Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Season Thread Vol: (17-17)

[CP1708]

 

[sportsjunkie]

Another Solid pitching day for Jake Arrieta and Baez Homer today. Let's Go Young Fellas.

 

[CP1708]

Soler 5 for 5 last night.
Bryant his 42nd home run.
Schwarber 2 home runs today, and 5 for the weekend.


Unreal.

 

[CP1708]

Russell just homered.

Alcantara hit one, singled, stole a bag.
Rizzo RBI double.
Wada 1 hit over 7 innings.
Ramirez another hold.
Rondon another save.


Young talent growing on trees.

 

[arstyle27]

Its early....very early, but its unbelievable that all this young talent is producing in their respective leagues.

 

[CP1708]

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 3m
Home runs in the Cubs' farm system today: Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber again.

Theo

 

[sportsjunkie]

Great weekend for the Cubs. We swept Baltimore. We had great pitching all weekend. "the Cubs are pitching better right now than every NL contender pretty much."

I am ready for Jorge Soler to be called up.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

^
I'm with you SJ!

Great weekend for Chi Town sports period. Got wasted watching those little kids put on for the city.

Wada
All the prospects destroying the minors

More and more people around the city are starting to see the growth. #Soon

 

[sportsjunkie]

^
I'm with you SJ!

Great weekend for Chi Town sports period. Got wasted watching those little kids put on for the city.

Wada
All the prospects destroying the minors

More and more people around the city are starting to see the growth. #Soon

Those Kids had me emotional. A very positive light for the city of Chicago. Those kids competed and didnt quit at all. They played with heart. At least they are the U.S Champions. you are right a great weekend for Chicago Baseball. The Cubs are on their way.

 

[CP1708]

Theo is so awesome, they are talking about possibly putting a brick wall covered in ivy in the outfield for one of the Minor League teams, to start teaching the outfielders how to work with it.

ANY advantage they can get, helping these kids, they are looking into it. I absolutely love it. Not only is he getting talent, he's getting that talent developed, and preparing them before they get to the minors. We've NEVER had this, ever.


Bryant, by the way, now has 43 homers, most in the Minors. Texas lefty Joey Gallo has 40.
Schwarber, who we just drafted in mid June, has 18 homers since the draft.
Russell has 12 since the trade.
Soler has been crushing the ball since he's been back, and looks like an easy September call up.


Also, the Cubs and Braves discussed a Jackson for Upton swap, but the Cubs said no. Upton is owed 46 mil the next 3 years, Jackson just 22 the next two years. Theo.

 

[champcruthik]

^ B.J. Upton has been rendered useless and I can't believe it. Uggla we kind of saw coming. B.J., I did not. Not after the '08 World Series.

 

[CP1708]

Jorge Soler called up.

Soooooooooon

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

^
Should've already known that CP would break the news
Came in just to post that. Jorge Soler is scheduled to play on Wednesday against the Reds

Theo

 

[CP1708]

So this year, the Cubs have now brought up Alcantara, Baez, Hendricks, and now Soler.

So in theory, our farm system is now empty, right?


1 – Kris Bryant
2 – Addison Russell
3 – Jen-Ho Tseng
4 – Kyle Schwarber
5 – Albert Almora
6 – C.J. Edwards
7 – Dan Vogelbach
8 – Billy McKinney
9 – Eloy Jimenez
10 – Pierce Johnson




Just this 10 alone would still have the Cubs in the top 2-3 spots in all of baseball. Put the other 4 back in, and it would be a landslide of talent in one system.


Theo

 

[CP1708]

Our lineup is getting so sexy.

Alcantara
Baez
Rizzo
Castro
Soler
whatever
whatever
Castillo
Pitcher

 

[sportsjunkie]

So this year, the Cubs have now brought up Alcantara, Baez, Hendricks, and now Soler.

So in theory, our farm system is now empty, right?


1 – Kris Bryant
2 – Addison Russell
3 – Jen-Ho Tseng
4 – Kyle Schwarber
5 – Albert Almora
6 – C.J. Edwards
7 – Dan Vogelbach
8 – Billy McKinney
9 – Eloy Jimenez
10 – Pierce Johnson




Just this 10 alone would still have the Cubs in the top 2-3 spots in all of baseball. Put the other 4 back in, and it would be a landslide of talent in one system.


Theo

thats not even including our 2015 draft pick.

 

[CP1708]

We haven't talked about Jen-Ho Tseng in here much.

6-1, 210lb, 19 year old right hander.

This year in A ball, he's got these numbers

6-1 record
2.45 ERA
99 inn
74 hits
15 walks
83 K's
27 ER
0.899 Whip
18 games


He turns 20 in October.


"Cubs have no pitching prospects"

 

[CP1708]

Today, the Arizona Fall League revealed its prospect-laden rosters, and the Chicago Cubs’ contingent, headed to the Mesa Solar Sox, includes:

C.J. Edwards
Addison Russell
Dan Vogelbach
Jacob Hannemann
Zach Cates
Ivan Pineyro
Gerardo Concepcion

Wow. That is a very interesting group. Let’s run through it.

Although the AFL isn’t always friendly to pitchers, I’m still glad to see Edwards included. He missed so much time this year with the shoulder issue that it will be good for him to make up a few innings against high-level competition.

Pineyro, acquired last year for Scott Hairston, is in a similar situation, having missed a bunch of time with a forearm injury. Glad to see him included.
Russell repeats the AFL this year, and for good reason: he missed a large chunk of the first half of the season with a hamstring injury. Playing in the AFL will allow him to get some of the at bats he missed, and possibly set him up for a AAA debut out of camp next year.

Vogelbach’s inclusion is interesting, and could be in part to showcase him a little. He’s got a huge bat that he hasn’t quite showed fully this season, and it would be nice to go into 2015 feeling like he’s on the verge of living up to that ample potential. Where the Cubs go with him from there remains to be seen.

Hannemann came to pro baseball as an older prospect, having done a Morman mission and played football at BYU. There’s a ton of talent there, but he needs as much competitive baseball experience as he can get. I love his inclusion. He’s the “taxi squad” designee, a la Albert Almora last year, so he can only play two days per week, unless otherwise needed.

Cates is an interesting relief prospect after coming to the Cubs as the second piece in the Anthony Rizzo deal a couple years ago. He’s got a live fastball, and is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, so you can expect that this is one last chance for the Cubs to evaluate him before making a 40-man roster decision.

Similarly, Concepcion has emerged from the premature “bust” label as a theoretical future relief prospect. He’s just 22, mind you, and is showing some good things this year, now that he’s fully over mono. Like Cates, he’s Rule 5 eligible.

The AFL, which plays between October 7 and November 13, helps pass the time for fans (1) who are nuts about prospects, and (2) follow organizations that don’t make the Major League playoffs. JACKPOT!

It’s fun to follow for so many reasons, not the least of which is it pits some of the best prospects in the game against each other, many of whom are on the doorstep of the big leagues. Among the big names set for the league: Byron Buxton, Corey Seager, Mark Appel, Raul Mondesi, Archie Bradley, and many others.

Last year, Kris Bryant was the most dominant player in the AFL, winning MVP honors and generally destroying all comers. There was a chance that Kyle Schwarber was going to be that guy this year, but it appears his very long season and possibly the Cubs’ interest in working with him in instructional ball as a catcher precluded an AFL trip. It’s probably more the long season part than the other thing, though, lest you go too far.

 

[CP1708]

Rizzo's 30th.

Alcantara another one.

2 hits for Castro in his first game back.

These kids are learnin.

 

[sportsjunkie]

Javier Baez strike outs worry me. He had strike out 4 times last night.

 

[meyer23]

Anyone think Theo is at the JRW parade scouting? 

 

[CP1708]

I’m not worried at all about Baez striking out a lot at this time. I expected it. Lot of people did. Last year he struggled early in Double A. Then he adjusted, and went crazy. This year he struggled early in Triple A. Then he adjusted, and went crazy. Now he’s struggling early in the Majors. The difference is, how he adjusts, and then we see how he goes from there. Bottom line, the kid is 21 years old. He’s at least shown proof that he has prodigious power, now he simply needs to work on pitch recognition and make those adjustments from there. We’ll know a lot more next Spring Training, and then see what April-May looks like. And he’ll still only be 22.


In terms of throwing out a random, long term possibility, here’s one. There has been a lot of talk of the Marlins doing what they do. And that is, selling off their assets for cheaper assets. And that asset, is one Giancarlo Stanton. I’m not saying it’s a done deal or anything, but it is possible the Marlins know they can’t pay him, and will offer him up. Well, what team has the deepest farm system, and the money to pay him? It’s “possible” that Theo makes a move like this, and say, signing a Lester. Then going into 2016 and signing a Price or Shark. Stanton would still only be 25 next year, right in the age bracket of Rizzo and Starlin, a guaranteed MLB bat, and Theo could still spare say, Albert Almora, Billy McKinney, CJ Edwards, and maybe 1 more lower level pitcher, aka, lottery ticket. Maybe the Marlins ask for more, I don’t know. Maybe they’d want Almora, Schwarber, Edwards, and a lottery ticket, who knows, but the possibility is there.

Like I’ve said, 2015 will see a jump in the team. Maybe competeing for a playoff berth, but likely coming up a little short. But come 2016, everything should be in place, pitching staff, roster full of young, everyday players, and all the bugs worked out, ie Baez adjustments, Soler, Alcantara, Bryant, etc. Adding an extra guaranteed bat, (a proven, sure thing, if you will) to go along with the young guys and help Rizzo/Starlin lead the way, plus some added pitching, and still being able to afford all of them, is right up Theo’s alley. All depends on if the Marlins really do this type of **** again.

 

[proshares]

A lot of industry people already think he will not sign there, and why would he?

I think he's gone by the next deadline. IIRC, he has two years of arbitration left.

Marlins know how to extract the best deal for them...Cubs drag their feet (if they're in on it) and they'll be on the phone with someone else and not even wait for a new offer. I always thought he was Boston bound. They're deep as well and those two teams have a history.

Looked it up and he's not a FA until after '16.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Part of the reason Baez was brought up was to give him some at bats at the big league level. There's always an adjustment period for these guys. In time he will learn how to work the count and be a lil more patient. After all he is just 21 and he's going against big league arms, but one is for sure....the kids got power.

I'm with the idea of trading for Stanton, power hitter to protect Rizzo
We certainly have the chips to make it happen.
I'm not opposed to bringing back Samarj but honestly I would strongly prefer Price.

One things for sure this off season we will be busy. 2015 we will be competitive but not there yet, hopefully in 2016 we will have put all the pieces together.

We haven't talked about Jen-Ho Tseng in here much.

6-1, 210lb, 19 year old right hander.

This year in A ball, he's got these numbers

6-1 record
2.45 ERA
99 inn
74 hits
15 walks
83 K's
27 ER
0.899 Whip
18 games


He turns 20 in October.


"Cubs have no pitching prospects"

Kid is the truth!!

 

[sportsjunkie]

Anyone think Theo is at the JRW parade scouting? 

I doubt he scouting but he got his eyes on a few of those kids though.