Comments on: A Playing Time Nightmare

By: batts40

batts40 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 14:20:21 +0000

This is what Marlo Stanfield called “one of them good problems.”

By: Theguz7

Theguz7 — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 19:49:23 +0000

We are all agreed on the only prob, and it’s CF, specifically Jay.

I have no prob letting Almora instantly be as valuable as Inciarte or Kiermaier, but giving him days off vs tough RHP, with Heyward, not Jay, sliding into CF is the way to go. That instantly gets Baez into 2B and Zobrist into RF. Do it 40 x and Almora still gets 120 G.

By: Zack Moser

Zack Moser — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:30:33 +0000

I think Javy gets 5-10 percent at short, absolutely. I forgot to include that in the table, thanks for pointing it out. Starting 75 percent of total games seems about right, if a little optimistic.

By: Zack Moser

Zack Moser — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:27:16 +0000

I agree with this. Last offseason I was completely on board with Heyward getting starts in center, and I think he would succeed there. Getting Zo in right and more starts for Javy at the expense of Almora is probably good.

Heyward is surely good enough to separate his offense and defense, so I (and likely the front office) am not concerned.

By: Brad Phillips

Brad Phillips — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:51:14 +0000

Shortstop? Russell will get days off. Another 5-15% of the playing time there?

Injuries? Each 15-day DL stint by a regular gives Baez another 5-10% is of playing time.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:45:28 +0000

I think the answer might be some starts in center field for Heyward at the expense of the Almora/Jay combination. That would help get Baez and Zobrist both in the game more often together with Zo taking those starts in right field. The downside is whether the Cubs think shifting Heyward around will interfere with him ability to focus on his new swing.