bdutts
- Houston, Texas
And Schwarber is doing this, too: http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/2/17/11039624/kyle-schwarber-breaks-car-window-mesa
Chicago Cubs 2016 Season
Another year, another year I'll avoid Al Yellon. Hopefully Schwarber keeps smashing car windows, though!
I can't help but be fascinated by the construction of this roster. Theo & Jed have created a monster.
-Javier Baez: 23
-Kris Bryant: 24
-Anthony Rizzo: 26
-Addison Russell: 22
-Jason Heyward: 26
-Kyle Schwarber: 22
-Jorge Soler: 23
The young guys are balanced perfectly with veteran leadership from Montero (32), Ross (38), Lester (32), Lackey (37), and Zobrist (34).
And on top of that, they have a top 10 farm system.
This is far and away a better roster than I could have imagined when the rebuild first started. Can't wait for the season to get started!
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
First time I have heard anyone say this. Did he kick your dog or something?
I forgot how young Heyward is. I knew he came up early but he really should be just entering his prime, that's nuts.
Haha, no, he didn't kick my dog. Insulted my intelligence, maybe. I haven't read his work in a few years, but his writing tended to lean toward the fluff side of things. He comes across to me in the Skip Bayless/Stephen A. Smith realm, seeming rather narcissistic in nature. There's a lot about him that turns me off.
I'll stick with Sahadev Sharma for my Cubs analysis. For the lighter side of things, Brett at Bleacher Nation is great. BN's three other writers, Michael Cerami, Luke Blaize, and Luis Medina have written some great articles within the past year or so.
With so many other superior resources for Cubs analysis, Al Yellon & SB Nation are hardly on my radar.
Too, I miss when Doug Padilla wrote for the Cubs with ESPN Chicago. I think he covers the Dodgers now.
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mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Really? He's turrrrible. Just a really bad mix of self-importance and out of date ways of evaluating the game/players/personnel decisions, IMO.
Second Ian's advice on Sahadev and Brett - they're really good (and have a podcast together - Limited Range). I think everything that BP Wrigleyville has been doing is pretty great, too. Also like John Arguello at Chicago Now Cubs Den.
And of course, the most important site, Desipio.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
Thanks guys, you gave me 3 new folks to follow to satiate my Cubs cravings and hopefully made me a smarter fan in the process. :thumb:
Spring Training questions for Cubs:
1. What role can Baez carve out for himself?
2. Can any of Cahill, Warren or Wood (or someone else) break into the starting rotation?
3. Is Neil Ramirez healthy and back to 2014 form?
4. Montero, Ross, Rizzo, Zobrist, Baez, Russell, Bryant, Soler, Heyward, Schwarber, Coghlan. That's 11 guys. Assuming they break camp with 12 position players, who's #12? Figure it's LaStella's to lose, but can a younger player like Alcantera, Villanueva, or Szczur break through?
5. Assuming an 8-man pen, who are the 7 behind Rondon? Figure Cahill, Wood, Warren (or Hammel or Hendricks if one of the above makes the rotation) plus Strop and Grimm account for five. Brothers and Ramirez seem like the next two.
Again, can a younger kid like Jokisch, Acevedo or Edwards break through?
6. Can all the important parts (Rizzo and Arrieta!!!) stay healthy?
1. What role can Baez carve out for himself?
2. Can any of Cahill, Warren or Wood (or someone else) break into the starting rotation?
3. Is Neil Ramirez healthy and back to 2014 form?
4. Montero, Ross, Rizzo, Zobrist, Baez, Russell, Bryant, Soler, Heyward, Schwarber, Coghlan. That's 11 guys. Assuming they break camp with 12 position players, who's #12? Figure it's LaStella's to lose, but can a younger player like Alcantera, Villanueva, or Szczur break through?
5. Assuming an 8-man pen, who are the 7 behind Rondon? Figure Cahill, Wood, Warren (or Hammel or Hendricks if one of the above makes the rotation) plus Strop and Grimm account for five. Brothers and Ramirez seem like the next two.
Again, can a younger kid like Jokisch, Acevedo or Edwards break through?
6. Can all the important parts (Rizzo and Arrieta!!!) stay healthy?
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Sorry, my post was more about the picture. I heard that Safelite was replacing the windshield. I see an endorsement coming.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Can't wait as well. Should be relocating back to the US (not necessarily Chicagoland, though) this summer so hopefully will still have some of my tickets left to use. I will definitely make it back for the playoffs, assuming they get there this year.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
Classy Cardinal fans keeping it classy......
Larry Underwood @lau56
Say hey, J-Hey: Classy new #Cub Jason Heyward - serious about winning http://fw.to/QSlmccM (Should've stayed with winning #StlCards then)
Larry Underwood @lau56 Say hey, J-Hey: Classy new #Cub Jason Heyward - serious about winning http://fw.to/QSlmccM (Should've stayed with winning #StlCards then)
Classy Cardinal fans keeping it classy......
Say hey, J-Hey: Classy new #Cub Jason Heyward - serious about winning http://fw.to/QSlmccM (Should've stayed with winning #StlCards then)
Haha, that came across to me as a friendly jib rather than anything I would consider not classy.
Every fan base has these types of fans, but they're not representative of the fan base as a whole. The I.L. boards during the Cubs/Cardinals NLDS showed a lot of class.
I liked the article, though! Excited for what Heyward brings to the table.
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Classy Cardinal fans keeping it classy......
Say hey, J-Hey: Classy new #Cub Jason Heyward - serious about winning http://fw.to/QSlmccM (Should've stayed with winning #StlCards then)
Wow, that guy has issues.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
I gave him the benefit of the doubt before I checked out his feed. He is an ugly fan and takes shots at anyone not wearing a Cardinal jersey. Be careful if you go, he follows a lot of NSFW accounts.....
Cubs just traded Chris Coghlan to Oakland for Aaron Brooks SP. Also sign Fowler to a 1 year deal.
Cubs trade Coghlan to the A's for minor leaguer P Aaron Brooks.
Then Dexter Fowler signs a one-year deal with the Cubs?
Weird day, but I love it.
Then Dexter Fowler signs a one-year deal with the Cubs?
Weird day, but I love it.
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I love the way this roster is constructed.
The Cubs have 2 MLB outfields on one roster:
Heyward, Schwarber, Fowler, Soler, Zobrist, Baez.
As far as Brooks goes, it can't hurt to add another arm to battle for a bullpen spot. Looks like he had solid numbers last year.
The Cubs have 2 MLB outfields on one roster:
Heyward, Schwarber, Fowler, Soler, Zobrist, Baez.
As far as Brooks goes, it can't hurt to add another arm to battle for a bullpen spot. Looks like he had solid numbers last year.
Nah, probably not. But it saved enough $$ for them to get Fowler back. And apparently Coghlan really wants to play everyday (even if in Oakland apparently).
However, it looks as though almost all of Brooks' professional innings, minors included, have been as a SP. He walks virtually nobody, but gives up lots of hits. Obviously front office sees something they like with him. My guess is they throw him in the bullpen at AAA and see what happens.
I like Coghlan, but he was kind of buried in the lineup. You don't really need the poor-man's Zobrist when you have the actual factual Zobrist, and Baez being groomed to fill that role later.
I'm shocked by Fowler, but only because I thought the Orioles deal was as good as done, and that at 3 years for $10+ million per, Fowler was getting a darn good deal. But it was no secret that the Cubs really liked Fowler and Fowler really liked the Cubs. I guess when push came to shove, Fowler wanted another shot at a ring in Wrigley, and the Coghlan deal freed up the roster spot and the money to make it happen.
As it is, I like the outfield better now, with a real nice four-man rotation of Heyward, Schwarber, Soler, and Fowler, with the occasional Baez and Bryant. Expect to see a lot of Fowler as a late inning defensive replacement for Schwarber.
The only downside I see here is that the Cubs lose the compensatory draft pick for Fowler signing with someone else. Oh well.
I'm shocked by Fowler, but only because I thought the Orioles deal was as good as done, and that at 3 years for $10+ million per, Fowler was getting a darn good deal. But it was no secret that the Cubs really liked Fowler and Fowler really liked the Cubs. I guess when push came to shove, Fowler wanted another shot at a ring in Wrigley, and the Coghlan deal freed up the roster spot and the money to make it happen.
As it is, I like the outfield better now, with a real nice four-man rotation of Heyward, Schwarber, Soler, and Fowler, with the occasional Baez and Bryant. Expect to see a lot of Fowler as a late inning defensive replacement for Schwarber.
The only downside I see here is that the Cubs lose the compensatory draft pick for Fowler signing with someone else. Oh well.
5 years of control vs. Coghlan's 1 remaining. Cubs have done great with reclamation/rebuilding pitchers. It makes sense.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
The Cubs didn't just pay $13 million for a defensive substitute. I see Fowler as the everyday CF with Heyward in RF and Soler (if not traded) as the defensive sub for Schwarber.
I agree, Fowler likely starts. Our lineup is insane. only easy out is the pitcher. Murderers row 2016!
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
