Cubs 2014 OSFM

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

I'd like to see Olt at 3B and Valbuena at 2B. Barney is a better defender but I like the left handed bat of Valbuena. Granted Valubena didn't have a big year at the plate, but I think he is better than Barney.

They need to establish some value for Barney though. The Cubs are in the mode of lets get what we can for some of these guys. Barney, Schierholtz, Hammels, even someone like Edwin Jackson. Most people seem to think Barney will rebound this year after a very unlucky one last, although some of that had to do with poor contact and not just bad luck. Valbuena is a better hitter, but he would need to sustain some power to end up being more valuable that a slightly less crappy Barney. With Alcantara and Baez coming up they need to move Barney, either into a backup role (which could be expensive for that type of player) or trade him to someone who wants a defense-first player.

I think the likeliest scenario to me is that Olt goes to AAA and they continue the platoon at 3B. If Castro isn't ready that complicates things, but I think they expect him to be ready. Olt looks ready offensively, but the Cubs are obviously wary of him on defense at this point. I hope they give him a shot, but if his defense isn't ready, then he isn't ready. I can live with that.

The person that could really steal playing time from Barney is Bonifacio. If they want an actual leadoff man he needs to play. He's the best option they have for a leadoff man even if his avg/obp isn't that great. I'm not sure I like Valbuena up there, I'd rather see him hit 2nd and move Castro down to 5th/6th.

[jseward92]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

They need to establish some value for Barney though. The Cubs are in the mode of lets get what we can for some of these guys. Barney, Schierholtz, Hammels, even someone like Edwin Jackson. Most people seem to think Barney will rebound this year after a very unlucky one last, although some of that had to do with poor contact and not just bad luck. Valbuena is a better hitter, but he would need to sustain some power to end up being more valuable that a slightly less crappy Barney. With Alcantara and Baez coming up they need to move Barney, either into a backup role (which could be expensive for that type of player) or trade him to someone who wants a defense-first player.

I think the likeliest scenario to me is that Olt goes to AAA and they continue the platoon at 3B. If Castro isn't ready that complicates things, but I think they expect him to be ready. Olt looks ready offensively, but the Cubs are obviously wary of him on defense at this point. I hope they give him a shot, but if his defense isn't ready, then he isn't ready. I can live with that.

The person that could really steal playing time from Barney is Bonifacio. If they want an actual leadoff man he needs to play. He's the best option they have for a leadoff man even if his avg/obp isn't that great. I'm not sure I like Valbuena up there, I'd rather see him hit 2nd and move Castro down to 5th/6th.

I would agree that Barney will rebound. But a MLB should be able to rebound from hitting near the Mendoza Line. If he can't his trade value is shot. But I do think he is having a solid spring. I would agree it will be Barney at 2B and a platoon at 3B. I like Bonifacio too. His OBP last year wasn't the greatest but if he could get that up I wouldn't mind seeing him at 2B and leading off. They really don't have a solidified lead-off hitter right now. I do kind of like Lake in that role. He offers some speed and if he can be more patient at the plate I think he would be a good fit. But from what I've seen this spring he isn't walking enough.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

I can't really see Lake being a leadoff man unless he can sustain a high average. He could be a good defender with his speed and arm, but if it wasn't for his big game the other night I might have considered him a candidate to get sent to AAA. He's been working in the minor league games and was hitting well there as well, so maybe he is figuring things out. He has looked a bit more crouched at the plate, bending his knees more pre-pitch.

Barney's value is so low right now that any improvement offensively, with the addition of him proving he can play SS would could make him interesting to some teams as a temporary fill for a just a year or so.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Well apparantly they resigned Wada and now have released Lim.

[Teigh Cubs Teigh]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Olt looks ready offensively, but the Cubs are obviously wary of him on defense at this point. I hope they give him a shot, but if his defense isn't ready, then he isn't ready. I can live with that.

Personally I'm much more wary of him on offense (though he is alleviating those fears with a pretty good spring from what I've seen of him). I've read enough good things about his defensive game that I consider that to be more of a sure thing considering how far his bat fell last year.

I'm hoping that the vision issues are behind him and were the cause of his problems. As for his defensive woes this spring, in my mind it's related to the fact that he hasn't seen much action at third so far due to his arm soreness (shoulder if I'm remembering correctly off of the top of my head). I think that's the main reason he's seen most of his time at DH and 1B rather than any wariness on the Cubs' part.

As for the infield situation, I'm hoping to see Barney and/or Valbuena at second with Olt at third. I want to see what we have in Olt. In my opinion if he rebounds he could be a very valuable trade chip when it comes time to make room for Baez and Bryant. If he can show that he still has the talent and the skill that people thought he would have before his vision problems I think that he could be pretty special and we could get a decent haul for him alone or a very good return if we throw him in with one of our other more obvious tradeable pieces.

In my mind Valbuena and Barney both have pretty well solidified value that won't be skyrocketing at this point but Olt's value could very well shoot way up. At the same time, if he fails we simply replace him at third with the platoon from last year until it's time to move some of our younger options up.

[PadresFan]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Pads fan dropping in...

Looking forward to playing as the Cubbies in an online franchise... I want to play with a farm system that has potential all-stars. Should be a lot of fun...

BTW, Cubs always look good (and fair) in the OSFM. Keep up the good work.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Saw some contradicting info regarding how many pitchers the Cubs will hold, Muskat recently said they planned to have 12 though, but are at 13 at this point.

I'm hoping they take 12 which would make room for Olt, Kalish and Bonifacio.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Looks like Murphy was claimed by the Rangers, which probably means they have Olt pegged for the 3rd base job. It also opens up a 40 man spot, presumably for Bonifacio. Kottaras was also released, which I thought was a bit weird since you'd think someone would take him.

So at this point it seems like Olt makes the team with Baker at backup. Murphy gone means Bonifacio likely gets his spot.

[zippy2212]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

The Murphy part of this news made me very happy. I was hoping Olt would be given the 3B job after the way he played this spring. As far as Kottaras/Baker goes I guess it's kind of a wash.

[ShowTyme15]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Both Mike Olt and Ryan Kalish made the Cubs Opening Day Roster. Emilio Bonifacio as well.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Yep, exactly what I was hoping/expecting to happen.

Was sort of hoping a few more NRI's would be gone like Valaika, Darnell and Casper Wells. I feel like there are better depth options already present in the system, but I guess there is some benefit to having some veterans who can act as fillers when you need them.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Rusin to Iowa and Carlos gets the 5th starter spot.

That makes the bullpen options interesting, could see Parker back or Ramirez who had a really good spring if they want him to relieve instead of start. I don't think Grimm earned a spot, but he may be there in the end.

[jseward92]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Schlitter got the final bullpen spot. I'm pretty sure that I saw Grimm is in too.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Definitely don't like the move of DFAing Cabrera. They maybe think they can sneak him in at the last second, but there are plenty of teams with terrible bullpens that may give him a shot.

Basically the move is Schlitter for Cabrera since I guess Grimm was there no matter what which to me seems odd. I guess they finally got fed up with Cabrera and decided "Whatever, if he's gone, its not like he was going to figure it out anyways."

Happy for Schlitter as he looked good this spring, but I'd take Cabrera over Grimm simply due to the options that Grimm has. Grimm needs some serious adjustments if he's going to survive as a MRP/Setup. His fastball has looked straight and hitters have picked it up well this spring even though he throws hard. He either needs to get some movement on it or start spotting it much more consistently.

[Shaffer26]

Re: Cubs 2014 OSFM

Schlitter got the final bullpen spot. I'm pretty sure that I saw Grimm is in too.

Disappointed that Arodys didn't make the cut.