Author Topic: Cubs in ‘23  (Read 54940 times)

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2250 on: May 25, 2023, 03:59:46 pm »
Patrick Mooney
Senior Writer, Chicago

The Cubs optioned Nick Madrigal to Triple-A Iowa to open a roster spot for Kyle Hendricks, who will face the Mets tonight at Wrigley Field in his first major-league game since last July

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2251 on: May 26, 2023, 09:18:46 am »
So how long do you carry the truly awful Barnhart (.509 OPS after .554 last season) when Amaya not only needs experience, but appears to be a clearly better option right now?  If you're going to use the fact that he's got a player option for next year as an excuse (what a genius move that was) does that mean you're going to carry him for two years?

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2252 on: May 26, 2023, 10:21:34 am »
They'll hold on to him until they once again can scream, "We won't put up with mediocrity" like they did with Hosmer, even though they knew they were signing mediocrity when they signed the two.

craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2253 on: May 26, 2023, 10:46:40 am »
Amaya's long-term development should supersede one or two extra wins.   

*Is he best served catching 4 games a week at Iowa, and DHing a 5th?  Build some repetitions?  Play in-and-out of some slumps?
*Or better developed starting twice a week for the Cubs?  Prioritize defense, learning the pitchers and opposing hitters.  Perhaps at the expense of attention to developing his hitting? 

He's only got 73 AB in the minors.  And over the last four years, the two dozen games he's caught this spring are his first?  I understand Hoyer wanting to be a little patient and letting him stack some games away from the pressure? 

davep

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2254 on: May 26, 2023, 12:54:45 pm »
They'll hold on to him until they once again can scream, "We won't put up with mediocrity" like they did with Hosmer, even though they knew they were signing mediocrity when they signed the two.

We should bear in mind that the Cubs did not say "We won't put up with mediocrity".

It was the reporter that made that interpretation.
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2255 on: May 26, 2023, 04:13:41 pm »
Interesting stat (via Jordan Bastian)

"In the two calendar years since Wisdom was called up from Triple-A Iowa, he has ranked fifth in the NL with 65 home runs. Only Pete Alonso (89), Kyle Schwarber (75), Paul Goldschmidt (69) and Austin Riley (69) had more in that time period."




craig

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2256 on: May 26, 2023, 04:14:37 pm »
The Cubs run differential is is steadily coming into better compliance with their record. 

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2257 on: May 26, 2023, 06:35:50 pm »
Amaya's long-term development should supersede one or two extra wins.   

*Is he best served catching 4 games a week at Iowa, and DHing a 5th?  Build some repetitions?  Play in-and-out of some slumps?
*Or better developed starting twice a week for the Cubs?  Prioritize defense, learning the pitchers and opposing hitters.  Perhaps at the expense of attention to developing his hitting? 

He's only got 73 AB in the minors.  And over the last four years, the two dozen games he's caught this spring are his first?  I understand Hoyer wanting to be a little patient and letting him stack some games away from the pressure? 

If Gomes is the catching savant the Cubs make him out to be, isn't he a really good mentor for Amaya to learn from?

I mean, I get that Amaya has had a lot of injuries lately but he's been in the minors since 2016 and has 1500 ABs or so.  It's not like they'd be rushing him.  Playing time is a concern, but it's not like Gomes is going to play 5 days a week (especially as his offense succumbs to mean reversion).

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2258 on: May 27, 2023, 03:03:57 am »
Cubs slash line this season at DH:

192-271-341

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2259 on: May 27, 2023, 08:40:05 am »
Two-year anniversary of arguably the stupidest and surely the most hilarious play in baseball history.

https://twitter.com/maggiehendricks/status/1662439190171090946?s=20

"The calliope crashed to the ground"
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2260 on: May 27, 2023, 12:02:48 pm »
I remember that first baseman was cut shortly thereafter.  I think he's pumping gas somewhere.

Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2261 on: May 27, 2023, 02:04:29 pm »
Question: Would anyone here have predicted that nearly 1/3 of way through the season, anything like the following:

Dansby Swanson: 2.1 WAR, 112 OPS+
Xander Bogaerts: 1.6 WAR, 114 OPS+
Trea Turner: 0.4 WAR, 85 OPS+
Carlos Correa:  0.3 WAR, 96 OPS+

Yeah, there is a lot of the season left yet, not to mention the lengths of the various contracts. But still, maybe Dansby should get a little more love. (And god forbid, even the Cubs for signing him for less money than the others got?)




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Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2262 on: May 27, 2023, 02:24:37 pm »
Cubs trailers in bWAR.

-0.8  Taillon
-0.6  Mancini
-0.6  Fulmer
-0.4  Hosmer

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2263 on: May 27, 2023, 03:04:28 pm »
We don't tolerate inadequacy
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Deeg

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #2264 on: May 27, 2023, 06:36:20 pm »
Question: Would anyone here have predicted that nearly 1/3 of way through the season, anything like the following:

Dansby Swanson: 2.1 WAR, 112 OPS+
Xander Bogaerts: 1.6 WAR, 114 OPS+
Trea Turner: 0.4 WAR, 85 OPS+
Carlos Correa:  0.3 WAR, 96 OPS+

Yeah, there is a lot of the season left yet, not to mention the lengths of the various contracts. But still, maybe Dansby should get a little more love. (And god forbid, even the Cubs for signing him for less money than the others got?)


Dansby is exactly what any unbiased observer would have expected him to be.  Maybe a little more OPB and less SLG than one might have predicted, but on balance exactly the guy we hoped we were buying.  He probably won't be that for 7 years, but that's not really the point.  That isn't how baseball free agency works.

This roster has 99 problems but Swanson ain't one.