2021 Series #11 | Cubs @ Indians | May 11-12, 2021

[cliffdawg]

Double post.....

 

[sportscoach]

Re: Miller yeah I'm just saying he seems to be overhyped. Before it was Miller it was probably more Jones than Miller but then he had a rough start. Miller seems like a hand-eye coordination talent who smacks a lot of line drives but low on power, primarily a singles/doubles hitter that has potential to hit for a decently high average. Outcome wise something similar to Cesar Hernandez. When he's ready of course... Would I like that in the lineup now at a middle infield position? I get that some people want to say he's ready because of some hit tool or that he's hitting well over 8 games but I just don't get the purpose. Stability should be prioritized over modest improvements at best.

From what Bimbo is saying, Miller may have the best hit/contact tool in all the minors right now... We dont need a HR guy, we just need someone to hit the ball... He does fit that scenario...

 

[KluberSociety]

From what Bimbo is saying, Miller may have the best hit/contact tool in all the minors right now... We dont need a HR guy, we just need someone to hit the ball... He does fit that scenario...

Fair enough but if he really does he shouldn't have any trouble showing he can:
Strike out less than 20% of the time in AAA
Have a K% - BB% of less than 10% in AAA

Kind of arbitrary benchmarks but it's rare that a low power hitter succeeds in the majors without doing so and he did it in AA in 2019, so let's see him do it in AAA. For what it's worth, Clement is meeting that but the quality of his contact tends to be lower.

 

[sportscoach]

Fair enough but if he really does he shouldn't have any trouble showing he can:
Strike out less than 20% of the time in AAA
Have a K% - BB% of less than 10% in AAA

Kind of arbitrary benchmarks but it's rare that a low power hitter succeeds in the majors without doing so and he did it in AA in 2019, so let's see him do it in AAA. For what it's worth, Clement is meeting that but the quality of his contact tends to be lower.

He will make it to the pros, his floor is a Mark Loretta type, who high avg, low slg% is okay with me. You need guys who just get on base... Especially since we have big boppers

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

He will make it to the pros, his floor is a Mark Loretta type, who high avg, low slg% is okay with me. You need guys who just get on base... Especially since we have big boppers

I'm hoping for Whit Merrifield - primarily a second baseman but can play anywhere. Whit is a career .293/.784 hitter but topped out as a 3.9-5.5 WAR player from age 28-30. Merrifield didn't make it to the bigs until age 27, though, while Miller will be 24 all of this season.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Merrifield, sure. Hell, I hope he's a combination of Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew. But for him to help us, he's got to be called up, (Memorial Day?), and he has to have a spot to play - every day. Not necessarily the same position, but preferably.

 

[KluberSociety]

He will make it to the pros, his floor is a Mark Loretta type, who high avg, low slg% is okay with me. You need guys who just get on base... Especially since we have big boppers

Oh I'm not doubting that. I was talking about what he is now which I believe is a lot less than people are hoping for. The problem is if you barely hit above .250 with few HRs and few walks. This is mainly what I'd be worried about.

That's why I just hope he continues his development for the time being rather than rush him up. I wouldn't mind seeing Clement brought up earlier if there isn't a full time position ready.

 

[CDAV45]

Re: Miller yeah I'm just saying he seems to be overhyped. Before it was Miller it was probably more Jones than Miller but then he had a rough start. Miller seems like a hand-eye coordination talent who smacks a lot of line drives but low on power, primarily a singles/doubles hitter that has potential to hit for a decently high average. Outcome wise something similar to Cesar Hernandez. When he's ready of course... Would I like that in the lineup now at a middle infield position? I get that some people want to say he's ready because of some hit tool or that he's hitting well over 8 games but I just don't get the purpose. Stability should be prioritized over modest improvements at best.

There's no "overhype" regarding Miller. He is what he is and that is an excellent bat to ball hitter that uses the whole field. He is certainly not a power hitter, but he's got more power than someone like Freeman. If you're into profiles his is a center of the diamond type. Could he develop more power? Maybe, but we don't really need him to, especially if it deters from his strength which is hitting the shit out of the ball.

 

[Marcus]

Cubs trend post 2016 has been fascinating. It was an assumption that they were geared for the longer term contention window. I allow that the Indians haven't set the playoffs on fire(at least in a good way) since then either.

I’m floored that they haven’t been better. They truly captured lightning in a bottle in 2016, and even then they needed to mount a major comeback against an injury-depleted Indians squad.

 

[CDAV45]

He can play shortstop.

Then I'm all for calling him up. You would think that he could play the position as well or better than say.......Jhonny Peralta and he wasn't a disaster at all.

If Miller isn't going to get the call, and I understand why if he doesn't, then Amed should be getting the majority of reps at SS. That way they can keep HRam's bat in the line up as well. Defensively, that could be a little scary.

 

[WhoAzcue]

I’ll be honest, I feel that way without adding anything at a deadline.

The offense will be fine- we largely hit the ball way too hard to consistently have this low of a BABIP.
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This division will always be won by pitching, and I firmly believe we have the best staff by a large margin.

I'm wondering how you feel today.

I'm on record as being leery of the White Sox pitching compared to ours, and I'm not persuaded yet that our so-called "depth" in both the minors and in the pen trumps what they have. One thing does seem evident: despite their injuries, the White Sox have a more reliable offense than we do, and any edge we used to have in defense and fundamentals has evaporated. So there really is no area where I feel we have an edge that allows us to "waltz to a division title" as you indicated in an earlier tweet.

I'm on record as saying we have the ingredients to hang in this division race and always felt it was going to be a three-team battle. That Minnesota is floundering is a comfort, sure, but we're springing all sorts of leaks, and I'm having an increasingly difficult time arguing with myself that we should be competitive with the White Sox much less dancing by them.

 

[DJTJ]

I'm wondering how you feel today.

I'm on record as being leery of the White Sox pitching compared to ours, and I'm not persuaded yet that our so-called "depth" in both the minors and in the pen trumps what they have. One thing does seem evident: despite their injuries, the White Sox have a more reliable offense than we do, and any edge we used to have in defense and fundamentals has evaporated. So there really is no area where I feel we have an edge that allows us to "waltz to a division title" as you indicated in an earlier tweet.

I'm on record as saying we have the ingredients to hang in this division race and always felt it was going to be a three-team battle. That Minnesota is floundering is a comfort, sure, but we're springing all sorts of leaks, and I'm having an increasingly difficult time arguing with myself that we should be competitive with the White Sox much less dancing by them.

I feel exactly the same. Nice grave dig. It’s an 162 game season. Two series don’t worry me.

 

[33Y0]

I'm wondering how you feel today.

I'm on record as being leery of the White Sox pitching compared to ours, and I'm not persuaded yet that our so-called "depth" in both the minors and in the pen trumps what they have. One thing does seem evident: despite their injuries, the White Sox have a more reliable offense than we do, and any edge we used to have in defense and fundamentals has evaporated. So there really is no area where I feel we have an edge that allows us to "waltz to a division title" as you indicated in an earlier tweet.

I'm on record as saying we have the ingredients to hang in this division race and always felt it was going to be a three-team battle. That Minnesota is floundering is a comfort, sure, but we're springing all sorts of leaks, and I'm having an increasingly difficult time arguing with myself that we should be competitive with the White Sox much less dancing by them.

My feelings as well.

 

[BMAN]

Why the hell are people still posting in this thread?

 

[CBBI]

You have to develop him, point blank.

He is not the make or break for the lineup vs LHP, get him the ABs and the experience.

They are learning from their mistakes with Zimmer, Naquin, etc. They felt platooning those guys so quickly was detrimental to their development as players (outside of the injuries) and they're right. It's a big reason we are seeing Gimenez look wildly uncomfortable right now too. You need to get your young, still developing guys as many ABs as possible. Once you get to 600-800 ABs, then you start looking to see if they should be platooned or if they're progressing and go from there.

The quick hook on guys does not work when you're trying to develop them. One of the positives they did with Kipnis, Chisenhall, Brantley and that group. Once they had enough ABs, they figured Brantley and Kipnis can be every day ABs and Chisenhall is a platoon guy. Need to get back to that with their youngsters.

A big issue this team has had developing players is limiting their experience, which they desperately need. But they aren't in "must win the WS" mode anymore.

Two game threads later...