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Post by Mike on Mar 6, 2024 12:58:31 GMT -5
The big question is: Mastrobuoni and Smith (who're in the lineup today) or promote Caissie/Shaw?
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Post by cfin on Mar 6, 2024 13:38:43 GMT -5
There's basically three open spots on the 26 man roster. Four if Happ opens the season on the IL which could be likely (if for no other reason than to kick these decisions further down the road).
I think those 3 or 4 will come from the group: Mastrobuoni, Wisdom, Mervis, Canario, Vazquez, Cooper, Smith, Peralta, and Alfaro. Wisdom is also a great candidate to start the season on the IL again if for no other reason than to kick the can further down the road on some of these decisions.
I would have to think that the rostered players (Mastrobuoni, Wisdom, Mervis, Canario, Vazquez) would have an inside track for those spots. The non-rostered players would really have to show something to gain a roster spot.
Obviously an injury either on the Cubs or on another team (which might result in a trade of one of these players) can open up a spot for one.
Kilian to the 60 day IL could open a spot for one of the NRIs if necessary. That's not even knowing the extent of Kilian's injury, but more of a roster manipulation move to make that happen.
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Post by fine09 on Mar 6, 2024 14:10:38 GMT -5
The big question is: Mastrobuoni and Smith (who're in the lineup today) or promote Caissie/Shaw? As great as it would be to have Shaw up with the big club he's got to get AB's every game & I just don't know that he would right now & would be better off playing every day in the minors against good pitching.
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Post by fine09 on Mar 6, 2024 14:12:57 GMT -5
I'm not looking too much into what they've done so far , it's mostly guys having 12-20 at bats so far and getting 1-2 at bats a game before they flip other guys into the line ups. I'll start looking more into it when guys are playing most or all of the games and getting their 4-5 at bats. I mean none of them are doing terrible , PCA is hitting .190 , if he has a 2 hit game the average is back to being somewhat decent . I just want them all healthy and doing what they need to do and have no worries or disappointments as this stage. And if they don't make the roster they go to Iowa and I'm sure we'll see them at some point. I doubt very much Mervis makes the team , they didn't trade for Busch and sign Smith and Peralta if they had any visions of him breaking camp with the team. I think Busch who hasn't looked great , but hasn't looked horrible is going to be the 1b to start the season. It’s all about the sample size. Knee jerk reactions after ~21 plate appearances doesn’t do anyone any good. If Canario gets a hit in his next at bat his batting average jumps 0.525 points. PCA two hits to start his next game? .286 batting average. Busch had had 13 at bats. I don’t understand how anyone can possibly be disappointed based on these irrelevant sample sizes. My "slight" concern is them seeming to be putting up zeros almost every inning when the other team doesn't but as I mentioned, doesn't mean much of anything but I'd sure feel better if we were hitting the ball more consistently.
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 14:16:35 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers.
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 14:18:51 GMT -5
It’s all about the sample size. Knee jerk reactions after ~21 plate appearances doesn’t do anyone any good. If Canario gets a hit in his next at bat his batting average jumps 0.525 points. PCA two hits to start his next game? .286 batting average. Busch had had 13 at bats. I don’t understand how anyone can possibly be disappointed based on these irrelevant sample sizes. My "slight" concern is them seeming to be putting up zeros almost every inning when the other team doesn't but as I mentioned, doesn't mean much of anything but I'd sure feel better if we were hitting the ball more consistently. I think come regular season, veterans like Belly, Happ, Suzuki, Nico, Swanson, etc, will all hit. They'll be fine. My concern is getting absolutely nothing from PCA and Busch. They're not veterans, it's not like they can just flip a switch when the regular season starts.
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Post by cfin on Mar 6, 2024 14:30:14 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. While it's still early to give up on PCA... he also wouldn't be the first "can't miss" prospect to miss at the major league level.
You can sometimes hold onto prospects too long.
The case was certainly there earlier in the offseason to bet on Bellinger (paying him his $200M) and trading PCA (maximizing what you could get for him). But that was probably the only offseason you could do that. PCA's value will tumble down IF he doesn't show he can perform at the major league level this year, so by holding on to him this offseason, you've kind of missed that window.
BUT... I'm also not willing to write PCA off because of his performance with the big league club last year and his performance thus far in spring training. And you really have no way of knowing if he's going to be a miss at the major league level.
BUT... also... I think PCA is now clearly in one of the "will be successful at the major league level" or "won't get a huge return in a trade" camps. Because I don't see the Cubs trading him now and if he mashes in AAA this year, they will want him on the big league club. And depending on how he performs then he's either going to be a major leaguer or won't net a lot in return (compared to what he would have gotten had he been traded this past offseason) in a trade.
Mervis also fits this narrative. He was all the talk of the town last year until he came up to the majors and didn't do a lot. Too early to give up on him? Sure. Going to get you a lot back in a trade? No.
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 14:42:14 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. While it's still early to give up on PCA... he also wouldn't be the first "can't miss" prospect to miss at the major league level.
You can sometimes hold onto prospects too long.
The case was certainly there earlier in the offseason to bet on Bellinger (paying him his $200M) and trading PCA (maximizing what you could get for him). But that was probably the only offseason you could do that. PCA's value will tumble down IF he doesn't show he can perform at the major league level this year, so by holding on to him this offseason, you've kind of missed that window.
BUT... I'm also not willing to write PCA off because of his performance with the big league club last year and his performance thus far in spring training. And you really have no way of knowing if he's going to be a miss at the major league level.
BUT... also... I think PCA is now clearly in one of the "will be successful at the major league level" or "won't get a huge return in a trade" camps. Because I don't see the Cubs trading him now and if he mashes in AAA this year, they will want him on the big league club. And depending on how he performs then he's either going to be a major leaguer or won't net a lot in return (compared to what he would have gotten had he been traded this past offseason) in a trade.
Mervis also fits this narrative. He was all the talk of the town last year until he came up to the majors and didn't do a lot. Too early to give up on him? Sure. Going to get you a lot back in a trade? No.
Oh no, no one is saying to give up on PCA. He's only 22. I just think we need to start seeing steps from PCA. I single out PCA as he's the Cubs #1 and MLB top 20. One guy I am disappointed for is Brennen Davis. That dude was hitting and it's disappointing to see a pitcher plunk him in the head and he had to miss time for a concussion. That's a guy that looked like he was maybe going to put some pressure in management, though with a lot of missed time likely needs to start in AAA for every day at bats.
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Post by batman66 on Mar 6, 2024 14:48:31 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. And you've seen 35 at bats from him against major league pitching. Trout hit .220 his first 135 pa's in the majors . It happens, young players struggle sometimes, they don't all become instant stars, you know this. 35 at bats , I'll start my worrying around the 350 mark. STL for example doesn't seem worried about Masyn Winn , he is their bigtime prospect , he hit .172 for them in 137 pa's last season. Beaz hit .169 over his first 229 pa's PCA usually figures it out after being promoted to a new level . I'm not worried , certainly not over sporadic late season at bats and early spring training games.
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Post by bryzzobrist on Mar 6, 2024 14:56:05 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. And you've seen 35 at bats from him against major league pitching. Trout hit .220 his first 135 pa's in the majors . It happens, young players struggle sometimes, they don't all become instant stars, you know this. 35 at bats , I'll start my worrying around the 350 mark. STL for example doesn't seem worried about Masyn Winn , he is their bigtime prospect , he hit .172 for them in 137 pa's last season. Beaz hit .169 over his first 229 pa's PCA usually figures it out after being promoted to a new level . I'm not worried , certainly not over sporadic late season at bats and early spring training games. PCA has had a few solid hits that didn't bring results, but also some iffy looking ab's. He hasn't passed the eye test offensively yet.
Since it's only 35 ab's - it's not a problem - yet
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Post by batman66 on Mar 6, 2024 14:58:38 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. While it's still early to give up on PCA... he also wouldn't be the first "can't miss" prospect to miss at the major league level.
You can sometimes hold onto prospects too long.
The case was certainly there earlier in the offseason to bet on Bellinger (paying him his $200M) and trading PCA (maximizing what you could get for him). But that was probably the only offseason you could do that. PCA's value will tumble down IF he doesn't show he can perform at the major league level this year, so by holding on to him this offseason, you've kind of missed that window.
BUT... I'm also not willing to write PCA off because of his performance with the big league club last year and his performance thus far in spring training. And you really have no way of knowing if he's going to be a miss at the major league level.
BUT... also... I think PCA is now clearly in one of the "will be successful at the major league level" or "won't get a huge return in a trade" camps. Because I don't see the Cubs trading him now and if he mashes in AAA this year, they will want him on the big league club. And depending on how he performs then he's either going to be a major leaguer or won't net a lot in return (compared to what he would have gotten had he been traded this past offseason) in a trade.
Mervis also fits this narrative. He was all the talk of the town last year until he came up to the majors and didn't do a lot. Too early to give up on him? Sure. Going to get you a lot back in a trade? No.
wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy different scouting and pedigree on PCA and Mervis , even while Mervis was mashing all minor league levels of pitching he still wasn't climbing prospect ratings very well at all so he never had any real trade value because his own team really even didn't seem to believe in him at the major league level It was us fans , I'm very quilty of hyping the guy to no end because of his numbers , but we don't see what scouts see who do that shit for a living and now we know why he never climbed the prospect lists. Or I should say , maybe we know why. I'd love to see him get a chance with some team, a legit chance , not just 150 pa's I think it's unreal and that's being kind, I could have used stronger words that PCA's future is even being question here over 14 late season at bats and 21 spring ones. Are we all getting so old that senility is kicking in ? And we forgot how prospects sometimes struggle and sometimes it takes 2-3 seasons of being called up and sent down before it clicks . Not every high ranked prospect is going to immediately be looking like the ROY
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Post by chubbycub on Mar 6, 2024 15:10:10 GMT -5
Are we all getting so old that senility is kicking in ? I wouldn't worry about that until you start quoting "good ol' Batman"....
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 15:54:22 GMT -5
We keep referring to a "hit here and a hit there", you're completely missing the point. PCA has not looked good at all in at bats vs MLB roster pitchers. It's about progress not what the numbers show. I get it, PCA needs every day at bats in AAA to start the year, but keep in mind, PCA already has over 1000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. I want to see some kind of resemblance of an MLB player. Didn't see that in September 2023 and not seeing it here in 2024 ST. He's starting and facing mostly MLB caliber pitchers. And you've seen 35 at bats from him against major league pitching. Trout hit .220 his first 135 pa's in the majors . It happens, young players struggle sometimes, they don't all become instant stars, you know this. 35 at bats , I'll start my worrying around the 350 mark. STL for example doesn't seem worried about Masyn Winn , he is their bigtime prospect , he hit .172 for them in 137 pa's last season. Beaz hit .169 over his first 229 pa's PCA usually figures it out after being promoted to a new level . I'm not worried , certainly not over sporadic late season at bats and early spring training games. Oh boy... Trout was also 19 years old and had 5 Hrs and 6 doubles in those 123 at bats, but ok. Baez also had 9 HRs. PCA has 3 extra base hits. I mean, he's not even getting lucky.
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Post by bryzzobrist on Mar 6, 2024 15:57:49 GMT -5
Are we all getting so old that senility is kicking in ? I wouldn't worry about that until you start quoting "good ol' Batman".... Is this directed towards me?
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Post by trav768 on Mar 6, 2024 17:33:26 GMT -5
so we just gonna give up on every prospect that struggles right away? Sandberg had no chance if that's the case
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 18:15:45 GMT -5
so we just gonna give up on every prospect that struggles right away? Sandberg had no chance if that's the case this again? Smh
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Post by Returnofstevefitz on Mar 6, 2024 18:16:48 GMT -5
I guess no one is willing to discuss struggles as a 22 year old. Let’s just say I’m giving up on a prospect. I’m done for the day. This is dumb, can’t be critical of Cubs anymore. This board is soft
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Post by trav768 on Mar 6, 2024 18:38:49 GMT -5
I guess no one is willing to discuss struggles as a 22 year old. Let’s just say I’m giving up on a prospect. I’m done for the day. This is dumb, can’t be critical of Cubs anymore. This board is soft nobody is really concerned yet. yes he's struggling, but he's only had small sample size of MLB pitching. isn't that PCA's thing, struggle at first and then tears cover off the ball after he settles in? nobody has said you can't be critical. also, he hasn't had constant playing time either. which could contribute to struggles
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Post by TheChico on Mar 6, 2024 19:12:20 GMT -5
I guess no one is willing to discuss struggles as a 22 year old. Let’s just say I’m giving up on a prospect. I’m done for the day. This is dumb, can’t be critical of Cubs anymore. This board is soft I need more AB's from him against MLB pitching to start getting worried and yes he has looked really bad so far but I am not that surprised either, he has a aggressive approach with a uppercut type swing which MLB pitchers are going to eat him alive with high fastballs, but I do believe he will make the proper adjustments but will take some time and lots of ugly AB's in the meantime because figuring not only to layoff some high fastballs but also being able to make contact on ones that are in the zone is going to be a real challenge.
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Post by batman66 on Mar 6, 2024 20:28:08 GMT -5
I guess no one is willing to discuss struggles as a 22 year old. Let’s just say I’m giving up on a prospect. I’m done for the day. This is dumb, can’t be critical of Cubs anymore. This board is soft Yes it is dumb , most people use a bigger sample size than 30 some at bats .
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