I could of random thoughts from last week:
1. Javy Baez is going to have back problems some time during his career. Even Kasper and Deshields mentioned the amount of torque unleashed when Baez swings past the plate. The full upper body twist and less movement in the legs is like a professional golfer coiling for a tee shot. And most professional golfers will admit that the number one injury on tour is a bad back.
2. The new home plate collision rule is turning into a monumental waste. The rule was to protect the catcher (specifically All-Star Buster Posey and his multi-million dollar contract) from being plowed over Ray Fosse style. But the rule makes no sense that forces a catcher to move off the plate then matador back toward a sliding runner. There should not be a special rule for home plate outs. The baserunning rules should be consistent - - - when a player gets the ball, he can block any base to apply a tag. If he blocks a base before he has possession of the ball, the runner is safe by fielder interference. Simple rule. Simple application.
3. Cub fans see the prospects coming up through the system. They are excited about renewed hope. But at the same time, they fall under the spell of the current Cubs, believing that Lake, Ruggiano, Sweeney and Coghlan are important pieces for the future. They are not. They are a collection of 5th outfielders/bench players who have been major pieces in a run of 90 plus loss seasons.
4. Many sports pundits in town shutter at the thought that the White Sox in 2015 may have a starting rotation of four left handed pitchers (Sale, Quintana, Danks and Rodon). They fear that with the majors being mostly right handed hitting, that the Sox will be at a major disadvantage. But if a pitcher is good, he can get out right handed hitters. And this is not unprecedented - - - the Kansas City Royals in 1982 with Larry Gura, Paul Splittorf, Bud Black and Vida Blue won 90 games.
5. Baez's first Wrigley Field home run went onto Waveland. My first thought was that this type of moment will be gone when the new outfield signage is installed at Wrigley. No more homers flying out of the park.
