It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad to see you this evening. We always have a table available
for you. There’s no cover charge. Let us know if you need anything. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
The Blue Jays evened up the World Series at two games each with a 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4. No matter which side you’re cheering for (and I know most of you are cheering for the Blue Jays), you have to admit that this has been a very entertaining World Series. I said before the Series started that those predicting a Dodgers blowout were all wet, even though I admitted that LA should be slightly favored. But I think with just at most three games to play and two of them in Toronto, the Blue Jays are the slight favourite now.
Last night I asked you if the Cubs should pick up reliever Andrew Kittredge’s option for next season. The vote was extremely close, with 52 percent of you thinking that the Cubs should pick up Kittredge’s option for what is, basically, a one-year, $8 million deal.
Here’s the part where we listen to music. I don’t normally do film stuff on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, but I have decided that I’m going to start the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic on Monday rather than tomorrow. The World Series is too gripping to give movies their proper attention right now.
Tonight I’m going to keep up with the Halloween jazz with the SFJazz Collective and their version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” This is from a live performance in 2015.
Welcome back to those who skip the jazz.
Tonight I’m going to ask you to pass judgement on one of the Cubs rookies, namely third baseman Matt Shaw. The question is do you think he’s the present and future third baseman of the Cubs, or do you think the Cubs should acquire a new third baseman this winter?
In one sense, this seems like a silly question. Shaw had a bWAR of 3.1 in his rookie year. His fWAR was “only” 1.4, but that’s still quite good for a 23-year-old rookie, just two seasons after being drafted out of Maryland. Shaw was a huge surprise defensively, as most observers thought he’d be limited to being a second baseman. Instead, he is a Gold Glove finalist in his first season in the league.
But that good news also hints at some bad news. Those terrific WAR numbers are propped up by that terrific defense. On offense, Shaw hit a pretty mediocre .226/.295/.394. His second half numbers were better—.258/.317/.522—but that’s still a bottom-of-the-order hitter in a good lineup.
The reason why I ask is that there are other options for the Cubs at third base. In particular there are two elite free agent bats who are third basemen: Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez. Bregman also happens to be a very good defensive third baseman. Suárez is not, but he also hit 49 home runs last year and terrorizes the Cubs every time he plays against them. Suárez has 36 career home runs against the Cubs, more than any other team.
In addition, the Phillies are expected to make Alec Bohm available on the trade market. Bohm’s power has never developed like the Phillies expected, but he did hit 11 home runs this year and 15 the year before, so he does have average power at least. Bohm also sports a career .328 on-base percentage. Bohm can become a free agent after next year, so he probably won’t cost a lot in trade capital. In addition, Bohm might be a good choice if you think that Shaw is the long-term answer but isn’t ready yet. Bohm could play one year for the Cubs and then leave as a free agent, setting up Shaw to be the everyday third baseman again in 2027.
So what do you think? Should the Cubs ride or die with Matt Shaw at third? Should they sign a big name free agent like Bregman or Suárez to play third and move Shaw to a utility role and/or trade bait? Or should they try to find a stopgap third baseman like Bohm, giving Shaw more time to get adjusted to the majors and the Cubs more time to evaluate him?
There may be other potential third baseman under one year of control on the trade market other than Bohm. If you know of one of them and want to suggest the Cubs get them instead, please vote for the third option and explain in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’re always happy to see you. If you checked anything, give us your ticket and we’ll get it for you. Please get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.
