remember when we thought we were special thread

[Omar]

mandatory use of the float tank in the clubhouse? So far, I've only heard of Rizzo using it once.

[Liam Neeson]

http://i.imgur.com/Ab9XSaC.jpg

[treebird]

someone post the record since the hot start.

 

getting close to switching to a fatalism thread.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

someone post the record since the hot start.

 

getting close to switching to a fatalism thread.

2-37

[Derwood]

someone post the record since the hot start.

 

getting close to switching to a fatalism thread.

 

Since their high water mark of 25 games over (43-18), they've gone 8-10

[Tryptamine]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

[Derwood]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

 

 

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/abort.gif

[Tryptamine]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

 

 

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/abort.gif

 

At no point shall we ever question the Cubs, understood. It's not like I don't get they're going to win the division, I'm worried about the chances of success once that is over.

[Derwood]

That was my reaction to those numbers, not to your posting them

[Tryptamine]

That was my reaction to those numbers, not to your posting them

 

My bad, usually I get bashed the second any time I say anything the least bit negative.

[Sammy Sofa]

You poor thing.

 

Which teams have good numbers against the game's best pitchers?

[UMFan83]

Half of those games have come in the last 18 days where the Cubs have been in an offensive funk (relative to April and May) punctuated by multiple rookies playing everyday and making adjustments.

 

They will be fine long term

[JennieGarthAlgar]

You poor thing.

 

Which teams have good numbers against the game's best pitchers?

 

And what are teams hitting off of Jake, Lester and Lackey?

[Liam Neeson]

[bbvideo=560,315]https://vimeo.com/39986592[/bbvideo]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Half of those games have come in the last 18 days where the Cubs have been in an offensive funk (relative to April and May) punctuated by multiple rookies playing everyday and making adjustments.

 

They will be fine long term

 

Also the Cubs had late leads in 2 of those games, which is the difference in their actual 3-7 record and being 5-5 in those games. I know it feels like there's backlash to any negativity that's brought up, but that's for pretty good reason. The Cubs have the best record in baseball and a division lead so large that Vegas won't allow bets on it.

 

They will lose games still this year, maybe even have an extended losing streak. That will continue to not bother me.

 

The offense may go into funks or struggle to score runs against good pitchers. That will continue to not bother me, especially if it's partially due to a combination of injuries that are not season-ending.

 

The bullpen will give up runs, especially in middle relief. That will continue to not bother me, as last year's pen is a perfect illustration of the fickle nature of non-elite relievers.

 

Here is a list of things that will cause me to worry, and some only slightly:

 

- Serious injury to Arrieta, Lester, Rizzo, Bryant, or Rondon; especially if it comes in August or later after the chance to make a deal to compensate is lost

- End of list

[Gmoney08]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

 

 

Cubs have rocked Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Greinke, Garret Richards, and I thought thet had a late lead against Strasburg? Was there unearned runs?

[Tryptamine]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

 

 

Cubs have rocked Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Greinke, Garret Richards, and I thought thet had a late lead against Strasburg? Was there unearned runs?

 

Those all happened May 6 and before hand when the offense was a monster.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

We know the pen is bad, but my biggest concern is how easily the offense gets completely shutdown by good pitchers. These are they guys they're going to face in the playoffs. How the Cubs have fared against top 30 pitchers(by fwar) this year.

 

7/1 Degrom 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K

6/30 Matz 5 1/3IP 7H 3ER 3BB 6K

6/26 Fernandez 7IP 4H 1ER 3BB 13K

6/15 Strasburg 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 8K

6/13 Scherzer 7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 11K

5/22 Bumgarner 7 2/3IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K

5/11 Pomeranz 6IP 3H 0ER 3BB 10K

5/8 Roark 6IP 4H 0ER 2BB 7K

5/6 Scherzer 5IP 7H 7ER 3BB 7K

4/9 Greinke 6IP 7H 4ER 3BB 8K

 

The most recent success is off an injured Matz, outside of that the last time the Cubs scored 2 more runs against a top 25 pitcher was back on May 6th. Pitcher's ERA against this offense 2.66, pitcher's ERA without the first Scherzer game 1.65.

 

 

Cubs have rocked Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Greinke, Garret Richards, and I thought thet had a late lead against Strasburg? Was there unearned runs?

 

Those all happened May 6 and before hand when the offense was a monster.

 

So they don't count? Gee, what a surprise, the offense hasn't done as well against good pitchers during the same period that they haven't done as well overall.

 

And, if you throw out the times they've done well, then things look even worse!

 

People have complained about you being negative, because you seemingly have done nothing but whine about a team that has the best record in baseball and a double digit lead in the division. If it wasn't this little ditty you drew up about our offense against good pitching, then it would be something else. If this team frustrates you so much, I can't imagine how insufferable you will be when we actually suck again.

[Sammy Sofa]

I mean, yeah, they're going through a shitty stretch, but I don't understand that standpoint of people that THIS must be the Cubs team we're going to see for the rest of the season. Why is that so much more likely? And like I said before, where are the teams that do usually do well against the best pitchers?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

we need to come to grips with no longer being the best team in baseball and no longer having the best pitcher in baseball. It may come back, but the super hot start will at least get them into the playoffs. I have lost pretty much all confidence that the playoffs will end well. This funk has lasted way too long to be considered just a blip. They're still a "good" team, but it sure doesn't feel great anymore.

[Sammy Sofa]

Why is the funky Cubs team such a sure bet to be the real deal as opposed to the good (or better) Cubs teams?

 

You serious sad sacks are weird.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

sad sack? Realist

[Aaron_Kennelly]

we need to come to grips with no longer being the best team in baseball and no longer having the best pitcher in baseball. It may come back, but the super hot start will at least get them into the playoffs. I have lost pretty much all confidence that the playoffs will end well. This funk has lasted way too long to be considered just a blip. They're still a "good" team, but it sure doesn't feel great anymore.

 

This I don't understand. As crapshooty as the playoffs were when we were the Murderers' Row Yankees, they are still that crapshooty. So regardless of how you are feeling about the team right now, I don't get being completely down on our chances in the playoffs.

 

This isn't specifically directed at you, because you are a sane person. But I kinda hope this continues and we back into the playoffs with 89 wins and then win the World Series so that the tryptamines of the world have to reconcile this Cubs team winning the World Series and them hating this team for the vast majority of the season.

[Rex Buckingham]

When fowler comes back it will make a big difference to have him in the lineup over Almora Jr. He doesn't have to be first couple myths Dex to give a huge boost at the top. 2015 Dex would be plenty.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ding Dong Johnson]

and a lot of it is the injury bug, which I hope gets all squared away in the 2nd half. it would also help if Heyward, Russell, and big dumb Miggy could ever figure out how to hit for more than 1 game every other week and jake figured out how to pitch again