Are the Chicago Cubs a Legit World Series Contender???

[Big Bear]

What kind of numbers do you project for Soler, Baez, and Bryant?

Are these guys good for 60 HR's in 2015?

Are we ready to call Arrieta an ace?

Is LHP Wada the next Chen (Orioles)?


What do you guys think about the bullpen?

I am thinking about biting on the 10 to 1 odds i'm seeing at Cantor for the Cubs to win the World Series.

Honestly i think this club can score some runs. My guess is they will be one of those teams with a tremendous Home Record and they will struggle a bit on the road. They have their stopper in Jon Lester and i think the rest of the rotation is underrated.

I see a lot of 3 run dingers coming in that ball park. Coughlan and Fowler should do a good job table setting.

[laclippers504]

I would say they are Big Bear

[jjgold]

70-92

[pavyracer]

75-87

[Chi_archie]

Before you answer the question , ask yourself if you thought the pirates were contenders before the 2013 season two years ago after going 79-83

[Big Bear]

If the starting pitchers on this team just repeat their 2014 second half form they will be in good shape.

That line-up is scrappy. I dont know about this Olt guy at 3B but i guess Kris Bryant will replace him by Mid June

[Chi_archie]

What was the cubs record in August and September ?

[actiondan]

Wrong chicago team

[Big Bear]

What was the cubs record in August and September ?

not sure but Wada was amazing.

Arrieta and Hendriks too!

Lester was good in 2nd half too and he did his job in the playoffs vs Royals but his bullpen let him down.

[The Giant]

How are their bullpen arms?

[Chi_archie]

not sure but Wada was amazing.

Arrieta and Hendriks too!

Lester was good in 2nd half too and he did his job in the playoffs vs Royals but his bullpen let him down.

just looked it up

Cubs were 33-35 after the all-star break

they also had the 2nd most HR's in the NL for the entire season.

so they already have some intriguing pop with just some of their farm studs up for part of the season

[d2bets]

If the starting pitchers on this team just repeat their 2014 second half form they will be in good shape.

That line-up is scrappy. I dont know about this Olt guy at 3B but i guess Kris Bryant will replace him by Mid June

More like mid-April. Only has to wait 9 games (12 days) to eliminate his arb year. They'll probably wait another week or two for appearance sake. He'll be up most of the year and should be a beast.

[d2bets]

How are their bullpen arms?

Very good on the right-side. Rondon, Strop, Ramirez, Motte

[d2bets]

What kind of numbers do you project for Soler, Baez, and Bryant?

Are these guys good for 60 HR's in 2015?

Are we ready to call Arrieta an ace?

Is LHP Wada the next Chen (Orioles)?


What do you guys think about the bullpen?

I am thinking about biting on the 10 to 1 odds i'm seeing at Cantor for the Cubs to win the World Series.

Honestly i think this club can score some runs. My guess is they will be one of those teams with a tremendous Home Record and they will struggle a bit on the road. They have their stopper in Jon Lester and i think the rest of the rotation is underrated.

I see a lot of 3 run dingers coming in that ball park. Coughlan and Fowler should do a good job table setting.

I don't think Baez will make the team out of ST. Hard to say after that, but there's a reason why they traded for LaStella from the Braves. Plus, Alcantara can play 2B. Soler and Bryant alone could hit 60.

Fowler is a big add.

Not sure if Wada will start. They still have Travis Wood for now, plus there's Jacob Turner.

Still, 10-1 is not really a good value. Gotta be better ways to play it.

Record after AS-break isn't really even indicative. Both Rizzo and Castro missed signficant time. Had already traded away Samardzija and Hammel. They let Baez play and struggle. Same for Alcantara. Team is way way way better headed into the season and more well-rounded. Plus, Joe Maddon.

Yes, the Cubs are contenders.

[Chi_archie]

More like mid-April. Only has to wait 9 games (12 days) to eliminate his arb year. They'll probably wait another week or two for appearance sake. He'll be up most of the year and should be a beast.

where do you get that number? link?

i'm trying to understand more about how these teams avoid super two and/or keep control of a player for an extra season going forward

but many of the things i've read, seem to say that even the ballclubs don't know until after the season is over

it doesn't seem to be a thing you can predict yes/no... black/white.... or give an exact date to, before the season starts

[Chi_archie]

ok, I found two

http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/10/21/balancing-value-why-kris-bryant-may-need-miss-only-9-big-league-games-next-year/

http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/12/24/kris-bryant-and-emphasizing-the-distinction-between-extra-control-and-super-two/

[Big Bear]

whats the batting line-up going to look like?

my guess is

1. Fowler CF
2. Coughlan LF
3. Castro SS
4. Rizzo 1B
5. Soler RF
6. Baez/Alcantara/ La Stella
7. Olt/ Bryant 3B
8.Monterro/Castillo C

maybe Addison Russell can play some second base?

[No coincidences]

Before you answer the question , ask yourself if you thought the pirates were contenders before the 2013 season two years ago after going 79-83

Pirates became playoff contenders, true, but they weren't legitimate World Series contenders.

Cubs might be in the playoff mix, but I doubt they're going to make any sort of legitimate push right now. Kids are still too young and unseasoned.

[No coincidences]

Turner might wind up being a diamond in the rough. Marlins were stupid to cut him. Smart move by Epstein, gobbling him up.

I'm not a Soler or Baez believer yet. They need time and at-bats. Wada had a fluke year.

Castro is still a loser to me until he proves otherwise. Is this guy going to buy into winning and team ball, or is he only interested in himself? That's going to be a big question that no one can answer at this point -- Starlin included.

[mpaschal34]

Bartman will ruin it for them.

[Big Bear]

Bartman will ruin it for them.

haha that dude could have made millions if he agreed to a book or movie deal but i guess he just wanted out of the spotlight.

poor guy.

[Big Bear]

Turner might wind up being a diamond in the rough. Marlins were stupid to cut him. Smart move by Epstein, gobbling him up.

I'm not a Soler or Baez believer yet. They need time and at-bats. Wada had a fluke year.

Castro is still a loser to me until he proves otherwise. Is this guy going to buy into winning and team ball, or is he only interested in himself? That's going to be a big question that no one can answer at this point -- Starlin included.

how are you not sold on Soler?

The guy is clearly the next Puig.

[d2bets]

Turner might wind up being a diamond in the rough. Marlins were stupid to cut him. Smart move by Epstein, gobbling him up.

I'm not a Soler or Baez believer yet. They need time and at-bats. Wada had a fluke year.

Castro is still a loser to me until he proves otherwise. Is this guy going to buy into winning and team ball, or is he only interested in himself? That's going to be a big question that no one can answer at this point -- Starlin included.

I've never been the highest on Castro, but he is 24 and has 3 all-star appearances under his belt. Still has an occasional mental lapse, but I'm not sure what you mean in terms of himself vs. team ball.

Baez is boom or bust. I'm not sold yet either.

But if you've seen Soler's at-bats, at every level, it's hard not to be a believer. Really, the biggest question is whether his body can hold up. Seems to miss time with nagging stuff every season.

[Big Bear]

I dont see why people think being young is a bad thing.

If you really think about it MLB is a young mans game. In a 162 game season the proven stars like Troy Tulowitski , Carlos Gonzalez, Chase Utely, Ryan Howards ... hell even Jose Reyes spend half the season the DL every year.

the way i see if u can play baseball you can play baseball it dont matter who your competition is.

Soler , Bryant, and Baez, maybe even Russell could be in the running for ROY

[jjgold]

its all pitching and throw in some good defensive players and ZERO IS hitting with MLB

Proven every year

[Big Bear]

its all pitching and throw in some good defensive players and ZERO IS hitting with MLB

Proven every year

If thats the case go ahead and Crown the Nationals.

They just picked up Jansen to bolster the bullpen.

Nationals should trade Roark to the Rockies for Daniel Delcalso and Drew Stubbs IMO

[Big Bear]

does anybody think Edwin Jackson will pitch out of the bullpen?

[goldengreek]

Huge Cubs fan here. They are 2-3 yrs away from being a playoff contender.

78-84 this year at best

[smitch124]

Maybe the bleachers will be finished by then.

[Big Bear]

Huge Cubs fan here. They are 2-3 yrs away from being a playoff contender.

78-84 this year at best

Pretty much everybody in baseball disagrees.

[Amadeo-Picks]

Simple . No . This team will contend for championship next year . This year they can hang for 2nd wild card . But same thing can be said about the mets regarding 2nd wil card spot

[Killer_Demo]

Maybe the bleachers will be finished by then.

[stevegreazy]

White Sox will have the better record when its said and done

[Big Bear]

Simple . No . This team will contend for championship next year . This year they can hang for 2nd wild card . But same thing can be said about the mets regarding 2nd wil card spot

When you say that... what kind of season are you expecting out of Kris Bryant?

Honestly i expect him to be the next Troy Tulowitski and definitely win rookie of the year.

Name one weak spot on the Cubs roster ... and how can you say starting pitching when you have this many options for the rotation
1. Lester- One of the top 5 big game pitchers in baseball
2. Arrieta- only Clayton Kershaw had a lower ERA in the second half of last year.
3. Hendricks- Filthy change-up
4. Wada- Very crafty lefty... these Japanese pitchers do well in MLB
5.Hammel
6. Doubront- Lefty who has had some success pitching in the AL East
7. E. Jackson- maybe put this guy in the bullpen and allow him to throw harder for a shorter amount of time
8. Wood- former all-star
9. J. McDonald - had a promising start to his career with Pirates
10. J. Turner - Had a rough year last year but has had some success w/Marlins

surely 5 out of those 10 will pitch well enough to win at the MLB level.

replace Wellington Castillo who had the 3rd worst framing metrics and replace with Miguel Monterro who has the best framing metrics in all of baseball. He gets more low pitches called a strike than any other catcher in baseball which will be a huge help to guys like Wada and Hendricks who rely on keeping the ball low.


At the trade deadline you know the Cubs will be buyers.

[Big Bear]

I would really like to see Addison Russell move up to the big leagues and start at second base. His glove is already ready and i think he would be fine in the # 8 spot in the batting order.

Him and Starlin castro would be the best defensive short stop /second base combo in baseball.

Then maybe you can make La Stella your back up and package Javier Baez and Alcantarra in a trade for another starting pitcher or bullpen stud.

Look at a team like the Phillies who won't be doing anything this year maybe they would be willing to part with cliff Lee or Cole Hamels