Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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Didn’t Killian go to the 60 day IL? If he did he comes off the 40 man. They don’t have to make that decision.
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- christopher morel
- nick madrigal
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Even before PCA comes back up Morel at 3rd allows the Cubs to pick the guy who has the best match up against the pitcher that day as the DH. If Canario or Cooper make the team either can be in the line up at DH against a lefty, If it is a right handed pitcher maybe Tauchman or Mastrobouni make the line up. Maybe instead of PCA in June, Cassie is raking and they bring him up to DH. So many options if Morel can lock the position down.
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- christopher morel
- nick madrigal
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And now a Busch homer against a lefty.
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If they dealt him for an A ballplayer not in the 40 man roster and the team he was traded too took his entire salary I couldn’t care lesss how bad the prospect they got back was.
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If Morel plays third when PCA comes back I don’t automatically see Belli at 1st and Busch DH. I think DH rotates between Bellinger, Busch, Happ and Suzuki. But that said, I agree with everything else you said.
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- christopher morel
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Got to love the Busch double against lefty.
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If PCA plays to a .98 OPS+ that’s a disappointing career offensively based on what most people, including me, hoped for. Sure, if he was rated a top 5 defensive outfielders all time, he would still bring a lot of value and be an everyday starter. But would be lying if I said I would be happy with that offensive production. And I think most want/expect more. Keep in mind, I have never suggested he won’t be better offensively than that. I am not totally down on him. I am just not sure he will be the hitter some have suggested. I am not sure he will ever be an 800 OPS guy, let alone the 850, previously suggested. But I do still hope he post better offensive numbers than Kiermaier.
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Obviously Morel has an incentive to find a home as well. If he becomes an average 3rd baseman defensively he makes a whole lot more money than he would as strictly a DH. But the Cubs incentive is if he can handle 3rd it gives them a plus bat there and the ability to rotate DH and/or sign or bring up a bat only guy to DH. In the event PCA comes up at some point this year and if Busch is playing well at 1st they can rotate DH between any of the 3 current staring outfielders and Busch and give each a day off of the field while keeping their bats in the line up. If Morel can handle third that means they don’t have to have one of Madrigal/Wisdom/Mastrobouni in the line up but rather have a better bat there. Instead of Madrigal at 3rd and Morel at DH against a lefty they could have Morel at 3rd and maybe Cooper (who crushes lefties) at DH. Morel at 3rd (if he could handle it) just makes for the opportunity of a better line up. That is incentive enough for the Cubs.
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- christopher morel
- nick madrigal
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Finally, common ground. I agree with this. 😀
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I think we are discussing two different things here. I don’t think anyone is saying he can put up a decent WAR as a pro. But I do think many have higher aspirations for him. Many have suggested he will hit. And if he turns out to be Kiermaier with the bat, that is not hitting. Earlier we had guys suggesting his peak years to be an .850 guy. We have had others suggest .800 as a typical season. So when I say I am not sure he will be that guy or even I do worry about his bat, that is what I am referencing Sure, he could be that 700 OPS guy you suggest and would be valuable. But he would also be disappointing to many, including me.
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If he is strictly working in the pen he will be up soon enough this year. I hope he is starting, however. And even then I expect him up. (probably in the pen) I just think you rush time lines a bit. Cubs have several options in the pen. I honestly think it is going to be a strength this year. Really like the last 3, Neris, Merryweather and Alzolay. I do think Smyly and Little are making the team. Then you have several other options. Assad, Wesneski, Edwards, Almonte, Lieter, Palencia and Thompson plus maybe someone I am missing. The issue is, if Edwards isn’t on the team he probably goes elsewhere. Guys like Almonte and Lieter don’t have options left. Right now it is a numbers game and Brown hasn’t proven enough to the Cubs to earn a spot at the expense of having to let someone go for him to be on the OD roster. He is being sent down because they could send him down without losing him. I also don’t agree with you that he would be one of the top 3 or 4 guys in the pen. I think he could be. He could be a stud one inning guy. But he also could walk too many guys to be successful. And right now the Cubs don’t want to take that risk at the expense of losing someone for good.
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Not me. That would mean people concerned about his hit tool are right. He can’t hit. I am not willing to accept that yet, and would never be thrilled with it. He might very well be just that and have a decent career. But I think most people, including me, hope for more out of him.
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Maybe you don’t consider this a make or break spring , but you did say put him on the roster or trade him. That seems pretty make or break to me. Even with all those year in the minors that you keep referring to, he hasn’t thrown that many innings there. Through 2021 he was around 100 innings. I will say it again, just relax your time line a little. He doesn’t have to be in the pen now. And maybe sending him down he starts and actually figures out how to throw more strikes. He would be much more valuable as a TOR starter than an 8th inning pen guy. And if he doesn’t figure it out they can always convert him then into that pen arm you want now. I do think he ends up a solid pen arm. But to me, it is worth it to see if he can start. And the place for that is AAA.
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Oh, ok. No I am not damming him to failure. But he does need work. To me Kiermaier is his floor, I HOPE. I agree some people overreact.
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I agree with this, but I think most fans expected more. Maybe they still do. I remember someone suggesting he should be an 850OPS guy during his prime years. While I think he can be very valuable as a glove first guy who can hit league average, I don’t see that 850 guy. I would be very happy with a guy at a 760 OPS with great defense. Something like .265/..335/.760. That would be a solid starting balllayer when coupled with his defense and base running.
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I do remember him with the Mets. I agree, he was brutal. I was very surprised to see he was viewed as a decent third baseman last year. Guess it was a fluke.
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If you are hoping he is the Cubs Kiermaier you are saying you hope he can hit slightly below major league average. While his defense and a just under average bat is of value, it isn’t exactly what most hope for from him. But I think if most people are being honest that would be a little underwhelming for them. I do agree with you, he has a good chance be that guy. But I do want more. Guess I am one of those fans who is never happy.
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I know it is only 1 year, but didn’t Davis grade out as a positive defensive 3rd baseman last year?
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Who? Urias? He is suspended, isn't he? I hope they don’t consider him.
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But remember Imanaga is used to pitching wirh more time between starts too. I would think they would use one of those guys to spot start to give him an extra day.
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They aren’t spending on the Boras 2. I am certain of that.
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So Tallion was scratched today. Is now the time to start worrying about him? I still think we need to add a starting pitcher.
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Yes, the Almora comparison is ridiculous. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about his bat. He looks absolutely overmatched. On defense alone he can probably be a 2 WAR player. But I do want to see at least a guy who can produce league average offensively. And I am not sure he will.
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I agree. But since he is going back down I hope they stretch him out and let him start. I think they will eventually come to the conclusion he is best as a dominant pen arm. But it would be awesome if he surprised them and was a very solid starting pitcher.
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And if that is true he isn’t going to ever be a major league pitcher. And if he can’t throw strikes he isn’t someone you should be so excited about. He is 24. Who cares how many years he has played minor league ball. Based on his age he was obviously drafted very young. But even with 8 years of experience he still didn’t pitch that much. There was Covid, when almost all of baseball shut down. He also missed plenty of time with injuries. Through 2021 he pitched a total off 100 innings in the minors. Besides that, he has only been with the Cubs a little over 2 seasons. I really never considered this a make or break spring for him. But that is exactly what you are suggesting it should have been. I will say it again, relax buddy. I’d he is as filthy as you say AND he can harness that mix a bit better and throw more strikes he will be up either as a solid pen arm, or a starter soon enough.
