8/14 Astros (Harrell) @ Cubs (Volstad) 7:05 CSN

[ctcf]

Your red hot Chicago Cubs, ladies and gentlemen.

 

Today's big question: Can Chris Volstad keep the magic going for a second straight start? (Answer: Probably not)

[El Duderino]

third straight start, and yes. Astros.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If Volstad can deliver another quality start, perhaps we could begin to think in terms of counting on him as a 5th starter. If all goes well, Garza-Shark-Vizcaino-Wood-Volstad could be a decent rotation for several years. A lot would have to go right though.

[pitchcs]

Decent is the key word there and everything + some would have to go right.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If Garzas healthy, 2012 Shark is the real deal, Vizcaino recovers and hits his ceiling, Wood does what he's done most of the season, and Volstad can avoid that one inning in which he gets hammered, it's actually quite a good rotation. Vizcaino's the most iffy. I don't doubt that he can be a good big league 2-3 starter, though I'd be very surprised if he were by 2013.

[El Duderino]

Same lineup:

 

DeJesus RF, Vitters 3B, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Castro SS, Castillo C, Jackson CF, Barney 2B, Volstad P

[C.C.]

c'mon Jackson get it going.

[haubrich91]

Let's win the series.

[CincyCubsFan]

Yup, that's our Volstad.

[CincyCubsFan]

[expletive] you volstad!!

[El Duderino]

third straight start, and yes. Astros.

 

Oops.

[haubrich91]

Non-tendered.

[Theo]

Volstad is our #4 starter on the 2017 contending team, according to WSR

[Irrelevant Dude]

Volstad is our #4 starter on the 2017 contending team, according to WSR

And by "our", you mean the Chicago men's 30 and older league, correct?

[El Duderino]

did the astros pitcher just fist pump? lol

[haubrich91]

Go back to the DL, Lendy Castillo.

[CincyCubsFan]

Go Cubs go!

[El Duderino]

It's called crappy pitching, Bob.

[CincyCubsFan]

These rule 5 bullpen guys always work out well for us.

[El Duderino]

Go back to the DL, Lendy Castillo.

 

We're talking about a converted SS that hadn't pitched above A ball before this year. I think we can give him a pass.

[davell]

He's raw and projectable. Probably worth a flyer. He'll most likely be in AA next year.

[Careless]

IF we're going to lose, might as well be to the Astros. No shot of the top pick if we're actually beating them in series.

[Irrelevant Dude]

IF we're going to lose, might as well be to the Astros. No shot of the top pick if we're actually beating them in series.

As bad as the Cubs are, there is zero chance of catching the Astros. They are in their own league of bad.

[bhogg]

IF we're going to lose, might as well be to the Astros. No shot of the top pick if we're actually beating them in series.

As bad as the Cubs are, there is zero chance of catching the Astros. They are in their own league of bad.

 

 

 

 

That hasn't stopped the jackass astro announcers from talking [expletive] about the cubs all series long. Someone should set their half of the booth on fire.

[Cubswin11]

IF we're going to lose, might as well be to the Astros. No shot of the top pick if we're actually beating them in series.

As bad as the Cubs are, there is zero chance of catching the Astros. They are in their own league of bad.

It's going to be tough, but we play them 8 more times not including tonight. Samardzija has what, 4 starts left at most? So the rotation is about to get a downgrade. The offense has certainly shown an ability to go into prolonged funks, so while it's unlikely to make up 10 games in the loss column it's not impossible and the #2 pick is well within our grasp.

 

 

Side note, I completely forgot Fernando Martinez was still a real thing. He used to be a huge prospect with the Mets