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#Post#: 488333--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Dave23 Date: March 6, 2024, 6:30 pm
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Booted a grounder isn’t exactly accurate. It was an easy hop
that he fielded chest high, but he either didn’t close the glove
on it, or it had some crazy English and popped right out of his
glove and fell at his feet. There was nothing about being at 3B
that had anything to do with it…it wasn’t a rocket or anything.
Just a drop.
The throw was exactly as Reb described…too much time to think
about it. Next time just one or two shuffles and fire…
#Post#: 488345--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Reb Date: March 6, 2024, 8:11 pm
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[quote author=Dave23 link=topic=637.msg488333#msg488333
date=1709771411]
……There was nothing about being at 3B that had anything to do
with it…it wasn’t a rocket or anything. Just a drop….
[/quote]
Nobody really looks much at Fielding % anymore but it can be
useful as a floor.
If you’re playing 3B, you have to successfully complete a very
high % of chances. Average 3B NL fielding % in 2023 was .963.
Of course, if you fielded .963, it doesn’t necessarily mean
you’re an average 3B defensively——but if you fielded .927 then
I’m going to worry that you’re not successfully completing
enough chances. .927 was Patrick Wisdom at 3B in 2023.
Morel’s career fielding % at 3B in minors (156 games) is .907
and in majors (23 games) it’s .911.
Counsell wants to look at Morel at 3B, understandably, and give
him a clean slate there to show what he can do. It’s not really
helpful to say that the fielding error today had nothing to do
with being at 3B. It’s critical that Morel successfully complete
chances when he’s playing 3B, period. If he’s not doing that
enough—at whatever fielding % floor is appropriate—he won’t stay
at the position. So. I’m looking at that and I suspect so is
Counsell.
Of course, fielding % in minors is lower because of bad
infields, bad lighting, etc. But anything close to .907 is not
going to work. And, .911 in 23 major league games is 23 games.
And today was just today.
But, Cubs non-Counsell evaluators did not see Morel as a 3B.
Think we know that. Counsell said: I want to see for myself and
that’s fine given the needs of the club. Maybe this will work
out. I have no idea. But Morel can’t be making an unacceptable %
of errors for this to work while playing 3B on batted balls
coming his way. So, today was a bad day. Tomorrow is another
day.
#Post#: 488346--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 6, 2024, 8:39 pm
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One must hope that consistent repetition under game situations
will help.
#Post#: 488348--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: davep Date: March 6, 2024, 8:46 pm
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I believe that Morel will be the main third baseman for the Cubs
this year. He is too good of a hitter (with power that is
desperately needed), and no other place in the lineup, if they
use the DH spot to rest regulars. As has been mentioned before,
these things usually work themselves out. If a guy is a good
enough hitter, they will find a place for him.
As far as the Cubs view of Morel prior to Councils arrival,
certainly Ross did not think of him as the primary third
baseman, along with some, even most, of the coaching staff. But
I doubt that there was NO internal differing views. As any good
GM, Hoyer did not publicly express an opinion, since that is a
decision of the field manager, not the general manager. He left
it up to Council to make that decision. But I think it is
telling that he did not make any obvious efforts to find a new
third baseman, such as trying to sign Chapman. It seems that he
felt that one way or another, the Cubs had enough internal
possibilities that spending large money on a new one was not
necessary.
#Post#: 488349--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: craig Date: March 6, 2024, 9:02 pm
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Dave, *IF* Counsel uses DH as a way to rest regulars, it might
be that happens sometimes but predominantly? It's also possible
that *IF* regulars are resting, that Morel will replace them in
a several-positions? For example, maybe in a month, he might
replace Happ a couple of games; Suzuki a couple of games;
Hoerner a couple of games; play 3rd once a week; and DH 15 times
or more. Maybe Swanson will get rested once or twice, with
Hoerner flipping to SS and Morel getting an extra game or two at
2B? You could have him in the lineup 25 starts a month.
#Post#: 488350--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Reb Date: March 6, 2024, 9:32 pm
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Don’t/Can’t know if NO internal differing views about Morel. It
doesn’t matter. Organizational view is now clear pre-Counsell.
Best evidence is that Morel opened 2023 season as the Iowa
3B——and was moved off the position to OF after couple of weeks.
Counsell has an open mind about it. Show me, I wasn’t here in
2023 or before 2023. Fresh eyes. Get that.
If Morel hits, he still has to play 3B over a certain floor to
stay at 3B. Lowest fielding % of any 3B with at least 500
innings in 2023 was .944 ((Muncy). If Morel fields Wisdom’s
.927, he’s not going to be Cubs 3B. He’ll be DH or traded
somewhere and can play a more suitable-for-him position. Vlad
Guerrero Jr. rookie season was as a 3B. After he fielded .936,
he was moved to 1B. Happens a lot. There is a floor.
Don’t think we really know if Cubs tried to sign Chapman. Heyman
said, during the process, maybe Cubs were in on Chapman. We
probably will never know. Maybe lukewarm at best while the Morel
and Shaw 3B experiments play out. Maybe Hoyer likes BJ Murray.
Who knows.
#Post#: 488353--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Dave23 Date: March 6, 2024, 10:34 pm
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For those unaware, and apropos of nothing…BJ Murray hit the GW
HR in the 8th inning today…
#Post#: 488354--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Reb Date: March 7, 2024, 12:01 am
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[quote author=Dave23 link=topic=637.msg488353#msg488353
date=1709786096]
For those unaware, and apropos of nothing…BJ Murray hit the GW
HR in the 8th inning today…
[/quote]
Yes, and to opposite field. Nice!
#Post#: 488360--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: davep Date: March 7, 2024, 9:20 am
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[quote author=craig link=topic=637.msg488349#msg488349
date=1709780553]
Dave, *IF* Counsel uses DH as a way to rest regulars, it might
be that happens sometimes but predominantly? It's also possible
that *IF* regulars are resting, that Morel will replace them in
a several-positions? For example, maybe in a month, he might
replace Happ a couple of games; Suzuki a couple of games;
Hoerner a couple of games; play 3rd once a week; and DH 15 times
or more. Maybe Swanson will get rested once or twice, with
Hoerner flipping to SS and Morel getting an extra game or two at
2B? You could have him in the lineup 25 starts a month.
[/quote]
Craig - everything you say is valid. Morel can have SUBSTANTIAL
value as a supersub, as Zobrist had. But there is a major
difference. They have been grooming Morel as a supersub since
he came into their organization, and they have found that a
player that can play a lot of positions well is extremely
valuable, but a supersub that can play a lot of positions poorly
- not so much. Morel has been moving around to just about every
position on the field, and in most of them he has not performed
to their expectations, or at least to their desires. But his
offense, especially his power, has turned out to be far above
what was originally envisioned - too high to be ignored.
Morel is a great athlete, speed, agility, arm, power, etc. But
it seems he is just not versitile enough to be constantly
changing positions, as Zobrist. I believe it is not time to put
him in a position that he is more likely to succeed. Let him
play ONE position, and see if his improvement (almost everyone
improves somewhat with practice and experience) can be enough to
warrant every day play. And the only position like that that is
available on the Cubs is third base, where he has shown every
talent needed there except accurate arm. (good hands, quick
reflexes, strong arm and accurate arm).
If he fails, what have they lost? Two or three games this year.
If he succeeds, what have they gained? Two or three games for
the next 5 years.
#Post#: 488361--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2024
By: Playtwo Date: March 7, 2024, 9:28 am
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Is there any position on the field that Morel can play where
he's not a defensive liability?
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