Transmogrified Tiger

Gotta wonder how much longer Mervis needs to torch AA before he gets a shot at Iowa. He’s doubled his walk rate and lightly trimmed his Ks, plus his IsoP is up while his BABIP is down. Signs of sustainability all around while still putting up a ludicrous .445 wOBA. He’ll hit 100 PA in his next couple games, which is the point that got him bumped from South Bend to Tennessee.

There's reportedly 4 out and 4 in Villar off IL, Rivas to Iowa Gomes off IL, Frazier DFA Miley off IL, Stroman to IL Martin off bereavement, Rucker to Iowa Martin had been off the 40 man while on bereavement, hence the need for a DFA.

You know you're doing the right thing when both Benetti and Stone give the broadcaster's equivalent of "uhhhhhhhh what" when it happens.

PCA had played 6 professional games in A ball and then suffered a season ending injury, his value in July was far more equivalent to Vientos than Alvarez. But yes, I'm increasingly convinced the way forward here is extending Willson(as if 'keep the good player' needed a sales job) and probably trading Happ. I understand the concept of trading a player that they are unlikely to sign to an extension. I don't understand why they would want to trade Wilson and not get an adequate return. This is especially the case related to the value he has to the team, his positional value relative to his peers, and the Cubs positional need. I really cannot understand why they aren't going out of their way to extend him. I don't think the answer is PTR. But I don't know the baseball reasons. Maybe they think he's going to age very poorly and/or think his 2 months to start this year are not the new norm. Maybe Willson said "you traded away my friends so I'm not gonna sign here", or maybe he wants like 8/250 in order to forego a potential FA bidding war. In terms of the return, you can only get what is given. If they keep Contreras and let him walk they'll get a fairly high draft pick that sets a decent floor for what his return should be, but the team getting him doesn't get that pick and only gets him for 3 months + a playoff run. Teams are more hesitant than ever to trade top prospects, so the reality they have to face is they can either keep Contreras for the pick plus whatever increased likelihood of signing exists by not trading him, or they can take what they can get. I'm hopeful that if they do go that route they'll be able to do better than they did last July(though early signs are very very good on the success rate w/ Bryant/Baez/Rizzo returns), but it's also not gonna be one of the 10 best prospects in the game.

I think in general folks in the media overcorrect in having too low a cost for rentals, but the Cubs aren't getting a Top 10 overall prospect hitting well in AA for Contreras, even with a quality player like Robertson thrown in. I also don't think the Cubs are really getting fleeced in that proposal, at least in terms of the general value. Vientos is the type of player(50-100 overall, high potential but clear flaws) who does make for a more reasonable match for a half season of Contreras plus a flyer on Smith's remaining potential, and Robertson bringing a Top 10ish and Top 20 prospect doesn't feel out of place even if I might prefer different specifics. They got PCA for Baez last year. If that's the case I hope they don't trade Willson. PCA had played 6 professional games in A ball and then suffered a season ending injury, his value in July was far more equivalent to Vientos than Alvarez. But yes, I'm increasingly convinced the way forward here is extending Willson(as if 'keep the good player' needed a sales job) and probably trading Happ.

I think in general folks in the media overcorrect in having too low a cost for rentals, but the Cubs aren't getting a Top 10 overall prospect hitting well in AA for Contreras, even with a quality player like Robertson thrown in. I also don't think the Cubs are really getting fleeced in that proposal, at least in terms of the general value. Vientos is the type of player(50-100 overall, high potential but clear flaws) who does make for a more reasonable match for a half season of Contreras plus a flyer on Smith's remaining potential, and Robertson bringing a Top 10ish and Top 20 prospect doesn't feel out of place even if I might prefer different specifics.

The only way this made sense to me entering the season was that they valued Heyward's defense very highly, especially in CF since Happ is now a permanent LF. But with Suzuki's injury he can't be getting these reps, the RF defense/arm just isn't worth it when they clearly don't mind Ortega playing CF as well. He cannot catch up with velocity in the way a big league regular has to.

Pennsylvania's Florida Man

His AA performance is an odd one. Such good K/BB and only 2 HR in 22 IP, but he's not exactly giving up a bunch of seeing eye singles either, 3+ XBH allowed in 3 of his 5 starts(with one of the 2 being a 2 IP, 4 R outing). I'd probably put him more in the Swarmer bucket of being org depth unless something(luck, pitch dev, etc) keeps him from giving up XBH(like Swarmer post-covid).

Mervis with a double and a HR, screw it call him up

I'm not afraid to say it it is bad

He's more of a 4th Ofer type. He doesn't have one tool that really stands out but he's doesn't do anything poorly either. His hit tool is probably his best asset. Defensively, he's more of a natural RFer. He's an ideal asset to fill out the btm of the roster. After watching that St. Louis series I can't help but think of Donovan when I hear that description and look at Hill's line. Donovan is an infielder and had better plate discipline and scouting pedigree(7th round pick), but it's a pretty clear image of what an excellent/uncommonly good outcome for Hill would be.

Less ah so you think he'll get promoted to South Bend that quickly, that's a bold take but I respect you for it

Fewer if he keeps striking out in 30+% of his PA's sir by my count his K% is 0.000%

Allow me to ask a very stupid question. PCA got 38 games and 183 PA at Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach I believe has 81 games left in their season. Does Hernandez end the year with more or less Myrtle Beach playing time than PCA?

Through yesterday afternoon he was 5 for 12 since returning from the DL, so even though I understand the irritation I think he's currently better than his season line. If he's not going to walk, not going to slug AT ALL, and not going to do anything special on defense, he pretty much HAS to go 5 for 12 to provide any value. Yes, Madrigal's performance since returning is not long term sustainable, my point is it is a noteworthy improvement and not currently the most pressing offensive problem at the moment(Heyward, Simmons, Rivas).

Through yesterday afternoon he was 5 for 12 since returning from the DL, so even though I understand the irritation I think he's currently better than his season line. That said, as some of those IL guys get healthy if the season line doesn't move upward I think you have to consider that as a roster necessity since you can't send down Morel at this point.

they're STILL pitching Cabrera? This is hubris that a just sport would punish swiftly

bold choice using the future tense

Marmol has been managing his pen all weekend like he's missing a guy in the pen that he definitely is not, hopefully it bites him

big big big outing from Norris

lol come on man, what are these strikes all of a sudden

I am going to become the joker

I mean it was an accurate throw on a one hop single that Wisdom(not a speedster) couldn't leave off the bat due to the shifted infielder. Good play but honestly one that you hope every OF makes in that situation.

I would assume with the off day tomorrow that a couple other guys are probably fine to go, like Effross and the lefties, but Wick/Givens/Robertson threw so many yesterday I think they have to be down.