Jason Ross

I've watched a bunch of SB. I'll also say this; it's really hard to gauge catching defense from MiLB streams if you're sitting at home. If you're lucky they're actually showing a behind-the-pitcher POV, and even then, you're lucky if the stream quality is above "guy with an outdated iPhone and a hotspot". I'll also say it's way too soon to tell for a handful of factors: the first being that in the next few years, I expect some form of automated ball-strike calling system to make its way to the MLB (probably similar to the MiLB "challenge" system we're seeing) which should change the math on pitch framing. The second is that there seems to be a bit of a "catcher revolution" going on defensively league wide, some teams are just...better at it than others. Milwaukee has been a hotbed for basically taking horsefeathers defensive catchers and turning them into pitch framing mavens; they've done it time and time again recently. Eventually, those techniques are going to make their way out into the bigger world. We've seen guys with awkward body types, like Alejandro Kirk, succeed, and I wonder how much of Ballesteros' being a good/bad catcher are people just saying "someone who looks like that can't do that". Defensive scouting of the MiLB is pretty hit and miss. Albert Almora was considered a 60-65 grade fielder and he was blow average. Javy Baez was considered to have to move off SS and he was great. With baseball savant and all of the amazing statcast data we get, MLB defensive metrics are jumping leaps and bounds. Catching has always been behind even the other advanced defensive metrics as a position (UZR, DRS. etc) so I wonder if that's going to change things as well. Long way to go on Big Mo. I'm really excited overall, though. Turn some of those doubles into home runs as he adds strength and experience, and he may hit so well that anything he does behind the plate is just a bonus.

horsefeathers you Cuas. Why has he been allowed to throw 30 pitches?

Well..this has been less than optimal. Please get out of here with the lead.

Sut drives me insane.

Happy to be wrong. Totally agree, PCA in the defense is better. He was pretty nonchalant about grabbing a glove but looking back they did the mid-inning salute so thats probably what I read as nonchalant. He knew he had time

Just by the way he was acting in the dugout, it didn't seem like.he was coming back out. Tauchman PH for Wisdom, so I bet Candy takes 1b and PCA takes the rest of the night off.

That Jordan Wicks guy is a bulldog. Glad to see him succeed.

In a perfect world you'd like a few more swings and misses. But it's a rookie, on the road at Coors and he's starting to get more and more ground balls. All in all, a good 5 innings from Wicks yet again.

That's exciting.

Absolutely blistering end to the season. I'd be shocked if he's not on the train to Tennessee with Big Mo and James Triantos.

Yeah, Verdugo has moved into "backpocket/dark horse" for 2024 category for me. He's a tad old, but nothing crazy at 22. He's a premium position player (though probably moves). He's got good contact rates and showing XBH power. Put him in Tennessee, maybe these last 2 months were a "light switch" and we'll see if the Cubs get a free prospect out of thin air that no one had on their bingo card. Worst case, it's just another pop-up prospect. It remains the most likely outcome, sadly. But hey, weirder things have happened and there's been at least some love thrown Verdugo's way in the past, so it's not insane.

The first full week in September is also the last full week of Minor League Baseball to cover for the Chicago Cubs. South Bend has been eliminated, Tennessee punched their ticket, while Myrtle Beach and Iowa continue their seasons. Who finished the year strongly in South Bend? Who's headed to Tennessee? Let's recap the week with another session of hot or not. Iowa Cubs, AAA (2-4) Iowa has been in some rut over the last few weeks. Perhaps it's due to a handful of call-ups, but the Iowa Cubs last won a series in an early August set against the Omaha Storm Chasers. Iowa is now just .500 in the second half of the season after finishing with the second-best record in the first half. 🔥Pete Crow-Armstrong: 166 wRC+, 26.9% K%, 3.8% BB%, 2HR, 1 2B, 1 3B: A pretty strong week from Pete Crow-Armstrong all around. We can be a little nitpicky, as the walks still aren't great, and the K% is still a bit high (though down from recent results), but I'm willing to let that go in exchange for the easy power on display. Crow-Armstrong hit a grand slam as a part of a four-hit effort on Sunday. This may be the last MiLB update on PCA, as it was reported that he will be called up to Chicago on Monday. How much do we think we'll see of him? 🔥Matt Mervis: 154 wRC+, 20.8% K%, 20% BB%, 1 HR, 1 2B: How the Cubs handle the first base position this offseason will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow, in my opinion. With two upcoming free agents in Cody Bellinger and Jeimer Candelario, who could handle the position, and internally, Matt Mervis, who's done nothing but hit AAA pitching, the Cubs have plenty of internal options (and a host of external as well). Mervis has done everything right since being sent back to Iowa. Do the Cubs give an earnest look at Matt Mervis again? Is he trade bait? Plenty of exciting Cubs baseball remains, but this winter will be quite interesting on the prospect front. 🥶Ben Brown: 2 IP, 1 K, 5 BB, 3 R, 3 ER: Well, that's not ideal. Ben Brown struggled with control this week as he works back from a lat injury that sidled him for most of August. Most of the "awful" numbers come from an outing in which Ben Brown walked three and gave up three earned, all while only getting a single out on August 6th, but even his more recent outing wasn't particularly great in that outing. Brown only got a single strikeout in just under two innings. Let's hope it's rust. 🥶Brennen Davis: -.14 wRC+, 33.3% K%, 4.4% BB%: Brennen Davis has had a few flash moments of quality at the plate since returning but has not had a great run overall. He's still at just 30 PAs in AAA, so it's not time to panic yet, but with only two weeks left in the AAA season, Davis' ability to finish the year strong is rapidly running out. Tennessee Smokies, AA (2-4) On the surface, a two-win week would offer little to celebrate. Still, a two-win week was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Smokies, as it represented just enough to clinch a playoff birth on tap before the playoffs is a last home series against Rocket City and, hopefully, a chance to get some reinforcements (more on this later) a bit of time to settle in before the playoffs. 🔥Brandon Birdsell: 5IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 0 R, 0 ER: Great start for the 2022 mid-round selection. Brandon Birdsell was a nice find for the Cubs out of Texas Tech at the time of the draft and has moved fairly quickly. I still wonder if Birdsell has enough juice to remain as an MLB starting option, if he'll be more of a Keegan Thompson swing-man, or if he'll be organizational up/down depth, but regardless, any of those outcomes will be useful from a 5th round selection. With only a handful of Tennessee starts, we may see him remain there at the start of 2024, but I expect he'll be on the MLB radar for spot starts come summer. 🔥Matt Shaw: 122 wRC+. 21.7% K%, 8.7% BB%, 2 HR, 2 2B: Don't let the .200 batting average fool you. Matt Shaw had another good week in Tennessee. We constantly asked, "Is Matt Shaw too good for South Bend?" and we might have to ask the same about Tennessee. He remains imposing in his first run in the professional ranks. Earlier this week, when asked who he tries to emulate, Matt Shaw mentioned that he tries to play like Dustin Pedroia, and frankly, the skillset matches up. 🥶Cole Roederer: 8 wRC+, 41% K%, 0% BB%: There was a time when Cole Roederer was a strong candidate for MiLB Comeback Player of the Year in the Cubs system, but his season has taken a sharp decline over the last two months. The K's are too frequent, and when he's not hitting home runs, he's not bringing enough value. His swing will always remain one of the prettiest you'll see around, but the results aren't there. 🥶Pablo Aliendo: 54 wRC+, 20% K%, 20% BB%, 1 3B: Pablo Aliendo was another player who started very strong but has had a rough last 30 days. Over his last 20 games, he's hitting just .156 with a 77 wRC+, and this last week isn't helping the cause. He's still got a nice 110 wRC+ for an AA catcher, so Aliendo isn't entirely off the radar, but for a breakout prospect, you'd like to see a stronger finish. South Bend Cubs, High A (5-1) South Bend may have been eliminated from the playoffs, but they certainly didn't let anything bring them down this week. The Cubs won 5 of 6 against Quad Cities, highlighted by a whopping 26-run effort on Wednesday. Many South Bend Cubs will likely get promoted to Tennessee for their playoff push. Moises Ballesteros has already reportedly gotten called up, and I'd bet to see Kevin Alcantara go up as well (and a few others to boot). 🔥Kevin Alcantara: 304 wRC+, 13.6% K%, 13.6% BB%, 1 HR, 4 2b: There really may not have been a player in the entirety of the MiLB who had a better week than Kevin Alcantara did. In what may have been his last week in high-A, Alcantara took no prisoners, hitting over .500, barely striking out, and picking up five extra-base hits. In weeks like this, you remember what kind of upside Kevin has. 🔥Moises Ballesteros: 190 wRC+, 4.5% K%, 13.6% BB%, 1 HR, 1 2B: No, I didn't transpose his walk and strikeout numbers; Moises Ballesteros only struck out a single time this week, compared to three walks. Yes, this also means "Big Mo" hit more extra-base hits than strikeouts. Look for Mo in the Tennessee section starting next week as he helps the Smokies hopefully capture a Southern League title. 🔥James Triantos: 151 wRC+, 0% K%, 7.7% BB%, 1 3B: I also didn't mess up any numbers for James Triantos before you asked. James was able to avoid striking out all week, much like the aforementioned Moises Ballesteros. I'm unsure if he'll get the bump to Tennessee right now or if his season will be over. Regardless, his season in High-A will end with a cumulative 115 wRC+ and a miniscule K% of 10.6%. I still need to see more extra-base hits and power, but his bat-to-ball skill is unrivaled right now. 🔥Luis Verdugo: 327 wRC+, 11.1% K%, 14.8% BB%, 2 HR, 5 2b: Talk about a late-season breakout for Luis Verdugo! Since July 1st, Verdugo has a 162 wRC+, a K% of 12.1%, has hit seven home runs with 16 doubles, and has looked like a different hitter. He's been a mainstay of the "hot" category, and there's some helium here for a 23-year-old who will be in Tennessee to start next season. He remains Rule 5 eligible, but I don't think he'll be picked. Keep an eye on him as a sleeper in 2024 to make the Cubs if these last two months were a light switch and something's changed. 😟Michael Arias: 2.1 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, 0 R, 0 ER: Michael Arias came out of Sunday's game with an apparent injury. Prior to being hurt, Arias was kind of all over the place, with five strikeouts and five walks, but the concern here is the injury. Arias had a great season, all things considered, so I'm a little worried that it could all be undone with a bad injury. Let's hope he's healthy, can get some good work over the offseason, and then go full bore next year. Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Low-A (4-2) The Myrtle Beach Pelicans finished off their last week of the regular season, winning four of six at home against Columbia, capping off their regular season on a high note. Hopefully, the momentum will carry them into the week, as they play three games (if necessary) against Charleston, the first on the road and the last two at home. 🔥Jackson Ferris: 5 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 0 R, 0 ER: Fresh off one of his worst starts on the season, Jackson Ferris bounced back with five strong innings. Throwing 56 innings in his first season as a professional, Ferris finished with a K/9 over 12 and a 3.60 xFIP on the season. If there's some polish, it's on being more deliberate and consistent in the zone. He's just 19; there's some funk there, and the arrow is pointing in the right direction. 🔥Brian Kalmer: 271 wRC+, 16.7 K%, 4.2 BB%, 3 HR, 2 2B: I have no idea if Brian Kalmer will continue to be this good in the future, but the present is really fun. He's also learning, as his K%, which used to be in the "danger zone," has dropped to 20%. I have no complaints about his first stint. His age says we should expect him to be better than Low-A, but he literally finishes with a WRC+ of 200, and I'm not entirely sure that's just age. 🔥Jonathon Long: 127 wRC+, 21.7 K%, 9.1% BB%, 2 HR, 1 2B: Again, ignore the .200 batting average Jonathon Long had and focus on the .371 wOBA and the 127 wRC+. Like Brian Kalmer, Long is probably too old and good for Myrtle Beach, but they also put up eye-popping numbers. Kalmer has overshadowed him, but that has less to do with Long and more with Kalmer. 🔥Drew Gray; 3 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 R, 1 ER: Drew Gray has been lights out recently, with 22 strikeouts in just ten innings. The Tommy John surgery seems quite successful, and the young left-handed pitcher finished 2023 off wonderfully. I wonder if he'll start in Myrtle for a month like Cade Horton to protect his arm or just go straight to South Bend? 🥶Luis Rujano: 1 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 ER: Not a super strong finish for Luis Rujano, but a great season nonetheless. He's made himself interesting enough that an early season 2024 call-up to South Bend, or even a South Bend start, is on the table. Either way, for a pitcher who reportedly only had a fastball this time last year, he's had a wonderful season. I've got some hopes that Rujano can eventually end up in an MLB rotation. View full article

I don't think he'll sit like Canario...but I don't think he'll play much at all. I expect it'll be defense late in games, pinch running, etc, especially after Ross' comments. I would be fine to see him play over Tauchman on a few occasions to begin with, personally (who's been pretty brutal for a while, and I had been kind of waiting for the clock to strike midnight on) and maybe getting more time after. I could also be fine if this means more Bellinger in CF, and Candelario/Madrigal more in the infield. PCA can help the Cubs win games and I hope they use him as such.

Yes. South Bend is eliminated, and they have no more regular season games, so probably a handful of people will go up.

Suzuki again haha. I guess they just had to tweak him to make him into the greatest hitter the MLB has ever seen.

I'd guess the Cubs were never overly excited about Greene in AAA; they're pretty good at identifying reclamation arms and they let him go pretty fast. He had decent results, but he gave up a pretty decent amount of base runners against AAA competition. There just isn't much there. Probably also have to fancy their chances he doesn't get claimed. Contending teams are pretty full on their 40-man rosters like the Cubs, and bad teams probably don't care much for a 34-year-old in the twilights of his career. He's a decent fall back option, but I'm not sad to see him only get the single inning.

2b or 3b. As Tim mentioned, the Cubs made Nick Madrigal, who had a bottom-barrel arm strength% in 2022 into a capable 3b. I would trust that the Cubs could extract that out of Matt Shaw, who, while kind of squatty and not known for his arm, remains pretty athletic overall. He's been playing 3b in the MiLB recently, so I think that's the path he will take unless he proves it's simple untenable.

That's really the best possible outcome for this. No IL stint, no loss of Alzolay or Leiter...just the loss of a shell of a Shane Greene.

Yeah nice to see Little progress. Koen Moreno is suddenly pitching well in Myrtle Beach. Granted, he's 22, and had a length of injury issues, so who knows there, but there's some hope that 2020 won't be a full loss. Weird draft all around; the have 2 top-100 prospects from the 2020 draft...both selected by other teams yet almost entirely developed by the Cubs.

I was more or less comparing Little to the other options the Cubs have currently who can be called up, less so than the Cubs loss (or whomever is going down). I agree, Boxberger is cooked. I'd rather the Cubs gamble a bit on someone like Luke Little who may/may not have some walk issues versus someone who offers whatever "veteran"-ness that Boxberger or the ilk would bring to a playoff race. Little presents an imperfect solution to a question (as does Palencia, frankly), but one I'd rather take than some of the other imperfect answers presented. If there's positives for Little, it's that his walk issues have gotten better as he's moved to the BP, and even better as he's moved up a level. There's also something in that you just can't teach 99mph on the surface, and even less from a LHP. Part of that also may be a personal bias, too, which I have to admit is possible. I've spent entirely more time with Luke Little and Daniel Palencia than someone like Brad Boxberger or a bunch of other guys over the last few years, and probably more time than most would have considering the limitations of watching a MiLB stream. Part of why I'd rather roll with those guys is for me, they're probably the devil I know,

From my eye; he's just mashing everything in the zone...and he's making contact with most everything out side of it. His bat control is really, really good. He also swings, a ton. So he's kind of in Nico Hoerner territory. Hoerner is bottom 30% in chase rate, but 99% in whiff rate. I'd like to see Shaw knock some of that out, because he'll probably do much better if he starts swinging at good strikes instead of, well, anything. The positive thing is that when Shaw gets into 2 strike counts, he really dials back the leg kick, while maintaining power (I.E. 2 strike triple Sunday afternoon I highlighted in the weekly recap). My fear is that better pitchers will exploit Shaw, not so much on 2 strike counts, but early in the count with chase pitches designed to get him to roll over. We saw these issues when the league realized that Frank Schwindel would swing at anything thrown his way. Not saying Shaw=Schwindel, just that my fear is that could be Shaw's fatal flaw if he doesn't work on some things and be a bit more selective.

The walks are certainly going to be a bit of a concern, but I think for now, having these guys in the bullpen is probably their best bet moving forward. I'd far rather watch the Cubs sink or swim with Luke Little or Daniel Palencia than, say, Brad Boxberger. They'll have to make choices, and I guess I'm on the side of "give me the better stuff and hope he can throw strikes for a month".

Big fan of Luke Little.

I would guess that the organization would explain something about Canario being someone who has game-changing power and they'd like to have that option off the bench. In the grand scheme of things, a week, or two weeks, of missed AAA PA's won't really change his trajectory. With that said, I agree, and I wonder what the idea is here. It's probably still a bit better for Canario to keep playing, and making up for missed time. I'm not sure I'd have him on the MLB roster right now. I also don't think he should be starting right now. We'll see, he will probably hit a pinch hit home run tonight because I said what I said, and I'll look real dumb. If there's one benefit, Alexander is cashing an MLB paycheck currently, so I'm sure he's not complaining.