Comments on: How the Cubs Will Find Places for Javier Baez to Play in 2017 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/25/is-baez-the-odd-man-out-in-2017-nope-draft/ Just another Baseball Prospectus Local Sites site Sat, 16 Feb 2019 21:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: Theguz7 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/25/is-baez-the-odd-man-out-in-2017-nope-draft/#comment-16348 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 19:16:19 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17148#comment-16348 Everything right on, Dan, but one glaring part of the analysis is missing: the debate in Joe’s mind may be framed “Javy or Zobrist”, but that is a huge mistake if he sees it that way. The prob in all this is the completely head-scratching pickup of Jon Jay–let alone for $8 MM (starter money).

Every single inning that Jay plays this year will be a theft from–you name it–Almora obviously, but also one of either Baez, Zo, Schwarbs, even Contreras.

Assuming no Jay, it could have been assumed that Almora, not Baez, would be given a shot, but if he struggled or a tough RHP was facing us, Heyward could slide over to CF–where he’d be doubly valuable, covering up for shortcomings in LF and RF–as opposed to none in CF. In that way, even counting 40 times when Heyward plays CF adds to your Baez analysis; each game in CF equals another in RF for Zobrist or Bryant, and additional games at 2B and 3B for Javy.

I hope to God someone who can impact Joe (only Joe) has figured this out.

]]> By: Dan Hodgman http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/25/is-baez-the-odd-man-out-in-2017-nope-draft/#comment-16346 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:03:46 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17148#comment-16346 Totally agree re DL stints and other lineup permutations you’ve identified above.

]]> By: Brad Phillips http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/01/25/is-baez-the-odd-man-out-in-2017-nope-draft/#comment-16344 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:13:49 +0000 http://wrigleyville.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=17148#comment-16344 And that assumes complete health for all players. There will be at least some 15-day DL stints, which will give Baez more playing time regardless of who is on the DL because of how guys move around. Also, if Schwarber catches, Zobrist in LF, Baez at 2B for like 10 starts. Also, Heyward in CF for a few games with Zobrist in RF, Baez at 2B.

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