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#Post#: 524264--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Deeg Date: February 13, 2026, 6:18 pm
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Finding ABs for Shaw is not a problem. He hasn't established
himself as a hitter you actually want getting more at-bats. The
Cubs - by not trading him - are gambling that he'll do better
with less exposure and selective usage against the right
pitchers.
But guys get hurt every season. If he earns them there will be
plenty of ABs.
#Post#: 524266--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Reb Date: February 13, 2026, 8:08 pm
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[quote author=Deeg link=topic=663.msg524264#msg524264
date=1771028338]
Finding ABs for Shaw is not a problem….But guys get hurt every
season. If he earns them there will be plenty of ABs.
[/quote]
Yeah, except for 2025 Cubs who had no injuries of note to
position players until early September when Tucker went on IL
(aside from catching).
Will be curious to see how Counsel navigates the Shaw situation.
Easy to say will find spots—until actually make out your lineup
for the day. Counsel now saying Busch going to play more against
lefties. And good luck trying to get Hoerner and Bregman out of
the lineup.
#Post#: 524288--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 16, 2026, 8:11 am
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[quote author=Deeg link=topic=663.msg524264#msg524264
date=1771028338]
Finding ABs for Shaw is not a problem. He hasn't established
himself as a hitter you actually want getting more at-bats. ....
If he earns them there will be plenty of ABs.[/quote]
Deeg, agree 100%. If Shaw hits like a guy you want in the
lineup, there will be AB's. If he doesn't hit that much, you
won't be looking to get him in the lineup, and there may be
other guys who get AB's. A lot of it will depend on his
performance. Just to use a silly unrealistically optimistic
hypothetical, *IF* Shaw was running .800, you'll like to have
his bat in lineup. More likely to just give Happ a day. To
give Swanson a day off. To play Shaw ahead of Austin. Probably
to DH him a lot, or perhaps even to start him semi-often in RF
and DH Seiya. *IF* a guy is an asset bat, lots of things
change. But if he's a .690 guy, there's no particular priority
to get him into your lineup. Austin will probably exceed that;
Moises too.
So my thinking is that if he hits so well that we are constantly
regretting that there's no spot for him to start, we won't be
regretting much. And if he hits like a utility infielder, we
won't be regretting that he isn't starting.
#Post#: 524289--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 16, 2026, 8:13 am
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HTML https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7046944/2026/02/15/cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-focus-consistency/
Spring training, hope springs eternal! Some mechanical
adjustments; make improved swing decisions. Get better!
#Post#: 524300--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 16, 2026, 11:04 pm
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Reference to Horton touching 98 while "cruising" i a bullpen.
Don't recall him being super fast. Would be fun to add a little
bit.
#Post#: 524301--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: craig Date: February 16, 2026, 11:12 pm
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HTML https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7050919/2026/02/16/tom-ricketts-cubs-owner-media-session-spring-training/
Ricketts doesn't know what the next CBA will be like, but hasn't
caught up to the current one. '“The tax thresholds are
something that we keep an eye on just because if you go over by
a little bit, you can cost yourself a draft pick or something
like that,” Ricketts said."
Like, no, Nobody loses draft picks for going over lux for the
last 5 years of CBA. Dodgers have a pick bumped back 10, but
even they don't lose one. Bumpback-10-spots doesn't happen
until the 3rd lux line, $40 over lux 1, and Cubs haven't crossed
the lux 1 yet. Is Ricketts really dictating Jed's budget
thinking that lux costs a pick, when that's been gone since Theo
left?
#Post#: 524303--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: Playtwo Date: February 17, 2026, 4:45 am
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It seems to me that Hoyer would want to be sure that Ricketts
doesn't mistakenly overassess the cost of going over the luxes.
#Post#: 524306--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CUBluejays Date: February 17, 2026, 10:00 am
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[quote author=craig link=topic=663.msg524300#msg524300
date=1771304662]
Reference to Horton touching 98 while "cruising" i a bullpen.
Don't recall him being super fast. Would be fun to add a little
bit.
[/quote]
Average 4 seam was 95.7 last season with a max of 98.5. His
sinker was 95.1 on average.
#Post#: 524307--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CUBluejays Date: February 17, 2026, 10:03 am
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[quote author=craig link=topic=663.msg524301#msg524301
date=1771305151]
HTML https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7050919/2026/02/16/tom-ricketts-cubs-owner-media-session-spring-training/
Ricketts doesn't know what the next CBA will be like, but hasn't
caught up to the current one. '“The tax thresholds are
something that we keep an eye on just because if you go over by
a little bit, you can cost yourself a draft pick or something
like that,” Ricketts said."
Like, no, Nobody loses draft picks for going over lux for the
last 5 years of CBA. Dodgers have a pick bumped back 10, but
even they don't lose one. Bumpback-10-spots doesn't happen
until the 3rd lux line, $40 over lux 1, and Cubs haven't crossed
the lux 1 yet. Is Ricketts really dictating Jed's budget
thinking that lux costs a pick, when that's been gone since Theo
left?
[/quote]
Hoyer had to explain why deferrals would be a good thing for the
Cubs. His dad made a lot of money starting TD Ameritrade, it
doesn't mean that his kids are actually good at buisness.
#Post#: 524311--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in ‘26
By: CurtOne Date: February 17, 2026, 12:33 pm
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it doesn't mean that his kids are actually good at buisness.
How are they at spelling?
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