As others have pointed out, he’s better defensively with his arm being his main calling card. He’s only been catching full-time since his last year in college, having split time in previous seasons between there,OF and 1B. So not sure it is accurate as someone said that he is a defensive catcher first. He still has a ways to go defensively, but with his arm he’ll stick there. Definitely has taken a big step forward with his hitting. He’ll likely be given every chance to break training camp with the Cubs next year.
Chicago Cubs 2026
Maybe he won’t wait until next season to join the big league club.
Ayers is definitely an exciting prospect after this insane breakout this year but I can't see anyway they bring him up this year to be a backup to Kelly. Cubs catchers have been awesome the last year and half, 1st in WAR last season and 5th season so far. Kelly has been one of Jed's masterstrokes on the free agent front. We are getting his absolute best stretch of baseball in his career. Amaya is serviceable as a back-up currently and used to that role at least. Let Ayers prove it at triple A and then battle it out in spring training.
I agree. Was joking to further emphasize the year he’s had. As my previous post said, next Spring Training is when he’ll likely truly gain relevancy at the MLB level.
Somewhat interesting is that Ayers DHed in his first AAA game and Cards had 4 SBs against Moises. He caught yesterday, went 0-4 with a run, had a passed ball and Cards were 2 for 2 against him on SBs.
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0 for 4? send him back down! Runners steal on pitchers , not necessarily catchers
Nice win for Cubbies. For all the grumbling on her, the Cubs have the 5th best record in baseball.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Would be tied for the best record in the AL...well, one behind Tampa in the loss column.
I think much of the grumbling has to do with continually getting outclassed by the Brewers.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Doing a good job in this 12-game stretch of mediocre to bad teams. 6-3 so far, take 2 of 3 from Detroit and go 8-4.
That’s certainly a part of it, but I don’t know about much of the grumbling. Plenty on the Cubs team, individual players and staff not being up to snuff. I’m not saying some of it hasn’t been warranted and expected. Fans in general and probably more so those on boards and social media tend to get too excited when things are going well and complain when they’re not. I’m not positive, but I seem to remember at least one post on the season being over and Cubs had no chance to make playoffs. It’s a long season and despite some inconsistency and injuries Cubs have been one of the better teams in baseball.
Drew Pomeranz DFA'ed.
Hunter Harvey still MIA. Authorities now consider it a cold case. Immediate family continues to hold out hope.
Phil Maton back to 15 day IL with a fractured stat line.
Hunter Harvey still MIA. Authorities now consider it a cold case. Immediate family continues to hold out hope.
Phil Maton back to 15 day IL with a fractured stat line.
Although improved recently, much has been said about the lack of Cubs' hitting w/RISP.
What bothers me more, however, is their lack of hitting/contact with runners on 3rd and less than 2 out.
What bothers me more, however, is their lack of hitting/contact with runners on 3rd and less than 2 out.
89illini
- Grand Rapids, MI
He “earns” roughly $50,000.00 per AB. Should be deducted from his paycheck for that one.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I was more irritated at Suzuki taking home-run hacks and striking out just before him.
️I know they’ve been playing better over the last month, but you just can’t blow a 3 game home series against the Tigers when you don’t face either Skubal or Mize.
I don't mind the L today because the pitching matchup clearly went Detroit's way from the outset. It was just a tough matchup. Monday on the other hand was ridiculous.
3-3 on the homestand and losing 2 games in the standings to the Brewers is not what the doctor ordered coming out of the All-Star break.
Unless they somehow get really hot in the next week and a half they would be very foolish to deplete an already mediocre farm system to go all in at the trade deadline.
Last year, yes. This year, no.
Regroup after the lock out.
Unless they somehow get really hot in the next week and a half they would be very foolish to deplete an already mediocre farm system to go all in at the trade deadline.
Last year, yes. This year, no.
Regroup after the lock out.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I saw one mock trade that suggested the Cubs obtain Michael Wacha for Shaw and Alcantera.
That would make them favorites to win it all.
As exciting as the trade deadline can be, mock trades (especially from fan accounts on Twitter) are really tiresome. The ones about Cubs and Skubal crack me up. No way in hell Cubs are in on Skubal. I do think they will try to pick up a lower tier SP along the lines of Wacha. But to a previous posters point, Cubs shouldn’t ravage their system. And I think they’ll run into same problem as last season — teams seem to be stress getting pitching back in return, and Cubs system is lacking in that department.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
The mock that I posted was from Jim Bowden from The Athletic.
Who is awful. The Cubs aren’t trading their two best position player prospects for a season of Michael Wacha.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
I agree, I laughed out loud when I saw that.