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MLB: 2014 Chicago Cubs

If you take Addison Russell's 31 games with the Smokies (AA) team, and put it into a 162 game season, he's on pace for over 40 homers.

And power is said to be his worst asset.
 
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ield-renovations-rooftops-20140814-story.html

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Cubs fans, what do you think of Soler? Watched him last night and he reminded me of Soriano... And not in a good way. ( free swinging, long swing, pulls head) Defense left a lot to be desired too. Could have just been an off day. Bryant struggled too, but two of his pop ups went warning track. Just not sure what to think of Soled.
 
cycfan1 said:
Cubs fans, what do you think of Soler? Watched him last night and he reminded me of Soriano... And not in a good way. ( free swinging, long swing, pulls head) Defense left a lot to be desired too. Could have just been an off day. Bryant struggled too, but two of his pop ups went warning track. Just not sure what to think of Soled.
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I think it's hard not to be very excited about him. When he's been healthy, he's raked this year. Crushed AA .415/.494/.862, been excellent in AAA .277/.390/.631 at only 22. Much better plate discipline this year, 24BB/30K in AA and AAA combined, lots of power. Defensively I don't think he'll ever be a CF but he's a good athlete and should be a decent corner guy.
 
cycfan1 said:
Cubs fans, what do you think of Soler? Watched him last night and he reminded me of Soriano... And not in a good way. ( free swinging, long swing, pulls head) Defense left a lot to be desired too. Could have just been an off day. Bryant struggled too, but two of his pop ups went warning track. Just not sure what to think of Soled.
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Basing your opinion of a player off of one game is generally unwise. Soler's plate approach has been praised by teammates and managers at every stop he's made. Everybody is entitled to have a bad night every now and then. As for the defense, well, we didn't sign him for his glove.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Also, didn't see it on here. Chris Archer, former Cub prospect gone Ray, says most top 10 pitching free agents he's talked to want to be Cubs. He also said David Price wants to be a Cub.

I've heard that the reason the Tigers went after Price was because they knew they wouldn't sign an extension with Scherzer. So hopefully Price won't sign an extension with them.

I would've thought it was stupid to go after Price during the deadline, but the Rays only gave him up for a Dan Vogelbach, who will never be an NL player, and a Pierce Johnson (possible #3 starter) so it's too bad we didn't just try and one up the Tigers.
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The jizz. It's everywhere after reading those two sentences.
 
Soler might have one of the best, if not THE best plate approach in the entire minor league system. Which is remarkable for a guy known more for power than contact.
 
Rumors started swirling in New York, then Chicago, and now around the MLB that the Mets are a possible landing spot for Castro. They were interested in him last offseason but the Cubs said he was off limits. Now that Russell has been kicking ***, it appears the Cubs are more willing now.

Mets writers are saying a guy like Zach Wheeler would be a good swap for Castro. I disagree. I'd prefer at least one more prospect. But it's not my team.
 
tm3308 said:
Basing your opinion of a player off of one game is generally unwise. Soler's plate approach has been praised by teammates and managers at every stop he's made. Everybody is entitled to have a bad night every now and then. As for the defense, well, we didn't sign him for his glove.
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I know... Just have never seen him play. Have heard a lot of good things bout him, however never got a chance to see him. Was just curious.
 
Matt Szczur has been brought up. Predictions have never said he'd be All-Star good like our other top prospects, but he's extremely fast and is a gold-glove caliber centerfielder.

Potentially our platoon guy once our roster is set in the next year or 2.
 
CycloneErik said:
If he plays center, does Alcantara move to a corner spot?
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Good question...I think Szczur has a better arm and is faster than Alcantara. Alcantara has the better bat, though.

It's possible those 2 play based on who's pitching. I still think the Cubs get Nick Markakis (corner outfielder) this offseason and Castro takes the other corner outfield spot, with Russell and Bryant coming up in mid-April if we're less than 5 games out.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Good question...I think Szczur has a better arm and is faster than Alcantara. Alcantara has the better bat, though.

It's possible those 2 play based on who's pitching. I still think the Cubs get Nick Markakis (corner outfielder) this offseason and Castro takes the other corner outfield spot, with Russell and Bryant coming up in mid-April if we're less than 5 games out.
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Why would you move Castro to the OF before Bryant?
 
This is probably the biggest offseason in Cubs history coming up. Not just because they have to get a pitcher or two if they want to contend, but because they need to find a legit starting outfielder, not just 4 crappy guys for $4 million each, AND most importantly, because it will decide what our lineup/defense will look like in the future. The two biggest questions this offseason will be does Castro stay, and if yes, who moves to the outfield?

For the record, I REALLY want Castro to stay. I know I've said it before, but he's cheap and we have him for awhile. He's a top 5 MLB shortstop, and his contract is one of the best. You don't just trade those for a #3 pitcher.
 
cloneteach said:
Why would you move Castro to the OF before Bryant?
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Complete assumption, but a few reasons.

1. Bryant is yet to see time in the outfield.

2. Castro played a little outfield in the minors before getting called up.

3. Schwarber is a projected OF, and when Schwarbers time for the show comes, the Cubs would probably rather lose Castro than Bryant.
 
If I had to guess, by June next year, we have a defensive lineup of

C - Castillo
1B - Rizzo
2B - Baez
3B - Bryant
SS - Russell
LF - Castro
CF - Markakis
RF - Soler

With Alcantara being our Mark DeRosa.
 
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