SB Nation User Blog: dat cubfan daver

We don't run away from our problems. The fact it's painful doesn't change anything.

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:03:46 -0000

We don't run away from our problems. The fact it's painful doesn't change anything.

Crane Kenney on the idea of releasing Milton Bradley

Matt Murton is going to Japan! He's going to Japan! LINKY

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:10:06 -0000

Matt Murton is going to Japan! He's going to Japan!

LINKY

Fangraphs hasn't given up on Geo, should you?

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:38:20 -0000

Fangraphs hasn't given up on Geo, should you?

Disclaimer: This article was written for fantasy baseball purposes. Nonetheless, there's plenty of statistical support for the notion that we haven't seen the last of the good player named Geovany Soto.

How 'bout we put the kibosh on the weight and weed jokes for a while and get behind Geo for the 2010 season, hmm?

WAR: What is it NOT good for?

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:01:21 -0000

WAR: What is it NOT good for?

I'm still a WAR novice myself, but I thought this Hardball Times article was an interesting look at what the oft-cited stat may NOT be good for. Sabermagicians, please weigh in.

A deal like that? For a player like that? No. Is that succinct enough? I don't know that addition...

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:56:11 -0000

A deal like that? For a player like that? No. Is that succinct enough? I don't know that addition by subtraction would work. Smarter people than us have tried that.

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean quoted in today's Chicago Tribune re: a bad contract swap for Milton Bradley. LINKY

SC takes some BP before this past weekend's AFL RSG.

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:46:39 -0000

SC takes some BP before this past weekend's AFL RSG.

The latest on Rich Hill

dat cubfan daver — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:02:49 -0000

The latest on Rich Hill

In 2007, Rich threw 195 innings for the Cubs and led the starting staff in strikeouts. He's now a free agent seeking a minor league deal.

If the poll included in the article above is any indication, Orioles fans don't want him re-signed. So should Jim Hendry welcome him back into the fold with a minor league contract?

I see one year, $7-8 mil guaranteed with incentives to reach maybe $12-13 mil. Seems like...

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:39:09 -0000

I see one year, $7-8 mil guaranteed with incentives to reach maybe $12-13 mil. Seems like something the Red Sox would entertain. I wonder if Harden would take less, try to rebuild value in San Diego.

This was the response of Tim Dierkes of mlbtraderumors.com to my question: "What kind of deal will Rich Harden get this off-season? And who will give it to him?" in today's live chat.

Astros hire former Cubs minor league manager, scout Brad Mills as new manager

dat cubfan daver — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:53:09 -0000

Astros hire former Cubs minor league manager, scout Brad Mills as new manager

Honestly? I'd never heard of him either.

Did the Cubs win more games than they should have in 2009?

dat cubfan daver — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:27:46 -0000

Did the Cubs win more games than they should have in 2009?

I came across this rather fascinating blogpost today written by a Tampa Bay Rays blogger whom I follow on Twitter (@RaysIndex). He's trying to determine whether Rays manager Joe Maddon, who I happen to think is a pretty cool guy, was the worst skipper in baseball this season.

To do so, he's used each MLB club's team WAR to calculate its expected wins and then compared those results to its actual wins. As you can see, according to this method, our 2009 Cubs won almost six games more than they should have, based on their statistical results.

So, assuming you buy into this blogger's methods, were the Cubs somehow both unlucky (in the context of their preseason projections) and lucky (when viewed in the context of their actual play) this season? Or was Sweet Lou better than many of us thought?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts - especially any sabermagicians out there.