The MLB draft did not have the attention or excitement of the past few seasons. It could be that the Sox and Cubs were drafting lower down in the Top 10. Or that the Blackhawks were playing Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals. Or that the Cubs rebuild seems to be almost done.
Let others decide how well each team did, like Jim Callis of MLB.com
Round 1
1. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Dansby Swanson, Vanderbilt
Jim Callis: I like this pick. There was some talk that the
D-backs might try to get a deep discount here and get cute in later
rounds, but you've got to take who you think is the best player
available, and they did that. Swanson has the tools to be an All-Star.
2. Houston Astros (compensation for not signing 2014 No. 1 pick Brady Aiken): SS Alex Bregman, LSU
Callis: Two SEC shortstops with the first two picks. They were
teammates on Team USA last summer and get compared a lot. Swanson is the
better athlete, but Bregman might have a little more impact at the
plate. Bregman gets compared to Dustin Pedroia and some say he might have to move second base, but the scouts I've
talked to give him a better chance to stick at shortstop than in the
past.
3. Colorado Rockies: SS Brendan Rodgers, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS
Callis: He's the No. 1 player on MLB Pipeline's Draft board and
has the highest ceiling in the Draft. Rodgers has a chance to stay at
shortstop and has unusual power for the position. He can give you five
solid tools across the board and he has to be considered the heir
apparent to Troy Tulowitzki.
4. Texas Rangers: RHP Dillon Tate, UC Santa Barbara
Callis: I was curious to see who would be first pitcher taken.
Clubs had Tate, Carson Fulmer and Tyler Jay in different orders, but
Tate was the front-runner earlier in the season when he had two
well-above average pitches in his fastball and slider. He faded a bit
down the stretch, but that's expected in his first full season as a
college starter.
5. Houston Astros: OF Kyle Tucker, H.B. Plant HS (Tampa, Fla.)
Callis: He's one of the best pure hitters in this Draft and
also the first "bloodlines" player taken, which makes for a neat story
with his brother Preston already in the big leagues with Houston. Kyle
is a more well-rounded player, who has a chance to be average or better
across the board.
6. Minnesota Twins: LHP Tyler Jay, Illinois
Callis: He's not the biggest guy in the world and has made just
two college starts, but he can be a big league starter because
everything else is there. The Twins could try to expedite Jay to the big
leagues since they're contending -- maybe he's this year's Brandon
Finnegan -- and then they could turn him into a starter next year.
7. Boston Red Sox: OF Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas
Callis: He might have the best all-around tools among the
college players in this Draft. The Red Sox targeted Benintendi early and
there was a chance he could have gone a bit higher, so I'm sure they're
thrilled they got him.
8. Chicago White Sox: RHP Carson Fulmer, Vanderbilt
Callis: The White Sox have to be thrilled to get the best
pitcher in the Draft, according to the MLB Pipeline board, and they were
really hoping to get him, Tate or Jay. You wish Fulmer was a little
bigger and threw more strikes, but you have to give him credit that he's
brought quality stuff ever since he became a starter in the middle of
last season.
9. Chicago Cubs: OF Ian Happ, Cincinnati
Callis: Teams are always looking for college position players,
and he was next on most boards behind Swanson, Bregman and Benentendi. I
don't know if the Cubs are going to try Happ at second base -- he fits
better at a corner outfield spot -- but he's been one of the best
performers in college baseball and the Cape Cod League the past two
years.
10. Philadelphia Phillies: SS Cornelius Randolph, Griffin (Ga.) HS
Callis: It would be easy to think the Phils would take someone
who can help them quickly because the franchise hasn't done as well in
recent years, but they took the best player on the board. Randolph might
take a little longer to develop than a college player, but you could
argue that he's the best all-around high school hitter in the Draft.
11. Cincinnati Reds: C Tyler Stephenson, Kennesaw Mountain HS (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Callis: It's not a deep Draft for catchers, and the Reds got
the best one by far. Long arms equal a long swing, so Stephenson is
going to have to prove that he can hit advanced pitching, but he has the
tools to be an All-Star.
I added Stephenson at #11 to Cincinnati since I thought the Cubs may have taken him to shore up their long term catching needs.
The White Sox continue with their strength: drafting and developing quality starting pitchers. It seems that is all the club can do, as seen by Chris Sale becoming the first White Sox pitcher in history to record ten strikeouts or more in four consecutive starts. If Fulmer, from a quality Vandy program, is the best pitcher in this draft, I expect the right hander to be put on a quick development path like the Sox did for Carlos Rodon.
The Cubs selection of Happ was a little surprise since the Cubs already have a long jam of infield talent that will have to be moved to the outfield at some point in time (Baez, Schwarber, Vogelbach). The idea of converting a corner outfielder into a second baseman seems like reverse logic. But the one thing the Cubs do well under Theo has been drafting pure hitters and apparently Happ is one of those type of prospects.
June 9, 2015
June 7, 2015
2015 DRAFT
Baseball America Top 10 draft projections gives us the best insight on the draft.
Industry sources indicate Arizona whittled its list down to three players in the last week: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, Illinois lefthander Tyler Jay and Georgia prep catcher Tyler Stephenson. After his SEC tournament performance, Swanson has separated himself from the college-hitter pack and is the safest bet of the group, but I continue to hear persistent talk the D-backs prefer a college starter. If that holds, they’ll take Jay, but right now the talk is stronger that they’ll take Swanson.
The Astros continue to be connected to college bats with this pick, but if Swanson is gone, that leaves his friendly rival and former USA Baseball teammate, shortstop Alex Bregman of Louisiana State.
The Rockies have been focused heavily on Jay, whom they like as a future starter, and believe they will take Lake Mary (Fla.) High shortstop Brendan Rodgers. The Rockies passed on Evan Longoria in 2006 to take a pitcher (Stanford’s Greg Reynolds), and the organization may not want to make the same mistake. Some believe Rodgers has that kind of offensive upside, and he has a similar setup with his hands. But the bottom line is the Rockies need pitching and they can’t acquire arms like Jay’s on the free-agent market so Jay is picked here.
The Rangers may take Jon Harris of Missouri State here, and he’s still in play. But if Rodgers falls here, it’s a moot point. Selection: Brendan Rodgers, ss, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS
BA thinks prep outfielders will start going off the board with a domino effect. While scouts aren’t 100 percent sure of Daz Cameron as a hitter, he has the best chance of this year’s prep class to stay in center field. The Astros start the movement with Daz Cameron, of, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, McDonough, Ga.
Minnesota continues to give the college arms (such as UCLA’s James Karpielian) a look but industry sources still tie the organization to prep outfielders. They’re working out Kyle Tucker this week as it looks increasingly likely that Cameron, their chosen target, will be unavailable. The choice may be Kyle Tucker, of, Plant HS, Tampa
Boston is believed to be mulling three to four candidates, including Bregman and Cameron (both gone in this mock) as well as Vanderbilt ace Carson Fulmer and Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi. Neither performed well in the Southeastern Conference tournament, and neither has a great big league analogue. Fulmer’s high floor and track record are the separating factors. Fulmer seems to be the safe choice here.
The White Sox have struggled with their first round picks (non-pitchers) They’re interested in Fulmer, as they remain in strong consideration for college arms, but the best bets here will wind up being a choice between UC Santa Barbara’s Dillon Tate and Harris. Tate’s stock has tumbled some in recent weeks as his velocity and location on his fastball have backed up, but he has better present stuff than Harris, who is a safer bet to start but has a lower ceiling. BA thinks Tate is the call here.
The Cubs have scouted Benintendi and Kaprielian. BA thinks that Kaprielian may offer the best bet among the college starters, but that his at times pedestrian velocity holds him back for some clubs, as does his perceived price tag. Kaprielian wasn’t as good against Oregon as he had been in recent weeks. His fastball had maintained 92 mph deep into starts in recent weeks (including the no-hitter), but in his last outing his fastball dipped to 88-90 by the fifth inning, but he has a track record of performance and a strong feel for using his above-average secondary stuff. He seems to be the Cubs choice.
With the 10th pick, The Phillies could take Kaprielian if he’s there but are said not to favor Harris, who lacks present physicality. Instead they’re tied more to upside prep bats such as the outfield class and Tyler Stephenson. c, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) HS
I would not be surprised if the Cubs took Stephenson, the high school catcher, at #9 if the plan really is to move Kyle Schwarber to the outfield.
I do believe the White Sox are in need of right handed starting pitching, and a college starter from a major program is what the organization needs to balance the rotation.
Industry sources indicate Arizona whittled its list down to three players in the last week: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, Illinois lefthander Tyler Jay and Georgia prep catcher Tyler Stephenson. After his SEC tournament performance, Swanson has separated himself from the college-hitter pack and is the safest bet of the group, but I continue to hear persistent talk the D-backs prefer a college starter. If that holds, they’ll take Jay, but right now the talk is stronger that they’ll take Swanson.
The Astros continue to be connected to college bats with this pick, but if Swanson is gone, that leaves his friendly rival and former USA Baseball teammate, shortstop Alex Bregman of Louisiana State.
The Rockies have been focused heavily on Jay, whom they like as a future starter, and believe they will take Lake Mary (Fla.) High shortstop Brendan Rodgers. The Rockies passed on Evan Longoria in 2006 to take a pitcher (Stanford’s Greg Reynolds), and the organization may not want to make the same mistake. Some believe Rodgers has that kind of offensive upside, and he has a similar setup with his hands. But the bottom line is the Rockies need pitching and they can’t acquire arms like Jay’s on the free-agent market so Jay is picked here.
The Rangers may take Jon Harris of Missouri State here, and he’s still in play. But if Rodgers falls here, it’s a moot point. Selection: Brendan Rodgers, ss, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS
BA thinks prep outfielders will start going off the board with a domino effect. While scouts aren’t 100 percent sure of Daz Cameron as a hitter, he has the best chance of this year’s prep class to stay in center field. The Astros start the movement with Daz Cameron, of, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, McDonough, Ga.
Minnesota continues to give the college arms (such as UCLA’s James Karpielian) a look but industry sources still tie the organization to prep outfielders. They’re working out Kyle Tucker this week as it looks increasingly likely that Cameron, their chosen target, will be unavailable. The choice may be Kyle Tucker, of, Plant HS, Tampa
Boston is believed to be mulling three to four candidates, including Bregman and Cameron (both gone in this mock) as well as Vanderbilt ace Carson Fulmer and Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi. Neither performed well in the Southeastern Conference tournament, and neither has a great big league analogue. Fulmer’s high floor and track record are the separating factors. Fulmer seems to be the safe choice here.
The White Sox have struggled with their first round picks (non-pitchers) They’re interested in Fulmer, as they remain in strong consideration for college arms, but the best bets here will wind up being a choice between UC Santa Barbara’s Dillon Tate and Harris. Tate’s stock has tumbled some in recent weeks as his velocity and location on his fastball have backed up, but he has better present stuff than Harris, who is a safer bet to start but has a lower ceiling. BA thinks Tate is the call here.
The Cubs have scouted Benintendi and Kaprielian. BA thinks that Kaprielian may offer the best bet among the college starters, but that his at times pedestrian velocity holds him back for some clubs, as does his perceived price tag. Kaprielian wasn’t as good against Oregon as he had been in recent weeks. His fastball had maintained 92 mph deep into starts in recent weeks (including the no-hitter), but in his last outing his fastball dipped to 88-90 by the fifth inning, but he has a track record of performance and a strong feel for using his above-average secondary stuff. He seems to be the Cubs choice.
With the 10th pick, The Phillies could take Kaprielian if he’s there but are said not to favor Harris, who lacks present physicality. Instead they’re tied more to upside prep bats such as the outfield class and Tyler Stephenson. c, Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) HS
I would not be surprised if the Cubs took Stephenson, the high school catcher, at #9 if the plan really is to move Kyle Schwarber to the outfield.
I do believe the White Sox are in need of right handed starting pitching, and a college starter from a major program is what the organization needs to balance the rotation.
June 6, 2015
FAN SAFETY
For whatever reason, there have been more horrible fan injuries this year at MLB games.
Last night, a young woman in Boston was impaled in her forehead by a broken bat. She sustained life threatening injuries according to the Boston Globe report:
Last night, a young woman in Boston was impaled in her forehead by a broken bat. She sustained life threatening injuries according to the Boston Globe report:
A woman sitting down the third baseline at
Fenway Park Friday night had to be carted out of the stadium after she
was hit by a broken bat, and her injuries appeared to be
“life-threatening” that night, Boston police spokeswoman Rachel McGuire
told Boston.com.
In the second inning, Oakland Athletics
third baseman Brett Lawrie shattered his bat on a pitch from Red Sox
hurler Wade Miley; a piece of the bat flew into the stands, striking the
woman in the head.
Boston Globe reporter reported that there was “lots of blood” and called it an “awful scene.”
The woman, who was sitting near the field
with an unidentified man and her son, was transported to Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center, McGuire said. The game was delayed while she
was treated and removed from the stadium.
Other reports indicated that fans offered paramedics their t-shirts to help stop the bleeding as it was described as being more blood than anyone had ever seen. Fans in the section were in shock and silence when the grounds crew had to come to the area to clean up the blood. The umpires and players on the field who saw the incident huddled on the field during the delay, obviously shaken up by the event.
Fan safety was an issue when Wrigley Field opened up without any real sanitation. A woman was hit in the back of her head by a foul ball behind the plate as it stretched the netting causing the impact. More and more parks have little to no foul ground so as the owners can add more premium seats. But this adds an additional level of risk for screaming foul balls at 100 plus miles per hour hitting a patron, or as last night, a sharp projectile flying into the stands.
There is some precedent for ball park owner liability in these matters.
It may have come down to what hockey had to do - - - install nets all around the lower level of the arena. With current manufacturing technologies, one can assume that netting can be made clear and transparent as to not hinder the view of the fans in the box seats.
DEVELOPERS
There are talent evaluators, developers and buyers.
Steve Stone was on the radio and he cringed when sports teams announce they have taken "the best available athlete." No, Stone argues, you should be taking the best baseball player in the draft. A six letter high school athlete may have to learn baseball in six years, while actual baseball prospects are already in the majors.
So what is more important, scouting for talent or developing players? Stone argued both are important. But teams need to scout themselves in order to provide a consistent level of major league talent.
Stone means that every team hits and misses in their drafts. The White Sox took OF Jared Mitchell a few spots ahead of OF Mike Trout. Ouch. So Stone says good organizations evaluate their own scouts to see which ones recommended players and why to see if they got it right or got it wrong. The same is true with player development coaches. Good prospects should develop quickly in the minors. If there are issues with prospects that rated highly in draft preparation consistently fail to make a major league impact, the farm system needs re-evaluation.
There is also a need for an organization to have a developmental blue print on how farm players are supposed to act, play and learn the game. Many teams allow their minor league managers and coaches free discretion to teach the fundamentals and baseball IQ. But this approach gives an inconsistent product as players move up and down the farm system.
Stone thinks an organization needs a balance between good scouting and good development. He admits that the White Sox have been very deficient in developing field position players.
There are some who say the best talent will rise to the surface no matter who is training them. We are not so sure about that. If pure talent wins out there would be more college studs skipping the minors to a spot immediately on a MLB roster. There are probably more Round 20 players that were marginal prospects who have developed into competent players than highly touted first round bonus baby busts.
Then there are teams that just like to buy other teams developed players. Usually confined to big market clubs, these buyers out more emphasis on winning at the major league level over having a consistent or sound minor league system that can supply one or two players every year. Buyers like to have major league experience players because it takes out the risk of scouting "potential" out of the equation because veterans have actual experience.
There is another factor key to developing talent: the player's own sacrificial drive to succeed at every level of competition. If you look at a preview magazine in any sport that lists the rosters and hometowns for all the players, how many do you find from your hometown? From your county? From your state? Very few if any. And that is the point. The best player on your high school team moves up to college or rookie ball playing against the "best" players at his level or above. It is how that prospect reacts to stiffer competition is the gateway for whether he meets the challenge or hits a wall.
There is a mental aspect that elite professionals have that the average player does not: drive. Michael Jordan could by example will his team to victory. Jonathan Toews can put his team into a different skill level during games. Some players are born with this innate ability. Others have to struggle to find an equivalent desire to be better than one's natural skill set. That is where a player with better Baseball IQ is a better prospect than a pure athlete who can play the game.
Steve Stone was on the radio and he cringed when sports teams announce they have taken "the best available athlete." No, Stone argues, you should be taking the best baseball player in the draft. A six letter high school athlete may have to learn baseball in six years, while actual baseball prospects are already in the majors.
So what is more important, scouting for talent or developing players? Stone argued both are important. But teams need to scout themselves in order to provide a consistent level of major league talent.
Stone means that every team hits and misses in their drafts. The White Sox took OF Jared Mitchell a few spots ahead of OF Mike Trout. Ouch. So Stone says good organizations evaluate their own scouts to see which ones recommended players and why to see if they got it right or got it wrong. The same is true with player development coaches. Good prospects should develop quickly in the minors. If there are issues with prospects that rated highly in draft preparation consistently fail to make a major league impact, the farm system needs re-evaluation.
There is also a need for an organization to have a developmental blue print on how farm players are supposed to act, play and learn the game. Many teams allow their minor league managers and coaches free discretion to teach the fundamentals and baseball IQ. But this approach gives an inconsistent product as players move up and down the farm system.
Stone thinks an organization needs a balance between good scouting and good development. He admits that the White Sox have been very deficient in developing field position players.
There are some who say the best talent will rise to the surface no matter who is training them. We are not so sure about that. If pure talent wins out there would be more college studs skipping the minors to a spot immediately on a MLB roster. There are probably more Round 20 players that were marginal prospects who have developed into competent players than highly touted first round bonus baby busts.
Then there are teams that just like to buy other teams developed players. Usually confined to big market clubs, these buyers out more emphasis on winning at the major league level over having a consistent or sound minor league system that can supply one or two players every year. Buyers like to have major league experience players because it takes out the risk of scouting "potential" out of the equation because veterans have actual experience.
There is another factor key to developing talent: the player's own sacrificial drive to succeed at every level of competition. If you look at a preview magazine in any sport that lists the rosters and hometowns for all the players, how many do you find from your hometown? From your county? From your state? Very few if any. And that is the point. The best player on your high school team moves up to college or rookie ball playing against the "best" players at his level or above. It is how that prospect reacts to stiffer competition is the gateway for whether he meets the challenge or hits a wall.
There is a mental aspect that elite professionals have that the average player does not: drive. Michael Jordan could by example will his team to victory. Jonathan Toews can put his team into a different skill level during games. Some players are born with this innate ability. Others have to struggle to find an equivalent desire to be better than one's natural skill set. That is where a player with better Baseball IQ is a better prospect than a pure athlete who can play the game.
June 5, 2015
COMEBACKS
Many sports talkers are saying that the White Sox season is over. Despite having the best off-season in memory, Chicago's slow start and inconsistency has doomed the season.
The White Sox sit in last place in the AL Central after 52 games (32% of the season).
The Sox record is 24-28 (.462) , 7.5 games behind the surprising first place Twins.
The Sox are 6.5 GB the Royals, 2.5 GB the Tigers and 1.5 GB the Indians.
The doom slayers may think the season is over, but clearly it is not.
In 1914, the Boston Braves were on July 6th 15 games out of first place but they came back to win the pennant. The most dramatic comeback in history was the 1951 New York Giants who trailed the Brooklyn Dodgers by 13.5 games on August 11th. The Giants made up all of that ground in just 45 games.
The Yankees greatest comeback to date was the 14 games they made up in 1978. They trailed by 14 on July 20th of that year, went into Fenway Park and destroyed the Red Sox, sweeping a 4 game series known now as "The Boston Massacre." That turnaround came to a conclusion with the one game playoff, which was the Bucky Dent dagger home run.
The 1995 Seattle Mariners also had a good comeback. They trailed the Angels by 13 games on August 3rd. They came back to win the division, but that one is more widely attributed to a California collapse. They simply stopped winning down the stretch.
The AL Central seems to be the most competitive division in baseball. That could work to the White Sox advantage, as each division team beats up on the others - - - giving the Sox a chance to make up ground with a long win streak or two. Chris Sale is a stopper. Jeff Samardzija has been terrible (giving up 16 runs in the first inning in his starts). He should have a better second half. And the Sox hitting should pick up to at least the averages on the backs of their baseball cards.
The White Sox sit in last place in the AL Central after 52 games (32% of the season).
The Sox record is 24-28 (.462) , 7.5 games behind the surprising first place Twins.
The Sox are 6.5 GB the Royals, 2.5 GB the Tigers and 1.5 GB the Indians.
The doom slayers may think the season is over, but clearly it is not.
In 1914, the Boston Braves were on July 6th 15 games out of first place but they came back to win the pennant. The most dramatic comeback in history was the 1951 New York Giants who trailed the Brooklyn Dodgers by 13.5 games on August 11th. The Giants made up all of that ground in just 45 games.
The Yankees greatest comeback to date was the 14 games they made up in 1978. They trailed by 14 on July 20th of that year, went into Fenway Park and destroyed the Red Sox, sweeping a 4 game series known now as "The Boston Massacre." That turnaround came to a conclusion with the one game playoff, which was the Bucky Dent dagger home run.
The 1995 Seattle Mariners also had a good comeback. They trailed the Angels by 13 games on August 3rd. They came back to win the division, but that one is more widely attributed to a California collapse. They simply stopped winning down the stretch.
The AL Central seems to be the most competitive division in baseball. That could work to the White Sox advantage, as each division team beats up on the others - - - giving the Sox a chance to make up ground with a long win streak or two. Chris Sale is a stopper. Jeff Samardzija has been terrible (giving up 16 runs in the first inning in his starts). He should have a better second half. And the Sox hitting should pick up to at least the averages on the backs of their baseball cards.
June 4, 2015
MATURITY
Coaches often tell their players "act like you have been there before." It is a core principle of sportsmanship and maturity.
Junior Lake's show boating a home run when his team is down 6-2 was selfish bush league. It angered the Marlins players to the point that both benches cleared to vent.
Coaches cringe when a wide receiver catches a touchdown pass with 17 seconds to play, then does a victory dance in the end zone - - - when his team is still down by 28 points. Garbage points don't get celebrations.
The NFL ("No Fun League") has penalized excessive celebrations on the field because, frankly, it was getting extremely stupid and demeaning to the image of the sport. You can give off the swagger of a champion by catching your touchdown pass, and handing the ball to the back judge while you are walking off the field. What is a more powerful message to your opponent after scoring than "that's was no big deal."
Lake is getting an opportunity to play more with Jorge Soler's ankle injury. But Joe Maddon needs to keep his young players in check. Hot dogging, show boating and being unprofessional are elements that lead to bad habits in the clubhouse. A disciplinarian coach would have sat Lake for the rest of the game to send a clear message.
In hockey, Coach Q does that all the time. If one of his Blackhawk players screws up on the ice or does something stupid (like a bad penalty), he will sit the player for long stretches. That hurts the club because it means the other members of the team have to make up someone else's dumb mistakes. In the locker room, team leaders like Toews, can then police the roster and get everyone back on the same page. That is the maturity level that teams strive for when they want to win championships. The Blackhawks are a team solely focused on winning another Stanley Cup.
The Cubs are looking for maturity through leaders like Anthony Rizzo. But he seems to be a mild manner, quiet guy. But quiet guys, including Jon Lester, can lead by example. Maybe later on someone else, like Kris Bryant, will take the reigns and become the captain of the team.
Junior Lake's show boating a home run when his team is down 6-2 was selfish bush league. It angered the Marlins players to the point that both benches cleared to vent.
Coaches cringe when a wide receiver catches a touchdown pass with 17 seconds to play, then does a victory dance in the end zone - - - when his team is still down by 28 points. Garbage points don't get celebrations.
The NFL ("No Fun League") has penalized excessive celebrations on the field because, frankly, it was getting extremely stupid and demeaning to the image of the sport. You can give off the swagger of a champion by catching your touchdown pass, and handing the ball to the back judge while you are walking off the field. What is a more powerful message to your opponent after scoring than "that's was no big deal."
Lake is getting an opportunity to play more with Jorge Soler's ankle injury. But Joe Maddon needs to keep his young players in check. Hot dogging, show boating and being unprofessional are elements that lead to bad habits in the clubhouse. A disciplinarian coach would have sat Lake for the rest of the game to send a clear message.
In hockey, Coach Q does that all the time. If one of his Blackhawk players screws up on the ice or does something stupid (like a bad penalty), he will sit the player for long stretches. That hurts the club because it means the other members of the team have to make up someone else's dumb mistakes. In the locker room, team leaders like Toews, can then police the roster and get everyone back on the same page. That is the maturity level that teams strive for when they want to win championships. The Blackhawks are a team solely focused on winning another Stanley Cup.
The Cubs are looking for maturity through leaders like Anthony Rizzo. But he seems to be a mild manner, quiet guy. But quiet guys, including Jon Lester, can lead by example. Maybe later on someone else, like Kris Bryant, will take the reigns and become the captain of the team.
June 1, 2015
ZZZZZZ . . . .
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun Times reports:
Zobrist has a connection with Maddon. Check.
The Cubs have traded with Oakland recently. Check.
Zobrist can play multiple positions. Double check.
Zobrist was the best player no one heard of prior to this season. He had a career 36.7 WAR for the Rays. The A's traded for Zobrist thinking he would be consistent. Zobrist, 33, hit .272/.354/.395 (116 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (75) as strikeouts (84) in 2014. He played both second base and shortstop as well as all three outfield positions. Zobrist is both very versatile and very good defensively wherever he plays.
But this year, with only 20 GP, he is hitting .243, 1 HR 10 RBI and a negative 0.4 WAR.
Zobrist is owed $7.5 million for 2015, the last year in his current deal. He is then classified as a rental player. As such, the Mets are also rumored to like Zobrist as a bench player.
The Cubs could be sniffing around to get a veteran bench player on the cheap. But there is something odd about Zobrist's sudden decline in production that warrants a second look. And obtaining Zobrist at what cost? A couple of AAA players (when the Cubs high level prospects are now thin)? Addison Russell? (Just kidding - - - but Billy Beane is still smarting over the last deal he made with the Cubs.)
At this point, Zobrist appears not to add much to the Cubs roster, which continues to be pitching staff heavy due to bullpen issues.
While the Cubs keep their eye on the pitching market as they mull a buyer’s approach for the trade deadline, one of their biggest targets heading into June is play-anywhere hitter Ben Zobrist of the Oakland Athletics, according to multiple sources.We start the trade rumor game in earnest.
Zobrist has a connection with Maddon. Check.
The Cubs have traded with Oakland recently. Check.
Zobrist can play multiple positions. Double check.
Zobrist was the best player no one heard of prior to this season. He had a career 36.7 WAR for the Rays. The A's traded for Zobrist thinking he would be consistent. Zobrist, 33, hit .272/.354/.395 (116 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (75) as strikeouts (84) in 2014. He played both second base and shortstop as well as all three outfield positions. Zobrist is both very versatile and very good defensively wherever he plays.
But this year, with only 20 GP, he is hitting .243, 1 HR 10 RBI and a negative 0.4 WAR.
Zobrist is owed $7.5 million for 2015, the last year in his current deal. He is then classified as a rental player. As such, the Mets are also rumored to like Zobrist as a bench player.
The Cubs could be sniffing around to get a veteran bench player on the cheap. But there is something odd about Zobrist's sudden decline in production that warrants a second look. And obtaining Zobrist at what cost? A couple of AAA players (when the Cubs high level prospects are now thin)? Addison Russell? (Just kidding - - - but Billy Beane is still smarting over the last deal he made with the Cubs.)
At this point, Zobrist appears not to add much to the Cubs roster, which continues to be pitching staff heavy due to bullpen issues.
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