Chicago Cubs 2025

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#2,528      
EyeoftheIllini
GoodePodzMelendez said:
I want him to work on plate discipline and understanding the strike zone. Yes, he could learn to lay down the bunt better as that could be a weapon but number 1 is to learn what a strike is.
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Yep, everyone should be able to bunt, bunt unless you’re a mega-speedster, slap hitter it needn’t be a priority. Especially for a 30 home run guy.
 
#2,535      
Second place is 1st loser
EyeoftheIllini said:
Yeah, that’s what I want him working on. 🙄
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He's right. With his speed, if he can get those corner infielders thinking about it, it opens up a ton of holes on the corners. Then, for God's sake, with his speed, a bunt single is basically a double. These huge swings of the bat, the league caught up. He needs to shorten up and get back to hitting line drives. He has too many physical skills to not use them all.
 
#2,536      
EyeoftheIllini
Just watched on-field interview with Tucker on MLBN. It might be the first interview with him I’ve seen. I was impressed with him. Even keeled and professional, just what I want from one of my top guys when there is more work to do.
 
#2,539      
EyeoftheIllini
Second place is 1st loser said:
He's right. With his speed, if he can get those corner infielders thinking about it, it opens up a ton of holes on the corners. Then, for God's sake, with his speed, a bunt single is basically a double. These huge swings of the bat, the league caught up. He needs to shorten up and get back to hitting line drives. He has too many physical skills to not use them all.
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Yes, I’m well aware of the potential positive byproducts of bunting for hits. And as I said, every player should be able to bunt. But beyond the fact that it doesn’t align with most teams’ offensive strategies today and certainly not the Cubs’ (what did they have maybe 10 bunts for hits this year), he needs to concentrate on improving his plate discipline and staying balanced and within himself. The guy hit 31 HRs at 23 years old with his flaws and was second on team in slugging percentage. He needs to concentrate on building upon that rather than something he might use maybe once or twice a week. I think the record for bunt hits in a season is 13 or 14. But by all means concentrate on that rather than aspects of hitting that will impact team more. Highly probable unless Cubs change their offensively philosophy that they feel the same way.
 
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#2,541      
GoodePodzMelendez
Second place is 1st loser said:
He's right. With his speed, if he can get those corner infielders thinking about it, it opens up a ton of holes on the corners. Then, for God's sake, with his speed, a bunt single is basically a double. These huge swings of the bat, the league caught up. He needs to shorten up and get back to hitting line drives. He has too many physical skills to not use them all.
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Rod Carew/Tony Gwynn type hitter with better speed. I do not need PCA to be Dave Kingman. Becoming a 290-300 hitter that can turn walks/singles into doubles and be a top of the lineup hitter. He needs to work with someone like Gwynn in the offseason. Shorten his swing, learn to hit to the opposite field and drive the ball instead of launching the ball. Line drives in Wrigley is how he needs to approach hitting. The opposing pitchers see how he over-swings and they throw pitches into the dirt to get him to chase. I hope CC in after the season meetings with players addresses his flaws and I hope PCA learns from this. I would love him to hit 290 with an 800-850 OPS. 40 plus steals and over 40 doubles. I would rather him hit 40 plus doubles with a lower strikeout rate than hitting 30 homers and striking out 23% of the time.
 
#2,542      
EyeoftheIllini
EyeoftheIllini said:
Yes, I’m well aware of the potential positive byproducts of bunting for hits. And as I said, every player should be able to bunt. But beyond the fact that it doesn’t align with most teams’ offensive strategies today and certainly not the Cubs’ (what did they have maybe 10 bunts for hits this year), he needs to concentrate on improving his plate discipline and staying balanced and within himself. The guy hit 31 HRs at 23 years old with his flaws and was second on team in slugging percentage. He needs to concentrate on building upon that rather than something he might use maybe once or twice a week. I think the record for bunt hits in a season is 13 or 14. But by all means concentrate on that rather than aspects of hitting that will impact team more. Highly probable unless Cubs change their offensively philosophy that they feel the same way.
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I may have underestimated record for bunt hits in season. Might 29 by Brett Butler. Regardless, points still stand. Not turning one of your top sluggers into Butler, Juan Pierre or for us old timers, Del Unser.
 
#2,543      
GoodePodzMelendez
Second place is 1st loser said:
The starting pitching decisions, on both sides, is going to be fascinating.
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I believe that we are going to do an all hands on deck minus Boyd/Imanaga/Taillon. Bullpen by committee game. Everyone will be rested so throw everything at Milwaukee from the get-go. All the pressure is on Milwaukee. We are basically playing with house money at this point. We just need to win the first 5 innings then let Palencia, Pomeranz, Theilbar, Kittridge and Keller. Start Rea and hope he can go 3-4 clean innings.
 
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#2,544      
DeonThomas
I'm late to weigh-in but Saturday does indeed have the potential to be one of the biggest days in the history of (the state of) Illinois sports! Shaping up to be a fun day. So glad my wife scheduled another dinner with friends. (The last one coincided with the Indiana kickoff a couple of weeks ago. I owe her diamonds for that one, btw.)

I've mandated that we squeeze this gathering between football and baseball.
 
#2,545      
DeonThomas
GoodePodzMelendez said:
I believe that we are going to do an all hands on deck minus Boyd/Imanaga/Taillon. Bullpen by committee game. Everyone will be rested so throw everything at Milwaukee from the get-go. All the pressure is on Milwaukee. We are basically playing with house money at this point. We just need to win the first 5 innings then let Palencia, Pomeranz, Theilbar, Kittridge and Keller. Start Rea and hope he can go 3-4 clean innings.
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I think everyone is available -- even Imanaga and Taillon. We just might have Horton available to start the NLCS opener on Monday (if it becomes pertinent).
 
#2,546      
DeonThomas
EyeoftheIllini said:
I may have underestimated record for bunt hits in season. Might 29 by Brett Butler. Regardless, points still stand. Not turning one of your top sluggers into Butler, Juan Pierre or for us old timers, Del Unser.
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I'm loving the PCA bunts! All indications tell me the next one is going to have a little more velocity and it's going for a double down the 3rd base line.
 
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