5/3 Cubs (Dempster) @ Reds (Bailey) 11:35 AM CSN

[Rizzo Smash]

Words cannot express how utterly beyond surprised I am. Why do I even bother following this year? there are maybe 2 guys who belong on a major league roster in the lineup.

 

Sort of ironic to say after a game that they lost because of one relief pitcher who is really [expletive] [expletive].

They also only scored 3 runs which looks pretty good this year but it's not enough to win games for normal teams. Not excusing what Marmol did but don't act like this was a perfect game.

[wastra]

We're 6-5 in our last 11 games...its not THAT bad.

 

That's what is frustrating. I don't think this team is as bad as expected (in fact the starting pitching has been pretty good, especially lately) and if the bullpen didn't suck we'd be around .500.

 

 

Don't sell us short. This bullpen doesn't just suck, it's unwatchable.

[Hendrys Ghost]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0708/chi_a_marmol_sy_300.jpg Edited May 3, 2012 by Hendry's Ghost

[Captain Serious]

We're 6-5 in our last 11 games...its not THAT bad.

 

the team also isn't that good

[Guest]

Words cannot express how utterly beyond surprised I am. Why do I even bother following this year? there are maybe 2 guys who belong on a major league roster in the lineup.

 

Sort of ironic to say after a game that they lost because of one relief pitcher who is really [expletive] [expletive].

They also only scored 3 runs which looks pretty good this year but it's not enough to win games for normal teams. Not excusing what Marmol did but don't act like this was a perfect game.

 

It is when your starter is good enough to give up 0 through 8.

[wastra]

Words cannot express how utterly beyond surprised I am. Why do I even bother following this year? there are maybe 2 guys who belong on a major league roster in the lineup.

 

Sort of ironic to say after a game that they lost because of one relief pitcher who is really [expletive] [expletive].

They also only scored 3 runs which looks pretty good this year but it's not enough to win games for normal teams. Not excusing what Marmol did but don't act like this was a perfect game.

 

It is when your starter is good enough to give up 0 through 8.

 

 

It's a shame ballgames last 9 innings, then.

[Smack]

Even a team that is supposed to suck, sucks for the wrong reasons and manages to infuriate all of us.

 

Truly unreal.

 

Haha, THIS, exactly.

[Schwarber Fan]

Words cannot express how utterly beyond surprised I am. Why do I even bother following this year? there are maybe 2 guys who belong on a major league roster in the lineup.

 

It's not even that. Without our bullpen, this team is in a [expletive] wildcard spot even as bad as its lineup is.

 

Even a team that is supposed to suck, sucks for the wrong reasons and manages to infuriate all of us.

 

Truly unreal.

 

Not sure about wrong reasons. Coming into seasons everybody knew they would struggle to score runs, had pretty good starting pitching and no bullpen. That has all come to fruition aside from a few minor details.

 

They've scored enough, especially lately. The rotation is probably over-performing. The bullpen was going to be shaky but not THIS bad.

[Guest]

Words cannot express how utterly beyond surprised I am. Why do I even bother following this year? there are maybe 2 guys who belong on a major league roster in the lineup.

 

Sort of ironic to say after a game that they lost because of one relief pitcher who is really [expletive] [expletive].

They also only scored 3 runs which looks pretty good this year but it's not enough to win games for normal teams. Not excusing what Marmol did but don't act like this was a perfect game.

 

It is when your starter is good enough to give up 0 through 8.

 

 

It's a shame ballgames last 9 innings, then.

 

No, it's just a shame the guy we choose to run out there in that situation is almost bad enough that him loading the bases with nobody out is not surprising at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

We're 6-5 in our last 11 games...its not THAT bad.

 

That's what is frustrating. I don't think this team is as bad as expected (in fact the starting pitching has been pretty good, especially lately) and if the bullpen didn't suck we'd be around .500.

 

But it does suck, and we knew it would suck. They traded the best reliever and the rest was filled with questionable or worse pitchers. Plus, they are still bottom half of the league in starters' era and bottom half of the league in OPS and runs. This isn't a team that is being held back by a surprisingly bad bullpen.

[rawaction]

Awwww. You guys are so cute acting like this team has a chance at all this year. I say the more gutwrenching losses the better. #1 pick is much more likely than a fluke playoff berth.

[Schwarber Fan]

We're 6-5 in our last 11 games...its not THAT bad.

 

That's what is frustrating. I don't think this team is as bad as expected (in fact the starting pitching has been pretty good, especially lately) and if the bullpen didn't suck we'd be around .500.

 

But it does suck, and we knew it would suck. They traded the best reliever and the rest was filled with questionable or worse pitchers. Plus, they are still bottom half of the league in starters' era and bottom half of the league in OPS and runs. This isn't a team that is being held back by a surprisingly bad bullpen.

 

But it IS making the different between a playoff spot and not a playoff spot at the moment. It probably won't matter in the long run, but it still hurts.

[jersey cubs fan]

They've scored enough, especially lately. The rotation is probably over-performing. The bullpen was going to be shaky but not THIS bad.

 

They have the 12th most runs scored in the NL and the 13th OPS.

 

No, they have not scored enough. They are a bad baseball team playing bad baseball.

[jersey cubs fan]

But it IS making the different between a playoff spot and not a playoff spot at the moment. It probably won't matter in the long run, but it still hurts.

 

The Cubs are 9-16. Go ahead and give them this win plus another and they are 11-14 with 6 teams between them and the last playoff spot.

 

they don't score runs

 

some of the starters have been terrific for a good chunk of the time but overall they have been mediocre

 

the bullpen sucks and was expected to suck

 

 

Carlos Marmol isn't why this team isn't in the playoffs.

[bcl412]

We're 6-5 in our last 11 games...its not THAT bad.

 

That's what is frustrating. I don't think this team is as bad as expected (in fact the starting pitching has been pretty good, especially lately) and if the bullpen didn't suck we'd be around .500.

 

But it does suck, and we knew it would suck. They traded the best reliever and the rest was filled with questionable or worse pitchers. Plus, they are still bottom half of the league in starters' era and bottom half of the league in OPS and runs. This isn't a team that is being held back by a surprisingly bad bullpen.

 

Agreed. I've counted 5 games that the Cubs were leading or tied going into the into the 7th inning that the pen has blown. (Another one was a one run lead late that was lost by Dempster in the 7th) If all those games go their way they are 15-10 (obviously that may be too much to ask but half of those games go the Cubs way their record looks better), it's just frustrating to have a chance to win games late and not do it.

[Guest]

 

 

some of the starters have been terrific for a good chunk of the time but overall they have been mediocre

 

 

 

They have?

 

From bukie's thread on April performance...

 

Strengths:

#3 in NL in Starters WAR

#5 in NL Overall Starting Value

#6 in NL in Starters xFIP

#5 in NL in Starters K/9

#1 in NL in Starters O-Swing% (getting opposing hitters to chase pitches)

 

 

That's in April... their performances in May certainly have done nothing to make them worse.

[Smack]

Is it safe to buy a LaHair jersey t-shirt? :-"

[jersey cubs fan]

 

 

some of the starters have been terrific for a good chunk of the time but overall they have been mediocre

 

 

 

They have?

 

I only based it on ERA to date. I didn't realize they were bottom half of the league there, but I probably should have looked at more telling stats since I assumed they were better than that. Either way, the team is playing about as expected, can't hit, decent starting, crap bullpen. That's what was expected. So there's no reason to pretend they should be 15-10 or something.

Edited May 3, 2012 by jersey cubs fan

[Magnetic Curses]

i knew we lost after going into the 9th inning up 3, i just knew we would lose. funny how i know these things before they happen because they always happen.

[sneakypower]

 

 

some of the starters have been terrific for a good chunk of the time but overall they have been mediocre

 

 

 

They have?

 

From bukie's thread on April performance...

 

Strengths:

#3 in NL in Starters WAR

#5 in NL Overall Starting Value

#6 in NL in Starters xFIP

#5 in NL in Starters K/9

#1 in NL in Starters O-Swing% (getting opposing hitters to chase pitches)

 

 

That's in April... their performances in May certainly have done nothing to make them worse.

jersey has two grading scales for rotations: 97 braves, and "mediocre"

[jersey cubs fan]

jersey has two grading scales for rotations: 97 braves, and "mediocre"

again, I apologize for only basing it on the 4.20 starters era, good for 12th in NL. (actually now it's 4.04 after today's game, good for 11th).

[Theo]

Still right on track for a 97 loss season, this team is hot steaming GARBAGE!

[XZero771679666304]

 

 

some of the starters have been terrific for a good chunk of the time but overall they have been mediocre

 

 

 

They have?

 

I only based it on ERA to date. I didn't realize they were bottom half of the league there, but I probably should have looked at more telling stats since I assumed they were better than that. Either way, the team is playing about as expected, can't hit, decent starting, crap bullpen. That's what was expected. So there's no reason to pretend they should be 15-10 or something.

 

That's true, though I think the offense will get better (not good, just better) as the season progresses. The schedule in the second half looks to be much more forgiving as well. If the team could have hovered around .500 until the ASB, I think it could have had an outside shot.

 

But the bullpen is a disaster. When Cashner/Marshall were traded is when I knew 2012 was going to be a rebuilding year for sure.

 

But really, I'm okay with that. Marmol trashing any trade value (or chances of being moved at all) he might have irks me more than the losses at this point.

Edited May 3, 2012 by XZero77

[Guest]

Doug Padilla @ESPNChiCubs

17s

Sveum finally considering a change at closer. Names Russell and Dolis as his options.

 

PLZ be Russell

[bukie]

A little surprised Wood wasn't on the short list.