Cubs' Prospects FUTUREBONER thread

[Yeti]

[whispers] Since June 1, Albert Almora has a .769 OPS and something approaching a 1:1 K/BB ratio. There's still a lot of progress to be made to think he can crack even a ~.700 OPS in the majors (the totally arbitrary mark I'm setting for him to be useful in combination with his defense), but it's nice to see him trending in a positive direction at the plate. [/whispers]

This is totally DRLP to my 7 followers.

I think .700 sounds about right though, because of my totally baseless assumption that Almora's defense would be almost-but-not-quite-as-good as Kiermaier's.

And let's assume for a minute an up the middle defense of Russell/Baez/Almora (ignoring catcher for the moment since we don't know if that'll be Schwarber, Contreras, or someone else) and that Baez's 2B defense would be as good or better than he showed in last year's short stint; what would be the last Cubs team that was that strong up the middle defensively?

Who's the leadoff man in that configuration assuming Rizzo and Bryant at first? Russell would have to hit .300 for that to work.

Spitballing here for mid-2016/2017ish. For what it's worth, Russell put up a .377 OBP in the minors. Split the difference between that and the .300ish he's put up in the majors this year and that's right about where Dex is now at leadoff.

Russell SS
Schwarber LF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Soler RF
Baez 2B
Contreras? C
Price/Arrieta/Lester/Zimmerman/Cueto P
Almora CF

jeebus

[Saul Goodman]

[whispers] Since June 1, Albert Almora has a .769 OPS and something approaching a 1:1 K/BB ratio. There's still a lot of progress to be made to think he can crack even a ~.700 OPS in the majors (the totally arbitrary mark I'm setting for him to be useful in combination with his defense), but it's nice to see him trending in a positive direction at the plate. [/whispers]

This is totally DRLP to my 7 followers.

I think .700 sounds about right though, because of my totally baseless assumption that Almora's defense would be almost-but-not-quite-as-good as Kiermaier's.

And let's assume for a minute an up the middle defense of Russell/Baez/Almora (ignoring catcher for the moment since we don't know if that'll be Schwarber, Contreras, or someone else) and that Baez's 2B defense would be as good or better than he showed in last year's short stint; what would be the last Cubs team that was that strong up the middle defensively?

Who's the leadoff man in that configuration assuming Rizzo and Bryant at first? Russell would have to hit .300 for that to work.

Spitballing here for mid-2016/2017ish. For what it's worth, Russell put up a .377 OBP in the minors. Split the difference between that and the .300ish he's put up in the majors this year and that's right about where Dex is now at leadoff.

Russell SS
Schwarber LF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Soler RF
Baez 2B
Contreras? C
Price/Arrieta/Lester/Zimmerman/Cueto P
Almora CF

jeebus

Where's Ross, Carrasco, and de Grom? [/s]

[SKO]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

[Quality Start Machine]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

[CT III]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

Also $1.2 million is nothing for a lottery ticket. That's like a quarter of a decent reliever. It's also the slot value for the 50th overall pick in the draft, the eighth pick in the second round.

[SKO]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

Also $1.2 million is nothing for a lottery ticket. That's like a quarter of a decent reliever. It's also the slot value for the 50th overall pick in the draft, the eighth pick in the second round.

I guess that's true considering they give zero fucks about the cap and the penalties.

[SKO]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

I checked that Bleacher Nation article just to see how quickly Fukudome and Hee Seop Choi were mentioned. Both made very rapid appearances.

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

I checked that Bleacher Nation article just to see how quickly Fukudome and Hee Seop Choi were mentioned. Both made very rapid appearances.

[SKO]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

I checked that Bleacher Nation article just to see how quickly Fukudome and Hee Seop Choi were mentioned. Both made very rapid appearances.

I don't know why this exists, but I laughed.

[Saul Goodman]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

I checked that Bleacher Nation article just to see how quickly Fukudome and Hee Seop Choi were mentioned. Both made very rapid appearances.

I don't know why this exists, but I laughed.

If you want to know why, it's clickable for a reason

[SKO]

Cubs give 1.2 million to a 17 year old Korean 5 tool player http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/08/17/chicago-cubs-sign-korean-prospect-kwang-min-kwon-for-1-2-million/.

Seems a lot of money for a lottery ticket so they must really like the kid. I would also place the likelihood of Al turning his article about the signing into a discussion of Leon Lee and Hee Seop Choi at roughly 10,000 percent.

"What If Hee-Seop Choi Was Never Traded and Was Good? An Alternate History In Ten Parts by Al Yellon."

Chapter 1: Choi gets the hell out of the way.

Wow, the possibilities are endless. For one thing, this probably moves up the appearance of hilariously racist Asian t-shirts in the bleachers by 4 years.

I checked that Bleacher Nation article just to see how quickly Fukudome and Hee Seop Choi were mentioned. Both made very rapid appearances.

I don't know why this exists, but I laughed.

If you want to know why, it's clickable for a reason

Jesus Christ, Hawk.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Yesterday marked the 4th straight game that Javier Baez has collected 2 hits in a game.  Holding steady at .294/.366/.509 (.875 OPS) for the season at Iowa in 250 or so plate appearances.

[CBStew]

Yesterday marked the 4th straight game that Javier Baez has collected 2 hits in a game.  Holding steady at .294/.366/.509 (.875 OPS) for the season at Iowa in 250 or so plate appearances.

Quick.  Trade him.  His value will never be higher than it is today.  Strike while his bat is hot.  A rolling stone gathers no moss.  Buy low, sell high.  54-40 or bust.  He who hesitates is lost.  something, something