Two outs in the bottom of the 5th inning. Your team is trailing by one run in a 3-2 game and you’re up to bat with the bases loaded – the count is 2-1. Umpire calls strike two on a borderline fastball at the bottom of the zone. With two ABS challenges in your pocket, do you burn one here to bring count from 2-2 to 3-1? I would, in fact I think most teams would. That’s exactly what Rafael Devers thought in a game against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. And yet, it came back to bite him.
(more…)Recent Posts
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A Masterclass in Pitch Sequencing in the ABS Era
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Ben Brown’s New Addition
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown – Chicago Sun Times/Kenta Harada/Getty Images Entering the 2026 MLB season, if you wanted to pick the MVP of the Cubs’ pitching staff, you’d have a handful of options. Cade Horton, who made a run at the NL Rookie of the Year award last year. Matthew Boyd, an All-Star in 2025. Edward Cabrera, a powerful arm with one of the best changeups in baseball. Shota Imanaga, who had a rough 2025 but has continued to be a reliable arm for the North Siders. Perhaps even Caleb Thielbar and Daniel Palencia would get some votes in the bullpen. One name that nobody would have put forth? Ben Brown.
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What’s Wrong With Fernando Tatis Jr.?
The Sporting News With a quarter of the 2026 MLB season behind us (crazy, I know), the Padres’ slugger has yet to hit his first home run of the season. His OPS is a measly .611. His wRC+ sits at 79, and his ISO is .049. For a player who averages one home run every 20 plate appearances over his career, the lack of power in Tatis Jr.’s bat is shocking to say the least. What’s going on with the San Diego superstar?
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Why Are They Pitching To Nico?
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner – Audacy.com/Griffin Quinn/Getty Images Bottom of the ninth. One of the fastest runners in baseball is standing on third base. One of the best contact hitters in all of baseball is standing in the box. There’s one out in a one run situation. You’re the manager; what do you do here?
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Cubs acquire RHP Edward Cabrera from Marlins
Photo courtesy of FanGraphs The Miami Marlins are sending RHP Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs. In return, the Cubs are sending OF Owen Caissie (Cubs’ #1 prospect), SS/2B Cristian Hernandez (Cubs’ #11 prospect), and 18 year old 3B Edgardo De Leon to Miami.
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Cubs sign Phil Maton to two-year contract
Getty Images The Chicago Cubs have signed right-handed reliever Phil Maton to a two-year contract worth $14.5 million guaranteed. Maton, 32, spent the 2025 season with the Cardinals and Rangers and posted a 2.76 ERA with a 33% strikeout percentage.
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Cubs sign Hoby Milner to a one-year contract for 2026
Photo courtesy of North Side Baseball Left-handed reliever Hoby Milner has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $3.75 million guaranteed. Milner, a 34 year old Texas native, has one of the most unique arm slots in all of baseball and last pitched for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
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Cubs sign Caleb Thielbar to one-year deal
Photo by Andy Martinez, Marquee Sports Network
(more…)Lefty reliever Caleb Thielbar has signed a one year contract worth $4.5 million with the Chicago Cubs. This comes after Caleb posted an outstanding 24-25 season with the Northsiders. This now adds a second lefty to the Cubs’ bullpen with the earlier addition of Hoby Milner (one year, $3.75 million).
