5/10 Cubs (Hendricks) @ Brewers (Garza) 1:10 WGN

[Soul]

I do not have high hopes for the Mets series. This team is a trainwreck right now.

No, no, the game threads are a trainwreck. The team is just struggling.

I can understand the bats are struggling.

 

The bullpen isn't likely struggling, just terrible.

[Guest]

motte before rondon is [expletive] embarrassing, joe.

that part I'll agree with.

 

And if we somehow took the lead, would you prefer Motte be the one to protect it?

 

if it got to the next top half inning, maybe the cubs score 2-3 runs. you aren't limited to one run in extra innings. there is not a higher leverage situation than a tie game in extras.

[Guest]

If you DFA Coke tomorrow, you have a pen with 4 good to very good relievers(Rondon, Strop, Grimm, Rosscup), an inconsistent middle relief guy(Motte) and LOOGY(Russell) who both could be replaced with internal options if things get really bad, and a long reliever who has done fine in that role this year(Jackson). Bullpen performances ebb and flow, they've been a bit unlucky with the timing recently(partially because the rotation hasn't been a huge help of getting through the 5th-7th), but there's nothing structurally wrong, save that the pen is 1 man too big.

[Guancous]

I lost a double or nothing bet with my Milwaukee friend on this series.

 

Now I have to watch Paul Blart 1 and 2.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121127053427/disney/images/f/f0/Talespin.jpg

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you DFA Coke tomorrow, you have a pen with 4 good to very good relievers(Rondon, Strop, Grimm, Rosscup), an inconsistent middle relief guy(Motte) and LOOGY(Russell) who both could be replaced with internal options if things get really bad, and a long reliever who has done fine in that role this year(Jackson). Bullpen performances ebb and flow, they've been a bit unlucky with the timing recently(partially because the rotation hasn't been a huge help of getting through the 5th-7th), but there's nothing structurally wrong, save that the pen is 1 man too big.

 

Rosscup is good? 4.71 FIP Rosscup?

[Guest]

Yes, 2.73 FIP prior to today's crummy outing Rosscup is good. He's the worst of that group, but unless he stops throwing strikes that's where he belongs.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Rosscup has been awful in the minors for years (great K rate, waaaaay too many BBs). After 11 not-terrible innings, excluding today, he's being put in the good category. Seems a bit premature.

[ARCubsFan]

Looking at the rest of May, if the Cubs continue to play as poorly as they have, they could easily dig a huge hole.

[Guest]

motte before rondon is [expletive] embarrassing, joe.

that part I'll agree with.

 

And if we somehow took the lead, would you prefer Motte be the one to protect it?

 

YES!

 

By holding Rondon back, you're essentially saying that:

 

A) Any runs given up and you lose the game. This situation exists in the present moment

 

is less important than

 

B) Give up an unknown number of runs(probably one, could be 2, 3, 7) and the game is still tied, more than that and you lose the game. This situation may not even exist if you fail at A above.

 

It's complete madness. On the road in extra innings, use relievers in descending order of quality. I would've forgiven Russell for the 10th as an effort not to waste Rondon on the bottom of the order, but leaving him behind for the heart of the order was bad bad bad.

 

This was the exact same situation we made fun of Brian Price for a few weeks ago. Price didn't use Chapman in the ninth with the bottom of the order up (which I'm fine with) but then he didn't use him with the heart of our order up in the 10th and got burned, just like we did today.

[Guest]

Looking at the rest of May, if the Cubs continue to play as poorly as they have, they could easily dig a huge hole.

And if they continue to play as well as they did in the eight games before that they could catch the Cards!

[DiamondMind]

Im so depressed. Why do I care so much about this team. If this was a girlfriend, even a hot one, Id have dumped her ass. And of course as soon as the game ends, I turn it over to ABC to see James drain a game winning jumper. I hate sports!!!

[sontensei]

i was at the game today drove up to milwaukee with the lady for a nice day out. was going good until [expletive] joe pulled montero then did that stupid shift in the 11th.

 

also being behind home plate, 2 of Kbs ks looking were clearly outside. fckn umps.

 

Rest of may

 

4 x mets - great pitching, potential for bad cubs bats high

3 x pirates - getting hot might win series

3 x padres - bad pen chance to get beat hard by these bats

3 x dbacks - good chance to win series

3 x nationals - getting hot could be trouble

3 x royals - just as good as the cards..

 

our schedule is fckn hard the rest of this month overall

 

if they don't start getting [expletive] right, they could easily find themselves 6-13 (21-28) by june after this coming stretch against these contenders and teams with good bats (bad for our pen situation)

[Guest]

I've never ever seen that called when the runner gets the base like that. How many times has Holiday gone completely out of reach of the bag to nail people and not gotten called?

 

There will probably be 10 worse slides than that one today alone. If that's interference(and by letter of the rule it is not), then interference should be a daily occurrence in every game.

 

Here's Lorenzo Cain not even close to the base reaching to hit a defender's leg. No interference called.

 

http://i.imgur.com/y9Fle2W.jpg

[Guest]

yeah, leg.

[UMFan83]

i was at the game today drove up to milwaukee with the lady for a nice day out. was going good until [expletive] joe pulled montero then did that stupid shift in the 11th.

 

also being behind home plate, 2 of Kbs ks looking were clearly outside. fckn umps.

 

Rest of may

 

4 x mets - great pitching, potential for bad cubs bats high

3 x pirates - getting hot might win series

3 x padres - bad pen chance to get beat hard by these bats

3 x dbacks - good chance to win series

3 x nationals - getting hot could be trouble

3 x royals - just as good as the cards..

 

our schedule is fckn hard the rest of this month overall

 

if they don't start getting [expletive] right, they could easily find themselves 6-13 (21-28) by june after this coming stretch against these contenders and teams with good bats (bad for our pen situation)

 

It is what it is. If were good enough we will play well. If were not then this was a transition year anyways. Even at 21-28 there's still plenty of time to improve. I expect the team to be a lot better in September than it is currently.

[Tyrant]

If were not then this was a transition year anyways.

 

that's a bunch of feckless weenie talk