs. Hendricks to take the last spot.
4. Cubs sign Ben Zobrist. At 35, Zobrists offers a small contract, which is what the Cubs need with the youth coming up. He becomes our bench player but plays in damn near every game (looks at Mark DeRosa.) This would allow Baez to start at third...the rest of our infield remaining the same. Zobrist can literally play any position just fine.
Ricketts said financially, we can easily meet where Hendry/The Tribune was their final year. It's a matter of making sure we spend it wisely.
All of this will likely put the Cubs right at where they were when they left, with roughly $20-25 more million coming off the books the following postseason, which I'm assuming will be spent on working towards longterm contracts with our young stars today.
I'd also be interested to see if the Cubs get rid of Hammel this offseason. Great first half pitcher the last couple years but an embarrassment after the All Star break.
I wouldn't expect anything in return except possibly the opposing team taking his money.
I wouldn't expect anything in return except possibly the opposing team taking his money.
Sign me up. This would all be great. I'd pass on Price too with his post-season problems
I think Hammel is gone after tonight no matter what.
I certainly hope so. I wonder if the Cubs could throw him in a deal with Soler. The key would be getting off the hook for the money, though. It's just $10 million, which isn't awful for a mid-rotation guy, but he's not even a mid-rotation guy in the second half.
I don't know what happened too him. Before his injury, he was pitching like an All-star
He was like this last year as well.
Lots of Cub fans were scratching their heads that we signed him for $10 million after his pathetic finish with the Athletics.
Then after his hot start, he said his awful finish last year was because he didn't have Bosio and is much more confident with Bosio as his coach.
Just because you keep repeating this, doesn't make it true. He had a terrible July last year but had a 2.86 ERA in August and 2.20 ERA in Sept last year.
When i saw this post i thought, man this guy is giving up early in game 4.....I just checked the score. ooooffff.
Career Stats
First half: 49-40, 4.06 ERA
Second half: 20-37, 5. 15 ERA
He is not, nor ever has been, a second half pitcher, or a pitcher built for a team that plans on having success in the post season.
Except for his "pathetic finish with the Athletics" last year when his best two month stretch was Aug and Sep.
I really really really hope we sign Trevor Cahill and give him a meal plan that consists of doughnuts, state fair food, and beer. Lots of beer.
