[ W ] #20
Cubs 2023 Season
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bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I was at the game on Monday (I live in Houston). It was the first game I have watched this year, either in person or on TV. The pace of the game "seemed" faster even though the game went 3 hours. I will say that as long as the game is well-played (few walks, no physical or mental errors), I didn't have an issue with the game time (baseball isn't soccer). But I do understand that in the age of Twitter and Tik Tok, I am in the vast minority here.
Cubs should have won two of the three in Houston...
Cubs should have won two of the three in Houston...
And with that great start, Tallion's ERA is at a sterling 8.10. Nice signing Jed.
Also congrats on the Barnhart, Fulmer and Boxberger contracts. They are working out well.
Leaving out Hosmer because it didn't cost them anything.
IMO, jury is still out on Bellinger. He might revert back to mean offensively but defense doesn't slump.
The only positive signing has been Swanson.
All the knives have been out for Ross (deservingly) but what about Jed?
Also congrats on the Barnhart, Fulmer and Boxberger contracts. They are working out well.
Leaving out Hosmer because it didn't cost them anything.
IMO, jury is still out on Bellinger. He might revert back to mean offensively but defense doesn't slump.
The only positive signing has been Swanson.
All the knives have been out for Ross (deservingly) but what about Jed?
Plus, he had every chance in the world to sign Andrew Chafin who's closing games in Arizona, but who needs a lefty in the bullpen ?
[ W ] #21
Mancini has very slowly creeped his OPS up into the realm of acceptability.
As of now, his batting average and OBP are right at his career norms. But his slugging is 100 points below his career average. It’s 40 points below his career low for a season.
You have to figure as the weather gets warmer, we’re going to see some more pop in his bat.
As of now, his batting average and OBP are right at his career norms. But his slugging is 100 points below his career average. It’s 40 points below his career low for a season.
You have to figure as the weather gets warmer, we’re going to see some more pop in his bat.
This is such a top heavy team with just an awful back end of the lineup. It was supposed to be a deeper team, without the big holes in the lineup. It hasn’t tuned out that way.
Last year about 1 in every 10 plate appearances came from a guy with an OPS+ under 70. This year it’s been about 1 in every 6. But the Cubs are still scoring about 3/4 a run more per game than they did last year.
Last year about 1 in every 10 plate appearances came from a guy with an OPS+ under 70. This year it’s been about 1 in every 6. But the Cubs are still scoring about 3/4 a run more per game than they did last year.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Unless he can hit at 0.350 or whatever, he needs to cut down on the strikeouts. 19 in 49 ABs is over 200 for a full year.
K's have always been what has held down his value as a prospect. It's why he didn't break camp with the MLB squad. But when he gets hot... watch out. I don't think anyone anticipated this type of power surge from him.
9 HR's in 49 AB's would be equivalent to over 90 HR's for a full year. (That's pretty good) I think we could live with 200 K's if he maintains his HR pace... lol.
Morel is so locked in right now, it’s crazy. Every time he makes contact, it seems like it’s barreled. And he’s hitting it hard.
He’s got that short, whip-saw swing that gets a ton of velocity on the bat, which is producing incredible exit velocities on his hits. Everything seems like it’s 100 mph off the bat.
He’s got that short, whip-saw swing that gets a ton of velocity on the bat, which is producing incredible exit velocities on his hits. Everything seems like it’s 100 mph off the bat.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
If he's hitting .200?
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
The bomb he hit in Houston on the 15th is still going...
[ W ] #22
Stro!
Stro!
After losing 7 of 8, the Cubs win 2 in a row and are only 2 games out of the playoffs. The rest of the NL has refused to run away from the Cubs.
It is amazing but I just can't imagine that at the end of the day that a wild card team will be coming out of the NL Central (or AL Central for that matter). You have to win the division to get in. IMO the key is hanging around until the trade deadline so you're a buyer not a seller if you want to win this year. In the big picture not sure if I want them to be a big buyer.
That's the tricky part, and what derailed our last effort to build for the long haul. We got good ahead of schedule and traded our farm to get great now at the expense of later.
We will have to wait and see if Hendricks can get back to being a solid rotation piece, which would be a big addition based on the struggles of Taillon and Wesneski. Obviously, we need a closer, but we better not give up a top 5 prospect to acquire one.
Especially since they are known to try guys like Kimbrel.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
I'd prefer to try out internal candidates before trading a for a closer. Leiter Jr. has looked decent and Estrada has yet to allow an earned run.
The bullpen is so short right now, designating a “closer” seems besides the point. They need 6 guys who can get outs consistently and right now they only have 2, maybe 3.
Leiter and Alzolay have been the only guys Ross has been able to trust. I like Leiter for closer, but as he’s been the pen’s designated lefty (despite being right handed), Ross has had to be more flexible as to when to bring him in.
Beyond Leiter and Alzolay, Rucker has been ok in mostly non-leverage situations. Estrada has looked great and looks like he’s going to be the 7th inning guy going forward.
Assad, Thompson, Merryweather and Hughes have all shown flashes, and I think a better defined role for each would help. Thompson seems to do best in multi-inning appearances, with a couple days off between appearances.
If Hendricks can be relatively decent (consistently go 5 with and ERA in the low 4s), then Wesneski could be a candidate to move to the pen.
At this point, I can’t see Fulmer or Boxberger used for anything besides mop up duty until they shown they can get people out consistently.
Heuer is throwing very hard in Iowa, but is getting shelled. I don’t know if they’re just building arm strength at this point or whether they’re actually calling games for him yet. He still looks several weeks away.
Brendon Little (1st rounder ‘17) is pitching pretty well in Iowa and is left handed. He’s 26 years old. If they don’t bring him up some time this year, you have to wonder if the Cubs will ever bring him up. Don’t really think there’s anyone else at the AAA level that would be much help.
In a bit of a surprise, Madrigal got sent down for Hendricks instead of Rios or Mastrobuoni.
Not going to miss him.
Not going to miss him.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
geez, how many options to go down can be left with him ? maybe this was his last ?
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