Backtobanks

Assuming the Cubs need to make trades to fill some of their holes, Schwarber and Caratini are the only somewhat valuable assets on the roster. I don't think any of the core 4 will be traded, so that leaves the top prospects (Amaya, Hoerner, etc.) or players on the roster.

My point is that while he's great at what he does (mash HRs against RH pitching), he has many flaws - lefties, defense, etc.

The guy I would go after to replace Zobrist and pinch hit is Howie Kendrick.

Schwarber against lefties - .195/.306/.351/.657 Castellanos against righties - .268/.315/.450/.765 You post this like those are good numbers. They're way better than Schwarber's.

That all arguably applies to Castellanos, too, except against righties. Schwarber against lefties - .195/.306/.351/.657 Castellanos against righties - .268/.315/.450/.765

Why can’t he pinch hit? His track record as a PH is atrocious.

I still think the best move is to sign Castellanos and listen to offers for Schwarber. He's fun to watch when he's on a roll, but he can't hit lefties, can't pinch hit, and needs to be replaced defensively in close games. He's a great option for being a DH/platoon OF in the AL.

The Tribune had a story the other day about what big changes that might happen if the Cubs fail to make the playoffs this year and said that one of the core four (Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, or Contreras) would have to be traded to make a difference. The days of offering Russell, Schwarber, Almora, Happ, etc. to get us something of value are over. I would think Contreras would be the most likely to go of the four.

Yeah, the ever escalating horsefeathers of seeking out players like Chapman and Murphy, and the ongoing enabling of Russell, all while talking out of the other side of their mouth about things like character and whatnot. Seemingly just rolling right along with the owners crying poor, and then demonstrating rather (IMO) piss-poor ability to counter that limitation via, well, anything. Underwhelming at best trades, signings and drafts for several years, unimpressively inconsistent and flawed player development (I think all of the "Cubs Way" talk has demonstrated itself to be mostly horsefeathers fluff nonsense...or the Cubs Way is a horsefeathers way to develop most players. Take your pick)...nobody is going to deny they had an incredible surge that resulted in what we all wanted...but that's now sandwiched by multiple years first of terrible tanking, and now a steady slide that demonstrates more and more that these guys repeatedly dropped the ball in terms of maintaining just how damn good this team was (and building to both maintain it and setup for the future), and they've basically had to scramble to play catch up almost from the moment the WS was won. I think just tossing out there that they're a "top 3 FO in baseball" like that's a given is a VERY generous stretch. They have a track record going back to 03 that is pretty phenomenal. You can argue about bringing Russell, Chapman and Murphy in but it is very hard to argue against their baseball results. I also wouldnt have gave a horsefeathers if they got rid of Russell, but they I absolute understand the approach to try to help him rehabilitate his life as well. His ex was even in full support of it as well. His ex could either support the decision or collect child support from Russell's salary working at Burger King. Not a tough decision.

Sign him in the off season and use Schwarber as trade bait to fill some of the numerous holes on the roster. "Please give us goods and services for this broken button and half a cigarette I found in my pocket, please!" I say be bold, dammit. WITNESS MY MADNESS: Trade Rizzo for sexy prospects. Take sexy Rizz prospects, and any sexy prospects it takes that the Cubs already have, and try to try Lindor loose from the Indians after they crash and burn either in the playoffs or even making the playoffs yet again. Use hypnotism if necessary. Lindor plays SS. Baez plays 2B. Bryant/Bote/Happ play 3B/LF. Schwarber plays 1B. I don't think there are enough prospects (sexy or not) to get Lindor. How about a package headlining Schwarber for Ramirez after signing Castellanos. Ramirez could play 3B, Bryant in LF, Heyward in CF, Castellanos in RF or Ramirez at 2B, Bote at 3B, and Bryant/Heyward/Castellanos in the OF.

Sign him in the off season and use Schwarber as trade bait to fill some of the numerous holes on the roster.

It only took 108 games for them to figure this out.

The rumors are that the Cubs are "feverishly" working on deals, but I'm not sure who they have to offer. The farm system is pretty bare with the exception of their top 3-4 prospects (who they don't want to trade) and most of the expendables on the ML roster aren't going to get you anything. A deal with either Schwarber or Caratini headlining would probably get somebody that could help, but Happ, Russell, Almora, Garcia, Bote, etc. are basically secondary pieces in a deal.

He is one of the few trade chips the Cubs have without giving up their top 3-4 prospects.

Trade him for Keone Kela. 2 headcases that might benefit from a change of scenery.

We all love Zobrist, but I'm not sure how much he can help the team. He's 38 years old, was terrible early this season, and hasn't faced live ML pitching since he left. He might help inspirationally, but I'm not expecting much on the field. Hopefully he will prove me wrong.

If only all of those batters would have struck out instead the Cubs probably would have won the game. I mean the odds go up if they do because you know, it’s 1 out vs 2 and guys stay on base and keep an inning going In this particular situation you are right, but in all of the other possibilities (hit, sacrifice, error, etc.) it would increase the odds by putting the ball in play.

Since you brought my name into this, I will point out that it was really fun watching the Cubs the other day playing "team baseball" by hitting to the opposite field, stringing together singles, doubles, and walks, moving runners from first to third, etc. rather than watching for the one HR among 10 strikeouts. It gets back to the discussion about making contact (even if it is an out) over striking out. Anybody who has ever talked to a hitting coach knows that making contact is preferable to striking out. Yeah I really enjoyed all that contact last night that led to 3-5 double plays. Much preferable to the batter striking out. If only all of those batters would have struck out instead the Cubs probably would have won the game.

I did read it. And not really a dumb statement by me because it’s a true statement. If you are defensive about your original statement then that’s on you. I could care less who the mgr grew up a fan of other than possibly pulling a philosophical bias or culture or something along those lines. Ironically, maddon grew up admiring the cards primarily. I wish the cub played as an organization more like the cards did through much of their history because not only were they a winning organization but one that consistently plugged and played their players and won with them. And they played “team baseball” instead of this hr or bust [expletive] that theo seems to love Wow. That's like a Backtobanks bad take... It's a dumb statement because everyone already knows that. No one hires a manager based on childhood allegiance/fanhood. No one cares about that for very obvious reasons. I'm going to stop now because this is a large waste of time lol. Since you brought my name into this, I will point out that it was really fun watching the Cubs the other day playing "team baseball" by hitting to the opposite field, stringing together singles, doubles, and walks, moving runners from first to third, etc. rather than watching for the one HR among 10 strikeouts. It gets back to the discussion about making contact (even if it is an out) over striking out. Anybody who has ever talked to a hitting coach knows that making contact is preferable to striking out.

Looking at our All Star finalists shows we don't need no stinking Harper and Machado.

To repeat what has been said - he'ss 22 years old with less than 200 PA in the majors. Also, he's playing on a team that can allow him time to grow and he's playing in a league that uses the DH. It's way too early to make predictions on what kind of career he will have, but he certainly looks like he can be a productive ML hitter for quite a few years. There’s plenty of numbers by him and historical comps to have a pretty good idea what he will be, not certain, but a good estimate. He will more than likely be a productive hitter, I’ve never said he won’t. He just won’t be all that valuable and it’s nonsense how he’s talked about as a future MVP/superstar. He’s probably going to end up being a player with similar value to Schwarbs (they’ll get there differently) as a 2-3 win guy most with maybe a peak year or two over 4 but not much over. And I have pointed out many times that Schwarber would be much more valuable in the AL. I still think it's way too early to guess/estimate what a 22 year old will turn into when he's had less than 200 PA in the ML.

I hope it’s not really weird to bring it up now that Eloy “The Real Deal” just went yard in the 9th to win the game. He’s never going to be all that valuable, sucks he Dong’d vs us but he’s nothing special in terms of value. To repeat what has been said - he'ss 22 years old with less than 200 PA in the majors. Also, he's playing on a team that can allow him time to grow and he's playing in a league that uses the DH. It's way too early to make predictions on what kind of career he will have, but he certainly looks like he can be a productive ML hitter for quite a few years.

Please stop asking an unemployed old yutz what he thinks of a place he has nothing to do with anymore Reminds me of when the print media used to ask Mike Ditka which ultra-conservative guy he was supporting in Illinois elections.

Descalso is running 6th. :-k

Somehow I guess I missed the news story that PTR won the last Powerball Lottery.