731.4life

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.

I mean, Alonso hit over 120 home runs in the past 3 seasons, and averaged 114ish RBI's in that stretch. He's doing that while playing about 95% of games in his career. If you don't sign up for that, then what do you sign up for when you're looking at a power first baseman? When was the last time the Cubs had that...

I agree, but it'll be tough when two of them have a no trade clause.

Team needs a superstar bat that is scary to pitchers and a bat that can hit 35-40 home runs a year. Pete Alonso provides that, Busch doesn't. Cody Bellinger hit 47 home runs in 2019 (which was the year for the juiced baseballs) and he hasn't hit 30 home runs in the four years since. Not consistent enough to be a "star" player in my eyes. If you think Busch is going to be a star player, then I guarantee you Los Angeles wouldn't trade him, even though they have Freddie Freeman, who will be 35 next season. They just wouldn't. They gave up on Busch. When it comes to the Cubs, who needs a star bat in 3-4 spot in the lineup, and there's a star batter available over the offseason via trade in Alonso, they probably should've made the trade. They money shouldn't matter in this case. Won't cost too much in prospects because it's only for a one year deal. If you think Busch is better than Alonso, then why would Los Angeles trade him?

That's not the point of my post.

Everything depends on how bad Tom wants to win. We could be like St. Louis and have an owner that doesn't care to win, and a front office that has a bunch of "yes man" to Mozeliak/DeWitt. In reward, Marmol gets an extension after a 71-win season. One thing about Jed, if Jed sells at the deadline, he may get fired, and I think he knows that. If they were going to trade for Busch (and I know he bats left), and keep Matt Mervis in Iowa (which I think he should be traded to get an opportunity to play), then they should've traded for Pete Alonso and you have an anchor in the lineup that can hopefully hit 35+ homers and be an MVP candidate, which is what you know you're missing. Alonso is going to be traded in July. Not saying Busch is a bad player, but it doesn't make sense to me, to do that, knowing Alonso is better than Busch. If Ricketts is telling him to get an MVP caliber player, but not willing to open the paycheck more, than that's on Ricketts. And that problem is the main problem going on in Pittsburgh.

The DJ Herz stuff is nonsense. Not every trade has to be a "win" trade for the Cubs and if it doesn't, then fire Jed. As good as DJ was against Miami over the weekend, let's keep in mind it's the Miami Marlins offense we're talking about. Herz was never going to get an opportunity in Chicago, and the front office felt like they would lose him to another team if he wasn't on the 40-man at the end of the season. Theo made one bad trade. That stuff happens for GM's. No one should be losing sleep because of DJ Herz. Meanwhile, credit to DJ for making the most of his opportunity in Washington.

I do believe there are more hitters sitting on that slider/sweeper from Hayden.

I was going to drop this conversation until you replied back, so I'm going to give you my take. You're not fooling me, I do realized the last three NL Champions have won less than 90 games in the NL. What I also realized that two of those teams were Atlanta and Philadelphia. Two teams that are far more superior talent wise than what the current Chicago Cubs are in. They have MVP caliber players, the Cubs do not. When it comes to Arizona, the only reason why Arizona made the playoffs was due to the Cubs going 7-14 in their last 21 games, with 3 of those 7 games coming from a sweep from Colorado. No sense of living in that past all over again. It's not all about the results, which is something I do believe fans get caught up in, it's about how the Cubs play against their opponents. They could've/should've won today, and take 2 of 3 against Tampa Bay, and it doesn't change my mind about how they're playing. Yes, they swept the White Sox in that two game series at Wrigley, but they still played like dog crap. They can't hit, they can't play defense, especially at 3rd and catcher positions, and they have a bad bullpen. All of those things will not get replaced or get better over the 90+ remaining games left in the season. At some point, they are who they are, and in my opinion, that "same point" is here. I know your theory, try to get to 84+ wins and to get in the playoffs and "see what happens." Which some how worked for Arizona last year by beating a depleted Dodger team in their starting pitching, a Phillies team that tried to hit a 3-run home run with no one on base. It ended up getting them to the World Series, before losing to Texas in 5 games because they don't have the players like Texas does, and it was obvious. Arizona was outmatched. If you want to "buy small" at the deadline, then go ahead, but it doesn't cover up the issues at other spots.

Referring to Counsell, not Breslow.