iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Never a good idea to get too high on a player at his peak moments or too low on a player in his valleys. So let me offer some Ben Brown optimism today. Number of 4-seams in a game that exceed both 96 mph and 18 IVB (rising impact). Look at the top 2; they’re actively working on improved shape.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

I do some scouting report-type write ups over at our Ten Sixty West discord; here is an example from a strong outing yesterday. Reach out to me or @ivyfutures.bsky.social if interested in an invite, we’d love to have you.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

One of the first breakouts in the Cubs system I can definitely point to in 2025 is Grant Kipp, the 25 yr old out of Yale in his 4th pro season. After two AA starts, Kipp’s numbers: 10 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 13 K. 34.3 CSW%. SIX pitches, including top 3 slider in the system.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

With Justin Turner on the books, I think I’m ready to go with my first Opening Day roster projection here for MLB and AAA. I’m cautiously projecting Nico and Luke Little to make it back in time for OD, but not the same outcome for Assad and Birdsell. Will do my best to update over next month.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

No promises to its accuracy but this is how I’d organize the Cubs organizational depth chart right now.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Really nice minor lg signing by the Cubs to grab Ben Heller. Suspect he’ll have a midseason opt out there, and I hope the Cubs find a way to get him a MLB shot before that hits. Heller is a flat VAA RHP with clear plan of attacks against both RHH and especially LHH with a fun cutter-change combo.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Here’s my look at the offensive depth chart for the top 3 levels of the Cubs organization right now.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Ess A Bagel and a stroll around here was one proper December morning, lemmetellya

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

It would be just about impossible to land your best two pitches in better locations than Matthew Boyd did in Cleveland last year. On the one hand, I’m excited to have that level of command artistry around. On the other, is it really possible to repeat THAT?

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Porter Hodge’s long-term success in MLB high leverage depends on his ability to manage walks. And I think the key to that is throwing sliders in corner of zone. It’s a thin margin, and I think it’s fair to want a larger sample of proof that he can consistently. But when he does? Watch out.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

And this is telling to anyone that has spent much time watching Porter. His sweeper slider is very clearly his comfortable pitch, his misses seem must more reliable than his fastball ones. And they got smaller. Check out his AAA slider heat map against his post-6/20 big lg one:

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

But those of us that watched him in the minors didn’t worry about the stuff translating, we worried if he’d throw strikes. You’ll see in the quick scouting report I wrote when he was called up last year, my suspicion was that walks would stop him from immediate MLB success.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

From a stuff perspective, barring something unforeseen, we don’t have to worry. He gets a 70 stuff score on PitchingBot, and he’s just so unique. Here are Savant’s league wide graphs on four seam fastballs and sweepers, movement versus average. You’ll see with arrows how unique Hodge is.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Here’s how I see an Opening Day projection for the Cubs top 3 levels after this week’s roster deadlines. Optimistic some of our injured dudes will actually make it back in time, adding extra depth to the mix. Still quite a bit of work for JedHawk to make the MLB team playoff caliber.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Change in MLB tender deadline could lead to very busy week of minor deals, I think. AZ Phil at TCR is first I saw mention it. The short of it: deadline is very close to R5 Protection Day now, allowing teams to DFA on Tuesday for 40-man room, talk trades for 3 days, and then non-tender on Friday.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Ian Happ was the 18th best hitter in baseball against pitches 86 mph or faster. Deals with all kinds of hard stuff — even sliders and cutters — so well. And because his plate approach is phenomenal, he earns a lot of key spots where the pitcher has to throw it, and he knows it, and he hurts it.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

It’s this one in Des Moines in 2019. What a bizarre thing to remember haha.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

My Palencia optimism: I think he hit the next level, maybe the final level, in the development of his 2 best pitches in the second half. See attached MiLB pitch data: more ride and velo led to unprecedented whiff. The heartbeat has to chill when in MLB still, but the stuff has never been nastier.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

His name is Erian Rodriguez, and unless you’re a sicko, you’re prbly not familiar. He’s about to turn 23 and he was a 13th round pick in 2021. And the thing is, I think he might be on the verge of being really good. Attached are 2 write ups I did on the Discord after starts of his. 🤞 don’t lose him.

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

This should be updated for the Cubs org as of November 5th. Mistakes are likely, rotation and bullpen order doesn’t matter. Time to go to work!

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Bryan Smith @cubsmith.bsky.social · 18/11/2023

The Cubs organization heading into the winter, now that the subtractions are (mostly) done. A decent foundation, but a lot a lot of work to be done.

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