With the Cubs taking the last game in a three-game series with the Giants Wednesday night, they won their second series in the last 11. That stinks but might indicate their fortunes are changing. I’m sure some in the local media will stress that.
The story heading into the tussle with the Giants was about the Cubs needing to shake things especially offensively. Pretending that the front office is willing to move any of their young prospects is fool’s gold especially when one considers their first move.
Most everyone has focused on how the core players on the team have been major disappointments. Few will argue that they are earning their salaries this season and sinking big money was a mistake. However, it’s only just recently that people started focusing on the offensive shortcomings of their catching corps. Yan Gomes almost made everyone forget Willson Contreras after a surprising positive offensive outburst in 2023 (10 homers, 63RBI and.267).
Regression to the mean doesn’t adequately describe Gomes’ shortcomings this year (2/7/.154). To add insult to injury, he hasn’t been all that great behind the plate although everyone says he’s a positive contributor and great leader. I respect that but it hasn’t meant all that much. Couple all of this with Miguel Amaya’s disappointing season and something had to change. In the 25-year-old Panama native’s second season, his numbers have gotten worse, and his defense has suffered. (53 games both seasons-5/18 and a slash of .214/.329/.359 v. 2024 2/14 and .190/.250/.268).
Begrudgingly the Cubs designated Gomes for assignment and acquired Tomas Nido who had just been DFA’d by the Mets for his ineptness at the plate. The 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico has more seasoning than Amaya, but his .209 batting average doesn’t scream “Bat me fifth coach!”
I’m sure it’s pure coincidence that the Mets are in town for a three-game series at Wrigley and that Nido won’t get enough at-bats to avenge this designation. Personally, I have nothing against Nido or Amaya, but I think their spot in the lineup will continue to be a black hole-much like that of a pitcher.
This isn’t the sort of move/acquisition that Cub fans have been begging for but it might be all we get for the foreseeable future.
