Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper

Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper. Do the Cubs need both, either, or neither to get to another World Series? How much are either player really worth? First lets look at their stats:

Kris Bryant
Year  Age  Tm   G    PA   AB   R    H    2B  3B  HR  RBI  SB  CS  BB   SO   SO%  BA    OBP   SLG   
2015  23   CHC  151  650  559  87   154  31  5   26  99   13  4   77   199  36%  .275  .369  .488  
2016  24   CHC  155  699  603  121  176  35  3   39  102  8   5   75   154  25%  .292  .385  .554  
2017  25   CHC  151  665  549  111  162  38  4   29  73   7   5   95   128  23%  .295  .409  .537  
2018  26   CHC  102  457  389  59   106  28  3   13  52   2   4   48   107  28%  .272  .374  .460   

Bryce Harper
Year  Age  Tm   G    PA   AB   R    H    2B  3B  HR  RBI  SB  CS  BB   SO   SO%  BA    OBP   SLG   
2012  19   WSN  139  597  533  98   144  26  9   22  59   18  6   56   120  22%  .270  .340  .477
2013  20   WSN  118  497  424  71   116  24  3   20  58   11  4   61   94   22%  .274  .368  .486
2014  21   WSN  100  395  352  41   96   10  2   13  32   2   2   38   104  30%  .273  .344  .423     
2015  22   WSN  153  654  521  118  172  38  1   42  99   6   4   124  131  25%  .330  .460  .649 
2016  23   WSN  147  627  506  84   123  24  2   24  86   21  10  108  117  23%  .243  .373  .441
2017  24   WSN  111  492  420  95   134  27  1   29  87   4   2   68   99   24%  .319  .413  .595
2018  25   WSN  159  695  550  103  137  34  0   34  100  13  3   130  169  31%  .249  .393  .496

Only three of 7 years could Bryce Harper give 145+ games. Kris Bryant has given three out of four. But there is concern over Kris still. Kris needs his swing back and some question if that is part of his injuries in 2018. Will 2017 be Bryant's last productive year? Both players have had two seasons 99+ RBIs. Harper has had two +300 seasons. Bryant has had none. In 2018, Kris Bryant's strike outs felt as bad as in 2015, but he continued to keep them down below 30%:
36% strike out % in 2015
25% strike out % in 2016
23% strike out % in 2017
28% strike out % in 2018

Four or Five year contract with Harper if affordable? Give Bryant another year and see if there is a sufficient upswing in his next season and he can stay healthy? I look at all the HoF Cubbie stats, and I'm not impressed with the amount of money these two want for the numbers they produce. No matter what, Rizzo will continue to be the face of the Cubs with most likely Baez be the the other clean up guy. If the Cubs could have 4 or 5 hot bats through out the season, yes the Cubs will make it. And something needs to happen, because everyone in central division has made off season changes to significantly make their teams better.

New tires for the Crosstrek

I can Cross one item off the to do list for my Crosstrek. I purchased four new Milestar All-Season Radial P225/55R17 101V XL all weather tires for only $410.80 (with tax). Yep, traded my Japanese tires for Korean. That price included Installation and balance from Jesse's Tire Clinic replacing my original Yokohama Geolandar P225/55R17 95H. I specked these tires every place I could think of and Jesse's beat everyone for the price. They ordered the tires for me and let me come over with no appointment and done in a little over a half-hour. So I saved money and time and have better weight, speed, and mile rated tires. That makes me happy. The Geolandar tires are notorious for their short life.

Cubs Topps 65 [updated]

I'm excited about two new adds for my 1965 Topps cars

I acquired another Larry Jackson card

And a place holder Ernie Banks