Jason Ross

I'll just cut to the chase: the Giants fired Zaidi for Buster Posey. How's that going for them?

Someone has to pitch in Iowa. Why are we complaining that a former 1st round pick is pitching in Iowa? It's this or the corpse of Kenta Maeda. Even the best pitching organizations have guys like Wicks in their Triple-A affiliates. Sure he hasn't worked out at the MLB level through a combination of injuries and development, but we don't need to whine that the Cubs have a Jordan Wicks type in Iowa.

I've seen people mention this talking point about the Cubs and breaking balls, but I think we need to clear some things up on it: 1. The league as a whole doesn't hit breaking balls. League average wOBA against breaking balls is .284 and xwOBA is .281 2. The Cubs have a .289 wOBA and a .291 xwOBA against breaking balls. This is above the league average and is 14th in baseball. They have a +5 RV on breaking balls. 3. The Cubs have seen the most breaking balls in baseball. What is happening here is that people keep talking like the Cubs are especially bad at breaking balls which is not true. Instead, what you're seeing is that the Cubs are being fed an inordinate (as in the most in baseball) amount of breaking balls, and while they maintain a better than league average outcomes against them, even the best teams on breaking balls are bad and much worse against them than fastballs. This isn't a Cubs specific issue they have refused to address. Breaking balls and elite spin is just really, really hard to hit. For whatever reason the Cubs have seen more than anyone else in this regards. It isn't because they're so elite at fastballs (though they are good at them). I won't go out on a limb as to why beyond that as other teams are worse at breaking balls and have seen less.

Let's start here: how many "cornerstone" (I horsefeathers hate when we create words like this because they have no set meaning and you can play "move the goalposts" however you see fit, but for now, I'll play along) players do other teams have in their lineup 7+ years out? Almost no team does. The Cubs have about any many as any other team because the only "corner stone" players signed 6+ years are either: 1. Former FAs, meaning they're probably around 29-30 when they signed and in six years will be 36 (they're not going to be very good any more). 2. Are a very young player and while a few of these elite-elite prospects sign the long-term extensions, many do not. So while they'll remain a "corner stone" in six years most will either have to extend out later or be a free agent. In fact, the Cubs have one of those players in the number 2 category: Pete Crow-Armstrong (more on him to come later)! The broader point is that when we begin inventing things to be pissy about, we know we aren't starting from a logical stand point. Yes, the Cubs have "zero pennants" in six years but most teams do. That's an incredibly small amount of time. And lets also point this out: one of those six years was 2021 when the Cubs cut budget, one of those years is 2022 when the Cubs were clearly trying to be bad because they had to cut budget and you can't fix a team in one year, and one of those six years is 2026 which hasn't ended yet so blaming him for 2026 already is stupid. They had three teams where they had budget and some semblance of talent. Is that partially on Hoyer? Yeah probably. But they've gone with a .500 record in each of those years and were a game away from the NLCS last year, so maybe we can be a little more fair, here, too, no? And to say the Cubs don't have "high end talent". Buddy, Pete horsefeathers Crow Armstrong the guy I already mentioned is literally leading the NL in fWAR for position players and it isn't like this is the first time he's had a good year. Just stop. Either be fair and fair or just say you're a blind Jed Hoyer hater. Because you're not being objective, you're just trying to find pain points to be mad about. And before anyone twists my words or adds something I didn't type: no I don't think the Cubs have been amazing. I just think the outcomes Jed Hoyer is producing, which is a team capable of being consistently good (the Cubs are trending towards a fourth straight winning record as of today and a good shot at a playoff birth) while not elite is what most VP's of baseball would produce. It's a good outcome. He avoids disaster and comes up short of elite. You can improve on Hoyer, but it isn't as easy as "fire Jed and just hire someone" either and so many people act like it's that easy. The Mets did that with David Sterns and it isn't that easy.

I didn't say he was a good or bad GM here. I told you that your critique of his drafting was wrong. I also don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. You mentioned Kevin Alcantara. Why? 1. He was an IFA. 2. He was signed by the Yankees. 3. The Cubs traded Anthony Rizzo for him at the deadline Literally nothing to do with, the draft. You mention a Cubs system that has failed to produce talent. Your example? A fourth round pick from 2020 a historically weird draft. You didn't want to go with Pete Crow-Armstrong (leading the MLB in player fWAR who's name isn't Ohtani), Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, Pedro Ramirez, Justin Steele, Moises Ballesteros, Daniel Palencia, Ben Brown? These guys didn't come to your head first? Luke Little did? Way to be disingenuous. Then you go on a Dansby Rant and something about bad records. You want to talk draft? Talk draft. You wrote 1,000 words that boil down to "moving the goal posts" because you can't be mad about the draft any more so you picked a new thing. So I'll wait for your replay about the draft before I allow you to move the posts any further.

I really like Harshorn, but I'm going to hold off on putting him number 1 right now for a few reasons: 1. Jaxon Wiggins is both closer, and he had a really, really encouraging year last year. I know it feels like he's dead but like, one good start where he's pumping 100mph and we'll remember the upside 2. Josiah Hartshorn hasn't had a slump yet and I want to see a team attack a weakness. He can't have none. 3. It's still just two months. 4. First base remains in play As of today, I think I'd list them as follows: 1. Jefferson Rojas 2. Pedro Ramirez 3. Josiah Hartshorn 4. Jaxon Wiggins And I say this as someone who's been a big time Josiah fan. I just need a bit more. Talk to me on draft day. I think a full half season sample of him just cruising will be enough that I'll forgive there being no slump/work through as a fear (which you can say he's just that good or that I'm punishing him for being good, but I kind of expect every young player to have a slump because I like seeing the response and the next step). I'm in the "slow moving list" camp, so I try to keep things pretty consistent month over month when I can be.

I'm fine with that. If he was going to be in the lineup at all, that suggests it's very minor. Better safe than sorry.

I don't disagree. However, I do think the amount of "reasonable" fans is pretty limited, especially at the point when Counsell was hired (fresh off a really rough month of September). The overall point is that simply swapping out a manager, or a VP of baseball Ops with someone who has had success isn't an immediate light switch or fix. Counsell was an easy Cubs-centric one, but David Sterns and the Mets is probably a better analogy to what might happen if the Cubs were, say, to can Jed Hoyer and then sign the guy running another successful organization. It doesn't mean it has to go badly, just that it isn't so simple.

I don't have a 1-30 ranking, but I'd grade him as "pretty good". He isn't perfect, I do think you *can* upgrade on him, but that most moves would be "lateral". Much of what people piss and moan about Hoyer can be said about others. And for his drawbacks, he rarely just sinks the Cubs or that they're watchable. The Brewers are good, yes. Good reminder, though, David Sterns and Craig Counsell were considered the engine, both left and the Brewers have been just fine with both Sterns and Counsell haven't had the same success. So when we do these things, what we attribute to one person or another isn't always the case.

Huh? The Cubs have drafted really well outside of the 1st round. Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley and Jackson Ferris have all logged top-100 rankings at one point or another and Ferris was used to bring in Michael Busch. Don't forget 2026 non-1sts like Josiah Hartshorn (popping on top-100s already) and Kaleb Wing (off to a flying start). There's also Zyhir Hope (top-50) traded for Busch and Jonathon Long as deep-picks. Brooks Caple is off to a great start this year, too. Don't forget Cam Smith being used for a full year of Kyle Tucker, Matt Shaw and Cade Horton (first round picks) as well. I get people want to blame Hoyer right now (I'm not inclined to say this is as much on him as the players) but his drafting and specifically the people who's been chosen to be around him to ensure good picks, is not one of them. There are legitimate gripes I can understand, this however, isn't a top-20 issue.

Typical of high-swing, high-contact rookies. Sadly, the only way to get better is to get through this. They have to learn "just because I can hit it doesn't mean I should".

Not impossible, but feel like it's highly unlikely. The Cubs never say anything about any MiLB injury, really. The only time they don't is when you have a guy down for TJS or something. Beyond that they're incredibly mum. I also don't think he'll be in trade talks. He hasn't played much in a full calendar year and a half. He has more value to the Cubs as an org than another team is going to view him.

Agreed. I'd like to see some reports of him popping up.

The Cubs aren't usually forthcoming with MiLB injuries. Frankly, they have little reason to be very transparent.

He joined Arizona in 2021.

Crazy to think come mid-June that Ben Brown would be the one SP we all trusted.

I assumed Ben Brown's leg had just...fallen off. This is both a better outcome and a more logical one.

A Cubs pitcher? On the IL? Shocked I say.

Another injury. Wheeeeee.

I'm fine with the team drafting a hitter in the first. To be fair, their last first round hitters have been guys like Nico Hoerner, Cam Smith, Matt Shaw and Ethan Conrad. Jury is out but they're getting value with that strat. So if Tyler Bell is there and they love Bell, go for it. But they do need to hit the "pitching" button as often as they can all draft.

BA just did a podcast about Rabe. He's #39 right now. Cooper thinks he might get into the 1st. Compared him a bit to Cade Horton (not in terms of stuff so much but in trajectory); coming off TJS and he hadn't throw into the 6th until April 12th - this is what they think held him back. Small track record.

Bertz mentioned Reid Detmers the other day and he's quickly rocketed up my list. Skubal is probably your best pound for pound player but with Detmers potential control he might just be my other favorite.

I'd probably have Kepley high on my "trade em if someone lives him" list. It isn't that I dislike him, but all of this, added with what we currently have in CF, it feels like he is more expendable.