***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[CYdTracked]

Busch could play 2nd and 3rd so I'd be in favor of Madrigal and Mastrobuoni never seeing Wrigley again. But Wisdom as a right hand bat off the bench has value.

I'm interested in seeing how he is at 3B but since they have not played him there yet makes me wonder if its worse than Morel defensively. As long as Nico is on the roster he's not going to get much time at 2B. It's nice to see him getting consistent playing time even through his slump as it shows they are committed to developing him and it feels like he is starting to adjust now and get the bat going again. Wish they would take this same approach with some of the other young guys. I wonder if Tauchman had not got hurt if they would continue the situational starts with PCA as now their hand is kind of forced to give him regular starts. Mervis never has got the same patience that Busch has but I will concede that Busch has shown more at this level than Mervis has in his chances.

Canario has just 39 AB in 10 games in Chicago but still has hit .282 with 2 HR and 8 RBI in mostly spot starts and pinch hit opportunities. In his first start last year he went 2-4 with a HR and 5 RBI then didn't see an AB again for 3 days. This year he got inconsistent playing time again when he was called up. I hate that there is so much emphasis on splits vs RHP and LHP as the only way these kids ever adjust to pitchers is to see pitches from both sides. Seems like analytics are playing too much into the decisions than just letting guys play and have the chances to make adjustments as part of their development.

 

[Cyforce]

I'm interested in seeing how he is at 3B but since they have not played him there yet makes me wonder if its worse than Morel defensively. As long as Nico is on the roster he's not going to get much time at 2B. It's nice to see him getting consistent playing time even through his slump as it shows they are committed to developing him and it feels like he is starting to adjust now and get the bat going again. Wish they would take this same approach with some of the other young guys. I wonder if Tauchman had not got hurt if they would continue the situational starts with PCA as now their hand is kind of forced to give him regular starts. Mervis never has got the same patience that Busch has but I will concede that Busch has shown more at this level than Mervis has in his chances.

Canario has just 39 AB in 10 games in Chicago but still has hit .282 with 2 HR and 8 RBI in mostly spot starts and pinch hit opportunities. In his first start last year he went 2-4 with a HR and 5 RBI then didn't see an AB again for 3 days. This year he got inconsistent playing time again when he was called up. I hate that there is so much emphasis on splits vs RHP and LHP as the only way these kids ever adjust to pitchers is to see pitches from both sides. Seems like analytics are playing too much into the decisions than just letting guys play and have the chances to make adjustments as part of their development.

The significance of Busch being able to play second is you can free your roster of dead weight like Madrigal and Mastrobuoni. If your bench is Busch ( Bellinger at 1st) , Wisdom, Tauchman, 2nd catcher and an additional outfielder (Canario or Davis) you need someone that can move to 2nd if Swanson or Hoerner go down. I think Bote has performed well enough to be considered a better option as well, but you have to have someone incase of emergency.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Getting to be a bit late in the game, but Caissie was working at 1B all winter before the Busch trade. My guess is they stopped that effort when Busch was acquired. He hasn’t played 1B a single time in Iowa.

That being said, I love the idea of Busch being more of a Zobrist who can play 150 games but not stick to one position and then focus on nailing the rest.

This then opens the door for prospects (Shaw/Caissie) to try things at the MLB level yet have a fail safe in Busch who will make it where they aren’t expected to be perfect off the rip.

Kind of the opposite of Jed’s approach though, who handed Amaya, Morel, and Busch the keys this year without proving anything

 

[Cyforce]

Hopefully some time next year.

Moises Ballesteros Just Hit His First Triple-A Homer - Bleacher Nation

Moises Ballesteros is ON FIRE at Triple-A Iowa.

www.bleachernation.com

 

[Cyforce]

Love seeing Shaw's slash.
Wiggins' strike out is absolutely filthy.

Cubs Prospect Highlights: Shaw, Rosario, Ballesteros, Wiggins, Rodriguez, Wild Win - Bleacher Nation

A handful of highlights from the Cubs' prospect world.

www.bleachernation.com

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Hopefully some time next year.

Moises Ballesteros Just Hit His First Triple-A Homer - Bleacher Nation

Moises Ballesteros is ON FIRE at Triple-A Iowa.

www.bleachernation.com

I'm just begging them not to rush him because of the bat. If he can even be a part time catcher, he has infinitely more value than as a DH.

Also, I expect Shaw to get the bump to Iowa soon as well. He's hitting really well in a league where offense has disappeared.

 

[Cyforce]

I'm just begging them not to rush him because of the bat. If he can even be a part time catcher, he has infinitely more value than as a DH.

Also, I expect Shaw to get the bump to Iowa soon as well. He's hitting really well in a league where offense has disappeared.

I'm not up to date on specifics of leagues but I remember reading teams tend to leave pitchers in AA longer and sometimes skip AAA because of the metrics that aren't measured until AAA. Is that the same regarding hitters?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I'm not up to date on specifics of leagues but I remember reading teams tend to leave pitchers in AA longer and sometimes skip AAA because of the metrics that aren't measured until AAA. Is that the same regarding hitters?

No. Hitters tend to get the bump and that's why the AAA leagues are borderline slow pitch softball games at times.

There are currently 60 guys OPSing .800 or better in the International League, there are 10 in the Southern League.

FWIW, Triantos is 9th at .808 and Shaw is 16th at .755. Ballesteros was at a ridiculous .876 before the bump.

 

[Cyforce]

No. Hitters tend to get the bump and that's why the AAA leagues are borderline slow pitch softball games at times.

There are currently 60 guys OPSing .800 or better in the International League, there are 10 in the Southern League.

FWIW, Triantos is 9th at .808 and Shaw is 16th at .755. Ballesteros was at a ridiculous .876 before the bump.

Here's my 2026 dream lineup.
C Ballesteros
1B Caissie
2B Shaw or Busch
SS Hoerner
3B Busch or Shaw
LF Alcantara
CF PCA
RF Suzuki
DH Morel

I know it takes a lot of ifs but that could be huge plus with our young starting pitching Jed could throw serious bank at probably the wrong relief guys.

 

[whatthewhat]

Here's my 2026 dream lineup.
C Ballesteros
1B Caissie
2B Shaw or Busch
SS Hoerner
3B Busch or Shaw
LF Alcantara
CF PCA
RF Suzuki
DH Morel

I know it takes a lot of ifs but that could be huge plus with our young starting pitching Jed could throw serious bank at probably the wrong relief guys.

Seriously? That's your dream lineup? I would suggest that you should dream a little bigger. The entire lineup doesn't have to consist of guys either currently on the team or in the system. Reading your posts you obviously have knowledge of how baseball works. Of Ballesteros, Caissie, Shaw, Alcantara and Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs would be fortunate to have two work out and lucky as hell for three. A contending team will need to go outside the organization for some players.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Here's my 2026 dream lineup.
C Ballesteros
1B Caissie
2B Shaw or Busch
SS Hoerner
3B Busch or Shaw
LF Alcantara
CF PCA
RF Suzuki
DH Morel

I know it takes a lot of ifs but that could be huge plus with our young starting pitching Jed could throw serious bank at probably the wrong relief guys.

And that's before you get to guys like Triantos and Rojas and Franklin.

I just don't have faith in Jed not to screw it up.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Seriously? That's your dream lineup? I would suggest that you should dream a little bigger. The entire lineup doesn't have to consist of guys either currently on the team or in the system. Reading your posts you obviously have knowledge of how baseball works. Of Ballesteros, Caissie, Shaw, Alcantara and Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs would be fortunate to have two work out and lucky as hell for three. A contending team will need to go outside the organization for some players.

Outside of Soto, who is re-signing with the Yankees, the next two free agent classes are garbage.

 

[Cyforce]

Seriously? That's your dream lineup? I would suggest that you should dream a little bigger. The entire lineup doesn't have to consist of guys either currently on the team or in the system. Reading your posts you obviously have knowledge of how baseball works. Of Ballesteros, Caissie, Shaw, Alcantara and Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs would be fortunate to have two work out and lucky as hell for three. A contending team will need to go outside the organization for some players.

Hey its my dream. You build from within and fill in needs with free agents. Personally if we add a big ticket item I hope it's another ace. You have your dreams just don't **** on.mine.

 

[whatthewhat]

Outside of Soto, who is re-signing with the Yankees, the next two free agent classes are garbage.

There are always opportunities for trades. Relying strictly on your farm system to supply your needs is unheard of by any team not named the Marlins, Royals or Pirates.

 

[Cyforce]

And that's before you get to guys like Triantos and Rojas and Franklin.

I just don't have faith in Jed not to screw it up.

Exactly, you gotta know who the prospects are that will become good big leaguers and trade off the ones that are seen from the outside as having more value than you do.

 

[isucy86]

Here's my 2026 dream lineup.
C Ballesteros
1B Caissie
2B Shaw or Busch
SS Hoerner
3B Busch or Shaw
LF Alcantara
CF PCA
RF Suzuki
DH Morel

I know it takes a lot of ifs but that could be huge plus with our young starting pitching Jed could throw serious bank at probably the wrong relief guys.

My only comment is give Morel time at 3B. It will be painful for 2024 and maybe 2025- but he has too good an arm to default him as a DH at 25 YOA.

Based on their play at 3B & 1B- IMO Morel has more tools to be an MLB 3B than Busch.

The Cubs need HR bats- a couple 30HR+ guys & then 4 guys in the 20's. Not sure your future lineup gets the Cubs to that level.

 

[Cyforce]

My only comment is give Morel time at 3B. It will be painful for 2024 and maybe 2025- but he has too good an arm to default him as a DH at 25 YOA.

Based on their play at 3B & 1B- IMO Morel has more tools to be an MLB 3B than Busch.

The Cubs need HR bats- a couple 30HR+ guys & then 4 guys in the 20's. Not sure your future lineup gets the Cubs to that level.

What lineups have 4 30 HR guys? And how exactly to propose acquiring them?

Power wise Ballesteros will be above average.
If Caissie becomes a ML hitter he's definitely 30 plus. Morel is as well. Suzuki more like 25. Busch has 25+ future capability. Shaw isn't necessarily a power hitter but has pop. Likely 20-25. Alcantara probably caps around 20 but he's more of a multi tool guy. Leaving Hoerner and PCA. I'd take Hoerner's overall game over Swanson's pop anyway. PCA let's just let him be PCA.

 

[RoseClone]

Mets have come out swinging....yikes.

 

[RoseClone]

Shota getting rocked with 6 runs and 3HRs in 1.2 innings.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Batting Morel in the 4th spot should get someone fired!!!!