731.4life

95+ games into the year bud. He has around a 45% strikeout rate when the count goes to 2 strikes.... That should tell you one thing.

It's a trade I'll do in a heartbeat. Or send him to Seattle for Harry Ford. But Teel has done well this season in the minors.

It's a gamble that I'm sure the front office isn't willing to take. Counsell basically gave up on him at 3rd base for Mastrobuoni. He's not playing 2nd base if Nico is on the roster. I'm not really sure if the at bats are there for him in 2025. What if he never improves and pays accordingly?

I would listen to phone calls regarding Taillon and Bellinger, but I may not reply back. Elias in Baltimore is going to be in a lot of pressure, how much will he give up for Taillon and/or Bellinger? Orioles need a starter, but they already have their ace pitcher in Burnes. I think Taillon will get a lot more trade interest than the starters that are out there (exception Crochet). Mullins is struggling in center for the Orioles. The time to win for them is now. I think the Cubs could benefit from that very well. Does Houston need a starter? Does Atlanta need an outfielder? What about Cleveland and Kansas City... I just believe there should be higher interest than usual for Bellinger and Taillon, but it doesn't mean the Cubs just have to let them go. For them to be buyers, I think they need to go 6-3 in their next 9 games for me to be convinced.

Correct, I forgot add that in my initial statement. Had to go back and edit that back in.

They can add picks by trading players on the current roster. Nationals/Royals did it yesterday. Washington's closer went to Kansas City for a minor leaguer and the 39th pick. They can only trade the competitive balance picks. So first round picks are purely set. Can't trade picks for picks like it's the NFL draft.

Glad to know we finally found a third baseman for the short term.

Man, felt like Suzuki could've caught that ball.

I mean, yeah he threw 7 shutout against the Orioles, but only threw 70 pitches. With that being said, he's at 70 pitches, and they were stress free pitches, let him take two complete games heading into the All-Star break. I know Smyly hasn't pitched in a few days, but we are playing 4 games in 3 days with Hendricks starting tomorrow. Just shocked.

I don't think you understand. Umpires are willing to give up some control of their calls to help the game. I'm sure they're okay with each team challenging a play throughout the duration of the game. If a team missed a challenge, then sorry, they obviously can't challenge the next call. I'm sure they're okay with the challenge system for balls and strikes. 3 challenges of 125+ pitches for each team, I'm sure the umpires are on board with that. But if a team carelessly uses all of their challenges, then sorry, we're back to playing normal baseball. They're not willing to go to the robotic system, and I'm not even sure players are 100% wanting to go to that as well. News flash: we can still play baseball without the pitch coms and the pitch clock, they did that in Washington earlier this season. They've been talking about this for 5+ years, and it still hasn't happen.... So I'll believe it when I see it.

Bud, this is not a new "rule" that we're talking about. This has nothing to do with rules.

Umpires association aren't going to give up that much control. MLB has to go to them and see what they want. Manfred and his team can't just say "screw the umpires" over the offseason. Robotic system isn't coming to the MLB, at least anytime soon. Accept that.

mmmhmmm sureeeeee!!!

Don't think the umpires are going to agree to do that. They have their own union as well. I watched a AAA game last week in person with the challenge system. First time going to a minor league game with a challenge system, and I enjoyed it. Should only take around 5-7 seconds max. Don't see umpires wanting to "suit up" and sit behind home plate for 2.5 hours with an object coming at them 95+ MPH with movement, and not being able to do what they enjoy doing, which is calling balls and strikes. I do believe they're willing to move to the challenge system. When it comes to the players, I don't think hitters will appreciate the catcher setting up inside, reaching out over the outter edge of the plate, and be rewarded with a strike out based on "computers" despite clearly missing his spot. Organizations will still have to instruct proper framing when it comes to the catchers. You move to the robotic system, that's all gone. With the challenge system, that art is still there.

Morel had around a .196 batting average prior to the White Sox series at Wrigley. He's now batting .199. Multi hit games since the start of June, and I'll based it on the regular starters: Suzuki: 10 games including a 3 hit game Bellinger: 11 games including a 3 hit game Hoerner: 6 games including a 3 hit game Happ: 8 games including a 4 hit game and a 3 hit game Swanson: 5 games including a 3 hit game Busch: 6 games Morel: 3 games. Analytic guys can talk about unlucky this and unlucky that about Morel. When you played a total of 89 games so far during the season, I think it's safe to say there will be a day here and there that you can get 3 hits in a game. Morel hasn't recorded a 3 hit game this season this year. The last time he recorded a 3 hit game was July 27 of last year against the Cardinals. The baseball gods can be cruel at times, but they're not that cruel. Morel is no longer "unlucky" to me. And with bad defense and not a good hitter, the Cubs should potentially move on from him at the right time. I don't think it's that hard. He has had his opportunity to play, just don't think the bat is good enough to keep up with the bad defense. Moving a gold glove defender to accommodate Morel is not the smartest thing to do.

Which isn't going to happen. What's going to kill Morel is lack of opportunities. Morel was the 21st best prospect in the Cubs system in 2022. He's done well as a Cub given his situation. But the Cubs are not going to move a bad defender to 2nd base and try to put Hoerner at third. Just like they're not going to put him in left field and move Happ to a different position. I understand your idea of maximizing a player's potential, but Happ and Hoerner are 1st round picks, they're going to get as many opportunities to perform to their ability at those positions, especially if they won the gold glove award. If/when Matt Shaw comes to Chicago as a Cub, he'll likely be the next third baseman. That's just how it is. Cubs aren't going to put a first round pick on the bench behind a guy with a sub .200 batting average and plays bad defense. Those questions are what Jed is going to have to answer over the deadline/offseason.

Morel has little to no trade value at the moment. Would like to see him being flip for a young controllable relief arm, but not sure who is all out there. I do know that a young closer is what Craig will demand at seasons end. Didn't realized that Morel weighed only 145 pounds until now. That's what the Cubs listed him on the website.

I think him and Baltimore could be a good fit. Don't think the Orioles will have to pay a lot compared to another team grabbing Crochet, but think he can do a good enough job to help the Orioles.

I mean, I'm sure the Cubs will be able to make sure the financials are set to the point where the money is even. If that means a guy like Smyly is gone as well, then that's fine. They're the smart ones, they're going to get that figured out. Secondly, I don't know who else is blocking Shaw/Trianots in terms of playing time at the major league level... I'm not considering any free agents or anything, just strictly going based on whose in the Cubs system.

If the Cubs want to trade Nico, then go ahead. However, I would like to see Henry Ford return and potentially a young bullpen arm. I'll take Polanco in return as well, and eat up the money as he is a free agent at seasons end. Put Shaw a 3rd base, Triantos at 2nd base, and then you have your middle infielders set up for hopefully years to come in 2025 and beyond in Chicago.

Dream on my friend!

These are two bad baseball teams playing against each other. One will win, but still bad.

Look, it's simple. At the end of the season, Alonso is going to hit close to 35-40 home runs and will drive in 100+ RBI's. He's consistent enough to do that. Alonso plays everyday, Busch doesn't. I understand your reasoning in "cheap/team control" but I don't think it's what the Cubs need. You made the reference to Rizzo, which make sense, but Rizzo was traded in 2012 when the team was in full rebuild. No Cub fan knew what they were getting with Rizzo, but we were fortunate to see Rizzo/Theo's friendship paid off that started in Boston. Rizzo was great defensively, but may have been a step behind Freeman (Atlanta days) and Votto when it comes to offensive numbers, I'm not completely sure. When it comes to Alonso, he may not be as good defensively compared to other first baseman, but he will absolutely be the best power bat in the NL Central, and will be protected due to Bellinger/Suzuki/Happ, etc. One thing about Alonso is that he's not getting protected at all in New York. He batted 4th over the weekend, and Starling Marte and Mark Vientos are hitting behind him. The Cubs today can't hit, but Alonso is a guy that the team could rally around when he gets going, and we've seen those types of strecthes. You can give me numbers this and numbers that about Busch having a better season so far than Alonso. Unfortunately, I'm not buying it. Alonso scares pitchers and Busch doesn't. Again, I understand your reasoning due to finances, but there's only so many players that are deemed stars in the MLB, and that's what the Cubs are still missing today. If Ricketts doesn't want to open up his checkbook and acquire a star, then that's on him and not Jed. Regardless, the Cubs are going no where without that type of player in the lineup. Sadly, Busch doesn't move the needle in my eyes.

Now you're talking two different players entering an organization at two different time frames. But hey, you know everything! I bet you're fun at parties when you associate around people. Keep being you! You have life all figured out.