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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Short Porch is thinking about Pete Crow-Armstrong and pitchouts
If you are a fan of checking out leaderboards, have I got some leaderboards for you. Entering play today, 60 games into the season, your WAR leader in the National League is Pete Crow-Armstrong. That's true whether you're a fan of fWAR (3.6) or bWAR (3.8) and it doesn't take a lot of digging into the numbers to see how the Cubs centerfielder has played himself into the highly speculative early MVP conversation. He's slashing .281/.313/.562 with 15 home runs, 21 stolen bases and 51 RBI a little more than a third of the way through the season. I could talk about the bat or the glove for days, and probably will dig into both later this season. However, today I want to talk about PCA's baserunning and speed because it's contributing to circumstances I'm not sure I've ever seen on a baseball field. Take, for example, this play last night [VIDEO]. Advertisement The probability that PCA can and will head home sets up a situation where José Tena has to try and hold PCA on third, but by the time he's done that even Carson Kelly can leg out that grounder. That effectively turns an out into a baserunner because of the fear of the run. That's quite the trick if you can pull it off. But that highly improbable event happens a few times a season. And nothing prepared me for the more bizarre moment that involved PCA last night. Unfortunately this didn't make the highlight reel for a video, but I grabbed some screenshots. After PCA took a walk against former Cub Andrew Chafin to put runners at first and second with one out Carson Kelly hit a single to load the bases with Happ at third, PCA at second and Kelly at first. Michael Busch drew a walk to score Happ and keep the bases loaded. Dansby Swanson got called out on strikes on an outside pitch for the second out: Dansby is called out on a questionable strike three That set up one a play I'm not sure I've ever seen in an MLB game. Nico Hoerner, one of the best contact bats in baseball, comes to the plate with two down, the bases loaded and PCA at third. PCA knows his existence at third base is enough to cause distractions, and he decides to take advantage by dancing down the line in eyesight of Nationals reliever Cole Henry: PCA dancing down the line It looks mostly like PCA is trying to 1) take the attention of the battery while they try to get Nico out and maybe, if he's lucky, 2) induce a bad throw to cause some chaos. He's not all that far down the line even though he's moving a lot and it'd be silly to try and steal home with two outs and the righty on the mound. You can see where PCA is down the line here: PCA down the line just before the pitchout All of the above is why my eyes were not prepared for what happened next — an old school pitchout with the bases loaded and two down: Nationals pitchout with the bases loaded PItchouts are increasingly rare in today's game as you can see below: Advertisement I'm shortcutting a lot of great analysis here, but Sam Miller on his substack discussed the demise of the pitchout in 2023 and estimated each team might throw a single pitchout a season. The bottom line is that sabermetrics made a really compelling case that they weren't worth wasting a pitch that could be a strike, which makes sense. That said, even when pitchouts were much more common, I'm not sure I've ever seen a pitchout with the bases loaded because a team would only do it if you thought there were a reasonable shot at at getting a runner who was trying to steal. And with the bases loaded, the only runner who could be attempting to steal would be the guy on third. In this case, that would mean one of the fastest players in MLB taking a shot at stealing home with two outs despite the righty on the mound. Then again, maybe the combination of Nico in the box and PCA at the plate makes this a different equation. After all, if you can get the out at third, you eliminate the risk of Nico making contact with the bases loaded, which he promptly did [VIDEO]. What say you, Cubs fans? When was the last time you saw a pitchout with the bases loaded or did that play make you do a double take as well? Was it just a good risk to take given Nico's much higher than likely ability to get a hit at the plate? Or was it something else all together? Advertisement Either way, I can now definitively say I've seen a pitchout with the bases loaded. Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to be in the middle of the most unlikely things. More from
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Cubs place C Miguel Amaya (oblique) on 10-day IL
May 25 - The Chicago Cubs placed Miguel Amaya on the 10-day injured list Sunday morning and selected fellow catcher Reese McGuire from Triple-A Iowa. The move involving Amaya was expected after he sustained a left oblique strain on a throw to second base during the fifth inning of Chicago's 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Veteran Carson Kelly is expected to move into the starting job. "It was my normal throw to second base but it felt weird there," Amaya told reporters after the game. "I felt discomfort. I tried to throw again and sadly couldn't keep in the game. It's sad I am going to be out, I don't know how long. We will wait for the results and see what is going on in there." Amaya, 26, is batting .280 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 27 games this season. McGuire, 30, has played in 355 career games with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He is batting .280 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 22 games this season with Iowa. --Field Level Media
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Miguel Amaya exits with injury in Cubs loss, a blow to one of MLB's best catching duos
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya exited in the fifth inning of Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati with a left oblique strain, a blow to one of the best catching duos in baseball. After the game, manager Craig Counsell told media in Cincinnati that Amaya would be headed to the injured list. It wasn't long ago that the Cubs' catching situation appeared irreparable, with Amaya's development seemingly stalled. At the start of last July, the position was producing a 32 wRC+ for the team, 29th in baseball. The combined minus-1.9 fWAR was dead last. Advertisement 'Those numbers, when you're at the bottom of the league, that just hurts,' Counsell said earlier this season. 'That hurts team offense, for sure. At that position, when you can be a real difference maker offensively, that's impactful. No question about it.' Team president Jed Hoyer searched for long-term upgrades at the spot at the trade deadline last season — including a pursuit of the Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe — and again made it a priority in the offseason. Finding a young catcher with offensive upside was going to be hard, and it proved to be unrealistic. But Hoyer knew, at minimum, pairing a veteran who could handle a 50-50 split with Amaya was important. It wasn't as if there were a plethora of options to choose from, but the Cubs ended up with Carson Kelly as Amaya's backstop-mate. The results have been better than anyone could have hoped. Entering play Saturday, Cubs catchers had a 161 wRC+, tops in baseball, and their 2.5 fWAR was topped only by Seattle (3.0 fWAR), which boasts arguably the best catcher in baseball in Cal Raleigh. Chicago's catching duo has done this while handling a pitching staff that's battled injuries and has had multiple young arms learning the ropes at the highest level. 'They're both really steady guys,' veteran starter Jameson Taillon said. 'They're really calm when things aren't going well, which is what you look for from leaders.' For batters with at least 80 plate appearances, Kelly leads catchers with a 188 wRC+. Amaya is 10th at 126. Both have already topped 1 WAR, a mark Amaya has never reached in his career and one Kelly has passed just three previous times. 'It's a huge luxury in MLB to have one good catcher because it's such a hard and unique position,' Taillon said. 'But it's a real advantage to have two really good ones. They can give each other days off, and there's no drop-off.' The Cubs have to hope Amaya's injury won't keep him out for an extended period because the duo has seemed to feed off each other. When Kelly stepped in on Saturday, he went 2-for-2 with a home run, showing why the tandem has worked so well and also giving hope that the Cubs can handle what hopefully isn't a long absence for Amaya. Advertisement It's rare for catchers not to get worn down throughout the season, so having a competent backup is important. But the Cubs are getting more than competence, and the reality is there's no backup in this situation. Both catchers are producing at a high level. There seems to be both an understanding and an appreciation of their roles by each player. 'No matter who's in the lineup,' Amaya said, 'we're locked in to do our job on both sides of the game.' The job of a catcher is demanding and sometimes a bit thankless. When working with veterans, a catcher has to make sure they are always on the same page and understand what allows that pitcher to thrive and what buttons to push when. With youngsters such as Cade Horton and Ben Brown, a catcher has to lead the way and make sure they are helping guide developing talents. There is so much to learn as relievers come in and out of games and on and off the roster. They have to do all that while making sure they're able to produce offensively, as well. 'The thing that I've learned over my career is you've got to leave your at-bats after they've happened and focus on the pitchers,' Kelly said. 'It's having that separation. When I put my gear on, it's over. You flip the switch and work on your pitchers. And when I come into the dugout and take my gear off, then it's hitting. Having those physical changes helps me make that adjustment.' The Cubs lead baseball in runs scored (310) and are third in wRC+ (122). Having players such as Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki makes everything run. But it's the production from Amaya and Kelly that has helped take this lineup to another level. 'Offensively, they lengthen our lineup,' Taillon said. 'Lots of teams have holes at the end, or from the catcher position. With them, they strengthen and lengthen our lineup big-time. And it's not even the most important thing they do for us compared to their defense and leadership.' Advertisement With Amaya headed for the IL, the Cubs are lucky to have Kelly performing at such a high level. Still, they surely hope Amaya's absence is short so they can continue to put out one of the most imposing catching duos in baseball. (Top photo of Miguel Amaya leaving Saturday's game after being injured in the fifth inning: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
An old Carson Kelly-Matthew Boyd connection shows new chemistry building within Cubs
An old connection between left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd and catcher Carson Kelly is an example of the new chemistry quickly building within the Chicago Cubs, a first-place team with a deep sense of gratitude, curiosity and determination. Boyd's friendly, outgoing personality once made him a natural host whenever the Oregon State coaching staff wanted to close the deal with a prized college recruit. Boyd's off-campus house served as a hub for the baseball team — future first-round pick Michael Conforto lived next door — and the group made sure to show Kelly a good time. Advertisement Baseball is a small world, where players' paths intersect and diverge over the years, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Boyd grew up in Mercer Island, Wash., before joining an Oregon State program that had won back-to-back College World Series titles in 2006 and 2007. Landing Kelly, a potential in-state recruit from Portland, was viewed as a top priority. As they wound up separately pursuing their careers — Kelly signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a second-round pick in the 2012 draft — that swing and a miss became a running joke. 'Every time I saw him, I gave him a hard time,' Boyd said. 'You're the one that got away.' The Cubs reconnected Boyd and Kelly last offseason, which was defined by a blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker and several measured moves to improve an 83-win club. Though not the splashiest additions, those two free agents have already had a big impact, posting strong numbers while adding to the team's competitiveness and clubhouse culture of preparation. Cruise the bases, Cars. — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 6, 2025 Boyd, 34, doesn't take this for granted. His two-year, $29 million deal came together at the end of Thanksgiving weekend, the reward for his perseverance in coming back from Tommy John surgery, and a standout performance during the Cleveland Guardians' playoff run. That momentum has carried over into this season, with Boyd (4-2, 2.98 ERA) allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his nine starts as a Cub. With All-Star pitchers Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele on the injured list, that consistency is vital. 'He's the same exact person — super kind, generous,' Kelly said of the player he shadowed at Oregon State. 'It's kind of funny to see it come full circle.' By the Winter Meetings, Kelly's two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Cubs was being finalized. A gifted shortstop and pitcher in high school, he had chosen Oregon over Oregon State before the Cardinals bought out his college commitment with a $1.6 million signing bonus. Given his size, arm strength and leadership qualities, the Cardinals converted him into a catcher. Advertisement Instead of anointing Kelly as Yadier Molina's replacement, the Cardinals packaged Kelly in the Paul Goldschmidt trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2018 season. When healthy, Kelly established himself as a solid two-way catcher, but injuries made it difficult to sustain year-over-year growth. Crossing paths again, Kelly and Boyd overlapped with the Detroit Tigers during the 2023 season. Boyd was recovering from a Tommy John procedure when the Tigers snapped up Kelly, who had been released by the Diamondbacks. Boyd listened to Kelly explain the process behind the mechanical changes to his stance and his swing. That overhaul has led to a stunning offensive surge from Kelly, who has a 1.025 OPS, eight home runs, 21 walks and 23 RBIs through his first 29 games with the Cubs. 'Justin Verlander told this to me: 'You have to adapt or you get pushed out,'' Boyd said. 'That's scary for players, right? Because you do something your whole life. And then when you don't have success, whether it's because of a physical thing that gets in the way or whatnot, there comes this point when you have to look at yourself honestly and make that change. It takes a lot of courage to be able to step out and do that. 'He was flipping over every stone: 'How can I become a better hitter?' It takes courage to try new things when you're 30 years old or in your late 20s, and then say, 'OK, now I'm going to take this to the highest level, the pinnacle of what we do.' Not only go do it, but commit to it. It's really cool to see the success that he's having. It couldn't happen to a better person.' The Cubs represented a kind of homecoming for Kelly, who was born in Chicago before moving to Oregon, where his father carved out a career as a Nike marketing executive based out of the company's Beaverton headquarters. Advertisement In signing with the Cardinals out of high school, Kelly promised his parents, Mike and Traci, that he would get a college degree. 'The reality is baseball is a very tough business,' Kelly said. 'You're a former player a lot longer than you are a current player.' As it turned out, Boyd was a pretty good recruiter. Kelly found a good online program through Oregon State and began his coursework in the fall of 2012. He majored in economics and loaded up on classes during the offseasons, earning a degree without spending much time in Corvallis. 'I did all 180 credits online,' Kelly said. 'Never stepped one foot in class.' (Photo of Carson Kelly and Matthew Boyd: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Surprise! Moisés Ballesteros' parents travel from Venezuela and see son make his MLB debut
CHICAGO (AP) — The parents of Moisés Ballesteros traveled from Venezuela thinking they were going to see their son play for the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. Instead, the 21-year-old catcher was called up by the Cubs after Ian Happ was put on the 10-day injured list, and the Ballesteros' family was able to attend Moisés' MLB debut on Tuesday night. While Ballesteros had a lackluster 0-for-4 outing in his first big league game, Chicago did manage to pull out a 5-4, walk-off victory over the Miami Marlins. After the game, Ballesteros said he was anxious and that his nerves got the better of him, but that he was trying to 'give it his best' every time he was at the plate with his family making their first trip to the U.S. 'My parents had never watched me play in person as a professional,' Ballesteros said. 'To have them be here at my first professional game, I was trying to just make them proud and go out there and give it my best. We're going to move on to tomorrow, but it was really special.' Ballesteros earned the start as a designated hitter. In his final at-bat, with runners on first and second in the ninth inning, Ballesteros grounded into a fielder's choice and beat out the throw to reach base safely. The play also advanced Carson Kelly to third base, a crucial part of the Cubs' three-run ninth comeback. Per MLB Pipeline, Ballesteros was the Cubs' No. 4 prospect and the No. 8 catching prospect in the minors. Ballesteros' first major league game was an exciting one, he said, and he reiterated how great it felt that his team was able to come together for the win. While he is still looking for his first big league hit, he did get his first MLB game out of the way. Now, Ballesteros will focus his opportunities moving forward. ___ AP MLB:
