raw

This is where I'm starting to lean. I understand that everything doesn't work out perfectly and the Cubs are successful now because of tons of resources and waves of young talent.....but now that Contreras and Almora are up, I have a hard time arguing that any current minor leaguer is untouchable. Even if it means you have to give up slightly more than you'd like, obviously it'd be worth it if the Cubs win it all. The top prospects the Cubs have are Torres, Happ, McKinney, and Eloy among others. All 4 of these guys are either 3 levels away or in McKinney's case, has diminished a bit. And as much as it is a gamble, I'd bank on the guys that are up staying productive and healthy for at least a couple years to basically block any prospect that might come up in the near future. I'd have 0 problem giving up Torres and a package that resembles a typical deadline trade for a top hitter/pitcher for Andrew Miller. He's really good, under control for 2.5 more years at a modest 9M per, and has a 16.6K/9 rate, while walking less than 1 per 9. I keep trying to return to the grand plan of winning a World Series in the next few years. Even with the bullpen's recent shakiness (and really, it's not been *that* shaky) every addition is going to come with diminishing returns in the regular season. I can be swayed that good high leverage guys have a somewhat disproportionate role in the postseason, but they will ultimately not move the needle much, because nothing can move the needle that much. In the long term to win a World Series means putting out a juggernaut for many years in a row and hoping to hit the jackpot in one of the crapshoots. That being the case, an eye towards whatever holes we may have in the next few years should be where the resources go. It's true, we won't be hurting for positional talent for years to come, but 3/5 of the rotation is over 30, Jake may depart, who knows what pieces you'll need to move to keep the staff strong. All that being said, given the years left and just how downright good he'll likely be for a while, paying a little over for Miller I think would be fine. Oh I completely agree with you. That's why I mentioned Miller and not a guy like Chapman. No addition is going to do more for this team than take it from 110 to 112 wins. Miller would be a guy that would help in the grand plan, maybe moreso than any realistic individual player. He helps the team potentially shorten postseason games to 6 innings along with Strop and Rondon at the backend. And I believe Miller is a guy that fits in your 2nd paragraph perfectly also. The bullpen will always have holes because that's the nature of bullpens, even moreso when you consider guys throwing with their left hands out of the bullpen.

Good lord. I let out a "horsefeathers" sitting on the couch by myself after that play.

you thought you were out in a 3-1 game? LOL. Against Jon Niese? Odd post.

One was intentional, but also doubled on a 3-2 count. Ah one was intentional, he did work one though so that's something. I saw Addy walked 3 times to which is a really good sign. Russell saw 38 pitches yesterday. THIRTY-EIGHT in 5 plate appearances.

I think they could get away with trading McCutchen this year moreso than any year in the past and maybe the future. The city is buzzing over the Penguins winning and the Steelers will be in camp in a little over a month and going into the season as one of the favorites. They're used to the Pirates failing and it would be easier to take now. Plus, they'd get a ton for him and have a bunch of good young players, so they probably wouldn't be much worse off long-term.

This is where I'm starting to lean. I understand that everything doesn't work out perfectly and the Cubs are successful now because of tons of resources and waves of young talent.....but now that Contreras and Almora are up, I have a hard time arguing that any current minor leaguer is untouchable. Even if it means you have to give up slightly more than you'd like, obviously it'd be worth it if the Cubs win it all. The top prospects the Cubs have are Torres, Happ, McKinney, and Eloy among others. All 4 of these guys are either 3 levels away or in McKinney's case, has diminished a bit. And as much as it is a gamble, I'd bank on the guys that are up staying productive and healthy for at least a couple years to basically block any prospect that might come up in the near future. I'd have 0 problem giving up Torres and a package that resembles a typical deadline trade for a top hitter/pitcher for Andrew Miller. He's really good, under control for 2.5 more years at a modest 9M per, and has a 16.6K/9 rate, while walking less than 1 per 9.

Looked it up. Cubs have outscored the Pirates 44-15 in 7 games this year 7 runs against the Cubs' starters in 7 games, only 6 of them earned.

I don't care if he's early 2000s Barry Bonds. That was an absent minded play from Rizzo. Not sure if you have the TV broadcast, but Len made the point that Rizzo may have been intentionally doing that so he could be as fast as possible to the 2nd base bag and have the run count. My first guess was he put his head down too early(thinking the ball got past Mercer or that Mercer was going to 1B), but in watching the replays I can see the case for it. I just watched the replay. I think it was pretty clear that Rizzo thought the throw would go to 1st because he was basically already safe at 2B when the ball was fielded. Being that it was 2 outs, he was running thru the base (never slowed down until he saw the collision happening) in case of an errant throw. If you watch, Szczur (who was on 2B) rounded 3rd without stopping and was headed home. I think the biggest issue with Rizzo on that play is that he should have realized that it was going to be tough to get an out at 1B on Almora and he should have stayed on the bag to allow the inning to continue, if he was safe. Actually, both guys were just running as if they assumed there was going to be an out at 1st and the inning would be over. FWIW, I think if both guys were busting it and the play would have gone to 1st, Almora would have been safe and a 2nd run would have scored. Also, I don't see any way that Fowler should have been called safe on that play.

This has to be the lowest possible age of players on base in a bases loaded situation.

The last couple weeks (since he stopped being hitting version of Arrieta), I somehow keep forgetting that Zobrist is really good.

That's why

God, I need to read before I post.

would have liked to have seen Contreras there just for the F of it.

Almora and Baez walk on the same day. Any guesses as to how many times that has happened in this organization?

Me either. Cahill has long potential. You should be able to throw him multiple innings with just 1 decent guy left in the pen.

Next time Harper bats should be in the 13th and not as the tying run.

This is your horsefeathering fault.

Playing in Rogers instead of Coors doesn't help It doesn't, but it also doesn't hurt as much as going to any other park would have. Rogers is the #2 hitter's park this year to Coors.

Playing in Rogers instead of Coors doesn't help It doesn't, but it also doesn't hurt as much as going to any other park would have. Rogers is the #2 hitter's park this year to Coors.

Did I miss something? Gameday has the Cubs bench as empty. Federowicz hasn't played yet. Is he still on the roster?

I predicted the 53-man roster after the draft, and I had Wilson missing the roster cut. Jeffery, White and Royal are going to be there. Figure Mariani makes it based on his work in the slot last year, along w/ the little return ability he has. Braverman figures to make it over him based on being a 2016 draft pick. That leaves 1 spot at most for a 6th WR, which includes Josh Bellamy (good special teamer), Deonte Thompson (good in KO returns last year), Cameron Meredith (6'5", showed some promise last year), Kieren Duncan (UDFA, probably fastest player on team, potential KR), along w/ Wilson. Maybe they'll get to keep him around this way with an IR to return or something.

Are you thinking of another Albert Almora? But yeah, assuming Fowler walks, that'd be the scenario barring a trade. Why are you trolling my horsefeathering posts now? And yes, he has speed. Granted, he hasn't stolen that much in his career, but he has a career high 10 this year and only been caught twice, and has legged out a couple doubles in the majors in his brief time so far. And based on the makeup of this roster, he could be the 3rd fastest player on the team. And I wouldn't say Fowler and Baez are very far ahead of him in a footrace.

So thinking long-term.....I'd imagine when Soler gets healthy, Almora's back in the minors. But I also think he almost certainly gets a spot on the playoff roster due to his defense and speed. Then 2017, Fowler gets a big long-term contract somewhere else and he's penciled in at CF, and potentially becomes part of a 4-man OF group with Heyward, Soler, and Schwarber.

I've heard Avery Bradley, #3, 16 & 23 for Butler. I don't know how I'd feel about that but Buddy Hield or Kris Dunn could be fun.

Didn't like using Rondon for 5 outs, but he only threw 19 pitches. I see no reason he couldn't go tomorrow on the off chance the Cubs actually have a save-able game twice in a row for the first time ever.