General Cubs Chit-Chat

[Sammy Sofa]

Run differential is the pitching W/L of team-based offensive numbers.

DON'T THINK ABOUT IT AND JUST AGREE WITH ME.

[BigSlick]

Run differential is the pitching W/L of team-based offensive numbers.

DON'T THINK ABOUT IT AND JUST AGREE WITH ME.

they reveal the truth however, that the cubs are mediocre

[Cubswin11]

Jesse just said on MLB Radio that Willy is back in the September 5th-7th range, first time I’ve heard hard dates on him. But that’s good, that’s potentially next weekend.

[squally1313]

Fun (and a little concerning) stat: Of the top 40* active leaders in pitcher fWAR, the Cubs have 6 of them on their staff.

7. Cole Hamels 51.4
8. Jon Lester 45.5
16. Jose Quintana 28
25. Yu Darvish 20.9
37. Kyle Hendricks 17.9
39. Craig Kimbrel 17.6

* I had to manually add Hamels because he didn't show up on the 'Active Roster' list, presumably because he's on paternity leave. So I assume there are probably a couple other ones missing (though Morrow did show up at 69th (nice), so who knows). Just noticed Sale at 44.4 is missing, so not sure how the list is being generated.

[champaignchris]

Fun (and a little concerning) stat: Of the top 40* active leaders in pitcher fWAR, the Cubs have 6 of them on their staff.

7. Cole Hamels 51.4
8. Jon Lester 45.5
16. Jose Quintana 28
25. Yu Darvish 20.9
37. Kyle Hendricks 17.9
39. Craig Kimbrel 17.6

* I had to manually add Hamels because he didn't show up on the 'Active Roster' list, presumably because he's on paternity leave. So I assume there are probably a couple other ones missing (though Morrow did show up at 69th (nice), so who knows). Just noticed Sale at 44.4 is missing, so not sure how the list is being generated.

Per bWAR, it’s 6, 8, 19, 25, 30, 31. Same order. Cishek at 74th is the next on BR.

[UMFan83]

Thought this was semi interesting

[Cubswin11]

He’s made an appearance or two in Iowa and rookie ball, wonder if they throw him in the pen at some point this year. But definitely good to see for next year at the least.

[Andy]

Thought this was semi interesting

That's way more than semi interesting. Don't think we've heard an admission like that about anything before.

Since I'm a complete Astros-are-somehow-cheating truther, I choose to believe Verlander wouldn't have done what he's doing there were he in Chicago, but man, if he could've.

[Brian]

He’s made an appearance or two in Iowa and rookie ball, wonder if they throw him in the pen at some point this year. But definitely good to see for next year at the least.

Rostering him would cost 1.425 millions dollars. Not a ton of money in the grand scheme of things, but is it worth it for a a couple of big league pitches?

1 year/$575,000 (2019), plus 2020 club option
signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/22/18
19:$0.575M, 20:$3M club option
2019 salary increases to $2M with 1 day on active ML roster
may earn additional $0.5M in performance bonuses

[Cubswin11]

Got it, yeah they likely won’t add him if it costs that.

[Cubswin11]

Another money note, Phelps passed an appearance threshold that jumped his team option from $1 mil (I think) next year to $3 mil. If he gets 10 more appearances that jumps to a $5 mil option, hopefully he stays under that 10 (he should I think given after tomorrow we have like 18 straight games and with expanded rosters and off TJ I doubt he has in him or they want a ton of back to backs or 3 in 5 days type stuff). Him back at $3 mil is a really good deal and is a no brainer at $5 it’s not so much of a no brainer move, imo.

[The Logan]

Thought this was semi interesting

That's way more than semi interesting. Don't think we've heard an admission like that about anything before.

Since I'm a complete Astros-are-somehow-cheating truther, I choose to believe Verlander wouldn't have done what he's doing there were he in Chicago, but man, if he could've.

I don't know what the Astros are doing either, but Verlander's K rates spiked in Houston just like it did for Cole and Morton and others. I'm not convinced the same would've happened in Chicago. I want to know their secret.

[Bull]

Thought this was semi interesting

That's way more than semi interesting. Don't think we've heard an admission like that about anything before.

Since I'm a complete Astros-are-somehow-cheating truther, I choose to believe Verlander wouldn't have done what he's doing there were he in Chicago, but man, if he could've.

I don't know what the Astros are doing either, but Verlander's K rates spiked in Houston just like it did for Cole and Morton and others. I'm not convinced the same would've happened in Chicago. I want to know their secret.

Proprietary adhesive

[squally1313]

[jersey cubs fan]

https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1169252078595772418

[BigSlick]

jesus christ can this season get anymore punishing

[Schwarber Fan]

Javy broken thumb. Playoff hopes might rest on Joe’s insistence to play Russell.

[CubinNY]

Cubs Sox. How does Theo make them not suck in the offseason? I have no idea given the financial limitations. What a mess.

[Brian]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

[Cubswin11]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

I don’t know how it plays out, I’d assume Ross will be heavily rumored. I’m guessing they go with the trend of the relatively unknown guy who’s cheap and “goes by the book” and is essentially an extension of the FO in the dugout. I’d assume internally Borzello, Loretta and Venanble will be candidates, would like to keep Hottovy as the pitching coach. Externally I’d be interested in Carlos Beltran.

[Named After Maddux]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

I'm not sure what I expect the front office to do as far as search process. It's possible the Cubs have the most high profile opening this offseason. Unless the Red Sox situation changes that.
Regardless, the candidate I'm most intrigued with is Astros Bench Coach Joe Espada. He's in his 40s and has been a scout/special assistant for the Yankees, 3rd base coach for the Yankees, and now the Bench Coach for the Astros. He's bilingual and regarded as a strong communicator.

He also declined to interview last year for any positions, perhaps because there weren't many intriguing options at the time (Baltimore, NYM, Cincinnati, Texas, Minnesota). So it's not as though he's been passed up by teams.

[TomtheBombadil]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

It's 2005 all over again because Beltran or bust*

*Or really someone who speaks Spanish with a ton of experience but maybe none as a manager, but I remember what happened last time they settled for the non-Beltran option when the Beltran option was probably there

[Backtobanks]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

I don’t know how it plays out, I’d assume Ross will be heavily rumored. I’m guessing they go with the trend of the relatively unknown guy who’s cheap and “goes by the book” and is essentially an extension of the FO in the dugout. I’d assume internally Borzello, Loretta and Venanble will be candidates, would like to keep Hottovy as the pitching coach. Externally I’d be interested in Carlos Beltran.

I'm sure PTR would like it to be someone who is already on the payroll.

[d_money]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

It's 2005 all over again because Beltran or bust*

*Or really someone who speaks Spanish with a ton of experience but maybe none as a manager, but I remember what happened last time they settled for the non-Beltran option when the Beltran option was probably there

It’s almost time the WS fire Renteria, so maybe the Cubs can bring him back and do this thing all over again. Pretend like it never happened.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Derwood]

Will there be a big manager search with many brought in for interviews or do they already know who they want?

I don’t know how it plays out, I’d assume Ross will be heavily rumored. I’m guessing they go with the trend of the relatively unknown guy who’s cheap and “goes by the book” and is essentially an extension of the FO in the dugout. I’d assume internally Borzello, Loretta and Venanble will be candidates, would like to keep Hottovy as the pitching coach. Externally I’d be interested in Carlos Beltran.

I'm sure PTR would like it to be someone who is already on the payroll.

He'll just manage them himself