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My favorite teams
-Trade Schwarber to NY for a reliever like Robertson
-Re-sign Davis. Edwards is unreliable
-Re-sign Davis. Edwards is unreliable
#1 and #2 are starting pitching and relief pitching. I dont see them getting rid of Happ.- # 1 priority is starting pitching. Otani would be nice but is a pipe dream. A trade is likely needed and someone from the roster will go. Likely Happ. This game all hinges on starting pitching.
- You're probably going to be forced into signing Davis. Clearly Wilson was brought in to avoid that and he failed. I think he'll be a solid part of the pen next year but you can't write that in stone which means he's not your closer. It's money I wish they didn't have to spend but there's no avoiding it that I can see.
- They need another solid contact bat that is they can give at least 350 PA to. Might be the guy to replace Happ (or Schwarber I suppose) if he's moved
- Clearly the bullpen needs work. I'd like to see them sign Duensing and pick up a live RH arm to be what they've always hoped Grimm would be. Strop can't handle that all alone and Rondon ain't the guy. On top of that they probably need 5-6 more potential arms for bullpen depth. Underwood is probably one of these and he's here already.
- You have to figure out the leadoff hitter. Could Almora be that guy? I don't think he walks nearly enough but you've got a ton of guys that need AB so you're options are limited unless you do something crazy.
This team does not need wholesale changes. Most of what it needs is to solidify both the starting rotation and the pen. The rotation was bad early while the pen shined and the reverse happened late. You need to stabilize that. The starting pitching made the offense work from behind which kept them out of their rhythm until July. You can't do that again and you also can't go into a stretch run/playoff run with maybe 3 guys in the pen you trust including your closer. Do those things and we'll be right back here next year.
#1 and #2 are starting pitching and relief pitching. I dont see them getting rid of Happ.
If you're not first, you're last."If Theo doesn't make some drastic changes this offseason, the 2018 Cubs will end up as only the second-best team in the National League!"
Schwarber is a defensive liability. That raises pitch counts and ERA. Happ is an improvement there and can cover a couple of other spots, as needed. Much better than Schwarber and he has decent pop in his bat.He feels like the odd man out to me, but I'm not sure of that. Someone's going to go and he seems most likely. I have to think Almora is your CF so it's not going to be him.
Schwarber is a defensive liability. That raises pitch counts and ERA. Happ is an improvement there and can cover a couple of other spots, as needed. Much better than Schwarber and he has decent pop in his bat.
I feel the Cubs are hellbound to force Edwards into the closer role and save 12M per year, but he is not a pressure pitcherIf they sign Davis they don't need Robertson.
I feel the Cubs are hellbound to force Edwards into the closer role and save 12M per year, but he is not a pressure pitcher
One question: what do you think is the culpability of the pitching coach to all the walks by our relievers?
I feel the Cubs are hellbound to force Edwards into the closer role and save 12M per year, but he is not a pressure pitcher
One question: what do you think is the culpability of the pitching coach to all the walks by our relievers?
All we Cubs fans should care about is can he do it next year. I say noDo feel he will never be a pressure pitcher or that he isn't one now? I would agree with the latter and say we have no idea on the former. He can't be the closer next year, I would agree with that, but to say he can never be a closer is a stretch.
Well here's the thing... if you believe the cubs are trying to save money that doesn't mesh with them trading for Robertson because he's making $13 mil next year. So, if you're going to have to add someone making a fair chunk of money may as well be davis.
As for the walk issue... I'd blame it more on the front office than the pitching coach. They have targeted a specific type of reliever which is to say they've focused on guys with good pure stuff but not necessarily great control. The reason for that is because getting both costs you $10-15 mil a year and relievers are super inconsistent. Largely their problem is where as a lot of teams pull relievers from their pool of young starters, the cubs pitching obviously hasn't been as deep. Maples is the only guy they drafted(previous regime but w/e) who has turned out to be a MLB guy. They now have some arms coming but because they were ineffective finding pitching their first few years they are now in a position where they don't have much depth and have to trade/sign it.
Overall though I don't think the bullpen is that bad. I think they have a few holes that are exposing everyone else. For example, if Rondon were better they wouldn't need to rely on Edwards so much. When edwards has his best stuff he's near untouchable but they are in a position where he's often their only legit option. Likewise the Wilson trade has not worked out. I wasn't thrilled with Wilson prior to the announcement of the trade and he's been worse since. Koji also being down hurts them a bit.
What I see them doing is they basically have to bring back Davis. I don't really see any other way around that. I could then see them spending some money on someone like Pat Neshek or Juan Nicasio. Davis, Edwards, Strop and one of those two is a pretty decent bullpen if Monty is your LH specialist. You'd still need to replace Duensing as your loogy type but those guys with Maples as a Rondon replacement is the makings of an interesting pen. It's not on the level of LA or NYY but it's solid.
I'd make resigning Duensing a priority. Solid lefty. I completely agree on bringing back Davis but I don't have to like it. He's going to probably get close to Jansen money.
I'd make resigning Duensing a priority. Solid lefty. I completely agree on bringing back Davis but I don't have to like it. He's going to probably get close to Jansen money.
I've thought this roster was flawed from the start of the season. They let "you go we go" go. They didn't have a replacement for that and I am not sure I see one on the team currently. I think Maddon has done a better and more exhausting coaching job this season. Too many moving parts that aren't versatile enough to be moving...Schwarber, Heyward. Old pitching. Baez swinging at total garbage. I loved his walk last night. I feel that the K he had where he swung at a FB higher than his head embarrassed him enough that it may be the catalyst for a better mental approach in the future. He was clearly unhappy with himself. I think that's healthy. I think he will have an improved BB rate next season.
As Zobrist has gotten older, he doesn't have as much range defensively. His play time looks to be reduced next season. Baez is starting 2B. The person on the team who can fill the Zobrist role is Happ. Can Happ fill the lead-off role? I don't know, but he shouldn't be going anywhere. The odd man out has to be Schwarber. There won't be a lot of trade value either, but that eliminates a flaw in the roster of a player who belongs in the AL. Heyward should be kept around as a late inning defensive replacement. That contract was too large, but it isn't my money. Schwarber can't hit well now and Heyward's swing that was supposedly worked on all off-season didn't work out. Does the Cubs hitting coach have the answers? I don't know. Coaches coach and players play, but Heyward has the same swing flaws he had last season.
These kinds of posts are very hard for me to write, as I like the players and coaches. They won a world series and are fun to watch. I'm trying to write this from an observer's perspective. I don't think what I've posted are "drastic changes" as much as a few roster moves and they are right back there again. Every team is looking to improve in the off-season. Milwaukee will be improved next season. If the Cubs essentially stand pat, they will eventually get passed up.