when a runner gets in scoring position, the hitters seem to lose their minds. There is something wrong with their approach.
••• 2026 Official Chicago Cubs Thread •••
- Thread starter Cyforce
- Start date
I probably shouldn't but I do think Bregman will get it turned around, for whatever reason.
I am concerned about Nico at this point, ever since getting hit in the head. Can't be a contact guy with little pop and be hitting .247. On May 3rd, Nico was at .300 and PCA was at .236. A little over one month later and Nico is hitting .247 with PCA at .258
I am concerned about Nico at this point, ever since getting hit in the head. Can't be a contact guy with little pop and be hitting .247. On May 3rd, Nico was at .300 and PCA was at .236. A little over one month later and Nico is hitting .247 with PCA at .258
Even being league average would be a huge improvement over being nearly the worst team in all of baseball in RISP batting.
Was the move most probably expected when Shaw is activated. Ramirez was a possibility too but Shaw can play OF so the move make sense.
The think now is will Taillon's hammy require an IL stint? Just brutal how the rotation has been decimated by injuries when it looked like a strong unit coming into the season. Boyd probably comes back to take that spot if he does so that leaves the rotation for now...
Brown
Shota
Cabrera
Boyd
Rea
Please leave Wicks in Iowa! Assad came up big last night out of the pen and kind of want to keep him there because at least 2 of the guys listed above are prone to short outings that Assad can come in and eat up multiple innings if needed and fully rested. Going to be a season of "what if" both Horton and Steele were healthy and effective. Don't even want to think how bad things could be had Brown not finally gotten things figured out and been the best arm in the rotation so far this season. Basically relying on a group of guys that should be 4th or 5th arms in your rotation or depth pieces to fill roles higher up in the rotation than they were expected to.
This is a funny read. The guys you'd like to dump if you were sellers are not guys that will be in high demand or bring much in return. The only guys you'd get something of value for are mostly guys you want to keep to build around next year because they are under team control. Most of the guys at the top of the article have NTC or are part of the reason why the Cubs struggle because they are under performing.
If the Cubs Do Become SELLERS at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, Who Might They Trade? - Bleacher Nation
If I was another team the guys that interest me are Carson Kelly, Milner, maybe Thielbar, and Conforto, Rea, Palencia, Webb and obviously a guy like Shaw who you would probably only trade if part of a significant piece coming back in return. That list doesn't contain any guys that would signficantly impact a pennant race other than the high leverage relievers really and Shaw. Everyone else is more of a depth/bench piece that you hope a change of scenery sparks them down the stretch run.
If the Cubs Do Become SELLERS at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, Who Might They Trade? - Bleacher Nation
If I was another team the guys that interest me are Carson Kelly, Milner, maybe Thielbar, and Conforto, Rea, Palencia, Webb and obviously a guy like Shaw who you would probably only trade if part of a significant piece coming back in return. That list doesn't contain any guys that would signficantly impact a pennant race other than the high leverage relievers really and Shaw. Everyone else is more of a depth/bench piece that you hope a change of scenery sparks them down the stretch run.
Wicks has had multiple opportunities in the bigs and totally choked on it each time, no more. Cubs need to cut the cord or at best, view him as AAA roster fodder. They do need people to fill out a AAA rotation I guess. Wicks has no MLB future.
Alex Bregman, meet Jason Heyward. Jason, Alex. LOL. Cubs suuuure know how to pick their high $ free agents, no? (Dansby says hi, waving his own fistful of dollars).....Soriano and Zambrano would say hi, too, but they're too busy putting another coat of wax on their Lamborghinis......
Nico will be fine, lot of hard hit balls right at guys. Only guy I'm not worried about is Nico.
Come on guys. This isn't high school baseball. The base coach in MLB is not telling the runner every situation. If the ball is hit on the ground do this, in the air do this, on a line do this, etc. These are MLB players. They should know what to do by now. Also, there was nobody out so the contact play should not have been on because you do not want to risk making your first out at the plate. The contact play is only on with one out and a runner at third, so Kevin should have been freezing on anything hit in the infield including a ground ball.
Also, his first mistake was trying to take third on the play before that. The casual baseball fan will think that's a great play, great hustle, great baseball but it's not. He was lucky to make it. The over throw at first was backed up well by Arráez and Kevin should have been out at third on that play. If Chapman swipes the tag, Baez style, he's out. You never risk making your first or third out at third base on a 50/50 play. Only advance in that situation if you know you can there standing up. Like if the throw had gone down the right field line. He cheated the baseball gods with his bad baserunning for one pitch, but it evened out quickly with his second bone headed play.
He probably should have, but also like @Cyforce said, that's little league level stuff. I blame youth for getting to amped up in the moment, and that is why Berry needs to give instructions.
Interesting exercise, but I would differ on a few guys.
- No way would I trade Palencia at the deadline. He might not be an elite closer, but he's not far off. Trading Palencia indicates the Cubs are going to blow up the roster and rebuild around trade deadline prospects.
- Webb has trade value with a 2.30 ERA. But he's cheap and Cubs need to stop blowing up their bullpen every off season. I'd have to get an impressive prospect to trade him.
- Happ & Suzuki's no-trade clauses aren't that big of deal IMO. It's just that potential trade partners are limited to teams Happ & Suzuki feel they might like to play for in 2027 or teams having solid chances of making the World Series (aka Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Brewers). Even if Happ or Suzuki are moved at the trade deadline, doesn't mean the Cubs can't re-sign for the 2027 season. The D-backs did that with Kelly last trade deadline.
