[ W ] #49
El Mago!
El Mago!
Yep, a few more like that, please...
Smart of Joe to call the Sweep the Pirates play.
I’d love a Sweep the Reds play this next series. But considering they’ve won three series in a row against the Cubs, I’d be more than satisfied with a Win the Gosh Darn Series play call.
I’d love a Sweep the Reds play this next series. But considering they’ve won three series in a row against the Cubs, I’d be more than satisfied with a Win the Gosh Darn Series play call.
Cubs trade Mike Montgomery to KC for Martin Maldanado, as Willson Contreras was moved to IL with foot injury.
He’s got two more years of team control, a career 3.72 ERA while averaging 100 IP a year and had been the consummate professional while with the Cubs, filling whatever role they’ve asked him to. Seems like he should have brought back more than a backup catcher on an expiring contract.
It’s bizarre to me that a guy who had been such an integral part of the team the last three years couldn’t seem to find a place on this year’s team. He got hurt early and then Maddon couldn’t seem to figure out what to do with him when he got back despite having some injured starters and a paper thin bullpen.
He’s got two more years of team control, a career 3.72 ERA while averaging 100 IP a year and had been the consummate professional while with the Cubs, filling whatever role they’ve asked him to. Seems like he should have brought back more than a backup catcher on an expiring contract.
I think if Maldonado can prove his worth of being an elite defensive catcher, Contreras could see a lot more time in right, which I'm ok with. Having a catcher who rakes is a luxury very, very, very few teams have, but Willson's defense and framing hurt. His bat's good enough to move him at least part time to the outfield for now.I'm most excited to see how the defensively-minded Maldonado works with the pitchers.
Contreras obviously has a cannon for an arm, and his bat is elite at the catching position, but his defense and framing are not strengths of his. And while Caratini has been solid in a backup role this year (Darvish in particular has pitched much better to Caratini), but I question the worth of how much he could bring back in a trade.
I'm betting they all stay on the roster throughout the year, even when Contreras is back.
I knew it had been a while, but I didn't realize Rizzo hadn't homered in over a month.
I’ve already been questioning the Cubs internal scouting, given LaStella’s breakout year with the Angels, among other things. If Montgomery thrives while being given a consistent role with the Royals, I’ll be questioning it even more.