5 On It: Which Cubs player are you most sure about heading into the 2026 season?
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What is the Five On It segment about?
The score. I got five. It's time for Five On It. Raheem Harrison. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104.3 The Score. I got five on it. Number one.
We're going to call this one Five On It Plus today because you listening out there, you deserve some bonus questions. We've got a couple of two-parters for you, including this one. Which Cubs player are you most sure about heading into the 2026 season? And part two, which Cubs player are you least sure about heading into the 2026 season?
The Cubs player that I am most sure about heading into this season happens to be the Cubs starting first baseman. His name is Michael Bush. I am very excited about him based on, obviously, what he did last year with the slug and the 31 home runs and how he just seemed to get better and better and better as the season went on. Now, with air quotes, limited at-bats, because there were many times where he was not hitting against lefties, the plan this year is to bat him against more lefties, to let him be your everyday guy. Just with his approach... With his demeanor, with that swing, the discerning eye at the plate, I am very excited to see what Michael Bush can do for the Cubs this year in a full boat of at-bats.
And his play at first base has been excellent as well. So he is my guy, Michael Bush. the player that I am most concerned about this year for the Cubs. Maybe confused is a better word, but it is Pete Crow Armstrong because I just don't know who he is. I don't know that there's any way that he's going to be an ineffective or bad baseball player unless he picks up where he kind of left off.
Which Cubs player are you most sure about for the 2026 season?
But what is he? Is he a home run hitter? Is he a guy that there was some fluke going on in the first half of the season? Who is Pete Crow Armstrong? So based on what we saw, a heavy downfall for PCA last year. He is the guy about whom I am most concerned right now until I see it, until I see the PCA-ness that we saw in the first half last year when he was gangbusters.
I definitely understand your answer, especially Michael Bush, because he has actually seen some lefties this spring. He's three for eight. That's a 375 clip against lefties. Curiously, though, he's only batting like 208.
Why is Michael Bush the Cubs player to watch this season?
He's just above the Mendoza line spring training overall, and he's yet to leave the yard.
And everybody hits in Arizona, man.
They say it's hot. The ball flies. Just make contact. You'll be okay.
We can selectively decide when we want to just call it spring training, and that's what I'm going to do right now. It's spring training. It doesn't matter. They're working on stuff. It's funny how we all do that.
You're not the first to do that. You certainly will not be the last to do it. And maybe I'll fall victim to that myself. Although my answer for the guy that I know I'm sure about, it's Nico Horner. He plays solid in the field. He is a hitter. He hits. And he's been a great hitter. And he had his best season last year. There's no reason to think he won't have a... a similar approach at the plate this year, and that puts the ball in play and avoids strikeouts, and he's got speed. Not a lot of pop, but who cares because he's consistent as a hitter. It's Nico Horner. He's the guy that I know when I put him in the lineup, I know exactly what to expect out of Nico Horner. Not too much, not too...
Two less is as steady as they come. Just right. Like the porridge. He was made the porridge. Look, Craig Council, I think, was the one that said he is the most made for Major League Baseball on the schedule and the grind of anybody because he's the same dude every day. And you can't say that about everybody on the Cubs.
You know who you really can't say that about? Shota Managa. That's why he's the other end of the coin. You probably saw that coming, though, didn't you? I didn't necessarily, but yeah, that makes sense. Shota, he's looked okay in the spring. Low whip, which means he's not putting a lot of people on base, but still getting up three and a half home runs for nine innings. That is not good. And so I don't know what we're getting out of Shota Imanaga.
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Chapters
4 chaptersSpeakers
4 identifiedMore from Rahimi & Grote Show
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