IST: Chicago Cubs (3-2) hosting Cincinnati Reds (4-2)

[Mr. Cub]

Seen something on ESPN that Alcantara is the first player since some Reds pitcher in 1948 to start a season 0-16 and get his first hit as a walk-off.

 

[brett05]

Seen something on ESPN that Alcantara is the first player since some Reds pitcher in 1948 to start a season 0-16 and get his first hit as a walk-off.

Kind of a wierd stat but cool that the data can be mined

 

[Parade_Rain]

Next thing you know a stat will pop up showing who lead the team in 9th inning doubles in the month of August.

 

[SilenceS]

Its good Alcantara got the game winning hit. He looked awful on the first two pitches and then got some wood. Thats all you can do in that situation is out the bat on the ball and hope it finds a hole. Maybe it will kickstart him

 

[Bear Pride]

Ugly schmugly, they're learning how to win and you can literally see their confidence grow. Good teams win games they should lose and by all rights they should have lost the last two nights, but they did not. Now you have a bunch of puffy chested twenty somethings that think they can win every night. As long as their next slump doesn't make them think they'll lose every night it's a very good start.

Exactly what I've been saying. Good teams win when they don't play well. As far as being young and inexperienced, that was also my point this off season. Sometimes, young teams just don't know better. Just cuz they're young does not mean they can't win.

You can definitely see the Cubs getting a funk going already even. They have a great manager, and some great talent. They also have mixed in some nice veteran leadership, which is something Theo talked about.

The Cubs are going tob e good, people will have to get used to this, imo. Like you say, their confidence is growing already. Just wait until Bryants get's added to the roster. Heck, I still think Baez can still explode on the scene. I wouldn't count him out just yet either.

As you say, they are still figuring out how to win. Just wait until they put all the pieces together.

 

[HeHateMe]

Exactly what I've been saying. Good teams win when they don't play well. As far as being young and inexperienced, that was also my point this off season. Sometimes, young teams just don't know better. Just cuz they're young does not mean they can't win.

You can definitely see the Cubs getting a funk going already even. They have a great manager, and some great talent. They also have mixed in some nice veteran leadership, which is something Theo talked about.

The Cubs are going tob e good, people will have to get used to this, imo. Like you say, their confidence is growing already. Just wait until Bryants get's added to the roster. Heck, I still think Baez can still explode on the scene. I wouldn't count him out just yet either.

As you say, they are still figuring out how to win. Just wait until they put all the pieces together.

:yep:

 

[Boobaby1]

Exactly what I've been saying. Good teams win when they don't play well. As far as being young and inexperienced, that was also my point this off season. Sometimes, young teams just don't know better. Just cuz they're young does not mean they can't win.

You can definitely see the Cubs getting a funk going already even. They have a great manager, and some great talent. They also have mixed in some nice veteran leadership, which is something Theo talked about.

The Cubs are going tob e good, people will have to get used to this, imo. Like you say, their confidence is growing already. Just wait until Bryants get's added to the roster. Heck, I still think Baez can still explode on the scene. I wouldn't count him out just yet either.

As you say, they are still figuring out how to win. Just wait until they put all the pieces together.

They are not there yet, but they are looking like the Royals of a couple of years back. Last year we know what happened, and with the additions of veterans Rios and Morales to the Royals this year, they are off to a scorching start.

 

[Bear Pride]

They are not there yet, but they are looking like the Royals of a couple of years back. Last year we know what happened, and with the additions of veterans Rios and Morales to the Royals this year, they are off to a scorching start.

I like the comparison as I really like the Royals team. I love the speed and defense. I think the Cubs are built a little differently, but could have a similar affect. I'd really like to add a speed + defense veteran yet.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs did something at the trade deadline this year. Probably LF would be the place. I am really anxious to see Bryant play 3B regularly. If he was better in LF that changes things.

I don't see anywhere else we would want to add a player other than another pitcher ofc.

 

[brett05]

FYI Bryant apparently isn't playing LF anymore in the minors.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

FYI Bryant apparently isn't playing LF anymore in the minors.

I don't think he ever played there, although he was slotted to. Now they're just getting ready for him to come up and play 3B. I still say it's 1 week from today, 4/21.

 

[JosMin]

FYI Bryant apparently isn't playing LF anymore in the minors.

Looks like they're confident in sticking with Coghlan as a majority guy in left with Szczur spelling him. And honestly, if Coghlan keeps getting on base, that's totally cool with me.

 

[SilenceS]

They may have lucked out. Olt and LaStella hurt can give them the cover to bring him up

 

[beckdawg]

I don't think he ever played there, although he was slotted to. Now they're just getting ready for him to come up and play 3B. I still say it's 1 week from today, 4/21.

He played RF i believe in college.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

He played RF i believe in college.

I mean in this minors stint. He was slated to play some LF but it never happened.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

They may have lucked out. Olt and LaStella hurt can give them the cover to bring him up

I was thinking that too but I think the strong desire to not call him up at home might outweigh that unless Olt gets worse or La Stella needs to go on the DL.

 

[Boobaby1]

I like the comparison as I really like the Royals team. I love the speed and defense. I think the Cubs are built a little differently, but could have a similar affect. I'd really like to add a speed + defense veteran yet.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs did something at the trade deadline this year. Probably LF would be the place. I am really anxious to see Bryant play 3B regularly. If he was better in LF that changes things.

I don't see anywhere else we would want to add a player other than another pitcher ofc.

Besides pitching as you had stated, center field is where I would like to get that guy. Maybe Denard Span at the deadline, but I doubt even as bad as the Nationals are playing, that they won't be close to the lead at that point to keep him. Span is a free agent after this year though.

I wonder if a Javier Baez for Billy Hamilton swap would work since the Reds will be losing Brandon Phillips anyways? Just kidding, but it would be nice to have some speed like that for a few years to go along with good base running skills as a team over all.

 

[Bear Pride]

FYI Bryant apparently isn't playing LF anymore in the minors.

Yeah, I was wondering about that with all the hoopla about him being sent down to play some LF. I actually prefer him at 3B, he's got great height for a 3B. If the Cubs did move him, it obviously wouldn't be for some time, and he would have to be shaky at 3B on defense. Gotta see him play there for a while before you make any smart decisions about that.

 

[Boobaby1]

I was thinking that too but I think the strong desire to not call him up at home might outweigh that unless Olt gets worse or La Stella needs to go on the DL.

Surely they can wait until Friday at the earliest. What's 3 more days to keep him for another year?

Alcantara can hold the fort down, and I'll bet in a pinch that they would lean on Castillo to play third if needed.

 

[Boobaby1]

Yeah, I was wondering about that with all the hoopla about him being sent down to play some LF. I actually prefer him at 3B, he's got great height for a 3B. If the Cubs did move him, it obviously wouldn't be for some time, and he would have to be shaky at 3B on defense. Gotta see him play there for a while before you make any smart decisions about that.

Got this off of CCO.

The front office has Randy Bush, one of the Cubs’ assistant general managers, on the road watching the Iowa Cubs and specifically Kris Bryant and Addison Russell.

“We have Randy Bush right now, he is with the Iowa team down in New Orleans.”

“We will probably check in with him every day and see how he’s doing,” Hoyer said. “Obviously he’s swinging the bat pretty well right now. He got, I think, three hits last night and homered the two previous games. I know he made a couple of errors last night throwing and that’s something we’ll definitely talk about when we talk about it today.”

 

[Bear Pride]

Besides pitching as you had stated, center field is where I would like to get that guy. Maybe Denard Span at the deadline, but I doubt even as bad as the Nationals are playing, that they won't be close to the lead at that point to keep him. Span is a free agent after this year though.

I wonder if a Javier Baez for Billy Hamilton swap would work since the Reds will be losing Brandon Phillips anyways? Just kidding, but it would be nice to have some speed like that for a few years to go along with good base running skills as a team over all.

Yeah, i guess you're right. But if Fowler plays great, it's nice having a switch hitting leadoff guy tho. I'd be OK with keeping him after this year depending on how he does. I'm all for an upgrade tho.

I was thinking of a faster, better defender version of Soler in LF. Someone that can cut off and throw like Soler, but a speed guy that can hit for average and steal bases. I can't think of an example, however.