*****Official Cubs 2023 thread*****
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Still think he stays with the Angels…either way, I highly doubt he leaves the greater Los Angeles area
I just joined to root for the Cubs today not troll. You started that! Didn't work out I guess. 6-0 while I was watching before I turned it over to @lucas80...
Hey, being a Cardinals fan, can you verify what I am hearing about Willson Contreras's falling out of favor as a catcher? I'm reading that he was calling pitches that the pitcher on the mound at the time didn't even throw. Any truth to that that you might be aware of?
What does that have to do with your poor grammar while insulting someone else’s?
True, I think. I've seen a lot of times the pitching staff has shaken him off. Never saw much of that with Yadi. I wish he'd frame the pitches a little better, even some of my Cub buddys confirm that he wasn't very good with that. He has homered tonight and thrown out a base runner but still hitting only .215...
What does your lack of baseball knowledge have to do with your poor grammar? Better luck with a 6-0 lead tomorrow...
Too many holes to fill. Even plugging SO into the rotation and at DH doesn't fix this team.
They definitely have to sell. This time, though, they need major league ready players in return. Stroman will bring back the most, but that’s about it.
And the core needs be upgraded but that’s easier said than done.
And the core needs be upgraded but that’s easier said than done.
That would go a long way - and you’re signing him for 8+ years. If you think that’s a reason not to get him, that’s really shortsighted.
Do you think the Cubs are in a position to win in the next 3 years? If yes, why in the world would you trade Stroman (unless someone grossly overpays). Why wouldn’t you extend him and continue to run out Stro and Steele at the top of this rotation?
That loss was a big kick in the balls but they can still win the division. 2017 team was 43-45 going into break IIRC (not that this is that 17 team). Gotta win this next one
Lot of season left, just a matter of if they want to compete/ is it worth competing at deadline
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That’s a very complex question. In short, if they want to compete in the next 3 years, there are holes to fill. They have to figure out 3B and 1B, they are locked in elsewhere when PCA takes over CF.
Pitching…if Hendricks is around he’d be a 5th starter, at best, but most likely gone. Smyly won’t be around. Taillon will be in the rotation and hopefully he’ll get back to his norm. Over the next three years are Wicks, Brown and Horton a part of the rotation? That would be fantastic.
For me, Stroman is an average—slightly above average pitcher, but he’s absolutely having a great year and has earned the All-Star recognition. If he can keep this pace over the next three years, absolutely, but he’s 32 and will cost more than $25 million/year. I have my doubts about him over the next three years.
If I could get any of Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte, Westburg or Coby Mayo for Stroman, I would do it.
I agree. Trading away Stroman would not very likely get you the prospects needed to win right away. He and Steele provide a foundation that can be built upon, especially with the promising young arms coming up through the system now. Stroman can be a mentor to those guys like Wesneski today and Brown and Horton when they get to Chicago. As bad as it seems right now, I am happy to see the development of young players like Hoerner, Amaya, and Morel who can be solid pieces for the future. It would be nice if Morel can establish an everyday defensive position but his bat seems to play at this level. He might become the star and power hitter this team is currently lacking. The Cubs need players like Suzuki and Bellinger to produce more than what they have, although injuries have probably held them back. It would also help if Happ and Swanson could be more consistent. Setting aside yesterday's performance, the BP showed in June what they are capable of. Just need to throw strikes. To give the Brewers so many free passes is what killed the Cubs yesterday. Milwaukee is the worst offensive team in the NL and barely better than Oakland. The Cubs need to start winning the close games instead of just getting blowout wins. Easier said than done though, I'm sure.
I think the plan is to have the bullpen full of in-house arms in Pre-Arb & Arb contract status for the next few years, and it's not a bad plan (Alzolay, Leiter, Palencia, Kay, Hughes, Merryweather, Estrada, Heuer?, Horn?, Jensen?, etc.). Would you rather have them forking out more big $ contracts to guys like Fulmer & Boxberger?
Well no shit, not a bad plan in the long run as long as you are willing to concede another 3 full seasons like the Ricketts clearly are. If you are calling 4 and 2.8 million big contracts I don't know what to say, I'd rather have some proven relievers that can fill the role until they do get to the point they can do it in house. They can afford it, I hope you aren't to upset if they get help at the deadline
I love what he’s doing this year, but never extend a guy based off of a hot streak well above career norms. And, if you do talk, nothing past another three years. He’s durable, but pitchers break down fast. He’s 32-33? No way I’d give him over 3 years more without a team option.
That is the kind of extension I am talking about, 3 yrs with options and such. You have Steele, Wesneski if he develops, Taillon gets his shit together, and host of young arms coming up. Keeping MS and then getting another FA in the off season would be ideal.
Easy there, chief. Just making the point that the bullpen is the most volatile and toughest part of the roster to fill for a lot of teams, and just throwing $ out there isn’t necessarily going to bring you better results. I’ll bet most teams have FA signings in their pen this year that they regret.
I know it’s easy to rip on the pen given their performance the past 3-4 games, but they had a super-solid June, with all the major contributors being in PreArb/ARB1-level contracts.
Wes, Sampson, Assad, Estrada & Rodriguez regaining their 2022 form would do wonders for the Cubs down the stretch and beyond…
The Score midday crew was talking about this today. Basically every pitcher caught regularly by WC over the years had a higher ERA versus other catchers. Not sure on the breakdown because WC caught the bulk of the games the last 5 years.
It’s worth kicking around that he had flaws that contributed to more runs.
