2013 ZiPS Projections – Chicago Cubs

by
January 4, 2013

Dan Szymborski’s ZiPS projections, which have typically appeared in the pages of Baseball Think Factory, will be released at FanGraphs this year. Below are the projections for the Chicago Cubs. Szymborski can be found on Twitter at @DSzymborski.

Other 2013 Projections: Astros / Athletics / Giants / Nationals / Phillies / Rangers.

Batters
The Cubs are projected by ZiPS to have, in shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, to have a pair of basically All Star-type players who are also just 23 years old. Those are good kinds of players to have — especially for a team that isn’t likely to be very competitive this season, but has the resources to invest in free agents if and when such a thing is called for in the near future.

The rest of the starting lineup — besides human-shaped albatross Alfonso Soriano, that is — is a combination of decent organizational products (Darwin Barney, Wellington Castillo) and low-risk free agents (David DeJesus, Nate Schierholtz) acquired since the arrival of Theo Epstein et al.

Pitchers
In Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, and recent signing Edwin Jackson, Chicago has a perfectly reputable triumvirate atop its starting rotation — one that ZiPS regards as worth something like nine wins. Before the Cubs signed Scott Feldman, our Dave Cameron had hailed — or, at least something close to hailed — him (i.e. Feldman) as “one of the best buys on the market.” His innings projection reflects the swing role he filled in Texas, which saw him make 45 starts and 24 relief appearances, for example, over the last three seasons.

ZiPS is rather optimistic about the bullpen — and, specifically, about Japanese right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa, who signed a two-year, $9.5 million deal with the Cubs this offseason. Included here is also a projection for Kerry Wood — just for curiosity value, as Szymborski does for all notable, newly retired players.

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Bench/Prospects
Despite a major-league debut that saw him strike out in 41.5% of his 142 plate appearances, outfielder Brett Jackson (who enters his age-24 season) still receives a rather optimistic projection here, at 2.3 WAR. Futhermore, ZiPS regards second baseman Logan Watkins, shortstop Junior Lake, and outfielder Matt Szczur — though none of them is likely to break camp with the major-league team — as better than replacement-level. Szczur and Watkins finished first and third, respectively, among all prospect-age hitters in the Arizona Fall League by regressed batting.

There’s also some depth on the pitching side, too: both Scott Baker (signed for one year at $5.5 million) and Arodys Vizcaino (acquired in the deal that sent Paul Maholm to Atlanta last summer) are scheduled to return from Tommy John surgery at some point in April or May.

Depth Chart
Here’s a rough depth chart for the Cubs, with rounded projected WAR totals for each player (click to embiggen):

Cubs Depth

Ballpark graphic courtesy Eephus League. Credit to MLB Depth Charts for roster information.

Batters, Counting Stats

Player B Age PO PA R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS
Starlin Castro R 23 SS 680 85 187 31 12 14 77 24 11
Anthony Rizzo L 23 1B 642 85 160 32 2 31 109 7 5
Darwin Barney R 27 2B 607 77 153 26 5 5 49 8 2
Brett Jackson L 24 CF 626 79 126 24 10 17 61 22 9
Alfonso Soriano R 37 LF 533 58 123 27 2 26 91 4 2
Logan Watkins L 23 2B 602 75 131 18 8 8 52 21 7
Welington Castillo R 26 C 375 39 81 17 0 12 45 0 0
Junior Lake R 23 SS 522 62 124 23 5 10 49 26 10
Matt Szczur R 23 CF 562 69 132 24 6 6 46 28 12
Bryan LaHair L 30 1B 478 55 110 23 0 22 62 3 1
Luis Valbuena L 27 SS 548 57 121 27 2 11 56 4 3
Josh Vitters R 23 3B 596 63 145 29 2 17 74 7 8
David DeJesus L 33 RF 507 64 117 22 6 9 46 4 6
Tony Campana L 27 CF 441 56 106 12 3 1 21 43 12
Christian Villanueva R 22 3B 590 56 127 26 3 12 56 20 13
Adrian Cardenas L 25 2B 508 58 121 27 3 3 45 6 4
Steve Clevenger L 27 C 357 31 86 20 2 3 36 1 2
Nate Schierholtz L 29 RF 312 35 74 14 3 8 30 4 3
Dioner Navarro B 29 C 200 20 44 9 1 4 22 1 0
Dave Sappelt R 26 RF 617 64 151 28 6 8 51 14 11
Ian Stewart L 28 3B 328 32 61 11 2 11 35 3 3
Alfredo Amezaga B 35 SS 283 29 62 10 1 3 29 4 2
Brad Nelson L 30 1B 523 50 108 23 1 16 53 1 1
Brian Bogusevic L 29 RF 470 54 94 17 3 7 41 16 3
J.C. Boscan R 33 C 256 19 47 11 0 2 16 1 1
Ty Wright R 28 LF 385 42 91 19 1 6 40 3 2
Edwin Maysonet R 31 SS 372 31 75 15 2 2 26 3 1
Alberto Gonzalez R 30 SS 205 19 49 8 2 1 18 1 1
Diory Hernandez R 29 3B 255 22 54 11 1 3 23 2 2
Matt Tolbert B 31 SS 347 34 71 12 3 1 21 7 4
Johermyn Chavez R 24 RF 498 60 100 18 4 12 50 3 7
Joe Mather R 30 LF 327 30 68 15 1 6 28 5 3

***

Batters, Rates and Averages

Player PA BB% K% ISO BABIP BA OBP SLG wOBA
Starlin Castro 680 5.3% 12.9% .152 .321 .294 .332 .446 .333
Anthony Rizzo 642 8.7% 20.6% .224 .311 .279 .349 .503 .362
Darwin Barney 607 4.8% 11.4% .090 .298 .270 .308 .360 .292
Brett Jackson 626 10.7% 34.0% .173 .339 .230 .317 .403 .314
Alfonso Soriano 533 6.0% 24.2% .221 .284 .249 .300 .470 .326
Logan Watkins 602 8.3% 20.9% .109 .305 .245 .315 .354 .295
Welington Castillo 375 8.0% 25.6% .158 .297 .240 .309 .398 .307
Junior Lake 522 4.8% 27.6% .129 .339 .254 .295 .383 .297
Matt Szczur 562 7.1% 16.4% .105 .300 .256 .312 .361 .297
Bryan LaHair 478 9.0% 27.0% .207 .311 .255 .322 .462 .332
Luis Valbuena 548 9.3% 21.2% .131 .301 .247 .319 .378 .305
Josh Vitters 596 5.0% 17.8% .151 .294 .262 .305 .413 .307
David DeJesus 507 9.3% 15.0% .137 .297 .262 .341 .399 .320
Tony Campana 441 5.4% 21.5% .052 .339 .262 .306 .314 .280
Christian Villanueva 590 4.9% 21.5% .126 .283 .236 .290 .362 .282
Adrian Cardenas 508 7.7% 13.2% .091 .299 .263 .320 .354 .293
Steve Clevenger 357 6.4% 14.6% .100 .300 .261 .309 .361 .291
Nate Schierholtz 312 7.1% 16.7% .154 .291 .261 .315 .415 .309
Dioner Navarro 200 7.5% 14.5% .128 .270 .246 .305 .374 .288
Dave Sappelt 617 6.3% 15.4% .114 .307 .267 .316 .381 .298
Ian Stewart 328 10.1% 29.3% .166 .270 .210 .296 .376 .286
Alfredo Amezaga 283 6.7% 16.6% .081 .278 .238 .291 .319 .268
Brad Nelson 523 9.0% 22.9% .155 .271 .230 .298 .385 .297
Brian Bogusevic 470 9.4% 23.6% .105 .288 .224 .305 .329 .286
J.C. Boscan 256 5.9% 25.4% .072 .265 .199 .252 .271 .233
Ty Wright 385 5.2% 17.7% .109 .298 .256 .300 .365 .289
Edwin Maysonet 372 5.1% 20.4% .074 .278 .221 .269 .295 .247
Alberto Gonzalez 205 2.9% 14.1% .078 .291 .254 .281 .332 .261
Diory Hernandez 255 3.5% 18.4% .092 .267 .226 .258 .318 .248
Matt Tolbert 347 6.6% 18.2% .067 .278 .226 .282 .293 .249
Johermyn Chavez 498 6.8% 28.1% .137 .292 .222 .288 .359 .279
Joe Mather 327 6.4% 21.7% .116 .273 .226 .276 .342 .269

***

Batters, Assorted Other

Player PA RC/27 OPS+ Def WAR No.1 Comp
Starlin Castro 680 5.7 109 -3 4.0 Robin Yount
Anthony Rizzo 642 6.5 129 4 4.0 Kent Hrbek
Darwin Barney 607 4.2 81 10 2.3 Jose Lind
Brett Jackson 626 4.6 95 1 2.3 Larry Whisenton
Alfonso Soriano 533 5.1 105 1 1.8 George Foster
Logan Watkins 602 4.1 82 3 1.7 Scott Earl
Welington Castillo 375 4.4 91 -1 1.6 John Buck
Junior Lake 522 4.2 83 -2 1.5 Carlos Garcia
Matt Szczur 562 4.2 83 3 1.5 Trey Beamon
Bryan LaHair 478 5.4 110 -3 1.3 Paul Sorrento
Luis Valbuena 548 4.3 89 -6 1.3 Jesus Alfaro
Josh Vitters 596 4.4 93 -5 1.3 Willy Aybar
David DeJesus 507 4.8 101 0 1.1 Dave Martinez
Tony Campana 441 4.0 69 5 1.1 Willy Taveras
Christian Villanueva 590 3.6 76 4 1.1 Tim Olson
Adrian Cardenas 508 4.1 84 -3 0.8 Jeff Treadway
Steve Clevenger 357 4.0 82 -3 0.8 Bobby Wilson
Nate Schierholtz 312 4.7 97 1 0.8 Keith Hughes
Dioner Navarro 200 4.1 84 0 0.7 Doug Newstrom
Dave Sappelt 617 4.3 89 0 0.5 Pat Watkins
Ian Stewart 328 3.7 81 -2 0.4 Sean Mcnally
Alfredo Amezaga 283 3.3 66 -1 0.3 Alfredo Griffin
Brad Nelson 523 4.0 84 0 0.1 Todd Mensik
Brian Bogusevic 470 3.7 73 0 0.1 Kevin Koslofski
J.C. Boscan 256 2.3 43 2 -0.1 Charlie Greene
Ty Wright 385 4.0 80 -1 -0.1 Jeff Frazier
Edwin Maysonet 372 2.8 54 -1 -0.1 Chris Petersen
Alberto Gonzalez 205 3.3 66 -4 -0.2 Alvaro Espinoza
Diory Hernandez 255 2.8 56 1 -0.2 Carlo Colombino
Matt Tolbert 347 2.8 57 -3 -0.3 Pablo Martinez
Johermyn Chavez 498 3.3 75 0 -0.4 Jeremy Dodson
Joe Mather 327 3.3 67 -2 -0.6 John Giudice

***

Pitchers, Counting Stats

Player T Age G GS IP SO BB HR H R ER
Jeff Samardzija R 28 27 27 169.0 172 54 19 153 73 68
Edwin Jackson R 29 30 30 186.7 159 60 19 183 87 81
Matt Garza R 29 25 25 151.7 140 48 17 140 66 62
Scott Baker R 31 19 18 111.7 100 30 14 111 52 49
Carlos Villanueva R 29 34 14 110.7 100 41 14 102 52 49
Travis Wood L 26 31 30 171.0 135 59 23 175 92 86
Scott Feldman R 30 25 17 108.7 79 31 11 115 56 52
Carlos Marmol R 30 67 0 64.3 91 46 5 46 26 24
Kyuji Fujikawa R 32 54 0 50.7 57 19 5 44 20 19
James Russell L 27 72 0 68.3 56 24 6 67 31 29
Shawn Camp R 37 65 0 64.3 43 19 6 66 30 28
Arodys Vizcaino R 22 48 0 44.7 46 17 5 42 20 19
Alberto Cabrera R 24 72 0 79.3 83 39 9 73 40 37
Kerry Wood R 36 29 0 27.3 29 15 3 24 13 12
Michael Bowden R 26 56 0 69.7 63 36 8 65 35 33
Jason Berken R 29 35 12 90.3 61 39 11 100 52 49
Lendy Castillo R 24 22 6 41.3 33 20 5 43 24 22
Hector Rondon R 25 5 4 13.3 11 5 2 14 7 7
Andrew Carpenter R 28 36 12 94.3 69 38 13 101 56 52
Cory Wade R 30 49 0 60.3 45 18 8 62 32 30
Chris Rusin L 26 27 26 134.3 79 54 16 154 82 77
Miguel Socolovich R 26 39 0 58.3 50 33 6 57 32 30
Casey Coleman R 25 29 19 112.0 76 51 14 124 70 65
Rodrigo Lopez R 37 22 18 102.3 58 38 15 117 64 60
Jaye Chapman R 26 51 0 62.7 57 43 7 61 35 33
Horacio Ramirez L 33 19 2 28.3 12 9 4 34 18 17
Jensen Lewis R 29 45 0 48.0 34 24 6 51 28 26
Robert Whitenack R 24 15 15 57.0 32 33 7 63 37 35
Manuel Corpas R 30 61 0 71.7 45 27 9 76 41 38
Blake Parker R 28 41 0 50.3 44 28 7 51 30 28
Rafael Dolis R 25 54 0 64.3 44 35 6 66 37 35
Brooks Raley L 25 23 23 119.3 65 48 15 146 79 74
Seth McClung R 32 20 16 90.0 52 63 10 102 62 58
Trey McNutt R 23 29 18 88.3 52 53 13 107 65 61
Ryan Rowland-Smith L 30 27 15 92.0 57 47 15 115 68 64

***

Pitchers, Rates and Averages

Player IP TBF K% BB% BABIP ERA FIP ERA- FIP-
Jeff Samardzija 169.0 714 24.1% 7.6% .288 3.62 3.52 90 87
Edwin Jackson 186.7 803 19.8% 7.5% .292 3.91 3.66 97 91
Matt Garza 151.7 643 21.8% 7.5% .283 3.68 3.69 91 92
Scott Baker 111.7 476 21.0% 6.3% .296 3.95 3.82 98 95
Carlos Villanueva 110.7 475 21.0% 8.6% .278 3.98 4.04 99 100
Travis Wood 171.0 747 18.1% 7.9% .292 4.53 4.39 112 109
Scott Feldman 108.7 472 16.7% 6.6% .299 4.31 3.87 107 96
Carlos Marmol 64.3 285 31.9% 16.1% .297 3.36 3.61 83 89
Kyuji Fujikawa 50.7 215 26.5% 8.8% .295 3.38 3.37 84 83
James Russell 68.3 296 18.9% 8.1% .292 3.82 3.39 95 84
Shawn Camp 64.3 278 15.5% 6.8% .289 3.92 3.72 97 92
Arodys Vizcaino 44.7 193 23.8% 8.8% .303 3.83 3.77 95 93
Alberto Cabrera 79.3 350 23.7% 11.1% .298 4.20 4.07 104 101
Kerry Wood 27.3 121 24.0% 12.4% .292 3.95 4.16 98 103
Michael Bowden 69.7 310 20.3% 11.6% .285 4.26 4.37 106 108
Jason Berken 90.3 410 14.9% 9.5% .303 4.88 4.76 121 118
Lendy Castillo 41.3 187 17.7% 10.7% .304 4.79 4.81 119 119
Hector Rondon 13.3 59 18.7% 8.5% .301 4.73 4.75 117 118
Andrew Carpenter 94.3 422 16.4% 9.0% .296 4.96 4.76 123 118
Cory Wade 60.3 261 17.2% 6.9% .287 4.48 4.27 111 106
Chris Rusin 134.3 611 12.9% 8.8% .305 5.16 4.85 128 120
Miguel Socolovich 58.3 265 18.9% 12.5% .295 4.63 4.52 115 112
Casey Coleman 112.0 511 14.9% 10.0% .302 5.22 4.81 129 119
Rodrigo Lopez 102.3 462 12.6% 8.2% .295 5.28 5.10 131 126
Jaye Chapman 62.7 292 19.5% 14.7% .300 4.74 4.83 117 120
Horacio Ramirez 28.3 128 9.4% 7.0% .297 5.40 5.14 134 127
Jensen Lewis 48.0 219 15.5% 11.0% .296 4.88 4.87 121 121
Robert Whitenack 57.0 267 12.0% 12.4% .293 5.53 5.52 137 137
Manuel Corpas 71.7 318 14.1% 8.5% .289 4.77 4.64 118 115
Blake Parker 50.3 230 19.1% 12.2% .297 5.01 4.94 124 122
Rafael Dolis 64.3 294 15.0% 11.9% .293 4.90 4.71 121 117
Brooks Raley 119.3 552 11.8% 8.7% .315 5.58 5.02 138 124
Seth McClung 90.0 435 12.0% 14.5% .303 5.80 5.62 144 139
Trey McNutt 88.3 425 12.2% 12.5% .312 6.22 5.84 154 145
Ryan Rowland-Smith 92.0 438 13.0% 10.7% .319 6.26 5.67 155 140

***

Pitchers, Assorted Other

Player IP K/9 BB/9 HR/9 ERA+ WAR No. 1 Comp
Jeff Samardzija 169.0 9.16 2.88 1.01 109 3.1 Kirk McCaskill
Edwin Jackson 186.7 7.66 2.89 0.92 101 2.8 Kris Benson
Matt Garza 151.7 8.31 2.85 1.01 107 2.7 Kelly Downs
Scott Baker 111.7 8.06 2.42 1.13 100 1.6 Hideki Irabu
Carlos Villanueva 110.7 8.13 3.33 1.14 99 1.4 Jorge Sosa
Travis Wood 171.0 7.11 3.11 1.21 87 1.3 Lance Painter
Scott Feldman 108.7 6.54 2.57 0.91 92 1.0 Sean Bergman
Carlos Marmol 64.3 12.74 6.44 0.70 117 0.9 Ryne Duren
Kyuji Fujikawa 50.7 10.12 3.37 0.89 117 0.7 Robb Nen
James Russell 68.3 7.38 3.16 0.79 103 0.5 Bill Moloney
Shawn Camp 64.3 6.02 2.66 0.84 101 0.4 Rick White
Arodys Vizcaino 44.7 9.26 3.42 1.01 103 0.3 Antonio Osuna
Alberto Cabrera 79.3 9.42 4.43 1.02 94 0.2 Toby Borland
Kerry Wood 27.3 9.56 4.95 0.99 100 0.2 Rich DeLucia
Michael Bowden 69.7 8.13 4.65 1.03 93 0.2 Justin Hedrick
Jason Berken 90.3 6.08 3.89 1.10 81 0.1 Andy Mitchell
Lendy Castillo 41.3 7.19 4.36 1.09 82 0.1 Nick DeBarr
Hector Rondon 13.3 7.44 3.38 1.35 83 0.1 Luis Vasquez
Andrew Carpenter 94.3 6.59 3.63 1.24 80 0.0 Keith Linebarger
Cory Wade 60.3 6.72 2.69 1.19 88 0.0 Dan Giese
Chris Rusin 134.3 5.29 3.62 1.07 76 0.0 Wes Whisler
Miguel Socolovich 58.3 7.72 5.09 0.93 85 -0.1 Marc Pisciotta
Casey Coleman 112.0 6.11 4.10 1.13 76 -0.2 Dane Anthony
Rodrigo Lopez 102.3 5.10 3.34 1.32 75 -0.2 Aaron Sele
Jaye Chapman 62.7 8.18 6.17 1.00 83 -0.2 Marc Pisciotta
Horacio Ramirez 28.3 3.82 2.86 1.27 73 -0.2 Bob Miller
Jensen Lewis 48.0 6.38 4.50 1.13 81 -0.3 Jarod Juelsgaard
Robert Whitenack 57.0 5.05 5.21 1.11 71 -0.3 Tim Harrell
Manuel Corpas 71.7 5.65 3.39 1.13 83 -0.3 Brandon Puffer
Blake Parker 50.3 7.87 5.01 1.25 79 -0.3 Doug Gogolewski
Rafael Dolis 64.3 6.16 4.90 0.84 81 -0.4 Blake Mayo
Brooks Raley 119.3 4.90 3.62 1.13 71 -0.6 Wes Whisler
Seth McClung 90.0 5.20 6.30 1.00 68 -0.8 Russ Ortiz
Trey McNutt 88.3 5.30 5.40 1.33 63 -1.2 Jim Henderson
Ryan Rowland-Smith 92.0 5.58 4.60 1.47 63 -1.3 Chris Peters

***

Disclaimer: ZiPS projections are computer-based projections of performance. Performances have not been allocated to predicted playing time in the majors — many of the players listed above are unlikely to play in the majors at all in 2012. ZiPS is projecting equivalent production — a .240 ZiPS projection may end up being .280 in AAA or .300 in AA, for example. Whether or not a player will play is one of many non-statistical factors one has to take into account when predicting the future.

Players are listed with their most recent teams unless Dan has made a mistake. This is very possible as a lot of minor-league signings are generally unreported in the offseason.

ZiPS is projecting based on the AL having a 4.09 ERA and the NL having a 3.92 ERA.

Players that are expected to be out due to injury are still projected. More information is always better than less information and a computer isn’t what should be projecting the injury status of, for example, a pitcher with Tommy John surgery.

Regarding ERA+ vs. ERA- (and FIP+ vs. FIP-) and the differences therein: as Patriot notes here, they are not simply mirror images of each other. Writes Patriot: “ERA+ does not tell you that a pitcher’s ERA was X% less or more than the league’s ERA. It tells you that the league’s ERA was X% less or more than the pitcher’s ERA.”

Both hitters and pitchers are ranked by projected WAR.





 

Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.

36 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Ryan201
13 years ago

Kind of sad to see Soriano still referred to as and projected to be a “human-shaped albatross” when he was a top 10 outfielder in the NL last year. I guess ZIPS thinks that was more or less a fluke?

2
chasfhMember since 2018
13 years ago
Reply to  Ryan201

I think ZIPS likes Soriano as a 2 win player. I think it’s the writer who believes it was a fluke.

1
Michael Schieve
13 years ago
Reply to  Ryan201

I believe he was referring to the contract. Yes, Soriano vastly improved last season however he was still overpaid.

0
Jack Weiland
13 years ago
Reply to  Michael Schieve

Actually, he wasn’t. As a four win player he earned his rather hefty salary of 18MM.

Really, really tired of this falsehood. Soriano gets paid a ton, and there’s considerable health risk at this point in his career, but being an albatross is way overblown, and really always was.

4
JayT
13 years ago
Reply to  Michael Schieve

Yeah, Soriano’s contract wasn’t a deal by any stretch, but he’s actually come pretty close to earning his keep. Since he signed with the Cubs he’s had 19.7 WAR while earning $97 million so far. That works out to $4.9 million per win, which isn’t too far out of line with what free agents have been paid over the last six years.

Sure, there is not any surplus value in his contract, but to call it an albatross is pretty unfair. His contract isn’t in the same league as Wells ($11.8 million/win), A-Rod($7.4/win, six years to go), or Zito’s ($16.5/win).

13
Jack Weiland
13 years ago
Reply to  Michael Schieve

This ^^^

That’s including what was basically a lost 2009 season, as well. Most of this idea that he’s a gigantic albatross stems from that year, and once people started saying it everyone stopped bothering to look how he’s performed otherwise. If you take 2009 out of the equation he’s averaged about 4WAR a season with the Cubs.

But whatever narratives are more fun.

1
Jeffrey Gross
13 years ago
Reply to  Michael Schieve

Worth noting this, as I pointed out last year:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/alfonso-soriano-is-not-overpaid/

0
Big JgkeMember since 2020
13 years ago
Reply to  Ryan201

Soriano and Ryan Howard, both George Foster comps.

0
chasfhMember since 2018
13 years ago

So when I add up all the WAR across all the positions in that graphic, I get 30. Even shaving off a couple wins for the inevitability of subs playing below replacement value for a few hundred innings, doesn’t this suggest that as constructed, the Cubs project out to a .500 team? This is assuming a replacement level team plays about .333 ball.

Now, I’ve liked the moves they have made this winter and have thought that if everything breaks the right way, including lack of injury, the Cubs might top out at .500. Is ZIPS suggesting that .500 should be considered the norm, and if things break right they might exceed that?

0
Dan GreerMember since 2018
13 years ago
Reply to  chasfh

ZIPS isn’t meant to be used as projection system for a team. If you add up the “games started” column for the pitchers you end up with 345. That should be a pretty clear indicator, as well as the 2nd line of the disclaimer reading “Performances have not been allocated to predicted playing time in the majors — many of the players listed above are unlikely to play in the majors at all in 2012.”

1
Kerry
13 years ago
Reply to  Dan Greer

I don’t think I’m going to be tossing 27 innings this year either.

0
jda
13 years ago
Reply to  Dan Greer

He’s talking about the depth chart, not the entire list of projected players.

0
Baltar
13 years ago
Reply to  Dan Greer

You are correct, Dan, but I find it interesting to use the WAR from the spreadsheet plus 45 (Zim’s value for an all-replacement team) as an, admittedly invalid, rough projection. The Cubs come in at 74, way, way above the Astros and way behind the Giants and Phillies.
That actualy strikes me as a reasonable estimate.

0
jda
13 years ago
Reply to  chasfh

ZiPS’ replacement level team wins about 45 games, so that quick-and-dirty depth chart is suggesting that the Cubs are a 75-win team.

0
Kyle
13 years ago
Reply to  jda

That’s with only 113 starts from the 5-man rotation. Once Baker and Wood get some starts in, it gets closer to 76 or 77, which I think is pretty reasonable. With some upside for a bit more.

0
Kyle
13 years ago
Reply to  jda

Actually, I went ahead and divvied it up by playing time:

Soriano (1.8)/DeJesus(1.1)/Platoon(1.3) Backups (0.6)

Stewart (0.6)/Castro (4.0)/Barney (2.3)/Rizzo (4.0) Backups (1.0*)

Castillo/Navarro (2.3)

Samardzija/Garza/Jackson/Feldman/Villanueva = 11.0 in 113 starts according to ZIPs. So if you give the remaining 49 starts to Baker, Wood and Vizcaino in some reasonable mixture, you get roughly 13 wins total out of the rotation.

Bullpen total: roughly 3.0.

Total WAR: 35

That’d be 80-82. But really, ZIPS isn’t designed to be shoved together like this.

0
Big JgkeMember since 2020
13 years ago

Alfredo Amezaga’s top comp is anopther guy named Alfredo? That seems strikingly unlikely.

1
jfree
13 years ago
Reply to  Big Jgke

All Alfredos are interchangeable and comparable. Alfredo does after all mean “modular”.

3
Dan
13 years ago

Any chance we can get a projection for Ronald Torreyes, who spent all of the season in high A as a 19 year old? Thanks, Zim-bor.

0
BobbyS
13 years ago
Reply to  Dan

A .711 OPS in A+ ball seems like it’d wield a pretty ugly projection. And From what I’ve seen and remember, projecting from the lower levels isn’t done to much unless the player has a likely shot of seeing the bigs or found himself on the 40 man already. That said, Dan’s always been awesome about requests!

0
Dan
13 years ago
Reply to  BobbyS

I agree, about the OPS, but he projected C. Villanueva, who also maxed out at high A so far and was only “pretty good” relative to the league, while a year older. I figure positional adjustment and Torreyes’ 2011 make him a bit better.

0
BobbyS
13 years ago
Reply to  BobbyS

A ball numbers wouldn’t do much to help him, you’d probably be looking at a sub 60, if not sub 50, OPS+ at this point.

0
Dan P
13 years ago
Reply to  BobbyS

Lots of Dan’s in this conversation… I’d bet $10 worth of something that Torreyes’ OPS+ is above 60, despite lack of power etc and all. His 2011 A ball numbers translated really well as I recall, and Zips tends to be bullish on young relative to league guys. Game? 😛

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Jeffrey Gross
13 years ago
Reply to  Dan

His 2012 performance MLE is .242/.287/.359 (.646 OPS)

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Cecil Cooper's Love Child
13 years ago

Isn’t Bryan LaHair playing in Japan this year?

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Dan Szymborski
13 years ago
Reply to  Cecil Cooper's Love Child

Yes. As I note (though not here), I leave players retiring or going overseas with their previous team for one last year.

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Joe
13 years ago

I’m intrigued by Logan Watkins’ numbers here, but I don’t see him even mentioned as one of the Cubs top prospects. Anyone have any information on him? And could he possibly play 3B down the line?

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Jon D
13 years ago

Hey Szym, what team’s up next? Pittsburgh Pirates on their way any time soon? Really curious to compare the Bucco projections to their NL Central foes.

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Brent Daily
13 years ago

What factor does age play? Kyuji Fujikawa is listed as 23 instead of 32. Could that be why ZIPS is high on him?

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Brent Daily
13 years ago
Reply to  Brent Daily

Scratch that. His age was updated.

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larry
13 years ago

Dan is it possible to get a projection for Nick Struck. He got one last year and had himself a solid year at AA

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DoubleDave
13 years ago
Reply to  larry

I second that. Again, thanks in advance

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Jeffrey Gross
13 years ago
Reply to  larry

MLE s 4.34 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 5.6 K/9 with avg BB/9. Based on performance to date, he’d be a league average MLB starter at best

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DoubleDave
13 years ago
Reply to  Jeffrey Gross

Lots of projections out ther for guys alot worse then league average.
Add the fact that he had a projection last year, and I think it seems right he get one again this year.

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QuixQuazQuan
13 years ago

Barret Loux projection? Trade? Something?

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Anti-Neon
13 years ago

Carston, your writing style is annoying.

Ahem.

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