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***Official 2024 Chicago Cubs Thread***

Christian Bethancourt is going to make the front office make some decisions when Nido is healthy.

3 in a row and the guys are definitely playing with more heart and effort. Between that and Swanson saying this is the best lineup we’ve put out with Paredes being the only change, makes you wonder a bit about Morel.

We had 4 walks in the 8th inning in which all 4 had at least one strike 3 in the zone that the ump missed.
 
I kinda see the catching situation in 25 looking like this unless Betancourt falls on his face.

Still look to add a true #1. If not it's Amaya, Betancourt.

I think at some point bring Ballesteros up as a #3. He'd mainly DH and maybe play a little at 1st. As far as catching I'd guess we'd only see him when he does a late inning PH.

Regardless it suddenly appears 8 and 9 are no longer automatic outs.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Christian Bethancourt is going to make the front office make some decisions when Nido is healthy.

3 in a row and the guys are definitely playing with more heart and effort. Between that and Swanson saying this is the best lineup we’ve put out with Paredes being the only change, makes you wonder a bit about Morel.

We had 4 walks in the 8th inning in which all 4 had at least one strike 3 in the zone that the ump missed.
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Nico said the same thing yesterday. So there could be something related to Morel & team chemistry.

But I tend to think Bellinger being back and guys like Amaya, PCA, Swanson, Happ and Suzuki all playing their best baseball the reason guys are positive.

Morel had no business hitting in middle of order during much of season. And that is no fault of his.
 
Need to get through this next stretch of games still in striking distance and then they have a long stretch of games with a chance to make up a lot of ground for the WC. Blue Jays, Tigers, Marlins, Nats all under .500 and then two series against the Pirates mixed in there and just pray we don’t see Skenes twice
 
Cyforce said:
I kinda see the catching situation in 25 looking like this unless Betancourt falls on his face.

Still look to add a true #1. If not it's Amaya, Betancourt.

I think at some point bring Ballesteros up as a #3. He'd mainly DH and maybe play a little at 1st. As far as catching I'd guess we'd only see him when he does a late inning PH.

Regardless it suddenly appears 8 and 9 are no longer automatic outs.
Click to expand...
I feel very confident we will be trading for a catcher this offseason. Too many media people alluding to Jed almost nabbing a C at the deadline, along with having Paredes discussions last offseason, part of me just thinks IF Jed is back, he’ll revisit that deal.
 
I still hate this year's Cubs team for a myriad of reasons discussed at-length in this thread. BUT, it's always satisfying to pound the Deadbirds, no matter the team's record. ALWAYS. Just like beating EIU. Now if the Bears could only figure out how to beat the Packers once in awhile........
 
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cyfanatic13 said:
Need to get through this next stretch of games still in striking distance and then they have a long stretch of games with a chance to make up a lot of ground for the WC. Blue Jays, Tigers, Marlins, Nats all under .500 and then two series against the Pirates mixed in there and just pray we don’t see Skenes twice
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Basically we need to climb to 2nd place in the division. At that point I believe we'd only have one more team to catch to get the final WC spot.
 
So as of now 2025 position spots look like this assuming Bellinger doesn't opt out. It will be interesting to see if Jed can do some upgrades.

C Amaya ( biggest upgrade need)
1B Busch
2B Hoerner
3B Parades
SS Swanson
LF Happ
CF PCA
RF Bellinger
DH/ 4TH OF Suzuki

#2 C Bethencourt ( pending rest of season but I'd rather have him over Nido as of now)
OF Tauchman ( Ballesteros as #3 C/ DH will push for this spot)
Inf Wisdom and Masterbuoni ( Shaw or Triantos will.push for one of these spots but do you want them on the ML bench or getting ABs)

Bote will get bought out but I wonder if they try to sign him for a bit less. I'd take him.over either of the two.
 
For as bad as it has been, Cubs are still 17-9 vs the AL. Got 14 in a row vs the AL coming up after this current series, 9 of which are at home, and 2 on the Southside. If they can somehow be at .500 when those games are over, this season could be worth following once college football starts. Somewhere around 85 wins should secure a wild card, which means the Cubs have to win about 30 of their last 50.
 
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Cyforce said:
So as of now 2025 position spots look like this assuming Bellinger doesn't opt out. It will be interesting to see if Jed can do some upgrades.

C Amaya ( biggest upgrade need)
1B Busch
2B Hoerner
3B Parades
SS Swanson
LF Happ
CF PCA
RF Bellinger
DH/ 4TH OF Suzuki

#2 C Bethencourt ( pending rest of season but I'd rather have him over Nido as of now)
OF Tauchman ( Ballesteros as #3 C/ DH will push for this spot)
Inf Wisdom and Masterbuoni ( Shaw or Triantos will.push for one of these spots but do you want them on the ML bench or getting ABs)

Bote will get bought out but I wonder if they try to sign him for a bit less. I'd take him.over either of the two.
Click to expand...
I sure hope.this is not the case as this is mostly the same core roster we have had for awhile now that can't make the playoffs. Either a trade needs to happen to bring in an impact bat for the heart of the order or sign a guy and ship.oit someone that they are taking their place. Catcher and DH are obvious spots that can happen at but if they can find a trade somewhere 1B 2B and OF are possibilities too as Busch could potentially slide to 2B if you trade Hoerner and bring in a big bat at 1B.

Hoping they don't bring back Wisdom and Tauchman. My hope is someone like Caissie gets a shot before end of the season and can push for that extra OF spot next season. Gotta start clearing a path for these prospects when they do get a chance and guys like Tauchman are in their way. Wisdom I've been ready to move on from for awhile now. Would prefer a younger bench guy that is more versatile.
 
CYdTracked said:
I sure hope.this is not the case as this is mostly the same core roster we have had for awhile now that can't make the playoffs. Either a trade needs to happen to bring in an impact bat for the heart of the order or sign a guy and ship.oit someone that they are taking their place. Catcher and DH are obvious spots that can happen at but if they can find a trade somewhere 1B 2B and OF are possibilities too as Busch could potentially slide to 2B if you trade Hoerner and bring in a big bat at 1B.

Hoping they don't bring back Wisdom and Tauchman. My hope is someone like Caissie gets a shot before end of the season and can push for that extra OF spot next season. Gotta start clearing a path for these prospects when they do get a chance and guys like Tauchman are in their way. Wisdom I've been ready to move on from for awhile now. Would prefer a younger bench guy that is more versatile.
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Caissie isn't close to a call up. He hits the ball hard when it finds his bat but he's pretty much guessing. That list was what we have returning. That was the point and where we could find upgrades.

Shaw for Hoerner will be the best chance at an internal upgrade, but that likely wouldn't happen till mid 2025.
 
I watched Killian last night. I know it was just one start but WOW! Fastball wes 97 with good movement. Had command of 4 pitches, slider, sweeper and I believe curve ( threw around 80 so it would be too much separation to be a change). To me he's the favorite going into springtraining for the 5th starter spot if he can stay healthy. Definitely a step up from Wesneski and Wicks. So basically it depends on what they do with Brown from what I've seen.

www.bleachernation.com

Caleb Kilian Dominated His Latest Rehab Outing, Which Happened to Be His First Start

Interesting that the Cubs are having Kilian stretch back out.
www.bleachernation.com www.bleachernation.com
 
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Cyforce said:
I watched Killian last night. I know it was just one start but WOW! Fastball wes 97 with good movement. Had command of 4 pitches, slider, sweeper and I believe curve ( threw around 80 so it would be too much separation to be a change). To me he's the favorite going into springtraining for the 5th starter spot if he can stay healthy. Definitely a step up from Wesneski and Wicks. So basically it depends on what they do with Brown from what I've seen.

www.bleachernation.com

Caleb Kilian Dominated His Latest Rehab Outing, Which Happened to Be His First Start

Interesting that the Cubs are having Kilian stretch back out.
www.bleachernation.com www.bleachernation.com
Click to expand...
He's had success in Iowa before but had some control issues in his chances in Chicago so far. Hope it's a sign that he's maybe figured some things out and can put a nice streak of starts in Iowa to get another shot in the big league.
 
Cyforce said:
I watched Killian last night. I know it was just one start but WOW! Fastball wes 97 with good movement. Had command of 4 pitches, slider, sweeper and I believe curve ( threw around 80 so it would be too much separation to be a change). To me he's the favorite going into springtraining for the 5th starter spot if he can stay healthy. Definitely a step up from Wesneski and Wicks. So basically it depends on what they do with Brown from what I've seen.

www.bleachernation.com

Caleb Kilian Dominated His Latest Rehab Outing, Which Happened to Be His First Start

Interesting that the Cubs are having Kilian stretch back out.
www.bleachernation.com www.bleachernation.com
Click to expand...

Will be interesting if the Cubs are looking for another starter arm by September. At some point do the Cubs shut down Assad? Assad's pitched 20 innings over his last 5 starts and has given up 24 hits, 13 walks and 11 runs. Or do they use Assad/Killian as a starting tandem- have Assad go 3-4 inning & have Killian go 3-4 innings.

If the Cubs fall out of wild card contention- could also make sense to go with a 6 man rotation during September.
 
Winning obviously helps this but this team is LIGHT years more fun to watch right now than they have been since April
 
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