Regular Show

Lots of good options and I haven't heard the Bulls linked to any specific prospects yet. I would prefer the Bulls keep the pick unless they move it with Vucevic to upgrade at C. I think that move happens (if it does indeed happen) later in the summer after the Bulls know LaVine is staying here and re-signing. No point in trading future/current assets if LaVine leaves. I do believe he re-signs on a 5-year max deal with the 5th year being a player option. Still, you have to do these steps in proper order. In the latest mock draft on ESPN, the Bulls take my guy this time:

highly doubt anyone is getting legitimately worked up over the games. Ahem... ---- Are we really having a discussion here about losing that lead? It just seems like people are angry and venting (which is fine I guess). I would be upset during a season where I thought the Cubs legitimately had a chance to win the division and/or make it to the postseason, but that ain't this year. The Cubs are bad, and I'm trying to take a "glass half-full" approach by telling people about the draft lottery and the chance to get the #1 pick in next year's draft and maybe see Caleb Kilian and some young prospects in the second half. But they are going to lose so many games before we get there and this season will be painful to watch if you're truly invested in every game.

Another loss, but there were some good highlights from the game:

Why do you guys get so worked up over these individual Cubs games during a long terrible season? Are you guys placing bets/money on these games or something? Go watch Netflix or some other streaming service instead...

I simmed 20 times. The highest the Cubs drafted was 2 to the lowest was 10, the mode was 6 and the median was 7. You never got the #1 pick? I got it on my second try after the Cubs lost last night. I also usually see the Cubs move up the majority of the time during the sims, but maybe that's just confirmation bias and/or remembering the good outcomes. Also, next year's draft class is considered better than this year's draft class, especially the top 4-5. I like Dylan Crews a lot (I wanted the Cubs to target him/consider him two years ago, but he removed his name from the draft). I haven't made a personal rankings for 2023 yet, but he's at the very top in every ranking/list and in that top 3 for me.

This season is over (and for a good while now). I would recommend going here to lift your spirits: https://www.tankathon.com/mlb Maybe the Cubs get lucky and win the 1-1 selection in next year's draft. Of course with a lottery in place now it is also possible the Cubs fall and pick lower than their current spot in the reverse standings...

We ain't gonna do isht. Well, I disagree. I think we sign a top SS target in free agency this offseason. Not sure which one, but I'm pretty sure we sign one of them and move Hoerner back to 2B (not because he's done a bad job at SS. He actually looks great in my looks and has improved his arm strength).

I don't see that kind of trade happening and I'm pretty sure Contreras gets moved before Robertson. Jed will probably wait till closer to the trade deadline to maximize the return on Robertson. We've seen teams give up some really good prospects for relief help, and Robertson might be the best available reliever this year (on a very affordable contract). I could see a potential match between the Mets and Cubs in a trade for Contreras. I don't think we have much interest in Dom Smith. We did have interest in Mark Vientos last year in a larger deal for KB and some additional pieces, but the Mets weren't interested in doing that. I'm not sure if Vientos is capable of playing 3B well, and if he isn't capable of playing 3B then that probably means LF. I don't think the bat is good enough for LF and he is a power-over-hit type prospect. I would rather target another team in a potential trade with a deep farm system like Cleveland/Tampa Bay. That Nelson Cruz trade is looking great for Minnesota and Joe Ryan looks like a steal. Tampa Bay has such a loaded farm system/40-man crunch that they need to address and this creates a good opportunity for the Cubs. They've also shown interest in Contreras in the past. I wonder if Seth Johnson and Wilcox is at all doable with some adjustments. Wilcox is coming off TJS so his value should be suppressed and Johnson has been a guy whose stuff has outpaced his production so far, but there's considerable upside. We actually had discussions and asked for Cole Wilcox in a potential Yu Darvish trade package with SD, but he was already included in the deal for Blake Snell. So we definitely know the Cubs had interest in him in the past. I believe he's recovered well from TJS and should begin throwing later this month or early July (not officially pitching or making an appearance, just starting a throwing program). Seth Johnson has great stuff and is moving slowly through their system. TB is very conservative with their pitching prospects. I would definitely be interested in him as part of a package for Contreras, but not sure if TB makes him available. From MLB Pipeline:

I don't see that kind of trade happening and I'm pretty sure Contreras gets moved before Robertson. Jed will probably wait till closer to the trade deadline to maximize the return on Robertson. We've seen teams give up some really good prospects for relief help, and Robertson might be the best available reliever this year (on a very affordable contract). I could see a potential match between the Mets and Cubs in a trade for Contreras. I don't think we have much interest in Dom Smith. We did have interest in Mark Vientos last year in a larger deal for KB and some additional pieces, but the Mets weren't interested in doing that. I'm not sure if Vientos is capable of playing 3B well, and if he isn't capable of playing 3B then that probably means LF. I don't think the bat is good enough for LF and he is a power-over-hit type prospect. I would rather target another team in a potential trade with a deep farm system like Cleveland/Tampa Bay. That Nelson Cruz trade is looking great for Minnesota and Joe Ryan looks like a steal. Tampa Bay has such a loaded farm system/40-man crunch that they need to address and this creates a good opportunity for the Cubs. They've also shown interest in Contreras in the past.

Damn, it's been 12 years already

Look at this exchange between Ken Rosenthal and Joe Maddon: Yeah, I don't know about that last part anymore...

So, 3.4 fWAR and 3.0 bWAR for Aaron Judge right now. He definitely made the right call to turn down the Yankees' offer and he's going to break $300M this offseason if he keeps this up. Not sure which team will sign him though to that mega-contract... I don't think it'll be the Cubs. I think we're gonna target Correa, Turner or Bogaerts.

I'm a huge fan of Morel and love the makeup/personality. I want to believe he's a legit MLB talent, but I think it's too soon to tell... Not even sure 200-300 PAs will inform us on what kind of player he will be long-term. I foresee lots of streakiness and boom/bust cycles with him. I could see him struggling and having to go back down and work on some stuff like Ian Happ in 2019. Hopefully he's taken the leap and this is his true talent level now, but I'm still skeptical.

MLB has not been kind to managers named Joe of late. You could tell he was still bitter about how his time ended here in Chicago. Never accepted any blame and lacked the ability to be self-critical. I still remember that stupid stunt he pulled earlier this season where he walked an opposing hitter with the bases loaded and the move backfired in horrible fashion lol. Good riddance

Finally found a clip of the HR... Not great filming of it, but we'll take it: Looking at it, I don't think Cristian Hernandez was intending to go opposite field with it and just one of those "happy accident" type outcomes.

Pretty interesting. I doubt the reduction in strikeout rate is sustainable, but the increase in average exit velocity is promising. Switching bats can lead to increases in exit velocity (sometimes). Never used a bat like this and I wonder how it feels. I definitely hate bats with a small knob at the end and a narrow handle. I remember the axe-handle bat was all the rage a few years back and KB tried it before switching back.

Insane comeback... Nico Hoerner must be very happy tonight

Any reports/tweets on the velo? I don't really care about command right now because that is the last thing to return after TJS (and sometimes it never returns along with the stuff).

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 What can I say? I'm a big fan and Jed probably needs a reason to make a trip out to SB anyway.