Jaguar Time

[Bertz]

 

[chibears55]

44 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

Awesome,  lets see what he and Ramirez can do 

[Illiterate Scholar]

I'm a little surprised by this as a replacement for Lopez. I thought maybe Happ was hurt or something. In a DH world, it's easy to never use the last bench guy. This feels like a reaction to the losing streak while still not really having a spot for him.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

Awesome,  lets see what he and Ramirez can do 

Apparently they can sit the bench.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

I'm a little surprised by this as a replacement for Lopez. I thought maybe Happ was hurt or something. In a DH world, it's easy to never use the last bench guy. This feels like a reaction to the losing streak while still not really having a spot for him.

I would have guessed Mo being sent down. 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

I'm a little surprised by this as a replacement for Lopez. I thought maybe Happ was hurt or something. In a DH world, it's easy to never use the last bench guy. This feels like a reaction to the losing streak while still not really having a spot for him.

Not entirely shocked. Pedro Ramirez is a switch hitter who really doesn't hit LHP that great. He loses a lot of power against them. So while he can soak up the positions Shaw did, he isn't a 1:1 for him in the lineup. Alcantara can crush LHP. 

So I think there's some fit and finish here that makes sense. 

The Cubs have made it clear over the years that unless there is a major swing change needed they work with their young players through struggles at the MLB level. As fans clamored for PCA, Busch and Shaw to get demoted they almost always kept them around. I wouldn't expect them to demote Ballesteros through a struggle unless it's as major as the original Shaw swing change. 

[Bertz]

8 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

I'm a little surprised by this as a replacement for Lopez. I thought maybe Happ was hurt or something. In a DH world, it's easy to never use the last bench guy. This feels like a reaction to the losing streak while still not really having a spot for him.

Now that Carson's annual April hot streak is over plus what Conforto has done I wonder if Craig is going to be as aggressive with mid-game PHing at C as he has been to this point at DH.