If Horton is as good as advertised and Steele/Shota continue their MLB success (big ifs for all three), that could potentially be an absolutely dirty playoff rotation. Now.. the bullpen..
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The scoop on Shota coming in was that he wouldn’t walk people and get lots of strike outs, but he would also give up a bunch of home runs. Well so far he’s only given up 2 homers and is currently in a 3 way tie for 11th in home runs allowed per 9 innings. He’s looked better than advertised so far.
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I played first in HS. I was only slightly over six feet tall. Of our three primary pitchers two of them were always at 3rd and short. All threw 80+, two were 85+. They knew if it was in my catching radius it was caught. Catching the ball on a hop isn't that difficult if you approach it correctly. Busch looked like he was playing twister on the bunt Imanaga fielded. Can he learn? Sure. But until he does were better off with him as DH and Bellinger or Mervis at first.
I actually played short in high school and college and could hit a top of about 85 and probably around 80 on normal throw. I wasn't anywhere near major league caliber. You guys think pros onky throw 80-85? Try 90-95, it's not as easy as your high school baseball glory days.
Yeah, if it's a simple scoop, short hopping and off line throws are an entire different ballgame.
You probably didn't have 200lb plus players running a 4.5 at you either when you played first.
Just want to also point out, the throws aren’t just a few inches shy of the first basemen’s feet. Morel and Swanson both have barely made it past the grass lip this year. At the velo they throw at, it’s a guessing game at that point.
I think the tweet below does a nice job breaking it down. The first two errors I can’t blame Swanson. First one is 100% on Busch. But the second two, the ball is barely getting over the grass lip. It’s a guessing game for a first basemen when you’re that far off on your throw.
I think the tweet below does a nice job breaking it down. The first two errors I can’t blame Swanson. First one is 100% on Busch. But the second two, the ball is barely getting over the grass lip. It’s a guessing game for a first basemen when you’re that far off on your throw.
Again short hops were the easiest scoops. Why does the runner make a difference?
You all want to doubt my ability. That's fine I couldn't care less. The point is Busch isn't making the.plays that are killing our defense. If you think you can be a playoff team with a 1B that struggles fielding throws you are sadly mistaken.
The elevated stuff concerns me a bit with Shota as opponents get a little bigger book on him. It's just so contrary to what most pitchers try and do. But thus far he's been incredible.
This time last year it looked like the Cubs were doomed to be sellers at the deadline then they rolled off a big hot streak and became buyers. Just set a franchise record for wins in April with a team that has some of their best players on the IL and a relatively young group on the field right now. Hard to nitpick at some of this stuff when they are still winning games despite all that. If we're still talking about this defensive stuff in August then it's a different story but for now they are still doing enough as a team to be just 2 games back from the best record in MLB at this point.
Oddly enough, i was thinking this exact thing on my drive to work. My consensus was somewhere in the 8-10 win range
So 2025 starting rotation who you got?
Steele
Imanaga
Taillon
Brown
Horton
Assad
Wicks long relief
Yes six but I think Brown and Horton get skipped once a month to keep their innings down.
Steele
Imanaga
Taillon
Brown
Horton
Assad
Wicks long relief
Yes six but I think Brown and Horton get skipped once a month to keep their innings down.
The combo of Imanaga, Assad, Wesneski, and Taillon have an average ERA of 1.28. Absolutely insane
I'll go
Steele
Imanaga
Taillon
Wicks
Horton
Assad long relief
Brown late relief
Assuming Wicks' new found stuff hasn't ruined his elbow
