10-01-2023, 11:40 AM
Just to add sleet to a rainy day - yes, it’s a sunny day but I’m working up my glum mood for next Bears debacle, Cubs should plan for regression to norm for several key players who truly shined at times during 2023 including:
- Gomes - Mr Clutch produced at what is likely a career year while being ancient. He’s currently 36
- Bellinger - you can’t plan for him to produce at MVP level for months at a time
- Tauchman - amazing season - offensively and defensively- for a MLB journeyman
- Alozlay - Cubs winning record % while he was closer was crazy good something above 600. If he’s healthy Cubs would have made playoffs. No clue how badly injured he is but just wouldn’t expect same level of performance for next season
- Stroman - Marcus’ performance was a take of 2 seasons - pre London trip and post London trip. Just don’t rely on him being able to capture Cy Young performance of pre London season for 2024
There’s still great performances from 2023 that Cubs should build from for 2024 including players like Steele, Horner, Swanson, Assad, Suzuki, etc but fans should be prepared for regression to mean for several players
Regarding comparing Cubs roster to Braves/Dodgers, they aren’t close nor will they be comparable to those rosters for some time but Cubs made some great improvements over last couple seasons.
Hopefully Cubs will continue to commit resources and get development from minors and players on current roster to close some of the gaps with those organizations and the NL Central winning Brewers
- Gomes - Mr Clutch produced at what is likely a career year while being ancient. He’s currently 36
- Bellinger - you can’t plan for him to produce at MVP level for months at a time
- Tauchman - amazing season - offensively and defensively- for a MLB journeyman
- Alozlay - Cubs winning record % while he was closer was crazy good something above 600. If he’s healthy Cubs would have made playoffs. No clue how badly injured he is but just wouldn’t expect same level of performance for next season
- Stroman - Marcus’ performance was a take of 2 seasons - pre London trip and post London trip. Just don’t rely on him being able to capture Cy Young performance of pre London season for 2024
There’s still great performances from 2023 that Cubs should build from for 2024 including players like Steele, Horner, Swanson, Assad, Suzuki, etc but fans should be prepared for regression to mean for several players
Regarding comparing Cubs roster to Braves/Dodgers, they aren’t close nor will they be comparable to those rosters for some time but Cubs made some great improvements over last couple seasons.
Hopefully Cubs will continue to commit resources and get development from minors and players on current roster to close some of the gaps with those organizations and the NL Central winning Brewers