Jump to content
Join us for our weekly Cubs livestream, click here! ×
North Side Baseball

Rcal10

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    6,638

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    11

 Content Type 

Profiles

Joomla Posts 1

Chicago Cubs Videos

Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking

News

2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

Guides & Resources

2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

The Chicago Cubs Players Project

2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

Blogs

Events

Forums

Store

Gallery

Everything posted by Rcal10

  1. Rcal10
    Hard to see a bat added. As you, I like Mo too. I think he will be fine. I also don’t really see a spot in the pen. They really can’t have an entire pen where the only one with options is Palencia. So I don’t see that happening. If anything, possibly they add a starting pitcher and trade Taillon. Except the only pitcher we have heard they were interested in is Gallen. While I do think he is better and will cost a little more, I am not sure they want to lose Taillon. He is another well respected veteran of character on the team. So, who knows🤷
  2. Rcal10
    If the distain for Shaw is because he left the team in a playoff race it does matter. If you are questioning his character and desire to win and using him going to that funeral as a reason to question him than my example absolutely holds water. Even leaving politics out of it, if a player left a team for a funeral for a friend, would he get this much scrutiny if the friend wasn’t as much an ass hole as Kirk was. I doubt he would. As for every other criticism of Shaw, I am right with most here. I don’t agree with his beliefs, at all. I agree with you that he is in a cult. He is very misguided and misinformed and follows a man who preached division and hatred.
  3. Rcal10
    I do think that is a cop out from Shaw. Look, I don’t like him or his values, but I do think some people carry it too far. You, on the other hand, are being a little naive if you really believe that.
  4. Rcal10
    I do think people are making more out of what he did because they hate the person he did this for. I hate the message that Shaw follows as well. But, honestly, if a liberal leader was killed and a Cub was a friend of that person and asked permission to leave the team to attend the service, would we be as hard on him? I don’t think we would. Again, I don’t understand Shaw’s beliefs. I disagree, completely with it. But I have to seperate that from my feelings for him as a ballplayer. I would be fine with them trading him. But not because of his beliefs or even actions that day.
  5. Rcal10
    I would agree with this. This idea that guys will regress is possible. But there is also room for guys to grow. Add it all together and you are looking at another 90+ win team IMO. Sure, we can find reasons they won’t do that. But there are also reasons for optimism that guys can actually be better.
  6. Rcal10
    I don’t agree on PCA when using his end of season numbers. He won’t be as great as the first half of last year. But I don’t see why he can’t put up similar offensive numbers. Maybe a few less homers but similar OPS+ number. I also think Horton will be better than his projections. Might not be as good as last year, but, IMO, he is a solid MOR to even a good #2 starter.
  7. Rcal10
    Happ’s OPS+ the last 4 years are 117, 118, 120, 120. I think he is a step slower, basically comes with age. But he has been very consistent with end of year numbers.
  8. Rcal10
    If the Cubs play to what they should I think they are very good. As I said, second best team in the NL. As to the argument of if they are better than last year, which version of last years team are we walking about? They probably aren’t better than the one that was playing 99 win ball for 70+ games. But they are probably better than the one that played at a 84 win pace the rest of the season. I know a lot of people are concerned about that 84 pace win team. And I would say Bregman is better than THAT Tucker. PCA, Kelly, Seiya and Swanson shouldn’t regress from what they were at that time. And hopefully the rotation is healthier. They are deeper. So, IMO, they are definitely better than that version of that ‘25 team. I think Jed built another 90 win team. Which, IMO is second, only to the Dodgers in the NL. It isn’t like they had to get much better to be the second best team team. They were top 4 all last year. And, IMO, Phillies got worse and at some point the Brewers magic has to end.
  9. Rcal10
    There you go. Much better.
  10. Rcal10
    I think we are. I like Bregman and Mo to produce Shaw and Tucker numbers. Cubs added Cabrera and have Steele coming back. The pen was revamped but should be fine. Bench is better. And, they were arguably in the running for the second best team in the NL last year. I think the Phillies got worse. As I said, you never know with the Brewers, but on paper they shouldn’t be as good as the Cubs. Even if you don’t agree the Cubs are better than last year, they most likely are not worse. And last year they won 92 games.
  11. Rcal10
    As it stands now, I think the Cubs are the 2nd best team in then NL. They had a decent to very good off season. Brewers always find a way so they will probably be good. But I do like this team this year.
  12. Rcal10
    I don’t thjnk we agree with his on the field ability. I think he could be very good. I wouldn’t mind him at 2nd in ‘27. I would be fine with them trading him, but they need a solid return. As much as I don’t agree with his views, I don’t want them to just get rid of him because his off the field views.
  13. Rcal10
    I am perfectly happy with the Bregman deal after seeing Tucker and Bichette.
  14. Rcal10
    Just curious. At what cost do you want to extend him. My guess is he can get 6 years next year. Probably around $25M. Do you want to extend him for that?
  15. Rcal10
    Based on your name I know you were around for Ryne Sanberg. His first two years his highest 0PS+ was 90. And he wasn’t near the hitting prospect coming into the majors that Shaw was. This is not to compare Shaw to Sandberg. It is just pointing out that Shaw only has one year. His value may go higher. To be a league average hitter, who actually performed much better than that in the second half, as a rookie does make Shaw very valuable. When you add he also played good defense at a position he never played before, there is no reason to trade him unless you get a great deal. Your’s was not it.
  16. Rcal10
    No one responding here is suggesting the Cubs trade Shaw for any other reason than to make their team better. I don’t want him traded just to get him off the team. But there are definitely some players listed in the article that I would trade Shaw for, because if strictly baseball reasons. I am also fine if they keep him and he is a utility player.
  17. Rcal10
    Any team that runs across them in the playoffs can beat them. Sure, the Dodgers will be favorites, but they can lose a best of 5 or best of 7. It shcks to be in their division. Over 162 games they should clearly have the best record. And they should be a clear favorite in the playoffs. But in a short series they can lose.
  18. Rcal10
    The article points to exactly the type of trades the Cubs should consider for Shaw. Young starting pitching. They can add a bench bat before spring if they did deal Shaw. If they got a staring pitcher they wouldn’t have to pay for one next year so maybe they resign Hoerner, or just spend that money on offense. I am not suggesting they trade Shaw. Just saying if they did that would be the way to go about it.
  19. Rcal10
    I’m not sure they can trade Shaw for a hitter clearly better than Ballesteros. But if they could and that guy has at least 3 years of control left, sure, they can trade Shaw and add a utility guy. But I think Ballesteros is going to do just fine as a hitter in ‘26. But as you said, doesn’t hurt to explore. I just doubt they find anything. However, would Wilyer Abreu fit that description? Or do we need better?
  20. Rcal10
    He is in no way the same as Russell and Chapman. He got sucked into a cult. He is weak minded. And I dislike everything he stands for. But he isn’t like Russell or Chapman.
  21. Rcal10
    Actually if Shaw has a good year as super sub they may be able to trade him for a different cheap everyday starter or a young controlled rotation piece next year, opening up the possibility of signing Nico. But for now I wouldn’t extend or trade him. I wouldn’t trade Shaw either, this year.
  22. Rcal10
    Me too. I don’t like him. Will never buy his jersey. But I am not trading him unless they get equal value back. And most likely, I wouldn’t trade him this year. Next year makes more sense, IMO.
  23. Rcal10
    Best idea I have heard so far. Ride it out this year. Address anything they need to do next year.!
  24. Rcal10
    I absolutely agree you only trade him for baseball reasons. I can see a scenario where it does make sense. If a team was willing to give you a major league ready starting pitcher for him you might do it. Then in ‘27 you have a young, cheap start to a rotation. Steele, Cabrera, Horton, Wiggins and the Shaw trade pitcher make up a rotation that cost knot $20M to $25M. Gives them ample room to add other pieces. They can probably keep Hoerner if they wanted, beyond ‘26. The issue is, if they did that they had better then add a solid utility guy. That’s where this idea gets tough. But to your point, I don’t want him traded because I disagree with his beliefs. You have to separate that.
  25. Rcal10
    Does he have 5 or 6 years of control left? I had originally thought 5, but I think Cuzi mentioned he had 6.
×
×
  • Create New...