Soriano Out; E-Pat In

Childersb3 04/30/2024 - 04:31 am (view)

If PCA and Mervis both go down I guess Mastro would have to be the 13th bat.
I really think PCA (if he keeps hitting) can help more than Mastro. I understand the development piece. He wasn't hitting well in Iowa before Belli's injury. But, if he keeps hitting, they can get him ABs. But, he probably goes to Iowa. So, I guess it's really Mervis vs Mastro for the 13th spot. Mervis doesn't have anything more to prove/learn at AAA unless they change his swing or something like that.

I don't think Almonte can go to Iowa unless we DFA him and no team picks him up.

I don't necessarily agree with the notion that the Cubs cannot be as good as the NYY, LAD or ATL so just don't try. The young guys are playing well. The arms are producing. Veterans are good or at least okay. We're winning the division on April 30th.
I think getting a better DH or CP is worth the effort. I'm not saying give up ONKC, PCA or Jaguar for a rental. Horton might the arm we add this summer anyway!! ONKC might be the DH we add this summer.  But I wouldn't mind adding an arm like Kopech in June to help earlier than usual.
Don't sell the farm (we can't right now anyways with all the injuries) but it's something to think about.

Childersb3 04/30/2024 - 04:17 am (view)

Horton to Iowa !! He's getting closer folks !!

Bill 04/30/2024 - 04:47 am (view)

It is easy to quibble about details, but the major thing I see is that I believe that PCA will return to Iowa when Bellinger comes back, regardless of how well he does until then.

Mervis will be going down.  He needs consistent playing time, whether to get him ready for the Cubs to bring up, or to improve his trade value.

Madrigal and Mastrobuone are pretty interchangeable as far as value is concerned.  I doubt that the season will be substantially changed no matter which one is chosen.  Madrigal may win one game with a timely single, while Mastrobuone may win one with a timely home run, but I would expect a wash for the season.

The pitching staff will be all of the above.  Wesneski, Keagan, Alomonte, et al will remain on the Iowa shuttle whenever someone is temporarily overworked and a new rested arm is needed.  I doubt that will change.

Right now it looks as if the Cubs are performing at the upper end of their team potential.  But their talent level is nowhere near elite level, and adding one or two players, whether closer or hitter, is not going to bring them up to an elite level, equal to the Dodgers, Braves, or Yankees.  We are going to have to wait another year or two for that, when the PCA, Cassie, Horton, Brown, Alcontara group not only come up, but have a year or two experience behind them.  And of that group, Horton and Brown are the only ones that can really make an immense difference.  

One elite pitcher is much more valuable than one elite hitter.

Childersb3 04/30/2024 - 04:08 am (view)

18-11 and gave a way a "few". Leading the division on April 30th
So, I'm going to pose a question based on the idea of the injured players coming back and the roster appearing stable. 
=> Steele-Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown-Wesneski-Keegan-Leiter-Alzolay-Neris are locks. That leaves Almonte-Brewer-Palencia-Little-Smyly-Lovelady for the last three pen spots. Hendricks is out for me.
=> Amaya-Gomes-Busch-Nico-Dansby-Morel-Happ-Belli-Seiya-Tauch-Wisdom-Madrigal are locks.  That means it's PCA-Mervis-Mastro for the last spot. If PCA out performs Mervis and gets routine ABs, I think Jed will keep him up. I still wonder if Mastro is a better option than Madrigal but's probably a waste of time to consider.
The Question: what are the spots we need to "add" ? 8th/9th Inning Bullpen spot, right?
If PCA can hit, I think our best lineup is Belli at 1B, PCA in CF and Busch at DH. Tauch seems to hit better when he's a fielder and not a DH. Maybe Tauch in CF. But Belli is certainly our best 1B defender !!
So, who can we add for late Bullpen help?
The dream is Clase from Clev, but they're winning so he isn't going anywhere.
Mason Miller from A's, but he'd cost a fortune.
How about Kopech from the Southsiders? He hits FAgency in 1.5 yrs. He turned 28 today.
Thoughts?
 

Charlie 04/29/2024 - 04:37 pm (view)

Well, game 29 on the year was a hell of a game. That felt like a throwback, too. I had a feeling Morel had a shot at catching up to that fastball.

Childersb3 04/29/2024 - 04:36 pm (view)

Phil,

Any thoughts/details on Carico and/or JP Wheat?

crunch 04/29/2024 - 04:13 pm (view)

MIL loses!

cubs finally get to sole control of 1st place in the central.

crunch 04/29/2024 - 04:06 pm (view)

MIL out here stealing 3rd with 1 out and down by 1 in the bottom 9th.

it worked.  this MIL team is annoyingly fun to watch so far this year...

crunch 04/29/2024 - 04:18 pm (view)

it took him 24 pitches, 2 walks, 2 Ks...but he got it done.  woo.

azbobbop 04/29/2024 - 04:17 pm (view)

Full pack!