Levine- Theo Epstein putting Stock in Soler

[treebird]

vlad is basically one of those guys like moyer or maddux or whatever that you should just never compare anyone to ever. his bat on ball skills were just so completely unrivaled that it's just silly to suggest anyone might be in the same class as him.

[David]

vlad is basically one of those guys like moyer or maddux or whatever that you should just never compare anyone to ever. his bat on ball skills were just so completely unrivaled that it's just silly to suggest anyone might be in the same class as him.

aramis was like a poor man's version in the bat on ball skills dept but yeah.

[The Logan]

Vlad's contact ability pales in comparison to the immortal Juan Pierre!!!!

[Bull]

vlad is basically one of those guys like moyer or maddux or whatever that you should just never compare anyone to ever. his bat on ball skills were just so completely unrivaled that it's just silly to suggest anyone might be in the same class as him.

Randall Simon. Not kidding.

[Splendid Splinter]

vlad is basically one of those guys like moyer or maddux or whatever that you should just never compare anyone to ever. his bat on ball skills were just so completely unrivaled that it's just silly to suggest anyone might be in the same class as him.

The only other guy I can think of is Tony Gwynn.

[Sammy Sofa]

Didn't Baez have some Vlad comps at some point?

Lol really? If there were I hope it was before he saw a single professional AB.

Oh yeah; it was definitely before he turned into an electrified hacking machine, but I thought it came up a couple times basically talking about his crazy swing and how he could generate power with it seemingly everywhere.

[Cubbie Swagger]

You guys are ridiculous.

I wasn't even comparing Soler to Vlad. He just reminds me of him because of his swing. He has that two-handed follow through and he swings so hard that the bat hits him in the back. Overall, they are not very similar players, for reasons that have mostly already been covered.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

You guys are ridiculous.

I wasn't even comparing Soler to Vlad. He just reminds me of him because of his swing. He has that two-handed follow through and he swings so hard that the bat hits him in the back. Overall, they are not very similar players, for reasons that have mostly already been covered.

I am calling a breakout year by Soler. Remember this post.

I have never left the Soler bandwagon. He reminds me too much of Vlad Guerrero.

[Tim]

Didn't Baez have some Vlad comps at some point?

Lol really? If there were I hope it was before he saw a single professional AB.

Oh yeah; it was definitely before he turned into an electrified hacking machine, but I thought it came up a couple times basically talking about his crazy swing and how he could generate power with it seemingly everywhere.

The vast majority of the Baez comps were with Sheffield. It was fairly understandable:

1) they both started as shortsops
2) they both had that crazy bat speed
3) there were similarities in their stance and swing
4) there were similarities in body type and size
5) they both had that crazy bat speed

Of course, the strike zone command and contact abilities turned out to be fairly different between the two. Unfortunate - we would have had a first ballot HOF shortstop.

[Felix Leiter]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

[David]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

yeah unfortunately there's a lot more important things that sheffield was a lot better at than attitude.

[Felix Leiter]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

yeah unfortunately there's a lot more important things that sheffield was a lot better at than attitude.

Have you been paying attention the past 3 years? This FO considers mental makeup and clubhouse presence to be very important. No one is discounting that Sheffield was a very good player, but there's a reason he was dealt so many times.

[David]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

yeah unfortunately there's a lot more important things that sheffield was a lot better at than attitude.

Have you been paying attention the past 3 years? This FO considers mental makeup and clubhouse presence to be very important. No one is discounting that Sheffield was a very good player, but there's a reason he was dealt so many times.

That, in no way, counters what I said and has just about nothing to do with anything.

[Bull]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

yeah unfortunately there's a lot more important things that sheffield was a lot better at than attitude.

Have you been paying attention the past 3 years? This FO considers mental makeup and clubhouse presence to be very important. No one is discounting that Sheffield was a very good player, but there's a reason he was dealt so many times.

His point to s you can't take 500+ HR from Baez, because he isn't giving them. The comp proved flawed, and not because of Baez's better attitude. From all accounts, mother Theresa had a great clubhouse presence, but she wasn't hitting 500 dongs. Vow of chastity or whatever.

Pay attention, man!

[minnesotacubsfan]

Wth is "clubhouse presence"??

[David]

Wth is "clubhouse presence"??

something david ross is loaded with

[minnesotacubsfan]

[Bull]

Wth is "clubhouse presence"??

something david ross is loaded with

And mother Teresa

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Considering Sheffield hit 500+ HR, I'll take that from Baez. Sheffield's problem was attitude and I don't see nothing but positives from Baez.

yeah unfortunately there's a lot more important things that sheffield was a lot better at than attitude.

Have you been paying attention the past 3 years? This FO considers mental makeup and clubhouse presence to be very important. No one is discounting that Sheffield was a very good player, but there's a reason he was dealt so many times.

And that reason was he was a very good player that many teams wanted?

[Tim]

In 1996, Sheffield hit 42 HR. Javy might conceivably be capable of that feat.

He also had a 21% walk rate and a 9.7% strikeout rate. Javy is not remotely capable of either of those feats.

[Sammy Sofa]

In 1996, Sheffield hit 42 HR. Javy might conceivably be capable of that feat.

I'll take that bet.

[Bunts Lick Butts]

I wanna know how sheffield managed to keep his strikeouts so low with that wild load on his swing

[profisme]

vlad is basically one of those guys like moyer or maddux or whatever that you should just never compare anyone to ever. his bat on ball skills were just so completely unrivaled that it's just silly to suggest anyone might be in the same class as him.

Randall Simon. Not kidding.

Haha, I agree. I recall seeing Simon having some of the best contact skills I have ever seen. There was one pitch which seemed to me at the time to be above his head off the outside corner that he almost hit out in Arizona one game.

[davell]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/22/ ... -the-cubs/

[Backtobanks]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/22/levine-is-dexter-fowler-still-a-fit-for-the-cubs/

I think finding a CF (FA or trade) is still very much a possibility. Heyward will be very good in CF, but he's amazing in RF. I wonder if a deal could be expanded with the Rays to get a pitcher (Odorizzi ?) and Desmond Jennings for Soler + prospects.