Rays aquire entire Cubs farm system for Matt Garza

[Warner2BruceTD]

One league features 8 bats and a pitcher. The other 9 bats. Of course their is a difference.

Also, ballparks, but I won't get into that.

Yes but pitching against a pitcher is better than a DH...no? You can't argue that. When pitchers come over to NL, usually they do better than if a pitcher goes to the AL.

What is this "DH" you guys speak of? Pitchers don't hit in the AL? You don't say!

But seriously, I don't think the difference is as drastic as people think. I think pitchers largely pitch to their skill level.

How many points higher do you think the #9 hitters in the AL hit than the #9 hitters in the NL? I bet its less than you think.

Its just silly hearing how every guy who switches over "should do better/worse" in his new league, as if its a given.

[FirstTimer]

To be honest, none of them are future super stars. Not Archer, or Lee, or Guyer. Just a bunch of guys with a ceiling.

Lee has the highest IMO. Maybe not a super star but he could end up being a GG winner or All Star a few times.

[Warner2BruceTD]

To be honest, none of them are future super stars. Not Archer, or Lee, or Guyer. Just a bunch of guys with a ceiling.

But you don't know what any of them will be. I can tell you exactly what Garza is, though. 4.00 era, .500 pitcher, with a K rate that sank like the Titanic last year. He's the definition of average.

I can see doing one or two mid level prospects for a guy like that, but FIVE guys, at least two of which are decent prospects? Good move by Tampa.

[NAHSTE]

I don't understand this at all.

Do the Cubs seriously think they have any shot of finishing above 4th place in that division? Trading any kind of prospects at this point is just silly.

This is my thought as well. Yeah, Garza can be an average #3 or #2 starter in the NL ... but the Cubs have bigger issues.

Typical "bandaid on cancer" move by the Cubbies.

[FirstTimer]

This is my thought as well. Yeah, Garza can be an average #3 or #2 starter in the NL ... but the Cubs have bigger issues.

Typical "bandaid on cancer" move by the Cubbies.

:lolwut:

[FedEx227]

What is this "DH" you guys speak of? Pitchers don't hit in the AL? You don't say!

But seriously, I don't think the difference is as drastic as people think. I think pitchers largely pitch to their skill level.

How many points higher do you think the #9 hitters in the AL hit than the #9 hitters in the NL? I bet its less than you think.

Its just silly hearing how every guy who switches over "should do better/worse" in his new league, as if its a given.

I'm trying to find a more recent article but it definitely exists. It's maybe not as significant as people consider but it absolutely exists.

From 2000 through 2005, 57 starting pitchers (those with at least 20 starts that season) switched leagues the next year — 29 to the N.L. from the A.L. and 28 in the other direction. Their statistics moved with them: Combined E.R.A.s for the new National Leaguers decreased to 3.94 from 4.79, or 0.85 of a run, while their counterparts’ increased to 4.64 from 3.94, a move of 0.70.

Of the 29 pitchers moving to the N.L. from the A.L., their E.R.A.+ figures increased to 110 (10 percent above league average) from 97 (just below average). This smaller shift than in E.R.A. is nonetheless more significant: It indicates that starters of equal caliber are more successful in the less suffocating National League.

This almost certainly helped with last season’s emergence of Bronson Arroyo, traded to Cincinnati from Boston; and Chris Young, who went to San Diego from Texas. It also provides fuel to the recent argument that the N.L. lags behind the A.L. in the overall level of talent. Weaker competition results in better relative performance.

Pitchers found moving to the A.L. from the N.L. correspondingly unpleasant — the E.R.A.+ scores of the 28 pitchers decreased to 100 from 113, or to absolute average from healthily above. (The fact that the two groups moved 13 percentage points in opposite directions was purely coincidental.) A fair interpretation, then, is that moving to the A.L. is such a challenge that pitchers, at least temporarily, regress. Take the case of Boston’s Josh Beckett, whose 5.01 E.R.A. rose faster than the homers he allowed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/sports/baseball/14score.html

Again, still looking for a more recent article...

[FedEx227]

Here's a decent SABR-skewed article on Garza and triggers one of my big concerns his FB rate which he can get away with at the Trop, but may not get away with as easily in Wrigley.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-matt-garza-deal-from-the-cubs-perspective/

[ryne candy]

What is this "DH" you guys speak of? Pitchers don't hit in the AL? You don't say!

But seriously, I don't think the difference is as drastic as people think. I think pitchers largely pitch to their skill level.

How many points higher do you think the #9 hitters in the AL hit than the #9 hitters in the NL? I bet its less than you think.

Its just silly hearing how every guy who switches over "should do better/worse" in his new league, as if its a given.

that implies it's not given.



top tier P maybe not (like Nolan Ryan)...but get even "good" P and I think it does happen.

I do think this won't make Cubs fans go out and mortgage the house for even Playoff tickets.

[PepperNY]

lets not forget that if your an average starter in the AL then your a good starter in the NL. I'm betting that Garza has an ERA somewhere in the high 3 range for the cubbies

[Goober]

Noah: Matt Garza and Shaun Marcum both were traded from the AL East to the Cubs and Brewers, respectively. Which pitcher do you think will be more successful both this season and in the future?

Joe: Garza, and it’s not even close. He’s got electric stuff, as evidenced by his 12 K’s in his first start. That’s not to say that Marcum isn’t a good pitcher, but I think Garza has a lot higher ceiling because of his stuff and his age. I’m penciling in 16+ wins this year for Garza with an ERA in the high 2’s or low 3’s. I don’t see Marcum ever putting up those numbers.

Series Preview #3: The State of the Cubs with View From the Bleachers - Brew Crew Ball

Cub fans are hilarious, this comment came from the guy who runs the website "View from the Bleachers." Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are sure glad to have Garza in the NL. 5/5 with a walk, and 5 RBIs. Keep it up cubbies!

[RyanLeaf16]

I just traded Garza away in my fantasy league b/c of the trends I found in Baseball Forecaster. Sure glad I did after tonight's performance.

[FirstTimer]

Archer had a rough outing for Tampa to start off his MiLB career over there.

Hak Ju Lee has the chicken pox and is on the DL

[Warner2BruceTD]

Hold on one second.

You mean to tell me that Garza hasnt walked right in to the (lol) NL, from the mightly AL East, and completely dominated? But there is no DH! Those two or so AB's from the P havent made difference????

[ryne candy]

Hold on one second.

You mean to tell me that Garza hasnt walked right in to the (lol) NL, from the mightly AL East, and completely dominated? But there is no DH! Those two or so AB's from the P havent made difference????

dude has been getting hurt every start it seems....the last two games I've seen including first game of double header today he came off limping from the field. If anything...it's not his arm, it's the rest of his body that has been a noodle. :cg:

[mcstl25]

Series Preview #3: The State of the Cubs with View From the Bleachers - Brew Crew Ball

Cub fans are hilarious, this comment came from the guy who runs the website "View from the Bleachers." Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are sure glad to have Garza in the NL. 5/5 with a walk, and 5 RBIs. Keep it up cubbies!

Delusion has gotten Cubs fans through the last 100 years.... why stop now?