- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
CHC Thread | ANA (Nolasco) vs. CHC (Hammel) | 7:05 CT
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:22 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:22 am
Listen, I'm posting this thread in part because it sounds like Justin Grimm is headed to Iowa to accommodate the return of SP Jason Hammel tomorrow. And, while that is understandable, it really means Chris Coghlan continues to survive the so-called "roster crunches" the Cubs keep facing.
And, I'm going to be that guy in this thread. I'm going to be the one who complains about the team with the best record in baseball and riding the hottest streak out of the All Star Break. I'm going to be the guy complaining about a fifth outfielder getting to survive on the roster over a utility infielder. I'm going to be the one who can't understand how Chris Coghlan helps the Cubs more than Tommy La Stella, even in the interim from now until September 1.
Chris Coghlan is not awful. He's not good, either. Tommy La Stella isn't an all star. But he's definitely "good". He's more valuable to the Cubs than Chris Coghlan. And for all the right the front office of this organization has done since taking over, this small roster decision sticks in my craw. I just don't understand it. I mean I understand the numbers game and that "losing Coghlan" would be the price to pay for having La Stella and/or Grimm on the 25 man roster right now, but isn't that a price worth paying a thousand times over?
This post was edited on 8/10/16 at 4:21 pm
3
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:27 am to The Sad Banana
Did La Stella ever show up in Iowa?
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:31 am to The Sad Banana
Give Szczur moar ABs.
Two things about all this:
1.) LaStella should be with the big club
2.) Coghlan should not
Two things about all this:
1.) LaStella should be with the big club
2.) Coghlan should not
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:39 am to witty alias
I don't believe he has. There are all kinds of different information I've heard...I've heard he's pissed, I've heard the Cubs just told him to chill for a few weeks, I've heard he's had a family emergency...
But if there is a family emergency, there's the bereavement list. Something is just weird about hoarding Coghlan at the expense of La Stella.
While this may never cost the Cubs a game at all, I just find the decision strange.
But if there is a family emergency, there's the bereavement list. Something is just weird about hoarding Coghlan at the expense of La Stella.
While this may never cost the Cubs a game at all, I just find the decision strange.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 9:40 am to The Sad Banana
In the meantime, enjoy Javy Baez's best defensive plays of 2016 thanks to CubsInsider.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:11 am to BCMCubs
quote:
Two things about all this:
1.) LaStella should be with the big club
2.) Coghlan should not
Agreed, but the Cubs have the opportunity to retain all of those assets. If they DFA Cogs, he'll get claimed and if Soler and Szczur get hurt again, they'll be back where they were. While that sucks for the Star, it is the price you have to pay when you have options and Cogs doesn't. Same goes for the Grimm reaper.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:24 am to therick711
quote:
Agreed, but the Cubs have the opportunity to retain all of those assets. If they DFA Cogs, he'll get claimed and if Soler and Szczur get hurt again, they'll be back where they were. While that sucks for the Star, it is the price you have to pay when you have options and Cogs doesn't. Same goes for the Grimm reaper.
This. It's a pretty simple explanation. Just the way the business works.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:32 am to therick711
quote:First off, I understand the situation completely for Grimm.
Agreed, but the Cubs have the opportunity to retain all of those assets. If they DFA Cogs, he'll get claimed and if Soler and Szczur get hurt again, they'll be back where they were. While that sucks for the Star, it is the price you have to pay when you have options and Cogs doesn't. Same goes for the Grimm reaper.
But I don't understand why they feel they are better with Coghlan even if they can keep them all. If Soler gets hurt again, you bring back Almora. Boom, better outfielder and you retain La Stella, the better LH bat.
Guys, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
ETA: Not to mention that if the Cubs are thinking they will retain Coghlan through to the playoff run, then they must also think there is a possibility they keep him possibly over La Stella in the playoffs, which also doesn't make any sense.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 10:34 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:37 am to therick711
quote:
If they DFA Cogs, he'll get claimed and if Soler and Szczur get hurt again, they'll be back where they were. While that sucks for the Star, it is the price you have to pay when you have options and Cogs doesn't. Same goes for the Grimm reaper.
Meh. With Baez pushing Zobrist or Bryant out to LF (in the Soler is hurt again scenario) , there is no lineup where Coghlan is needed. At some point you're getting too cute trying to stockpile 35 guys. Only 25 are coming to the playoffs.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 10:38 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:50 am to Maximus
quote:
Meh. With Baez pushing Zobrist or Bryant out to LF (in the Soler is hurt again scenario) , there is no lineup where Coghlan is needed. At some point you're getting too cute trying to stockpile 35 guys. Only 25 are coming to the playoffs.
There is if you want a left-handed bat in left. Baez is significantly worse against right-handed pitching. Against a tough righty, you might want Cogs (ugh) in the lineup.
I'm the biggest Tommy La Stella fan in the world. The problem is the numbers game. Right now, they want an outfielder that hits left-handed on the bench. La Stella is many things, but he is not an outfielder or out of options.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 11:16 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:53 am to therick711
quote:But La Stella is a LH hitter. And he's better than Coghlan. And the Cubs have enough outfielders now that Soler is back.
There is if you want a left-handed bat in left. I'm the biggest Tommy La Stella fan in the world. The problem is the numbers game. Right now, they want an outfielder that hist left-handed on the bench. La Stella is many things, but he is not an outfielder or out of options.
Let's say that the Cubs want a LH outfilder. You want that against a RHP. You're basically saying you want to keep Bryant in the lineup at the expense of an outfielder, likely Soler. So, if you are to make that change, you are better served moving Bryant to LF and playing La Stella at 3B than you are if you keep Bryant at 3B and replace Soler with Coghlan in LF.
Keeping La Stella makes the team both better offensively and defensively.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:55 am to The Sad Banana
quote:
But La Stella is a LH hitter. And he's better than Coghlan. And the Cubs have enough outfielders now that Soler is back.
Let's say that the Cubs want a LH outfilder. You want that against a RHP. You're basically saying you want to keep Bryant in the lineup at the expense of an outfielder, likely Soler. So, if you are to make that change, you are better served moving Bryant to LF and playing La Stella at 3B than you are if you keep Bryant at 3B and replace Soler with Coghlan in LF.
Keeping La Stella makes the team both better offensively and defensively.
I was addressing Maximus' point of the Soler is hurt scenario. La Stella is better than Cogs. Cogs is insurance against outfield injuries and he doesn't have options. That is the calculus. The Star will be around Sept. 1.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 10:57 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 10:59 am to therick711
quote:The scenario I explained works even if Soler is hurt because the entire premise is taking Soler out of the lineup against RHP.
I was addressing Maximus' point of the Soler is hurt scenario. La Stella is better than Cogs. Cogs is insurance against outfield injuries and he doesn't have options. That is the calculus. The Star will be around Sept. 1.
I know the Cubs like Coghlan. Hell I like Coghlan. But it doesn't make sense to keep an inferior player like Coghlan on the roster when you have the better option in La Stella.
If keeping La Stella up meant you DFA Coghlan, that's worth the price every time.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 10:59 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 11:03 am to The Sad Banana
quote:
I know the Cubs like Coghlan. Hell I like Coghlan. But it doesn't make sense to keep an inferior player like Coghlan on the roster when you have the better option in La Stella.
It does when you get to keep the asset as insurance against injury AND have La Stella when it matters. La Stella isn't a factor day to day. His WAR is minuscule. His value over Cogs is incremental by any measure. By not having La Stella for a month, you get them both for the stretch run and the playoffs. It makes the most sense from that perspective. The problem is treating La Stella's value as much higher than it really is. He's a good, useful player, but he isn't good enough to push another decent asset onto another contender's roster.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 11:04 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 11:10 am to therick711
quote:
game. Right now, they want an outfielder that hist left-handed on the bench.
Pretty damn simple.
Cogs can play OF and 2B. La Stella can only play inf. Given each' track record, La Stella isn't a better hitter than Cogs.
Cogs is slumping but still drawing walks. He isn't killing you at the plate despite his .200 average. History tells us he is a least a 260 hitter. And his history with the Cubs tells us his power is a few ticks above La Stella's
A guy hitting .200 with a .360obp tells me he is seeing the ball well. As his average increases you could see his OBP creep over .400
Posted on 8/9/16 at 11:14 am to Lester Earl
Lester, come on. La Stella is hitting .295 on the season AND OBPing higher than Coghlan in Coghlan's short time with the Cubs this year.
And Coghlan can't play 2B or 3B like La Stella can. Not to mention, you can move Bryant to the OF in the event of a replacement or a spot start for a LH against RHP. AND, if you want to give Bryant a break AND have a LH option against a RHP, you just play Soler in LF and La Stella at 3B.
I'm never going to agree with this. I understand what they did and why, but I don't agree with it.
And Coghlan can't play 2B or 3B like La Stella can. Not to mention, you can move Bryant to the OF in the event of a replacement or a spot start for a LH against RHP. AND, if you want to give Bryant a break AND have a LH option against a RHP, you just play Soler in LF and La Stella at 3B.
I'm never going to agree with this. I understand what they did and why, but I don't agree with it.
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 11:17 am
Posted on 8/9/16 at 11:17 am to The Sad Banana
quote:
AND, if you want to give Bryant a break AND have a LH OF option against a RHP, you just play Soler in LF and La Stella at 3B.
Did Soler start switch hitting or something? You holding out on us, TSB?
Posted on 8/9/16 at 11:18 am to therick711
Nah, I meant LH option, not LH OF option...I edited. Sorry.
This is good conversation, I'm loving it.
This is good conversation, I'm loving it.
Posted on 8/9/16 at 12:47 pm to The Sad Banana
Joe Maddon Speaks About the Tommy La Stella Situation
such a weird situation to see playing out on the major league circuit. He is pissed that he was optioned to AAA so he literally took his ball and went home?
such a weird situation to see playing out on the major league circuit. He is pissed that he was optioned to AAA so he literally took his ball and went home?
This post was edited on 8/9/16 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 8/9/16 at 12:55 pm to mylsuhat
It looks that way, yes. I will say this, La Stella has reason to be upset. HOWEVER, I don't think that it looks good on him or that he's being very mature. I don't like the roster decision that was made and I don't think it makes sense for the Cubs at all, but for all the hemming and hawing I did over the recent roster decisions that included Coghlan remaining on the roster undoubtedly had more to do with La Stella's actions after his demotion than Chris Coghlan vs. Tommy La Stella the baseball players.
There's obviously a lot more to this than we know, so I'm going to go ahead and trust Joe Maddon and the front office on this whole thing.
There's obviously a lot more to this than we know, so I'm going to go ahead and trust Joe Maddon and the front office on this whole thing.
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News