Do YOU trade Castro?

Starlin Castro. This name spurs lots of different emotions amongst Cub fans. Some think of his amazing debut in Cincinnati (http://youtu.be/goeN5G7G6S4 ). Others remember his frustrating mental lapses... http://youtu.be/DEYHRKVJTiU

Ultimately, it is hard to deny the talent he has at the plate. Additionally, this season has been much improved on the field as well. With a month left in the season, Starlin is on pace to be well below his 25 error per season career average.

But the hitting talent....

It is pretty good. Pretty damn good. Even with the hiccup season, Starlin is averaging 184 hits in his first 3 full major league seasons. If he maintains that pace and plays the same number of seasons as Jeter, he would finish his career at 3,318, could for top 10 of all time.

So why the hell would we trade him? 

Let us look at the current situation with our lovely North Side friends. With a clear turn for the better coming sooner than skeptics believed (CoughNOTMECough), there is valor in shopping a bit. The Cubs picked up future stud Addison Russell from the A's, who looks like a natural at Short. Starlin is playing way above his contract value, since he signed a very friendly deal not to long in the past. With this deal and additional team control on the table, the Cubs can get good return. Additionally, with teams like the Mets loaded with young pitching AND hungry for a shortstop. Seems like a natural fit. 

For the right return, the Cubs should keep there ears open, but maybe the projection of the Hall ringing will be enough music to calm the front office. For now.

The Beginning

The day most Cub fans have been waiting for is finally here: Javier Baez is coming to the MLB!

My immediate reaction is similar to this child here: http://youtu.be/pFlcqWQVVuU 

After a horrendous start, Baez has really turn it on, bringing his average up to .260  with 23 bombs. His upside is known. He is the prospect every fan has come to know. The worry is balancing realistic expectation and hype. 

Baez is a true talent, but there are some trends that need to be addressed in order to temper the excitement:

- Baez has a career MiLB K ratio of 28%, which is still 3% higher than being consider 'awful' (http://www.fangraphs.com/library/offense/rate-stats/). Baez has a quick and powerful swing, but this comes with some consequences. It would be fair to say he could struggle after the initial call up. For this reason, it is good to call him up now to get the test drive out of the way. He has shown the resilience to make adjustments and work hard. 

- Career MiLB fielding percentage of .944. For a comparison, Starlin Castro has a career percentage of .963. The glove leaves something to be desired, but Second base may be a great place to stick him. 

- Javy is 21 YEARS OLD. If he doesn't not look like Dereck Jeter in his first month, give him a break. Players are not considered in their prime until their late 20's. Mike Trout is the exception, not the rule.

Now that the ground rules are set, it is time for is to enjoy the clear start of the next stage of Cubs Baseball. Welcome, and enjoy. Oh, let's also start watching the #BAEZBOMBS 

#VoteRizzo

Today. Today is the last day to vote for our hometown hero. Today is the day we will know if Anthony Rizzo will be going to the All Star Game.

And he belongs there.

And here is why...

92 hits, 45th best total in MLB, 8th amongst First Basemen.

20 HR, 6th in MLB, 2nd in the NL.

8th most walks in the MLB, with 2nd lowest K total amounts the top 20 BB getters.

.899 OPS, 17th in MLB.

.993 Fielding percentage at 1B.

Rizzo is on pace to set Career highs in every category. He is a silent leader on the field, and a vocal one off through his work with his charity and local hospitals.

So Vote Rizzo. Early and often. He has earned the respect of the fan base, and has earned a part of all Cun fans' hearts. It is time to return the favor.

Hope...a forgotten 4 letter word

Let's be honest. A realistic minded person did not see the Cubs competing for anything more than moving out of the cellar of the division. The team at times has been frustrating, the culmination of the frustration resolving in the outright release of Jose Veras.

With all the negative feelings towards this Chicago team, let's focus on positives. 

1.) Castro/Rizzo: Rick Renteria was brought in to change tha atmosphere and attitude of the Major League club. Additionally, it can be argued he has been brought in to help Castro. Up to this point in the season, he is doing the Job. Castro looks more and more comfortable at Short as the year goes on. His batting average isn't turning heads, but it is a HUGE improvement over last year. Letting Starlin do his thing seems to be the answer, for the hits and some flashes of that power have returned. Rizzo is in the conversation for the All-Stat game. After struggling against Lefties last year, Rizzo is putting up video game numbers this year. Things are looking up for the core.

2.) Minor League Development - Kris Bryant. Just reading his name brings chills to ever pitcher in AA. Bryant is enjoying a monster season this year, leading ever Triple Crown Category by a decent margin. Javier Baez is also turning his season around at AAA. His batting average is up to .234 after a very rough start to the season.

I understand Cub fans eagerness to see these guys at the big league level, but there is no need to rush them in order to bring in fans. Baez needs to work on the 30% K rate. Bryant may be a hitting machine, but a decision needs to be made what position he wants to play. With Renteria playing match ups and rotating a long bench at the MLB, Bryant and Baez can continue to benefit with everyday play. 

3.) Rennovations- Even with new obstacles and delays, this project is happening and it WILL have a great effect on the team. After touring the Wrigley facilities my self this past fall, saying upgraded player facilities is needed is the understatement of the Millenium. Let's get this going.

162 games. That's how many these guys get to play. With recent improved play and offensive execution (7-3 in their last 10), this team is better to watch then in years past. The change is coming. And it will likely be everything we hoped for.

Til next time Vine Lovers,

CC

http://mlb.mlb.com/r/video?content_id=33608083

http://mlb.mlb.com/r/video?content_id=33579895

Cooler by the Lake

Very close to a sweep last night. Very close. Last night's loss is frustrating only because by the box score it seems like the same team we have had the last few seasons. Lost late due to the closer.

PAUSE. Something is different. This team battles through at bats. Rizzo and Castro are maturing and leading. Starting pitching has been top notch. Are the winds of change finally here?

The record may not show it, but there has been better baseball of late up on the North side. It may not be immediately obvious, but this team does the little things well. Unfortunately, these team is lacking the true offensive talent to take a step in the division.

That brings me to my point. I love Bonifacio, Valbuenca 1-2 in the lineup. Castro in the 4 is working, just look at the numbers since the change. The thing I am challenged to understand is this: Why not Olt and Lake everyday?

Renteria has preached fundamentals and teaching opportunities, but I am BEYOND confused on why Lake and Olt do not get regular at bats at this level. Mike Olt is coming off a season in which he was plagued with vision issues. Junior Lake was a surprise after he was called up mid last year. Both of these guys have some holes in the swing, but bring the promise of upside. With a team that is not built to win now, it is worth playing them to find out how they fit into "the plan." Junior Lake had a solid day at the plate Saturday, only to ride pine last night. Mike Olt has struggled of late, but it is hard to work through issues without regular playing time. If Olt was not to play regularly, the Cubs did him a disservice by calling him up. He would have benefited from regular at bats in Triple A. 

This team has been promising of late. There is a really solid staff and an emerging power bullpen. The question remains: why do the best players not play? 

CC

Game 2

0-2. Not a start a starved fan base wants. Thank god for the fact that this team has 160 games left this season. And now the pros and cons list of game 2:

Pros:

*Rizzo - Even with a 1-9 start to the season, last night was some progress. He is taking better at bats. That late inning sequence in which he battled to 3-2, to take an inside pitch yard was a look of a more mature Rizzo. I am liking the set hand position in his swing's pre-load, more opportunity to square up the ball with less dancing around.

*Bonifacio - Beyond the pickoffs (so frustrating), he has been a nice early surprise. Two 4 hit games already this season with a .750 BA. I like what he brings to the top of the lineup. 

*Jackson - It wasn't the prettiest start, but there were some bright spots. He battled for 5.1 innings for 5Ks, 4B, and scattered 2 hits with 1 ER. He worked his way into trouble a few times, but made good pitches to get out of some bad situations. 

Cons:

*The Lineup - I do NOT like Castro in the 3 hole. Castro was out a few weeks with the Hamstring injury and his timing may be a little off. That is not the description of a player that I want in the 3 spot of the lineup. Additionally, I do not like having Olt on the squad just to bench him game 2. There may be some resting strategies at play due to that shoulder soreness he was dealing with this spring. That being said, the Cubs lineup is better with Olt protecting Rizzo in the lineup. I think the best options for 1-2 in the lineup are Bonifacio and Castro. Castro is a contact hitter with some legs. The hit and run potential with those two makes me excited. 

*RISP - 1 for 27 after two games. This team is starved for a big hit. I am looking to Rizzo, Olt and Castro to step up as leaders for these situations. The silver lining is that this is a series Vs. a team that won over 90 games last year due to there solid staff and bullpen. 

Coming up next!

Jason Hammel in his Cub debut vs. Wandy Rodriguez at 11:35 Ct. 

-CC

Opening Day

It's here. After a long few weeks of training camps, the games begin to count!! 

I don't know about you Cub fans, but I am excited for 2014. Yes, EXCITED. I think we can chalk that up to about a 50/50 split between brainwashed optimism and nostalgia. 

I'll calm down just a second to address my point: the 2014 Cubs are something to be excited about. Here's why:

1.) New Management: 

I don't have anything personal against Dale Svuem, but I am glad to see him gone. He was handed a tough situation and did not contribute anything to at least keep the ship afloat. So now we turn to Rick Renteria, ex-Padres bench coach, to man the helm. He brings a new attitude and a fresh look that focuses on developing talent at the Major League level. Many players have commented on his great attitude and the change in the overall atmosphere, but that is all talk. Time to take Ricky to the park and see what he can do.

2.) Rizzo and Castro:

There are not two Cubs happier that there is a new season. After what was noticeable regression in '13, these players are starved for a opportunity to prove they are better than last year. Castro came into camp healthier (until the injury) and with a new attitude. Rizzo has worked with new hitting coach Bill Mueller on taking the movement out of his approach. Can these guys get back to form? 

3.) The kids are coming...

If you have been living under a rock, let's bring you up to speed: Javier Baez had a great spring. Even though he is starting the year at Triple-A, he is knocking on the door of a call up. Kyle Hendricks is waiting in the wings as well. He had what Rick Sutcliffe described as the "it" factor. That future that Theo and Jed tell is about. It is almost here.

4.) "Happy birthday to...

Wrigley! On April 23, Wrigley Field turns 100 years old and the marketing team has a bunch of decade themed promotions at the park all season. That alone is worth the price of admission.

So sit back. Relax. Turn on that familiar WGN broadcast (potentially for the last year) and enjoy the thing we love through and through: The Cubs. It's a new year, and baseball is beautifully unpredictable. For that alone, it is good to be back home.

-CC