Recent comments

Wrigley Rat 1 week 3 days ago (view)

And just a reminder about Mervis - Although he was “undrafted” in 2020, that was the five-round draft, he very clearly would’ve been drafted in a traditional-length draft. Perhaps even soon after the fifth round.

Wrigley Rat 1 week 3 days ago (view)

AZ Phil - I have Rafael Morel in the same general area as Rosario. Do you have him as an infielder in your mind or am I overrating him? Thanks in advance! :)

azbobbop 1 week 3 days ago (view)

Merrvis’ career path and minor league production is not dissimilar to Rizzo and Busch. Busch certainly had a better pedigree but Rizzo was a sixth round draft pick. I agree with Cubster, It’s well worth the option to bring him up as a lefty DH/occasional 1B bat. He probably doesn’t have a long term future in Chicago but he could become a valuable trade chip. Find the right spot in the schedule and let’s see what he can do. 

George Altman 1 week 3 days ago (view)

I wanted to help Jed with his roster move this Friday:

Activate James Taillon, RHP, from 15 day IL.

Designate for Assignment, Kyle Hendricks, RHP.

Brown and Assad remain as rotation or multi-inning RP options.

Cubster 1 week 4 days ago (view)

I think it's still worth seeing Matt Mervis as a Lefty bat DH. Tauchman would be better as a 4th OF role and pinch hitter or injury replacement.  Tauchman has been essentially a regular in the lineup. 

The DH this season so far has been the following: 

Tauchman (1-3) and (0-4), Happ (0-3) but Tauchman was in LF, Cooper (1-3), Suzuki (1-3) with Tauchman in RF, Happ (2-5) with Tauchman in LF, Morel (1-4) and (0-4), Bellinger (0-5) with Tauchman in CF, Morel (1-4), Suzuki (1-3) with Tauchman in RF, Happ (4-5) with Tauchman in LF, Cooper (1-3) and Morel (2-5).

There seem to be a few patterns. Cooper is the DH vs Leftys. Morel gets some regrouping time as he learns 3B. Finally, Counsell is rotating the outfielders by using Tauchman as the 4th OF to give the regulars some rest at the DH slot.

If Mervis is tried as the full-time DH vs right-handed pitching and succeeds, they would have an additional and regular power (albeit platoon, which lets Mervis have a better shot at success) LH bat in the lineup and Counsell would have to give full days off to get regulars some rest (which I think is better than the "DH-day off."

The theoretical value of Mervis in a trade, to a limited extent, resembles Busch in LA. He does not have much to prove at AAA and is blocked at the major league level...except Busch comes with a better pedigree (more like Andrew Cashner, see below). Therefore, I'm not sure the value is that much diminished (a little bit but not much) and he still would have to be a part of a package for probably pitching depth.  

The better comp is more like Rizzo (compared to Busch), whom Theo-Jed believed in but was a moderate failure in his MLB early trials. To get Rizzo, it cost them, Andrew Cashner. He, more like Busch had a 1st round draft pedigree and had real promise as a starter but some baggage with what I recall were injury issues as well as early career inconsistency. Right now, Mervis does not have that level of value but that might change with more MLB experience.

Finally, some strong prospects are coming and if Mervis has any success, he might bring a much stronger package at that point than just having AAA success this season. I'd roll that dice to find out what he could be as a Cub rather than never finding out. This is all predicated on seeing that Busch is a success as the regular 1B and so far, so good (.311, 4 HRs in two weeks). I’d like to see him bat 5th in the lineup given the early success.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

michael busch is not impressed.  3rd straight game with a homer.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

holy f...that slider/sweeper ex-cub tyson miller has.

the horizontal movement is insane.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

morel with 2 high-quality snags at 3rd base in the 6th going to his right, a weakness of his (though not as weak as his throw accuracy).  both plays saving runs.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

imanaga walks back to back batters to the first hitters up in the 6th.  he had 15 innings without a walk coming into the inning.

he gave up his first run earlier in the game, but still hasn't given up an earned run.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

mervis with another homer tonight...

porter hodge made his AAA debut and got the win throwing a scoreless inning in relief...while walking 3 and K'ing 1.

crunch 1 week 4 days ago (view)

morel in the lineup saturday and playing 3rd.  hand is obviously bothering him, but he's playing.

tauchman gets the DH, because he's left handed or whatever...

mlb.tv free game of the day, btw...

Arizona Phil 1 week 4 days ago (view)

TIM: Yes. I would think so. It's not like anybody is blocking him there. 

So if PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, Canario, and C. Franklin are the Cubs top five outfield prospects (and all five are definitely in the Cubs Top 30), then Alfonsin Rosario is # 6 (ahead of B. Davis, Roederer, Pagan, and Pinango) and is in my Cubs Top 30 (if not in the Cubs Top 30 at BA, milb.com, et al).

tim815 1 week 4 days ago (view)

Rosario as next to Myrtle Beach as a hitter?

Thanks, always.

TarzanJoeWallis 1 week 4 days ago (view)

I guess my point is that based on past performance, majors, minors and spring training would more likely than not cement the 4A reputation with a call up, particularly as a part time occasional player.

If he tears up triple A other teams may have different thoughts even without the MLB experience. He lacks prospect pedigree primarily because of the system he’s in. Probably not the centerpiece of a trade but certainly a decent component.

Charlie 1 week 4 days ago (view)

Agreed. Mervis lacks prospect pedigree, and he will likely carry the trade value of a suspected quad-A guy until he shows success at the MLB level.

I also think the Cubs will show interest in a regular DH if it turns out they already have a guy who can fill that role well. 

Bill 1 week 5 days ago (view)

Bringing him up does risk exposing him to MLB pitching, and would kill his trade value if he fails.  But if he shows he can hit MLB pitching, his trade value would soar far beyond what it currently is as someone with only failure at the MLB level.  

If he continues to hit in the minors, the Cubs would be foolish not to bring him up and see what he can do, especially since they could really use a left handed power hitting DH.  They can give their regulars rest with actual days off, rather than wasting them at DH.

TarzanJoeWallis 1 week 5 days ago (view)

Since the Cubs have put there faith in Busch as their long term first baseman and he has done nothing but justify it, because Mervis is first base only, and because the Cubs don’t seem to want a full time DH I can’t see them bringing up Mervis. His greatest value comes via trading him as part of a package, and bringing him up only risks him being further exposed as a 4A type player.

That said, either way, it is all wonderfulness if he keeps tearing it up in triple A. So go Matt go!

crunch 1 week 5 days ago (view)

masterboney and wisdom are the 2 guys i'd most be worried about their jobs, but initially it's most likely going to be wisdom and cooper holding things down until some bat in AAA (or maybe AA) makes one of wisdom/cooper expendable.

defensively, masterboney is expendable with this current roster.  both starting middle IF'rs are above average SS and morel/madrigal can both play a very competent 2nd or cover 3rd (madrigal D advantage at 3rd over morel).

offensively, you could either point to masterboney's 0 hits and 1 walk in 8 PA or the fact he's only had 8 PA over 13 games.  he's the least used bench option with 1/2 to 1/3rd the PA's of anyone else on the bench.

wisdom isn't a great 3rd base option, but a good enough 1st base option.  once things get settled out, i imagine wisdom and cooper (both righties) will be playing with mervis in their rear view mirror.

Charlie 1 week 5 days ago (view)

Cooper is a fine platoon option, but he shouldn't block anyone who is really ready.

Eric S 1 week 5 days ago (view)

And Busch just tattooed another HR