Cubs pitchers and catchers report today so we can finally get down to talking about some serious baseball stuff like bunting tournaments and if there is any purpose at all for Steve Clevenger. But for now, this is the time on Sprockets when we dance!
Obstructed View Forum
Obstructed View is a blog created solely for entertainment and informational purposes. It is not affiliated with the Chicago Cubs or Major League Baseball in any way. The opinions on Obstructed View are not endorsed by the Chicago Cubs or Major League Baseball and do not represent their views.
Copyright © 2012 Obstructed View
stercus ad temere intempestivo temporibus
@ dmick89:
@ Aisle424:
Well, not to give them any credit or anything, but the site is called Rant Sports. Maybe we are just expecting too much. After all:
Rant: 1. to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner; 2. to scold vehemently, 3. to utter in a bombastic declamatory fashion
They seem to have the definition down, because when you are ranting, you aren’t expected to be thoughtful, logical, or even to look slightly intelligent.
Thanks for the dancing. P&C report day: the sign that the dregs of winter are ending, no matter what some loony groundhog thinks.
Basically the best day of the winter
I used to work at a sprocket factory. Whenever I tell people this, I’m pretty sure the first set of dancers comes into their minds.
@ SVB:
I expect little from most bloggers, but these guys actually think they’re good.
Still no interesting baseball till March 2nd (Japan vs Brazil).
@ dmick89:
Yeah, I remember them challenging you to a duel.
But whenever I read anything there (ie. when Rice Cube punks me with a link) I can’t help but think the entire site is tongue-in-cheek.
@ Suburban kid:
This year we are going to have an 0-2 count ball-in-the-dirt contest. I predict Marmol wins, because the contest starts at 0-2, not 0-0.
Where is said challenge?
Alvin has a video of a slimmed-down Dan Vogelbach hitting baseballs in Mesa. If this kid really can take care of his body, I love his bat.
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/2/9/3968330/dan-vogelbach-video-cubs-fantasy-camp-report
He is in better shape than at least 5 position players in the MLB right now.
I found it.
Do the Q and A, Mick. Don’t be a jabroni
I apologize for pointing out that Rant Sports article. I don’t actually know if they’re all Cubs fans or if they rant about every other team as well, but they keep showing up in the sidebar so every now and then I click and then am immediately sorry for doing so. I should learn from this.
Also, Anthony Rizzo should learn to hit LHP.
Rice Cube wrote:
So it’s not your fault (dying laughing)
@ Suburban kid:
They’re like shiny objects, and I am but a simple raccoon.
Just saw the new one on the sidebar about Castro hitting leadoff. That seems like a not-so-good idea.
@ Aisle424:
Could this be a legitimate “best shape of his life”?
@ GBTS:
It certainly looks that way. Assuming thinner automatically equals better shape. I wonder if he loses much power with less mass.
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, that’s 1 I linked to after you put your link. The one SK said woke up his anti virus. Don’t read it. it’s stupid. Of course. Castro should bat leadoff to teach him how to take a walk.
Tony Campana ——> DFA
Scott Hairston ——-> 40 man roster
Campana —> DFA
Wonder who will claim him.
@ Aisle424:
Obviously I do not read every post.
Aisle424 wrote:
Myles wrote:
On ESPN today, there’s an article about F7 that says he is “so confident in his progression, he walked away from the Cubs in talks about a 3 year deal”
(dying laughing) seems like a big risk.
Aisle424 wrote:
Let’s all fondly recall Tony’s greatest moment as a Cub:
I expect he’ll go to Iowa after ten days or something, no?
@ Suburban kid:
My guess is that if he doesn’t get claimed by the Braves, he’ll be an I-Cub. #ShamelessSelfPlug
Cant you claim someone from with a full roster if you drop someone?
@ GBTS:
This is still my favorite gif ever
@ SVB:
I think so, but I’m hard-pressed to think of a guy currently on a 40-man roster that is worse than Tony Campana…
@ Rice Cube:
Josh Vitters. Maybe even Dioner Navarro and Steve Clevenger. Rafael Dolis. Hell, nearly 20% of the Cubs active roster at the end of last year are worse than Campana.
@ Rice Cube:
Well, the Angels are carrying Bill Hall, and the Indians are carrying Ryan Raburn, the Mets have Corey Patterson (or is he with Mil this year) and Marlon Byrd in camp, so they must not the guys on their 40 man. SD seems like they could use a fast OF.
You could also add Dave Sappelt, Casey Coleman and Brooks Raley to the list. Probably others.
@ dmick89:
this.
I’m sure some team will pick up a good defensive CF who is also one of the best base runners in the game. He won’t start much and he shouldn’t, but as a replacement and a pinch runner he can be valuable.
Campana was worth 2.1 fWAR and 1.9 rWAR over the last two years and that was a total of only a little over half a season of playing time. In other words, he’s been an above average player at the big league level. I don’t expect that to continue, but he has value.
@ dmick89:
@ dmick89:
I agree with you that there is value to be had with those legs and the fact that he doesn’t completely suck at defense. I am guessing there’s a method to the madness, and while I do think there’s a decent chance he gets claimed, the Cubs are gambling that he will pass through. I can’t actually tell you how likely it is a team will DFA a guy just to claim Campana though.
I think last year the Tigers might have done it. They were slow in the OF. But with the emergence of Quinten Berry, replacing Young with Hunter, and dropping Raburn, they seem like they are in better shape….still…
@ SVB:
Again I understand that Campana has value etc. but the fact is that this is a guy who couldn’t beat out Super Joe Mather in spring training. While I think it’s likely that the Braves claim him there’s a very good chance he ends up in Iowa anyway. I highly doubt any team will DFA someone to make room for Tony Campana. But I’m not that smart
So what’s this about King Felix having an elbow issue.
Let the comments from the Mariners fans commence…
@ Rice Cube:
If I had 3 open spots on my 40-man, I’d take him.
@ SVB:
I agree, and that’s my rationale for the Braves taking him. But there’s a small chance they’d be like “naaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…”
Very small chance.
I don’t think it’s a bad thing that Campana was dfa’d. He’s not a very good hitter and the cubs have better outfielders. No big deal, but he does have value. Probably more to another team.
It makes sense given our 40-man situation, but I’d have preferred fungible lefty #307 being waived
dmick89 wrote:
I love advanced metrics as much as the next guy, but when statements like that get made….
C’mon.
@ dmick89:
Yeah, I think he will get picked up. I also think he’s a pretty good defender, though I understand that opinions differ somewhat on the matter.
Pope ——-> not going to be the Pope at end of February.
@ Aisle424:
I guess putting in your two weeks notice is applicable in Rome too. I would give at least 4 weeks, but I’m a nice guy.
Imagine if the headlines read: Pope gives two-week notice
Who knew? A pope hasn’t resigned since well before the Cubs last won the World Series.
/self-centered Cubs fan
@ Chet Masterson:
Statements like what? The average NL player is 2 WAR per 700 plate appearances. He’s essentially been a replacement level batter, but a damn good baserunner and fielder (both Fangraphs and Bref agree on this). To this point in Campana’s career, he has been an above average player. Or if you’d prefer, he has performed at an above average rate, all things considered.
That does not mean, as I said earlier, that we should expect that to continue. We shouldn’t. His defense will likely regress (same with baserunning) and he’s not a good hitter. He’s probably slightly better than replacement level and could provide value in certain roles. He can play all 3 outfield spots. He’d be a very good defensive replacement for any outfield position and he’s one hell of a baserunner.
Darwin Barney isn’t a whole hell of a lot better at the plate than Campana and I don’t see anybody arguing he hasn’t, at the very least, performed at an average or better rate to this point in his career. If you don’t believe Campana is as valuable as WAR suggests, you cannot believe that Barney is. Which is it? Have they both sucked to this point in their careers or have they both provided value to their teams in ways other than batting?
@ SVB:
The Cubs have as many world championships as there have been popes who have resigned over the last 600 years.
dmick89 wrote:
I smell a marketing tie-in. Pope Hat Tuesdays sponsored by Bud Light?
@ dmick89:
Nice of the Cubs to keep pace.
Happy 150th birthday to former (White Stocking/Orphan/Colt) Cub CF Jimmy “Pony” Ryan.
In 1888 he led the NL with a .515 slugging % built on leading the league with 16 HR and 33 2b. He also had 60 SB, but that did not lead the league. He played 18 seasons, 15 with the Cubs, and accumulated a 42.9 oWAR, putting him just out of the Hall of Fame. Apparently there were rumors that he was using ipecac and saltpetre as PEDs. Considering the quality of defensive metrics in the 1880s and 1890s we won’t mention his -10.0 dWAR. He is the only major leaguer to hit for cycle while appearing in the same game as a pitcher. Wikipedia also says he punched reporters on two different occasions (those were the days!).
He is also the best baseball player born on this date. One could argue for Ray Collins (Red Sox), I guess, but he only pitched for 7 years (2.51 ERA; 21.7 career WAR). Brian Matusz doesn’t have enough career to compare yet, but I doubt he’ll challenge Ryan for the best ballplayer born on Feb 11 title. Ryan leads all players with more than 7 AB in every offensive category that matters and most that don’t, except HR (Ben Oglivie).
He ended his career with the Cubs in 1900, but played two more years with the Nationals in 1902-03 as the oldest player in base ball. He died in 1923. Ask SK about the funeral. I hear it was lovely.
@ dmick89:
I’m stealing that shit
I’m glad the Pope re-signed. That could have been an ugly arbitration.
@ GBTS:
It would have been a three god panel that determined his salary. It’s pretty simple. The bible explains the process.
New Shit