Jameson Taillon has been mostly inconsistent this year. Today he gave up eight runs in three innings against the Blue Jays and his ERA now north of 5.50. Enough is enough!
Here’s the thing folks… Jameson has only started 25+ games four times in his career: 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022. He lost most of 2019 due to an injury and did not play in 2020 which was shortened because of COVID-19. His best era was 3.20 in 2018 when he also had 179 strikeouts, the most by 28 in his entire career.
If the Cubs really want to make the playoffs management needs to say “Out with the inconsistent, in with the average or good.” Jed Hoyer took blame for the bullpen issues earlier this season. Now he needs to take blame for the rotation issues!
What I am saying here is they claimed in early July when they sent Hayden Wesneski to Iowa it was to stretch him out for the rotation and Stroman is expected to be taken off the Injured list this week. So, they need to move Taillon and Smyly to the bullpen as long relievers for the rest of the year. This would give Wesneski a chance to really show what he’s got and if he is part of “the next great Cubs team” in Jed’s words.
Up to and including his start on June 11th Wesneski had started 10 games. In those ten starts he had better stats to those of Taillon in the same time frame. Let’s take a look at their lines in that time:
Taillon – 10 Games Started (did not make it to the 5th inning 4 times)
1 Win – 4 Losses – 7.02 ERA – 40 Strike Outs
Wesneski – 10 Games Started (did not make it to the 5th inning 2 times)
2 Wins – 3 Losses – 5.33 ERA – 40 Strike Outs
It is understanding that at that time Jed was not going to tell Jameson, his $68 million dollar man from last offseason that he was being moved the the bullpen. Especially when he was introduced in his press conference as a starting pitcher. However, Jed had already put the blame on himself for the problems the bullpen was having. So, if I was in Jed’s shoes I would have been doing just that because Taillon was clearly not settling into the scene at Wrigley very well and they anticipate having Wesneski here in the rotation when the team is contenting consistently again.
With that, let’s discuss the “tie” I mentioned in the title. While it might seem as if the tie was already discussed that is not the tie I was talking about. It was brought to my attention recently by fellow writer here on Double Overtime Gaurav Garg that former Cub Sam Fuld is the General Manager out in Philadelphia. This got me thinking about guys on the Cubs who might not be fit to succeed a the major league level who might be able to make their bank in other positions on an off the field while not leaving the major leagues.
Of the guys on the current active roster Jameson Taillon and Nick Madrigal might be best cut out as candidates to put on a tie and work in the front office for a team as an assistant to the GM. It should be clear by Taillon’s carrer stats which I mentioned above why he is is on this short list of players who should maybe consider a transition to helping manage a team in some capacity.
However, the Cubs still have a few years of team control over Nick and I believe the also have some minor league options left. Sadly, he is not that great at third and he is only average with the bat though. So, I do not see him having a ton of success at the major league level as a player. With teams hiring younger coaches and General Managers these days it might be time for him to hang up the cleats and work where he came from in the White Sox front office when they tear the team apart this winter. That totally sounds like a move Jerry Reinsdorf would make too.
With that… it is almost time two watch the Cubs sweep the season set against the White Sox.
If you cannot play with them, root for them!