Doubront with an excellent start today.

 

Hard to start off better than soler...8 for 12 with two doubles and three homers

Edited August 31, 201411 yr by caulfield12

Soler is a better player than Avi already, IMO.

Soler is a better player than Avi already, IMO.

 

Avi's swing looking more like Baez lately.

Avi's swing looking more like Baez lately.

 

He's always had solid success at the MLB level, but I truly believe his entire swing needs to be changed. He's too big and strong to barely get his lower half into his swing. Until it's fixed, he's nothing more than a complimentary player.

The potential 3-4-5 of Rizzo, Bryant and Soler is scary. You add Castro, Russell and Baez to that....uh oh

 

Yup. Going to be some fun Chicago baseball to watch next season. I already find myself flipping back and forth to catch some of Baez/Soler at bats.

46 strikeouts for Baez now...

Then why bring up Baez and Soler?

 

Soler was signed to a major league contract, so calling him up really doesn't change anything contractually.

 

For Baez to be called up while he was striking out a ton in AAA was surprising to me. I mean, Baez and Davidson had the same K-rate this season in AAA. Baez did not deserve a call-up.

Soler was signed to a major league contract, so calling him up really doesn't change anything contractually.

 

For Baez to be called up while he was striking out a ton in AAA was surprising to me. I mean, Baez and Davidson had the same K-rate this season in AAA. Baez did not deserve a call-up.

 

Marketing.

Soler is so much more ready than Baez is for the majors. Soler looks a bit like Vlad Guerrero at the plate.

https://twitter.com/TeddyGreenstein/status/...825899460018176

https://twitter.com/TeddyGreenstein/status/...825899460018176

 

It's reasonably possible that he is buried looking like that too.

Soler is so much more ready than Baez is for the majors. Soler looks a bit like Vlad Guerrero at the plate.

The limited number of PAs I have seen he reminds me most of Soriano.

The limited number of PAs I have seen he reminds me most of Soriano.

Both of those guys were pretty darn exciting players.

I was at WSI at the time, but I am sure this site was freaking out when the Sox were trying to trade for Soriano in July of '06.

 

 

Yep, Brandon McCarthy package.

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 13m

 

MRI revealed Rizzo has mild lower back strain, don't expect him back soon

B&B and other shows have been touching on the topic of Baez lately. It is way too early to make any sweeping generalizations. However, if Baez ends up being Mark Reynolds, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. He's a 2B. Even if he K's a ton, plays average defense, and hits 30-35 bombs a year with a low average, I'd take that. Many would be disappointed with that but jeez how many 2B hit like that? Not many.

Castro out for the year after suffering a high ankle sprain yesterday sliding into home.

B&B and other shows have been touching on the topic of Baez lately. It is way too early to make any sweeping generalizations. However, if Baez ends up being Mark Reynolds, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. He's a 2B. Even if he K's a ton, plays average defense, and hits 30-35 bombs a year with a low average, I'd take that. Many would be disappointed with that but jeez how many 2B hit like that? Not many.

Mark Reynolds can draw walks though, so I'm not sure that's a great comp offensively.

 

It's way too early to jump to any conclusions, but Baez is going to make some serious strides to be worth a damn.

Did anyone believe Alcantara would have more homers than Baez?

 

That's been a surprise, although overall his offensive numbers indicate more or less a slightly below average MLB CFer...and he's doing on the job training defensively.

 

Of course, Soler's the new "golden child" of the moment and Baez has been kind of been forgotten about, but his season, were it not for September...is to the point where you'd have to consider sending him back down or shutting him down if that was an option. So he has no choice but to struggle and try to battle his way out of it, which the Cubs ultimately believe he'll be able to do.

 

Did anyone believe Alcantara would have more homers than Baez?

 

That's been a surprise, although overall his offensive numbers indicate more or less a slightly below average MLB CFer...and he's doing on the job training defensively.

 

Of course, Soler's the new "golden child" of the moment and Baez has been kind of been forgotten about, but his season, were it not for September...is to the point where you'd have to consider sending him back down or shutting him down if that was an option. So he has no choice but to struggle and try to battle his way out of it, which the Cubs ultimately believe he'll be able to do.

 

While all the while, if he continues to struggle, we'll hear more and more how he was a Hendry guy. Funny how we didn't hear that when he was being hyped a month ago.

While all the while, if he continues to struggle, we'll hear more and more how he was a Hendry guy. Funny how we didn't hear that when he was being hyped a month ago.

 

 

In all fairness, they were giving Hendry a lot of credit at the time...almost going out of their way to do it with Castro and Baez.

 

The Cubs' FO is lucky that Hendricks, Wada and Soler are doing well, or there would be a lot more attention focused on Javier's struggles and the fact that his OPS is currently well below "bad" Gordon Beckham territory despite all the power.

Soler with five doubles already (Baez with five as well in an 3+ weeks of AB's) and Hendricks cruising.

 

Brewers are in real danger of missing out on the playoffs.

Edited September 4, 201411 yr by caulfield12

Soler figures to be the best of the bunch. Baez looking more like late-career Soriano than peak.

Soler figures to be the best of the bunch. Baez looking more like late-career Soriano than peak.

 

Bryant will be better than Soler, but that doesn't mean both won't be well above average players.

Then you've still got Russell, Almora, Schwarber, McKinney and Vogelbach.