Cubs 2nd half placeholder thread

[ILMindState]

15 hours ago, ILMindState said:

OT but you guys should take this over. Give Phil a better platform to post instead of a screen shot of written words. 

Oops just realized I forgot to post the link 

 

[Tryptamine]

I'll preface this with, the trade deadline is likely going to be boring with the entire AL still in the playoff race because they all suck. Also, while I am all for trading one of Shaw/Ramirez, I don't think there's anyone realistically out there that I'm parting ways with them for, until the offseason. So with just a touch over 2 weeks until the deadline, this is what I'd like to see. 

1) I'd like grab a longer term SP here given the Cubs are losing Taillon/Shota/Boyd and the uncertainty of most of the remaining staff. I'm out on Soriano and while I don't like Detmers's GB% I think he's probably my guy. Detmers is under control until 2029 and the Angels just need talent in general whether it's pitching/bats so it makes it easier to put together a package. I'd float something like Kepley/McGwire/Triantos, might take a bit more, but I think it's in this neighborhood

2) Cubs need a guy in the pen who can be at least a high leverage guy if not a closer and Luke Weaver is my choice. He's signed through 2027 at a reasonable 11M hit next year. The Mets are likely going to want pieces that can contribute very soon, if not immediately, and it seems like a good place for Alcantara to go. Especially with Luis Robert sucking and having a team option in 2027. 

3) The Cubs need a lefty reliever. Whatever magic Thielbar found in 2025 is gone. Though I'm not entirely sure  the Padres will be sellers, given that they're hopelessly out of the division, maybe they go that direction. If they do, Adrian Morejon is my guy. He's nails against lefties and still good against righties. He brings a lot of  velocity/swing and miss which this team desperately needs. Morejon is a FA after this season. What San Diego is going to want is tricky. Honestly they should rebuild, but with all those huge contracts, is it even feasible? Since I don't know which way they're going I'll just kind of guess value wise and say something like Cabada+Caple.

 

I'd honestly like to add a 2nd SP, but I see that is incredibly unlikely and not even worth contemplating. 

 

[gflore34]

15 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'll preface this with, the trade deadline is likely going to be boring with the entire AL still in the playoff race because they all suck. Also, while I am all for trading one of Shaw/Ramirez, I don't think there's anyone realistically out there that I'm parting ways with them for, until the offseason. So with just a touch over 2 weeks until the deadline, this is what I'd like to see. 

1) I'd like grab a longer term SP here given the Cubs are losing Taillon/Shota/Boyd and the uncertainty of most of the remaining staff. I'm out on Soriano and while I don't like Detmers's GB% I think he's probably my guy. Detmers is under control until 2029 and the Angels just need talent in general whether it's pitching/bats so it makes it easier to put together a package. I'd float something like Kepley/McGwire/Triantos, might take a bit more, but I think it's in this neighborhood

2) Cubs need a guy in the pen who can be at least a high leverage guy if not a closer and Luke Weaver is my choice. He's signed through 2027 at a reasonable 11M hit next year. The Mets are likely going to want pieces that can contribute very soon, if not immediately, and it seems like a good place for Alcantara to go. Especially with Luis Robert sucking and having a team option in 2027. 

3) The Cubs need a lefty reliever. Whatever magic Thielbar found in 2025 is gone. Though I'm not entirely sure  the Padres will be sellers, given that they're hopelessly out of the division, maybe they go that direction. If they do, Adrian Morejon is my guy. He's nails against lefties and still good against righties. He brings a lot of  velocity/swing and miss which this team desperately needs. Morejon is a FA after this season. What San Diego is going to want is tricky. Honestly they should rebuild, but with all those huge contracts, is it even feasible? Since I don't know which way they're going I'll just kind of guess value wise and say something like Cabada+Caple.

 

I'd honestly like to add a 2nd SP, but I see that is incredibly unlikely and not even worth contemplating. 

 

Do you see, much as last season, the asking prices for controlled pitchers being exorbitantly high?

[We Got The Whole 9]

Good post, Tryp. I think Morejon would be a game-changer. Dude is filthy.

 

Also a 64% GB rate is ridiculous

Edited Thursday at 03:41 PM by We Got The Whole 9

[Tryptamine]

24 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Do you see, much as last season, the asking prices for controlled pitchers being exorbitantly high?

If no additional teams like Detroit/San Diego fall out of the race, then yeah it's going to be pretty bad. Right now with about 2 weeks to go you realistically only have 7 sellers(Royals, Angels, A's, Mets, Reds, Giants, Rockies). I wouldn't blame the Angels if they ask for Shaw or Pedro for Detmers. I just don't think I'd be willing to go that far.

[Bull]

2 hours ago, gflore34 said:

I believe their approach of death by a thousand cuts works over the course of a long season.  Just, don't think it's quite as successful in the post season, they're no longer facing average to below average pitching, the opponents are no longer mistake prone and have overall solid lineups which can execute against the Brewers pitching.

I’ve always believed (and think I had evidence at one point) that good hitting beats good pitching, but elite pitching beats elite hitting. An ace matters in the playoffs. Your style of offence doesn’t matter as much, but a big boom can be a difference maker and 1 big cut can be easier to achieve than the 1000 cuts you mentioned.

 

if I wasn’t clear, I’m agreeing with you.

[Outshined_One]

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

If no additional teams like Detroit/San Diego fall out of the race, then yeah it's going to be pretty bad. Right now with about 2 weeks to go you realistically only have 7 sellers(Royals, Angels, A's, Mets, Reds, Giants, Rockies). I wouldn't blame the Angels if they ask for Shaw or Pedro for Detmers. I just don't think I'd be willing to go that far.

They will absolutely ask for one of those guys. Maybe more. 

[squally1313]

What would we ever do without a backup infielder that like 6 people had heard of 6 months ago. Just find another one. 

[Bertz]

I don't think a lefty reliever is a big priority.  Rolison has been death on lefties, Thielbar's step back has mostly been against RHP, Webb's a reverse splits guy, etc.  I would certainly not poo poo a reliever the caliber of Morejon, but I'm much more worried about late matchups against RHH as opposed to LHH.  Like right now this second if you need to get out a tough righty your best bet is Tyler Ferguson?  

I think you need a closer or closer adjacent arm, and then IMO you'd like someone with some serious juice on the fastball who is tough on righties (Johnny Lasagna is having a resurgence woth AZ?).  I also, while it didn't work out, wouldn't hate another Jose Cuas type trade where you acquire someone optionable.  One of the writers threw Victor Vodnik out there and I'd be into that.  If Tommy can fix him on the fly awesome, if not he's Iowa depth and a guy you hopefully can fix over the offseason.

[Tryptamine]

3 hours ago, Bertz said:

I don't think a lefty reliever is a big priority.  Rolison has been death on lefties, Thielbar's step back has mostly been against RHP, Webb's a reverse splits guy, etc.  I would certainly not poo poo a reliever the caliber of Morejon, but I'm much more worried about late matchups against RHH as opposed to LHH.  Like right now this second if you need to get out a tough righty your best bet is Tyler Ferguson?  

I think you need a closer or closer adjacent arm, and then IMO you'd like someone with some serious juice on the fastball who is tough on righties (Johnny Lasagna is having a resurgence woth AZ?).  I also, while it didn't work out, wouldn't hate another Jose Cuas type trade where you acquire someone optionable.  One of the writers threw Victor Vodnik out there and I'd be into that.  If Tommy can fix him on the fly awesome, if not he's Iowa depth and a guy you hopefully can fix over the offseason.

I'd say a strictly lefty only reliever isn't a big priority, but one who can dominate lefties and still be serviceable or better against righties would be significant upgrade.

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I'd say a strictly lefty only reliever isn't a big priority, but one who can dominate lefties and still be serviceable or better against righties would be significant upgrade.

We just need some good pitchers IMO.  I personally don't care if they're RHP or LHP.  The pen is scary thin.

Thankful Webb has become someone who can give us some Ks.

[We Got The Whole 9]

A guy who has a 5.0 KBB and a 65% gb rate is like matrimony to the Cubs right now. 

[Geographyhater8888]

Of the last 10 World Series championship, all 10 were top 10 in positional fWAR and only the 6th ranked 2022 Astros and 7th ranked 2021 Braves we’re outside of the top 5 for an average ranking of 3.3. 

On the pitching side 7/10 landed in the top 10, 5 landed in the top 5 and the 2023 Rangers were as low as 20th, for an average ranking of 7.5th. 
 

Cubs lead all of baseball with a 62.5 positional fWAR since July 31st of 2024 through 311 games. They’re third in offensive war, second in runs and 1st in defensive war by over 19 runs. 
They’re also 26th in pitching war yet 11th in ERA.

Edited yesterday at 11:38 AM by Geographyhater8888

[JBears79]

Are we even going to get the game in today? The smoke is pretty bad and its supposed to rain i think.

[Bertz]

10 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Are we even going to get the game in today? The smoke is pretty bad and its supposed to rain i think.

Rain's actually supposed to help.  I think it more or less pulls all the gunk out of the air on its way down.

[squally1313]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

Rain's actually supposed to help.  I think it more or less pulls all the gunk out of the air on its way down.

Yeah seems like a double edged sword. The rain will clear the smoke for like 24 hours (supposedly going to come back tomorrow night). 

It's probably playable in current conditions, the golf courses out by me in the western suburbs were all packed yesterday still. I'm sure Tom wouldn't love the decreased attendance from a smoke game but it's not like we can just delay a whole series

[We Got The Whole 9]

Was it last year or the year before where they played through similar circumstances? It's not likely to be contained for a while and they're not gonna just cancel a string of games. I imagine there will be a lot more empty seats though. 

[Rcal10]

17 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Was it last year or the year before where they played through similar circumstances? It's not likely to be contained for a while and they're not gonna just cancel a string of games. I imagine there will be a lot more empty seats though. 

I’m going today and tomorrow. I have no plans on not going. If they play I will be there. 
I actually have 2 additional tickets in section 216. Great seats. If anyone is interested contact me. $184 for the pair. 

Edited yesterday at 02:53 PM by Rcal10

[ILMindState]

I thought today was an away game because of the time. Why is there a night game on a Friday?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I don't know about today but Monday's game looks dicey

[BKHoo]

Seriously 😐 if we had said we would have this many pitching injuries during the first half + we would be the worst offense in baseball for 35 games - who would have singed up for 12 games over?! 

[Wilson A2000]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

21 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

 

my god I miss this man