2024 Cubs

[Butcher]

On an actual contending team, Belli is a 5 hitter, Suzuki, is a 6 hitter, Swanson is a 7 hitter, Hoerner is an 8 hitter, and Happ is a 9 hitter. And everyone else is on another team.

[1060Ivy]

On an actual contending team, Belli is a 5 hitter, Suzuki, is a 6 hitter, Swanson is a 7 hitter, Hoerner is an 8 hitter, and Happ is a 9 hitter. And everyone else is on another team.

Jed had the offseason to improve the position roster and basically traded away best prospect arm in organization for Busch and rolled dice on Morel being able to handle 3rd base.  He allowed Candelario to walk.  He and organization are counting on basic rookies to provide offensive power - rarely a smart move.  

Now organization is left with team-wide offensive slump.  Can’t imagine that could happen


An alternative take - so what you’re saying is that the Cubs are only 4 position players away from a playoff team.

[Butcher]

On an actual contending team, Belli is a 5 hitter, Suzuki, is a 6 hitter, Swanson is a 7 hitter, Hoerner is an 8 hitter, and Happ is a 9 hitter. And everyone else is on another team.

Jed had the offseason to improve the position roster and basically traded away best prospect arm in organization for Busch and rolled dice on Morel being able to handle 3rd base.  He allowed Candelario to walk.  He and organization are counting on basic rookies to provide offensive power - rarely a smart move.  

Now organization is left with team-wide offensive slump.  Can’t imagine that could happen


An alternative take - so what you’re saying is that the Cubs are only 4 position players away from a playoff team.

They could still make the playoffs. But I don't consider them anywhere near true contenders. They're light years away from the Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies. Hell, maybe even the Brewers. They built a team that could make the playoffs/win the division if everything went right -- this rarely happens in baseball.

[1060Ivy]

At least the Cubs haven’t had to deal with injuries this season

Ha

[1060Ivy]

All a Cubs fan needs to know about the current state of the Cubs - David Bote has returned to the MLB roster.

The man who hit .212/.291/.370 over 2 years in the majors is replacing the guy who is currently hitting .221/.280/.256. Yup, the Cubs have clearly found that illusive power hitter that they have been missing the last couple of seasons

[rok]

So who won the Kimbrel trade?

[Butcher]

So who won the Kimbrel trade?

Kimbrel performed terribly for the White Sox, but at the time of the trade, he had an 0.49 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 23 innings. He was our biggest trade chip and we got jack shit in return. Madrigal And Heuer. Neither of them were ever going to amount to anything. Based just on performances, post-trade, both teams lost. But...Kimbrel had a ton of value at the time of the trade and I feel like Hoyer could've done much better.

[1060Ivy]

Anyone else thinking that maybe Suzuki could use a little time to himself or AAA? Hell, it seemed to push him up to the next level last season.

[jeffy]

Good call. He needs it.

[Butcher]

Did he not get enough time to himself during his IL stint?

[1060Ivy]

Did he not get enough time to himself during his IL stint?

He may have rushed back as it seemed like 1/2 the team was on or just coming off IL

[Butcher]

Did he not get enough time to himself during his IL stint?

He may have rushed back as it seemed like 1/2 the team was on or just coming off IL

Yeah. That could very well have been the case. A little bit of desperation.

[1060Ivy]

Hope for Swanson? Maybe according to Athletic article

“You can point to all sorts of things that seem wrong in Swanson’s statistics right now. He’s missing on more swings than ever, and consequently striking out more than ever. He’s pulling more balls than ever, which could be OK except he’s got the highest ground-ball rate of his career. There’s some bad luck (a batting average on balls in play that would be the lowest of his career) but he’s seemingly earned some of it.”.

Article goes on to point out that a 260 batting avg with 14-16 homers would be what’s to be expected for Swanson for remainder of season - assuming he finds solutions to his batting issues

Athletic reviewed stats from April and May and selected players “who’ve been below league average so far but are above average when it comes to plate discipline, lifting the ball hard and just generally hitting the ball hard.” Basically, these are players that have underperformed so far which should turn it around and produce going forward based on their assessment Swanson’s write up is one of 5 players that fit their criteria and aren’t injured.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5546755...g-results/

[Butcher]

I think I’ve reached the acceptance stage.

[1060Ivy]

Hmmmmm

Basically, Hoyer consistently shopping at discount store in free agency will typically result in mid tier talent

The Cubs being a top 4 revenue producing organization can afford to miss out on a deal here or there but with risk minimizing approach again results in a mid tier talent

Who could imagine such a thing?

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-of-the-o...d-a-spark/