Angels (Kikuchi) vs Cubs (Boyd): 4/1/26, 1:20pm

[Geographyhater8888]

I want Shaw and Bregman swapped at third base with Bregman sliding to DH against lefties when Suzuki returns. Bregman is so damn slow.

Edited April 2 by Geographyhater8888

[BigbadB]

So good to see Busch proving he needs to be playing every day. 

I think the cold weather had a lot to do with the infield looking a bit slow getting after ground balls. I'm not concerned about Bregman at 3b. 

Yesterday's umpire was really bad at calling balls and strikes. So many balls that could have been challenged, and when they finally challenge one, they end up challenging one that was actually a strike. Frustrating.

[Geographyhater8888]

13 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The lineup will be fine. Right now half of it sucks fat ass.

Half the lineup is without an XBH. Swanson and Kelly will be alright. 

Edited April 2 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

1 hour ago, BigbadB said:

So good to see Busch proving he needs to be playing every day. 

I think the cold weather had a lot to do with the infield looking a bit slow getting after ground balls. I'm not concerned about Bregman at 3b. 

Yesterday's umpire was really bad at calling balls and strikes. So many balls that could have been challenged, and when they finally challenge one, they end up challenging one that was actually a strike. Frustrating.

I’m not concerned that Bregman will be a liability like Morel, but I prefer Shaw in the infield when Suzukis knee is fully healed. Shaw is a better defender at this state of his career.

Edited April 2 by Geographyhater8888

[BKHoo]

Very small sample size but our 3rd baseman’s D sux so far. 

[Jason Ross]

22 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Very small sample size but our 3rd baseman’s D sux so far. 

He currently has a +1 DRS and a 0 AA.

[Jason Ross]

Mr. Boyd with the lowest velo whiff of the day, league wide.

 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Boog touched on it, but I think a funny/interesting consequence of the ball/strike challenge system is that it's showing how often the umps are right and how infrequently players can correctly identify a missed call. 

It also renders all those incredibly dumb manager-in-the-umpire's-face arguments over balls and strikes that the manager can barely see obsolete, which is a huge added benefit.

[CubinNY]

34 minutes ago, Manny Trillos Brother said:

Boog touched on it, but I think a funny/interesting consequence of the ball/strike challenge system is that it's showing how often the umps are right and how infrequently players can correctly identify a missed call. 

It also renders all those incredibly dumb manager-in-the-umpire's-face arguments over balls and strikes that the manager can barely see obsolete, which is a huge added benefit.

Did you miss CB Bucknor's performance over the weekend?

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Yeah, obviously that guy is the exception to the rule and that game was an outlier.

Even though he's being called out (and rightfully so), they guy still had an 88% overall accuracy rate and 97% on called balls. It's crazy that he had incorrect calls on 28% of his strikes!

I'll edit my statement to say "how often *almost all* the umps are right".

[BKHoo]

Just make all balls and strikes be computerized.  We all know that is where we are eventually headed. 

[chibears55]

Off topic question...

Somehow I got logged out of X and when trying to log back in it asks for a verification code from a generator app.

Has anyone experienced this and or know how to get back in ?

[Bertz]

 

[Stratos]

10 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

I want Shaw and Bregman swapped at third base with Bregman sliding to DH against lefties when Suzuki returns. Bregman is so damn slow.

I'm not worried about his defense this year, he's made some good plays, but given how slow his footspeed is and was last season you wonder how the speed is going to age in the latter half of the contract.  Is he even going to be able to stay at 3B? 

Not something to worry about now, he could DH more down the line if Mo catches more once Kelly leaves.  Shaw could play more 3b in coming seasons.

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, Stratos said:

I'm not worried about his defense this year, he's made some good plays, but given how slow his footspeed is and was last season you wonder how the speed is going to age in the latter half of the contract.  Is he even going to be able to stay at 3B? 

Not something to worry about now, he could DH more down the line if Mo catches more once Kelly leaves.  Shaw could play more 3b in coming seasons.

How much actual speed do you have to have to play 3rd base? I don’t think his running speed will matter. As for Shaw, with Nico, Swanson and Bregman all signed for at least 4 years, I hope they trade him. Get either a good pitcher or a corner outfielder. Of course, if he proves he can play the corner and hit enough, I am fine keeping him too. But I don’t think he will see 3rd base. 

[Stratos]

24 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

How much actual speed do you have to have to play 3rd base? I don’t think his running speed will matter. As for Shaw, with Nico, Swanson and Bregman all signed for at least 4 years, I hope they trade him. Get either a good pitcher or a corner outfielder. Of course, if he proves he can play the corner and hit enough, I am fine keeping him too. But I don’t think he will see 3rd base. 

That's largely true but it certainly helps to be at least a bit spry especially going in on balls, which was the one he missed yesterday.  But that was more of a whiff than not being able to get to it.

Like I said, I don't think it's an issue this year but it's possible he may not move too well a 3-4 years from now.  Nothing to bother really even thinking about now

copyImage.avif

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Stratos said:

That's largely true but it certainly helps to be at least a bit spry especially going in on balls, which was the one he missed yesterday.  But that was more of a whiff than not being able to get to it.

Like I said, I don't think it's an issue this year but it's possible he may not move too well a 3-4 years from now.  Nothing to bother really even thinking about now

copyImage.avif 208.91 kB · 0 downloads

Agreed. Right now all that happened is Bregman made an error. It happens to the best fielders. Doesn’t mean he can’t play 3rd base for the next 5 years as a better than average fielder. People overreact to everything (not you, specifically) early in the season. Ron Santo was a great third baseman for a long time in Chicago. And he was always slow. As long as Bregman has quick hands and a decent first step, his overall speed won’t matter, even 4 years from now. I doubt they keep Shaw waiting around all that time anyway. He will either be a corner outfielder and/or traded from the Cubs. 

[Bull]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

How much actual speed do you have to have to play 3rd base? I don’t think his running speed will matter. As for Shaw, with Nico, Swanson and Bregman all signed for at least 4 years, I hope they trade him. Get either a good pitcher or a corner outfielder. Of course, if he proves he can play the corner and hit enough, I am fine keeping him too. But I don’t think he will see 3rd base. 

Or just keep him and not have a garbage bench for once.

[chibears55]

17 minutes ago, Bull said:

Or just keep him and not have a garbage bench for once.

Exactly,  I dont think they can afford to trade Shaw now, hes the only one they can rely upon off the bench. (Catchers aside)

They obviously don't plan on using Kingery or Carlson much in any situations, and Conforto is garbage.

Maybe theyll give Carlson an opportunity this weekend over Conforto, and I think at some point later in year we might see a couple guys from Iowa brought up and given an opportunity.

[Rcal10]

4 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Exactly,  I dont think they can afford to trade Shaw now, hes the only one they can rely upon off the bench. (Catchers aside)

They obviously don't plan on using Kingery or Carlson much in any situations, and Conforto is garbage.

Maybe theyll give Carlson an opportunity this weekend over Conforto, and I think at some point later in year we might see a couple guys from Iowa brought up and given an opportunity.

To be clear, I’m not talking about trading him now. I am talking about next season. If he isn’t the answer as a corner outfielder they should look to trade him for one, or for a starting pitcher. I get how everyone seems to worry so much about a bench, but if Shaw is good enough to start, but can’t play the corner, they need to deal him for something they need rather than have him as a guy who gets 300 AB on the bench. What is better for the Cubs? Having a full time corner outfielder to replace either Happ or Suzuki, having a controlled staring pitcher, or having a guy on the bench who gets a few games a week? If Shaw can handle the corner, no problem keeping him and starting him. But if he can’t he is a luxury they can’t afford with other greater needs. 
As an example. If Shaw can’t handle the outfield I would rather see him traded for Abreu (as an example)and the Cubs sign a middle infielder for the bench instead of spending the same money they sign the middle infielder for to sign someone like Grichik to play the outfield so Shaw could be a sub. Trading Shaw improves the starting line up but weakens the bench. Keeping Shaw on the bench and signing a lower priced outfielder to be in the everyday line up, weakens the line up but keeps a stronger bench. Give me the stronger everyday line up. 

Edited April 3 by Rcal10

[chibears55]

50 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

To be clear, I’m not talking about trading him now. I am talking about next season. If he isn’t the answer as a corner outfielder they should look to trade him for one, or for a starting pitcher. I get how everyone seems to worry so much about a bench, but if Shaw is good enough to start, but can’t play the corner, they need to deal him for something they need rather than have him as a guy who gets 300 AB on the bench. What is better for the Cubs? Having a full time corner outfielder to replace either Happ or Suzuki, having a controlled staring pitcher, or having a guy on the bench who gets a few games a week? If Shaw can handle the corner, no problem keeping him and starting him. But if he can’t he is a luxury they can’t afford with other greater needs. 

That i agree with as far as trading him in the offseason. 

Shaw could be a piece that could net them a good pitcher for 2027, especially if he puts up some good numbers this season.

[chibears55]

Nats released Mervis 

[Bull]

42 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

That i agree with as far as trading him in the offseason. 

Shaw could be a piece that could net them a good pitcher for 2027, especially if he puts up some good numbers this season.

I'd like to also not have a garbage bench next year.

Yes, Bregman, Hoerner, and Swanson are all signed for the next four years. But in that four years there is a high chance that at least one of them misses significant time with an IL injury (strain/sprain), a non-zero chance one of them misses more than half a season with an injury requiring surgery or breaking a bone via HBP.   There is a high chance one of them will have a nagging injury like Nico's injury that required surgery following the 2024 season. 

If that happens do you want Shaw manning 2b-3b for 20-60 games or Nick Madrigal. 

If that doesn't happen, in 2016 Ben Zobrist had 631 PAs, Addison Russell had 598, Kris Bryant had 699, and Javier Baez had 450.

 

This is not a problem that needs solving. 

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Bull said:

I'd like to also not have a garbage bench next year.

Yes, Bregman, Hoerner, and Swanson are all signed for the next four years. But in that four years there is a high chance that at least one of them misses significant time with an IL injury (strain/sprain), a non-zero chance one of them misses more than half a season with an injury requiring surgery or breaking a bone via HBP.   There is a high chance one of them will have a nagging injury like Nico's injury that required surgery following the 2024 season. 

If that happens do you want Shaw manning 2b-3b for 20-60 games or Nick Madrigal. 

If that doesn't happen, in 2016 Ben Zobrist had 631 PAs, Addison Russell had 598, Kris Bryant had 699, and Javier Baez had 450.

 

This is not a problem that needs solving. 

I would rather Shaw do enough to be the starting corner outfielder. Or if he can’t play the outfield but a team values him as a 2nd or 3rd baseman, I would rather the Cubs trade him for a guy who can be a good corner outfielder or a controlled solid starting pitcher. That is more important then stashing him on the bench. I think people greatly overreact to the bench. No team has a sure fire solid bench. If the bench is good it is usually because a team got lucky signing someone cheap who performs well. Every year people complain about the same thing. And no matter who is on the bench people will complain. An everyday outfielder or a solid starting pitcher is way more important.

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Agreed. Right now all that happened is Bregman made an error. It happens to the best fielders. Doesn’t mean he can’t play 3rd base for the next 5 years as a better than average fielder. People overreact to everything (not you, specifically) early in the season. Ron Santo was a great third baseman for a long time in Chicago. And he was always slow. As long as Bregman has quick hands and a decent first step, his overall speed won’t matter, even 4 years from now. I doubt they keep Shaw waiting around all that time anyway. He will either be a corner outfielder and/or traded from the Cubs. 

Yeah if he regresses defensively at some point he may just be average or slightly below average.  The parts he's blushed deemed seemed somewhat routine. Could be cold weather related who knows.  Played in Houston/AL West a long time.

Bregman caught a 110mph liner off Trout so reactions seem fine.

Edited April 3 by Stratos