BBTF.org/m/cubs : First Half Summary and Trade Rumor Thread

Saturday, May 18, 2013

BtBS: Kevin Gregg Re-emerges in Chicago

(www.beyondtheboxscore.com)

posted 3 days ago by bobm to cubs, kevin gregg | 4 comment(s)

[A]s of May 16, Kevin Gregg has thrown ten innings without allowing an earned run. Over those 10 frames, he has faced 39 batters surrendering just five hits and four walks and striking out 12 batters. Because it’s just 10 innings, I’m probably making too big a deal out of his success, but remember this is the same pitcher that:

*Was released by the Dodgers during Spring Training. The Dodgers’ pen ranks 25th in the Majors in ERA.
*Registered a 4.62 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 4.83 xFIP over the last ...

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251. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 08, 2012 at 10:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Now they just have to go 19-34 to get to 100 losses.

Will they ever win a game in August?

252. Brian C posted on August 08, 2012 at 11:32 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They're going home now, so presumably yes.

253. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 09, 2012 at 12:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Vitter is performing as expected, he will not be the 3b of the future. His future is not in baseball

254. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 09, 2012 at 12:41 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This was his second start of his career. I'm not saying he's Willie Mays but Willie started his career going 0-12 with 2 BB in 3 starts.

255. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 09, 2012 at 01:16 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well its not looking for a guy with a questionable bat and glove

256. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 10, 2012 at 01:02 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Cubs win their first game in August! 18-34

Castro Tracker 17/17

257. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 11, 2012 at 07:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

50 games to go. Have to go 18-32 to get to 100 losses.

258. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 11, 2012 at 10:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

When it gets down to 10 games left they will need to play. 500 to avoid 100 losses. Calling it now

259. Brian C posted on August 12, 2012 at 02:21 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone else noticing that Russell is pretty shaky lately?

260. Kiko Sakata

posted on August 12, 2012 at 02:34 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone else noticing that Russell is pretty shaky lately?

Camp, too. Not coincidentally, they're 1st and tied for 4th in the NL in games pitched (thru Fri, so Russell may be higher now).

261. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 12, 2012 at 03:14 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

So next years rotation.is what garza bpj wood volstatd and vizcaino when.he comes back?

262. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 13, 2012 at 10:24 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Battle of what is probably the two worst teams in baseball right now coming up.

263. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 13, 2012 at 11:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Man, everybody always looks good when they play the Astros.

264. SouthSideRyan posted on August 14, 2012 at 01:02 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

McCoy, any chance Castro reaches the 60 errors you were projecting from him earlier this season?

265. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 14, 2012 at 01:09 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Thank god he didn't hit a home run in his first PA or you'd be asking me if he was still on pace to hit 600 home runs.

Castro leads the majors in SS errors and is only one behind the leader, regardless of position (Pedro Alvarez).

266. SouthSideRyan posted on August 14, 2012 at 10:26 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, I'm sorry for thinking a guy who continuously harps on a player's errors long past the point of relevance was being serious.

In addition to him leading the majors in SS errors (tied actually with a guy who has played 36 less games there), he also leads NL shortstops in putouts, ML shortstops in assists and NL shortstops in defensive WAR.

267. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 14, 2012 at 02:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yes, I was totally serious that Starlin Castro was going to break a 100 year old record and have something like 60 to 90 errors this season. I mean I was constantly talking about how he was going to commit 60 errors all year long so I could see how you mistook my seriousness on this.

268. SouthSideRyan posted on August 14, 2012 at 03:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

No you stopped talking about it once he fell off the pace, just like your mocking of me for saying the Cubs wouldn't lose 100 when they were "on pace" to lose 118.

269. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 14, 2012 at 04:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

No you stopped talking about it once he fell off the pace, just like your mocking of me for saying the Cubs wouldn't lose 100 when they were "on pace" to lose 118.

Once again, I was totally serious that Starlin Castro was going to break a 100 year old record and have something like 60 to 90 errors this season. I mean I was constantly talking about how he was going to commit 60 errors all year long so I could see how you mistook my seriousness on this.

What is it that you hope to achieve with this line of dialogue?

270. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 14, 2012 at 11:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Castro Tracker: 19/18

271. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I believe I questioned the extension for Fleita at the time. The timing is odd though, I'll say.

272. zonk posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I believe I questioned the extension for Fleita at the time. The timing is odd though, I'll say.

I personally think Fleita just rose to a level over his head -- you really have to give him credit for building the Cubs' Latin development from nonexistent to something at least able to run with the big dogs, but his hike in the org chart seems to have been into a position that he wasn't really suited for.

Of course, it offers up the Chicago media another chance to bash Crane Kinney, as Rogers does in today's Trib... not that I really care about Kinney; he sounds like a douche, but it's just funny to read and hear the way that the local media has it out for the guy.

273. Arnett Mead (Arjun) posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:39 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Brett Jackson has 18 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances so far this year. This is pretty frightening.

274. SouthSideRyan posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

AL pitchers struck out at a 50% rate this season, so it's pretty unlikely Jackson keeps that up.

And the Crane Kenney hate continues to be maddening.

275. zonk posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Brett Jackson has 18 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances so far this year. This is pretty frightening.

Triple and a double yesterday though!

But yeah, it looks to become the Cubs' Austin Jackson, he really need to cut down on his strikeouts... which is a bit scary.

276. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 16, 2012 at 09:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Per Kaplan cubs will be signing castro to a 6 year deal

277. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'd think at this point Castro would jump at a long term deal but if I were the Cubs I'd probably be lowballing him.

278. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock posted on August 17, 2012 at 06:27 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

They're just talking, right? I haven't seen anything that they're anywhere near to close on a deal.

279. Pops Freshenmeyer posted on August 18, 2012 at 05:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

7 years, $60 million according to ESPN.

The contract covers four years of arb (he will be a super two) and three of FA.

280. Dan The Mediocre posted on August 18, 2012 at 05:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

7 years, $60 million according to ESPN.

The contract covers four years of arb (he will be a super two) and three of FA.

That seems like quite the deal for the Cubs.

281. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Great deal for the cubs and castro

282. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 18, 2012 at 05:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Virtually impossible to become an albatross with that deal. I wonder how backloaded the deal is.

283. Brian C posted on August 19, 2012 at 06:31 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So, some changes coming up by the look of it. Raley was optioned back to Iowa today, but is expected back next weekend. Addtionally, Chris Rusin is apparently starting Tuesday's game, and today Alex Hinshaw was claimed off waivers. So that's three roster spots that will need to turn over, including one more off of the 40-man (they made room on the 40-man for Hinshaw by moving Vizcaino to the 60-day DL, but will still need a spot for Rusin).

284. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 20, 2012 at 11:56 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The Cubs are just 4-15 in the month of August. No other team has lost as many games as the Cubs have this month so far.

285. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 22, 2012 at 06:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The Chicago Cubs have now hit the point where they can actually have a better record than they currently do now and still lose 100 games this season.

286. Gern Blanston posted on August 22, 2012 at 08:53 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The concerns about Jackson's K rate seem to have been borne out and then some. Dude's striking out in over half his ABs (yet, with a decent walk rate and isolated power). I don't know if it's lack of bat speed or what, but THAT sort of inability to make contact is a huge obstacle to his being a worthwhile player. If he got the K's down to 1 a game, we could have a Granderson/Lankford type player on our hands, but that seems like a tall order. I wonder if there's precedent for a guy with contact issues this severe becoming successful at the MLB level.

287. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 22, 2012 at 09:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let's see what he does next year. Nobody in the Cubs' system is coming out of the womb fully formed any time soon.

288. Kiko Sakata

posted on August 22, 2012 at 09:19 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The concerns about Jackson's K rate seem to have been borne out and then some. Dude's striking out in over half his ABs (yet, with a decent walk rate and isolated power). I don't know if it's lack of bat speed or what, but THAT sort of inability to make contact is a huge obstacle to his being a worthwhile player. If he got the K's down to 1 a game, we could have a Granderson/Lankford type player on our hands, but that seems like a tall order. I wonder if there's precedent for a guy with contact issues this severe becoming successful at the MLB level.

42% of Jackson's strikeouts have been looking v. an MLB average of 24% (it's L/SO in this table). That was my impression anecdotally (which is why I looked it up). He's not swinging and missing or chasing bad pitches so much as he seems to have times where he just locks up and lets called strikes go by. I'd blame it on nerves, except for the huge K numbers in AAA (but I have no idea if it was the same issue there). I don't know what to make of it, but it strikes me as different than what we normally see in a high-K guy who swings at specific types/locations of pitches that he can't hit but can't lay off of.

289. Brian C posted on August 28, 2012 at 01:56 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone want to take a stab at explaining what Alex Hinshaw is doing on this team? What does he give them that either Beliveau or Maine (who's been DFA'd now) doesn't?

290. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 28, 2012 at 08:22 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone want to explain what any of the players are doing on the major league roster?

291. Hack Wilson posted on August 28, 2012 at 08:40 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyone want to explain what any of the players are doing on the major league roster?

Completely unfair, the Cubs are contractually obligated to have a 25-man major league roster.

292. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 28, 2012 at 05:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Castro deal is done 59mil and an option for 2020

293. Brian C posted on August 29, 2012 at 03:43 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

So Hinshaw was DFA'd today after a week (and only two appearances) with the team. He departs with a 135.00 ERA and an 81.0 HR/9 ratio. Makes his 27.0 BB/9 look positively stellar.

What a pointless sequence of events that was - demoting Beliveau and DFA'ing Maine in the process, with both of those guys being better pitchers.

Blake Parker off the DL.

294. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on August 29, 2012 at 03:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Also there is no no trade clause

295. SouthSideRyan posted on August 29, 2012 at 04:03 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't think Scott Maine is necessarily better than Hinshaw. Scott Maine sucks.

296. Brian C posted on August 29, 2012 at 04:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't think Scott Maine is necessarily better than Hinshaw. Scott Maine sucks.

What makes you say that? Maine's minor league numbers are actually pretty good. Hinshaw's been walking 6 per 9IP pretty much since he hit pro ball. Comparisons to their limited major league careers aren't unfavorable to Maine, either.

297. SouthSideRyan posted on August 29, 2012 at 05:47 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I guess I didn't realize how much Hinshaw sucked.

298. Brian C posted on August 30, 2012 at 01:50 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Maine's been claimed off waivers by Cleveland, so he's gone. I guess he'd have been cleared to make room for Parker even if Hinshaw had never happened, but it still doesn't make the whole Hinshaw fiasco look any better.

299. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on August 31, 2012 at 10:05 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Darwin Barney is at 79 OPS+ folks. Rizzo has finally obtained enough PA to appear in the starters section of BRef. That's the good news, the bad news is that he has a 109 OPS+. Castillo is going to need to play pretty much every single day in order to knock Soto's line off the starters section. Valbuena and his 91 OPS+ has knocked Ian out of that section as well. Campana and his 63 OPS+ appears to be safe from going anywhere.

300. Brian C posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:24 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yeah, but notice how Castro's walk rate since the ASB isn't half bad? He's drawn 11 walks in 118 PA in August, all unintentional, compared to 8 unintentional walks in June and July combined. In fact, he's drawn his walk rate even to where it was last season (as a percentage of PA).

Also, Jackson's sort of reined in the strikeouts over the past week. Still a frequent occurrence (8 in his last 7 games, to match 8 walks), but not so silly. I'll take it. He's been their best hitter over those 7 games. His defense looks solid, too. I imagine he's got some pretty gruesome slumps ahead of him in his career, but he's clearly talented. He looks like a more patient, lefthanded, and defensively sound version of Alfonso Soriano in that respect.

Vitters still looks staggeringly overwhelmed ... not so clearly talented.

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

BtBS: Kevin Gregg Re-emerges in Chicago

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Cubs Think Factory