Reid Francis
@reidfrancis.bsky.social
From that description you may also like the smell of Revolution by Trudon - it was described to me as smelling like drinking Lagavulin on a leather couch in front of an open fire. Unfortunately it's a similar price, but my 100ml of it has lasted approx 4 years
November 23, 2025 at 5:23 AM
From that description you may also like the smell of Revolution by Trudon - it was described to me as smelling like drinking Lagavulin on a leather couch in front of an open fire. Unfortunately it's a similar price, but my 100ml of it has lasted approx 4 years
How much longer do they keep Hollowell around? Less record of Major League success than Morgan and he had bad results in Iowa this year. I was surprised he was still on the 40 man to start the season, I don't understand how he's stayed there for the full year
November 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
How much longer do they keep Hollowell around? Less record of Major League success than Morgan and he had bad results in Iowa this year. I was surprised he was still on the 40 man to start the season, I don't understand how he's stayed there for the full year
There are a couple of reasons that give me some hope:
1) this year's spending may have been suppressed by going over the luxury tax last year - no such issue next year.
2) Ricketts says team profits go straight back to baseball ops, and surely it was a good year for the team financially
1) this year's spending may have been suppressed by going over the luxury tax last year - no such issue next year.
2) Ricketts says team profits go straight back to baseball ops, and surely it was a good year for the team financially
October 17, 2025 at 7:51 PM
There are a couple of reasons that give me some hope:
1) this year's spending may have been suppressed by going over the luxury tax last year - no such issue next year.
2) Ricketts says team profits go straight back to baseball ops, and surely it was a good year for the team financially
1) this year's spending may have been suppressed by going over the luxury tax last year - no such issue next year.
2) Ricketts says team profits go straight back to baseball ops, and surely it was a good year for the team financially
When they signed Boyd, it seemed like a good move if they also got a front of the rotation arm. Rea's signing seemed like a weird call. Both have been better than expected this season, but Boyd wearing down was foreseeable and the fact they're not starting Rea when he's pitching well says a lot
October 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
When they signed Boyd, it seemed like a good move if they also got a front of the rotation arm. Rea's signing seemed like a weird call. Both have been better than expected this season, but Boyd wearing down was foreseeable and the fact they're not starting Rea when he's pitching well says a lot
The thing is, there was a near consensus in the offseason that the Cubs needed another, higher-end starter. And a justification I heard for not getting one was that, if they still needed one at the trade deadline, it'd have less of a luxury tax impact. But then it was too costly at the deadline
October 7, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The thing is, there was a near consensus in the offseason that the Cubs needed another, higher-end starter. And a justification I heard for not getting one was that, if they still needed one at the trade deadline, it'd have less of a luxury tax impact. But then it was too costly at the deadline
we probably needed. Now in a year when we're competitive with a super star in a walk year, we're not really close to the luxury tax, and we have good prospect capital still sitting in the system. Disappointing, and feels like a massive missed opportunity
July 31, 2025 at 10:54 PM
we probably needed. Now in a year when we're competitive with a super star in a walk year, we're not really close to the luxury tax, and we have good prospect capital still sitting in the system. Disappointing, and feels like a massive missed opportunity
Came into the season feeling like we needed another SP, RP and 3B. There was an argument then about leaving budget to make moves at the deadline, when the needs might be different. At the deadline the needs were SP, RP and 3B. They made some moves there, but none of them with the kind of impact...
July 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Came into the season feeling like we needed another SP, RP and 3B. There was an argument then about leaving budget to make moves at the deadline, when the needs might be different. At the deadline the needs were SP, RP and 3B. They made some moves there, but none of them with the kind of impact...
Is this a sign that his pet Ministry of Regulation is struggling to find many genuinely bad regulation?
May 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Is this a sign that his pet Ministry of Regulation is struggling to find many genuinely bad regulation?
Surely he's the odd man out when Hodge finishes his IL stint. But even waiting that out seems a long way away
May 24, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Surely he's the odd man out when Hodge finishes his IL stint. But even waiting that out seems a long way away
I'd be interested in an update post on his contact quality - since the deep dive on the underlying metrics a few weeks ago, it seems like he's been making a lot more hard contact (including 2 HR and a 97 mph single today)
May 17, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I'd be interested in an update post on his contact quality - since the deep dive on the underlying metrics a few weeks ago, it seems like he's been making a lot more hard contact (including 2 HR and a 97 mph single today)
Hilarious that this is true despite having 0 HRs from 2B and 3B (Shaw's HR was pinch hit)
May 13, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Hilarious that this is true despite having 0 HRs from 2B and 3B (Shaw's HR was pinch hit)
Maybe Brisbane's mayor will console him
May 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Maybe Brisbane's mayor will console him
Over the last 5 years the Cubs have given up Schwarber, Darvish, Rizzo, Baez, Bryant, Kimbrell, Contreras and Bellinger, and to show for it they only have PCA, Alcantara, Cassie and Preciado still in the org. Doesn't seem like a great return for players of that calibre.
April 14, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Over the last 5 years the Cubs have given up Schwarber, Darvish, Rizzo, Baez, Bryant, Kimbrell, Contreras and Bellinger, and to show for it they only have PCA, Alcantara, Cassie and Preciado still in the org. Doesn't seem like a great return for players of that calibre.
Makes more sense than Lynn because it'd be a clear rotation upgrade. But I also wouldn't want to give up any of Shaw, Horton, Ballesteros, Cassie or Alcantara
March 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Makes more sense than Lynn because it'd be a clear rotation upgrade. But I also wouldn't want to give up any of Shaw, Horton, Ballesteros, Cassie or Alcantara
Add a depth piece of Lynn's calibre? Good move in isolation. Adding another pitcher without options when there are already 11 or 12 of those on the roster? That's the part that doesn't make sense to me - unless it's a minor league contract with an opt out closer to mid season
March 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Add a depth piece of Lynn's calibre? Good move in isolation. Adding another pitcher without options when there are already 11 or 12 of those on the roster? That's the part that doesn't make sense to me - unless it's a minor league contract with an opt out closer to mid season
So following today's moves, the Cubs have approx. $30m they could spend and the Padres have a greater need to shed salary. Trade for Cease, sign Turner for a bench roll, and have budget left over for the trade deadline?
February 13, 2025 at 5:38 AM
So following today's moves, the Cubs have approx. $30m they could spend and the Padres have a greater need to shed salary. Trade for Cease, sign Turner for a bench roll, and have budget left over for the trade deadline?
What do you think it would take to get Cease and Suarez? Something like Wick/Assad + Alcantara/Triantos maybe with a reliever thrown in (perhaps Thompson)? I'd hope they'd be able to find a way to not give up one of the top 4 prospects
February 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
What do you think it would take to get Cease and Suarez? Something like Wick/Assad + Alcantara/Triantos maybe with a reliever thrown in (perhaps Thompson)? I'd hope they'd be able to find a way to not give up one of the top 4 prospects
Could they use the remaining money to do something like add Stanek and Moncada? Would deepen the bullpen and strengthen the bench, which is probably about the best impact still possible with the remaining budget (unless they trade for King)
January 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Could they use the remaining money to do something like add Stanek and Moncada? Would deepen the bullpen and strengthen the bench, which is probably about the best impact still possible with the remaining budget (unless they trade for King)
Is the Morton deal likely to impact Flaherty's market? Have the Orioles likely signed Morton instead of Flaherty, or might they end up trying to have both in their rotation?
January 3, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Is the Morton deal likely to impact Flaherty's market? Have the Orioles likely signed Morton instead of Flaherty, or might they end up trying to have both in their rotation?
I saw an article on MLB yesterday that said the Cubs 'remain in the mix' on Flaherty. Does that suggest something more active than him being a back up option if they don't pull off Sasaki or a trade? www.mlb.com/news/best-re...
Where will these 5 prominent free agents land?
When Juan Soto signed his record-breaking deal during the Winter Meetings, the expectations around the Majors were that the free-agent dam was about to break.
Soto’s deal would theoretically set the m...
www.mlb.com
January 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I saw an article on MLB yesterday that said the Cubs 'remain in the mix' on Flaherty. Does that suggest something more active than him being a back up option if they don't pull off Sasaki or a trade? www.mlb.com/news/best-re...
I generally prefer Storygraph to Goodreads - it gives quite a bit more info on books and reading habits. Also has the bonus of being able to export your Goodreads library so you don't have to start it over
January 2, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I generally prefer Storygraph to Goodreads - it gives quite a bit more info on books and reading habits. Also has the bonus of being able to export your Goodreads library so you don't have to start it over
...then they're most likely going to have to DFA one of the infielders they acquired this off season. Maybe they think they can sneak Brujan through during spring training or something like that? Or Brujan is a backup option that they'll trade if they land Rojas (similar to Thaiss/Kelly)?
December 30, 2024 at 10:32 PM
...then they're most likely going to have to DFA one of the infielders they acquired this off season. Maybe they think they can sneak Brujan through during spring training or something like that? Or Brujan is a backup option that they'll trade if they land Rojas (similar to Thaiss/Kelly)?
This makes the Brujan trade even more confusing. Brujan, Workman and Canario all need to be on the active roster, which can maybe fit if you pencil Shaw into the everyday 3B job (although it's still not ideal). But if Shaw is sharing the role with someone (and Rojas seems a good fit for this)...
December 30, 2024 at 10:30 PM
This makes the Brujan trade even more confusing. Brujan, Workman and Canario all need to be on the active roster, which can maybe fit if you pencil Shaw into the everyday 3B job (although it's still not ideal). But if Shaw is sharing the role with someone (and Rojas seems a good fit for this)...
The only way this would make sense is if they get a decent starting pitcher back, and then use the money saved to go out and sign someone like Bregman or Alonso. Doesn't seem likely, but also not sure it makes them significantly better than if they just went and got another starter
December 21, 2024 at 11:48 PM
The only way this would make sense is if they get a decent starting pitcher back, and then use the money saved to go out and sign someone like Bregman or Alonso. Doesn't seem likely, but also not sure it makes them significantly better than if they just went and got another starter
Obviously it would've been better to stay under in 2024, then have the big spend on 25 and 26. But now they've gone over, not having the threat of 3rd year penalties in 2026 could be significant
December 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Obviously it would've been better to stay under in 2024, then have the big spend on 25 and 26. But now they've gone over, not having the threat of 3rd year penalties in 2026 could be significant