2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Powdered Toast Man]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Right, and they managed 6 runs on 11 hits.

[Eli]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Aside from the Cubs' nice win, I really enjoyed watching Syndergaard pitch. The life on that fastball is amazing.

ETA: The wiffleball curve isn't so bad either (this looks like it's in slow motion, but it's not).

[SKO]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Aside from the Cubs' nice win, I really enjoyed watching Syndergaard pitch. The life on that fastball is amazing.

ETA: The wiffleball curve isn't so bad either (this looks like it's in slow motion, but it's not).

Yeah he's got absolutely bonkers stuff. They worked him expertly. A few stressful innings due to walks and patience,  then struck him when he got tired.

[Slaky]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Aside from the Cubs' nice win, I really enjoyed watching Syndergaard pitch. The life on that fastball is amazing.

ETA: The wiffleball curve isn't so bad either (this looks like it's in slow motion, but it's not).

Yeah he's got absolutely bonkers stuff. They worked him expertly. A few stressful innings due to walks and patience,  then struck him when he got tired.

Here to say I agree, Syndergaard is incredibly talented. The Cubs achieved nothing small by waiting him out and knocking him around and then out. He's going to tear up a few lineups. He's got an injury history though, no?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Aside from the Cubs' nice win, I really enjoyed watching Syndergaard pitch. The life on that fastball is amazing.

ETA: The wiffleball curve isn't so bad either (this looks like it's in slow motion, but it's not).

Yeah he's got absolutely bonkers stuff. They worked him expertly. A few stressful innings due to walks and patience,  then struck him when he got tired.

Here to say I agree, Syndergaard is incredibly talented. The Cubs achieved nothing small by waiting him out and knocking him around and then out. He's going to tear up a few lineups. He's got an injury history though, no?

They sat him down last year for a stretch but he hasn't really been slowed too much by injuries since the Mets have had him in their system*

*I've had him in my roto/pedo league since 2012.

[SKO]

Cubs position players struck out just 5 times despite the ridiculous stuff Syndergaard was throwing so hopefully IAN feels soothed.

Aside from the Cubs' nice win, I really enjoyed watching Syndergaard pitch. The life on that fastball is amazing.

ETA: The wiffleball curve isn't so bad either (this looks like it's in slow motion, but it's not).

Yeah he's got absolutely bonkers stuff. They worked him expertly. A few stressful innings due to walks and patience,  then struck him when he got tired.

Here to say I agree, Syndergaard is incredibly talented. The Cubs achieved nothing small by waiting him out and knocking him around and then out. He's going to tear up a few lineups. He's got an injury history though, no?

They sat him down last year for a stretch but he hasn't really been slowed too much by injuries since the Mets have had him in their system*

*I've had him in my roto/pedo league since 2012.

I think any time a guy has that kinda stuff you worry about arm issues eventually but until then he's gonna make a lot of people look foolish with that breaking ball.

[R-V]

I'm going to do that stupid thing where I predict what the 25 man roster will look like in a couple months, because I'm stupid. Sorry SKO, but Ross & Coghlan are still there.

Trade: Castro, Vogelbach, Welington, Hendricks to Phillies for Hamels
DFA: Coke, Jackson, Wood

Lineup
CF Fowler
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C  Montero
2B Baez
LF Coghlan
SS Russell

Rotation
Lester
Arrieta
Hamels
Hammel
Wada

Bullpen
Rondo
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Carl's Jr.
Rosscup
Motte

Bench
Ross
La Stella
Alcantara
Denorfia
Sczur

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

I'm going to do that stupid thing where I predict what the 25 man roster will look like in a couple months, because I'm stupid. Sorry SKO, but Ross & Coghlan are still there.

Trade: Castro, Vogelbach, Welington, Hendricks to Phillies for Hamels
DFA: Coke, Jackson, Wood

Lineup
CF Fowler
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C  Montero
2B Baez
LF Coghlan
SS Russell

Rotation
Lester
Arrieta
Hamels
Hammel
Wada

Bullpen
Rondo
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Carl's Jr.
Rosscup
Motte

Bench
Ross
La Stella
Alcantara
Denorfia
Sczur

CJ, eh?

[Slaky]

I'm going to do that stupid thing where I predict what the 25 man roster will look like in a couple months, because I'm stupid. Sorry SKO, but Ross & Coghlan are still there.

Trade: Castro, Vogelbach, Welington, Hendricks to Phillies for Hamels
DFA: Coke, Jackson, Wood

Lineup
CF Fowler
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C  Montero
2B Baez
LF Coghlan
SS Russell

Rotation
Lester
Arrieta
Hamels
Hammel
Wada

Bullpen
Rondo
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Carl's Jr.
Rosscup
Motte

Bench
Ross
La Stella
Alcantara
Denorfia
Sczur

Sczururruru hasn't shown me a single reason why he'd be around. A healthy Denorfia could be an asset.

Are we *sure* they won't just put Javy or Castro at third and Bryant in left? I could see Javy putting together a solid month at the plate and suddenly we hear he's playing third base. A week later he's up and Bryant's out in left.

I mean that lineup would be crazy good and Baez would be so much more comfortable knowing everyone's not focused on him all the time.

[Powdered Toast Man]

I'm going to do that stupid thing where I predict what the 25 man roster will look like in a couple months, because I'm stupid. Sorry SKO, but Ross & Coghlan are still there.

Trade: Castro, Vogelbach, Welington, Hendricks to Phillies for Hamels
DFA: Coke, Jackson, Wood

Lineup
CF Fowler
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C  Montero
2B Baez
LF Coghlan
SS Russell

Rotation
Lester
Arrieta
Hamels
Hammel
Wada

Bullpen
Rondo
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Carl's Jr.
Rosscup
Motte

Bench
Ross
La Stella
Alcantara
Denorfia
Sczur

Okay, I'll ask...why would the Phillies make that trade?

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Are we *sure* they won't just put Javy or Castro at third and Bryant in left? I could see Javy putting together a solid month at the plate and suddenly we hear he's playing third base. A week later he's up and Bryant's out in left.

I'm not sure, but I have a much easier time envisioning a trade over a positional change than I did 3 months ago...there could also be an "in-between' period where the positional change happens but the trade still occurs at some point.

[R-V]

I'm going to do that stupid thing where I predict what the 25 man roster will look like in a couple months, because I'm stupid. Sorry SKO, but Ross & Coghlan are still there.

Trade: Castro, Vogelbach, Welington, Hendricks to Phillies for Hamels
DFA: Coke, Jackson, Wood

Lineup
CF Fowler
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
RF Soler
C  Montero
2B Baez
LF Coghlan
SS Russell

Rotation
Lester
Arrieta
Hamels
Hammel
Wada

Bullpen
Rondo
Strop
Ramirez
Grimm
Carl's Jr.
Rosscup
Motte

Bench
Ross
La Stella
Alcantara
Denorfia
Sczur

CJ, eh?

I don't have the data to back this up but I'm pretty sure that 100% of young pitchers these days either die or lose a limb by the time they're 30. Add to that that our Carl probably doesn't even weigh as much as the Walking Dead Carl, and that he's already on the 40 man, I say why not burn through some of those limited number of pitches on a team that's trying to contend. Granted this is assuming he figures some shit out in the next month or two as he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in the Tennessee bullpen thus far.

[R-V]

Are we *sure* they won't just put Javy or Castro at third and Bryant in left? I could see Javy putting together a solid month at the plate and suddenly we hear he's playing third base. A week later he's up and Bryant's out in left.

I'm not sure, but I have a much easier time envisioning a trade over a positional change than I did 3 months ago...there could also be an "in-between' period where the positional change happens but the trade still occurs at some point.

My thoughts on keeping Bryant at third are that he's looked much better as of late - he's still pulling the double clutch business which needs to end, but he's not pulling Rizzo off the bag as much anymore, and he's made some nice plays. If the guy can stick at third long term he could be one of the most valuable players in baseball. Also I know the Cubs preach versatility and the guy's a natural athlete, but if he continues hitting the piss out of the ball batting 2nd and playing 3rd, I figure why mess with success.

And Slaky is right about Zazure sucking and I don't want to see him on my television any more if I don't have to.

[R-V]

Okay, I'll ask...why would the Phillies make that trade?

They get a 25 year-old All Star shortstop, a cheap young catcher and 1B who could be serviceable long-term starters in spots where the Phillies currently have old/bad players, and a dogshit pitcher who can at least eat some innings on their dogshit team.

I'd be glad to sub in just about any prospect the Cubs have short of Schwarber and Gleyber.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Okay, I'll ask...why would the Phillies make that trade?

They get a 25 year-old All Star shortstop, a cheap young catcher and 1B who could be serviceable long-term starters in spots where the Phillies currently have old/bad players, and a dogshit pitcher who can at least eat some innings on their dogshit team.

I'd be glad to sub in just about any prospect the Cubs have short of Schwarber and Gleyber.

I didn't see Castro when I read it the first time and the value didn't add up. I don't know, I ask don't see the Cubs trading for Hamels. I see them waiting until the winter and free agency still knowing it's not a sure thing.