bdutts
- Houston, Texas
100% this. Let’s wait until Smith has stats as good as Tucker’s before we put Smith’s bust in Cooperstown.
Chicago Cubs 2025
- Status
100% this. Let’s wait until Smith has stats as good as Tucker’s before we put Smith’s bust in Cooperstown.
No doubt Cam looks like a major leaguer right now. To play devils advocate, Houston may have said Smith or no deal. How bad do you want him?
That’s the thing. Would Cubs be in first place if they had Cam Smith instead of Tucker? How much has having a middle of the order guy like Tucker impacted guys like PCA? He elevates the whole lineup. I think I saw recently that Tucker is top 30 in R, H, HR, RBI and SB this year. He also plays good D. You don’t get guys like that for your 17th or 11th rated prospect. I’m sure Hoyer tried to give up a different prospect, but Astros knew who they wanted.
And as I type this, Tucker is a triple away from the cycle today.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I looked at their projected stats for a full year in 2025. Smith is projected with 130ish Ks and 40ish walks. Tucker at 107 walks and 102 Ks. Smith may end up being good, yes, but geez, Tucker is every bit as good as Juan Soto. Smith ain’t that and may never be.And as I type this, Tucker is a triple away from the cycle today.
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What concerns me is Tucker could only be here 1 year. We could have played Smith at 3rd or right and had money left yo sign another stud to a long term deal. It’s all contingent on signing King Tuck to a long term deal. If Ricketts and Hoyer get it done all is well.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Would the Cubs be better this year with Tucker in RF or Smith in AA, since he probably wouldn’t have made the team. And which stud would they have signed if they didn’t trade for Tucker? Note that the Cubs have plenty of money to spend, they just choose not spend it for whatever reason.
Yes, I’d like for them to sign Tucker to a deal but I’d do this deal 100 out of 100 times, regardless of whether they sign him or not. Smith isn’t as good as Tucker and probably will never be. They chose between Smith and Shaw. It’s too early to say who’s going to be better, but will bet my beach house that neither will be as good as Tucker.
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bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I think they asked for Shaw but the Cubs said no. Too early to tell who’s going to be better.
Totally agree. I’m of the age and have been a baseball fan long enough to know two simple truths. First, all prospects — even top ones — don’t pan out. Cam was the #59 overall prospect entering the season, so hardly “can’t miss” but certainly a good one. And he has acquitted himself well so far, but he isn’t Tucker. Second, seasons like this don’t happen all that often. For my money, this has been the most fun to watch team since the World Series champs. Tucker has been a huge reason why.
Absolutely hope Tucker re-signs, but like you I still make the trade even knowing he wouldn’t. Cubs are taking their shot. Heck, I hope Cubs give more ammo to the “shouldn’t trade prospects” crowd when they trade some next month to get some more pitching.
To me, you don't make that deal unless you have at least a tentative agreement in place with Tucker. I just don't see Ricketts going $500M deep into his pocket.
This team, with its current makeup, will not make the WS unless they make some major changes.
They have three major problems, which are unlikely to be fixed.
1) Counsel does not know how to manage his starters. Leaving Taillon in with Altuve at bat was not only a mistake it was brutal to watch. Anyone who has watched him pitch knew what was about to happen except the manager.
This is part of the reason Counsel's teams never did well in the playoffs or even came close to the WS with Milwaukee. He is not the best manager in the majors, but he fooled the Cubs pathetic management.
2) The starting pitching is not good enough to get to the WS.
3) The bench players are generally underperforming and contribute very little. They must have a pinch hitter who has a chance of getting a hit against good pitchers. Currently, they do not. Fixing the bench, along with obtaining a number one starter, are clear must-do items if they have any shot at the WS.
It would truly be a shameful thing to let this team try to get their without fixing at least two of these three glaring weaknesses.
It seems that the next 12 games, all of which are against good teams, are crucial. If they play like they have over the last three weeks, they will be in 3rd place at the All-Star break.
They have three major problems, which are unlikely to be fixed.
1) Counsel does not know how to manage his starters. Leaving Taillon in with Altuve at bat was not only a mistake it was brutal to watch. Anyone who has watched him pitch knew what was about to happen except the manager.
This is part of the reason Counsel's teams never did well in the playoffs or even came close to the WS with Milwaukee. He is not the best manager in the majors, but he fooled the Cubs pathetic management.
2) The starting pitching is not good enough to get to the WS.
3) The bench players are generally underperforming and contribute very little. They must have a pinch hitter who has a chance of getting a hit against good pitchers. Currently, they do not. Fixing the bench, along with obtaining a number one starter, are clear must-do items if they have any shot at the WS.
It would truly be a shameful thing to let this team try to get their without fixing at least two of these three glaring weaknesses.
It seems that the next 12 games, all of which are against good teams, are crucial. If they play like they have over the last three weeks, they will be in 3rd place at the All-Star break.
Went down to Houston for the game yesterday. What a stinker. Consolation was some nice Astros fans bought my kiddos ice cream. Here's to hoping for a July where we win every series
How'd you like the ballpark? I'm gradually visiting each park and haven't made it to either team's ballpark in TX yet.Went down to Houston for the game yesterday. What a stinker. Consolation was some nice Astros fans bought my kiddos ice cream. Here's to hoping for a July where we win every series
Was just out in Seattle and had a great time at T-Mobile Park.
Houston is pretty hit or miss depending on where you sit. Not enough concessions/bathrooms on the 100 level in my opinion. Overall a pretty decent. I'd say a slightly lesser version of Chase Field (Dbacks) if you've been there.
The new(ish) Rangers park is pretty great. Ugly on the outside but once you're inside the amenities are nice. I live in DFW so I get over there for a couple games a year.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Not to mention Paredes is having a good season, and was a massive pain in the rear this series.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
He was beyond bad with the Cubs last year.
It was like he was deliberately bad. His plan seemed to be to play so bad that he would get traded, but not have any return value, so that his new team would get the better deal.
Here is the thing, Smith is playing in a hitters park. Lots of carry inside the ole Juice Box. Paredes the same. I still make that trade regardless.
Paredes was made for Houston. They have the wildly short porch in LF and he pulls everything, so it's a perfect marriage. A couple of his HRs wouldn't have hit the warning track at Wrigley (or most other ballparks).
No, he’s a dead pull hitter who went from a hitter’s park (TB) to one not so friendly. I remember when the trade happened, Savant or something similar had Paredes having 20
HRs if played all his games at home in TB but just 12 if had played all his games at Wrigley. And if he’s not hitting HRs, pitchers can pitch to him differently — hence the bad BA. Now he’s back in a hitter’s park and it shows. Very unlikely he’d have anywhere near those numbers if he was still with Cubs. A lot of people had him as a pre-season sleeper after trade to Astros purely based on getting out of Wrigley and to Houston
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
He certainly was. For me, that makes it even more frustrating.
Reading that the Cubs are interested in Ryan McMahon and Ke'Bryan Hayes at 3rd base.
If Jed Hoyer does either of these moves, he should be fired into the sun.
Ryan McMahon has a .577 OPS outside of Coors Field, this guy is absolutely not good at baseball.
And Hayes as a .601 OPS overall.
Get Eugenio Suarez for 3rd or do nothing, you dolt.
If Jed Hoyer does either of these moves, he should be fired into the sun.
Ryan McMahon has a .577 OPS outside of Coors Field, this guy is absolutely not good at baseball.
And Hayes as a .601 OPS overall.
Get Eugenio Suarez for 3rd or do nothing, you dolt.
Your slow footed catcher makes the first out of the inning at home.
You'd think for $40,000,000 over 8 years you'd get a baseball team that actually had respectable fundamentals.
You'd think for $40,000,000 over 8 years you'd get a baseball team that actually had respectable fundamentals.
Now Hoerner picked off at first with a 3-0 count on Shaw.
Laughable.
This should have been a 7 run inning. Wonder if 3 will be enough.
Laughable.
This should have been a 7 run inning. Wonder if 3 will be enough.
Now Shaw picked off at 1st.
3 outs on the bases in one single inning.
At least we pay our manager more than anyone in baseball for the privilege.
3 outs on the bases in one single inning.
At least we pay our manager more than anyone in baseball for the privilege.
- Status