I know it’s only spring training but Termarr looks terrible. He needs to get the k’s under control or he’ll never make it. He doesn’t look good defensively either. Big year for him
Last year at age 18, he had over 100 walks to go along with his .422 obp. At age 19 going against major leaguers, I'm not ready to get rid of him after 8 innings.
Watch enough A-ball games and you realize how little these dudes really know about playing the game. Another point to my skepticism in moving them fast, showcase-style. Game experience matters!
Yep, bonehead play. Wasn’t an tough situation, either. Routine single up the middle to the SS side, SS went for the ball, Termarr had nothing to do but cover 2nd, and he didn’t.
From one of the camera angles it looked like he was sprinting to his left - maybe he thought Alcantara would get it and was planning to back up 1B?
His approach was bad on the K, too; take a hanging breaking ball for strike 2, then swing his hardest at strike 3. That’s the all-or-nothing approach Aurorus is criticizing in the Bellinger comment, instead of choking up and trying to make contact with two strikes.
Robbie, with his relentless "how does it feel" and "what's it like" questions, was a remarkably terrible interviewer; I'm so glad they've replaced him, although of course who knows if the new person is any better. I will miss watching the players react to him with such thinly veiled contempt. Watching Cutch, for example, trying to not openly roll his eyes at still another completely idiotic question was always pretty amusing.
Danny Demilio posted on Twitter that Moreta, Ryder Ryan, Sadzeck, and Honeywell all scheduled. Still some innings to fill as long as everyone just goes one inning
Well, they certainly should be favored. They’re payroll’s nearly three times that of the Pirates, $55 million more than the Cardinals and over 2.5 times that of the Brewers and Reds. Just remember they’re still the Cubs and that they still seem to enjoy whining about not winning more than they do winning anything. I’m picking the Pirates to win the central until proven otherwise, which should take at least a couple of months.
Don't get me wrong. I hate the Cubs, but they seem to have the best team on paper (though they have had that many times and... yes... end up whining about not winning more than winning).
Yeah... it's a terrible contract for the Cubs, but when you deal with the devil (Boras)... you get a devil's deal. The opt-outs aren't even that important for Bellinger. What the opt-outs do is allow him to go back to free agency and for Boras to earn another commission.
No one said that athletes need to be brilliant. Nevertheless, he makes Chicago a better team, at least for this year, and they should probably have the best team in the Central.
If he does repeat his success, the Cubs have to compete for him in the free agent market again, when his price will go up. If he does not repeat, they are stuck with the contract for 3 years. I would have insisted on a mutual option for the last 2 years.
Again, it’s only three years. So even if he sucks for the majority of the time, it’s a short contract. It won’t sink them.
If he does well and they have to compete again for his services, there are still other options on the FA market. Hell, they already have two good OFs on their roster, they’ve got several good OF prospects.
I think he underestimated the tenacity of the current vogue in hitting "philosophy." 10 years ago no one would have hesitated to sign Bellinger to a 5-year deal for 25+ million. The Fangraphers of the baseball world would insist that what he did last season is not repeatable and that it was a statistical oulier. This reduced the market substantially for him since about 2/3 of the teams in baseball are all-in on this new hitting philosophy.
Probably. Bellinger has some red flags for sure, but he also cut his K rate in half which is crazy. His profile changed so much I think it freaked teams out. When that happens, inertia seems to take over teams in terms of making decisions on a player. Throw in a questionable health past, and this ultimately isn’t too surprising.
I think it’s a good deal for the Cubs. If he does well, that helps them. And then he may opt out and save them from a long term deal where they could also pursue Soto.
He basically threw away the whole book of the Fangraphs school of hitting that had ruined him in LA and started doing the stuff that every hitter up until 5 years ago was taught to do: such as protecting the plate with 2 strikes... shorten up your swing with 2 strikes and just make contact. I am not saying that the new school hitting people are completely wrong: the whole patient and wait for a pitch to drive works for some guys... but one size does not fit all. Bellinger did not fit into that size. I don't think he will be as good as he was last year, but he will still be a solid offensive contributor with his new approach, IMO. So I'm in the middle... yes... it was somewhat of a statistical anomaly, but he should be able to replicate some of what he did last year.
Hard disagree that it’s a terrible contract for the Cubs. Any contract that is three years max isn’t gonna be terrible. Especially when he was rumored to be looking for five plus years.
That was probably the compromise... three years with opt-outs instead of 5, so Boras can go looking for a better deal in the off-season if Bellinger continues on his current path.
First time I’ve seen Gorski bat - is that really his swing mechanic? No wonder he’s stuck in AA.
Yea I’ve always been amazed at how much power he’s able to generate with that and have never doubted the swing and miss
I hadn't seen him either. That really surprised me.
He’s swinging through center cut pitches
He looks like a softball player.
Literally my line any time I talk about Gorski. Great beer league softball swing. MLB, not so much.
I know it’s only spring training but Termarr looks terrible. He needs to get the k’s under control or he’ll never make it. He doesn’t look good defensively either. Big year for him
Last year at age 18, he had over 100 walks to go along with his .422 obp. At age 19 going against major leaguers, I'm not ready to get rid of him after 8 innings.
My God, it’s February.
I know, I know. I just don’t see his approach working vs the best pitchers on the planet.
correct.
Why wasn't he covering second.....allowed
a single into a double?? In a one-run game.
Watch enough A-ball games and you realize how little these dudes really know about playing the game. Another point to my skepticism in moving them fast, showcase-style. Game experience matters!
Yep, bonehead play. Wasn’t an tough situation, either. Routine single up the middle to the SS side, SS went for the ball, Termarr had nothing to do but cover 2nd, and he didn’t.
From one of the camera angles it looked like he was sprinting to his left - maybe he thought Alcantara would get it and was planning to back up 1B?
His approach was bad on the K, too; take a hanging breaking ball for strike 2, then swing his hardest at strike 3. That’s the all-or-nothing approach Aurorus is criticizing in the Bellinger comment, instead of choking up and trying to make contact with two strikes.
Brannigan got robbed because the Orioles had a center fielder playing left field.
Is that the kid they drafted from Vandy last year? Huge CF defense tools?
Yep
Alcantara with hard contact. Alcantara > Alika.
I wonder if Honeywell is related to the Honeywell that invented the HVAC thermostat. I have one: solid, reliable product.
Ryder Ryan similar delivery as Mitch. Very similar move.
I love Moreta's intensity! Just can't teach that.
From my early observations, it appears that Tellez has a large set of glutes, which should lead to higher exit velocity.
Opponents are going to run at will on Grandal.
I sure hope we only see Jack and Tellez 4/5 against a lefty in ST. Otherwise, could be the worst lineup construction in history.
Over/underlay on Cherington lineups that have those two plus Oneil within 4 at-bats on one another...
Oneil so far so good. 6-3 DP on second hitter.
Hannah is in, Robbie out. Welcome change although Robbie had come a long, long way to become really solid with his interviews.
My daughter was a big Robbie fan. I think he was good for the younger audience, if there is such a thing as a younger audience anymore.
Wasn’t a fan of Rob…. Can’t put my finger on any one specific reason why, but I just wasn’t. Will be interested to see the replacement.
Robbie, with his relentless "how does it feel" and "what's it like" questions, was a remarkably terrible interviewer; I'm so glad they've replaced him, although of course who knows if the new person is any better. I will miss watching the players react to him with such thinly veiled contempt. Watching Cutch, for example, trying to not openly roll his eyes at still another completely idiotic question was always pretty amusing.
He had that annoying little brother energy.
Neil, KY and Capps are all back. Won't go on my rant about Neil and KY today, but they would be better as coaches.
KY answered a question on bat handles for a young NMR at Piratefest back in the day. Good in my book! ;)
They're really both good dudes! Just don't have the speaking talents for a telecast.
Bubba, Solo, Harrington (needs a nickname) and Honeywell are long-tossing, so I guess they’re on the schedule.
Danny Demilio posted on Twitter that Moreta, Ryder Ryan, Sadzeck, and Honeywell all scheduled. Still some innings to fill as long as everyone just goes one inning
Well, that’s three guys I’ve never seen.
Get to see the Honeywell screwball up close, should be fun.
Brubaker throwing from the mound pregame. Pitching to Cutch even.
That is wonderful news!
Cubs bringing back Bellinger. I would say that they are probably my pick to win the NL Central.
Well, they certainly should be favored. They’re payroll’s nearly three times that of the Pirates, $55 million more than the Cardinals and over 2.5 times that of the Brewers and Reds. Just remember they’re still the Cubs and that they still seem to enjoy whining about not winning more than they do winning anything. I’m picking the Pirates to win the central until proven otherwise, which should take at least a couple of months.
Don't get me wrong. I hate the Cubs, but they seem to have the best team on paper (though they have had that many times and... yes... end up whining about not winning more than winning).
And the terms aren’t absurd. Three years with two outs?
Yeah... it's a terrible contract for the Cubs, but when you deal with the devil (Boras)... you get a devil's deal. The opt-outs aren't even that important for Bellinger. What the opt-outs do is allow him to go back to free agency and for Boras to earn another commission.
No one said that athletes need to be brilliant. Nevertheless, he makes Chicago a better team, at least for this year, and they should probably have the best team in the Central.
Gives the player the ability to show last year wasn't a fluke and the club the protection against a long term contract locking them into that belief.
What's dumb about this for either party?
If he does repeat his success, the Cubs have to compete for him in the free agent market again, when his price will go up. If he does not repeat, they are stuck with the contract for 3 years. I would have insisted on a mutual option for the last 2 years.
Again, it’s only three years. So even if he sucks for the majority of the time, it’s a short contract. It won’t sink them.
If he does well and they have to compete again for his services, there are still other options on the FA market. Hell, they already have two good OFs on their roster, they’ve got several good OF prospects.
Cubs are trying to win. Suckers
Does certainly seem that Boras misread his market though.
I think he underestimated the tenacity of the current vogue in hitting "philosophy." 10 years ago no one would have hesitated to sign Bellinger to a 5-year deal for 25+ million. The Fangraphers of the baseball world would insist that what he did last season is not repeatable and that it was a statistical oulier. This reduced the market substantially for him since about 2/3 of the teams in baseball are all-in on this new hitting philosophy.
Probably. Bellinger has some red flags for sure, but he also cut his K rate in half which is crazy. His profile changed so much I think it freaked teams out. When that happens, inertia seems to take over teams in terms of making decisions on a player. Throw in a questionable health past, and this ultimately isn’t too surprising.
I think it’s a good deal for the Cubs. If he does well, that helps them. And then he may opt out and save them from a long term deal where they could also pursue Soto.
He basically threw away the whole book of the Fangraphs school of hitting that had ruined him in LA and started doing the stuff that every hitter up until 5 years ago was taught to do: such as protecting the plate with 2 strikes... shorten up your swing with 2 strikes and just make contact. I am not saying that the new school hitting people are completely wrong: the whole patient and wait for a pitch to drive works for some guys... but one size does not fit all. Bellinger did not fit into that size. I don't think he will be as good as he was last year, but he will still be a solid offensive contributor with his new approach, IMO. So I'm in the middle... yes... it was somewhat of a statistical anomaly, but he should be able to replicate some of what he did last year.
Hard disagree that it’s a terrible contract for the Cubs. Any contract that is three years max isn’t gonna be terrible. Especially when he was rumored to be looking for five plus years.
That was probably the compromise... three years with opt-outs instead of 5, so Boras can go looking for a better deal in the off-season if Bellinger continues on his current path.