Javy’s BDay, Zobrist’s Big Moment, the Minor League Plan, Undrafted Cubs Signee, and Other Cubs Bullets

Dec 01, 2019

These Bullets were done. Finished. All while holding the kids at bay, so it took double the effort. And then a Chrome problem just ate it all. Gone. No auto-save. No back-up. Just flat out gone. Can’t say that’s happened in a long time. Starting from scratch, and undoubtedly now doing a worse job thanks to the combined impact of less time available and explosive frustration …

Happy birthday to Javy Baez, who turns 27 today. May he celebrate his next, say, 10 or so birthdays as a happy, healthy, productive member of the Chicago Cubs. So, about those extension talks … let’s do that thing.

Best moment of the year for the Cubs? Might have been this:

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1201127407631114240

It wasn’t the best year for the Chicago Cubs, though there were at least a few positive, happy moments. I’m not sure there was one better than the finale against the Cardinals – no, not the blowout, but Ben Zobrist getting a chance to pitch in what might be his final game with the Cubs, and striking out Yadi Molina of all people.

… or maybe it was just because that represented the sweet release of the 2019 season being over.

In this whole MLB-versus-MiLB battle, it just seems so short-sighted not to want MORE people to be involved in professional, affiliated baseball:

Just a phenomenal summation of what is happening here by @jjcoop36: pic.twitter.com/6QgD9qS5TX

— Shawn Brody (@ShawnBrody) November 30, 2019

I absolutely get that there would be efficiencies in having each organization being entirely centralized, but in the long-term, don’t you want more individuals helping carry the weight of growing and sustaining the sport at a national level? Don’t you want the local community and its relationship to a team to be guided by more than solely whatever the priority is for the big league MLB team that might be hundreds of miles away? Just feels like there is a lot of risk there for the sport in 20+ years if you go to that model.

If you haven’t been following MLB’s plan to ax 42 affiliated minor league teams, see here.

This is indeed fun, because undrafted guys do not get bonuses of this size:

Between Georgia Southern, Cotuit in the Cape, the AZL Cubs and Eugene, Nahas’ 2019 was 77 IP, 70 H, 4.21 ERA, 31 BB, 89 K.

I have him projected in 2020 as a favorite to win a spot in the crowded South Bend bullpen.

— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) November 30, 2019

Nahas may have been an underscouted type because he had transferred from a JuCo before his junior year, and then blew up in the Cape Cod League after the draft. That led to competition for his services, hence the hefty bonus. (My #NotAScout comment? You can see a quality fastball and stuff there, but you also see the very long arm action that could seriously limit deception. Wonder if we see that tweaked when he comes out for his first full pro season next year.)

Tons of early Cyber Monday deals going on at Amazon right now. Also, I see discounted Nintendo Switch controllers, so I’m gonna jump on that. #ad

Michael getting in the spirt of the season:

Realistic, I have become. pic.twitter.com/p2sGcr8wC0

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) December 1, 2019

The Black Friday sale continues at Obvious Shirts:

Not only is everything 35% off, but we're also surprising 10 random people who order this weekend with a golden ticket – $100 gift card! https://t.co/H1hIg34Y0J pic.twitter.com/iwDgBBA8nE
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) December 1, 2019

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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