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       #Post#: 298053--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: CUBluejays
       Date: November 22, 2016, 10:53 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I'm sure Inciarte just runs faster in all the plays that
       StatCast doesn't post.
       #Post#: 298054--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: Reb
       Date: November 22, 2016, 11:07 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: CUBluejays link ---
       >
       > Inciarte had a UZR/150 of 14.9 in CF good for third in the
       league for the Braves and a wRC+ 97. Nearly all of Inciarte's
       WAR comes from defense and a little bit from base running.
       >
       > Almora had a wRC+ of 101 in his limited time with the Cubs. I
       think it is quite possible Almora can put up league averageish
       offensive numbers and great defense and decent enough base
       running.  That will get you right in line with Inciarte.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       You're missing a basic point.
       Theo has already said Cubs are looking for a complement to
       Almora. That means, by definition, Theo doesn't buy what you are
       selling: that Almora "will get you right in line with Inciarte."
       If Almora projects at 12.7 rWAR over next 3 seasons--as Inciarte
       has already done--Theo doesn't say what you he just said.
       Rather, he would say Almora is the regular. He didn't say that.
       He said something very different.
       Do you get that?  Go argue with Theo.
       #Post#: 298055--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: Ray
       Date: November 22, 2016, 11:19 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Geez, if Maddon is right about Atmore being a star(as it is
       looking like he was right about Baez), what an incredible run of
       first round picks. I wonder when the last time someone had a
       baez, Atmora, Bryant and Schwarber type run altogether. Don't
       think I'm forgetting a failure in there.
       I know at one time some questioned Almora's speed so nice to see
       the stats showing hes plenty fast.   Doesn't seem like much of a
       question anymore.
       I don't really see where inciarte is all that much better than
       what Atmore has the potential to provide (unless you think 2015
       is the true inciarte)
       Small sample size, but really hope Almora's 27% line drive rate
       this year is legit. That's pretty elite.
       #Post#: 298056--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: Reb
       Date: November 22, 2016, 11:38 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Ray link ---
       >
       >
       > ....lI don't really see where inciarte is all that much better
       than what Atmore has the potential to provide (unless you think
       2015 is the true inciarte)
       >
       > Small sample size, but really hope Almora's 27% line drive
       rate this year is legit. That's pretty elite.
       >
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       "Potential" is basically something that is "possible" at some
       point in the future. Seems pretty unlikely that Cubs going to
       get Inciarte-type season from Almora in 2017. Again, what did
       Theo say about 2017 plans for Almora? That is a tell. Don't
       ignore that.
       Beyond 2017, have no argument with notion that Almora COULD have
       that kind of value at some point down the road. Has way more
       home run potential than Inciarte, for one thing. But, upside is
       one thing---reality something else. Jury is out on this guy and
       Cubs have a World Series crown to defend.
       #Post#: 298057--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: CUBluejays
       Date: November 22, 2016, 11:45 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Reb link ---
       >
       > You're missing a basic point.
       >
       > Theo has already said Cubs are looking for a complement to
       Almora. That means, by definition, Theo doesn't buy what you are
       selling: that Almora "will get you right in line with Inciarte."
       >
       > If Almora projects at 12.7 rWAR over next 3 seasons--as
       Inciarte has already done--Theo doesn't say what you he just
       said. Rather, he would say Almora is the regular. He didn't say
       that. He said something very different.
       >
       > Do you get that?  Go argue with Theo.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Theo "I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it
       would be more likely that we would acquire someone to complement
       him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually," Epstein
       said."
       Please tell me in that quote where Theo addresses what Almora is
       going to be worth over 3 years.  Complementary piece doesn't
       mean replace unless you have some definition on the internet
       that says differently.
       In 117 PA and 237 innings in the OF Almora was worth 0.7 rWAR
       and 0.9 fWAR.  Over 600 PA that is between 3.6-4.6 WAR on the
       high end.  I don't think that is super realistic, but I would
       feel comfortable projecting that Almora is going to be somewhere
       between 90-100 wRC+ with excellent defense in CF.  That is a 3
       WAR player really easily (see Baez, Javier) on the low end
       offensively.  On the high end that is a 4 WAR player.  So if you
       want to project Almora as a sub 2 WAR player he is going to have
       to be really bad, like Hayward bad on offense.  I don't see the
       strike outs that will make it that likely.  Now, Theo is taking
       a very reasonable approach in that he isn't going to hand the
       starting CF job to a soon be 23 player with 453 PA in AAA and
       the majors combined on a World Series contender.  He isn't
       ruling it out either, because Almora is pretty good.
       #Post#: 298058--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: brjones
       Date: November 23, 2016, 12:05 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Forget Almora and Inciarte.  Just pay Fowler.  It was a mistake
       to try to let him go last offseason, and it's a mistake to let
       him go again this year.
       The Cubs are World Series favorites.  It's time to spend on the
       free agent who has proven he's a great fit for this team.
       #Post#: 298059--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: Reb
       Date: November 23, 2016, 12:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: CUBluejays link ---
       >
       > Theo "I wouldn't rule out the job being his, but I think it
       would be more likely that we would acquire someone to complement
       him and allow him to grow into the job more gradually," Epstein
       said."
       >
       > Please tell me in that quote where Theo addresses what Almora
       is going to be worth over 3 years.  Complementary piece doesn't
       mean replace unless you have some definition on the internet
       that says differently.
       >
       > In 117 PA and 237 innings in the OF Almora was worth 0.7 rWAR
       and 0.9 fWAR.  Over 600 PA that is between 3.6-4.6 WAR on the
       high end.  I don't think that is super realistic, but I would
       feel comfortable projecting that Almora is going to be somewhere
       between 90-100 wRC+ with excellent defense in CF.  That is a 3
       WAR player really easily (see Baez, Javier) on the low end
       offensively.  On the high end that is a 4 WAR player.  So if you
       want to project Almora as a sub 2 WAR player he is going to have
       to be really bad, like Hayward bad on offense.  I don't see the
       strike outs that will make it that likely.  Now, Theo is taking
       a very reasonable approach in that he isn't going to hand the
       starting CF job to a soon be 23 player with 453 PA in AAA and
       the majors combined on a World Series contender.  He isn't
       ruling it out either, because Almora is pretty good.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I think you know better than to take a miniscule number of
       innings and PAs and project that "at the high end" to match a
       guy who has played regularly the better part of three seasons.
       Fangraphs Steamer 2017 projection has Almora at 0.2 WAR in about
       1/2 season of games. So, 0.4 in a full season. Raise that only
       to make the point that there is huge uncertainty about Almora in
       2017. Think that projection is pessimistic but, obviously, not
       remotely compatible with your projections.
       The Theo quote is telling. Most likely scenario is Almora shares
       position... and with who? As you've speculated, likely a lefty
       bat---and who's figures to face a lot righties. In other words,
       plan is for Almora to be a part-timer in 2017. If he was
       Inciarte, do you think Theo would be planning that way?
       Beyond 2017, I like Almora's upside but anybody and everybody
       should be careful about equating him to a guy with 12.7 WAR over
       past three seasons.
       #Post#: 298060--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: CUBluejays
       Date: November 23, 2016, 5:34 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Reb link ---
       >
       > I think you know better than to take a miniscule number of
       innings and PAs and project that "at the high end" to match a
       guy who has played regularly the better part of three seasons.
       >
       > Fangraphs Steamer 2017 projection has Almora at 0.2 WAR in
       about 1/2 season of games. So, 0.4 in a full season. Raise that
       only to make the point that there is huge uncertainty about
       Almora in 2017. Think that projection is pessimistic but,
       obviously, not remotely compatible with your projections.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       You read the part where Insaidnit wasn't realistic right?
       Fangraphs projection is entirely Steamer at this point on
       offense.  ZIPS hasn't been released. Steamer is projecting him
       to have a negative value on defense. The Depth Chart projection
       of defense cuts his defensive value from 5.8 in 117 PA to 0.4 in
       298 PA. There is where his projected WAR disappears.  Steamer
       and Depth charts project Inciarte for 2.0 and 2.1 WAR by tanking
       his defensive value as well. I would suggest they aren't useful
       for this type of player.
       #Post#: 298065--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: craig
       Date: November 23, 2016, 8:52 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Reb link ---
       >
       > "Potential" is basically something that is "possible" at some
       point in the future. Seems pretty unlikely that Cubs going to
       get Inciarte-type season from Almora in 2017. Again, what did
       Theo say about 2017 plans for Almora? That is a tell. Don't
       ignore that.
       >
       > Beyond 2017, have no argument with notion that Almora COULD
       have that kind of value at some point down the road. Has way
       more home run potential than Inciarte, for one thing. But,
       upside is one thing---reality something else. Jury is out on
       this guy and Cubs have a World Series crown to defend.
       --- End Quote ---
       This is obviously the common ground.  Both sides of this
       argument are correct:
       1.  Almora has the potential/upside to **perhaps someday** be
       the type of value than Inciarte has been, or that Inciarte will
       be.
       2.  With Almora's uncertain power potential, swing, and
       potential line-drive profile, he has the potential/ceiling to be
       **better** than what Inciarte is likely to be going forward.
       3.  Whether Almora ever reaches/sustains Inciarte-level play, or
       better-than-Inciarte play, remains to be seen.  Many things
       possible don't end up happening.
       4.  Whether he can do so this year is possible, but certainly
       unlikely.  It's certainly realistically plausible.  Many things
       uncertain or less than probable do end up happening.
       5.  Theo decision/comment:  Obviously he doesn't want to
       **assume** he'll get optimal-Almora, Inciarte-level, this
       season.  Duh.  Even if he does eventually settle in as an
       Inciarte-like .732-OPS type guy, would be idiotic to assume that
       would happen this season already.  (Even though it improbably
       might....)  Getting a complementary guy seems like obvious
       protection.
       Additional thoughts:
       6.  In a full platoon, LH is the primary starter.  Theo's choice
       of the word "complementary" sounds weaker than how he might
       phrase it if he was assuming a full platoon setup.
       7.  Almora may always be an injury-prone guy.  He's always going
       full speed, walls notwithstanding, and he dives a lot (often
       unnecessarily).  You want alternative both for
       non-hitting-Almora but also for unavailable-Almora.
       8.  Fowler would be nice.  Chapman would be nice.  Who knows?
       9.  Contingency planning is essential, so Theo doing so is not
       unique.  Almora is uncertain.  But, that's routinely true, for
       experienced guys as with youngsters.  Some complementary guy,
       who knows?  Rasmus-type-guy or probably worse, who knows?
       Heyward, who knows?  Baez, who knows?  Rondon, who knows?  Any
       GM is building a roster full of uncertainties.
       #Post#: 298069--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Cubs in '17 - 👑👑👑 Reigning Champions
       Edition 👑👑👑
   DIR By: Deeg
       Date: November 23, 2016, 9:54 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       If you have a full platoon in CF, you still have one of Zobrist
       or Baez on the bench every day one of the true regulars isn't
       getting a rest.  I don't see that happening.
       Honestly, I think they'll pick up a LH who can play a decent CF
       and pencil in that guy and Almora to each get 30-40 starts, with
       Heyward getting the rest.  And if injuries take a toll and/or
       one of the CF performs well above expectations, you adjust the
       numbers.
       *****************************************************
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