oh no. That's just not going to happen.

But Jimenez is the real deal. I felt like he was a man among boys in the minors (just like Soler) and the difference between the two is Soler just can't stay healthy.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Heyward has had a 5.8 WAR or higher in 4 of his 7 seasons. I do not consider my prediction to be outlandish.

It is alright if people disagree.

Much more outlandish were my claims about Jake Arrieta in 2013 and those worked out just fine. As did my Rizzo predictions and many others. My body of work is solid.

There are few (one) Brett Jacksons on my resume.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Here is what doesn't make sense to me about the WAR statistics. Heyward was credited with saving 14 runs by opponents, thanks to defensive plays he made. That earned him another gold glove. Nice going. But he had just 7 HR and just 49 RBI. An average right fielder probably has 80-85 RBI I would guess, so he is at least 40 RBI short. So in effect, he cost his team 40 runs. Take the 14 he saved other teams from scoring and he still left his own team at least 26 runs short due to his performance levels on both offense and defense. So how has he gotten any wins above replacement? I would think he would have a negative total.

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Go Cubs!!!!

You would think so and be wrong. His oWAR was -0.3 though. 2016 was the only season he had a negative oWAR.

Over the last 3 seasons, right fielders with between 500 and 550 AB average 76 RBI per season. I think we can all agree with Jason Heyward isn't the prototypical right fielder that relies on power. And that is fine, because he does save a bunch of runs every season on the defensive side.

This season, we're likely to see Heyward hitting above .260 with home runs in the high teens. And depending on where he settles within the batting order, you might see 80 RBI.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I think I can chalk this one up as a win.

Just trade Schwarber tomorrow. Jimenez could start in LF immediately.

Contreras
Rizzo
Baez / Zobrist
Russell
Bryant
Jimenez
Jay / Almora
Heyward

Lester, Arrieta, Quintana, Hendricks, Lackey

Break the 5 month World Series drought.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Is he the Cubs #4?

Schwarber is the #4 guy in the package the Cubs would have to put together.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Im thinking Heyward has a good first half offensively until pitchers find a hole in his new swing.


Scwarber has shown flashes of being a dominant offensive force. Like 35-40 HR guy yearly. Odds are he wont be (few are) , but you dont trade that possibility. Especially in Cubs current position

Ha

Im just asking where Quintana slots in the Cub Rotation?

Btw, just saw this tweet

Meanwhile the Cubs, the team with maybe the best defense in MLB history, had few shifts, IIRC. So it's not as simple as "shifts=good" https://t.co/HdIcRq0FEZ

Cuntana is the Cubs #5 starter, at best

The best defense in MLB history? That's pretty silly.

But if the Cubs got Quintana they'd probably put him third or fourth to break up the lefties.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

I would agree with that, but I don't think that would be the consensus among so-called experts.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

So Cubs would have 4 Cy Youngs. Almost as good as 2004

The Team With No Weaknesses.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Lackey might be done. Probably needs to juice.

I read a headline that Maddon (you may remember him from Game 7) said the sky is the limit for Montgomery


Has a staff ever won a collective Cy Young?

Except TWTW

I heard Jesse Rodgers say the Cubs will give Lackey an extension in the next couple months, one or 2 years


I don't think Theo would do that, terrible idea.

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Slightly improve = better Era, whip and more wins obviously with more run support.

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He's #3 here or #4 here, ahead of Lackey but behind everybody else.

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Did you happen to see the Bryant Gumble HBO piece on Maddon?

I thought it was very revealing but not in the way Joe thinks it is.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Did you come up with this all by yourself?

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No Frank, my team of consultants helped me.

Good. Make sure they bring you a fresh bedpan today.

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A copy of the White Sox 25 man roster should suffice.

Pace yourself dolphin.

I will seek it out to see the guy that did all he could to increase the drama in November

I am still amazed when I hear a Cubs minor league player is developing faster than expected with actual results. I know its terrible for the players that there is a logjam, but its great for the organization.

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You heard it here first.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I caught it this morning.

The only thing someone probably takes away from that interview is that Joe probably tokes up in his spare time.

I don't see the problem with tacking another year on the deal at 16mm. If he resembles what he was in 2016 he's worth the money.