MLB 2016

[MerrittsMustache]

I have never seen any report that Chapman's denial was "different than what he had originally told police." Do you have a link to support this statement?

According to the police report...

"In Chapman’s version of the story, he told police he used his index and middle fingers and “poked his girlfriend on the left shoulder and told her not to talk to him like that,” according to the report.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/aroldis-chapman-s-girlfriend-alleged-he--choked--her--according-to-police-report-023629095.html


In his apology...
“But I also want to say I had no physical contact with my girlfriend. I want this to be very clear."

http://nypost.com/2016/03/02/aroldis-chapmans-vow-after-incident-no-more-guns/

[DegenerateDish]

Not trying to overstate it, but the Heyward contract could turn into a gigantic dumpster fire. If you're a fan of his, do not go on FanGraphs, his advanced metrics have him as a sub replacement level player. If you're the Cubs, he's your defensive fourth outfielder the rest of the year. Lots of years and a ton of cash left, good news is he's 26, bad news is he's badly regressing.

[buckchuckler]

You sure you don't want to reconsider your thoughts on Shields?

Right back at you.   

Not a bad night for a guy who is "fairly mediocre" eh? 

Tonight marks the 6th straight start in which Shields has allowed 2 runs or less. 

Over his last 7 starts he has an ERA of 2.17 and a WHIP around 1.10.

[JWags85]

Not trying to overstate it, but the Heyward contract could turn into a gigantic dumpster fire. If you're a fan of his, do not go on FanGraphs, his advanced metrics have him as a sub replacement level player. If you're the Cubs, he's your defensive fourth outfielder the rest of the year. Lots of years and a ton of cash left, good news is he's 26, bad news is he's badly regressing.

There is no real way to defend his bat.  He's been horrible and its his worst season since he was 21-22.  I'm not freaking out yet cause he wasn't here to be a key hitter and he's still been a good defensive outfielder.  He's 26 just off a Gold Glove and top-15 MVP vote getting season.  Id like to believe on a team that hits well he can get some instruction and turn it around.  If he's hitting sub-.240 again next year, then yea they have a problem.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Right back at you.   

Not a bad night for a guy who is "fairly mediocre" eh? 

Tonight marks the 6th straight start in which Shields has allowed 2 runs or less. 

Over his last 7 starts he has an ERA of 2.17 and a WHIP around 1.10.

Won't last. The Cubs performance was embarrassing.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Not trying to overstate it, but the Heyward contract could turn into a gigantic dumpster fire. If you're a fan of his, do not go on FanGraphs, his advanced metrics have him as a sub replacement level player. If you're the Cubs, he's your defensive fourth outfielder the rest of the year. Lots of years and a ton of cash left, good news is he's 26, bad news is he's badly regressing.

He's been horrendous but he has a track record of being a good offensive player and he is 26. Might be a combination of the team changing his mechanics/swing to try to hit for more power as well as the pressure of that contract.  This may be a lost season, however.

[Lennys Tap]

Won't last. The Cubs performance was embarrassing.

White Sox clinched retention of the Crosstown Cup for the 7th time in the last 8 years! Sox dominate regular season games vs their northside rivals and crushed the Cubbies in their only World Series meeting!

[Lennys Tap]

Not trying to overstate it, but the Heyward contract could turn into a gigantic dumpster fire. If you're a fan of his, do not go on FanGraphs, his advanced metrics have him as a sub replacement level player. If you're the Cubs, he's your defensive fourth outfielder the rest of the year. Lots of years and a ton of cash left, good news is he's 26, bad news is he's badly regressing.

184 million for a three year younger version of JB Shuck does seem a little excessive.

[MUsoxfan]

Sox have a better Heyward in Eaton.

[MerrittsMustache]

Not trying to overstate it, but the Heyward contract could turn into a gigantic dumpster fire. If you're a fan of his, do not go on FanGraphs, his advanced metrics have him as a sub replacement level player. If you're the Cubs, he's your defensive fourth outfielder the rest of the year. Lots of years and a ton of cash left, good news is he's 26, bad news is he's badly regressing.

His 7-year deal includes an opt-out after 3 years, which looked like a good structure at the time, but if he continues to struggle, there's no way he's opting out and the Cubs would be paying over $110M to the poor man's Adam Eaton.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

His 7-year deal includes an opt-out after 3 years, which looked like a good structure at the time, but if he continues to struggle, there's no way he's opting out and the Cubs would be paying over $110M to the poor man's Adam Eaton.

Very true.  It's also possible this season proves to be the exception and he bounces back.  I'd be more concerned if he wasn't so young (not saying I'm not concerned - I most definitely am). 

[Wally Schroeder]

Sox have a better Heyward in Eaton.

And the Cubs have a better Heyward in Matt Szczur, playing just above replacement level in limited opportunities. Not good.

[wadesworld]

If the Cubs are still looking for an outfielder Ryan Braun's having a pretty great year...

He'd fit right in with those guys.

[Wally Schroeder]

Very true.  It's also possible this season proves to be the exception and he bounces back.  I'd be more concerned if he wasn't so young (not saying I'm not concerned - I most definitely am).

I agree entirely. Every time he steps to the plate I'm waiting for the low, outside corner pitch he'll softly tap to the second basemen or right up the middle to the SS. It's been an absolute train wreck of a year. Keeping the faith since he's 26 and has a track record of success. Hope there's a full-time resource dedicated to his bat in the off-season. Maybe someone like Greg Walker, who's currently unemployed (to my knowledge) that JHey is familiar with from his days in Atlanta.

Great RF with a mostly accurate cannon, but that sure as sh*t ins't worth nearly $200M with a weak bat.

[Pakuni]

So, that James Shields trade maybe not so bad after all for the White Sox.
Stat line in last six starts:
3-3,   1.71 ERA,  42.0 IP, 32 hits, 8 earned runs, 12 walks, 21 Ks, .209 average against, 1.05 WHIP

[MerrittsMustache]

So, that James Shields trade maybe not so bad after all for the White Sox.
Stat line in last six starts:
3-3,   1.71 ERA,  42.0 IP, 32 hits, 8 earned runs, 12 walks, 21 Ks, .209 average against, 1.05 WHIP

I'm convinced that Shields was tipping his pitches and Cooper finally straightened him out. To see an established veteran get shelled the way that he did over the course of 2-3 weeks, there was clearly something going on that had nothing to do with his actual stuff.

[MU82]

Very true.  It's also possible this season proves to be the exception and he bounces back.  I'd be more concerned if he wasn't so young (not saying I'm not concerned - I most definitely am).

Exception?

Hayward's typical season is 16 HR and 58 RBI. His career averages are .264 BA, .349 OBP, .416 SLG for a .768 OPS. His averages with RISP are even lower. His WAR is nothing special.

Almost every team, including the Cubs, has a half-dozen players every bit as productive.

He is a heck of a fielder, absolutely. Defensive specialists sure have become expensive!

I'm a big believer in saying that an athlete is "worth" whatever a team will pay him. Still ...

It appears Theo was so desperate to fill a perceived need -- and to do so at the expense of the Cardinals -- that he may have hung an albatross around the Cubbies' necks for the rest of the decade and beyond.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm convinced that Shields was tipping his pitches and Cooper finally straightened him out. To see an established veteran get shelled the way that he did over the course of 2-3 weeks, there was clearly something going on that had nothing to do with his actual stuff.

I'm inclined to agree. Over 4 or 5 starts it was like he was throwing batting practice. Hitters looked like they knew what was coming.

[Lennys Tap]

He's been horrendous but he has a track record of being a good offensive player and he is 26. Might be a combination of the team changing his mechanics/swing to try to hit for more power as well as the pressure of that contract.  This may be a lost season, however.

His hands are too high and close to his body - there's so much movement just to get them to where he can swing the bat. And if he doesn't move them he ties himself up. Think his struggles continue unless his mechanics change.

[Pakuni]

It appears Theo was so desperate to fill a perceived need -- and to do so at the expense of the Cardinals -- that he may have hung an albatross around the Cubbies' necks for the rest of the decade and beyond.

For rich teams in MLB, there's really no such thing as an albatross. Sure, the Cubs could find themselves stuck with a very expensive fourth outfielder, but it's not as if they'll ever lack the financial resources or cap space to correct the error.

[MU82]

For rich teams in MLB, there's really no such thing as an albatross. Sure, the Cubs could find themselves stuck with a very expensive fourth outfielder, but it's not as if they'll ever lack the financial resources or cap space to correct the error.

Excellent point.

It's only money!

Ricketts has it, and he can get plenty more of it by increasing the cost of bleacher seats to $100 and beer to $20!

Let's play 2!

(Day/night variety, of course; gotta get that extra gate.)

[MerrittsMustache]

Excellent point.

It's only money!

Ricketts has it, and he can get plenty more of it by increasing the cost of bleacher seats to $100 and beer to $20!

Let's play 2!

(Day/night variety, of course; gotta get that extra gate.)

Just wait until the Wrigley renovations are complete! The money will be rolling in! Then again, they'll need to pay some seat-fillers so that the TV audience doesn't see a bunch of empty seats behind home plate...that could be theirs for just 2 grand a piece!

[DegenerateDish]

What's now interesting about Shields is if he'll opt out after this season. He'll have an interesting decision to make. I wouldn't be shocked if he got moved in the next few days.

[buckchuckler]

What's now interesting about Shields is if he'll opt out after this season. He'll have an interesting decision to make. I wouldn't be shocked if he got moved in the next few days.

I still think it is unlikely, as he has 2 yrs and 43million ( at least, there is an option on a following year option is at 16 million, with a 2 million buyout I included in his 43 million remaining).  So he would have to project, what 4 years 60 million to make it worth it or so?  You never know, but I think it is unlikely. 

[buckchuckler]

His 7-year deal includes an opt-out after 3 years, which looked like a good structure at the time, but if he continues to struggle, there's no way he's opting out and the Cubs would be paying over $110M to the poor man's Adam Eaton.

That's the problem with opt-outs.  They just ensure the team is hurt.  You commit long term to a guy, but if he plays up to his deal, he opts out and you didn't get him long term.  If he isn't good you are stuck with him.  It is all the risk of a long term deal with none of the benefits.