Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Cubs Make Next Step, Sign Craig Counsell

 

                                             Copyright Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images

 Weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs signed former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell to be their new manager. They fittingly made the star manager the highest-paid manager in Major League Baseball history, with a five year contract worth $40 million. This came at great shock to the baseball world, as it was all but certain the Counsell would either sign with Cleveland, New York, or stay in Milwaukee.


Counsell, who was the Brewers manager from 2015 to 2023, has been one of the most successful and respected managers in the MLB. He lead the Brewers to three division titles and five postseason appearances in his tenure. He had a 707-625 record as manager of the Brewers.

This signing is the biggest that the Cubs have done so far this offseason. They brought in a manager that is praised for his tactical use of the bullpen, measured demeanor, and his ability to close the margins and win close games. 

With Counsell now at the helm of this team, there is a lot to look forward to as a Cubs fan. The bullpen that was mismanaged in parts throughout the year now has someone who is skilled at bullpen usage, the rookies that will be coming up soon will have a manager that will be willing to give them playing time, and most importantly: there is one less thing to worry about in the National League Central for the Cubs.

 Of course, the shocking firing of David Ross can not be ignored. Seemingly out of nowhere and despite the contract extension given to Ross, Hoyer visited his home in Tennessee and broke the news to him in person. 

This firing gave a whirlwind of reactions. Many Cubs fans, especially on Twitter, were cheerful that Ross was fired and that Counsell would replace him. Others felt as if it was a stab in the back to someone who gave the team his all as both a player and a manager.

Needless to say, there are certainly parallels to this situation and the one that unfolded in 2015 with Joe Maddon replacing Rick Renteria as Cubs manager.

We are now entering a new era of Chicago Cubs baseball, and the signing of Counsell shows just that.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Building the Future: The Chicago Cubs 2023 Farm System All-Stars

In the heart of Wrigleyville, where the ivy covered walls of Wrigley Field have bared witness to over a century of rich baseball history, the Chicago Cubs are preparing for a new era of greatness. While the winds of change sweep through Wrigley Field, the Cubs' farm system holds strong as a beacon of great hope and anticipation. Fans watch the farm system hoping that new new crop of young talent will take center stage and rival the great core from 2016.

I will highlight the standout prospects from the 2023 Minor League Baseball season, specifically for the Chicago Cubs. One prospect from each position will be honored as we catch a glimpse into who just could be part of the next great Cubs team. 

Catcher - Moises Ballesteros, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (117 Games) .285/.375/.449/.823, 64 runs, 27 doubles, 14 home runs, 64 RBI, 63 walks, 78 strikeouts

 

First Base - Matt Mervis, Iowa Cubs (AAA)

Stats for 2023: (100 Games) .282/.399/.533/.932, 77 runs, 23 doubles, 22 home runs, 78 RBI, 67 walks, 100 strikeouts
 
Mervis is still mashing, even after a quick send down back to the minors following a short stint with the big league club in May.


 

Second Base - Yonathan Perlaza, Iowa Cubs (AAA)

Stats for 2023: (121 Games) .284/.389/.534/.922, 100 runs, 40 doubles, 23 home runs, 85 RBI, 76 walks, 119 strikeouts
 
Putting a player in his secondary position is probably cheating, but with the year Perlaza put up he needed to sneak in. The highlight of this year would be his 23 home runs on the season, which is the most of any player in the farm system.

Third Base - James Triantos, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (83 Games) .287/.364/.391/.755, 45 runs, 15 doubles, 4 home runs, 48 RBI, 35 walks, 39 strikeouts
 
Triantos had one of the more underrated and overlooked years in the minors. In reponse to that, the young infielder made sure his name was known by winning the Arizona Fall League Offensive Player of the Year. 


Shortstop - Matt Shaw, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (38 Games) .357/.400/.618/1.018, 27 runs, 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 28 RBI, 9 walks, 25 strikeouts
 
Shaw had one meteoric rise through the minors after being drafted in the first round in 2023. This continues the Chicago Cubs' long ling of success with drafting bats right out of college, including the likes of Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ.


Left Field - Owen Caissie, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (120 Games) .289/.399/.519/.918, 77 runs, 31 doubles, 22 home runs, 84 RBI, 76 walks, 168 strikeouts

Center Field - Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (MLB)

Stats for 2023: (107 Games) .283/.365/.511/.876, 98 runs, 27 doubles, 20 home runs, 82 RBI, 46 walks, 129 strikeouts.






While his hitting numbers are great, they are not why he is on this list. It's all about his high-level defense that he showed off in his short stint in the majors.

Right Field - Kevin Alcantara, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (102 Games) .284/.345/.465/.810, 71 runs, 26 doubles, 13 home runs, 71 RBI, 36 walks, 105 strikeouts



Designated Hitter - Ezequiel Pagan, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023: (99 Games) .298/.378/.401/.779, 58 runs, 20 doubles, 5 home runs, 37 RBI, 39 walks, 66 strikeouts


Pitcher - Cade Horton, Tennessee Smokies (AA)

Stats for 2023:  (21 Games) 4-4, 2.56 ERA, 88.1 innings pitched, 27 walks, 117 strikeouts

Strikeouts. That is what Horton has been known for over the course of the season, putting up 117 strikeouts in just over 88 innings pitched. This should come as no shock given the many 6 to 7 strikeout games he put up.


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Friday, September 15, 2023

Three Key Notes From Pete Crow-Armstrong's Debut

 

                                                                    Copyright Chicago Cubs v Colorado Rockies / Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today

When you talk about the 2023 Chicago Cubs in September there is one thing that stands out the most: the highly anticipated call up of the #12 MLB Prospect and the Cubs #1 prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Hands down, PCA is one of the most hyped Cubs prospects in Cubs history, arguably on the level of Kris Bryant when he was lighting it up in the Cubs farm system in the early 2010s. He shown exactly why he has so much hype in his debut series against the Colorado Rockies earlier this week as he showed up in style. 

Now that the series has concluded and we got our first glimpse at the kind of player PCA is, I believe it is a good time to hit on three key notes from his debut. 


1. Pete Crow-Armstrong is even better defensively than we thought.

Oh yeah, he is elite at defense alright. I would even go as far to say that he will be one of the best defenders baseball has ever seen. In just his first inning in the outfield (and not just any outfield, this is  the Coors Field outfield we are talking about) PCA made sure that you knew his name. 

As soon as Rockies slugger Nolan Jones absolutely demolished a line drive into the left center field gap, PCA turned on the jets and tracked the hard hit ball all the way to the wall. At the very last second, PCA made a heroic leap to rob Jones of a hit that was certainly going to go for extra bases and certainly saved a run from scoring.


This wouldn't be the only time that night he robbed Jones of a hit.

Just a few short innings later, PCA came in with a sliding catch of a Jones sinking line drive that left announcer Pat Hughes almost speechless and in complete awe.


That 80 grade defense may just be underselling how heroic PCA is in center field.

2. It'll take some time for him to heat up at the plate.

While he absolutely put on a show in the outfield, not the same could be said about his showing at the plate. During the Rockies series PCA went 0-7 with 3 strikeouts and 1 RBI. I do not hold any of this against him as it is his first series in the big leagues and not everyone can make a statement with the bat right away. I do not think it is time to sound the alarm just yet and believe he will start putting it together as he gets more at bats.

3. His playing time will be limited, especially at the plate.

 Cubs manager David Ross even said it himself. During an interview on 670TheScore, Ross stated: “We’re not developing players right now. We’re trying to win games. Pete’s skill set is a real value in these big outfields we’re going to have. Pete will get some at-bats. I think he’ll come in for defensive purposes at times, gives us the flexibility, another Mike Tauchman to insert him in pinch-hit situations like we did last night, and he came through with a big at-bat. We got more roster talent now."

 


As expected, many Cubs fans were not happy with this and were quick to pull out the pitchforks and hammer Ross for his statement. While I understand where these fans are coming from, I also understand where Ross is coming from as well. PCA was not brought up to play full time and he shouldn't be playing full time as of yet on a team that is in the midst of a pennant race.  

PCA's best tools are his speed and his fielding. Nobody should be arguing about that as we all know just how great those tools are and they are exactly why he is as highly touted of a prospect as he is. Ross even touches on this in the interview going on to state the following: "...But he’s an exciting young man out there. We’re trying to take advantage of his skill set, and we’ll try to curtail that to help us win ballgames in the middle of competing night in and night out.”

 I agree with Ross here. The best way to utilize PCA is to take advantage of his fielding and speed with perhaps a few starts here and there against right handed pitchers.


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Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Jordan Wicks Shoves In Historic MLB Debut

        Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates / Justin Berl / GettyImages
 

At long last, the Chicago Cubs 10th ranked prospect made his anticipated debut, and despite his rocky first inning, he didn't disappoint. 

After giving up a leadoff home run to Ke’Bryan Hayes to start the game, Jordan Wicks let the next two men get on base with a single and walk back to back. After the walk, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy came in for a mound visit to settle him down. Following the mound visit, Wicks twirled 4 innings of shutout ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

That may have been the greatest mound visit in Chicago Cubs history.
 

    Following the visit, Wicks put on a clinic and showed why the Cubs selected him 21st overall in the 2021 draft. His changeup was devastating batters left and right, showing off why it might just be one of the best changeups in the bigs.


   Thanks to his wicked changeup, he became the fourth Cubs pitcher since 1901 to strike out at least 9 in his MLB debut and retired 15 straight batters, the most by any Cub in their debut since 1974.



Wicks was pulled following the 5th inning after twirling 80 pitches while tallying 9 strikeouts, giving up 2 hits, one run, and walking one batter. If you asked me I believe he definitely could have gone another inning. He was that good.

  Needless to say, Cubs fans will keep hopes high for the dominant and crafty lefty. Many are expecting more solid outings from him with the absence of Marcus Stroman and the recent struggles of Jameson Taillon and Drew Smyly. I believe he can live up to those hopes and keep Chicago in a playoff spot.

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Cubs Make Next Step, Sign Craig Counsell

                                               Copyright Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images  Weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs signed former M...