UMFan83

The Brewers have 3 lefties in their pen, but one threw 19 pitches yesterday. Just trying to game out how the rest will go if this is a shorter outing.

Really smart of this kid to allow all the runs to score on wild pitches and his own error to ensure the runs are unearned

Hahaha ok then

What a gift for the Brewers. Yeesh

Oof, I know this guy is good but PCA has to have a better approach there if he’s gonna hit cleanup

We need an update Theo

Yes, and while there is some value to bringing in outside ideas and perspectives to the organization, Jed knows this org inside and out having been here almost 15 years now. He (along with Theo) were responsible for modernizing the FO, building out all of the data and evaluation systems they are using. I agree he's probably not the best but he's definitely better than average IMO.

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer agreed to a multi-year contract extension Monday, according to multiple reports. It's a seismic moment, as much because of the timing as based on the news itself. Hoyer is working hard to upgrade the Cubs roster he built in the shadow of this Thursday's MLB trade deadline, and this news changes the context of his pursuits. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic broke the news on Twitter. Last fall, much was made of the fact that Hoyer would be out of contract at the end of the 2025 campaign. For most fans (and even many throughout the ranks of other front offices and the baseball industry, writ large), Hoyer's status has been viewed as a microcosm of that of the team in general. Given the tenor of his own comments about his lack of an extension heading into last offseason—and given the aggressive offseason he then orchestrated—the assumption had been that the ownership group would move on from Hoyer if the team didn't make the playoffs this year. Now, apparently based on the fact that the team is in good position to do that (but without any guarantee that they actually will, in a competitive National League and an NL Central race that is currently tied), the team has jumped the gun on that decision. Presumably, this alleviates some pressure on Hoyer to make trades that might not have been in the best long-term interests of the team, and encourages him to focus on winning both now and in the future. For many, though, it will also read as an early declaration of a victory not yet won—and a questionable demonstration of faith in an executive whose track record as the top decision-maker on the baseball side of the organization is somewhat uneven. Under Hoyer, the Cubs have unloaded the remnants of their 2016 World Series-winning core. In their 2021 fire sale, they did acquire some very valuable pieces, including not only Pete Crow-Armstrong, but Kevin Alcántara and Daniel Palencia. They've signed several free agents to deals that panned out well, and under new scouting director Dan Kantrovitz, they've enjoyed more success in the MLB Draft. Their reputation in that area is improving. Hoyer made perspicacious trades to land Michael Busch and Kyle Tucker over the last two offseasons and has succeeded with forays into the Japanese market with the signings of Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga. He also landed the biggest managerial free agent in baseball history when he signed Craig Counsell away from the Brewers in November 2023. On the other hand, struggling often to manage upward and somewhat stubborn in his evaluations of players, Hoyer has allowed himself to be unduly limited by the budgets set by the Ricketts family. At their whims, he non-tendered Kyle Schwarber, and has failed to land the elite free agents who might have put either of the last two iterations of this team over the top. His signature is a certain baseline conservatism that does not always serve the club well. The thinking in striking this deal now must trace in part to Hoyer's conversations with rival executives about trades that would ship out some of the key players who make up the farm system he tried to strengthen over the last few years. Not only are his incentives and the team's no longer misaligned, but he can now avoid having any negotiating partner try to use his own contract status as leverage against him. If Hoyer (as, based on his personality, we might well imagine he would) would feel unduly guilty about trading a haul of prospects for a high-impact, short-term piece, that internal conflict is now resolved, too. Chicago's pitching development has improved under Hoyer's stewardship. So has their farm system. Yet, they haven't won anything of note under his leadership, and his mistakes in roster building have been major factors in that failure. Ownership has liked his way of doing things enough to decide to re-up with him. Now, based on what he does over the next few days and what his team does over the next few months, fans will get to render their own judgments about that choice. View full article

The lack of mega threads is whatever, but I'm kind of missing it during this deadline. There are like 5-6 different threads talking about the deadline and it takes forever to click through them to find any news.

I thought we agreed to not allow Marlins fans onto the board after 03 and 20. 😀 kidding, thanks for the insights

Agreed, we shouldn't count on him as a "deadline acquisition" but I also agree that he's been underrated by Cubs fans. He's likely a fine option as a 5th starter, assuming like you mentioned, he comes back strong from the injuries he's had. IIRC, as good as Assad's results have been, there were no guarantees that he had a rotation spot available coming into this spring. Possibly due to the high strand rates casting some doubt on his future effectiveness.

Always gotta plan ahead. But I was taking from this "viral" Cubs twitter post earlier this year:

Agreed. But the Brewers could also say something similar given that Busch, Tucker and Seiya are all slumping right now.

I think if the Cubs get swept they should probably sell Tucker before he gets to FA.

I think his price is going to be high due to the number of teams looking for an IF bat and the ridiculous season he's having. He's gonna fetch a price higher than your average rental IMO. Does that mean the Cubs should be out? Maybe. But the thought of adding a power righty bat is so tantalizing. Not our biggest need, not our second biggest need, but given how lefty dominant our best bats are, the fact that 2 of them are significantly worse against lefties, our poor bench options, etc. I don't think the Cubs are wrong to be looking at Suarez. I would just have a line that you don't cross if other teams go higher, especially if those resources are also needed for a pitching trade.

Now the Brewers are a favorite for Suarez according to Gomez. Probably trying to get him in uniform by tomorrow to torment the Cubs lol

I’m still technically a Bulls fan and will always be because I find it weird and difficult to all the sudden be a fan of another team. So ride or die with the Bulls. The issue is, since I can’t switch teams, I’ve just been mostly ignoring the NBA the last few years because I don’t care to watch the Bulls games.

Get Cashman very drunk and convince him the Yankees need Justin Turner’s grit on the team?

Reminds me a little bit like 2008. Cubs had a big lead all year, Brewers came back and tied us (I think), just before a 4 game series in Milwaukee. Hope this series goes like that one (Cubs swept all 4 games)

Not sure if there is a general trade rumors thread but this was posted 20 mins ago

I believe this evens up the all time Cubs-White Sox series if you also include the 1906 World Series.

Either tied or down 1 headed into tomorrow

I'm telling you I really don't like the L-L-R-L top of the order, especially when several of them are slumping. edit: and especially when the one righty in that part of the order is struggling the most.

Wait he didnt pitch yesterday? horsefeathers nevermind haha We'll see how many pitches he throws in the 9th...getting through the last out of the 8th with 3 pitches is a good start.

OK now that's drama