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#Post#: 197453--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: CUBluejays
Date: October 11, 2014, 9:02 pm
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Hopefully they will get a short term and long term TV lock in
soon. The WGN games would go to who the a cubs would partner
with in 2019. The Cubs won't have Dodger/Yankee money until
then, but supporting a $100-120 million payroll with attendance
increases and the new signage shouldn't be a problem and that
leaves the a cubs with a lot of flexibility.
#Post#: 197459--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: ben
Date: October 11, 2014, 10:26 pm
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Who knows how it will play out, but I think it's interesting
that in the address to season-ticket holders Theo praised
Bryant's outfield play (rather than his progress at 3B).
That may mean he wants one of Russell or Castro or Baez at 3B
long term rather than Bryant. Hard to imagine he's thinking
Valbuena at 3B for more than 2015, but I certainly didn't see
him ending up there for most of 2014.
It may mean that, at least as of now, Cubs really do plan to
keep all of Castro, Baez and Russell for the long haul, rather
than trade one of them.
Will be very interesting to see how it plays out.
#Post#: 197463--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: Jes Beard
Date: October 11, 2014, 10:37 pm
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--- Quote from: ben link ---
>
> Who knows how it will play out, but I think it's interesting
that in the address to season-ticket holders Theo praised
Bryant's outfield play (rather than his progress at 3B).
>
> That may mean he wants one of Russell or Castro or Baez at 3B
long term rather than Bryant.
>
--- End Quote ---
Or it may mean he is expecting Olt to at least start the season
at 3B, with Bryant likely breaking in as a LFer. In speaking
with the season-ticket holders he is far more likely to have
been focusing on the season for which the group would next need
to be deciding whether to buy new season tickets than to focus
on later years when they could not any time soon buy season
tickets for those seasons even if they wanted to do so.
--- Quote from: ben link ---
>
> Hard to imagine he's thinking Valbuena at 3B for more than
2015, but I certainly didn't see him ending up there for most of
2014.
>
--- End Quote ---
I suspect Valbuena is seen primarily as anti-awful insurance at
multiple positions and as a heavily used utility player for 2015
instead of planning now on him being a starter at any position.
#Post#: 197465--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: craig
Date: October 11, 2014, 11:16 pm
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Valbuena was pretty effective this year, in a league where
offense is low, and on a Cubs team where OBP is very, very low.
I wouldn't diminish him.
I think Bryant to left now makes a ton of sense. A year ago I
wouldn't have said that; and in June/July I wouldn't have said
that; but a lot has changed. Some of that change is some mixed
or negative feedback on his aptitude at 3B; the addition of
Russell; Schwarber being moved to catcher; Alcantara doing
really well at Iowa; and Valbuena establishing himself as a good
player.
After drafting Schwarber, I assumed he and Soler were planned
for the OF corners, so I didn't see how Bryant moving there
would fit. But, with Schwarber going to catcher, LF is now wide
open.
It kind of sets everything up very nicely:
C => Schwarber
1B = Rizzo
SS/2B/3C: Castro, Russell, Baez, with Valbuena and Alcantara as
options to sort it out and cover until Russell is ready.
LF/RF => Bryant and Soler
CF: Alcantara/Almora
CF is really the only weak spot that doesn't have a convincing
candidate. And for all we know Alcantara or Almora or both will
eventually work out to be average or perhaps even above-average
guys out there, too.
#Post#: 197467--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: craig
Date: October 11, 2014, 11:29 pm
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I think 3B is kind of funny, though. Last winter, there was
talk about how good/deep/rich we were there with Bryant, Olt,
Villanueva, and Candelario. Many "top" lists had both
Villanueva and Candelario in their top 10-12, and Olt-fans had
him arguably in that pool too. Who'd have guessed a year later
that the three non-Bryants would have all washed out, with
Bryant perhaps challenged enough defensively to move him off
too?
#Post#: 197468--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: CUBluejays
Date: October 11, 2014, 11:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Valbuena was a fWAR 2.7 player and wRC+ 116. The only reason he
isn't a lock for 2B/3B is Baez/Castro/Russell/Alcantara. He
could be a decent starter on a contending team.
#Post#: 197473--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: ben
Date: October 12, 2014, 12:27 am
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Valbuena was quite good this season. Solid defensively and very
professional at bats - with good power and OBP - on a consistent
basis.
#Post#: 197479--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: Ron
Date: October 12, 2014, 7:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: craig link ---
>
> I think Bryant to left now makes a ton of sense. A year ago I
wouldn't have said that; and in June/July I wouldn't have said
that; but a lot has changed. Some of that change is some mixed
or negative feedback on his aptitude at 3B;
--- End Quote ---
I know of only one example of recent hedging on Bryant's ability
to play 3B at least adequately - the one from a radio guy, I
believe. As to Theo's comment, it appeared to me to be in
response to a question about Bryant's ability to play OF - I
never saw the full context of that quote, so I'd be careful
about making too much of that single comment.
#Post#: 197483--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: ben
Date: October 12, 2014, 8:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Ron, I didn't see the full context either. Your point is well
taken.
I worry about Baez really cutting it, but do like the idea of
three SSs (Russell/Castro/Baez) and Rizzo in the infield, if he
does work out.
#Post#: 197487--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '15 (09/14 - 08/15)
DIR By: davep
Date: October 12, 2014, 10:02 am
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I don't think there is serious doubt among most scouts and
baseball people that Bryant could play an adequate third base,
at least for his first several years. I think it is about the
make up of the team. Even if you assume that everyone works out
as hoped, the Cubs have two positions in play, left field and
third base. Bryant can probably play either of them well, but
the Cubs team has more valid options for third base than for
left field.
Unless they bring in a left fielder out of, well, left field,
they are probably better off putting Bryant out there. That
could change with the next trade or the next injury.
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