Random baseball thoughts on a boring Sunday:
Anyone think the White Sox are ever gonna become a contender with all these highly thought of prospects? Im seeing more development over these past couple years from the youth in Toronto, San Diego, and definitely Atlanta than I am with the Sox and it’s becoming frustrating. But I guess it’s still far too early to know what they might ultimately become, especially if they make good use of all that $$$.
As for the Cubs there’s no excuses anymore for them to be so inconsistent, not after making several solid moves to upgrade the roster. I like Heyward and Castellanos batting 1-2, gives the lineup tremendous depth. No more holes on offense. They’ve gotta be better, they have the offense and the pitching, at least on paper. If they can’t put it together with this amount of talent then Maddon needs to go.
I suppose none of it matters because nobody is beating the Astros anyways...
- SimpleJack
White Sox
The progression of a couple of hitters to the mlb roster next two seasons plus the maturoty of young pitchers, is the hoped for scenario. The progression of young players to a higher level of production - such as Giolittle, Anderson, Bummer - is telltale. I don"t know there is anyone they might move among their better players. Maybe one of their two top relief pitchers as defined before Bummer stepped up
They really could not affotd to part ways with Abreau. His batting average slipped but he is a top batter. McCann is a nice surprise. Might as well keep him.
Does Jimenez need another season experience hitting until his batting average increases.
Cubs
Their top hitters too often collectively cannot produce hits against a top pitcher. Their starting pitching really has no ace. The starters are capable but inconsistent.
Maybe Strop is moved if you believe that Wick is the real deal.
I am not a Schwarber fan. I do not buy the notion that he is a feared manacing lead off hitter. You can group Happ, Schwarber, Vogelbach as sluggers who are all (HR) or nothing (strike out). Those are slugers whom couldn't beat out the incumbent yet they aren't really at least not yet all too good.
Solar isn't much better although his recent hot streak cannot be ignored. His 34 HR to date beat Schwarber and Vogelbach but Solar is batting .254 which is easier to accept than the .225 mark from the other two.
Late Add: Solar an all or nothing hitter classification - ok - but omg his RBI jumped up to 87 already. It is not like he has good hitters around him in that pathetic lineup. Pitchers are trying to bury him and more often than they expect tbey are getting scalded.
Back to current Cubs
I just question if the Cubs are capable of advancing in playoffs. it is a struggle to get there too. Some say Madden over -manages. I say a maybe but actually Epstein hasn"t molded a team that is good enough to for sure take the next step. Bryant has numbers that look pretty good but whether it is his back issue or not, he is not a big star whom is all so feared. You might think Caratini is dealt but Contreras hasn' t been durable enough.