9 IN 9: Who PROJECTS The Best For Chicago Cubs?

21 comments

1. Go Brewers

2. Cubs win division by 6 games

3. Can't believe the time for this- but I'm glad I found it.

4. Mr Matt Shaw Wins AL MVP 2031 ✈️

5. good stuff. One thing two players need to do this year that will impact the team in a big way. Happ and Suzuki? Crush first pitch fastball down the middle. It is always the best pitch you will see most times. They are both constantly down in the count 0-1 and as a result? They are both .240 hitters.

6. I would rather trade shaw i just dont like him

7. According to WAR I think the Cubs most valuable players will be Horton, PCA, Busch, and Bregman. With Nico right behind them.

8. Gee, that elephant in the room is having a chuckle.

9. Why is Moises a shoe-in for DH over Amaya? Amaya: 27 hits/25 RBIs/.500 slugging in 96 at-bats

10. Batting average is the most important offensive stat. There's a reason the old timers chose it above everything else. They were pretty smart, and they played better baseball than we do today! Keep talking about it, and RBIs, and Homeruns. This modern fixation with OPS leads to an awful lot of disappointment, if you haven't noticed.

11. I am concerned about significant regression in the starting rotation. I agree that Busch could be in line for a great season. I do expect some regression for Nico in terms of men on base but overall he will still be very valuable. Lets hope PCA can be a little more consistent. He could be the real difference for the offense this year.

12. Busch can hit that many HR's BUT he has to get the AB's. It's hard to hit HR's when your butt is riding the pine because there is a leftie that happens to be pitching. Craig Counsell will continue that nonsense ….so Buschy won't get to 40.

13. I always appreciate the work you and Matt put into the content for each podcast, Sam. I also enjoy the shorts to sum things up. Agree 100% with you on Nico! Hope you're right on the Busch HRs. Can't wait for the season to begin! Go Cubs!

14. Can we stop with the Matt Shaw discourse. We replaced him with a hall of famer in his prime. Time to stop giving Shaw air time. I’d much rather talk about Bregman than Matt Shaw… The ceiling will be if any of our pitchers can rack up WAR. Cabrera needs to rack up 3-5 wins

15. Shaw was at his best pulling the ball in the air more often. Going the other way for power in Wrigley for RHH's is not a smart choice. Seiya barely has the pop to do that… They absolutely do need Shaw looking to pull every single pitch that he can early on in an AB then switch it up to "spray the ball" if its clear he isn't going to get one or 2 strikes. Its about picking moments IN each AB not going INTO every AB thinking "i have to pull it". Pitch by pitch adjustments with the goal being "try to find a pitch to pull early, then adjust & battle with 2 strikes"

16. Probably your best solo. You said your piece without going overboard a.nywhere. would love to see you and Matt do a whole segment on the new ball and strike challenge. We have a lot of guys that know the zone well. Does everyone get to challenge?

17. Thank you for talking Avg, HR and RBI, I'm old and those were what was on the back of cards in my days. GO CUBS

18. Looking forward to watch your 9 in 9 in future years

19. You guys are better together. The show is better when you’re both there.

20. The Cubs lineup is good, but just like the rotation doesn’t have an ace, it also doesn’t have big bat in the clean up spot , between Bregman, Busch , Happ or Suzuki someone will need to step up. PCA needs to strike out less and walk more , I think he regresses this year at the plate. This Cubs team should be good this year and win the central, hopefully at the deadline they get a top starting pitcher and Justin Steele comes back from injury and resumes pitching with same results before he got hurt.

21. They will trade Shaw at the trade deadline for a r hand outfielder.