OT: Cubs Offseason Thread

ImSlower · Post #361 » by **ImSlower** » Fri May 23, 2025 8:57 pm

You guys up Northside have a heck of a fun team. I love the Cards/Cubs rivalry, but I expect the Cubs to pull away comfortably with, I think, the easiest schedule in baseball the rest of the way. I'm delighted by the Cardinals unexpected run, but the pitching ain't gonna sustain what we're seeing. That said who the hell knows, maybe this is one of those baffling seasons and it's a race by fall. I'd say Cubs win the division by 10 games.

DropStep · Post #362 » by **DropStep** » Fri May 23, 2025 10:23 pm

I have a bit of a cringe factor with the phrase "all in," as in "when will they decide to go all in for this year?" There's a reason poker players don't go all in very often - there is no future if you are wrong. This is the first year of what could be a long and fun up-cycle for this franchise, and there is no reason to put all the eggs in this first basket. Give yourselves a good shot, sure, but don't bet it all for some slight perceived edge, and maybe you'll get five years of few bites at this apple instead of one. The Thunder seem to have had the same mindset, and they may be really good for a decade.

Chi town · Post #363 » by **Chi town** » Sat May 24, 2025 1:57 am

MVP PCA on full display.

Jeffster81 · Post #364 » by **Jeffster81** » Sat May 24, 2025 9:50 am

MVPete.

Dresden · Post #365 » by **Dresden** » Sat May 24, 2025 5:33 pm

What a hitter he's turning out to be. It's been a long time (at least it seems), since the Cubs have a real star in CF. He may already be the best CF'er they've had since Hack Wilson.

Dresden · Post #366 » by **Dresden** » Sat May 24, 2025 5:35 pm

Tetlak wrote:
Dresden wrote:I hope they don't give up a great prospect to rent a closer for the season. I'm so impressed by some of the guys they've brought up recently- PCA, Cade Horton, Ballesteros, Shaw- these are the future. Don't sacrifice too much for one season. But if there's a position of duplication, such as Ian Happ- where is he going to play now?

Ian Happ, the b2b2b gold glover who happens to be one of the best OBP men in the game AND who also happens to be our captain is not a duplication. He's the primary.

There's no prospect jam at the moment. Ballesteros doesn't have to be up. He got his taste and is still incredibly young for AAA. You don't really need to factor him in this season at all.

The most likely prospects to be traded seem to be Caissie, Long, Triantos, Alcantara

I didn't realize Happ had such a high OBP or was that valuable. I thought Ballesteros would DH, and the outfield would be Suzuki, PCA and Tucker.

Tetlak · Post #367 » by **Tetlak** » Sat May 24, 2025 6:58 pm

Dresden wrote:
Tetlak wrote:
Dresden wrote:I hope they don't give up a great prospect to rent a closer for the season. I'm so impressed by some of the guys they've brought up recently- PCA, Cade Horton, Ballesteros, Shaw- these are the future. Don't sacrifice too much for one season. But if there's a position of duplication, such as Ian Happ- where is he going to play now?

Ian Happ, the b2b2b gold glover who happens to be one of the best OBP men in the game AND who also happens to be our captain is not a duplication. He's the primary.

There's no prospect jam at the moment. Ballesteros doesn't have to be up. He got his taste and is still incredibly young for AAA. You don't really need to factor him in this season at all.

The most likely prospects to be traded seem to be Caissie, Long, Triantos, Alcantara

I didn't realize Happ had such a high OBP or was that valuable. I thought Ballesteros would DH, and the outfield would be Suzuki, PCA and Tucker.

He's got basically +.100 differential between BA and OBP every year. One of the best in the league at drawing walks. Crucial skill for our lineup, really sets the tone and let's Tucker see a lot more pitches behind him.

Dresden · Post #368 » by **Dresden** » Sun May 25, 2025 2:47 am

Tetlak wrote:
Dresden wrote:
Tetlak wrote:
Ian Happ, the b2b2b gold glover who happens to be one of the best OBP men in the game AND who also happens to be our captain is not a duplication. He's the primary.

There's no prospect jam at the moment. Ballesteros doesn't have to be up. He got his taste and is still incredibly young for AAA. You don't really need to factor him in this season at all.

The most likely prospects to be traded seem to be Caissie, Long, Triantos, Alcantara

I didn't realize Happ had such a high OBP or was that valuable. I thought Ballesteros would DH, and the outfield would be Suzuki, PCA and Tucker.

He's got basically +.100 differential between BA and OBP every year. One of the best in the league at drawing walks. Crucial skill for our lineup, really sets the tone and let's Tucker see a lot more pitches behind him.

I looked it up- his OBP is actually only 31st best in the NL. That's still pretty good, but it's not incredible.

Chi town · Post #369 » by **Chi town** » Sun May 25, 2025 4:06 pm

Another oblique. Amaya out at least a month.

Injuries starting to pile up.

Dresden · Post #370 » by **Dresden** » Sun May 25, 2025 5:57 pm

PCA closing in on 50 RBI before June.

nomorezorro · Post #371 » by **nomorezorro** » Sun May 25, 2025 9:23 pm

as someone whose interest in baseball has waned considerably post-2008 or thereabouts, this is very comfortably the most fun chicago team in the better part of a decade, and honestly i think they're top-to-bottom more fun than the 2016 team was

not sure if the juggernaut offense is remotely sustainable but it is very cool feeling like they are genuinely never out of a game

Dresden · Post #372 » by **Dresden** » Sun May 25, 2025 10:51 pm

Another big comeback today. Seyai with the big blast, but big day for Reese McGuire filling in behind the plate. 16 career HR's in 8 seasons, but 2 today.

Dresden · Post #373 » by **Dresden** » Sun May 25, 2025 10:53 pm

nomorezorro wrote:as someone whose interest in baseball has waned considerably post-2008 or thereabouts, this is very comfortably the most fun chicago team in the better part of a decade, and honestly i think they're top-to-bottom more fun than the 2016 team was

not sure if the juggernaut offense is remotely sustainable but it is very cool feeling like they are genuinely never out of a game

I am pretty much a fair weather baseball fan now, but there's nothing better than when one of the Chicago teams is having a big year.

Jeffster81 · Post #374 » by **Jeffster81** » Mon May 26, 2025 2:02 pm

That was a really weird series. The Cubs had the lead in just a handful or so innings over the weekend and yet they could have easily swept the Reds and could have easily been swept by the Reds.

I am sure McGuire will gladly take this 2 homerun game (I believe it is his first as a major leaguer) over the OTHER thing he is known for. I'll let you google up Reece McGuire other thing he is known for.

Indomitable · Post #375 » by **Indomitable** » Mon May 26, 2025 4:41 pm

Dresden wrote:
Tetlak wrote:
Dresden wrote:
I didn't realize Happ had such a high OBP or was that valuable. I thought Ballesteros would DH, and the outfield would be Suzuki, PCA and Tucker.

He's got basically +.100 differential between BA and OBP every year. One of the best in the league at drawing walks. Crucial skill for our lineup, really sets the tone and let's Tucker see a lot more pitches behind him.

I looked it up- his OBP is actually only 31st best in the NL. That's still pretty good, but it's not incredible.

The gold gloves and his obp is excellent. Most of those guys ahead of him are not leadoff hitters.

They are all power hitters who pitchers are trying to avoid giving up he's to.

Chi town · Post #376 » by **Chi town** » Wed May 28, 2025 3:10 am

Walk it off Matty Ice!!!

Horton looked darn good. Think he will just keep getting better. Need to get Imanaga back to really get it rolling.

SirKaiser · Post #377 » by **SirKaiser** » Wed May 28, 2025 4:55 am

Squeezed out a win against a team that is historically bad, and it was cool to see Shaw get the walk-off. Rockies have now lost a MLB record 21 straight series. But who cares, fly the W.

Chi town · Post #378 » by **Chi town** » Sat May 31, 2025 8:47 pm

Great W for the Cubbies.

Counsell working his magic with Brown and Palencia. If Brown can figure out the first inning and pitch like that we are legit contenders.

Looks like we have a lights out closer too. Palencia looks unhittable.

Dresden · Post #379 » by **Dresden** » Sun Jun 1, 2025 2:38 am

Chi town wrote:Great W for the Cubbies.

Counsell working his magic with Brown and Palencia. If Brown can figure out the first inning and pitch like that we are legit contenders.

Looks like we have a lights out closer too. Palencia looks unhittable.

That was a nice win, but I'm getting a little worried about the offense. Seems like we're just squeaking out wins now in low scoring games. Hope it's just a temporary thing.

Chi town · Post #380 » by **Chi town** » Sun Jun 1, 2025 4:06 am

Dresden wrote:
Chi town wrote:Great W for the Cubbies.

Counsell working his magic with Brown and Palencia. If Brown can figure out the first inning and pitch like that we are legit contenders.

Looks like we have a lights out closer too. Palencia looks unhittable.

That was a nice win, but I'm getting a little worried about the offense. Seems like we're just squeaking out wins now in low scoring games. Hope it's just a temporary thing.

We are pressing a bit. Wind howling in makes it tough.