Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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There is nothing wrong with a MOR starting pitcher. Not sure he gets to that, but if he does, that is fine. They might trade him, but this isn’t make or break year in regards to just letting him go. He still has potential.
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Question of the week: grade the offseason
Rcal10 replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
Well they aren’t the same grade, however a 90 can be considered a B+ or an A-. Depends on when you went to school. When I was in school 85-92 was a B. Seems now a B is 80-89. So I give them a 90. You decide if that is a B+ or an A-. -
Question of the week: grade the offseason
Rcal10 replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Chicago Cubs Talk
I am waffling between B+ and A-. I like the Bregman addition as well as the Cabrera trade. I actually think Bregman is a better pick up then had they gone with Tucker. I think Bregman will make guys around him better. Tucker was not that type of guy. And Bregman fills a bigger need. They did a nice job with the pen and taking a regular from ‘25 and putting him on the bench, strengthens the bench. To me, they could have spent a bit more on a proven pen arm and/or a right handed bench bat. Jury is out on Austin, and would have rather had Keller or Fairbanks than Webb. Feel they left a little money in the table. But overall, a very good off season. -
Got it. Now that makes sense. It is rather strange that Tauchman took so long to sign and did so on a minor league deal. I guess no FO in baseball reads NSBB. 😬
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Wow, when I read it I assumed the sister of his wife. Way worse to be the wife of his brother.
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I read NSBB regularly. I was agreeing that it seemed strange Tauchman had to take a minor league deal. Maybe you should read what I posted before assuming I haven’t been reading NSBB. Actually I was one of the posters who thought Tauchman wouldn’t be a bad idea. I mentioned it a few days ago. But if the Cubs didn’t do it, I doubt that means Hoyer messed up. As Bertz pointed out, the Mets have an easier path to playing time. Maybe Tauchman wanted a better chance at playing. Or maybe front offices don’t value him as highly as this fanbase does. Maybe the baseball people know better than random fans. I mean it took until games were starting in 3 days before he signed with a team on a minor league deal. Sure, I wouldn’t have minded Tauchman, but I doubt he makes or breaks the season for the Cubs.
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It is kind of strange. And if that was all it took, why not the Cubs giving him the chance. They signed McCormick and Carlson instead. Both haven’t been good for a while. Why not Tauchman, who was solid last year?🤷 what are we missing?
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I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Steele is ahead of schedule and can come back mid May. I don’t see DFA on Cowles as a big deal. Even if they lose him, not a big deal.
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Adding Bregman and Cabrera while reshaping the entire pen is a very active off season. I don’t see how you can say you didn’t expect much to chance, the Cubs have this off season, and that somehow fits your narrative.. I believe they also spent much more than you were suggesting all off season. So I have to ask you, did this off season surprise you and was it not what you suggested?
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But that is just it. No one will say what that move is. I responded to a post suggesting the Cubs are a move short, and it felt just like last year. That man short doesn’t have to be Giolito. I disagreed with that premise. I think this off season they did a nice job and spend more. I think it is an easy out statement to suggest a team is a move short. Most likely the Cubs won’t win the WS. So later it could be repeated they were short a move, just like was suggested in February. Doesn’t mean the move is Giolitto. Pick a problem. Maybe a closer? Maybe a bat off the bench? Maybe a better line up? Whatever eventually doesn’t play to what is expected will be that move they should have made. That is why I say it is a lazy narrative waiting to be proven right. It is open ended and most likely will be correct. But that is because for 29 teams out of 30, that statement can eventually be said.
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No offense to you, but this seems like lazy narrative. Easy to suggest the team is a move short so that when the season ends and they don’t win the WS (which 29 teams can all say) we can look back and agree they were short. This off season was not like last off season. Cubs actually didn’t hold money up. They spent and put a very good team on the field. Maybe they could have added a lock down pen arm, but historically they don’t really do that. I don’t think the FO believes that is what they need to do. Last year they absolutely were short a move they should have made. They had the money and the need. This year they spent the money and really they don’t have an obvious need. There isn’t one move that’s going to make them better than the Dodgers. Most likely they fall short. As I said, 29 teams do just that. But, IMO, this off season was not really like last year. Based on what they were allowed to spend I think the FO did a good job. And I am also happy ownership allowed an increase in spending. They are not exactly a high spending team, but at least they opened the wallet a bit more. They are just never going to be the Dodgers, Mets or Yankees in spending.
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I agree. Wasn’t sure when this BP was done. Just glad it wasn’t in spring training. I want nothing to do with Bauer.
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What is this with Bauer?
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Looks like this is the team. I don’t see any major league roster moves any longer. It would have been nice to get Gallen, but not for the one year. So this is the team. I think it is a roster that could/should be another 90 win team. Obviously, anything can happen, but on paper they look pretty solid. Probably the 2nd or 3rd best roster in the NL. And the best in the central.
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Deferring the money instead of getting it all now is not a win for the player. Maybe the plus for Gallen is next year he isn’t attached to a QO. That is about it.
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I only mention that because many people were concerned if the Cubs traded Shaw they could sign someone who could be just as good as him next year. I think Rengifo could be.
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Brewers signed Rengifo. Would it surprise anyone if he had a better year than Shaw as a utility player? It wouldn’t surprise me.
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He was pretty confident in a Cubs trade for Pablo Lopez last year. And that never happened.
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I don’t think it does. But, I doubt the Cubs were getting Gallen anyway. To me this moves doesn’t lessen the chance of Gallen.
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I get it. He may never catch. But what happened with Schwarber doesn’t mean it will happen with Mo. As many have now pointed out, it appears the Cubs haven’t made that decision. So why do a handful of fans know better? That was all I was saying and what ithers have repeated.
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I doubt the Cubs agree with you on Mo. For starters, I doubt he plays much first base. He is too short. Next, if all the Cubs envisioned with Mo is a DH who might put up decent offensive numbers I would think he would have been someone they would have been okay trading. I think the FO still believes he could catch. Maybe not 110 games or so, but maybe 60 or more. A back up catcher/ DH is way more valuable than just DH. Seems during trade discussions the Cubs viewed him very highly. He very well could end up just a DH. But I think your decision on him is very premature.
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If Mo can learn as much in the majors as in the minors.catching everyday, I agree with you. Only advantage Tauchman, or any left handed bat they add, would be allowing Mo to catch at Iowa. They are not bringing in some guy who will clearly outhit Mo, IMO. A lefty bat would only be so Mo can learn by catching everyday. And maybe he can learn as much on the major league roster. 🤷
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If Alcantara beats out McCormick and Carlson, Tauchman isn’t hindering Alcantara at all. Right now the team seems to be leaning in to Mo as the DH. Or at least it appears they want a left handed bat. So if they got Tauchman he would be taking MO’s spot. He would be that left handed bat instead of Mo.
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I could see the Cubs doing something in the neighborhood or 3/$63M. But the sticking point is the first year opt out. I doubt they do that. Maybe opt out after 2 years. Maybe a 3rd year for $21M or a $4M opt out. That would guarantee Gallen 2/$46M. He might take that.
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At this point I think with Mo it is about where he will get better at catcher than it is finding a guy who will be “odds on” better than him. A guy like Tauchman makes some sense, IMO. They would have their regular 8 guys then a bench if the back up catcher, Shaw, Austin, Tauchman and whoever comes out of the battle for the last spot (Carlson, Chas, or Alcantara). Maybe even a surprise guy. Taichman might not outhit Mo, but he could play right instead of Seiya. So that helps them defensively. So if he hits a bit, even similar to last year, he would help them. And if they think Mo learns more about catching at Iowa, it helps Mo in the future. I think they are done, but I wouldn’t mind Tauchman.
