6/10 Cubs (Hammel) @ Braves (Norris) - 6:35 pm CDT (CSN)

[NotSoSober]

if a loss means clayton richard gets DFA'd, then I'm all for it

[Irrelevant Dude]

Richard for late innings situations.

[Tryptamine]

Down to Rondon and Strop as reliable relievers, not good.

 

You are smarter than this.

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Down to Rondon and Strop as reliable relievers, not good.

 

You are smarter than this.

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

[Tryptamine]

 

You are smarter than this.

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

They're 41-18. I don't think anything could be qualified as a glaring problem.

[badger]

I'd like to hear what the glaring problems are.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Down to Rondon and Strop as reliable relievers, not good.

 

You are smarter than this.

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

5 days ago he had a 3.48/3.81/3.42 ERA/FIP/xFIP, and moving beyond the small samples of this week/this year is very positive as well. So yes, unless there's some reason to think Grimm is more fundamentally broken, I'm very comfortable with Grimm in a tight game, although I also recognize as the 3rd best reliever he isn't going to be flawless(and historically he may struggle with control, like 80% of relievers).

[Aaron_Kennelly]

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

Also, yes, I agree, there have been some downtrends from when we got off to the best start in the history of baseball. That's to be expected. But, I'm not going to incessantly whine about middle relievers and cry about that one game each week when the offense fails to show up.

[UMFan83]

 

 

His last 3 appearances 1/3IP 5H 5ER 1BB 0K. Combine that with a 5.57ERA and 4.56FIP and you can't feel at all comfortable with him coming into tight games.

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

I'm actually more worried about the pitching sustaining a strand rate that is higher than what we mocked the Cardinals for last year than I am the offense which has used up all of the fantastic depth they had in March. But in the grand scheme of things my biggest worries are like a 3 on a 1-10 scale. Yes they've gone like 17-12 since their 24-6 start. But 17-12 is still like 96 win pace over the course of a season. And this is a down stretch for this team relatively speaking

[dfnowak]

I'm not going to act like the sky is falling, but it's really horsefeathering annoying to get shut down by the Braves and Bud Norris

[Aaron_Kennelly]

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

I'm actually more worried about the pitching sustaining a strand rate that is higher than what we mocked the Cardinals for last year than I am the offense which has used up all of the fantastic depth they had in March. But in the grand scheme of things my biggest worries are like a 3 on a 1-10 scale. Yes they've gone like 17-12 since their 24-6 start. But 17-12 is still like 96 win pace over the course of a season. And this is a down stretch for this team relatively speaking

 

Well, our rotation is also much better than the Cardinals' last year. I have absolutely no worries about our starting pitching. Hammel's pitching over his head, but the other four are genuinely awesome.

 

Also, I'm not worried about anything. We are 41-18 and own a 9-game lead on the division. And we have an historically great run differential. What in the hell is there to worry about? I mean, I can spot areas on the team I'd like to improve. But, worried? Nah.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

I'm actually more worried about the pitching sustaining a strand rate that is higher than what we mocked the Cardinals for last year than I am the offense which has used up all of the fantastic depth they had in March. But in the grand scheme of things my biggest worries are like a 3 on a 1-10 scale. Yes they've gone like 17-12 since their 24-6 start. But 17-12 is still like 96 win pace over the course of a season. And this is a down stretch for this team relatively speaking

 

The strand rate will go down as the temperatures go up, the Cards last year actually had a higher strand rate to this point in the season, especially compared to everyone else. However, the same increase in temperatures means more runs on the offensive side of the ledger. The Cubs also have a great defense, 20% of their rotation is incredibly good at inducing soft contact, and their FIP is #2 in baseball(#1 for SP).

[badger]

I'm not going to act like the sky is falling, but it's really [expletive] annoying to get shut down by the Braves and Bud Norris

 

I'm pretty sure everyone including Duke is frustrated/annoyed by the outcome.

[Tim]

This game was stupid. Let's put it behind us and focus on the awesomeness that is Jake tomorrow.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I'm not going to act like the sky is falling, but it's really [expletive] annoying to get shut down by the Braves and Bud Norris

 

I'm pretty sure everyone including Duke is frustrated/annoyed by the outcome.

 

Yeah, definitely. I'm just more perplexed by the overarching statements about our offense sucking, or how people are worried about middle relief pitchers, or how "horsefeathers is getting really old" for Ski. We're 41-18. It's all cool to me. Yes, I get mad when we lose games. It is frustrating. And it sucks seeing guys like Russell struggle at the plate. But, I also feel perfectly comfortable perched up on our throne, well above everyone else in the whole league.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

If we continue to look mortal and fade back, say, to a point where the division becomes an actual race again... I'll be furious at losses like this. And if the team collectively continues to struggle a little at the plate well into the summer, then I'll panic a little. But, everyone just needs to relax and enjoy the ride. I mean, does everyone remember where we were sitting after that series against the Phillies last year, when we were no-hit, and pretty much bottomed out? I would urge the doom boners to put things in perspective when you start bitching about this team... they're horsefeathering 41-18.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For perspective, the Cubs are 107-44 in the last calendar year, by losing tonight they fell below a 116 win pace in the last 12 months.

[NOLA]

I'm not going to act like the sky is falling, but it's really [expletive] annoying to get shut down by the Braves and Bud Norris

 

I'm pretty sure everyone including Duke is frustrated/annoyed by the outcome.

 

Yeah, definitely. I'm just more perplexed by the overarching statements about our offense sucking, or how people are worried about middle relief pitchers, or how "[expletive] is getting really old" for Ski. We're 41-18. It's all cool to me. Yes, I get mad when we lose games. It is frustrating. And it sucks seeing guys like Russell struggle at the plate. But, I also feel perfectly comfortable perched up on our throne, well above everyone else in the whole league.

Actually, Russsell's struggles are one of the few things that does have me genuinely concerned.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

 

I'm pretty sure everyone including Duke is frustrated/annoyed by the outcome.

 

Yeah, definitely. I'm just more perplexed by the overarching statements about our offense sucking, or how people are worried about middle relief pitchers, or how "[expletive] is getting really old" for Ski. We're 41-18. It's all cool to me. Yes, I get mad when we lose games. It is frustrating. And it sucks seeing guys like Russell struggle at the plate. But, I also feel perfectly comfortable perched up on our throne, well above everyone else in the whole league.

Actually, Russsell's struggles are one of the few things that does have me genuinely concerned.

 

Me, too. But he's really young and really talented. I'll take the easy way out again and say that at least we're 41-18 and we can afford to go through growing pains with guys like him and Javy... and Jorge... and Almora... and whoever else. There's enough talent elsewhere that them busting out is just a cherry on the top. But, Addison needs to figure horsefeathers out, for sure. I'm very disappointed, as it looked like he was starting to blossom and then just fell apart.

[soccer10k]

 

Is there anything about this 41-18 team you feel comfortable with?

 

 

Is there no downtrend that you're not willing to completely ignore? Yeah it's amazing that they've put together a 41-18 record, but that's because the SP has masked a lot of the glaring problems.

 

I'm actually more worried about the pitching sustaining a strand rate that is higher than what we mocked the Cardinals for last year than I am the offense which has used up all of the fantastic depth they had in March. But in the grand scheme of things my biggest worries are like a 3 on a 1-10 scale. Yes they've gone like 17-12 since their 24-6 start. But 17-12 is still like 96 win pace over the course of a season. And this is a down stretch for this team relatively speaking

 

And that 17-12 stretch is brought down by the 4-8 run they had. Since the walkoff loss to the Cards, they're 12-4 with 2 1-run losses, the Dodger game which was 0-0 going into the 8th and tonight. Just like the 4-8 stretch, they're not getting blown out which means there's no need to worry or panic.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I don't want to come off too much as a Pollyanna, either. Sure, there are things I don't like about this team. For instance, my derision of Tim Federowicz and Clayton Richard knows no bounds. And I get pissed during games, too. In this very game thread, I bitched about Hammel giving up homers to scrubs and said, "This game sucks." I don't think I've ever called anyone out for being upset about specific games or specific events during games. I just get tired of seeing the sweeping claims of, "Oh this team never shows up against mediocre pitching!" or, "I'm so sick of watching this garbage!"

[Butterscup]

jesus christ im going to be starting game threads again in no time if you guys (other nsb game thread starters) don't turn it around get it together.

[soccer10k]

Don't worry, bukie, mojo and I are coming up. Everything will be fine.

 

Sorry, UMFan, had to exclude you since you and Lackey killed Schwarber.

[UMFan83]

Don't worry, bukie, mojo and I are coming up. Everything will be fine.

 

Sorry, UMFan, had to exclude you since you and Lackey killed Schwarber.

 

No offense taken. I am haunted by my role in that tragedy everyday.