Can we finally close the book on Holland and Fowler?

[Eagles_Ball]

DFA for Holland. Just call it good. Maybe wait until CMart and Reyes are back. But that dude is done.

Not sure how you keep running Fowler out there. We need a Mike Leake type deal here. Stat. O'Neill is obviously a bit Pedro Cerano. But Bader should be playing errrrrrrday. Ozuna still sucks, but his suck is much better than Fowler's suck.

 

[oldroundballer]

As bad as Fowler has been, and make no mistake he's been bad, he's still scored 5 more runs than Ozuna and only has 4 less RBIs. That's in 15 less plate appearances. I'm probably as disappointed in Ozuna as Fowler. I didn't expect much from Fowler, although admittedly a little more than he's done. But I was hoping Ozuna would be the cleanup hitter we need. But he's been less than average. 3 dingers in 43 games isn't good from the 4 hole. That's 1 more than perennial power hitting Greg Garcia. Even Fowler has more.

Holland was a decent chance to take. But yeah the dude just doesn't have it. We can't keep letting him cause damage. He's had enough time to get in a groove. Either go to Memphis and try to find it or go home. I'd vote for just go home.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Holland is just depressing, and it's insane and unfair that Matheny put him out there in a game that was still winnable.

It's one thing to let Fowler work through a slump; it's another to hit him leadoff.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Holland is just done. Sucks and frustrating...but watching Herrera come in last night reminded of what a real closer looks like.

Fowler is lost. While some of his metrics are similar and his BABIP is insanely low, dude is hitting a TON of lazy fly balls. Maybe he's done this his whole career, and I'm too lazy to look at past video...but watch his hands when he pulls the trigger. He flips them and then circles them under the ball. Makes his hands late to almost every fastball he offers at. And then he tries to flip the bat head through the zone to catch up, or so it seems. And he's obviously guessing, or he wouldn't be waiving at sliders on his front foot.

At this point...find ANYONE willing to eat his salary. Call up Mercado and carry the five OF'ers, subbing Mercado for Fowler. Bader needs to play. Give Mercado and O'Neill some ABs to spell Ozuna. I really don't think Fowler or Ozuna either have the track records to continue to play them when they're this bad.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Holland is just done. Sucks and frustrating...but watching Herrera come in last night reminded of what a real closer looks like.

Fowler is lost. While some of his metrics are similar and his BABIP is insanely low, dude is hitting a TON of lazy fly balls. Maybe he's done this his whole career, and I'm too lazy to look at past video...but watch his hands when he pulls the trigger. He flips them and then circles them under the ball. Makes his hands late to almost every fastball he offers at. And then he tries to flip the bat head through the zone to catch up, or so it seems. And he's obviously guessing, or he wouldn't be waiving at sliders on his front foot.

At this point...find ANYONE willing to eat his salary. Call up Mercado and carry the five OF'ers, subbing Mercado for Fowler. Bader needs to play. Give Mercado and O'Neill some ABs to spell Ozuna. I really don't think Fowler or Ozuna either have the track records to continue to play them when they're this bad.

The problem is someone isn't going to eat his salary

 

[Eagles_Ball]

The problem is someone isn't going to eat his salary

Ain't that the truth. Of course, I was shocked when the Birds only had to pay about a years worth of salary to unload Leake.

 

[oldroundballer]

It all goes back to Oscar Taveras making some bad decisions. The Birds have been trying to replace him ever since, with little success.

 

[Sam_Tarley]

This is what happens when you always go for the cheap alternative instead of one of the big fish. Sometimes you hit it rich like with the Japanese import, sometimes you don't, Fowler and Cecil.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This is what happens when you always go for the cheap alternative instead of one of the big fish. Sometimes you hit it rich like with the Japanese import, sometimes you don't, Fowler and Cecil.

Problem is, that 5 yr deal with Fowler isn't really cheap. That was a bad, panic signing when it happened. And it's getting worse.

 

[wccards21]

Problem is, that 5 yr deal with Fowler isn't really cheap. That was a bad, panic signing when it happened. And it's getting worse.

Us Cubs fans still love him(and his hilarious wife)

He's the gift that keeps on giving

 

[BobbyMiles18]

Us Cubs fans still love him(and his hilarious wife)

He's the gift that keeps on giving

Enjoy 4-3 Heyward.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Enjoy 4-3 Heyward.

Seems like somewhat of a wash really.

 

[wccards21]

Enjoy 4-3 Heyward.

I do enjoy him. That world series trophy is pretty sweet. I also don't mind having a gold glove with a rocket arm in the OF

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I do enjoy him. That world series trophy is pretty sweet. I also don't mind having a gold glove with a rocket arm in the OF

That Cubs lineup is the perfect spot for him. Don't need anything offensively from a corner OF'er, given the production all over the place in that lineup. So can hit him 8th and watch him roll it to 2B or pop foul to 3B, and play just about as good of a RF as there is being played in the game.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Problem is, that 5 yr deal with Fowler isn't really cheap. That was a bad, panic signing when it happened. And it's getting worse.

5th year was rough

 

[wccards21]

That Cubs lineup is the perfect spot for him. Don't need anything offensively from a corner OF'er, given the production all over the place in that lineup. So can hit him 8th and watch him roll it to 2B or pop foul to 3B, and play just about as good of a RF as there is being played in the game.

If he can keep his WRC+ around 90.....while maintaining his excellent defense, I'm happy

 

[wccards21]

5th year was rough

Never got why they gave him 5. I don't think anyone else was that heavy into negotiating with him.....were they?

 

[Duck_walk]

If he can keep his WRC+ around 90.....while maintaining his excellent defense, I'm happy

Stop it. He sucks offensively. They are wasting millions on a good defender. You guys need to all get a room for your 3 way.

 

[wccards21]

Stop it. He sucks offensively. They are wasting millions on a good defender. You guys need to all get a room for your 3 way.

Rizzo, Bryant, Contreras, Schwarber and Baez.....I don't think the Cubs are hurting for offense. They also are not hurting for money. Just remember, after next year, they will be printing money off like the Dodgers

Oh yeah.....Zobrist is healthy again too. .289\.383\.396

 

[Neutron Monster]

Rizzo, Bryant, Contreras, Schwarber and Baez.....I don't think the Cubs are hurting for offense. They also are not hiringh for money. Just remember, after next year, they will be printing money off like the Dodgers

Oh yeah.....Zobrist is healthy again too. .289\.383\.396

With his highest BABIP since 2009. That stat line isn't sustainable

 

[wccards21]

With his highest BABIP since 2009. That stat line isn't sustainable

Doesn't need to be though. He's not playing daily anymore. Just the fact that he's healthy again and swinging the bat well off the bench is a huge plus

 

[vbsideout]

Day off today so Ozuna can catch up on his rest Fowler has a no trade clause so that makes dumping him more difficult. How many teams could lose their all star catcher, ace pitcher, starting SS and sign a stopper who couldn't get me out and still be 5 games over. Go Birds! The starting pitcher's will carry the day!

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Day off today so Ozuna can catch up on his rest Fowler has a no trade clause so that makes dumping him more difficult. How many teams could lose their all star catcher, ace pitcher, starting SS and sign a stopper who couldn't get me out and still be 5 games over. Go Birds! The starting pitcher's will carry the day!

Not many I suppose. But the ace has missed what, two starts? The young arms will carry the load. Is it too late to invoke a lemon law on Ozuna? Wouldn’t mind to see Alcantara still in the system.

 

[vbsideout]

Not many I suppose. But the ace has missed what, two starts? The young arms will carry the load. Is it too late to invoke a lemon law on Ozuna? Wouldn’t mind to see Alcantara still in the system.

Won't be able to get Alcantara back, but maybe Ozuna could still be a valuable trade chip, because I don't see how the Birds would be willing to resign him after next year with all the OFs they have in the system. I'm afraid that we are stuck with Fowler so to me Pham or Ozuna has to go and they would be a pretty good chip to get an impact player. Think trading Pham while his stock is sky high would be good if they could get a stud in return. I am not as sold on Pham as most are.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Won't be able to get Alcantara back, but maybe Ozuna could still be a valuable trade chip, because I don't see how the Birds would be willing to resign him after next year with all the OFs they have in the system. I'm afraid that we are stuck with Fowler so to me Pham or Ozuna has to go and they would be a pretty good chip to get an impact player. Think trading Pham while his stock is sky high would be good if they could get a stud in return. I am not as sold on Pham as most are.

What if we asked nicely? He's still in the minors. They can even keep Mags and the other two arms.

Pham is club control for another 3 seasons after this one. He turned down whatever their offer was last season, which was some BS 2-yr deal. They can try to sign him again, or trade him, or go to arbitration with him. He'll get paid handsomely in arb as long as he puts up the number he has the last yr or so. But arb is scary for him, simply because of his injury history. I don't think they'll trade him, because he's not as worth as much on the open market simply because he's 30 yrs old already. Which is another reason why arb is scary for him, he'll be 34 by the time he's a free agent for the first time. If I'm the Birds FO, I go to arb with him and pay him that way. And if I'm Pham, I play and prepare as angry as he has for the last yr +. It seems to work for him.

 

[Duck_walk]

Even if it is a great deal, three words would describe trading Pham and keeping Fowler.
P.R. nightmare.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Even if it is a great deal, three words would describe trading Pham and keeping Fowler.
P.R. nightmare.

I don't think you'll have to keep Fowler, necessarily. Just won't get anything for him and will probably have to pay about 1/3 of what's left on his deal.

 

[3Rfan]

Rizzo, Bryant, Contreras, Schwarber and Baez.....I don't think the Cubs are hurting for offense. They also are not hurting for money. Just remember, after next year, they will be printing money off like the Dodgers

Oh yeah.....Zobrist is healthy again too. .289\.383\.396

So what is their excuse for NOT being on top in the division?

 

[wccards21]

So what is their excuse for NOT being on top in the division?

Terrible luck and awful with runners in scoring position

Do you really think the team with the 8th best average, 2nd in OBP, 4th in SLG, 5th in WRC+ and 5th in runs scored......for the entire MLB..... Will be a 4th place team in September?

 

[vbsideout]

Even if it is a great deal, three words would describe trading Pham and keeping Fowler.
P.R. nightmare.

Depends on the return. P

So what is their excuse for NOT being on top in the division?

I would guess they would tell you it's only May!

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Do you really think the team with the 8th best average, 2nd in OBP, 4th in SLG, 5th in WRC+ and 5th in runs scored......for the entire MLB..... Will be a 4th place team in September?

Unfortunately, no. Grrrrrrr. But, and I might be crazy here, I think the Brew Crew will give them a run all year.

 

[Neutron Monster]

Terrible luck and awful with runners in scoring position

Do you really think the team with the 8th best average, 2nd in OBP, 4th in SLG, 5th in WRC+ and 5th in runs scored......for the entire MLB..... Will be a 4th place team in September?

They've outscored their opponents by 60 runs...they are pretty clearly still the class of the division.

 

[wccards21]

Unfortunately, no. Grrrrrrr. But, and I might be crazy here, I think the Brew Crew will give them a run all year.

Their bullpen is killer currently

 

[3Rfan]

Terrible luck and awful with runners in scoring position

Do you really think the team with the 8th best average, 2nd in OBP, 4th in SLG, 5th in WRC+ and 5th in runs scored......for the entire MLB..... Will be a 4th place team in September?

I could say the Cardinals have had terrible luck too. How many important folks on the DL, and how many 'unlucky'/unfortunate signings for the pen?

 

[vbsideout]

Colome on the move for what seems to be very little. Oh well we got Holland!