Last weekend I traveled to South Bend and saw the Cubbies battle their old rivals, the West Michigan White Caps. Ordinarily, I post about the specifics of the game and particular players that impressed. However, due to the nature of the game, I’m focusing on the big picture surrounding the Cubs and Tigers.
For the record, the Cubs won 3-2 on a walkoff single in the ninth inning. While the pitching was marred by a general lack of command and consistency, neither team’s hitters came with the intention to hit. One can sense these things after 3 innings. I could chalk it up to the 6th game of a 6-game series late in the season, but that would imply a lack of effort or focus. Nobody came with their hitting shoes on, prospect or otherwise.
Despite the apparent negatives, I had a most enjoyable time at Four Winds Field. The 235-mile round trip drive was a relative cake walk. Considering school is starting I was pleasantly surprised by the relatively empty streets of downtown South Bend. That wasn’t the case at the ballpark though. With only a backpack for the kids, 6.434 fans crammed the stands-forcing me to sit in the signature seats along the third base line. The seat was akin to a first class airline seat and the only upcharge was $4 (the price of the free beer I got). The weather was perfect, the pop cold, food tasty and the game quick.
What made this particular series interest was both the timing (just after the ML trade deadline) and the different approaches the Tigers and Cubs are taking. Even though the Tigers are enduring a disappointing season, they’re not completely out of the AL playoff chase. The Cubs on the other hand, hold the top wild card spot in the NL. Some gluttons for punishment haven’t completely ruled out the NL Central crown.
And without debating the merits of both teams’ trades and likelihood of success, it’s worth noting their different approaches and roster makeup. Because the Cubbies had already locked up a MWL postseason spot, nobody in the stands was especially worried about the outcome of the game, nor were they stressing about the lackluster offense.
Even though I’m not prospect obsessing, I’m still curious to see how the newest draft picks develop and how they’ll fit into the Cubs overall picture. Typically, teams either trade away their young prospects for players that will help them win now or trade away the present for the future. In some cases, circumstances will dictate a change in plans.
For about 20 minutes the Tigers appeared to do better without Tarik Skubal. They believed they were still in the hunt. We’ll see how that turns out sooner than not.
For the most part, the most sought-after commodity this season was starting pitching. Nobody knows how well the Cubs will do in the playoffs, but Jed Hoyer finally pushed all of his chips in and did so without sacrificing too many ML pawns. He acquired David Peterson, Kevin Gausman, and Clay Holmes. He also got reliever, Ryan Zeferjahn in exchange for a former top hitting prospect, Moises Ballesteros (an ersatz catcher-more on that in a minute).
Whatever talent you part with has to be replaced by someone else and usually that means a handful of players will move up whether they deserve it or not. Sometimes a player or two will be replaced- either way decks are shuffled.
Back to Sunday’s game and the two teams’ rosters. South Bend had 9 players taken by the Cubs in the 2025 draft and five of them played on Sunday including first round pick, Ethan Conrad. There were also two, lower round picks from the recent ’26 draft.
While the White Caps only two picks from the 2025 draft, one hit a homer, Beau Ankeney, they were well represented by recent trade acquisitions. Brady Smith (LAD), Jojo Ingrassia (BOS), Kash Mayfield (SD), and Juanmi Vasquez (TOR) are all pitchers acquired at or before the trade deadline by the Tigers. I have no idea how the Detroit press is painting this. Whatever their prospects individually, they’ll be remembered as the guys that got for Skubal, Mize and Company. The Cubs went all in and Detroit threw in the towel.
Hours ago (metaphorically), the Cubs traded away a great offensive prospect *whose numbers this year and after the trade have been pretty offensive p-ew) but drafted two catchers in 2025 and one in 26 and all are on the South Bend roster. Fans are always more worried about Brock-Broglio or Smoltz–Alexander and sometimes front offices do the same. We remember all of the one-sided trades that don’t go in are team’s favor and are quick to forget the ones that don’t work out for either team. I’ll get back on one offseason trade that hasn’t lived up to expectations for either team.
Small picture: I watched as Conrad went 0-3 in search of his first base hit at High-A.
