MLB: 2014 Chicago Cubs
- Thread starter Bret44
- Start date
He may very well hit ahead of Baez. I'm more than willing to be patient with Javy at this point, but he's going to be a 5/6 hitter as long as Bryant and Rizzo are around (and they're not going anywhere). And until Baez's plate discipline improves (if it does), I'd rather have Soler hitting ahead of him; he'll be a more consistent run-producer than Baez, at least based on how things look right now.
As for Schwarber, I'm not sure he and Soler even CAN be together on the big club. Not without trading (most likely) Castro, anyway. We would need a CF, and if you've got Castro, Schwarber and Soler up, you have to play them all and none of them are CF material.
Bottom line, someone in that group is getting traded not that far down the road. Either to make room for Almora (he's going to have to start producing at a higher level than he has this year for that to happen), make room to make Alcantara the CF (which isn't ideal, but he would be the best option on the roster), or acquire a CF.
I just don't think Almora is our man down the road. And I think Markakis is our CF next year.
Speed wise, Soler is a lot like Byrd from a few years back. He wouldn't be a ****** CF option.
And for the record, I don't think we have 1 set OF in the future. I think we have 4 guys rotating constantly.
And for the record, I don't think we have 1 set OF in the future. I think we have 4 guys rotating constantly.
I don't think I'd call Wada a big time pitcher. His fastball barely averages 90, and guys like that typically don't hold up as starters over the long haul (Wada's been good, but he's not Maddux). But I think a guy with his stuff would be great out of the bullpen as a long relief man (especially as a lefty).
Go out and sign one or two of the bigger FA starters (Lester, Scherzer, Shields) and go for Price or Cueto in 2015 if you only sign one of this year's crop (or just go for one of them either way, if you've got the money and feel like spending it).
If we sign one FA starter this offseason
1. Lester/Scherzer/Shields
2. Arrieta
3. Hendricks
4. Wada
5. Turner
If we sign two FA starters this offseason
1. Lester/Scherzer/Shields
2. Lester/Scherzer/Shields
3. Arrieta
4. Hendricks
5. Turner
I'm not sold on him, either. He's looking more and more like the most likely of the group to be a bust. I honestly have never seen Markakis play that often; is he really an option as a center fielder? He's only played 9 games in center in his entire career.
I think I'd call him a big time pitcher if he had more big league experience. I meant big-time now for what he's done in such little time at such an old age. Dudes only been in America for 3 years and has been injury prone. He's cheap and gets the job done. And hitters have said in the past his fastball has serious life at the end of it, which is why they're having a hard time with it.
Well, he's got speed. And the last time the Cubs had a legit center fielder was who? Juan Pierre? Who is now actually a left fielder? I'd say our last REAL center fielder was probably either Kenny Lofton or Patterson in 2003.
I only want Markakis now because he'd make us contenders in the hitting department for sure next year, but he wouldn't be necessary in 2016.
I think our best option right now is to have an opening day outfield where Soler starts in CF, but only starts out there 1/3 of the time, and in a corner 2/3 of his playing time, and Alcantara can take CF while the two other OF's have days off.
Baseball America claims that Schwarber could be an alright backup catcher, so I could see him playing the majority of his time in the OF, and being the 3rd catcher, but catching games when our 1 catcher has a day off.
The reason they don't see him as a full time catcher is it would probably hurt his body later in life and his arm probably won't be strong enough.
Confirmed that the Cubs will wait until Wednesday for him to make his debut. Probably because Cueto is going for Cinncy tomorrow. On Wednesday, Cinncy is starting some guy with and 18.56 ERA. Remember when Castro made his debut in Cinncy?
http://m.mlb.com/video/v7880467/chccin-castro-hits-a-threerun-shot-in-his-debut
http://m.mlb.com/video/v7880467/chccin-castro-hits-a-threerun-shot-in-his-debut
At least Wood can hit. Just painful, early in the season, when everyone from the 5 - 8 spots was hitting .200. A little refresh when you got to the 9 spot when Wood was on the hill. Look down and see .260 with some pop. At times, I seriously wondered why the guy wasn't playing in the OF every day.
The Cubs will be in a much better place when he's not in the rotation, but I do like to watch him compete.
Would expect Soler to be in the 2 or 3 hole. Maybe not right away, but eventually.
Coughlin
Soler
Rizzo
Castro
Baez
Valbuena
Alcantara
Castillo
Wood (DH)
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If (big if) the Cubs sweep the Reds, they will be 1.5 games out of 4th for the Central. Thats a race I am going to be keeping an eye one :twitcy:
Baez with the golden sombrero tonight. Something along the lines of first person in 100 years to strike out 4 times in a game 4 times in their 1st 21 MLB Games.
Damn...beat me too it as I was looking for the thread. Crushed that ball, and it looked like he was kind of jammed on it. Whoa!
Jacob Turners curveball and fastball are well above average. If he could develop one more solid pitch (I thought he had a good changeup???) he could be what he was once expected to be - an ace
