6/19 Cubs (Hendricks) @ Twins (Hughes) 7:10 PM WGN

[Guest]

Strike 3 to Coghlan was terrible. At no point in the ball's path was it across the plate.

[downsr30]

I don't think this rotation will hold up well beyond June.. Lester has been slightly worse than we expected.. Arietta has been pretty close to what we wanted, but has show signs of slowing down of late, Hammel has been far better than expected but has also shown signs of slowing down.. Hendricks has been pretty much been right on what we could expect. Wada just isn't good but his good start one of every 3 starts keeps the Cubs hoping he's the same guy from last year - who still wasn't as good as numbers say.

 

 

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[Schwarber Fan]

It would be nice to go just one game without getting jobbed by the home plate ump.

[Guest]

I don't think this rotation will hold up well beyond June.. Lester has been slightly worse than we expected.. Arietta has been pretty close to what we wanted, but has show signs of slowing down of late, Hammel has been far better than expected but has also shown signs of slowing down.. Hendricks has been pretty much been right on what we could expect. Wada just isn't good but his good start one of every 3 starts keeps the Cubs hoping he's the same guy from last year - who still wasn't as good as numbers say.

 

 

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obviously every possible negative outcome is going to happen

[ARCubsFan]

Whatever the case, the Cubs are going to get a major rotation upgrade this offseason so everything else is moot. Not worth giving up good prospects for a rental when you can get a David Price or Johnny Cueto this offseason and keep your prospects. Edited June 20, 2015 by ARCubsFan

[downsr30]

I'm sorry I'm a Cubs fan and accept reality and don't just jump on the wagon when they are winning. The offense is young and will be streaky. Lester is the only guy in the rotation that I could see being better than he's been. Everyone else has been playing above or to their potential.

 

 

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[Guest]

I'm sorry I'm a Cubs fan and accept reality and don't just jump on the wagon when they are winning.

 

lmfao

 

yeah, that's what we are here

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa we really do need some starting rotaion help.

 

Because Hendricks got [expletive] by bad defense and some babip luck in one inning? You realize he has been worth almost 3 wins in 150 career innings, no?

The rotation is fine right now but going forward, it no doubt needs an upgrade. I'm completely fine with Hendricks being a #5 though going forward.

 

the rotation doesn't need an upgrade.

 

upgrading over wada would be really nice as a luxury, though.

If you're making a bid for the World Series which the Cubs aren't doing this season, it needs an upgrade. But this rotation is good enough for now for a Wild Card push and playoff game.

 

If I am inferring correctly, you don't think you need a good back-end of the rotation to make the playoffs. But, then you also think that you do need a good back-end to then win the World Series after making the playoffs... even though, those guys would not be pitching in the playoffs.

[Guest]

don't forget the part where he thinks there is such a thing as a team "competing for a world series" beyond just trying to make the playoffs

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I'm sorry I'm a Cubs fan and accept reality and don't just jump on the wagon when they are winning. The offense is young and will be streaky. Lester is the only guy in the rotation that I could see being better than he's been. Everyone else has been playing above or to their potential.

 

 

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Here's the thing though. It's possible to downgrade every rotation with possibilities. AJ Burnett can't keep it up and Lirano is streaky and Cole can't always be dominant, etc.

 

I'd think the Cubs' top 3 have a good chance to be solid the whole way through.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

don't forget the part where he thinks there is such a thing as a team "competing for a world series" beyond just trying to make the playoffs

 

Yeah, you would have to go all the way back to 2014 to find the Royals make the World Series as a wild card. They did lose, however... to another wild card team.

[treebird]

Whatever the case, the Cubs are going to get a major rotation upgrade this offseason so everything else is moot. Not worth giving up good prospects for a rental when you can get a David Price or Johnny Cueto this offseason and keep your prospects.

 

every opportunity to win is precious.

 

maybe next year rizzo breaks his wrist on opening day. we don't have to sell off every minor leaguer we have, but it's time to make hay while the sun shines.

 

also, assuming we're granted whatever fa pitcher we want this offseason and some other team won't "go crazy" and pay more than we are willing to pay is a very dangerous game.

[downsr30]

At the end of the day, if you took the Pirates and Cardinals rosters and took bias completely out of the equation and said to intelligent baseball people "pick the top two teams to win THIS year" the Cubs would be third on that list. Can crazy things happen in baseball? Yes. However, the Cubs are still a good starting pitcher and probably an above average bat away from not being 3rd on that list. Next year, with development and free agency taking place - I'd say things will most likely be in a different order.

 

 

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[Gilby]

We need to bring Renteria back onto the coaching staff to be the Starlin Whisperer.

[downsr30]

I think a trade for Zobrist and Kazmir would put the Cubs as less of an outside chance of making the playoffs and more of a legit threat.

 

 

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[Ski]

At the end of the day, if you took the Pirates and Cardinals rosters and took bias completely out of the equation and said to intelligent baseball people "pick the top two teams to win THIS year" the Cubs would be third on that list. Can crazy things happen in baseball? Yes. However, the Cubs are still a good starting pitcher and probably an above average bat away from not being 3rd on that list. Next year, with development and free agency taking place - I'd say things will most likely be in a different order.

 

 

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Our offense and pitching is nowhere near consistent enough to make us a top three team. Plus, we're still fielding a squad of youngsters who are still going through growing pains. Presently, there's way too much variance with our club - watching the Cubs play is like watching Soriano bat.

Edited June 20, 2015 by Ski

[Guest]

I think a trade for Zobrist and Kazmir would put the Cubs as less of an outside chance of making the playoffs and more of a legit threat.

 

 

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They've got much more than an outside chance

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/odds/

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/coolstandings.aspx

[Schwarber Fan]

Lol, the dude was loafing it out of the box and still gets a triple.

[Guest]

what the hell kind of goofy ass attempt was that

[downsr30]

I thought that swing from Plouffe was gonna be a medium deep fly ball. Wow. Strong dude.

 

 

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[treebird]

hendricks using his smarts to let everyone overpower him only to the fence to keep his fip artificially low.

[Guest]

hendricks using his smarts to let everyone overpower him only to the fence to keep his fip artificially low.

 

lol

[rawaction]

At the end of the day, if you took the Pirates and Cardinals rosters and took bias completely out of the equation and said to intelligent baseball people "pick the top two teams to win THIS year" the Cubs would be third on that list.

 

 

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Yet, all they need to do is beat the Pirates 1 time (won 6 of 10 so far) and the Cards 4 out of 7 to make the NLCS at least.

[Guest]

hendricks almost gave me a heart attack with that throw

[treebird]

yiiiikes hendricks, probably don't throw behind a guy who is already sprinting to the next base