Theo Epstein Sploosh Thread

[Saul Goodman]

Brian McCann: Baseball Cop to the ... Cubs?

I'm fine with this. Sign him, sign Tanaka, let Bryant and Baez start the season in the majors and ...

... profit?

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

[Eli]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

[Saul Goodman]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

[Eli]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

You're probably right. But I feel like that's a small-market move that a team like the Cubs shouldn't have to make. In the abstract, at least.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

You're probably right. But I feel like that's a small-market move that a team like the Cubs shouldn't have to make. In the abstract, at least.

That's not small market. That's cash flow management.  If knowing you are going to be an extra couple million ahead in 2016 gets you the flexibility to afford Scherzer now, you do it.

[Eli]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

You're probably right. But I feel like that's a small-market move that a team like the Cubs shouldn't have to make. In the abstract, at least.

That's not small market. That's cash flow management.  If knowing you are going to be an extra couple million ahead in 2016 gets you the flexibility to afford Scherzer now, you do it.

Well, that's a big leap in thinking.

[Saul Goodman]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

You're probably right. But I feel like that's a small-market move that a team like the Cubs shouldn't have to make. In the abstract, at least.

That's not small market. That's cash flow management.  If knowing you are going to be an extra couple million ahead in 2016 gets you the flexibility to afford Scherzer now, you do it.

Well, that's a big leap in thinking.

Well, that's just what Chuck provides.  You need a big thinker to get both Cano and Scherzer on the payroll.

[Saul Goodman]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

I can see the Cubs being willing to accept an extra year of arbitration if they want the immediate talent infusion and also if they think promoting him to the majors is the only way to figure out if he's a 3B, OF, or 1B.  Recent signings are putting a real damper on 1B value, especially in long-term deals.  (Pujols, yikes.)  If they like what they see, they can plug him into 3B or the OF and immediately try to get a team-friendly extension done, maybe trading a few of those years of arbitration for a reasonable guaranteed salary and generous signing bonus.  OTOH, if they think he's limited to 1B, they can either keep Rizzo and trade Bryant for immediate pitching help (Price?) or do the same but reverse the names.

Then again, May to September would also be a fine sample to figure out if he can play somewhere other than 1B.

I guess what I'm saying is let's just see how it all plays out.

[Quality Start Machine]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

I can see the Cubs being willing to accept an extra year of arbitration if they want the immediate talent infusion and also if they think promoting him to the majors is the only way to figure out if he's a 3B, OF, or 1B.  Recent signings are putting a real damper on 1B value, especially in long-term deals.  (Pujols, yikes.)  If they like what they see, they can plug him into 3B or the OF and immediately try to get a team-friendly extension done, maybe trading a few of those years of arbitration for a reasonable guaranteed salary and generous signing bonus.  OTOH, if they think he's limited to 1B, they can either keep Rizzo and trade Bryant for immediate pitching help (Price?) or do the same but reverse the names.

Then again, May to September would also be a fine sample to figure out if he can play somewhere other than 1B.

I guess what I'm saying is let's just see how it all plays out.

If MIKE OLT! has his vision issues sorted out, that could take 3B out of the discussion.

[Internet Apex]

Would you start Baez at SS, 2B, 3B?  And would you send him to Chicago in April regardless, or treat spring training as a tryout/gauge of readiness?

2B, I guess. And sure, maybe use spring training as a rough barometer. Give him some time in AAA if need be. especially if he needs some game reps at a new position.

I do think Bryant is ready and AAA would mostly be a waste of time.

I think Baez is really close but I'd probably wait to see improvement in plate discipline over a longer sample before promoting him.  (That's without mentioning his struggles on defense, too, although he could probably handle 2nd.)  His OBP (.341 last year across two levels) may not translate too well to the majors, and it's hard to say if he'd make enough contact to hit enough homers and doubles to make up for it.  There's no rush to get him up here, as I don't think they'll contend in 2014 either.  It'll be hard to send him down if he has another strong spring training though.

I also think Bryant is just about ready, more so than Baez, but he finished in High-A last year and again, there's no hurry.  He should definitely get an invitation to spring training, and if he rakes and looks solid in the field, I would be fine with him starting on Opening Day.

Both will come up after Super II day, sometime in early to mid-May.

I can see the Cubs being willing to accept an extra year of arbitration if they want the immediate talent infusion and also if they think promoting him to the majors is the only way to figure out if he's a 3B, OF, or 1B.  Recent signings are putting a real damper on 1B value, especially in long-term deals.  (Pujols, yikes.)  If they like what they see, they can plug him into 3B or the OF and immediately try to get a team-friendly extension done, maybe trading a few of those years of arbitration for a reasonable guaranteed salary and generous signing bonus.  OTOH, if they think he's limited to 1B, they can either keep Rizzo and trade Bryant for immediate pitching help (Price?) or do the same but reverse the names.

Then again, May to September would also be a fine sample to figure out if he can play somewhere other than 1B.

I guess what I'm saying is let's just see how it all plays out.

If MIKE OLT! has his vision issues sorted out, that could take 3B out of the discussion.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

My Colt

[Gilgamesh]

My Colt

That should only be used in a sentence if you conclude it thusly: "...Python is the best damned thing ever."

[Eli]

Mike Olt.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Mike Olt.

Lol.