{"id":31059,"date":"2025-02-03T11:14:45","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T11:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=31059"},"modified":"2025-02-03T11:14:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T11:14:45","slug":"bcb-after-dark-why-did-the-cubs-sign-nicky-lopez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=31059","title":{"rendered":"BCB After Dark: Why did the Cubs sign Nicky Lopez?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to your end of the weekend, heading into the work week coffee shop where we\u2019ve got whatever you\u2019re looking for tonight we\u2019ve got you covered. If you\u2019d like a warm chai tea to get your evening going, we can do that. If you\u2019re looking for a shot of something a little stronger, we can do that too.<\/p>\n

One housekeeping note, Last weekend we made the accidental decision to move BCB After Dark from it\u2019s Friday night into Saturday AM home to it\u2019s Sunday night into Monday AM home. It went pretty well and we thought we\u2019d try it out living here for a bit. You\u2019ll still get two late week, late night posts \u2014 just one on a different night.<\/p>\n

And once again we\u2019ve been rewarded for that decision with actual news to talk about: the most Hoyer of Hoyerish signings, a light hitting utility guy [link to Bluesky]:<\/p>\n

I need a musical break.<\/p>\n

\n

I couldn\u2019t get this one out of my head earlier and figured I\u2019d just share it here tonight:<\/p>\n

Many of you know my day job is in competitive debate and for year\u2019s I\u2019d heard speculation that this song is about competitive debate. There are lots of lines that suggest it might be:<\/p>\n

\n

Six o\u2019clock, T.V. hour, don\u2019t get caught in foreign tower
\nSlash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn
\nLock him in uniform, book burning, bloodletting
\nEvery motive escalate, automotive incinerate
\nLight a candle, light a motive, step down, step down
\nWatch your heel crush, crush, uh oh
\nThis means no fear, cavalier, renegade and steering clear
\nA tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies
\nOffer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone)
\nIt\u2019s the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone)
\nIt\u2019s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)
\nI feel fine (I feel fine)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I bring this up mainly because I went to look it up for the umpteenth time a couple of years ago and realized that Michael Stipe had given an interview where he definitively said the song was not about competitive debate:<\/p>\n

\n

Garrison Lovely<\/strong>: \u201cIt\u2019s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)\u201d is one of R.E.M.\u2019s most popular songs. It\u2019s one of my favorites as well. There\u2019s some speculation online that the song is about policy debate.<\/p>\n

Michael Stipe<\/strong>: Those rumors are untrue. The important part of the title is \u201cas we know it.\u201d That\u2019s where we find ourselves now. The current vice president described this political moment as an inflection point, which is not quite accurate. But we\u2019re absolutely at a middle ground between two epochs that will forever be considered the before and after.<\/p>\n

And I don\u2019t know that we as a country are moving in the right direction. There are certainly things about who we are that are absolutely beautiful. But, these days, you have to really search to find them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The truth seems important.<\/p>\n

\n

Anyway, back to the truth of the Cubs roster.<\/p>\n

Yes, this is the same team that already employs Gage Workman, Benjamin Cowles, Vidal Bruj\u00e1n and Jon Berti. The team that DFA\u2019d Luis Vazquez for Berti last week. Why on Earth does this team need a minor league deal with Nicky Lopez?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure someone is already firing up the word \u201cinsurance\u201d in the comments, and man, I guess. He\u2019s a reasonable defender and the 77 wRC+ he put up last season means he\u2019ll fit right in with the other five guys who look just like him on the roster.<\/p>\n

But is there some reason the Cubs need five guys between the MLB roster and James Triantos? I am more interested in seeing what Triantos can do than literally any of the guys I named above. But not the Cubs. The Cubs are like we need to backstop Hoerner with Berti and Berti with Bruj\u00e1n and Bruj\u00e1n with Workman and Workman with Cowles and Cowles with Lopez and then, if we really have to, Triantos can have a shot.<\/p>\n

What is this madness? Is there really any difference between any of these guys except maybe age (which is why DFA\u2019ing Vazquez was questionable at best, but I digress). Why are the Cubs always rearranging utility guys on the Titanic?<\/p>\n

Have at it in the comments. Don\u2019t forget to bus your own tables, I\u2019d hate to leave a mess for Josh tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Poll<\/h3>\n

Why did the Cubs sign Nicky Lopez<\/h4>\n
\n
    \n
  • \n
    \n
    18%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    They must have a minimum five scrappy utility guys in the system at all times<\/h6>\n

    (10 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    38%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    Jed\u2019s a tinkerer and he can\u2019t stop tinkering with guys who might have slightly more upside in their 77 wRC+<\/h6>\n

    (21 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    27%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    Jed\u2019s regretting losing Luis Vazquez to the Orioles and Nicky Lopez filled the hole in his heart<\/h6>\n

    (15 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n
    16%<\/h6>\n
    \n
    Other \u2014 specify<\/h6>\n

    (9 votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    55 votes total Vote Now<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Welcome to your end of the weekend, heading into the work week coffee shop where we\u2019ve got whatever you\u2019re looking for tonight we\u2019ve got you covered. 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