Next Move?

If they are still interested in O'Day then I'd say they were serious about the not wanting to re live last year.
 
Hudson2 said:
If they are still interested in O'Day then I'd say they were serious about the not wanting to re live last year.
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Even then I have doubts. Hart said the goal this winter was to improve our bullpen.

Improving our bullpen isn't going to win the division. No good in having a bullpen if your offense can't get you a lead.
 
The Don said:
Even then I have doubts. Hart said the goal this winter was to improve our bullpen.

Improving our bullpen isn't going to win the division. No good in having a bullpen if your offense can't get you a lead.
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Our pen was a huge problem last year. There were a ton of games where our starters would exit with a 2-1 or 3-2 lead only to see the pen melt down and give up 3 runs.

O'day makes a degree of sense. One way to really improve a pen top to bottom is to get a very good closer. Installing a closer at the back end allows you to shift everyone down a spot. You put O'Day in as the closer, that shifts Grilli and Viz to setup, etc.

Also, a shutdown pen allows our starters to go harder early in the game instead of conserving their energy knowing they're needed to throw 7 or 8.

I like building a top notch pen. Get your pitching settled and then you only have to get enough offense.
 
The Don said:
Even then I have doubts. Hart said the goal this winter was to improve our bullpen.

Improving our bullpen isn't going to win the division. No good in having a bullpen if your offense can't get you a lead.
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[TW]651086030775291904[/TW]
 
There seems to be a little more clear of a direction that we're trying to go now at least. If we trade Shelby and Julio for young positional MLB ready players, trade Markakis for salary relief and fringe prospects, we can spend roughly 45 Million on starters and relievers that will hold the places of the kids coming up and be flipped in a year or two for more prospects.
 
nsacpi said:
This thing about improving the pen being the #1 priority is PR spin designed to appeal to the casual fan. If they were really serious about having a better team in 2016 that would not be the #1 priority.
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Yeah to the casual fan they'll assume we're fixing our biggest problem area. In actuality relievers are easy to sign and even easier to flip at the deadline.

On the Miller front the Pirates seem to be a logical choice. Marte is signed to a friendly contract. They need someone to replace Burnett and they have OF reinforcements on the way.
 
dak said:
[TW]651086030775291904[/TW]
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I just don't understand why the pen is the priority. Yes it needs a major upgrade but it's behind our offense for needs. That's why I don't understand trading Maybin just to clear money to sign bullpen help
 
I'm a little late to this, but here's a lengthy John Hart radio interview from Wednesday.

He's asked about the Coppy interview with Nightengale where he's upset with the criticism of the media. Hart handles it diplomatically, but the clear implication (to me) was that Hart was not happy with Coppy and he gave him that feedback so that this sort of thing doesn't happen again.

Hart also mentioned that there were 20 free agents that they crossed off their list right away and won't even talk to. I assume this is in reference to the 20 FAs that were given QOs.

http://cdn.stationcaster.com/stations/wcnn/media/mpeg/John_Hart_with_Buck_and_Kincade-1447870171.mp3
 
clvclv said:
OK - so why not a blockbuster?

https://whensidslidcronies.wordpress.com/2015/11/21/everybody-loves-a-blockbuster/
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Baez and Soler are the only truly interesting pieces the Cubs have to offer. Torres and Underwood are decent, but would not be the centerpiece of a Miller and/or Teheran trade. Teheran alone should bring back Soler or Baez, and Miller alone should bring back Soler or Baez plus one of those prospects.

Miller plus Teheran plus Folty should probably get back Baez plus Soler plus Underwood, or no deal.
 
emk418 said:
I just don't understand why the pen is the priority. Yes it needs a major upgrade but it's behind our offense for needs. That's why I don't understand trading Maybin just to clear money to sign bullpen help
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It's a priority because it's the easiest fix. Easier to say we've met our offseason personnel goals.
 
rico43 said:
It's a priority because it's the easiest fix. Easier to say we've met our offseason personnel goals.
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I am not sure we couldn't head into the season as is and it wouldn't be better anyway. Looking at the stockpile of arms we have to shuffle in and out of the pen, it seems like simply a number game and the right mix of them to have a vast improvement in house.
 
Tapate50 said:
I am not sure we couldn't head into the season as is and it wouldn't be better anyway. Looking at the stockpile of arms we have to shuffle in and out of the pen, it seems like simply a number game and the right mix of them to have a vast improvement in house.
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The numbers are large for seven pen spots, even with no additional acquisitions.

Righties: Grilli, Vizcaino, Moylan, Simmons, Withrow, Winkler, Burawa plus an array of guys who might start the year in the AAA rotation (Williams Perez, Foltynevich, Gant, Jenkins, Weber) and guys like Hursh who will be in the AAA pen.

Lefties: Banuelos, Kohl, McKirahan, Marksberry.

I see a case for a lefty since I would rather send Kohl, McKirahan and Marksberry to AAA to start the season. But that's about it.
 
Hart did mention in the early minutes of the radio interview dak posted that the Braves were going after starting pitching as well.
 
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