Second Look: New Cubs Pitchers

In Commentary And Analysis by GW4 Comments

It’s no secret that the Cubs have struggled to draft and develop pitching, so it’s nice that they have been willing to spend freely to fill in the gaps. Sahadev wrote about the team’s struggles in December (subscription required, h/t Fangraphs), with a pretty remarkable chart. The problem with this chart is pretty simple: contenders are not particularly interested in …

A Few Good Tweets From Game 1

In Commentary And Analysis by GW20 Comments

One of the nice things about getting to a championship series is that everyone is paying attention. And, at least when Pedro Baez is pitching, there is plenty of time to survey the landscape. Revisiting the action while trying not to worry about Kershaw… On Howie Kendrick A. That’s not how defensive metrics work. B. Kendrick actually grades out as more …

Jason Heyward is Going to Get Paid (Probably)

In Commentary And Analysis by GW118 Comments

One name that seems to be popping up here and elsewhere the past few days is Jason Heyward.  He is heading into free agency, and the Cubs could definitely use an outfielder, even though Heyward isn't a true centerfielder. Thinking about it a little, the thing that struck me about him is that I can’t remember the last time a player as …

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DFP: Lester, Montero, and Framing

In Commentary And Analysis, Facepalm by GW

Jon Lester Paying $150+ million for a pitcher with 1600 career innings isn’t the safest of investments, but it sure is nice that the Cubs finally signed someone. After years of missing out on seemingly all of their big-name targets, I can’t have been the only person that was worried that the team simply didn’t have the TV revenue necessary to hang …

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The Extra 2%, 18.3° N Edition

In Commentary And Analysis by GW

Yoan Moncada has been cleared for free agency, just as soon as he gets unblocked by the U.S. Treasury Department. The Cubs had a strong presence at a workout in Guatemala on Wednesday. Since he is subject to international spending bonus pools, however, the Cubs will only have the chance to sign him if they can convince him to wait until next July. …

OV Team Auction Results

In Commentary And Analysis by GW

Last spring, Myles had the idea that instead of just compiling our dumb predictions about the upcoming season, we should do something a bit more interesting. The idea was for each of the OV authors to pick a group of teams and track those teams throughout the season to see whose group did the best. Originally, we were going to …

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Jose M. Fernandez Cuban Stats

In Commentary And Analysis by GW

Multiple reports indicate Cuban second baseman Jose Fernandez has left the island and will seek to play in MLB. For those of you Google-stymied by his also-Cuban namesake, his full name is Jose Miguel Fernandez Diaz. I have Fernandez’s birthday as April 27, 1988, meaning that 2015 will be his age-27 season. He has played played for Matanzas in Serie …

DFP: Javy And His K’s

In Facepalm by GW

Javier Baez homered last night; it was his first at Wrigley Field and fourth since being called up. He didn’t walk, and hasn’t yet since being called up. That’s a little troubling, but it’s too early to say much about that. He also didn’t strike out, which is also a little early to make any judgements about, but is something …

DFP: Jacob Turner

In Facepalm by GW

In case you missed it, the Cubs acquired RHP Jacob Turner last week for two non-prospects. Turner’s stock has really fallen off since 2012, when his name was being tossed around as a potential centerpiece from the Tigers in a Matt Garza trade and was eventually a big part of the trade that brought Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to …

DFP: How Badly Did the Rays Screw Up?

In Facepalm by GW

The most striking aspect of yesterday’s deadline was just how many trades involved major league players. The classic mode of deadline dealing is this: sellers send soon-to-be free agents to buyers in return for prospects. Yesterday, by contrast, sellers picked up Yoenis Cespedes, Joe Kelly, Allen Craig, Drew Smyly, Nick Franklin, and Tommy Milone. Of the bunch, only Franklin is …