Yeah, giving up on PCA after 8 at bats is asinine when you consider you're the best defensive team in baseball when he's on the field.
***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***
- Thread starter BigJCy
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I don't know if the front office meddles with the lineups some or if this is 100% Ross's decisions. If it's all Ross then the front office needs to step in and get on the same page because it's just stupid to bring your top 2 OF prospects up in the middle of a playoff push and not use them when they both were doing well at Iowa at the time they were called up. If they were only called up to be end of the bench depth there were plenty of other options at Iowa that could have done that without essentially pausing the season for 2 guys that could make the opening day roster next year. Especially Canario who missed nearly a year with injuries and needs the AB and development time.
I still am a wait and see on what kind of manager Ross is because this is the first time he's been given a roster that can compete. We'll probably never know if the FO has their thumb on the scale a bit or not with his lineup card but if Ross has full control over that then it's concerning why he has not played Canario and PCA more by now when they've shown enough to "prove" they can play at this level and at worst not hurt you any more than a few guys Ross keeps playing over them. I don't give a crap about Wisdom at this point, he shouldn't be back next year if they are serious about competing so he's not owed any regular playing time right now. Tauchman is not a long term piece either and he's been cold at the plate lately too. Morel is a different story because he's still young and possibly part of the longer term plans but none of these guys should be blocking a chance to play a guy that could potentially be a difference maker during this push.
This is a common gripe from fans against managers so its (unfortunately) not just limited to Ross. Remember the days when Baker would constantly use Macias, who sucked major ass? At some point the manager and the organization need to be on the same page when it comes to call ups. Letting those guys sit on the bench doesn't help them, us, or the organization long term.
It's shocking how much this kind of stuff occurs in baseball. The funny part? He seems much more willing to trust the young arms than the position players which seems somewhat strange with him being a catcher.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
We should bench him. Don't want to wear the young man out playing two days in a row.
Be interesting to see how many of these playing the dead weight guys goes away next year. I'm going with resigning Bellinger but not Candelario. I just don't see giving Candelario a multi year with Shaw probably ready sometime next year..
So with Gomes, Amaya, Bellinger, Hoerner, Madrigal, Swanson, Happ, and Morel taking 8 spots you have to wonder how many vets hold their spots.
Tauchman? I believe he has options so guessing he'll be in Des Moines as insurance for PCA (1/5).
Wisdom? Unfortunately he's got a good shot of holding the spot for Shaw. (2/5)
Masterbouni? No chance. Morel will be the guy that gets utility inf starts. Young or Mervis step in here. (3/5)
Canario has to be our 4th OF with a big dose of DH. (4/5)
Final spot (5/5) ? Your gues is as good as mine probably a vet or a non top prospect that impresses in the spring. Really don't want to see a top guy sitting.
I know the 1st response will be can Wisdom. The reason I think they won't is Shaw. With Madrigal being injury prone they want insurance without tying up a roster spot longterm. Young has played some 3rd so maybe he and Morel are enough to cut loose Wisdom.
So with Gomes, Amaya, Bellinger, Hoerner, Madrigal, Swanson, Happ, and Morel taking 8 spots you have to wonder how many vets hold their spots.
Tauchman? I believe he has options so guessing he'll be in Des Moines as insurance for PCA (1/5).
Wisdom? Unfortunately he's got a good shot of holding the spot for Shaw. (2/5)
Masterbouni? No chance. Morel will be the guy that gets utility inf starts. Young or Mervis step in here. (3/5)
Canario has to be our 4th OF with a big dose of DH. (4/5)
Final spot (5/5) ? Your gues is as good as mine probably a vet or a non top prospect that impresses in the spring. Really don't want to see a top guy sitting.
I know the 1st response will be can Wisdom. The reason I think they won't is Shaw. With Madrigal being injury prone they want insurance without tying up a roster spot longterm. Young has played some 3rd so maybe he and Morel are enough to cut loose Wisdom.
Tauchman had to be added to the 40 man when he was called up so I don't think he has any options as he was on a minor league deal. He played in Korea last year but he's eligible for arbitration. According to this he has no minor league options: Cubs BCB After Dark: Will Tauchman hang around? - Bleed Cubbie Blue He played a big part in getting into the playoff picture but not sure with PCA Canario and the other OF prospects knocking on the door if he's needed anymore. Guessing it will depend on what they do in free agency especially with Bellinger as even if Belli is resigned and moved to 1B regularly he still will likely get some starts in the OF from time to time too.
Wisdom - no thanks time to move on. He's going to be 32 next year and I would not be against finding a veteran player upgrade at 3B even with Shaw in the fold as can't assume he'll be ready to hit the ground running sometime next year. With the DH it gives options where can still have both bats in the lineup when needed. Madrigal and Morel (even with his defensive issues) and could look at adding one of the Iowa guys to the 40 man like Bote Slaughter, or see if Vazquez could be a utility guy as I was impressed with his glove when I've gone to I-Cubs games this year. I wouldn't mind making a big splash and go after Chapman in free agency or kick the tires on a 3B in a trade either. If Shaw is the real deal then they'll find a place for him regardless.
Mastrobuoni - if he still has options left no harm in leaving him in Iowa for depth but if the 40 man roster spot is needed he's expendable.
Going to be some interesting roster decisions after the season for sure especially with needing to add some guys to the 40 man to protect them from the Rule 5 draft so some of these fringe guys you mentioned could be the odd ones outs if there is a crunch. Going to be some guys on the 40 man like Burdi, Cuas and Heuer that decisions will need to be made on and maybe even guys like Rucker, Thompson, and maybe Estrada where they've struggled when in Chicago but looked good at times in Iowa if they need a change of scenery or are they going to be worth holding a 40 man spot for in hopes they finally figure it out.
They can't go into next year with the same offense, likely needing an upgrade at 3B, 1B or DH (even if Bellinger is resigned). Madrigal has played well defensively at 3B, but his offense isn't getting it done, at least to be a starter. Wisdom shouldn't be a part of the equation after his performance this year. Morel is still young, but I questions whether he can improve his defense at 3B enough to be the answer.
If they can't resign Bellinger, they almost need to pull off a trade for Alonso or Soto or something just to have a competitive offense. (In that case, PCA is the odds on favorite to start in CF, and I think he will be a very good major leaguer, but you can't go into the season with the expectation that he is going to be a significant part of the offense.)
Same kind of thinking here for the most part. Not really sure I want anything to do with Soto to be honest with the logjam we already have in the OF. Already have Happ and Suzuki locked up with no trade deals so adding another long term OF contract to the mix isn't wise use of prospect resources IMO. Was really dumb to extend Happ with a no-trade clause when you already have another corner OF with the same. Would rather go after Chapman for 3B if they can't resign Bellinger. There is going to be a ton of starting pitching on the free agent market so would assume the Cubs will have some opportunities to land a starter or 2 depending on what happens with Stroman and Hendricks options.
Hard to speculate what will be out there for trades too until the offseason hits. You'd think the Padres will be looking to shed some payroll after the disaster season they just had but who they will make available and for what asking price is another thing. 1B and 3B would be the 2 logical positions to make a move for an upgrade.
Add, add add, why rebuild a farm system to just buy overpriced free agents. I'd rather see what we have then add at the deadline as needed.
PCA, Canario, Shaw, Mervis and Morel. Those guys have a chance to be stars.
Why not spend on another ace and a really good lefty reliever?
PCA will get his chance, and he's close enough that I think they will leave room for him. Morel has had many chances and can be a good player/starter (although maybe at DH), but is not a star. Mervis hasn't come anywhere close to showing he can succeed in MLB, so I don't think you can count on him. Canario is far from a sure thing, and I think it would be a great outcome if he ends up putting up Morel-like numbers (so good, not great), any playing a passable corner OF. Shaw has played all of ~30 professional games, so I doubt you plan your offseason around him making it to the show and succeeding next year. Mervis and Shaw are the only two of those players who can adequately play 1B or 3B (unless Morel makes a miraculous improvement), and they are the two that have the least certainty to succeed in MLB, particularly next year.
The Cubs don't need to play this like the Royals or the A's do. They can buy some free agents. They just need to be supplementing that with quality players from the farm. With the money coming off the books this year, they can likely afford all of Bellinger, a bat at 1B or 3B, Stroman or Hendricks and a LH reliever without breaking the bank.
I love some people's passion to play the young guys, but in a playoff race it's tough to play young outfielders who haven't gotten results even in their limited time vs. players who have been instrumental to the Cubs winning over the last 3 months- Bellinger, Happ, Suzuki and Tauchman. I feel like Crow-Armstrong and Carario were brought up to pinch hit, start a couple games and just experience a MLB pennant race.
Honestly, I am more surprised both outfielders were brought up vs. Mervis and/or Bote. Initially when Candelario was hurt, but even more so with the Madrigal injury.
Honestly, I am more surprised both outfielders were brought up vs. Mervis and/or Bote. Initially when Candelario was hurt, but even more so with the Madrigal injury.
Don’t disagree but Morel is nothing more than a DH, and winning teams don’t have DHs that go on the cancerous cold streaks he goes on.
