PeanutPunch33

So you are saying this mess isn't Jed's fault because.... the guy that HE drafted gave up 8+ runs? The guys that HE gave huge contracts to are.... not playing very good? Who else's fault can it be? If I squint hard enough, I can maybe see what you're saying about Counsell. He has a track record of success when given good players. It's not his fault that his 3 best starting pitchers are injured, or that he's been given a lineup that has 0 slug or star talent. I get that. But he has his share of blame for this mess too. He's stubborn with lineup decisions and too slow to take struggling veteran pitchers out of the game. He's also butchered the development of young players on this team. Why is Ballesteros basically a bench warmer at point when he was the team's best player in April? They will bench a young stud like Ballesteros after he has 1 bad slump across 5 games, but they won't bench Ian Happ after he's been terrible for about 30 days. What has he done to help PCA take that next step as a player? You don't think that a young player forgetting how many outs there are in an inning on multiple occasions isn't a reflection of the manager? What about his base running gaffes or his immaturity? (Sox incident, Dodgers fan comments, slamming his helmet after every strikeout etc.). You also say that firing Counsell won't make the Cubs suddenly play better. The Phillies would like to have a word. Probably the best team in baseball next to the Brewers ever since they fired their manager. Coaching makes a difference. Roster construction makes a difference. There are a lot of problems with this team right now and it can't just be chalked up to injuries.

if Hoyer and/or Counsell were in the final years of their contracts, I don't think there is any doubt that they'd be on their way out of Chicago. I wonder how much worse this needs to get before they consider pulling the plug anyways. 12 losses in a row? 15? 20? A lot of these games aren't even competitive.

Interesting, I noticed he was walking a bit more but didn't realize it was a significant change. Hopefully it continues. I agree that changes his profile as a hitter.

I kinda feel bad for PCA. He was supposed to be the next big thing and instead, the only things he goes viral for these days are his brain farts in center field or on the bases. Between his bromance with Caleb Williams and his comments about Dodgers fans earlier in the year, it seems like he bought into his own hype too quickly. The Cubs really horsefeathered up by giving him that extension. He ain't that guy.

Yup, picked right before Gavin Williams and Colson Montgomery lol. But hey at least he throws a changeup!

300 million dollars committed to 2 middle infielders that can't hit a tennis ball out of the stadium.

Haha

I remember in CC's first year, the Cubs ended with the same record as the previous season under Ross. Do I think that replacing the manager will suddenly make this team elite? No. Not really much you can do when on any given night, the 3 most talented players on the field all belong to the other team. However, getting a new manager could mean a new philosophy, a new vibe in the club house, bullpen being managed differently, possibly new pitching/hitting coaches. Look at the Phillies firing Thompson and now they are back to firing on all cylinders. Probably the best team in baseball the last 25-30 days. The Cubs won't do it for financial reasons but I do think they would be better without Counsell. Sad to say but it's time to call it what it is.

Trade Wiggins + Shaw for the best hitting prospects that they can find. I know Shaw isn't a prospect anymore but basically, a prospect for prospect trade makes a lot of sense.

I wasn't aware that I need to be a scout or a former coach to have an opinion? There's a track record of mediocrity in drafting in the current regime - no need to get defensive or be dismissive when I'm only pointing out what's obvious to most fans. Otherwise, point to me where all of these incredible players are that Jed has drafted. In either event, the dude is a walking injury so it's hard to tell what he is when he's never on the field. After 6 years you'd think they could nail 1 draft pick. Horton is the only solid pick that comes to mind and he's also a walking injury.

So deflating

What an impressive horsefeathers outing by Brown. Honestly, he's one of the only guys right now that gives me any enthusiasm about this team. If he becomes a true ace, it changes a lot.

To me, his profile looks more like a "do a little bit of everything" type of guy like Ian Happ. In fact, I think they drafted him specifically so that he could replace either Suzuki or Happ next year and get to the majors quickly. Maybe he's a better hitting prospect than I give him credit for, not sure. But when I watch highlights of the kid I don't see a big time hitting prospect. I see a guy who chases a lot, who also doesn't have a lot of pop.

Yeah, Conrad doesn't even profile as a + hitter even if he ever does get past the injury issues. More of the same garbage from this team. Drafting mediocre players that can make it to the big leagues quicker instead of making any attempt to draft franchise cornerstone type of players. Of course, that would require taking some actual risk. From my recollection I can't remember them ever drafting a high schooler in round 1 in Jed's entire tenure here. They will never go for the "high risk, massive reward" move. I wonder what Jed does if/when he ever goes to a casino. Probably watches his wife gamble while he sits at the bar.

Two iconic franchises being run into the ground by morons. At least the Red Sox can fire Breslow after this season, the Cubs are stuck with Jed for 4 more years and probably longer since the Ricketts family loves him so much. From his very first draft here, he's been a horsefeathers idiot. They pick Jordan Wicks and the 2 picks immediately behind them end up being Gavin Williams (current MLB leader in strikeouts) and Colson Montgomery (probably a top 3 shortstop). I get that the draft is a crap shoot and it's easier to criticize moves years later, but when you are getting outshined by the horsefeathers White Sox and Guardians, it's time to have honest conversations. Fast forward 6 years and they still don't have a single guy in the rotation as good as Williams or a position player as good as Montgomery. In fact, they've never developed a home grown bat worth a damn, the more I think about it. Caissie looks terrible for the Marlins, Cam Smith is probably a few weeks away from being sent back to the minor leagues, Shaw looks exceptionally average, Ballesteros has already been benched. Alcantara is a strikeout machine. I like Pedro Ramirez but I highly doubt he's going to take the league by storm as a hitter. The only 2 great moves they've made in 6+years are acquiring PCA and Busch. And I bet if Busch came up with the Cubs he'd probably stink, we got the Dodgers to thank for his development.

They need to fire someone. Hitting coach, pitching coach, manager, doesn't matter.

They are mismanaging Ballesteros' development. I mean this guy was your best player in April and now he plays once or twice a week. Either send him down or find a way to get him into the lineup consistently. Me personally, I'd rather see him behind the dish then Kelly.

Conforto has been the best hitter on this team and it feels like he's not playing enough. Ballesteros is the only young prospect on this team with legitimate upside as a hitter and he's not playing enough. Instead we watch the overpaid underperforming vets sucking the oxygen out of this team. Not really sure what the solution is anymore tbh. They've put all their eggs into this core.

It’s alright. They are unlucky!

Finally. Nice HR PCA!

I'm just hoping they can play well enough to force Jed into making a big move in July. If they look like just a good but not great team, they might have a trade deadline like last year. And that would be disappointing.

Depends on what your definition of "fine" is. I see a team that will make the playoffs (via wildcard) like last season. But I don't see a team that can compete with the Braves or Dodgers once they get there. There's a noticeable talent gap.

Nico just hasn't been the same since he got plunked in the head in that Padres series. Hoping there's nothing more to it than just a bad stretch

When the Cubs are struggling, the implication is always that they are just unlucky and things are fluky and it's no big deal because the sample size is small. Of course, the reason can never be that they might just not be as good of a lineup as we think.

If they want to shake things up, put Busch back in the leadoff spot against RHP. Literally no reason to still have Nico in that spot when he's produced a .<600 OPS since that Padres series. Busch played well in that role last year, and he's been the best (and only good) hitter on this team over the last 2-3 weeks.