RC, AC, and berselius may have ranted the Cubs into a shocking comeback…or not, it could go either way. Topics include whether to buy, sell, or stand pat, trading the farm for a certain uberstar, and more.
You can probably note the difference between when I take the time to edit the crap out of the podcast and when I just say “fuck it” and post.
You can check out the podcast page or just click on the embedded players below. You can also use the sidebar to get to our Apple Podcast pages and leave a nice review and rating if it pleases you.
Comments
Stark confirms this is a record
https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/1681502444675559426?t=mo5QnKU0uboIySH_uJ_cQg&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Hmm, guess Happ had a nagging thing that got tweaked a bit more than they would like?
https://twitter.com/M_Montemurro/status/1681509708471980035?t=9FNGA7DxK2Svb6F3CHh4bg&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Sam Fuld to the rescue
Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 118
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
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🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Everyone in the NL Central except the Cubs and Cardinals lost
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Too many AL teams, too much guessing of late 90s guys (dying laughing)
Immaculate Grid 108 6/9:
Rarity: 369
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Pat Hentgen never played for the Twins, but I guessed him since he had a name that screamed Minnesota (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I was also surprised to find how long Joey Bats has been out of the league.
berseliusQuote Reply
Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 113
IMMACULATE!
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Couldn’t think of better answers than Joey Bats and Kevin Kiermaier, or the rarity score might be better.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 83
IMMACULATE!
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I might never top this one.
BVSQuote Reply
I was watching the game summary and they were like “slow bouncer, it’ll have to be quick” on the GIDP where Mancini was thrown out by like 25 feet (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Last night’s hit parade although they edited out Amaya’s RBI-TOOTBLAN for some reason
https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-game-wsh-chc-7-18-23
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Just never know if these are real
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tonight’s lineup
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1681767368022786053?t=EG2zqMLb27gmceb6O7xfow&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I don’t want anybody else. When I think about you, Mike Tauchman self.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Was gonna say that Tauch Man is a bit late as the superhero night was last night
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ewww the Friday game is on Apple TV
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Tauchman you dork, nice try
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Robo strike zone please
PerkinsQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
They’re going to bunt forever after that
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Happy birthday Yan Gomes
Rice CubeQuote Reply
NICO
PerkinsQuote Reply
That was an unexpected grand slam I recently enjoyed
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Poor closer.
andcountingQuote Reply
Nico also catches all pop flies, no matter where it.
BVSQuote Reply
Another 2:55 game, what a K to end it
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Immaculate Grid 109 8/9:
Rarity: 305
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TIL Barry Bonds didn’t have a .300 average for his career.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
A spoiler I recently missed enjoying.
andcountingQuote Reply
I am dishonored by how poorly I did on this grid
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Re: Hendricks tipping with PitchCom, this condensed game summary has a shot of him going to his hip but he covers with the glove so from most angles you theoretically shouldn’t be able to tell what he pushed
https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-game-wsh-chc-7-19-23
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I’m not so much worried about teams seeing what buttons he’s pressing as about him developing new tells in the process of taking the new approach of calling pitches. It can be the most subtle tick or variation.
andcountingQuote Reply
The AL East officially makes no sense.
andcountingQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 109 7/9:
Rarity: 378
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Could have sworn that Rogers Hornsby was a Pirates guy, whoops.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Oh, I guess I mixed him up with Honus Wagner.
berseliusQuote Reply
I got Honus Wagner after missing on Bonds. Glad I didn’t pick Votto for CIN (.296) but Pete Rose doesn’t get that many fewer points than a miss would have.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Yeah I think he probably shuffles his glove or blinks weird (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Jared Kelenic pulled a Kyle Farnsworth:
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-place-jarred-kelenic-on-10-day-injured-list/?amp=1
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
They really should hang a punching bag from the dugout ceiling or something so they have something to punch that would reduce injury but since most macho men don’t know how to punch they’d probably sprain a wrist or something
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Also I wonder if the owners make the players replace the equipment and stuff that’s broken or if they just shrug and write it off
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Looks like the Pirates have lost their Swagger(ty)
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/pirates-release-travis-swaggerty.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Former MVP vote getter Ryan Tepera just got DFA to make room for Tyler O’Neil tonight
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tonight’s lineup
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1682128596175925249?t=TUQUOnVwq04KHuIEF1gDDA&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
We’re a Madrigal rehab away from a historic run
https://twitter.com/Taylor_McGregor/status/1682141774628659200?t=rgwl_2lsAs0oQeB6D72jbA&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ah darn
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Oh Patrick
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Gonna need to flush this one soon
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Respectfully, what the fuck
PerkinsQuote Reply
Yan Gomes with two triples tho (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Rays are no longer in first place 😮
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’d say if the Cubs are gonna lose, I prefer them to keep it under 2.5 hours
Rice CubeQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 110 7/9:
Rarity: 426
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Some real WAGs in there, hit on half of em
berseliusQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 110 9/9:
Rarity: 101
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
berselius,
For a moment I thought you meant weak-ass grounders and was confused. (dying laughing)
All mine hit today and ended up being pretty deep cuts.
PerkinsQuote Reply
……fine.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So this series is bullshit
Rice CubeQuote Reply
….Mastrobuoni?!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mastrobwhat now?
andcountingQuote Reply
STAND PAT
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Never easy
Rice CubeQuote Reply
3 hour (almost) games are easier to deal with when the Cubs win
Rice CubeQuote Reply
When I said I wish the Cubs was like the Rays this wasn’t what I had in mind
https://twitter.com/tim_stebbins/status/1682502608315875328?t=uFfBgz5nG6iU2ghXyfURxw&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Brewers lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 9/9:
Rarity: 210
IMMACULATE!
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This one took me a minute, would not have guessed that I would go 9/9
berseliusQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 8/9:
Rarity: 327
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I wasted a guess on DET-ANA by trying Edwin Jackson. Fernando Rodney to the rescue.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Can’t say I agree with the font choice but this was nice
Rice CubeQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 7/9:
Rarity: 381
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Apparently Adrian Beltre was never MVP.
Grid is going to 9:00 am start, so it’ll be a lunch break in eastern time now.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
And Al Kaline had a meh rookie season
BVSQuote Reply
Swanson returns
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1682779000106545152?t=qwS2zeqqutM943lbVOORqw&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So BN wrote this up but the gist is the Cubs would more likely trade Stroman and keep Bellinger. Bellinger can obviously be extended a QO so the Cubs can at least get something if he leaves but the idea is that they can have first dibs at an extension. Stroman could also be brought back after trade. I hope that’s the extent of the selling because they need to build up and not tear down, but I can’t tell them what to do.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Catching up on the rantcast as I consider wrapping up this painting project.
1. Perfect timing to bring improvements. Even Mastrobuoni hits homers now.
2. Grammy award to AC for his Madrigal monologue.
BVSQuote Reply
I’d be curious how many major stars re-sign with teams that trade for them in their free agent year. Stars like Ohtani. Especially if the team that gets them doesn’t go far in the playoffs. Let’s say someone who had had at least 6 WAR in each of the previous 3 years with top 3 MVP finishes and at least 4 WAR at the trade deadline.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
That has to be a very short list. Off the top of my head, the only major FAs I remember immediately re-signing with the team that traded them are Jason Hammel and Aroldis Chapman.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I hope this doesn’t mean Drew Smyly is unusable now
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BVS,
From 2016 on minus oddness if 2020. But not that none of these listed exactly for the criteria I put forth above.
Not Scherzer with LA. (Though his 2020 season was only 2.x war).
Not KB with SF (didn’t have 2020 war value stats above)
Not Javy with NYM (also sub 2020 war)
Not Ian Kinsler with LAA
Not Yu with LA
Not Aroldis Chapman with the Cubs (multiple *** regarding criteria)
Not Carlos Beltran after any time he was traded.
Rizzo didn’t come close to WAR values of major star but he did re-sign, of course.
BVSQuote Reply
Perkins,
I meant with the team that traded for them.
But your point illustrates the issue with letting Stroman go and hoping he comes back.
BVSQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Execution of this experiment leaves much desired.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
The Fulmer part worked ok!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That wasn’t a complete disaster
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fixed.
But 2nd pitcher has to work too.
BVSQuote Reply
Run(s)!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It worked for the Dodgers with Mookie Betts, fwiw
berseliusQuote Reply
BVS,
Smyly took a bit to figure it out but maybe?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fuck no
Rice CubeQuote Reply
berselius,
Mookie was traded to LA in Feb 2020. I guess that was his last year of arbitration. LA extended him in the summer of 2020 during COVID. I didn’t look at 2020 above, because it seemed like the economics wouldn’t really compare.
AC suggested on the rant cast that having a few months to negotiate with Shohei would be an advantage. I was trying to see if there was evidence of that, but too lazy to go back 30 years. AC’s point seems intuitive, in that you have a chance to develop a relationship with the player and get an advantage. But the last 7 years don’t seem to back up that intuition. Maybe because agents, spouses, and others help drive decisions.
I guess if you are gonna blow $500M on Ohtani, then having some prospect/young player depth to support him makes more sense than trading Hoerner, Morel, PCA, Ben Brown, and Cade Horton for him and 60 games.
BVSQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I was about to eat my words, but think I’ll leave them out there instead, (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
I think for their next trick the Cubs should take the lead
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Swanson pops out.
Boog overheard going “Ahhggrh”
Santo nods with approval from above.
BVSQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Ok first they need to hold the tie, then take the lead
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s most likely just my confirmation bias but the number of Cubs pitchers allergic to throwing strikes is frustrating
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Just realized you meant this. Verlander is the only one I can think of who meets the spirit of the question, but he was hurt/bad for a couple years and wasn’t traded in a walk year.
PerkinsQuote Reply
The PH opportunity was probably unfair for Wisdom but also maybe show you deserve a roster spot
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s definitely SSS stuff. I suppose if everything was neutral, we’d expect the odds of resigning with the team that trades for you should be 1 in 30. Or maybe 1 in 29 if we are counting out the team that traded you away. Maybe there is an advantage, if you count Rizzo and Verlander. Bit seems like both had special circumstances. Rizzo with the short porch in NY and not really WAR-y enough. JV with his injury.
It’s all 🤷🏻♂️
BVSQuote Reply
Or more appropriately a capital
BVSQuote Reply
Run(s) again!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Robot umps please
BVSQuote Reply
This game is fun.
BVSQuote Reply
Didn’t expect Seiya to get the 3-0 green light but this is fine
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I hope they put Colossus in Deadpool 3 too
Rice CubeQuote Reply
By the way, when I was looking at trades earlier Andrew Cashner from Pitt to TB for Shane Baz, Tyler Glasnow, and Austin Meadows came up.
Legendary badness
BVSQuote Reply
Good Merryweather
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Merryweather has quietly been very solid this year.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
His 1st couple outings were scary. Good thing no one overreacted.
BVSQuote Reply
Game on in about 18 minutes
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ugh, over 3 hours not including rain delay but Cubs win
Rice CubeQuote Reply
M ——-> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
BVS,
I definitely have no evidence that this approach would work for Ohtani. I think in most cases teams who trade for players on expiring contracts really are looking for rentals, just that little something extra to push them over the edge in the pennant race/postseason. I just don’t know that there’s a good comp for Ohtani and what he’s worth. I would be willing to gamble away a hell of a lot for negotiating rights, but I certainly wouldn’t call anyone dumb for disagreeing. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Live to fight another day, boys. Live to fight another day.
Also, stupid Diamondbacks.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
I think realistically any team betting on finding value in a window of exclusive negotiation with Ohtani also needs to be ready to offer something like a $750MM contract.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s why I think whoever ends up with him just waits for free agency, at least they can keep their prospects
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Barves
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Just a WAG here based on a sample size of one signing window, but I kind of expect Ohtani to have signed with someone by Thanksgiving.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
IIRC last time it was basically just “give me your best pitch, I want to decide in a week”
berseliusQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 116
IMMACULATE!
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Could have done better but picked fairly obvious answers for MIN-CWS, LAD-BAL, and LAD-CWS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 43
IMMACULATE!
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Used as many exCubs as I could in the other columns
BVSQuote Reply
Pat Hughes speech at the HOF
https://youtu.be/msoaGKCQB_M
Rice CubeQuote Reply
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 61
IMMACULATE!
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Late 90s Orioles knowledge finally pays off (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Today’s lineup
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1683137182653992961?t=kLTZPeb6sJ_m1L75S90JXQ&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Three players on the roster can play 3rd. One has decent splits against lefties and just hit his 1st career homer. But instead, let’s play Wisdom.
Hope he and his mustache prove me wrong.
BVSQuote Reply
I tried Immaculate Grid NFL. (dying laughing)
🏈 Immaculate Grid 4 0/9:
Rarity: 900
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I feel like the ex Purdue QB from the 80s or 90s who whined about his contracts/draft would have worked for the Colts. But I can’t remember his name. Also some MAC school backup QBs whose names I also can’t recall. Apparently Marvin Harrison didn’t work on the Colts row. I only can name one Jax player ever, Trevor Lawrence, because I live in Clemson country.
BVSQuote Reply
Hate it when you get dead leg
https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1683166020742029312?t=DWyV11Clfqaiopwjlt4ltQ&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Stupid Arizona
Also that am/pm mascot that’s made up of food needs to be banned
Rice CubeQuote Reply
There’s a rumor circulating that Willson Contreras is already on the trade block
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cody Bellinger is practically the best switch hitter in baseball.
andcountingQuote Reply
Should keep Bellinger IMO
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Yeah I understand the general logic of trading impending FA:s when a team falls out but the Cubs are at a weird point in the contention cycle relative to their roster that I’d rather they double down on the good players and add to them in the offseason.
PerkinsQuote Reply
You love to see it.
berseliusQuote Reply
That was an offensive surge I recently enjoyed
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Pretty gratifying to see the team rally after Belli juuuuuust missed connecting on a grand slam that would have made it 6-0. As it is, they made it 7-0. You really do love to see it.
andcountingQuote Reply
Alas I don’t think Taillon will complete the 6th due to pitch count but this was encouraging
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Arizona and Atlanta are useless
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Almost false until he turned back into a pumpkin at the end, still a strong showing and I hope he can eat more innings going forward
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I wish Cubs pitchers would be confident enough to hit the strike zone
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Partially false
PerkinsQuote Reply
Speedy win today, just 2:33
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Stuff I appreciated
1. Taillon being actually good
2. Mop up guys not imploding
3. Everyone in lineup contributing in some way
Rice CubeQuote Reply
New stuff
BVSQuote Reply