Chicago Cubs 2018 Season

#151      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
illinifaninwi said:
That's a very good roster but uninspiring relief corps. I'd expect the Cubs to make a big addition near the deadline.
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Why do you say that? Fangraphs has the Cubs ranked as the 6th best bullpen in the Majors. Third in the NL behind the Brewers and Dodgers. Morrow, Cisheck, Edwards, Montgomery, Strop and Duensing is a ridiculously good pen. If Justin Wilson regains form, it goes up a notch even higher. If Grimm figures out how to use his two out pitches to actually get outs, it’s even stronger than that. Drew Smyly might be available for added depth come September and the playoffs.

Yeah, the Cubs will probably add pen depth at the deadline. They’re going to be competing for a playoff spot and that’s what playoff teams do. But, barring major injury, I don’t see them needing to pull off a Chapman-style blockbuster. It will be more the Tommy Hunter-Joe Smith type trade.
 
#152      

ChiefIllini

C
ChiefIllini
Lead off and closer are the only two questions marks at this point. Theres plenty of arms that should be given a shot at the closer role--not concerned at the moment about that.

Bigger question is the lead of guy. We need consistency there. My biggest hope for this season is that Almora can become an OBP guy and I think his numbers were decent last year (though limited). His fielding is so valuable, especially if Schwarber is going to be in LF everyday.

Joe's love for jumbling up the batting order bothers me to no end. Really need a guy to get hot and stay hot so Maddon's hands are forced to keep him at the top of the lineup.
 
#153      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
ChiefIllini said:
Theres plenty of arms that should be given a shot at the closer role--not concerned at the moment about that.
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As was mentioned previously, the job appears to be Morrow's to lose. I'm perfectly fine with that.
 
#154      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
Cubs were the 2nd highest scoring team in the League last year and used 11 different lead off men. They scored more runs last year than they did when they had Fowler leading off 118 games the year before.
 
#155      

bobbob

B
bobbob
Assuming a good Wilson, I think the bullpen will be great for the regular season. Maybe tweak it for the postseason, but I am ok with Morrow closing.

As for leadoff, I don't get too excited about it. Right now, I would say Contreras. He has the highest OBP outside of Bryant and Rizzo. If Zobrist or Heyward are hitting well enough to play, they both would likely have high enough OBPs to leadoff. Really don't see Almora not making enough outs to be put that high.
 
#156      

bdutts

bdutts
Houston, Texas
bdutts
bobbob said:
Assuming a good Wilson, I think the bullpen will be great for the regular season. Maybe tweak it for the postseason, but I am ok with Morrow closing.

As for leadoff, I don't get too excited about it. Right now, I would say Contreras. He has the highest OBP outside of Bryant and Rizzo. If Zobrist or Heyward are hitting well enough to play, they both would likely have high enough OBPs to leadoff. Really don't see Almora not making enough outs to be put that high.
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I would think Zobrist, if he returns to 2016 form. And if he gets enough ABs. Not sure how much he's going play.

Happ could be an interesting lead off guy if he cuts down on his Ks.
 
#157      

uiuc ee 2012

U
uiuc ee 2012
bdutts said:
I would think Zobrist, if he returns to 2016 form. And if he gets enough ABs. Not sure how much he's going play.

Happ could be an interesting lead off guy if he cuts down on his Ks.
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Remember that Happ was just a rookie last year and only about 2 years removed from college ball. He has now seen most of the NL pitchers and will have an idea of how they want to attack him; up to him to make the adjustments. I would be more concerned by his alarming low BB rate
 
#158      

illinifaninwi

I
DeForest, Wisconsin
illinifaninwi
champaignchris said:
Why do you say that? Fangraphs has the Cubs ranked as the 6th best bullpen in the Majors. Third in the NL behind the Brewers and Dodgers. Morrow, Cisheck, Edwards, Montgomery, Strop and Duensing is a ridiculously good pen. If Justin Wilson regains form, it goes up a notch even higher. If Grimm figures out how to use his two out pitches to actually get outs, it’s even stronger than that. Drew Smyly might be available for added depth come September and the playoffs.

Yeah, the Cubs will probably add pen depth at the deadline. They’re going to be competing for a playoff spot and that’s what playoff teams do. But, barring major injury, I don’t see them needing to pull off a Chapman-style blockbuster. It will be more the Tommy Hunter-Joe Smith type trade.
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I think they'll be a solid unit but in no way ridiculously good as conceived now. Edwards, Strop, and Cishek have good career numbers. However, Cishek is projected to regress due to a declining fastball. I don't see Morrow holding up health wise. He has barely cleared 100 innings in the last four seasons and conversely being way overused in the playoffs. Justin Grimm has a -.9 career WAR. Mike Montgomery has just a 8.4% swinging strike rate.

I feel the Cubs are one big-time reliever from being the World Series favorites. I really dislike the Morrow signing. There were much better and reliable options.
 
#162      

uiuc ee 2012

U
uiuc ee 2012
illinifaninwi said:
Just a gut feel but I don't see his results from last year continuing plus he has little closing experience.
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That's an interesting take. I will say this though, his ERA has not been over 2.73 in either of the last three seasons. If he does falter, you can always plug in Cishek who does have extensive closer experience.
 
#163      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
Under the radar signing for the Cubs from a couple days back.

Shae Simmons. 27 years old. 3.50 ERA in 36 MLB innings pitched. 2.09 ERA in 130-ish minor league innings pitched. Supposed to have amazing stuff. Has only pitched about 170 innings as a professional in his 6 year career due to injuries.

Could be a guy to watch at AAA as possible bullpen help.

In fact, Simmons, Eddie Butler, Alec Mills, Tseng, and Alzolay are all going to be interesting guys to keep an eye on at AAA. (Or probably AA in Alzolay's case.) Dillon Maples, too, if he doesn't make the team out of Spring Training.
 
#164      

IanKEvans2

IanKEvans2
IanKEvans2
champaignchris said:
Under the radar signing for the Cubs from a couple days back.

Shae Simmons. 27 years old. 3.50 ERA in 36 MLB innings pitched. 2.09 ERA in 130-ish minor league innings pitched. Supposed to have amazing stuff. Has only pitched about 170 innings as a professional in his 6 year career due to injuries.

Could be a guy to watch at AAA as possible bullpen help.

In fact, Simmons, Eddie Butler, Alec Mills, Tseng, and Alzolay are all going to be interesting guys to keep an eye on at AAA. (Or probably AA in Alzolay's case.) Dillon Maples, too, if he doesn't make the team out of Spring Training.
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Since the aftermath of the Hendry days, it has been so refreshing to have comfort in pitching and positional depth in both wild card flyers and adequate replacement-level players on the MLB and minor league level. It's a thing of beauty.
 
#167      

bdutts

bdutts
Houston, Texas
bdutts
Lester, Hendricks, Darvish, Quintana, Chatwood. Your 2018 Cubs starting rotation. EDIT: In that order.
 
#170      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
bdutts said:
How could we not like Darvish v other team's 3s and Quintana v other team's 4s?

who's rotation is deeper?
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Verlander, Keuchel, Cole, McCullers is a pretty amazing 1-4.

So is Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Salazar. Although Salazar is hurt already.

Those are two of the three starting pitching staffs ranked ahead of the Cubs on fangraphs. The other one is the Dodgers, but that's almost entirely due to Kershaw. Darvish, Hendricks, Quintana is a far better 2-4 than Hill, Maeda, Wood.

fangraphs ranks the Nats and Mets #5 and #6 after the Cubs, largely on the strength of each having a pair of studs at the front of the order (Scherzer & Strasburg, DeGrom & Syndergaard).
 
#171      

illinifaninwi

I
DeForest, Wisconsin
illinifaninwi
champaignchris said:
Verlander, Keuchel, Cole, McCullers is a pretty amazing 1-4.

So is Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Salazar. Although Salazar is hurt already.

Those are two of the three starting pitching staffs ranked ahead of the Cubs on fangraphs. The other one is the Dodgers, but that's almost entirely due to Kershaw. Darvish, Hendricks, Quintana is a far better 2-4 than Hill, Maeda, Wood.

fangraphs ranks the Nats and Mets #5 and #6 after the Cubs, largely on the strength of each having a pair of studs at the front of the order (Scherzer & Strasburg, DeGrom & Syndergaard).
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Washington and the Mets have ridiculous 1-2 punches but health is always the concern.
 
#172      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
champaignchris said:
Verlander, Keuchel, Cole, McCullers is a pretty amazing 1-4.

So is Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer, Salazar. Although Salazar is hurt already.

Those are two of the three starting pitching staffs ranked ahead of the Cubs on fangraphs. The other one is the Dodgers, but that's almost entirely due to Kershaw. Darvish, Hendricks, Quintana is a far better 2-4 than Hill, Maeda, Wood.

fangraphs ranks the Nats and Mets #5 and #6 after the Cubs, largely on the strength of each having a pair of studs at the front of the order (Scherzer & Strasburg, DeGrom & Syndergaard).
Click to expand...

I'll give you Houston, but I'm predicting right now that the Cubs Top 4 will outperform Cleveland's Top 4 this season.
 
#173      

illinifaninwi

I
DeForest, Wisconsin
illinifaninwi
KBLEE said:
I'll give you Houston, but I'm predicting right now that the Cubs Top 4 will outperform Cleveland's Top 4 this season.
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Have you seen how bad the AL Central is? Cleveland's pitching statistics should be better on the surface based on the crappiness of Detroit, Kansas City, and a youthful Chicago team.
 
#174      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
illinifaninwi said:
Have you seen how bad the AL Central is? Cleveland's pitching statistics should be better on the surface based on the crappiness of Detroit, Kansas City, and a youthful Chicago team.
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The Reds and Pirates say "hi".