2015 Cubs Offseason: Building a Winner Around David Ross

[Eli]

Even in that case, The Cubs should have plenty left to make a deal without giving up Soler.

The rumor is Soler+ for Inciarte, for whatever that's worth. Picture it from the perspective of a Braves fan -- they'd probably be pissed that they gave up someone who was 33 times more valuable than Soler last year (and the two are only like 14 months apart in age, if you're trying to factor upside/improvement). Especially when Inciarte's primary skill is defense, which is pretty en vogue across MLB at the moment.

But isn't defense a teachable skill? Even Ryan Braun manages to play the outfield without being in constant danger of spiking himself these days.

Well, you cited Braun, who's still pretty terrible out there to the point where he was only worth 2.8 wins despite an .854 OPS and being a plus baserunner (24 steals, only 4 caught). I think he's a perfect example of a guy who is a great athlete but, for whatever reason, just doesn't see it translate to his defense.

But sure, it's possible to coach some guys up a bit. I'd just be more optimistic that someone like Schwarber would benefit from being coaching than Soler, who's been playing outfield for most of his life.

[SKO]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

[Quality Start Machine]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

[SKO]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

[Slaky]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

My guess without looking is Schwarber's WAR will be limited by his awful defense. Russell has to pick it up big time at the plate but his defensive abilities combined with a successful year batting would propel him.

It's pretty absurd.

[Quality Start Machine]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

My guess without looking is Schwarber's WAR will be limited by his awful defense. Russell has to pick it up big time at the plate but his defensive abilities combined with a successful year batting would propel him.

It's pretty absurd.

No way Russell's K rate stays up over 25%, right? Hell, even with him hitting the way he did last year, his glove damn near made him a 3 win player.

Speaking of Ks, how fucking scary will Bryant be once he gets that under control?

[SKO]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

My guess without looking is Schwarber's WAR will be limited by his awful defense. Russell has to pick it up big time at the plate but his defensive abilities combined with a successful year batting would propel him.

It's pretty absurd.

No way Russell's K rate stays up over 25%, right? Hell, even with him hitting the way he did last year, his glove damn near made him a 3 win player.

Speaking of Ks, how fucking scary will Bryant be once he gets that under control?

I don't know if Bryant will, though. I mean some marginal improvements, potentially, but he's a three true outcomes guy, that's just a fact. Last year it was almost bizarre how consistently his K rate stayed at around 31% while he was going through both his best and worst times. He's going to K in about a third of his ABs, and he's going to do a lot of really good stuff elsewhere. I would expect this year we might see a slight drop in his batting average as his BABIP was kinda high (although consistent with what he did in the minors), but I do think we'll see even more dongs. A truly Glaus-ian performance of .260/.370/.500 with 30+ dongs is what I'm expecting.

[Oleg]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

Well, here's something to allay your optimism.

[Oleg]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

My guess without looking is Schwarber's WAR will be limited by his awful defense. Russell has to pick it up big time at the plate but his defensive abilities combined with a successful year batting would propel him.

It's pretty absurd.

Even with his defense, Steamer has him as a 2.5 win player in 500 PAs next year.
Steamer has Russell as a 2-win player next year in the same 500 PAs.

I'd guess that since they have limited MLB time and the expectation of getting more PAs than that, they'll be more valuable.  ZIPS and PECOTA to follow later.

Bottom line, this team should be absurdly good if they stay relatively healthy.

[SKO]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

Well, here's something to allay your optimism.

I didn't think that article was pessimistic at all? Just said the Cubs probably don't need a top of the rotation starter as badly as many fans seem to think, but that they've been smart about increasing their overall starting pitching depth to protect against a collapse like Hammel had in the second half. If your talking solely about them possibly being proactive about preparing for an Arrieta injury, that doesn't bother me. It would be dumb not to have some kinda failsafe in case the innings count last year took a real toll on him. It doesn't mean he is injured by any stretch. I'm just glad the front office is smart enough to not let this thing go tits up like the '04 Cubs if Arrieta or Lester miss time.

[D. Doluntap]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

This never even touched on the guys like Schwarber, Russell or Soler who can also help stack up wins.

This fucking team.

It also didn't mention Jake Arrieta and a rotation that led the MLB in FIP last year. I'm getting the vapors.

My guess without looking is Schwarber's WAR will be limited by his awful defense. Russell has to pick it up big time at the plate but his defensive abilities combined with a successful year batting would propel him.

It's pretty absurd.

Even with his defense, Steamer has him as a 2.5 win player in 500 PAs next year.
Steamer has Russell as a 2-win player next year in the same 500 PAs.

I'd guess that since they have limited MLB time and the expectation of getting more PAs than that, they'll be more valuable.  ZIPS and PECOTA to follow later.

Bottom line, this team should be absurdly good if they stay relatively healthy.

This is so much more fun than the last time I thought the Cubs would be absurdly good. It's great not having to rely on LaTroy Hawkins and Tom Goodwin additions pushing the Cubs over the top.

[Oleg]

I just can't get enough of reading about this team.  Fuck Christmas and New Years.  Bring on Smarch already.

That may have been the most bonerworthy thing I've ever read.

Well, here's something to allay your optimism.

I didn't think that article was pessimistic at all? Just said the Cubs probably don't need a top of the rotation starter as badly as many fans seem to think, but that they've been smart about increasing their overall starting pitching depth to protect against a collapse like Hammel had in the second half. If your talking solely about them possibly being proactive about preparing for an Arrieta injury, that doesn't bother me. It would be dumb not to have some kinda failsafe in case the innings count last year took a real toll on him. It doesn't mean he is injured by any stretch. I'm just glad the front office is smart enough to not let this thing go tits up like the '04 Cubs if Arrieta or Lester miss time.

Just the thought of Arrieta getting hurt is making my shit smell like Busch Stadium.  I'm glad you're seeing the positive.  I guess I always thought it was a possibility since his innings did go up by a large amount but I didn't really want to think about it till I read that article.

I guess once they get Ross or Carrasco, I'll calm down about it.

[Oleg]

Yawn.

[SKO]

Yawn.

If I believed in jinxes at all now would be about the time I'd tell Jeff Sullivan to knock it the fuck off.

[Oleg]

Yawn.

If I believed in jinxes at all now would be about the time I'd tell Jeff Sullivan to knock it the fuck off.

At least he added some downside at the end.