Tonight's Lineup...Sort Of

Bill 04/16/2024 - 04:11 pm (view)

I had mixed emotions when I heard of the trade, as I have with most trades that involve high potential prospects.  But that is because I hate to trade a high potential prospect for a veteran with only a few years control, and with a much lower potential than the prospects give away.  I hated the trade of Cease and Jiminez for Quinta, because I viewed Quintana as a decent, but not top pitcher, being traded for two very high-potential prospects.  I disliked the trade for Chapman, because a high-potential prospect was traded for a rental, although in this case, the fact that the rental was a top player greatly softened the blow.  The trade of Ferris and Hope for Busch seemed even at the time, to be a good one, even though they gave up one of my favorite prospects.  The return was a high-potential prospect with 6 years of control, at a time when he could be a difference maker on the team.

13 games hardly proves that it was a good trade, but at least it was a reasonable one, no matter how it turns out.  So far, so good.

crunch 04/16/2024 - 04:43 pm (view)

i was strongly happy about the deal, but words can barely describe how quickly zyhir hope went from "interesting youngster" to "high end prospect" when he showed up in arizona post-draft.

it may not have shown up in the team prospect numbered rankings, but the dodgers had their eyes on such a low level guy for a reason and the cubs knew what they gave up.

TarzanJoeWallis 04/16/2024 - 04:33 pm (view)

I have to disagree. They got not just A triple A stud but THE AAA stud of the entire PCL for a position player who hadn’t played above the AZL level and a pitcher who was rather mediocre in his first taste of pro ball at low A. I’m not saying the guys they traded haven’t shown great promise but they have a very long way to go and a whole lot to prove before they make the bigs. Especially since Busch nearly filled a defined need (whether it had been at third or first) I take this trade any day of the week and don’t bother looking back.

crunch 04/16/2024 - 04:36 pm (view)

matt shaw (AA) has a .381/.552/.905 line through 7 games...3 homers and a triple.  6 games at 3rd, 1 game DH (5 PO, 7 A, 0 E).

that's somewhat fun news.

crunch 04/16/2024 - 04:18 pm (view)

i was blown away confused/pissed when it was announced the cubs were trading for y.almonte.

i was thrilled when m.busch was announced as part of the trade.

it's really weird to have the "you gotta take this payroll guy, too" (1.9m) part of the trade leak before the main piece.

the cubs didn't get a deal given what they gave up, but i was very happy to have a guy like busch in the fold with so much club control.

Sonicwind75 04/16/2024 - 04:58 pm (view)

Have to admit I was initially disappointed the Cubs traded away the upside of Jackson Ferris but Busch is making a believer out of me.  If I still lived in midwest guessing we would have invented some drink special named a Busch Bomb at the local drinking establishment to celebrate his homers.  

Cubster 04/16/2024 - 04:59 am (view)

per Tribune: Suzuki MRI results pending from yesterday so we should get a timetable for return later today.

crunch 04/15/2024 - 04:08 pm (view)

suzuki says he injured his oblique running to 1st, not swinging.  okay.  it's gonna be that kind of 2024 cubs year, huh?

i would say that's good news compared to screwing it up swinging, but i'm not familiar with the recovery time of people screwing up their oblique by running.

right side is at least different from his left side oblique injury last year.

crunch 04/15/2024 - 04:58 pm (view)

5 IN A ROW!

hack wilson, ryne sandberg, sammy sosa, christopher morel, and michael busch.

Cubster 04/15/2024 - 04:46 pm (view)

A bit more Jewish take on one of my favorite Cubs, Kenny Holtzman. His 9-0 season while serving in the National Guard and being available to pitch on weekends was one of my coolest teen recollections. 

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388554