Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-29-25

[Jason Ross]

10 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

You think so? Kid of surprises me that you think that. I always felt you were on the slow roll of Horton. They have Flexen and Wicks they can bring up. If they want to be sure with Horton and his health I would have thought they may wait. He deserves to be up, but I thought they might give him a little more time. Again, not disagreeing he should be the guy. Just didn’t think you would go that way. 

Being as kind to Chris Flexen as I can; he sucks. He had a 5+ xFIP last year with a 17.4 K% and a 9 BB%. There's no reason we need to dance with that devil.

The reality on Horton is this: he's got maybe 120 IP this year. You can either spend those in Iowa, or you can spend them with the Cubs. If he was developing a third pitch, if he had mechanical issues, if there was a control question, or pitch shape issues...I'd say "let him work it in Iowa!" Here's the rub; he has none of that. He's grading out like a stuff+ monster, inducing a good amount of whiff, he's got a developing curveball he's more and more comfortable tossing and he lights up the strike zone. 

The only hurdle left is: can he go 5 IP? With the amount of strikes he throws, he doesn't need 100 pitches to get through five. He's looking less gassed as the day goes on and he's gone 76 the last three. I truly think he'd have gone over 80 today but he was so damn economical through six that the Cubs just pulled the plug on him going out in the seventh for a single hitter.

Yeah, Cade is about ready. I'd say if Shota was down tomorrow on the IL, or any one was, Cade Horton would get the call. I also think he's that good. Since the first game he threw with Myrtle, there was a different kind of dude on the mound I hadn't seen come through the system in a hot minute.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

I don’t think they will wait very long with Shaw to be back. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Being as kind to Chris Flexen as I can; he sucks. He had a 5+ xFIP last year with a 17.4 K% and a 9 BB%. There's no reason we need to dance with that devil.

The reality on Horton is this: he's got maybe 120 IP this year. You can either spend those in Iowa, or you can spend them with the Cubs. If he was developing a third pitch, if he had mechanical issues, if there was a control question, or pitch shape issues...I'd say "let him work it in Iowa!" Here's the rub; he has none of that. He's grading out like a stuff+ monster, inducing a good amount of whiff, he's got a developing curveball he's more and more comfortable tossing and he lights up the strike zone. 

The only hurdle left is: can he go 5 IP? With the amount of strikes he throws, he doesn't need 100 pitches to get through five. He's looking less gassed as the day goes on and he's gone 76 the last three. I truly think he'd have gone over 80 today but he was so damn economical through six that the Cubs just pulled the plug on him going out in the seventh for a single hitter.

Yeah, Cade is about ready. I'd say if Shota was down tomorrow on the IL, or any one was, Cade Horton would get the call. I also think he's that good. Since the first game he threw with Myrtle, there was a different kind of dude on the mound I hadn't seen come through the system in a hot minute.

Ok, glad to hear you think he is ready now. He is definitely the most exciting option with the highest potential. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

That was pretty crappy contact by Shaw on 2 of those hits. I think once we start seeing some consistent oppo power, then we can assume the mechanics are where they need to be. That's his bread and butter and we haven't seen much of it at all. 

[Jason Ross]

7 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

That was pretty crappy contact by Shaw on 2 of those hits. I think once we start seeing some consistent oppo power, then we can assume the mechanics are where they need to be. That's his bread and butter and we haven't seen much of it at all. 

Two of the hits were weak, but two were over 100mph. 

I'm worried less about opposite field power and simply seeing the contact quality up. The reality of opposite field power (especially home runs) at the MLB level is that they're far more "myth" than they are "realistic". Very few hitters go the other way with authority because it's hard. 

In Shaw's last two games he has five PA's with EV's over 90mph, three over 100mph and a 97mph home run That's a really good sign that the mechanics are back. He wasn't doing that earlier in the week, even, as he got to Iowa.

[ILMindState]

12 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Being as kind to Chris Flexen as I can; he sucks. He had a 5+ xFIP last year with a 17.4 K% and a 9 BB%. There's no reason we need to dance with that devil.

The reality on Horton is this: he's got maybe 120 IP this year. You can either spend those in Iowa, or you can spend them with the Cubs. If he was developing a third pitch, if he had mechanical issues, if there was a control question, or pitch shape issues...I'd say "let him work it in Iowa!" Here's the rub; he has none of that. He's grading out like a stuff+ monster, inducing a good amount of whiff, he's got a developing curveball he's more and more comfortable tossing and he lights up the strike zone. 

The only hurdle left is: can he go 5 IP? With the amount of strikes he throws, he doesn't need 100 pitches to get through five. He's looking less gassed as the day goes on and he's gone 76 the last three. I truly think he'd have gone over 80 today but he was so damn economical through six that the Cubs just pulled the plug on him going out in the seventh for a single hitter.

Yeah, Cade is about ready. I'd say if Shota was down tomorrow on the IL, or any one was, Cade Horton would get the call. I also think he's that good. Since the first game he threw with Myrtle, there was a different kind of dude on the mound I hadn't seen come through the system in a hot minute.

 

 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

 

 

Yeah, saw that. Flexen sucks. The Cubs shouldn't feel the need to add him, regardless of the slot. 

[JBears79]

11 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

I'd like to see him consistently barreling the ball before we bring him back. Happy he's getting hits and getting his confidence up but those were all weak contact except the first one.

EDIT: Jason stated two were over 100 MPH and I didnt see that. I think my overall thoughts still stand though.

Edited April 30, 2025 by JBears79

[Jason Ross]

15 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

I'd like to see him consistently barreling the ball before we bring him back. Happy he's getting hits and getting his confidence up but those were all weak contact except the first one.

EDIT: Jason stated two were over 100 MPH and I didnt see that. I think my overall thoughts still stand though.

Yeah, I want a few weeks of consistently good EV's. I think May 12th is my target day. If he's cruising at that point, it's when the schedule really eases up and the Cubs head home for a homestand.