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metseventually 2
What a weird season for Arrieta…since June 27th he’s either been terrible or dominant in his starts…
BoldyMinnesota
I hope he figures it out before playoffs too, they’re such an exciting team. I know playoffs are a crapshoot, but a healthy and effective Cubs team is probably one of the best teams of the 2000’s. It’ll be hard to get through Arrieta, Lester and Hendricks in a series, while shutting down all their bats.
Mikel Grady
Agreed
meinhardt1992 2
Don’t forget Lackey who has had some stellar starts
chesteraarthur
Since when is Almora a speed oriented player? His speed grades at a 55, which is above average, but not even plus. He is a defense oriented player who is successful due to good reads and routes vs. speed.
Atlanta Braves Fan 4 Life
Yeah but he probably looks like the Flash compared to Montero, in which the speed grade diameter broke due to low registration of speed. Just a thought.
jkim319
You are right. He is a really good defender who gets great reads, takes great angles and uses his athleticism well.
With all of his international/minor league experience there is no excuse for how clueless he showed himself in game situations (regularly throwing to the wrong base, ‘stupid’ aggressive on the bases, etc). Hope he figures it out. He has talent, but he still ‘thinks’ like a u17 travel ball player
Fabian721
Having three catchers ( although a lefty) would be a waste in 5 game series ( a speedster would be nice but NOT necessary , compared to situational hitters like ( coglan, lastella
tim815
Except for two things.
With only two catchers (something Maddon has avoided all season), the reserve catcher can’t be used in any match-up situation. Or an injury/ejection situation could lead to a non-catcher behind the plate situation.
Also, if either catcher wakes with a bad back or upset stomach, for instance, the team has to make a roster move to have a spare catcher.
Which means placing a player on the DL for the remained of that series, and the entire next series.
Normally, catcher is “the regular guy” the whole way. Unless the reserve gets the start. Then he will likely play the distance.
The Cubs mix-and-match behind the plate. The Cubs haven’t put themselves in that situation all season. I doubt they start in October.
dodgerblue88
What’s the view on Arrieta from Cubs fans? I’ve always been curious. Obviously his performance has been mostly great, but as an outsider he’s always seemed to rub me the wrong way a bit.
Maybe it’s because he no-hit us on national TV last year? 🙂 But seriously I think it’s all his comments on wanting to be paid like and ace and aces get 7 years, etc… While only have thrown 1+ season at that level after several erratic seasons.
It’s always bugged me when players are given a chance on a new team, exceed expectations and then demand the world. I get it’s a business and he has every right to leverage his recent performance and bet on his talent. But I don’t feel his track record is long enough to warrant such public demands and self appointed status.
From the interviews I’ve seen of him he seems like a normal guy, but his public comments had me rooting for him to get a taste of some humility. But as I said halfway across the country I’m sure I’m not getting everything from the horses mouth so to speak.
What say you cubbie fans?
pt57
It’s a negotiation. Of course he’s going to say he’s an ace and deserves a 7 year contract.
dodgerblue88
I get his perspective. I’m saying I don’t like the players that try to talk themselves up. Bautista was going to be my recent example that was already mentioned.
What I was, or was at least trying to say, was that players that make those sorts of comments invariably rub me the wrong way. That whole actions speak louder than words deal. When Piazza came out and told the media he won’t settle for less than being the first $100million dollar player it made me take notice. Those kinds of “I’m the best and won’t accept less than…” statements rarely seem to work well for the player. Put up the numbers and people will be lining up to pay you.
So my question wasnt why was he saying it. I’m saying players that makes those sorts of comments annoy me, but I don’t know enough about him. So I’m asking Cubs fans if that’s typical Jake, or if that doesn’t reflect his actual personality. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt here I guess 🙂
George Herman
Because he blossomed late, Arrieta has 1 shot at a real (relative to MLB standards) payday. My impression is that he wants his 1 shot at a contract negotiation to start with a high bar.
Kayrall
FWIW he’s pitched at a high level for well over 2 years now.
Consider the alternative where he establishes himself as a TOR pitcher and takes a team friendly deal. People would question it and it would tick off other players and the union that are always trying to squeeze as much out of signing teams as possible.
As others have said, everything he says is just posturing. If he truly goes the Jose Bautista route and declines a legit offer publicly in his situation (wrong end of 30), then yea, maybe we should start to question him.
stl_cards16 2
Why would you start to question him? Free Agency is a right of his. Why would it bother anyone if he wanted to test the market?
nikogarcia
As a Cubs fan, regardless of the comments he made about the 7 year contract, I still love him! Jake is a guy who know what he wants and he believes in himself and that’s what you want in a guy you’re gonna dedicate a lot of money (and time) to. I genuinely hope the Cubs pass on Arrieta come extension time because big dollars at big years at this point have proven to be a detriment in recent years to the signing team, but I do hope Arrieta gets his pay day somewhere and still kills it with his new team.
jkim319
No one questions Jake’s right to test the market .. We all know boras long ago laid out a strategy for Jake, the posturing each needs to take and how ‘he’ (Boras) wants to best position and play the Jake arrietta cards.
Whether theo/Jed pay the price is another story. We all know they have evaluated not only what they feel is jakes value, but they have also matched his value against the timing of the market
My guess? They make a solid offer (5 years) with higher AAV, agree to extend to 6 (slightly less AAV), then another team does a ‘Diamondbacks type grienke’ move and he signs elsewhere ..
Will play out under theo (professional, behind the scenes) and boras (ugly, okay the press, ‘we will walk’) terms … We will hear boras’ pontificating and we will hear theo outline the framework of his position
Jake signs elsewhere .. Good for him.. Good for the Cubs … Sad to see him go
jkim319
‘Play’ (not okay)… Sorry Autocorrect
slider32
Cubs are by far the best team this year in baseball, which puts them as underdogs to win the playoffs. The playoffs are outlier. Cleveland looks to be the best team in the American league.
thebare
Heyward need glasses no joke his Persephone from the mound he can’t see dodging balls that ain’t close
thebare
Perception