It's hard not to get excited this spring. To us Cub fans, we are experiencing what I call the Christmas Eve phenomenon. We all remember Christmas Eve as a child. It was a day of wonderous anticipation, of impossible dreams, of excitement. We spent so much time building up the joys of Christmas and fantasizing about what 'Santa' could have under the tree. Sometimes our expectations would even trump the festivities of the actual day.
Flash forward from your youth to March 2014. It is Spring Training, the 'Christmas Eve' of baseball season. No matter how many seasons you have followed or glimpses of success you have seen ('69, '84, '89, '98, '03, '07, '08), we all are watching one thing: the "Core."
You would have to be living under a rock to not have heard the countless sitings of Soler, Bryant, Almora, and Baez. This year at spring camp, we are getting a glimpse of most this group. That concept itself pays for the price of admission. These four players have become the coatracks for my dreams of a post-rebuild team. But let me get to the point.
Javier Baez should not break camp with the major league club. I'm sorry Cub fans, I know we are hungry. I know we have seen in a small sample so far what this kid can do (.417, 2 HRs this spring, .282, 37 HRs combined in A/AA). The fact of the matter regardless of service time issues, spring training performance, etc; the kid should see some Triple A.
With some promising progress from Olt, an interesting option in Bonifacio, and a chance at redemption for Barney, there just is not any room right now. Let Barney prove his worth as a caliber second baseman. Let's see what Olt can do at third. If Barney shows a turnaround at the plate and Baez is scorching AAA, Barney has become a chip to get more arms for the rebuild. If Olt doesn't develop at third, then Baez is an option to take those duties. The Cubs still need to see what kind of things they have on the major league roster. This approach will only be beneficial for the team as a whole.
Unfortunately, the addition of Baez to this lineup right now does not make the Cubs a playoff team. Let the team execute the plan they have for the team they have on the field. If Baez produces at Triple A, then bring him up as an early call up to potentially invigorate an offense in May/June. Let him get everyday at bats to work on his opposite field driving (which has looked better) and his plate discipline(147 SO in 514 ABs in '13). Put him in a place where he will see regular at-bats and everyday playing time to work on his glove(44 errors, .932 fielding % in '13).
It's almost 'Christmas' Cub fans, and Santa has Bryant, Baez, and maybe a few other surprises as gifts. It stinks sitting here on Christmas Eve dreaming of what coming. But sometimes, even though it kills us, these things are still worth the wait.
-CC
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