Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Season Thread Vol: (17-17)

MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis:

But Chicago outpaces both Minnesota and Boston. I’ve been covering prospects for more than 25 years, and I’ve never seen a better collection of young hitting talent in one organization than the Cubs have right now. They graduated Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara from the Top 100 to the big leagues in 2014, the beginning of a tidal wave of position players about to crash on Wrigley Field.
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:pimp:
 
CP1708 said:
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis:
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I'm gonna get this tattooed on me 
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Over the past several months, the Chicago Cubs have made some significant changes to their organization. They hired one of the best managers in the game in Joe Maddon. They traded for a new starting catcher in Miguel Montero, traded for an interesting potential utility guy in Tommy LaStella, and traded for a new leadoff man to play center field in Dexter Fowler. And, of course, the Cubs spent significantly in the free agent market, by signing Jon Lester ($155M), Jason Hammel ($20M), David Ross ($5M), Jason Motte ($4.5M), Tsuyoshi Wada ($4M), and Chris Denorfia ($2.6M).

One thing connecting all of the moves, other than improving the team: the Cubs spent money. And lots of it.

After five straight years (2007- 2011) of having a top 5 payroll in all of Major League Baseball, according Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Chicago Cubs fans grew accustomed to being heavy spenders, at least relative to the rest of the NL Central. But in October of 2011, something changed: Theo Epstein was seen in a Starbucks outside of Wrigley Field.

Once Epstein took the reins, Cubs fans were inundated with rhetoric about the rebuild (or, at the time, the “building”). We were told to be patient, to be smart and to think of the big picture. We (rightly) obsessed over 19 year-olds, studied the draft strategies and longed for the trade deadline. Why did we act this way? Because the front office told us, and showed us through their actions, that they weren’t going to spend heavily in free agency until they were ready to do so.

According to the front office, free agents should be brought in to supplement a strong foundation of young, cost-controlled players, as opposed to being used as the building blocks for a roster. The Cubs indicated that, when the time was right, we would see activity in free agency.

As you well know, over the last offseason, we saw just that.

Every year, MLBTR monitors and reports on the Free Agent Spending by Team. Over the 2014-2015 offseason, the Chicago Cubs were third on that list. Spreading $191.1M over five free agents (plus Wada, who was kind of a free agent), the Cubs front office and ownership did what they said they would do when they were ready to turn the corner.

Remember, by the way: the Chicago Cubs didn’t just spend in player free agency. Aside from those six signings and $191M, the Cubs paid $25M to attract one of the best active managers in the game, Joe Maddon. Similarly, they took on $40M dollars in the trade for Miguel Montero. If you think of that one like a free agent signing – given the limited return to the Diamondbacks, it was close – the Cubs committed more in free agency (and things like free agency) than any other MLB team this year. That’s true even if you don’t include Montero, and just include Maddon.

A further look into the MLBTR list raises some interesting points. Across the league, not counting Maddon, the Cubs trailed only the Red Sox ($196M) and the Nationals ($215M), while spending $57.1M more than the next highest team (White Sox). More importantly, they way outspent the rest of the NL Central. The Pirates were the next closest at $51M, and the Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds were in the bottom 10. Yes, the Cubs committed more in free agency this offseason than the rest of the NL Central combined. And then they added about $120 million on top of that.

What I find most encouraging, however, isn’t comparing the Cubs 2015 offseason against other teams around the league. Instead, it’s exciting to compare the Cubs’ 2015 offseason to the 2014 version.

Heading into the 2014 season, the Chicago Cubs spent merely $16M dollars on five free agents. Depending on how much you’ve been following along, that probably doesn’t surprise you, but it should provide comfort. The Cubs front office has stuck to their strategy: draft well, develop young players, acquire cost controlled assets, then sign free agents.

The Cubs said they would spend when the time was right, and, this offseason, they spent as much or more than any team in baseball, and committed more than 10 times as much in free agency as they did last year. Clearly, the Cubs believe the corner has been turned.
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:pimp:
 
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My guess is he plays Triple A and if he rakes, maybe comes up late. But full time in 2016 is my guess. Maybe a little like Baez/Soler last year.

This year I expect just Bryant and Russell to be full time by June.
 
According to Jesse Rogers, there are some in the Cubs’ organization who are as high on Kyle Schwarber as they are on Kris Bryant. Try to wrap your head around that one for a minute.
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*whistles*
 
MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs centerfield prospect Albert Almora almost bristles at the question: What happened last year?

After hitting .270 with 69 strikeouts and just 14 walks split between Single-A and Double-A last season, the former No. 1 pick of the Cubs dropped out of the top 100 in ESPN.com’s prospect rankings. But Almora doesn’t feel like it was a lost year.

Hardly.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t have bad year,” Almora said Tuesday morning before spring workouts began for the day. “I thought it was a great year when it comes down to how to deal with stuff. I learned a lot of things. I was happy with the outcome of the year. Sure the numbers weren’t there like previous years, but when it comes to my development, I thought it was a great year.”

Is he being naïve? We’ll know more after this season as Almora does admit the numbers have to catch up. ESPN prospect guru Keith Law is most blunt about Almora’s game: He needs to take a pitch, Law says. For Cubs brass, Almora’s nearly 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio in 2014 must stick out like a sore thumb. It’s no secret it might be the most important statistic they look at in assessing -- and advancing -- their prospects. One size doesn’t fit all, but Almora knows this is where he needs to improve.

“Mostly pitch recognition,” he said. “Getting my pitch to hit. It (walking more) would help my game out tremendously. I definitely think it’s part of the game I need to work on. If I’m on base it helps the team.”

You’ll excuse Almora for being a little distracted last season as his dad was battling life-threatening cancer and going through treatment during the baseball season. In May, he was well enough to see Almora hit a home run in person and his son’s demeanor picked up along with his dad’s health. His game improved as well.

Remember, Almora might be the best of the prospects when it comes to the instincts of baseball, especially on defense. Scouts were saying over a year ago that he was ready to play center field in the big leagues then. Only his bat needs to catch up. He’ll probably start this season at Double-A Tennessee, but if things go well, he should see a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. With current center fielder Dexter Fowler set to become a free agent at the end of this season, there should be another opening in center next year at this time. Maybe Almora will be ready by then. But first things first -- his plate discipline has to improve.

“I’m just going up there with a plan now,” Almora said. “If I don’t get my pitch to hit, I’m not swinging at it. It’s easier said than done, but I’m working on it.”

After a learning year in 2014, maybe it all comes together for the first draft pick of the Cubs' current front office.
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Jon Lester looked sharp in spring training. I hope Arrieta can shake off the rust. Not really worried.
 
Kris Bryant with 2 homers and a ground rule double to center.
Soler with a bomb and a 2 run double.
Russell with 3 hits and a steal.

And Rizzo, Castro, Schwarber and Almora didn't even play.

I want to cry I'm so happy. :pimp:
 
SLP Product said:
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Been rough year for all Chi-City sports fans, but there's soo much buzz and excitement around the Cubs
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Man, tell me about it. Looking forward to the season. I must say, Soler looks like he trying to annihilate the ball when he goes yard. Reminds me of Vlad Guerrero when he swings. Geesh! Russell looks very smooth and comfortable at SS so far, you guys think Castro can possibly move over to 2B if Russell is consistent? What you guys take on 3B? Does Bryant start there on opening day, or does Olt get the nod while Bryant get sent back to the minors for a short stint. I think Bryant looks more than ready IMO.
 
Olt can man 3B for about 3-4 weeks, then Bryant gets call up.

I think eventually, Bryant moves to LF, and Russell takes 3B.

"Someday" I see.....

Almora CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Bryant LF
Soler RF
Russell 3B
Schwarber C
Baez 2B


If Baez is battin 8th, I mean....... :lol:
 
Kris Bryant today with 2 more homers.

Kyle Hendricks faced 15 batters. Retired 15 batters.


This **** is flat out breathtaking.
 
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