DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Bleacher Bums Forum
HTML https://bbf.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Archives
*****************************************************
#Post#: 360199--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: Playtwo
Date: October 12, 2018, 9:18 am
---------------------------------------------------------
One way to look at the Davis situation is that certain Cub
hitters (e.g., Russell, Almora, Happ, Contreras) simply do not
have the talent to be able to take the next step offensively,
and that there was nothing Davis could have been expected to do
to change that. The Cubs with the requisite talent (e.g., Baez,
Rizzo, Zobrist, Schwarber) did fine under Davis (although
Schwarber's advancement was limited). Another way to look at it
would be that Davis has a very specific hitting philosophy and
that some of the Cub young players have skills that don't fit
that philosophy. In that case, Davis' job would be to help
those players maximize the skills that they do have, something
that did not happen.
If you accept the first point of view, you look to trade some of
these young players before their value drops further (I don't
include Contreras in that group). If you accept the second
point of view, changing hitting coaches to find someone better
at maximizing the potential of players with limited offensive
skills makes sense.
#Post#: 360200--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: Ron
Date: October 12, 2018, 9:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney each have articles on the
Davis firing. To my mind, the difference between the two
articles is a good example of the difference between the two
writers. I've always thought Mooney had a tendency to go for a
somewhat more provocative/sensationalist and
not-particularly-in-depth approach, whereas Sharma has always
struck me as far more thoughtful, analytical and nuanced in his
approach. Judge for yourselves.
Mooney
HTML https://theathletic.com/584702/2018/10/11/what-firing-chili-davis-says-about-the-myth-of-the-cubs-way/
Sharma
HTML https://theathletic.com/584840/2018/10/12/with-chili-davis-gone-on-cubs-to-fix-offensive-issues/?source=dailyemail
#Post#: 360203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: Dave23
Date: October 12, 2018, 10:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
We don’t necessarily need an opposite field hitting coach as
much as we need a hit the damn ball where it’s pitched coach.
#Post#: 360211--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: CUBluejays
Date: October 12, 2018, 12:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Jesse Rogers named Andy Haines, Eric Hinskie, Anthony Iapoce and
Ross as possible replacements for Davis.
#Post#: 360216--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: craig
Date: October 12, 2018, 1:23 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for those links, Ron. Those were both interesting and
good articles. Certainly Mooney was more provocative.
Sharma had a nice tweet quoted, that I hadn't seen presented
that way before:
--- Quote ---
> #Cubs 2018 offense
> (MLB Ranks)
> Pre All-Star Post All-Star
> Runs/game 5.12 (4th) 4.07 (23rd)
> OBP .345 (1st) .316 (17th)
> SLG .426 (7th) .389 (27th)
> Ground Ball% 44.8% (14th) 49.2% (1st)
--- End Quote ---
That's pretty telling, having been 1st in ground-ball rate and
27th slugging post-break.
Still, I think it's a dangerous premise to view the pre stats as
the natural and ought-to-be numbers, and the post-AS as the
outlier. I've mentioned this before, but I think there were at
least four things that inflated the pre-break numbers:
1. Almora. Flukishly and non-sustainably good 1st half.
2. Heyward: Same.
3. Bote.
4. Cubs scored about 40 runs in hot-weather weekend versus the
Twins pitching badly. I wonder how the pre-post numbers would
compare if you deleted that series from the pre stats; or added
that series to the post stats? My point here is that I'm not
sure the pre/post contrast would otherwise look as bipolar and
dramatic?
Looking ahead, I don't see a ton of reason to to expect Heyward,
Almora, or Bote to reproduce their first-half hitting.
Mooney has some great quotes from post-17 Theo, including "have
an adjustable swing, an adjustable approach for those
situations". And Sharma from Theo this month: "players who do
certain things at 22 and 23, should be progressing into a
better, more productive phase of their career at 24, 25, and
26."
I wonder if Theo's selection of players like Schwarber, Russell,
Happ, and Bryant just isn't really conducive to "adjustable
swing, adjustable approach"? Not sure it's really in their
skillset? reb would often note the importance of making
adjustments; I'm not sure Russell, Happ, Schwarber, Bote, and
Heyward have the capacity to adjust to what scouting has ID'd as
vulnerabilities?
Think maybe the "fastball up" revolution has been particularly
unkind to Happ and Schwarbs, and it's unclear that they can
successfully adjust?
4 things could sure help, though:
1. Bryant being back as a >.900 guy
2. Adding Harper or Machado
3. Getting Contreras back as a good hitter.
4. Getting some anti-awful regression from Schwarber and
Russell in terms of clutch situations.
#Post#: 360219--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: craig
Date: October 12, 2018, 1:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
From Mooney's article, maybe it's kind of snarky comment, but I
admit it sure rings true to me:
"It would be nice if the Cubs weren’t constantly looking back at
the home plate umpires and making faces after called third
strikes." :):):)
That seemed to happen often, including frequently on calls that
didn't even seem wrong, much less egregiously wrong! :)
"But this is what the Cubs have become now, a second-place team
with a sense of entitlement."
Yes, Theo faulted the sense of urgency, so Mooney feels entitled
to use the pejorative.
*Personally I still question Theo on this. Think Theo may be
just mis-scouting his talent, and over-valuing the talent the
front office has assembled; then faulting the players and staff
for playing below the talent Theo has given them. Maybe the
performance played to the talent just fine? Or actually
outperformed the talent? (Q, Lester, Hendricks, Zobrist.....)
If Theo doesn't have limitless money, the sense of entitlement
might be sunsetting. Might be perceived more as a
got-a-chance-to-make-the-playoffs team, but perhaps no longer as
"expected" or "favorite".
#Post#: 360220--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: guest61
Date: October 12, 2018, 2:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
David Ross couldnt hit a lick.
I wouldnt want him coaching our hitters.
#Post#: 360221--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: CUBluejays
Date: October 12, 2018, 2:02 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Almora had a change in the second half. His BABIP went from
.372 to .279 and brought it down to .337 for the year which is
fine, but that wasn't it all.
His ISO went from .120 to .048. His previous 2 years with the
Cubs it was .179 and .149.
#Post#: 360223--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: ben
Date: October 12, 2018, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
All opinions are certainly welcome, but I'm struck by the volume
of teeth-gnashing in Cub Nation these days! The Mooney article
(thanks, Ron) paints a rather negative picture that doesn't feel
quite right to me...not after a 95-win season and the most wins
in MLB over the past 4 years.
It's not like other teams and front offices aren't pretty good,
too! 95 wins is rather solid! Hats off to the Brewers who went
wild in September and deserve to still be playing. (they may
find it harder to sustain their success next season...who
knows?)
At exactly NO point in my 67 years have the Cubs been nearly as
good, as well managed, or as well led by one of the best - if
not the best - front office in baseball.
Would it be really nice if we had hit better in the 2nd half?
Sure. Will we likely hit better next year? I think so, due to
young hitters maturing, if not a new coaching influence...but
who knows? MLB - and people - are rather unpredictable that
way.
I'd LOVE to think we have another World Championship in this
run; however, I'm not going to lose sight of the fact that we've
ALREADY won a World Championship with the same front office,
manager and core talent...and that title remains one of the
all-time greatest feats in the history of sports! I still pinch
myself that it did occur!
IMHO, Theo et al have EARNED the benefit of the doubt. As DaveP
recently pointed out, we might know 10% of what they know and
they must make regular decisions based on human beings, some of
whom have undisclosed injuries or other frailties the management
must carefully consider, but never go public with.
I think our leadership will find a way to keep us competitive
and, just maybe, we will be the hot team at the right time again
next year...but who knows. I'm happy our beloved franchise is
as strong as it is today and that it's not totally unrealistic
for us to speculate about what it may take to get us back on top
again next season!
GO Cubs!
#Post#: 360224--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '19
DIR By: Bennett
Date: October 12, 2018, 2:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Ben
--- Quote from: ben link ---
>
> IMHO, Theo et al have EARNED the benefit of the doubt. As
DaveP recently pointed out, we might know 10% of what they know
and they must make regular decisions based on human beings, some
of whom have undisclosed injuries or other frailties the
management must carefully consider, but never go public with.
>
--- End Quote ---
The all-time winningest college football coach, John Gagliardi
of St. John's in Minnesota, recently died at 91. Among things
he was noted for were all practices were non-contact. This
definitely applies to baseball too:
Legendary St. John’s football coach John Gagliardi when asked
if he will be second-guessing his successor: - - - - “I
probably will because now I'll be one of the fans, and I know
the fans up in the stands know everything," Gagliardi said. "I
always marvel how the fans know everything without having
watched our films and practices. But they know everything
immediately. - - - "I'm hoping to get some of that insight.
*****************************************************
Page 18 of 456
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page