Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 99

Thread: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

  1. #1
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Cubs Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Ah, the 2014 season is among us. It was a long offseason to be a Chicago Cubs fan. The swing and miss on Tanaka, and the inactivity in free agency. The Cubs did make some moves, though:

    -November 7, 2013 Named Rick Renteria manager and agreed to terms on a three-year contract.
    -November 22, 2013 Named Brandon Hyde bench coach, Gary Jones third base/infield coach, Bill Mueller hitting coach, Mike Brumley assistant hitting coach and Jose Csatro quality assurance coach. Promoted director of amateur scouting Jaron Madison to director of player development and national and regional crosschecker Matt Dorey to director of amateur scouting.
    -November 26, 2013 Acquired C George Kottaras from Kansas City for a cash consideration.
    -December 12, 2013 Acquired OF Justin Ruggiano from Miami for OF Brian Bogusevic.
    -December 13, 2013 Claimed RHP Liam Hendriks off waivers from Minnesota (AL).
    -December 16, 2013 Agreed to terms with LHP Wesley Wright on a one-year contract.
    -December 23, 2013 Claimed RHP Brett Marshall off waivers from the New York Yankees.
    -December 27, 2013 Agreed to terms with RHP Jose Veras on a one-contract.
    -February 13, 2014 Agreed to terms with RHPs Jason Hammel
    -February 15, 2014 Agreed to terms with UT Emilio Bonifacio on a minor league contract.

    Quote Originally Posted by Trendy Bastard View Post
    I personally think DeJesus, Hairston, Marmol, and (one of)Baker/Feldman will all be dealt before August 1st. Possibly Garza. Soriano unlikely.
    Pretty spot on post last year. A Soriano trade was unlikely, but it still managed to happen!

    2014 is looking to be just as brutal as the last two years. However, we do have a few things to look forward to. The minor league system is highly ranked by almost every analyst with the number four pick coming along soon.

    Baez had a crazy good 2013 season and will likely start the year in AAA Iowa. Will he continue to dominate pitching? Can he cut back on the strikeouts and legitimize himself as a top 5 MILB prospect? If he forces is way onto the Major League roster this season, where will he play? Will he take over at 2B or 3B? Or will he move Castro from short or from the team all together?

    My prediction: Baez gets the call around late June and takes over 2B full time.

    Bryant, the #2 overall draft pick, had a lot of success in his short professional career. He's likely to start in AA Tennessee. Many around the league believe he's going to have to move from 3B at some point. Bryant has said he wants to stick at 3rd, but he's going to have to prove that he has what it takes. This shouldn't be a big deal though, Bryant's bat projects to fit anywhere on the field.

    My prediction: Bryant dominates AA pitching and finds himself in AAA to finish the season. Fans will be pissed when he doesn't get a September Call Up.

    The player that I will be keeping an eye on this spring will be 3B Mike Olt. Reports are coming out that he finally feels 100% after the concussion issues that robbed him of his 2013 season. He went from being dominant in AA (with a September call up) to not being able to hit in the PCL. Olt blamed his vision for the 2013 struggles and claims he has finally found a solution with medicated eye drops. I'm cautiously optimistic on Olt. But I fear this is all fluff just like Brett Jackson's swing being "fixed" going into 2013.

    My prediction: Olt has a 'meh' Spring and ultimately splits time at 1B/3B in Iowa. He puts up decent numbers and finds himself in the majors in September.

    And last of all, the elephant in the room: Jeff Samardzija. He and the Cubs still haven't been able to find middle ground in a contract extension making Shark the main point of trade discussions. Will he re-sign with the Cubs? Or will he find himself pitching for his next contract on a new club?

    My prediction: Shark continues to put up mediocre numbers despite good looking peripherals. Traded to contending club for a top flight pitching prospect.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  2. #2
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  3. #3
    Hall of Famer Tobywan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Tampa Bay
    Posts
    5,986
    Rookie ERA
    42.15

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Go Cubbies!!! Wooo, Trendy it's almost here! A new season, a new start, a clean slate!

  4. #4
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Watching my first Spring Training game today. Cubs are already down 3-0 to the Mets. Mid season form already! Woo!

    I'm pretty much here just to watch Baez. I hope Bryant makes it into the game at some point.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  5. #5
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Rizzo finally hits his first home run of the Spring!
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  6. #6
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Baez rolls one over to 3rd in his first AB.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  7. #7
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Rizzo hits another! 4-3 Mets
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  8. #8
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Baez gets jammed, hits a chopper to 2nd.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  9. #9
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Mets are up 9-4 in the bottom of the 9th. Rizzo was awesome. That's about it.

    Sure was nice finally watching a ballgame though.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  10. #10
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    The second game of the season tonight.

    Edwin Jackson vs. Charlie Morton. I'll be listening at work and hopefully will get home in time to see the Cubs first win of the season!

    Or Castro, Rizzo, and Olt could go 0-10 with 5 K's again.

    Or Jackson could give up a billion homers per 2013.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  11. #11
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Lol this lineup is brutal. Feels like 2013 still.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  12. #12
    Team Leader Witlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The Kennel Club
    Posts
    12,642
    MLB ERA
    13.05
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Fucking Bonifacio is getting on my nerves...

    And with being picked off twice and two games, he's probably getting on Cubs fans nerves, too.

  13. #13
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    I hated him when he got picked off earlier, and now I like his swag.

    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  14. #14
    B/S Leader Trendy Bastard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    7,239
    Rookie ERA
    61.35

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    Plenty of time for another walk off though.
    LeagueTeamRecordWild CardDivisionPennantsTitles
    MSLKansas City Royals (NYY/TB)3611-351711487
    TBLCleveland Indians1084-6982521
    HSLChicago Cubs2071-17641941

  15. #15
    Team Leader Witlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The Kennel Club
    Posts
    12,642
    MLB ERA
    13.05
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Wait Til Next Year 4.0

    (I certainly hope so, but this isn't the thread for my anti-cub wishes. )

Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •