BBTF's Gonfalon Cubs Discussion :: Season Preview 2012

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101. Kiko Sakata

Posted: April 20, 2012 at 09:14 PM (#4111911)

Given what happened to the original thread on the subject, I'm reluctant to submit this as a news item, but in a "we can take any good news we can get" department: Police have decided not to pursue charges against Starlin Castro

102. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 21, 2012 at 11:41 AM (#4112117)

Carlos Zambrano: 3 starts, 19 innings, 2.84 ERA, 129 ERA+, 16 K, 8 BB, .947 WHIP
Aramis Ramirez: 55 PA, 1 HR, .160/.218/.260 33 OPS+
Sean Marshall: 4.1 IP, 2 SV, 7 K, 2 BB, 193 ERA+
Carlos Pena: 63 PA, 3 HR, .308/.429/.558 168 OPS+
Tyler Colvin: 27 PA, 1 HR, .346/.370/.577, 145 OPS+
Andrew Cashner: 8.2 innings, 7 K, 7 BB, 167 ERA+

103. zonk Posted: April 21, 2012 at 12:08 PM (#4112125)

Dempster to the DL, Byrd supposedly close to being dealt to the Bosox

104. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 21, 2012 at 12:20 PM (#4112136)

Do they actually bring up Brett this early? Plus I'm a bit alarmed about his K rate.

What would the Cubs get back in a trade? A bag of balls and a lower payroll?

105. Recalcitrant Nate Posted: April 21, 2012 at 12:30 PM (#4112140)

I kind of expect them to get Bowden in exchange for Byrd and stick him in the bullpen.

@Quaker: I think Obstructed View is a good, if very cynical, cubs blog. it used to be "Another Cubs Blog", but combined writers with some other sites.

106. zonk Posted: April 21, 2012 at 12:36 PM (#4112145)

Tony Campana and Randy Wells up...

107. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 21, 2012 at 12:40 PM (#4112148)

So it will probably be Campana for a month before they bring up Jackson.

108. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 21, 2012 at 03:55 PM (#4112319)

bleachernation is a good Cubs blog.

109. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 21, 2012 at 04:30 PM (#4112350)

Castro Tracker: 7/7

110. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 22, 2012 at 12:45 AM (#4112810)

At this point Starlin Castro is chasing Honus Wagner for the history books. Honus Wagner was a 50/50 player. 53 stolen bases and 51 errors in 1906 and 53 stolen bases and 50 errors in 1908. The only other player to do that was Ray Chapman in 1917. The highest since integration was 30/30 done by Rod Carew, Freddie Patek, Dick Howser, and Jose Offerman. Gary Templeton did have a year where he stole 34 bases but he committed 40 errors.

Highest all time is 80/80 done by Cub Stricker in 1887 in the AA and Chippy McGarr in the 1887 AA as well. If we're talking the NL then it is 60/60 with Arlie Latham holding the honor for his 1892 season.

111. Brian C Posted: April 22, 2012 at 01:17 AM (#4112813)

And yet his defensive stats don't look all that bad overall. Not that those are worth much at this point of the season, but he looks to be playing very well out there except for the (admittedly all too common) lapses of concentration.

I'm optimistic, honestly.

112. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 22, 2012 at 06:10 AM (#4112865)

McCoy will not stand for that.

113. Brian C Posted: April 23, 2012 at 11:24 AM (#4113624)

I presume that we'll see a roster move today to add Bowden to the roster. Hopefully, this means that we've seen the last of Rodrigo Lopez.

114. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4113644)

They could kill some time and send down Wells, bringing up TWood next time a 5th starter is needed on 4-30.

115. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 23, 2012 at 02:47 PM (#4113777)

There really is no point in having Lopez on the roster at this point.

116. zonk Posted: April 23, 2012 at 03:16 PM (#4113804)

The Boss adds a second show to Wrigley this September!

After I got shut out on Saturday, I feared that this season was a total waste -- but it may yet be salvaged...

117. Brian C Posted: April 23, 2012 at 04:06 PM (#4113862)

Brett Jackson's now only struck out once in his past 6 games, but he's stopped walking and hitting, also. In those 6 games, he's only walked once and had five hits in 23 AB. Small sample size, I know, but I wonder if all this "he needs to cut down on his strikeouts" talk is getting to his head.

118. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:03 PM (#4113923)

Lopez DFAd

119. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:16 PM (#4113939)

Lesson of the day:

Never be the old guy of the pen on a bad team.

120. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:19 PM (#4113946)

Tell that to Shawn Camp.

121. zonk Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:21 PM (#4113949)

Camp is relatively middle-agish, no?

Isn't he about 30?

122. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:23 PM (#4113951)

Camp's a month older than Lopez. They're both 36.

123. zonk Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:23 PM (#4113953)

Gurp... or not - he's 36.

I guess Camp came up late (28), so at least it wasn't like I had completely blanked out a decade or something...

124. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:23 PM (#4113954)

Anyone over 30 is old on a rebuilding team (though some veterans is a good thing).

Do you guys want a new thread or just keep using this one?

125. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:29 PM (#4113961)

I'd say unless there's something newsworthy, go with monthly threads?

I said I'd do a minor league rundown a few years back and...didn't. Maybe if the season continues the way it does, I can find the motivation to send something on? Other than that, I don't think there'll be much beyond a general thread to discuss until the amateur draft and trade deadline.

ETA: And softball!

126. zonk Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:38 PM (#4113972)

Monthly seems fine to me...

Maybe if someone (TOUCHES NOSE, NOT IT!) wants to do a monthly write-up to get things going, that would be nice, but not necessary...

127. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:48 PM (#4113986)

Don't think I have the heart to do a monthly write up this season.

128. zonk Posted: April 23, 2012 at 05:51 PM (#4113993)

Brett Jackson's now only struck out once in his past 6 games, but he's stopped walking and hitting, also. In those 6 games, he's only walked once and had five hits in 23 AB. Small sample size, I know, but I wonder if all this "he needs to cut down on his strikeouts" talk is getting to his head.

My take on Jackson -- and this is nothing more than extreme overreading of a few comments I read from in spring -- is that Jackson knows what he's doing and isn't the type that's going to let any sort of talk mess up his game... or at least I hope.

Too lazy to go look it up, but I seem to recall he was pretty fatalistic about his strikeouts, as in "Yeah, but I also get on base at a high clip and hit for power, so who cares?"

Just glancing at the minor league numbers...

Both Cardenas and Castillo seem to be knocking the snot out of the ball in Iowa. Vitters doesn't seem to be any threat to Ian Stewart any time soon (slugging .291!)

Trey McNutt has been wild, but effective, at Tennesse.

Szczur is struggling in A.

Oh, and if anyone cares -- it appears that Hayden Simpson still sucks.

129. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:00 PM (#4114007)

Vitters doesn't seem to be any threat to Ian Stewart any time soon

Ian Stewart doesn't seem to be any threat any time soon either.

130. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:00 PM (#4114008)

McNutt went on the 7 day DL with blisters.

131. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:03 PM (#4114012)

Chris Archer is sporting a 9.95 ERA with 1.895 WHIP so far in 3 starts and 12.2 innings. 11 strikeouts and 13 walks.

Hak-Ju Lee has a .259/.194 line in 81 PA and has 5 errors already.

Brandon Guyer on the other hand is batting .397/.516 in 74 PA with 3 homers.

132. Starlin of the Slipstream (TRHN) Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:19 PM (#4114035)

The Cubs' $1 million Cuban, Rubi Silva, is doing well in Daytona: .367/.426/.510. He's said to be a toolsy type, so it's good to see him doing well.

133. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:22 PM (#4114038)

Ok, monthly threads it is. It'll be short and sweet, unless someone wants to volunteer to write something longer. And yes, SSR, I'm still waiting on that minors post.

134. Quaker Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:39 PM (#4114049)

What is going on with Soler? Is he still not a FA?

135. Brian C Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:43 PM (#4114055)

I haven't heard that Soler has been declared an FA yet, no.

136. Brian C Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:52 PM (#4114063)

The Cubs have an open spot on the 40-man now with Lopez being DFA'd. Wonder if that portends any other moves, although I believe them when they say that Jackson will stay at Iowa for now. Maybe Valbuena comes back up?

137. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: April 23, 2012 at 06:55 PM (#4114065)

According to Wikipedia the Office of Foreign Assets Control has yet to "unblock" him. I have no idea how these things work and I can't find a date he defected from Cuba. I've also tried looking at Cespedes for a timeline comparison. It seems like his eligibility has been described as imminent since 2011, however, so I wonder if there is some issue causing an unusual snag in the process.

138. Brian C Posted: April 23, 2012 at 07:13 PM (#4114078)

Although to follow my own train of thought, even if they brought Valbuena back up, the only candidates to be taken off the roster (e.g., Baker, DeWitt, maybe Johnson) would all have to be DFA'd themselves, opening another spot on the 40-man.

Guess we'll have to watch out for random waiver claims.

139. Brian C Posted: April 25, 2012 at 12:56 AM (#4115496)

Concepcion is making his first start tomorrow, for Peoria.

140. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 25, 2012 at 08:42 PM (#4116298)

Disaster beginning for Concepcion giving up 5 runs on 5 hits in the 1st inning. Settled down after that finished with 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

141. Brian C Posted: April 26, 2012 at 12:42 AM (#4116586)

That's not great but it's not terrible. We'll see what happens his next time out.

142. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 28, 2012 at 06:08 AM (#4118320)

Castro Tracker: 8/7

He is 8 of 10 now in the stolen base department.

143. Brian C Posted: April 28, 2012 at 11:29 AM (#4118417)

Sounds like Clevenger is going to the DL and Castillo's coming up.

144. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 29, 2012 at 01:54 AM (#4118869)

It's a shame that Clevenger is going to the DL but at least Castillo is a reasonable comp with the bat.

Castro Tracker: 10/7

145. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: April 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4119392)

If Tony Campana wasn't hitting .435 today's OF would have been rather impressive. Jeff Baker, Tony Campana, and Joe Mather. On paper that might just be the worst OF the Cubs have put out there in a long time.

146. Brian C Posted: April 29, 2012 at 08:36 PM (#4119400)

Mather's playing pretty well too - his line now is .292/.414/.458 for the year.

Last year, the Cubs started a DeWitt/Colvin/Montanez outfield at least once (on 6/11). I think that's worse - it doesn't even give you the benefit of Campana's excellent defense.

147. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 29, 2012 at 08:41 PM (#4119404)

So what are you guys thinking about Jeff Samardzija? His numbers look really, really good - 2.41 FIP, a K every inning and three Ks for every walk, a .350 BABIP. But I haven't watched him pitch, and it's certainly possible for a bad pitcher to put together a good month. Is he actually a good starter?

148. Brian C Posted: April 29, 2012 at 08:53 PM (#4119408)

Samardzija's already outperformed my expectations for him in the rotation, so anything else he does from here on out is icing as far as I'm concerned.

The biggest surprise for me is that he's not walking people. His walk rate is only even as high as it is becaue of one bad start - in his other three starts, he's walked three batters total in 20.1 IP.

I'm inclined to wait to see what he does against good offenses, but his last start against the Cardinals was pretty doggone good, and his first start against the Cards was pretty good, too, until he had a bad inning in the fifth.

So I dunno. But it's definitely one of the more intriguing storylines of the season so far for the Cubs.

149. SteveM. Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:26 AM (#4119522)

No one mention Marmol once again stinking up the place? I thought there was a very good chance he was about to blow a 5 run lead today.

150. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:52 AM (#4119533)

I love that they pushed Samardzija back a day. He should be the most protected guy in the rotation.

151. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: April 30, 2012 at 12:53 AM (#4119534)

I was listening to it on tje radio waiting to hit the cd button once pat said dwwp fly ball thankfully that never happened

152. Recalcitrant Nate Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:27 AM (#4119695)

I was at yesterday's game in Philly. I'd advocate extending Garza at this point. He's nasty. I'm also becoming a believer in LaHair. I hate to admit that I actually enjoy watching the Campana-speed-scrappy-small ball offense they're kind of trying out right now.

153. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:35 AM (#4119706)

I'm concerned about what happens to LaHair when his BABIP settles down.

154. zonk Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM (#4119720)

LaHair isn't going to continue to post a 229 OPS+ of course, but the dude is just raking right now... Even when he's striking out - and he does do that quite a bit - it seems like he posting good ABs with some loud fouls and just missed its.

BPJ - time for a new nickname, I guess - is 27, so it's a pretty good now or never season for him. I'll cut him some slack given the time he wasted on the gridiron, but it's time for him to grow up as a pitcher. I never really thought he had the repertoire to start, but if he can continue to keep that K/BB rate and K rate about where it is, it looks like he might have a chance.

I have no interest in watching a whitey herzog/insect baseball team -- but I will admit to liking Campana just for the story, so I'm rooting for him.

155. zonk Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:45 AM (#4119724)

I'm concerned about what happens to LaHair when his BABIP settles down.

I'd be more concerned about the K rate -- he's always had a bit of the TTO in him, but he's up in Mark Reynolds stratospheric territory... Like I said, though -- he seems to be putting up good PAs.

156. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4119730)

but I will admit to liking Campana just for the story, so I'm rooting for him.

Speaking of stories, where is Bobby Scales these days?

---

Anyone want to write anything up for tomorrow's thread? If not, it'll just be a generic intro.

157. zonk Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:51 AM (#4119735)

Speaking of stories, where is Bobby Scales these days?

I think he hooked up with the Mets late in spring and is toiling up in Buffalo...

158. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 11:57 AM (#4119743)

Ugh, Concepcion got the #### beat out of him.

.2 IP, 7 ER

159. Brian C Posted: April 30, 2012 at 01:54 PM (#4119884)

I'm concerned about what happens to LaHair when his BABIP settles down.

It's funny, I read this and decided to go look up his BAbip, assuming it would be around .400 or so (which was dumb of me to think) ... and yeah. .607! That's amazing.

160. SouthSideRyan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 02:15 PM (#4119911)

.400 would actually be about where he should be.

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