I never viewed Moises the same after the unnecessary info on his hand pissing came out. I mean, WTF man?!!! 😂
*****Official Cubs 2023 thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
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Let it go… Or, go all Lord Vader and let the hate consume you. Your call.
Gotta be honest, I listened to the podcast and I kept thinking I was listening to the Bob & Tom Show, which isn’t a compliment. You were fine, but the podcast was a labor to get through.
They’re an acquired taste for sure, but I was happy to get a guest appearance. It took me a little bit to get warmed up to them when I first started following, but I like it now for what it is. It’s a fan podcast that prioritizes snark. Hopefully my segment didn’t suck too much.
An inside look at how the new rules will work
Pretty good video here showing the ins and outs of the new rules this season, especially on the pitch clock.
https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-r...fieBmaPi7rNEFJgAYEUZfv93K&bt_ts=1676472804875
Pitchers and catchers officially report today, but it seems like everyone is already at camp.
I haven’t fully decided where I’m setting my expectations, but I’ll be disappointed if they’re under .500. I’m leaning towards thinking this team can win 83-85 games with a max upside if things break right of 90-92. Floor, barring some absolute unforeseen calamity or literally every guy hitting bottom end of projections, is probably 78 wins.
Weird note on Hendricks, I haven't seen anyone that doesn't think that he immediately goes on the 60 man IL immediately, and will be lucky to pitch by mid Summer.
What to do with Happ? I think we should try and sign him to an extension. RF is set for awhile and CF seems to be PCA’s in the future.
I’d like to keep Happ while monitoring the development of Alcantara, Canario, Davis, Caissie and the rest. Happ is very good, if one of the prospects looks to be better then we can trade Happ.
I hope N Velazquez gets more ABs this season. See what we’ve got there.
I’d like to keep Happ while monitoring the development of Alcantara, Canario, Davis, Caissie and the rest. Happ is very good, if one of the prospects looks to be better then we can trade Happ.
I hope N Velazquez gets more ABs this season. See what we’ve got there.
The Cubs have now run this long enough that you’re going to have to pay Happ something pretty close to market value. I still think something in the ballpark of Seiya’s deal, but maybe a little more could get it done.
That said, they’re really pushing a point where it might actually be in both sides’ best interest to NOT extend. Each side carries a little risk, but the Cubs could wait and see if he slips at all and/or if one of the kids is ready and the risk would be that he is better than last year and ups his price. From Happ’s side, he can up his price with another good year and his risk is falling back some in performance or getting hurt. There’s so much less uncertainty into Happ’s future projections now that an extension is basically just signing him as a FA early.
Happ’s been a streaky player for most of his career. Alcantara seems to have the highest upside. I’m 51 and don’t remember the Cubs having so many quality outfield prospects at one time.
I like the quantity approach with the prospects. It used to be that we pinned our hopes on one guy. Now, it would be no surprise if they all make the show.
I like the quantity approach with the prospects. It used to be that we pinned our hopes on one guy. Now, it would be no surprise if they all make the show.
As it stands right now, the Cubs are really closely watching 5 top OF prospects, 3 of whom (occasionally 4) are top 100 prospects in baseball: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brennan Davis, Kevin Alcantara, Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie….then add in potential from other guys like Cole Roederer, Darius Hill and Nelson Velazquez. The Cubs may not be loaded with top 20 prospects, but they’re giving themselves a lot of chances at a lot of positions, which is great to see. Some guys will pop and others will be very useful in trades.
I'd like to see how he performs for a couple months when Cubs are hopefully in the thick of it with the Cards and Brewers. I'm afraid he could be a guy who does well when the team pressure is off like last year, then when a division race starts to heat up and there are real expectations he reverts to the guy who got sent to DM. If he picks up where he left off last year I'd be fine extending him but with the outfield talent coming up I want to see it before committing to him
That’s kind of the point of an extension - you play on finding the balance between player risk and team risk and each side offsets some of that risk. Wait until the season starts with Happ and he has basically no more risk to trade, so you’re just going to be looking at FA market prices, ultimately.
I'm fine trading him too. I just don't have a lot of confidence in him when it really matters. I trust Jed to do the right thing
Any extension that Happ might get from the Cubs would not be so onerous that they couldn't move him as other players develop (Hopefully). For now he provides a solid glove in LF, some pop, and a bit of speed. He also seems to be continuing to improve himself.
To win a WS you need superstars. Happ is in the pretty good category. If he was meant to be a superstar in the making he'd be there by now.
Wouldn't commit much to him that could hamstring the future.
Wouldn't commit much to him that could hamstring the future.
No. But I think we got some superstar potential coming up.
I'm just saying give the guy a fair offer but don't overextend yourself and be prepared to keep the deck clear for when the kids start popping.
They don't have a 2023 superstar in the wings, as I see it. Even the best projections for guys like PCA are maybe get to the majors in 2024. I'd be happy if Brennen Davis has a healthy year at AAA. I am optimistic that the system is going to produce in the 2024-25 years with a couple of legit stars.
Someone was comparing Happ’s situation to Contreras and the biggest difference is, like others have mentioned, the Cubs have way more possibilities at OF than they did at catcher. I think he’s either traded or walks.
BN story where they stole stuff from Baseball America about 2 Cubs minor leaguers who are projected to have breakout seasons.
1. Cade Horton was last years #1 pick, and does have high leverage starter / legit stuff, although the sample size is very small. Interesting to see where he starts out.
2. 2021 IFA signee Christian Hernandez will play in the US this season. The Cubs are still hoping to make a SS out of him, but he could certainly move to 3B or a corner spot. The question for this season is the 19 year old ready to make consistent contact? He projects to go to low A Myrtle Beach.
As you might know, I do geek a little on the IFA signees. I just love the lottery pick aspect.
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs...o-could-break-out-in-their-full-season-debut/
1. Cade Horton was last years #1 pick, and does have high leverage starter / legit stuff, although the sample size is very small. Interesting to see where he starts out.
2. 2021 IFA signee Christian Hernandez will play in the US this season. The Cubs are still hoping to make a SS out of him, but he could certainly move to 3B or a corner spot. The question for this season is the 19 year old ready to make consistent contact? He projects to go to low A Myrtle Beach.
As you might know, I do geek a little on the IFA signees. I just love the lottery pick aspect.
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs...o-could-break-out-in-their-full-season-debut/
I like the Rios pickup. It’s a major league deal (Ethan Roberts to 60 day IL to make room), but won’t be much. Big competition for bench spots and 3B and also potential trade combos.
Nick (Cough, cough), Madri(Cough, cough), gal.
Purely for discussion purposes, if you could only extend one player, would it be Hoerner or Happ? Who do you keep, and who do you let walk?
They do not have the same service time, obviously, but it is rumored the Cubs are talking to both right now about an extension.
They do not have the same service time, obviously, but it is rumored the Cubs are talking to both right now about an extension.
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