Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the ultimate hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents, and Cubs fans around the world. Come in and chill with us. There’s no cover charge tonight, and we’re all in high spirits. A few tables are still open, so feel free to bring your own drinks.
BCB After Dark is your spot to chat about baseball, music, movies, or anything else on your mind, as long as it adheres to site rules. Late-night visitors are encouraged to kick off the celebration, but everyone else is welcome to join the fun as you rise the following morning and into the afternoon.
This evening, the Cubs triumphed over the Pirates 9-5, featuring home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson. Miguel Amaya contributed with two more hits, as he has been on fire since the Cubs adjusted his swing. This victory brings the Cubs above .500 at 67-66 for the first time since May 28. And since I promised to share Judy if the Cubs exceeded .500, here she is:
We haven’t needed Judy much this season, so I’m thrilled to see her return.
I believe the Cubs will need to maintain a .700 win percentage for the remainder of the season to secure a playoff spot. While this is nearly impossible over a full season, achieving it over 29 games seems highly improbable. Nevertheless, it gives us something to aspire to.
Last night, I asked you to choose a cap from the alternate designs of the Cubs’ minor league affiliates. The Myrtle Beach Pirate Pelicans caps took first place with 26 percent of the vote. In second was the South Bend Cabritos Maldichos at 19 percent, while the Myrtle Beach Palmetto cap garnered 16 percent.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I typically don’t write a movie essay. However, I always make time for jazz, so those who prefer to skip can do so now.
Tonight, we highlight pianist Keith Jarrett and the Keith Jarrett Trio, live in Tokyo from 1996. Gary Peacock is on bass, and Jack DeJohnette is on drums.
Here is “It Could Happen To You.”
Welcome back to all who wished to skip the jazz segment.
I’ve noticed some buzz about the Cubs potentially having interest in Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander, who will become a free agent at season’s end. This article by Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic sub. req.) references this potential interest.
Santander, a 30-year-old switch-hitting outfielder, has spent his entire major league career in Baltimore after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft before the 2017 season. He was a bench player until breaking out during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, hitting 11 home runs in just 37 games played.
The primary allure of Santander for the Cubs is his power. He currently ranks second in the American League with 38 home runs. Though this total would typically lead the league at this time, Aaron Judge is showcasing his exceptional talent. As a result, Santander finds himself in second place on the AL home run leaderboard.
His home run tally earned Santander a spot in the All-Star Game this summer. As of tonight, he holds a batting line of .235/.302/.519. While this average is somewhat concerning, it partly reflects a career-low .219 batting average on balls in play. However, considering his career average of .246, his current stats aren’t drastically far from expected performance.
Defensively, he primarily plays right field, where he possesses a strong arm but slightly below-average range. It’s likely he wouldn’t outperform Seiya Suzuki in right field, but he wouldn’t be a significant downgrade either. The two could alternate between right field and designated hitter.
Another consideration against signing Santander is the potential blockage he poses to minor league outfielders like Owen Caissie or Kevin Alcántara next season. However, it’s generally believed that Santander would be open to a three-year deal with opt-outs, similar to Cody Bellinger’s contract signed before the current season. If Santander seeks a four- or five-year contract, the Cubs would likely withdraw from negotiations. Yet, I’m uncertain whether any other MLB team would extend a four-year offer to Santander.
Naturally, the Cubs would only pursue Santander if Cody Bellinger opts out of his contract at the season’s end. This entire discussion hinges on Bellinger deciding to opt out and explore opportunities with another team.
How do you feel about the Cubs signing Anthony Santander as a free agent, assuming Bellinger opts out and Santander would be willing to entertain a short-term deal with opt-outs? Are you excited about his potential as a switch-hitting power hitter, or do you believe the negatives outweigh the benefits and that the funds could be better allocated elsewhere?
Poll
What are your thoughts on the Cubs potentially signing free agent Anthony Santander?
Thank you for stopping by. We know you have many choices for late-night browsing on the internet, and we’re grateful you chose us. Please return home safely, recycle any cans and bottles, tip your waitstaff, and join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
