Jason Ross

Oh man, bummer. It's dos a cero.

Yeah. This is all nonsense. "Corruption is bad if I am not involved...but if I am and it benefits me, I'll defend it." Sadly, for everyone, FIFA wasn't going to allow the USA's new golden boy to miss the biggest match at their home world cup. They should have solved that with just a yellow card. But here we are. But this time it does benefit me haha.

Yep. He's up. One former Brewer reject for another.

Shelby Miller is throwing BP in Arizona.

Bryse Wilson seems to be DFA'd. Was seen leaving today with packed bags

Well, the results haven't been ideal for pitching. But let's also be real; where did Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Daniel Palecia come from? It hasn't been entirely barren, either. That number needs to be more, especially today, but we too often act like it's zero. And there is more coming. There are some interesting arms in the system, and I'd guess more than one will pan out in some fashion to add to the list. Plus, on the flip side, where did Ian Happ, PCA, Javy Baez, Willson Contreras, Michael Busch (acquired for drafted prospects), and Nico Hoerner come from? Among others (such as Matt Shaw, Pedro Ramirez, Moises Ballesteros...) The pitching can certainly be better. But when we complain about the pitching development it also ignores how well the Cubs have done with position players. They have drafted and developed there phenomenally. So there are two sides of the coin. If you want the Cubs to be experts at both simultaneously, then I think that's an unfair ask. I would like it a little more balanced, but because the Cubs have spent their prospect capital on hitters, they have panned out well there. Very few teams have developed as many players as the Cubs have there, as well. It's probably best to look at everything holistically. Because more lottery tickets into pitching almost assuredly means their position player output is much lower, too. With no guarantee those pitching lottery tickets panned out.

I'll agree that the Cubs should invest more in the pitching. But blaming them for "blocked prospects" is a misnomer. The "blocked prospects" are IFA guys like Rojas who they signed half a decade ago, or players like Kevin Alcantara who were traded for in 2021. Prospects are lottery tickets that don't begin to pay off for three, four, five (or more) years in the future. And it becomes impossible to guess which ones will cash out and which won't or what your organizational needs will be when they do. A good reminder; the Cubs drafted Cade Horton top-10 and he's on the shelf with TJS. Just because you invest, doesn't mean they pay out when you want them, if they ever do at all. The Cubs should definitely buy more lottery tickets into arms but there's no guarantee in four years when most start to cash in that they also won't be blocked. Or that they cash out. Their current system has meant that the Cubs have taken what looked like a bottom-5 system entering the year but has it probably sitting middle pack. Lastly, there are more than one ways to skin a cat. Prospects, are, at the end of the day, assets. They can be used directly to play for the org or to buy known quantities. The Cubs system should pay out here in one way or another.

Twasnt. South Carolina. I don't know what the name is however. It's...warm at least. A fish did bite me though. That was rude.

I wasn't treading water in the middle of a lake for three hours. I was drinking white claws (I'm old and watch my calories, don't @ me) and floating on a pool noodle. That said, it probably is a miracle I made it. I'm old.

Me, checking ESPN after being in a lake for 3 hours.

Wicks down. Pomeranz selected.

I'm equally fine moving any of the three. I would hesitate to move any three for a rental, however. Not because I'm opposed to a rental, but because I also believe these three represent the best chance to get the controllable player and I wouldn't want to ruin that.

I don't agree that Ramirez is the first to go. I very much believe one of Shaw, Ramirez and Rojas will go, but that the Cubs are very open to the idea of moving any of the three.

It would force pitchers to go longer and the way to do that would be to decrease stress and how hard you threw.

I don't want to blow up this person's spot so I'll leave it as what it is. I just don't believe the ask was Caissie and Wiggins at the end. It was likely more than what they paid in the winter but the end cost was not that high in July. Free agency isn't a bad idea, however please remember; FA have agency and just because the Cubs go into that market doesn't mean they walk away with the guy. But they need a lot of things. They cannot fill two SP and 2 OF spots entirely from FA. I will say right now; I think it's a mistake to think the Cubs should fill RF and LF with Shaw and Ramirez. So I think $25m plus could go to a Happ or Suzuki re-up. They also need a BP and a bench, so add in $20m-$25m there. You're quickly down to $50m. And I think the Cubs will entirely be staying below the threshold. They're going to make a trade between now and next year. It's going to be for someone. And I think if you have a lot of hitting prospects the easy answer is "trade for a pitcher". If you can pay a slight premium today to ensure you have it done, and you get the value in 2026 and beyond? I'm all for it. It's the best choice. Just do it. You take out any concern about a FA bidding war. I don't think the Cubs are going to get into one for a pitcher.

It works out better for 2026, yes. But the downside is it doesn't fix 2027 or beyond. They still need to either make that commitment or a trade. I'm very much of the position that the Cubs have the prospect capital to just take care of the trade now, so do it if it's possible. Also the reported Caissie/Wiggins ask I don't believe. I have a reason for that beyond just guessing (I'm not an insider but I know a guy who knows a guy type thing). I think that is over reported and not entirely true. I do think the price was more than just Owen Caissie but believe the secondary pieces were not Wiggins. The Cubs, also, can afford that kind of deal. That's a top-50 and a fringe top-100 (that's where Wiggins sat). That's a Rojas+ Kepley (ish) package. I'm okay with that.

Yeah, Peralta would work. I think he's been better than he seems, his xERA is 3.77z though his velo is down too. If you think it's a mechanical tweak or something he could be very good. He wouldn't be my top-choice, as I think controllable is a key need, but if they just go rental? Could do a lot worse.

I think he would have to believe the Cubs would be a very good chance at a 1/2 seed. He's spoken on that in the past, at how being in that #1 or #2 seed changes the math. So I'd assume they'd have to be very close to Milwaukee and with the belief that Skubal would push them over the top.

I think it's very likely, yes. Not *every* pitcher goes down with TJS, but the reality is the more people who throw the way these guys do, the more risk and potential damage they're doing. Some people are genetic freaks who won the lottery of throwing 99mph and can withstand that. Others not so much. Will they regret it? My guess is no, as long as they get paid. To put it another way; NFL players consistently put their brains in danger, I suspect MLB pitchers will value their arms less than their brains, all things considered.

They will not. Instead, expect teams to invest more lottery tickets into pitching. Especially with pitchers on pre-FA deals. "Churn and burn". They will gladly take a few years of elite performance for throwing them on an IL to replace them with the "next batch" of dudes who throw 98+mph. From a humanity standpoint, it's kind of gross. But sadly, that's sports. Humans are treated as commodities and players will take the risk for generational wealth.

I love this one!

Edinson Volzquez turns 43 tomorrow. He doesn't seem to be doing anything.

So here me out...maybe we just shuffle through birthday boys?

He's among the youngest players at his level in baseball and the first speed bump of his 3 month span is at the end of June. He was a very top prospect in the recruiting cycle. He should be a Freshman at a SEC school and is instead playing professionally. I think we can hold off on any talk of him being a flash in the pan.