He’s been great about not walking guys. Finally. And his strikeout numbers are up again. But he gives up a shit load of homers. Far from amazing.
Cardinals in rain delay before bottom of 8th down 2. Will be great to read at 12:30am they came back.
Yu Darvish dunking all over David Kaplan's dumb ass on twitter after the game should mean lifetime contract.
The fact that he’s searching his name and responding to the talking heads after games just backs up what everyone has said about his mental toughness and psyching. Just like how he completely imploded and gave up back to back bombs last night after dropping the ball at 1st base. The dude is charmin soft.
I didn’t realize that. Kaplan’s a buffoon. Thats no so bad then but still fully believe Yu’s a head case.
It was reported Yu wanted to retire and then Theo/Jed talked him into sighting with the Cubs his head wasn’t in it but it’s not all on him. There were warning signs well ahead of him coming to Chicago
Yu has been fine, he asked for the ball first out the break and has pitched lights out (outside of last night) and if you look at last nights numbers his k/bb numbers are fantastic. The Ball was flying out the park. Yu isn’t the same guy we say at the start of the season. I believe he’s turned a corner
Castellanos and Caratini with big days the last two games and the starters with great outings. Love to see it.
I was reading some of Cubs twitter who follow the minor leaguers and they had high praise for him. Said his fastball was good as was the breaking stuff.
My rough sketch for this off season is trade Scharber for a contact hitting, defense first center fielder. Sign Castellanos and put him in left. Need to sign or trade for a second baseman. Completely retool the bullpen. Chatwood, Alozay, flier starter battle for 5th man in the rotation.
This team sucks ass. They have too many guys with the same hitting profiles and our outfield defense is atrocious. If there are other ideas to improve the roster, I'm all ears.
Was pleased that Rowan Wick didn't throw anything for Machado to hit. Well, he actually pegged Machado, but still... giving up a run there was the right move.
I agree the roster needs a overhaul. I just don't think you will get a return for Kyle that most would be ok with. My hope is we could move him for a top of the bullpen arm. Wilson has to go. I think you can get a nice prospect package return for him. His framing and pitch calling is awful. I'm fine with Caratini and or going after a Grandal. Addy needs to go. Just a net negative both on and off the field I wouldn't bring back Nick. Find more power arms for the Pen. Wick, Chatwood, Krimbel and Ryan will all return. I don't bring any of the expiring vets back. Give the kids in AAA a chance. Find more Wicks via trade. Hultzen, Meekes, Underwood can get shots. Bring in more guys who will battle at the plate. In a dream scenario I trade Bam Bam, move Bryant to LF and sign Anthony Rendon. I have no clue if Almora is going to be that guy and I don't think you can risk hoping he becomes that guy and so I would look for a hitter who can mash LHP. Heyward kills RHP so you need a compliment. I'm fine with Lester, Hendricks, Yu and Q in the rotation. You want to go nuts and chase Cole go for it. Outside of that I say look internally for that 5th spot. Cubs should have a ton of money to spend. 35+m is coming off the books. Need to take advantage of this core before Boras kills it when Bryant and others hit the FA market
Find a leadoff hitter and reshape the line-up with guys that know how to play situational baseball. You can live with some free swingers, but the balance and approach has been absolute shit for the last few years. Theo and co. look like idiots trying to blame it on the hitting coaches. These guys just aren't that type of hitter.
If there's a stat to ignore completely, it's pitch framing metrics. Umps are rarely calling a ball a strike based on a frame job. That's all needs be said on the topic.
He's 5th in WAR among catchers and thats with him playing 46 less games than the guys that are 1 and 2. He's not a free agent until 2023. No way you move him.
Rendon is going to get a $300 million contract. Ya, of course it'd be great to sign him but thats not happening. You know Rendon is a Boras client right? You aren't the only Cubs fan that I've seen say get rid of Bryant because of Boras, sign Rendon!
If I'm choosing between Castellanos or Schwarber, I'd keep Nick. Schwarber's walk rate is down, and his average hasn't improved.
Schwarber has been killing the ball in the second half though. I'm not against keeping Schwarber but the roster has to be changed and trading him seems like the easiest way to do it.