Jason Ross

I almost added this exact sentiment. You read my mind.

It is based on release point, velocity, movement, and spin. Baseball Prospectus has their own pitch modeling system, and they too grade out his slider as excellent. It has a +3 RV based on MLB's Statcast, a 39% whiff rate, and a lower wOBA against than his fastball. It also has a .228 xwOBA on the pitch, too so he's been a little unlucky with it. I think your eyes are playing tricks on you. Every data point suggests it's a very good offering; both modeling and real world results.

All of his pitches grade out as plus or better on FanGraphs Stuff+ shape modeling. His slider is his best one.

Taillon pulled for tight groin.

No. It's possible. The Cubs have a really weak schedule and the Brewers have a much harder road. The Cubs hold the season tie-break over the Brewers. 5GB is not impossible today. It's unlikely, but this week has given the Cubs a chance.

W

I could see that too. But I do think at some point the team will have to look at the crew of Alcantara, Long, Caissie, Ballesteros and say "We have too many". Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like a decision will have to be made at some point (and I think this offseason is kind of the last moment before they begin to have diminishing value returns on trades) and trading some of those prospects while also banking the money with a pre-FA SP feels a very "Cub" way to handle spending.

I would be shocked if they don't bring in at least one SP. I think one of two things will happen this offseason: 1. They will resign Kyle Tucker and then they're going to kind of have too many prospects who will be blocked, they will almost assuredly be forced into making a trade and SP is the one thing they really need. So I would expect a trade for a controlled SP. 2. They don't resign Tucker. At this point the Cubs would have a ton of money to spend - even if the Cubs don't go over the LT, just to get back to 2025 spending they'll have tons of money. They'll sign a Michael King + someone. Or maybe it's a Dylan Cease. They'll get one. They almost would have to. I don't know who it'll be, but I think either way the Cubs will get a MORP or better.

Nico with some pop!

Verlander, Whistenhunt and Webb are listed.

Mike Soroka was an awesome reliever last year and way under played his xData this year in Washington likely due to their pathetic defense. Do you think the Chicago Cubs gave up an interesting pair of prospects for a player they don't expect on the MLB playoff roster? C'mon. Also that's a very weird list. Soroka was acquired for real capital, Eli Morgan is on the IL-60 and has been hurt all year, Nate Pearson has been awful and barely been on the MLB roster since April and Ryan Braiser is a perfectly fine, if unexceptional RH reliever. Two of those guys have 0-shot, and the other two are very likely. The time table on Soroka sounds like it will happen sometime in September. He was out playing catch on the field a week ago and I suspect we're closer to a rehab assignment than we realize.

Highly, highly unlikely at this stage. He looked rusty today - not terrible but rusty. He's also not on the 40-man roster and the Cubs are already playing the up/down game with Javier Assad and Mike Soroka will return. Both of those pitchers will be on the roster. The Cubs would probably need a rash of injuries and a few IL-60 candidates to call him up.

Hendricks sinker has been worth -5 runs on the season and has a wOBA of .370 against it. Hendrick has been arguably worse against RHH with lower K%, and a wOBA against almost .100 points higher for RHH than LHH. Even if Shaw hasn't hit sinkers from RHP well, Hendricks sinker isn't a pitch the Cubs should be worried about.

Nasty injury to return from, especially at Wheeler's age.

Kyle Tucker was 7% better than a league average hitter in July. He didn't hit for power, but remained an above average performer despite it.

I think we over value arm at third. Personally, I consider arm "luxury" but something that is not required at 3b. The Cubs turned Nick Madrigal and his noodle arm into a plus defender at the position. Shaw's arm is below average, but much better than that of say Madrigal, as it sits around the 31st percentile league wide. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

My assumption from discussions, most specifically on reddit is that many fans are upset that the team traded Isaac Parades, Cody Bellinger and Cam Smith to facilitate some of that (whether or not Bellinger was directly tied to Tucker or just fans perceive it to be that, you can be the judge). Even on the comments on articles here, there is a comparison to Bellinger constantly. And I don't think many people have really checked in on Cam Smith after he had a big series against us (they probably also don't notice Matt Shaw has been a better hitter on the year). I've seen a few times that Cam Smith is essentially the new Lou Brock trade. And despite him not signing a $400m deal yet, I think many people use those types of players to be angry at. And beyond that you have this allure of the big rookie behind him? When you add it all up, and the Cubs are struggling while the Brewers have surged past, I think Kyle Tucker is a perfect lightening rod for many. I don't agree with it myself, it's frankly ridiculous, but he's a good conduit for ire.

I liked Cade Horton in the 2022 draft. I did not like Brooks Lee.

Got one.

Brought in Mears a RHP. Blessing?

Tucker's going to come up big in this spot. Feel it. He needs it. The Cubs need it. (I reserve the right to delete this post in five minutes)

Matt Shaw has just played four baseball games in three days. The Cubs are about to take a cross country flight tonight to the West Coast and then play three more games. Today is a game less than 24 hours since the last one. It is fair to need a day off. Players do not play their best when they are exhausted. As well, the Cubs only off day between August 12th and September 3rd is this upcoming Monday, the 25th. It's illogical to think Shaw will play every day. Beyond that, Priester is much better against RHH. He is a pitcher who throws 43% of his pitches as sinkers - a pitch that excels against same-side hitting players. Matt Shaw is RHH. Willi Castro will hit LHH, which forces Quinn Priester (who's xFIP jumps half a full point against LHH) to either throw his best pitch in non-exceptional situations or completely off his best pitch. It is a good day for the Cubs to give their player a day off. Just this week the Cubs have found off days for many of their starters. That Matt Shaw got a day off isn't surprising, the team does need him fresh. I know that it's more fun when Matt Shaw plays, but the Cubs have to balance their best lineup and keeping players in the best physical state to play. So while it's easy to want to see Shaw, we have to be intelligent enough to look at the big picture as fans to understand the purpose behind it.

They essentially handle the NHL games without adding an additional fee, for what it's worth.