Cubs (Steele) vs Pirates (Jones): 8/27/24, 5:40pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

[CubinNY]

Good pitching match up. 

[Tim]

Win this one.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Crush. Him.

[UMFan83]

It's actually pretty amazing that the Cubs have 4 series against the Pirates this year and will have faced Jones and Skenes in all 4 series.  What are the odds? 

[squally1313]

Jones hasn't pitched in the majors since July 3rd, so between that and the Pirates being down to 0.2% playoff odds would assume he's on some sort of meaningful limit. He's been ramped up pretty good in AAA the last couple starts though (16 and 17 batters faced). Would assume if he's throwing well he'll get two times through the order. He's also certainly no Skenes, more of a budget Steele than some elite guy. 

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

It's actually pretty amazing that the Cubs have 4 series against the Pirates this year and will have faced Jones and Skenes in all 4 series.  What are the odds? 

In May it definitely felt like an intentional move because of the standings, but it's wild that it's happening again.  We are seeing a much much different Pirates team than the rest of the league is.

[Rex Buckingham]

With the obvious caveat that it's AAA, Jones did apparently have a bunch of whiffs in his last rehab appearance so his stuff seems to be there

[Tryptamine]

Since the Allstar Break

Amaya(80 PAs)-  .311/.346/.527  144 wRC+

PCA(114 PAs)- .238/.286/.457 103 wRC+

 

Since August 1st

Amaya(56 PA)- .302/.327/.585 152 wRC+

PCA(75 PA)- .284/.342/.582   152 wRC+

 

 

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Since the Allstar Break

Amaya(80 PAs)-  .311/.346/.527  144 wRC+

PCA(114 PAs)- .238/.286/.457 103 wRC+

 

Since August 1st

Amaya(56 PA)- .302/.327/.585 152 wRC+

PCA(75 PA)- .284/.342/.582   152 wRC+

 

 

It's absolutely mind boggling to me that an adjustment as minor as going to a toe drag instead of a leg kick has made such a world of difference for Amaya.  Watching PCA figure it out in real time is pretty fantastic to watch too.

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, mul21 said:

It's absolutely mind boggling to me that an adjustment as minor as going to a toe drag instead of a leg kick has made such a world of difference for Amaya.  Watching PCA figure it out in real time is pretty fantastic to watch too.

It does build some confidence moving into 2025. Hell, Amaya is probably pretty close to league average for a catcher now. And he is trending up to possibly getting to league average overall before the end of the season. 

[Tryptamine]

I know it's incredibly unlikely, but man if PCA really was a 152 wRC+ guy with that defense and that speed, he'd be a legitimate MVP candidate.

[Tim]

37 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

It does build some confidence moving into 2025. Hell, Amaya is probably pretty close to league average for a catcher now. And he is trending up to possibly getting to league average overall before the end of the season. 

Catchers have been surprisingly productive this year. With a minimum of 250 PA, there are actually 18 of them with a 100 wRC+ (or better). Amaya still ranks 24th out of 32 guys. 

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?stats=bat&lg=all&type=8&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=0&rost=&age=&filter=&players=0&team=0&pos=c&sortcol=17&sortdir=default&pageitems=100&qual=250

 

However, if we look just at the second half, he's 5th on that list (min 70 PA).

[Tryptamine]

If Amaya is the answer at C that is very significant for free agency. It basically means the Cubs can do one of two things. If Cody opts out, they have a tremendous amount of money to dump on RF/DH, 1x SP and 1x back end/closer type. If Cody stays, they still have like 40M to use on SP/RP. I still don't think Jed has the balls to pull off big moves like Soto or Burnes, but strictly from a financial aspect, it's 100% feasible. 

[Derwood]

I just want PCA to get on base enough to have him lead off

[CubUgly]

4 hours ago, squally1313 said:

Would assume if he's throwing well he'll get two times through the order. He's also certainly no Skenes, more of a budget Steele than some elite guy. 

I'm interested in seeing how they handle Skeenes the rest of the season.  He pitched 122 innings at LSU last year - far and away the most of his college career and he's already exceeded that number minors/majors combined this season. 

[chibears55]

Just saw Heyward gonna sign with the Astros. 

[Tryptamine]

The A's have DFA'd Abraham Toro, he's a guy I've always been interested in. I have no interest in him on the MLB roster, but he's definitely a guy I'd like to stash in AAA and see if they can get him right. 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/abraham-toro/19844/stats?position=2B/3B

[chibears55]

https://x.com/M_Montemurro/status/1828515979887824944?t=_KdKa0wk4QccYBGl4lPPOg&s=19

[CubinNY]

Palencia was recalled, Neely was sent down. A fresh arm, hopefully he can throw strikes

[Bertz]

Given the injuries this might be necessary, but I'd like to see Palencia and particularly Keegan given leverage opportunities pretty much right away. 

[Bertz]

 

 

[LBiittner]

18 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

 

I wonder if a contender would take a 4.5 mil chance? Crazier things have happened? 

[BigSlick]

kinda wild this team has a chance to be above .500. when was the last time they were above .500? June? 

[We Got The Whole 9]

11 minutes ago, BigSlick said:

kinda wild this team has a chance to be above .500. when was the last time they were above .500? June? 

Yep first week of June