The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Got my Baseball Prospectus 2016 in the mail....here are some PECOTA projections for '16...

C - Miguel Montero: .246/.334/.391, 482 PA, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 51 BB, 105 K, .293 BABIP, 3.3 WAR (BP loves his pitch framing, 1-1.5 WAR there alone)
1B - Anthony Rizzo: .266/.355/.495, 662 PA, 32 HR, 100 RBI, 68 BB, 126 K, .287 BABIP, 4.0 WAR
2B - Ben Zobrist: .266/.352/.422, 655 PA, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 75 BB, 99 K, .294 BABIP, 3.9 WAR
SS - Addison Russell: .242/.304/.406, 547 PA, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 41 BB, 145 K, .304 BABIP, 1.9 WAR
3B - Kris Bryant: .266/.359/.510, 612 PA, 32 HR, 96 RBI, 69 BB, 188 K, .346 BABIP, 5.2 WAR
OF - Kyle Schwarber: .253/.349/.487, 605 PA, 32 HR, 94 RBI, 73 BB, 167 K, .305 BABIP, 4.0 WAR
OF - Jason Heyward: .263/.343/.436, 643 PA, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 65 BB, 114 K, .295 BABIP, 3.2 WAR
OF - Jorge Soler: .255/.318/.444, 579 PA, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 47 BB, 152 K, .314 BABIP, 0.9 WAR

The starting pitchers all projected for > 2 WAR with Lester and Arrieta both in the mid 4's.

If the bullpen is decent and the team's health holds up, this team has a pretty huge ceiling. What jumps out at me is the transformation from a team of hackers just 1-2 years ago to a team of OBP machines. The only regulars with projected below average/average OBP are Russell and Soler. And I think you could make a case that the projections for both are pretty conservative with room to grow. We're also projected to have 3 30-HR guys (Rizzo, Bryant, Schwarber) for the first time in a while and 185 HRs just from the starting 8.

Should be an incredible summer for Cubs baseball!

[redsox4evur]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Cbc_qTEVAAEqKmr.png

Schwarber...

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

You know things are serious when Matt Murton's been invited back to camp. Back from the orient and ready to delight us as a doubles-hitting ginger.


(Odds he makes the team are approximately 0%)

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I think the first real test will be making it thru the usually chilly Chicago weather at the start of the season. Cold weather is often difficult baseball weather...if the team can make it out in good shape as the warm weather moves in, that would be great (Lundberg voice)

Don't want a young team with these expectations having to endure too much of a slow start.

[chicubsfan20]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Wow. First he was going to the Orioles on a 3 year 30mil+ deal but after Coghlin being traded to the A's Fowler is back with the Cubs.

Crazy turn of events the passed hour. Considering he came cheaper than most thought (8 mil) has be believe they like Fowler as a back up too.

I personally liked Fowler one of my favorites since he was with the Rockies. This also gives us good insurance if we have any (knock on wood) injuries in the outfield. We have a proven veteran who we know can play. His defense may not rate good in CF but he's capable of handling the position and will probably be asked to play the corners too. I like the move seeing how cheap he came. I just hope they don't deal Soler. Unless they have found themselves with the right price [emoji1374]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Perhaps Coghlan wanted to play every day...I don't know...but I really felt the guy was a positive asset.

Traded a productive, hard-working player for a Pitcher we probably won't see during he season.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

wait...what??
I typed that post re: Coghlan about an hour or so ago, but forgot to post it...

Fowler's back?

Can't hate on that depth, that's for sure. Coghlan was awfully good at hitting RHPs, though.

[D13]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Shane Victorino minor league deal signed with Cubs....

[JODYE]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Damn, the Cubs are inviting everyone to camp lol

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Except Coghlan and Castro...

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

So when does the Spring record get to be a concern?

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

So when does the Spring record get to be a concern?

never. It's Spring Training.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

The record is a result of poor play. That doesn't concern anyone?

[bcruise]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

The record is a result of poor play. That doesn't concern anyone?

If they were getting blown out every day I'd be mildly concerned. But they've only been losing most of these games by 1-3 runs. That's pretty meaningless IMO when starters only throw a couple innings max, backups start or get extended playing time, and the team is sometimes split up for 2 games in one day (granted, only one day has been like that so far).

[Cubfan]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I only care about starting the season with everyone healthy. ST scores don't matter to me at all.