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#Post#: 524243--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 12, 2026, 3:09 pm
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Start of spring training is fun. Have I ever noted that hope
springs eternal? And I love camp stories? Every year it's
true,, somebody who wasn't healthy gets healthy and is good.
Somebody makes a modification and gets better. Somebody's
velocity really does jump. Somebody does add a pitch that helps
them get better. So I love these types of stories! Maybe this
year it will be Ben Brown. Or Wicks. Or Cabrera. Maybe one of
these NRI's will be the next Keller, who knows? They are just
fun stories with possibilities!
#Post#: 524244--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 12, 2026, 3:10 pm
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HTML https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2026/02/12/the-hopes-are-very-high-for-hunter-harvey-if-the-cubs-can-help-him-stay-healthy/
What is Harvey stays healthy, and is really good? It's
possible!!
#Post#: 524245--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 12, 2026, 3:11 pm
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HTML https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2026/02/11/spring-training-miscellany-cubs-first-official-day/
What if Shaw's new stance really works for him? And he hits
well with power and with reasonable consistency? It's
possible!!
#Post#: 524247--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Deeg Date: February 12, 2026, 5:26 pm
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[quote author=craig link=topic=663.msg524245#msg524245
date=1770930709]
HTML https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2026/02/11/spring-training-miscellany-cubs-first-official-day/
What if Shaw's new stance really works for him? And he hits
well with power and with reasonable consistency? It's
possible!!
[/quote]
New stance for Shaw? Must be Friday.
#Post#: 524253--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CUBluejays Date: February 12, 2026, 10:31 pm
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[quote author=craig link=topic=663.msg524245#msg524245
date=1770930709]
HTML https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2026/02/11/spring-training-miscellany-cubs-first-official-day/
What if Shaw's new stance really works for him? And he hits
well with power and with reasonable consistency? It's
possible!!
[/quote]
Where is he playing?
#Post#: 524256--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: davep Date: February 13, 2026, 1:00 pm
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Everywhere.
#Post#: 524257--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CUBluejays Date: February 13, 2026, 1:14 pm
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I get that, but how many AB are going to be available to him if
people are healthy?
PCA played 157 games
Nico 156
Dansby 159
Busch 155
Seiya 151
Happ 150
If Bregman is healthy he probably getting 150+ games. They'll
be some right handed DH games, but he's going to have to battle
Austin for that role. He might only get 30-40 games even if he
plays everywhere.
#Post#: 524259--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: davep Date: February 13, 2026, 2:39 pm
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Let's hope that we get a lot of injuries, so we get good use of
him.
Or, we can keep Ballesteros in AAA and make shaw the primary
pinch hitter.
#Post#: 524262--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 13, 2026, 3:02 pm
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[quote author=CUBluejays link=topic=663.msg524257#msg524257
date=1771010045]
I get that, but how many AB are going to be available to him if
people are healthy?
PCA played 157 games
Nico 156
Dansby 159
Busch 155
Seiya 151
Happ 150
If Bregman is healthy he probably getting 150+ games. ...
[/quote]
I don't see a problem here?
1. If we use those same numbers, and assume those are all
full-game appearances (as opposed to pinch-hitting late, or PCA
coming in for late-inning defense or whatever...) those numbers
would still leave 5 + 6 + 3 + 7 + 11 + 12 + 12 + DH. That's
still like 55 + DH. *IF* Shaw is hypothetically good as a
hitter, and he's getting 55 positional starts plus DH, that's a
bunch of value. And would be enough show-time to establish
whether he's a big trade-target for next year, or a viable
starter-option if one of Nico-Happ-Seiya level.
2. We were super healthy-lucky last year. I hope that's true
again, but it's not likely. If you Zips project a million
seasons with our current roster, odds are the starters will miss
a lot more games than that on average.... (I hope not, though,
obviously!)
3. This is not a youthful roster, and I think Counsell may be
more intentional about resting guys a bit more, especially if
there are any hints of injury. So I think rest time will
increase, especially if Cubs are clearly on a path to the
playoffs?
4. Shaw's performance will factor? Counsell was not eager to
give lots of starts to Brujan, Berti, Workman, or Justin Turner.
But if Shaw was actually a pretty good hitter, who didn't wreck
the lineup when he got a start, maybe Counsell would be more
comfortable giving him some extra days and giving Happ or Dansby
or whomever an extra day off?
#Post#: 524263--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: davep Date: February 13, 2026, 4:30 pm
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The Cubs have another reason to find playing time for Shaw. By
this time next year, they have to decide whether or not Shaw is
stud enough to replace Happ, Suzuki or Hoerner as a regular,
saving the cost of replacing one of them.
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