September Callups

[Bertz]

Really good rundown from the Athletic.

Quote

 

Replacing Neris with Neely appeared to signal a willingness to let the kids play. The Cubs, however, aren’t quite ready to fully pivot toward the future and promote players from Triple-A Iowa en masse.

“Nothing scheduled,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said.

“Nothing planned,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Things can happen, of course, but nothing planned.”

Waving the white flag isn’t something they want to do in late August. The Cubs are still on the outskirts of the wild-card race and not mathematically eliminated from playoff consideration. But if Wednesday night’s 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers spirals into another bad stretch — or the team continues to drift beneath .500 — the outlook could shift and lead to more changes.

“We definitely have those conversations,” Hoyer said. “It’s fun right now to watch Iowa. We have a lot of players that I think are getting close to the big leagues.”

 

Some other things that stood out:

- On the position player side it feels like the choice for who to bring up is likely between Alcantara (already on the 40 man) and Caissie (probably the most ready, has to be added to the 40 this winter anyway)

- The team will likely use a 6 man rotation for at least part of September.  It won't necessarily be Wicks getting those starts, they're more worried about getting him innings than anything.  I wonder if these means Wicks stays primarily at Iowa while Wesneski gets those starts?

[CubinNY]

I'm kind of afraid Alcantara would get overmatched and people will freak the horsefeathers out. I suppose it depends on if they plan to offer him in trades this winter. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Was it Rogers who had the news recently that Caissie was going to be called up with roster expansion, or a twitter rando with less credibility?  He feels like the right choice on the position player side given the amount of AAA time he's had already compared to the alternatives.  I can see the argument for Alcantara though given his 40 man clock and better roster fit as a RHH who isn't bound to a corner.

On the pitching side, I don't have strong opinions on the current AAA guys vs. the players with 2025 contracts who are there now, so mostly I'm curious if they'll be so aggressive as to cut Smyly to make room.  Given the multi-year relationship they've had with him, the odds they may bring him back in some form, and the opportunity cost being like 6 innings of evaluation, my hunch is he stays.  So then it's a matter of if Wicks takes the expansion spot or not, and if they're going to finally admit Counsell hates Roberts and give him a different arm to try out.

 

[Outshined_One]

50 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Was it Rogers who had the news recently that Caissie was going to be called up with roster expansion, or a twitter rando with less credibility?

I believe it was Matt Spiegel on the Score.  He has connections within the Cubs, but not to the point where I'd take his word as gospel.

57 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I'm kind of afraid Alcantara would get overmatched and people will freak the horsefeathers out. I suppose it depends on if they plan to offer him in trades this winter. 

Alcantara has a history of adjustment periods, to the point where I think this outcome is bound to happen to him regardless of when he comes up, and with what team.  I also don't know if the Cubs would give him the playing time or have the patience to let him develop in the majors while trying to compete for a playoff spot, be it this season or next.

[thawv]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

Really good rundown from the Athletic.

Some other things that stood out:

- On the position player side it feels like the choice for who to bring up is likely between Alcantara (already on the 40 man) and Caissie (probably the most ready, has to be added to the 40 this winter anyway)

- The team will likely use a 6 man rotation for at least part of September.  It won't necessarily be Wicks getting those starts, they're more worried about getting him innings than anything.  I wonder if these means Wicks stays primarily at Iowa while Wesneski gets those starts?

I would give those starts to Kilian. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

32 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

I believe it was Matt Spiegel on the Score.  He has connections within the Cubs, but not to the point where I'd take his word as gospel.

Alcantara has a history of adjustment periods, to the point where I think this outcome is bound to happen to him regardless of when he comes up, and with what team.  I also don't know if the Cubs would give him the playing time or have the patience to let him develop in the majors while trying to compete for a playoff spot, be it this season or next.

I feel like he just struggles early in the year for whatever reason. Maybe the cold weather?

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

I feel like he just struggles early in the year for whatever reason. Maybe the cold weather?

I hope he not another Soler 😅

[Post Count Padder]

Is Brennen Davis almost back? I thought I saw something about him hitting again. I selfishly would love for him to get a couple at bats in September with everything he's been through the last couple seasons. Would be a nice story (and send off because he'll probably be a 40-man casualty this offseason).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Brennen Davis isn't real, he never existed and never will

[Ding Dong Johnson]

1 hour ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Brennen Davis isn't real, he never existed and never will

Reggie Theus?

[jersey cubs fan]

1 hour ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Brennen Davis isn't real, he never existed and never will

Schrödinger’ back

[chopsx9]

On 8/22/2024 at 3:00 PM, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Brennen Davis isn't real, he never existed and never will

We have a guy on our Sunday Softball team that has paid $150 2 years in a row - nobody has ever met him in person  and he has never shown up for a game.  The current running theory is that the team is some how a cover for an affair.

[chibears55]

...

Edited August 30, 2024 by chibears55

[Donzo]

I'm guessing Wicks and Caissie.

That would require two 40-man roster moves, so maybe not. Wicks is coming sometime very soon and Caissie has to be rostered this winter, so the roster moves are inevitable. The Cubs just might not want to make two moves on Sunday.

[Bull]

On 8/22/2024 at 4:38 PM, jersey cubs fan said:

Schrödinger’ back

Theseus' hip

[Wilson A2000]

It’s Mastrobuoni. Don’t know why. He should not bat the rest of the season. Late-inning defensive replacement or pinch runner, but he just can’t bat. 

Edited September 1, 2024 by Wilson A2000

[chibears55]

 

Masterboner back..

 

 

[Derwood]

TIL Nick Madrigal is still alive and being paid by the Cubs

[Donzo]

Certainly not the move I expected. I was low key thinking Mastrobuoni could be a DFA candidate to open up a 40-man spot. Oh well. And, yeah, I forgot all about Madrigal, too. That was an easy move.

[chibears55]

They should expand callups to 5 to get more prospects an opportunity. 

Teams that aren't in contention should have the opportunity to get a look at their younger players

[Rex Buckingham]

9 hours ago, Derwood said:

TIL Nick Madrigal is still alive and being paid by the Cubs

Figured they took him out back and gave him the Old Yeller treatment?

[chopsx9]

7 hours ago, chibears55 said:

They should expand callups to 5 to get more prospects an opportunity. 

Teams that aren't in contention should have the opportunity to get a look at their younger players

The problem is those teams are still playing other teams in contention.

[PackLandVA]

13 hours ago, Wilson A2000 said:

It’s Mastrobuoni. Don’t know why. He should not bat the rest of the season. Late-inning defensive replacement or pinch runner, but he just can’t bat. 

Fun Fact

Mastrobuoni is:

-1 for 2 in his career against Jared Jones

-he's 2 for 4 against Paul Skenes

-he's 2 for 4 against Colin Holderman

-he's 1 for 2 with a double against David Bednar.

He either hasn't faced or is bad against all of Pittburgh's other pitchers.

None of this really means anything.

[Irrelevant Dude]

September CALL-UPS.

More like September COLL-APS, amirite???

Edited September 4, 2024 by Irrelevant Dude