Category Archives: javier baez

2018 MLB Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs couldn’t repeat as World Series champions last year, but they still had a very good year. They ran into a better Dodgers team in the NLCS and were eliminated in five games.

This Cubs didn’t stand pat this offseason. They made some moves and cut some of the fat by deciding to not re-sign a few starters and let a few bullpen arms walk. They spent wisely by signing starter Yu Darvish to a pretty team-friendly contract. The Cubs did spend $126 million, but many thought Darvish could command a contract near $200 million at the start of the offseason.

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are perennial MVP candidates for the Cubs. Kyle Schwarber could be a guy on their level, but he has a rough year at the plate. He focused on his fitness this offseason and dropped weight. Will his power still be there?

Here is the 2018 MLB season preview for the Chicago Cubs.

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2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Top 50 Shortstops

Our fantasy baseball rankings pick up again with the top fifty shortstops.

The shortstop position is always been a place where you can find steals for your fantasy team. Although, over the last decade, there have always been a few guys with major power and speed. Thanks to an increased focus on launch angles, there are quite a few shortstops that will finish the year with 20+ homers.

Two seasons ago, the Yankees traded closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for a package centered around stud prospect Gleyber Torres. He’s now ready for the Majors, but will he be on the Opening Day roster?

My rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com.

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2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Top 50 Second Baseman

Our fantasy baseball rankings continue with the top fifty second baseman.

The second base has always been a top-heavy with talent, but there’s a little more than usual this season.

Jose Altuve leads the pack, but there are a few ‘Altuve Light’ options right behind him in the rankings.

Can Jonathan Schoop match last year’s offensive tear?

My rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com.

1. Jose Altuve – Houston Astros – Altuve may be the best overall player in fantasy. His average is top of the Majors and he will hit 25 homers and steal 30+ bases. I don’t expect a huge decrease in production, but then again, his numbers the last few years have been insane, so even a little decrease wouldn’t be alarming. He’s surrounded in the batting order with elite talent, so he will get pitches to hit.

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2017 MLB Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs finally did it. They curse was officially broken. If something bad happens during the season, we can no longer blame some supernatural force.

This season will be a weird one. As a Cubs fan, I usually come into the season with a little optimism, but mostly waiting for the impending doom and gloom to arrive. Even if the team gets off to a slow start in April, these guys basically have a lifetime pass, right?

Jason Heyward played with a broken swing for the entire season. He spent the offseason rebuilding it from scratch. How long will the Cubs stick with him if he struggles again?

I usually mess with all the MLB team preview photos in MS Paint as a joke, but this photo of David Ross getting carried off is just too damn perfect.

Here is the 2017 MLB season preview for the Chicago Cubs.

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2016 MLB Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

First off, let me tell you that I’m a huge Chicago Cubs fan. There arecertain things Cubs fans aren’t comfortable doing, one of them is boasting how this is finally the year they will win the World Series. We know better than that and are often more critical about the team. We don’t like to get our hopes up since they have always been shattered in laughable fashion.

The Cubs made some huge moves this offseason. The newly-signed veterans will allow some of their younger players to platoon.

Here is the 2016 MLB season preview for the Chicago Cubs.

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2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Top 40 Second Baseman

Second base was one of the thinnest positions last year, but due players like Anthony Rendon and Brian Dozier, it’s now extremely deep. There is a group of young second baseman in MLB that have surpassed guys like Chase Utley and Brandon Phillips. The position should be deep for quite some time.

How will Javier Baez and Rougned Odor fare in their first full seasons in the Majors?

My 2nd base fantasy baseball rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com.

1. Robinson Cano – Seattle Mariners – Cano has been the consensus #1 second baseman for quite some time. He proved last season that getting a fat paycheck didn’t affect his on-the-field performance. He’s good for .300+ with double-digit power and the ability to drive in 90 runs.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are nearing the end of a long-term rebuilding plan. It feels like Theo Epstein has been working on this plan for a decade. Many of Chicago’s young, homegrown players will be called up by the end of the year.

The Cubs made a big splash this offseason by signing Jon Lester to a long-term deal and by hiring Joe Maddon after he opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay. He turned around that franchise and is one of the smartest managers in the game.

Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Jorge Soler have Cubs fans drooling. The trio make up the corps of young talent Chicago has been developing in the minors.

Can Chicago be a real contender this season or is it a year too early?

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Chicago Cubs.

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MLB: Should You Buy Into September Stats?

After the September roster expansion, MLB teams become diluted. You no longer have the best of the best facing against each other. Young players are brought up to get seasoning and Four-A players are also given time so teams can rest their stars (especially if a team is out of the playoff race).

If you play fantasy baseball, you’re always looking for an edge. Some of these players are going to look great, because they are facing sub-standard pitching/hitting every couple days.

I will show you some examples and explain to you why I am either buying or selling their stats so far in September.

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Which Top MLB Prospects Will Be Called Up This Season?

The All-Star Game is over and pennant races are heating up (for many teams). On the other side of the coin, there are a handful of teams that are playing for next season and beyond. Those teams usually have a stockpile of prospects on the verge of making their MLB debuts.

This post features the game’s top prospects and their estimated time of arrival.

Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, Javier Baez and others have their team’s fans drooling. Fans are usually impatient when it comes to prospects…especially if their team is near the bottom of the standings.

Which top prospects are expected to be called up this season? Which prospects will need a little more seasoning in the Minors?

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Cubs trade Samardzija & Hammel to Oakland for Prospects

The Chicago Cubs FINALLY made the trade fans knew was coming for a long time.

Cubs’ fans assumed it would take two separate deals to trade both Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, but they found their trade partner in the Oakland A’s.

The Cubs need young pitching, so you would expect the deal would surround some young arms. Right? Not exactly.

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Chicago Cubs: Trade Candidates

We are a quarter into the 2014 MLB season and the Chicago Cubs are already playing for the 2016 season (yes, not even 2015).

Their farm system is deep, but lacks pitching. They have bats for days (Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler) and have used their high draft picks on position players. I assume they will draft a starting pitcher with the #4 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft, since they desperately need a future ace.

The Cubs currently have a handful of players that contenders would love to have down the stretch.

There is one player specifically that has been the focus of nearly ever Cubs trade rumor, Jeff Samardzija.

Which Cubs players are currently on the trading block? We will list the most likely trade candidates and any players the Cubs have their eye on in return.

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2014 MLB Team Preview: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of a long-term rebuilding plan. They are building the team through the draft and their farm system is now one of the best in baseball. Many of those prospects are still a year away, so many Cubs fans are already looking ahead to the 2015 season.

Expect the Cubs roster to looks drastically different by the end of the season. Jeff Samardzija may even be traded before the season begins.

New manager Rick Renteria takes over a team of mostly cheap role players keeping seats warm until Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant are ready to appear in the Majors.

Can Starlin Castro regain his All-Star form? Will Anthony Rizzo make a leap forward and become a better all-around hitter?

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Chicago Cubs.

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