A couple of years ago berselius used the information in The Book on splits to create a splits projeciton tool. I'm pretty sure this is the tool that SG used on RLWY to provide splits projections. He may have modified it since, but I thought we should look at the Cubs splits projections to see how many possible platoons we could come up with.
| Player | Projected wOBA | Vs L | Vs R |
| Geovany Soto | .337 | .359 | .329 |
| Bryan LaHair | .337 | .311 | .343 |
| David DeJesus | .334 | .306 | .345 |
| Starlin Castro | .332 | .351 | .326 |
| Reed Johnson | .328 | .348 | .316 |
| Alfonso Soriano | .326 | .341 | .321 |
| Blake DeWitt | .323 | .313 | .325 |
| Marlon Byrd | .322 | .333 | .318 |
| Jeff Baker | .319 | .337 | .304 |
| Ian Stewart | .316 | .298 | .321 |
| Welington Castillo | .310 | .322 | .304 |
| Anthony Rizzo | .305 | .286 | .310 |
| Darwin Barney | .296 | .311 | .292 |
You know you have a pretty good offense when Reed Johnson is making a case to be one of the top 5 hitters in the lineup.
CATCHER
The Cubs don't have a left hitting catcher on this list and Steve Clevenger isn't as good as Castillo. Therefore Soto has to play every day.
FIRST BASE
Both LaHair and Rizzo hit from the left side and CAIRO expects Lahair to be better at both. Alfonso Soriano's .341 wOBA projection vs lefties would make him an intriguing platoon candidate at this position. Between LaHair's .341 projection vs righties and Soriano's .341 vs lefties the Cubs could add some decent production at 1st base.
SECOND BASE
The Cubs have Barney, Baker and DeWitt who can all play 2nd base. Baker's .337 vs lefties and DeWitt's .325 vs righties makes these two above league average next year.
THIRD BASE
Stewart's .321 vs righties could be accompanied by DeWitt's .313 against lefties. The position is a bit below average before factoring in defense and baserunning, but it's better than what Stewart would provide by himself.
SHORTSTOP
Castro's overall .332 projection is among the best on the team. His .351 vs lefties is pretty good, but no shortstop on the roster can match his .326 vs righties.
LEFT FIELD
Vs. lefties we already have Soriano at 1st base and Reed Johnson is better anyway. There's no realistic platoon partner for him in LF. The same is true in the other outfield spots.
The Cubs will just have to get by with their multiple platoons and be happy about it.
Comments
http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/…/msn_landing.html?blockID=644750&feedID=3614
Recap for SK: people are idiots
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
Stuff of legend.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]If he’s innocent, surely he wouldn’t want to not attend.
Same thing if he’s not but plans to plead innocence.
I think the PR consultant quoted in this Crains piece had the right advice. Make a brief general statement acknowledging the situation, and then say he can only answer baseball questions.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120112/BLOGS04/120119921/castro-poses-pr-problem-for-cubs-at-annual-convention%5B/quote%5DYeah, if I’m Castro and the Cubs told me I couldn’t come I would be really fucking pissed off. I think the Cubs are handling this in the right way.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]www.foxsportsflorida.com/…/msn_landing.html?blockID=644750&feedID=3614
Recap for SK: people are idiots[/quote](dying laughing) Wouldn’t God have more important things to do than spend 3 hours a week giving a shit what happens to the Denver Broncos? I don’t believe in God, but I’m assuming those who do believe God is a force of good. How could 43.3% explain God wasting time helping Tim Tebow win if that’s what they God stood for?
mb21Quote Reply
I had often stumped for Soriano at 1B but usually people talk about his bad footwork or bad defense etc. so I’d be curious to see if they actually try it assuming he’s not dumped on some AL team.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
There’s no way Soriano can’t play 1st base. Dunn was a horrible outfielder and moved to 1st. Horrible outfielders are moved to 1st base on a regular basis. Often it happens before the player reaches the big leagues, but it happens all the time.
mb21Quote Reply
If Soriano can’t play 1st base, he can’t play baseball.
mb21Quote Reply
What about the possible platoon of brett jackson and marlon byrd? Probably wont happen but hey I highly doubt soriano will play first at all next season so why not?
andrewQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]If Soriano can’t play 1st base, he can’t play baseball.[/quote]I’d like to see him get Hattebergized. He did well in my video game (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
also against lefties baker at third, barney at second and against righties stewart at 3rd Dewitt at 2nd seems to be a better way of platooning those two postions.
andrewQuote Reply
starting barney instead of dewitt against lefties makes for a pretty negligible drop in wOBA however this would be more than made up for by the fact that it gives a much better pinch hitting/replacement option in Dewitt against a righty reliever.
andrewQuote Reply
[quote name=andrew]What about the possible platoon of brett jackson and marlon byrd? Probably wont happen but hey I highly doubt soriano will play first at all next season so why not?[/quote]If we throw Brett Jackson into the mix then he could play every day in CF while Bryd and DeJesus could platoon in RF. Jackson is the best outfielder in the Cubs organization. I also suppose it’s possible that Campana and Johnson could platoon in LF. Like you say though, it’s not happening and it’s more of a fun exercise than anything else.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=andrew]starting barney instead of dewitt against lefties makes for a pretty negligible drop in wOBA however this would be more than made up for by the fact that it gives a much better pinch hitting/replacement option in Dewitt against a righty reliever.[/quote]Barney’s defense is also superior so yeah, I’d probably do that.
mb21Quote Reply
I’m curious, at what point do you begin to get involved with Prince Fielder again? I’m guessing the Nationals sign him to a 5-year deal or so, but it’s clear there isn’t the market there that Boras was hoping for. Do you throw a large 3-year contract at him and see if he accepts it? Do you just move on and ignore it altogether?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I’m curious, at what point do you begin to get involved with Prince Fielder again? I’m guessing the Nationals sign him to a 5-year deal or so, but it’s clear there isn’t the market there that Boras was hoping for. Do you throw a large 3-year contract at him and see if he accepts it? Do you just move on and ignore it altogether?[/quote]I think you try the 3-year deal and see what happens. Couldn’t hurt.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think you try the 3-year deal and see what happens. Couldn’t hurt.[/quote]
I just don’t buy it. I see no reason to invest any significant amount of money at the ML level right now. if you don’t have the pieces ready elsewhere, why make a run at it now? A 3 year deal for Fielder is something a team that is 3-4 wins away from contending should do, not a team that is projected to win 70 games…
26.2cubsfanQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubsfan]I just don’t buy it. I see no reason to invest any significant amount of money at the ML level right now. if you don’t have the pieces ready elsewhere, why make a run at it now? A 3 year deal for Fielder is something a team that is 3-4 wins away from contending should do, not a team that is projected to win 70 games…[/quote]I agree with you, I don’t think it’d happen, but I think they should just throw that offer out there just to see what Boras would do.
If they have a certain amount of $ and they have to spend it as a yearly business budget they might as well try to do something interesting with it to maybe sell a few extra tickets before applying it towards debt or whatever. A 3-year/$75MM deal might not suck and at the end if he produces well, they get two draft picks out of him. It’s more of a pipe dream though, I will admit.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Wow, Barney and DeWitt are just as good as LaHair against southpaws.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]
IfSorianocan’t play 1st base, hecan’t play baseball.[/quote]FTFY.
mambochickenQuote Reply
[quote name=mambochicken]FTFY.[/quote]I can’t argue with you today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=26.2cubsfan]I just don’t buy it. I see no reason to invest any significant amount of money at the ML level right now. if you don’t have the pieces ready elsewhere, why make a run at it now? A 3 year deal for Fielder is something a team that is 3-4 wins away from contending should do, not a team that is projected to win 70 games…[/quote]That’s a good point, but at the same time if you can get him for 3 years you’re essentially buying time until you can trade him or gain a draft pick. I don’t which is right, but I can’t help but think if you could get him for 3 years it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Not necessarily a good one though.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Wow, Barney and DeWitt are just as good as LaHair against southpaws.[/quote]LaHair has fewer plate appearances in the big leagues, but not sure how much that matters.
mb21Quote Reply
Did we skip the Bloomberg thread mb?
MishQuote Reply
I’d think if you can get a 5 WAR player in your budget from FA without taking the long-term negative of the down years, you do it. You can always trade him or collect the draft picks. I’d rather go 1yr/30MM but I don’t think Boras wants that.
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Dan Bernstein]WBBM Newsradio reports Starlin Castro still being interviewed by police. They began questioning him last night[/quote].
Cue ominous music…
Aisle424Quote Reply
(dying laughing) first result on youtube when I searched ominous.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424].
Cue ominous music…[/quote]
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424].
Cue ominous music…[/quote]One of two things is happening:
1.) There’s physical evidence of a rape, Starlin is fucked and will probably be charged today.
2.) CPD has no real evidence and they are sweating Starlin, hoping for a confession.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
So it could go either way.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]So it could go either way.[/quote]He could be there for 2 or 288 days.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
[/quote]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This is both sad and cute.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]One of two things is happening:
1.) There’s physical evidence of a rape, Starlin is fucked and will probably be charged today.
2.) CPD has no real evidence and they are sweating Starlin, hoping for a confession.[/quote]Yeah, if there’s physical evidence he’ll be charged.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, if there’s physical evidence he’ll be charged.[/quote]I really hope we get a better sense if what, if any, evidence there is once CPD has interviewed Castro.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, if there’s physical evidence he’ll be charged.[/quote]And if there isn’t, he probably won’t.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I really hope we get a better sense if what, if any, evidence there is once CPD has interviewed Castro.[/quote]I think we’ll have a better idea. If he’s charged they believe they have enough evidence to get a conviction.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]And if there isn’t, he probably won’t.[/quote]I wouldn’t say that. Most people are charged without there being physical evidence.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I wouldn’t say that. Most people are charged without there being physical evidence.[/quote]You really think he is going to be charged by a girl who blacked out with no other witnesses? Unless there is other evidence that hasn’t been revealed, I find it very doubtful that he gets indicted.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]You really think he is going to be charged by a girl who blacked out with no other witnesses? Unless there is other evidence that hasn’t been revealed, I find it very doubtful that he gets indicted.[/quote]Yeah, given what we know now, if there isn’t physical evidence, I doubt he’s charged.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This may be a taboo topic, but what physical evidence would they be looking for? Damaged clothing? A scar in the assaulted area? Body fluids? There are of course ways to preserve the biological evidence but the details are a bit hazy to me and it sounds like she waited quite a while before going to the hospital, so I feel like unless he frosted her dress a la Bill Clinton there wouldn’t be evidence.
At that point it’s a matter of he said-she said.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
ISTR she had a friend with her, who could be a witness. Or did I imagine that?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
The Score reports that Castro is not expected to be charged.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]ISTR she had a friend with her, who could be a witness. Or did I imagine that?[/quote]It said her and a friend went to Castro’s and Castro was with 3 of his friends.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]You really think he is going to be charged by a girl who blacked out with no other witnesses? Unless there is other evidence that hasn’t been revealed, I find it very doubtful that he gets indicted.[/quote]
FWIW nearly all crimes are one person’s word against another’s.
BerseliusQuote Reply
It looks like they’re not going to charge him, but it’s not like we need CSI-level evidence to even consider doing so.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]FWIW nearly all crimes are one person’s word against another’s.[/quote]
Yep, but the difference on being charged is evidence. And apparently that is lacking here.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/9988726-418/police-question-cubs-star-castro-about-sex-assault-claim.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
He’s been released without being charged. The investigation continues.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]It looks like they’re not going to charge him, but it’s not like we need CSI-level evidence to even consider doing so.[/quote]Well I think credibility goes out the window when the victim admits she blacked out from drinking.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Well I think credibility goes out the window when the victim admits she blacked out from drinking.[/quote]What about the part where blacking out does not imply consent?
*prepares for memes*
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Well I think credibility goes out the window when the victim admits she blacked out from drinking.[/quote]
This kind of speculation is worthless.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Yeesh:
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]What about the part where blacking out does not imply consent?
*prepares for memes*[/quote]
It doesn’t make what Castro allegedly did OK, but it also makes it very difficult to prove what he allegedly did.
Chances are excellent he did something unethical at the least and illegal at worst, but nobody can prove it. If he had walked in there with an iron-clad, “there is no way he could have possibly done what she says he did” alibi, this investigation would be over. If he could prove he was on the team plane when the assault supposedly happened or something like that, they would thank him for his time and close the case. They are still investigating which means they believe there is still a possibility he did it, but they don’t have enough to hold him.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I feel like if they had that kind of evidence he wouldn’t have been released. I assume the lawyers were present during questioning as well so he wouldn’t have said anything that would be misconstrued.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/1/13/2704542/tim-tebow-denver-broncos-as-a-centaur-an-sb-nation-fever-dream
(dying laughing) x 2 or 288
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]This kind of speculation is worthless.[/quote]You’re worthless.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
fresh excrement http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/another-shitty-cubs-season-in-review-geovany-soto.html
BerseliusQuote Reply