Transmogrified Tiger

If we look at the trend lines I think Neris is moving the right direction when it comes to walks: The K's are slightly better but not where we want him, so still work to be done(though maybe related to the weak contact).

Setting aside the closer/legit debate, they do need another strong leverage reliever. Right now that circle of trust is basically Neris, Leiter Jr, and kinda Wesneski? Not good enough. Getting Almonte(who I like) back a week before the ASB, Merryweather hopefully around the deadline, and Alzolay in late 2025 around the same time doesn't change the near-term outlook. Plus the guys who might get pushed off the roster even with everyone healthy have not established themselves as guys who must stay on the roster no matter what(otherwise we wouldn't need another leverage reliever!).

Meyer went 10th overall, 3 picks before the Cubs took Shaw. White went 35th and was given the 15th highest bonus.

1. Have whatever standard you want I guess, but essentially every MLB front office, Jed included, will act differently 2. They aren't going to start selling* in mid-June so the arbitrary line being crossed at that point is irrelevant until we get on the other side of the All-Star Break or so *Passan made this point in the context of the Cubs in his early deadline preview today, but there are not obvious pieces they would sell if they disappointed. It would likely look like the last time the team 'sold', where a couple marginal relievers maybe are outgoing. The deadline increasingly is mostly rentals and relievers and rental relievers, so I think we probably put too much weight on the buy/sell concept to begin with unless a team is signaling a big shift(like the Astros might this year). The Cubs have a core for the next ~2 years and aren't going to blow it up, so it's more a question on if they're going to try to grab a couple more wins this year v. not instead of some sea change in the roster.

They are tied for a WC spot, they are not on the verge of being sellers by mid-June without a good 2 weeks.

The other facet here is how much they consider framing teachable with Counsell in tow, especially if they targeted someone who may be a multi-year solution.

1. Wait. There are no magic buttons that are going to flip the season, and most of what isn't going well is either circumstance/timing or performance from guys you aren't going to move on from anyway. 2. Seiya needs to DH whenever PCA and Bellinger are both in the lineup. Busch's defense has settled, and this is something I've anticipated might be needed going back to the 'you can't pay Bellinger $X to be a 1st baseman' debates in the offseason 3. Wait. The 2023 Cubs were 3 games worse through 60 games and 6 games out of a playoff spot. They were able to, without outside intervention, get hot enough that they collapsed in September and still missed the playoffs by a game. 4. Have a very honest conversation with yourself on what you can reasonably expect from Hendricks and Smyly the rest of the season, and how long a bullpen ravaged by injuries can reasonably sustain both of them(*IF* you are bullish enough on the alternatives) 5. Wait. This is nothing new for Counsell either. Last year's Brewers were hovering .500 and then played at a 95 win pace after Game 60. 6. Move Matt Shaw up to Iowa in the next week. He's demonstrated big progress in plate discipline and his line justifies an Iowa look to see how much his production increases outside the AA funhouse mirror. If he's 6 weeks of strong play from being a down the stretch option then I want to start that clock soon. 7. Seriously, wait.

Feels like Counsell could've sequenced the pinch hitters a bit better. Tauchman didn't need to stay in the game, so you could've sent Busch to 1B and moved Gomes back to Tauchman's spot. That would've let you go PCA-Busch instead of Busch-PCA, and if you come back you can get your defensive upgrade by leaving in PCA anyway if you like.

Mr Redlegs finishes 3rd in the great mascot race, Cubs comeback confirmed

Both Wisdom and Happ had 100 mph exit velos(well, Happ was 99.8) so while you would guess Morel's ball would be more successful they weren't exactly seeing eye singles either

He's clearly not as sharp as his last outing, but I think some bad fortune is exaggerating the magnitude. He's sawed off a different hitter in each inning that's managed to go for a hit(one of those for a double), without the 2 in the 2nd or 3rd would mean he's sitting on 0 runs.

There is one out in the bottom of the 2nd

Elly is not all that good to begin with, but he's like the anti-Albies. 5 for 40 against the Cubs with 25 Ks

I don't think anyone thought Mastrobuoni was a 'glove-first' option, but that he is playable on the IF and he provided speed and platoon advantage. Madrigal is good with the glove, even if he made a bad play at an important time recently.

Amaya starting last night and today, eh? Probably only possible with an off day tomorrow, but still noteworthy about the catching dynamic.

So assuming that Horton is down for at least a short while, the Iowa rotation is Pannone, Clarke, Straily, and.....? Hoping they bump up McGowin from Tennessee, he's been a fun story.

6 man with Brown being the guy getting bullpen innings if circumstances/off days make skipping someone practical. I would also just option Palencia, Brewer, and Thompson unless Hodge stops throwing strikes or you want to stretch out Wesneski in Iowa.

how in the world did PCA even make contact with that

It was further inside, and on 2-0 probably read it as a 4 seamer instead of a cutter which would've been a pitch to drive. Perfect world you take it for a ball, but that's not a bad process.

Cruz's splitter is basically impossible to pick up if the last year plus is any consideration. Morel was reading based on location, the knee high ball as a chase split on 2-2 and was right, and the 3-2 belt high as a high/sailing fastball and was wrong.

Please stop praising Candelario for handling a weird hop that made the play easier

Seiya pls

I see you starting to get Ks in Iowa, Carl

love that for Seiya

gonna have to have a real conversation about Suzuki playing the field soon