I accept that the web developer/server manager/ad operations/etc. part of running a web site is just part of the gig, and I’m our guy for that. For the most part, I don’t mind, because it’s kind of quality satisfying to have a problem figure out what’s going on, and implement a fix that works. Or better yet, do some work behind the scenes to make the site work slightly faster (which hopefully it has been over the past couple weeks). But the one big part about doing that work that I don’t like at all is that it takes me away from writing about the Cubs – I feel like I am not doing THE thing I’m supposed to be doing. Writing about the Cubs and making stupid Cubs jokes remains my preferred path …
Speaking of baseball and tech (smooth transition), the Cubs did not land Driveline’s Kyle Boddy, and instead he’s going to a division rival:
The Reds were already doing quite well at developing their pitchers and transitioning them to the big leagues (with a lot of help from former Cubs minor league pitching coordinator Derek Johnson), so they might really see some pitching fruits over the next few years.
I don’t quite understand how the dual roles are going to work, though – if Boddy develops some breakthrough technique or application for data analysis, does that belong to the Reds or Driveline? – and I could see all kinds of potential for messiness/unfairness for the Reds (do they also get extra access to Driveline’s data now?). It makes me wonder if staying with Driveline was a dealbreaker for Boddy, and further it makes me wonder if the Cubs declined to offer that particular caveat.
They did offer him a job, though, as expected:
So, then, the Cubs continue to search for new Directors of Pitching and of Hitting. Really hope we hear some deets about that process, because I’ll be fascinated on how they work it out, who they target, what they’re looking for, etc. The developmental side of the organization has clearly not been what the Cubs need, and for a major-market club that prides itself on being at the forefront of these things, it’s time to lead rather than just play catch-up to the Dodgers, Astros, Rays, and Yankees.
(Side note on pitching infrastructure stuff: remember Luke Hagerty? The incredible comeback story, but who suffered an elbow injury in Spring damn Training that halted his progress? Well, the 38-year-old prospect is still with the Cubs, is throwing again, and I can’t help but wonder if the Cubs will try to get him to stick in the organization after he’s done trying to play. He runs a Driveline-esque facility in Arizona, and apparently was already something of a mentor out in Mesa when he was working in Spring Training. Not saying he’d be hired as the Director of Pitching, but maybe Brendan Sagara gets a bump and Hagerty backfills? Or maybe some other role for Hagerty is opened up. Just thinking out loud.)
Meanwhile, the Reds let hitting coach Turner Ward go just one year after poaching him from the Dodgers (where have I heard this tale before):
As long as it’s just for fun:
https://twitter.com/cubprospects/status/1179379686385819648
Basically, Bryan is saying that Brennen Davis, his top prospect in the Cubs’ system, is definitely going to be the next Juan Soto, and will be raking for the big league Cubs in the second half next year. That is *LITERALLY* what Bryant just guaranteed. That’s wild, man.
Coffee makers and grinders, mattresses, and computers are among the Deals of the Day at Amazon today.
Meanwhile, a very strange and sensitive story/situation in the Bears world going on right now:
NEWSLETTER
