5-17 Bucs at Cubs (not as fun as yesterday...so far)

[CubinNY]

Morel!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bertz]

That was horsefeathering cool

[PackLandVA]

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE I WAS FOR CHRISTOPHER MOREL'S FIRST MLB HR!!!!!!!!!

[Bertz]

Ironic that Willson was the one cheering most for him there...I think he was the last Cub to homer in his first AB?

[PackLandVA]

The next time I see Ian Happ make a catch in the outfield look easy will be the first time I see Ian Happ make a catch in the outfield look easy. Edited May 18, 2022 by PackLandVA

[itisallpartoftheplan]

That was pretty damn cool!

[PackLandVA]

:flythew: :flythew: :flythew: :flythew:

 

\:D/

[CubinNY]

Anyone have a video?

[Derwood]

Anyone have a video?

 

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/pirates-vs-cubs/2022/05/17/663157#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=663157

[UMFan83]

Geez Morel might be able to replace Javy and Willson in swag

[Cubfanintheknow]

Geez Morel might be able to replace Javy and Willson in swag

 

The swing... the bat flip... the celebration rounding the bases... loved every moment almost as much as Morel did.

 

Awesome!

[Tim]

So...Morel homered in "every" at bat and Hughes struck out five in 1.2 innings? Ho hum debuts, I guess.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Anyone know if a Cub has turned on a pitch that high yet this season for a HR?

[Bertz]

Geez Morel might be able to replace Javy and Willson in swag

 

He's gotten a lot of Javy comps. Now to be very clear we're talking 2015-2017 era Javy. Pre breakout when he was ideally taking most of his ABs against lefties and wasn't yet a GG caliber SS. Morel doesn't have the insane athleticism to ever become super saiyan Javy from '18/'19, but could end up a solid everyday guy or more likely a championship level reserve.

[NewUserName]

I am no prospect expert. I also am not thinking Morel is some super stud just because he hit a HR in his 1st ab. But I have been wondering for a bit why he isn't more highly regarded as a prospect. Really good defense at multiple positions, solid bat, and still rather young.

[Tim]

I am no prospect expert. I also am not thinking Morel is some super stud just because he hit a HR in his 1st ab. But I have been wondering for a bit why he isn't more highly regarded as a prospect. Really good defense at multiple positions, solid bat, and still rather young.

Primarily a lack of plate discipline and a bunch of swing and miss.

[mul21]

I am no prospect expert. I also am not thinking Morel is some super stud just because he hit a HR in his 1st ab. But I have been wondering for a bit why he isn't more highly regarded as a prospect. Really good defense at multiple positions, solid bat, and still rather young.

 

What Tim said. Several "Javy but less freakish athleticism" comps. But maybe the less athleticism part causes him to make adjustments/approach changes quicker than Javy because he won't have success without doing so.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I almost feel like Willson plus positional flexibility and a bit more swing and miss is maybe a better comparison. Or maybe Jose Hernandez for those who remember him.

[jersey cubs fan]

just noticed the Cubs went back over .400 for the first time since before facing the white sox

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't care how the rest of Christopher Morel's career goes. That was amazing, and I love him*.

 

 

*I reserve the right to turn on a dime and hate him at a later date.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

[UMFan83]

Or maybe Jose Hernandez for those who remember him.

 

You just killed my buzz. But looking at his minor league numbers prior to this start that seems spot on. Maybe we can trade him for a new Aramis.

[d_money]

That’s some good stuff right there

[BigbadB]

That at bat was simply amazing. He started 0-2, then the Pirates pitcher tried to get him to bite on 3 straight pitches nowhere near the plate and then......BAM! I tuned in early in hopes that they gave him a start instead of the craptastic lead off extraordinaire, Ortega. I think he earned a start tonight. The enthusiasm Morel displays is great.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Or maybe Jose Hernandez for those who remember him.

 

You just killed my buzz. But looking at his minor league numbers prior to this start that seems spot on. Maybe we can trade him for a new Aramis.

 

And to be clear that's not a terrible outcome! For most of his Cubs tenure Hernandez was a league average player or slightly below, and having someone of that caliber able to eat up playing time at multiple positions helps raise a team's floor. Plus he could always figure something out and be more of a Contreras or a Chris Taylor in terms of value.