Or however you spell his name is a freaking terrible Left Fielder he just missed a fly ball that was 5 feet from him lol
TRADE him to the AL for a pitcher lol
TRADE him to the AL for a pitcher lol
Schwarber
- Thread starter SIXERS24
- Start date
I agree, but it seems mngmt is in love with his POTENTIAL. The problem for the Cubs is that he's been scouted and weak spots found. If the farm system is really as strong as the fans think... he might be on the market. But teams will offer less now that he's struggling.
I agree that he's an AL player with the defensive liabilities. The funny thing is the Cubs have a lot of players under performing right now, so if a playoff run never happens, they likely sit at the current roster and shop for some help next winter.
He came up as a catcher though and they didn't have anywhere to put him with Contreras, so they put him in the outfield bc they needed his bat. At least that's how I remember it. They're willing to deal with a few of those bonehead errors a year as long as he's crushing them into the street.
I have seen him make a couple highlight reel catches this past week. I don't think he is a big liability on defense. If he gets hot as a hitter, his fielding will be fine.
Schwarber is too young to spend the rest of his MLB
career as a DH. With Rizzo at 1B, the Cubs do not
need to transform Schwarber into a 1B. But he is
definitely an American League type of player who
could learn to play 1B and DH for a team willing
to trade for him.
career as a DH. With Rizzo at 1B, the Cubs do not
need to transform Schwarber into a 1B. But he is
definitely an American League type of player who
could learn to play 1B and DH for a team willing
to trade for him.
He is getting better. He is a catcher who had to be put somewhere other than catcher. Heck, their young catcher, Contreras, had to play other spots last year. Schwarber is not ideal in LF, but he is getting better. He also gets to be DH in all the inter league games. The hope is he hits the piss out of the ball and in the seventh or eighth inning you make a defensive swap. I'm okay with that for now.
FYI, as a Cubs fan I've seen far worse in the field. I've seen far worse in the field for other teams, too.
Just hold on to him until the NL eventually does what they should do and add the DH.
good thing there are more parts of the equation, just like a bunch of doubles does not make a good hitter.
Manny popping up to cut off Damon's throw in the middle of LF is one of my favorite defensive plays of all time though.
This. Don't force a decision just yet. I personally hate the DH and think the game is more interesting with pitchers hitting, and forces managers to work harder. But, the game seems to be sliding towards putting the DH in the National League.
Not really.
Despite the postive UZR you point out he's still got a fDwar of -1.1. Which means he's really bad in the other areas.
The problem with UZR is that year-only compared. That means he's only compared to the other left fielders in the national league. So if a good defender is hurt or left the league, or a bad one is added, in 2017 compared to 2016, the UZR will increase despite not actually getting better.
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/8/15/990174/uzrs-and-most-other-defensive
Which means it's really hard to be below replacement level if you have a positive UZR. I think you're confusing below average and below replacement level.
This is mostly accurate according to the new Tom Verducci book. Exception being, according to that book they always intended for him to play LF. They knew there would be some defensive liabilities as a result of that positioning, but were willing to live with the consequences.
I think there's a little revisionist history in that book. Soler was a huge part of the Cubs plan for several years, and he's barely mentioned at all. He was one of their core guys long before Schwarber was a Cub, but that doesn't fit as tightly in the narrative. Good book though.
He's got a -1.1 Defense War!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 That's below replacement!
His UZR is above average. Which I was trying to show you, doesn't show much because its dependent on other players. Like RBI. In the overall package he is below average, below replacement, bad, crappy, or whatever adjective you want to use to evaluate it.
The Cubs are not paying him to be a great fielder. By the way, gold glove winner Anthony Rizzo has a negative dWAR right now. Cubs have not had a good start to the year.
Schwarber is struggling, for sure, but he has slowly started to show signs of getting out of it. Mainly he needs to quit looking at center field before he starts his swing. That said, overall team focus has been off this year and it is showing on the field. Bringing up some players killing it in the minors seems to be improving play across the board. Hope you enjoyed seeing Happ in Iowa because barring an injury he won't go there again. Baez's play has certainly picked up since Happ showed up. Hmmm.
They are never going to get more for him than they could have this past off-season.
You can live with a terrible fielder if he hits .280... you can't while he's hitting .180.
You can live with a terrible fielder if he hits .280... you can't while he's hitting .180.
Keith Moreland comes to mind.
Not a Cubs player but Ralph Garr for the White Sox had a memorable play. He tried making diving catch in left field, missed, and the ball scooted by. His cap came off in his attempt but instead if going after the ball he stopped, picked up his cap, and put it back in before turning and going to get the ball.
Back to Schwarber, he at least has potential to improve. I doubt he'll ever conjure up images of Yaz or Billy Williams or Bonds in LF, but if he can at least be competent and get his hitting back in order he can be a solid player.
Didn’t watch the game, but apparently that was just the latest in a series of iffy balls/strikes calls made.
Just read an article that the Phillies know they are bad at fielding but they don't give a eff and decided to bring in more hitters...
Even the ESPN announcers were making in game comments on how bad Angel is.
