Author Topic: Cubs in ‘23  (Read 54911 times)

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2235 on: May 19, 2023, 08:51:06 pm »
I'm surprised at this discussion.  The announcers have praised his play, and my eye test has been positive.  I'm far more concerned about his hitting, or lack thereof.

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2236 on: May 19, 2023, 09:00:36 pm »
You’d probably need at least a year or plus of defense for advanced stats to really be worth while. Scouting reports or reports of what the Cubs think would be a better indicator for his defense.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2237 on: May 19, 2023, 09:04:56 pm »
He looks like an average defensive 1B, which is pretty much what he was billed as.  His defense is pretty much a minimal factor in his long-term value.  If he hits he makes it, if he doesn't he washes out.

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2238 on: May 19, 2023, 09:06:17 pm »
I'm surprised at this discussion.  The announcers have praised his play, and my eye test has been positive.  I'm far more concerned about his hitting, or lack thereof.

Thanks for qual observations, and I'm glad that your eye test has been positive. 

For sure, whether his defense is average, not quite, or better than won't be relevant if the guy can't hit. 

davep

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2239 on: May 19, 2023, 09:48:26 pm »
Mervis has been quite good at scooping bad throws out of the dirt.  That is probably the one defensive flaw that could kill a first baseman.  He has also looked adequate on batted balls, admittedly, an extremely small sample size.  But I agree that it will have to be his bat that keeps him here, and the biggest surprise so far is that his extremely small strikeout rate in all levels of the minors has totally reversed course in the majors.  Hopefully, he will be able to adjust to what the pitchers are doing.

The biggest thing that he has going for him is that, unless the Cubs decide to move Bellinger to first base, there is no one on the team of in the minors that is likely to perform better in the short run.

Maybe Morel can give Mervis a few of his extra home runs.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2240 on: May 21, 2023, 09:55:58 am »
Steele, Stroman, Smiley, Taillon, Wesnecki      Who should really sit when Hendricks returns.   I vote for Taillon.  I'd rather have Asad than Taillon.

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2241 on: May 21, 2023, 11:45:44 am »
I think you have stick with Taillon whose problems seem correctible.  You invested a lot to get him.  Wesneski needs more time at AAA to prove that he belongs back in the rotation.

davep

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2242 on: May 21, 2023, 12:37:20 pm »
I agree.  Wesneski should go stay down unless he get's one more start and really dominates.

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2243 on: May 21, 2023, 05:29:33 pm »
What a hateful headline.   What a terrible thing to say about Hosmer when they KNEW all that about him when they signed him.  Won't accept mediocrity?  Then stop signing it.

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/cubs_latest_roster_moves_show_they_wont_accept_mediocrity/s1_13132_38832804

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2244 on: May 21, 2023, 05:43:34 pm »
I think you have stick with Taillon whose problems seem correctible.  You invested a lot to get him.  Wesneski needs more time at AAA to prove that he belongs back in the rotation.

I don’t think anyone is remotely suggesting giving up on Taillon.  But as bad as he is right now, would he be amenable to a couple starts at Iowa to try and figure it out? 

ben

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2245 on: May 21, 2023, 08:22:07 pm »
Who knows whether C Morel will he be one of those few who can continue to develop and adjust when the league adjusts to him.

I do suspect this: in the history of the franchise, I doubt ANY Cub player has EVER hit 8 HRs in 11 games, over the 1st 46 ABs of their MLB season.

Phenomenal talent!  Let's hope he is one of those who can continue to develop!

dallen7908

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2246 on: May 23, 2023, 11:11:49 am »
7 hitters who have improved significantly in 2023 (Henry Palattella, MLB.COM)

Patrick Wisdom, Cubs
xwOBA gain: 64 points (to .359)

The bad news about Wisdom’s game is that he has the highest strikeout rate among qualified hitters (37.6%). The good news is that he’s excelling at just about everything else, ranking in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity and the 98th percentile in hard-hit rate – both of which are significant improvements over his 2022 numbers.

Striking out will always be a part of Wisdom’s game (this is his third straight season being in the first percentile in strikeout rate), but he’s been able to make up for that this year with the fifth-best barrel rate in all of baseball. In 2021, Wisdom hit .231 with 28 home runs to finish fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. If he keeps up on his current trend, he should easily eclipse those numbers.

davep

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2247 on: May 23, 2023, 04:11:22 pm »
Who knows whether C Morel will he be one of those few who can continue to develop and adjust when the league adjusts to him.

I do suspect this: in the history of the franchise, I doubt ANY Cub player has EVER hit 8 HRs in 11 games, over the 1st 46 ABs of their MLB season.
Phenomenal talent!  Let's hope he is one of those who can continue to develop!

He has talent (specifically power) that I never dreamed he had.  As you say, everything depends upon how well he adjusts to the pitchers looking for his weaknesses.  Baez actually declined as time went on (or perhaps he just peaked out very early.  But others have made successfull adjustments, and if Morel is able to, he will be a superstar.

I think his defense will improve at whatever position he plays, but there is no question in my mind is that his career will depend upon how well he can control his strike outs

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2248 on: May 24, 2023, 06:58:43 pm »
On Mets broadcast tonight, noted that the club with the biggest negative drop turning ground balls into outs from 2022 to 2023 is the Braves.

Minus Dansby Swanson.

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2249 on: May 24, 2023, 10:34:39 pm »
Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
Kyle Hendricks will make his season debut tomorrow, Ross says.

Jameson Taillon will now start Saturday.