7/9: Cubs (Lester) at Pirates (Kuhl), 6:15 p.m. CT; TV: FOX, Radio: 670 AM

[Tryptamine]

not a strike

[JennieGarthAlgar]

WHAT THE horsefeathers

[Agony and Ivy]

Why does it sound like they're broadcasting in a hurricane?

 

It's Pittsburgh's 200th birthday and they have a massive fireworks show going on behind the stadium.

[Sammy Sofa]

We're probably still going to win the division handily, but this is absolutely infuriating, vexing, and nearly vomit inducing.

Oh, absolutely. There's a reason I turned the game off tonight. But I still believe this is the best team in baseball by a decent margin.

Oh my! This team as it is playing currently is probably closer to the bottom than the top. I can't see how anyone who has been watching this team the last 3 weeks can have an optimistic outlook on this season at this point. I mean they aren't just losing some series here. The complete collapse of the rotation combined with the nightmare of a bullpen doesn't seem to inspire a lot of hope.

 

You realize they're playing a team that was absolutely horrible for an entire month, right? I mean, it's one thing to be concerned and to realize they're playing like ass right now, but it's absurd to just assume they're going to be garbage for the ENTIRE REST OF THE SEASON.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I AM SO ANGRY. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW DEX HAS BEEN OUT THIS LONG ITS ALL HIS FAULT

[Sammy Sofa]

Vinestal is losing his damn mind like he honestly loves what's happening. It's really odd.

[ScrubMD]

If it weren't for some bad BABIP luck and some bad strike calls we'd be fine.

[Tim]

Even though I'm really frustrated with how they are playing right now, I'm absolutely sold on this team. That's mainly because I don't have a raging case of recency bias. I'm able to sit back and look at the results of the season as a whole. Hell, the two articles I wrote for the front page today go through the players one by one and give me a lot of reason for my optimism.

 

This group of position players is damn good. Maybe **maybe** Boston has a better group. But that's it.

 

The pitchers have been a dumpster fire the past three weeks, yes. But that does not mean nearly as much as their track record before that. They are good pitchers, they are healthy, they will get it worked out. Except for Hammel. He's going to get worse and needs to be replaced.

 

Rondon / Strop is fine. The rest of the pen needs upgrading, even if it is just moving some guys down a slot or two.

 

There's just no reason to believe that things will always remain the way they are right now.

[Vinestal]

Vinestal is losing his damn mind like he honestly loves what's happening. It's really odd.

*sigh* I dont love it man but I dont get the delusional everything is going to be fine people. I'm gonna go find some rum. Later guys

[UMFan83]

okay, I think I'm done with tonight's game. I'm still not the slightest bit concerned about the team overall, though.

 

Tim even the most rational level headed posters have at least a small amount of concern. It's ok. You can still be supremely confident about the team making the playoffs and being a contender but there are reasons to be concerned right now

[Tryptamine]

Even when the cubs were awful I don't remember many stretches where the Cubs were giving up this many HRs. It feels like they've given up more HRs in the last 3 weeks than the rest of the season combined.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The offense has scored the better part of 5 runs per game during this terrible stretch, so if you're worried the Cubs aren't going to be any good going forward, the worry has to be about the pitching. Not even the Reds and Rockies are this bad in the long run, so there will be improvement organically(not playing literally every day will help too). The rest is up to your level of optimism in the entire rotation, and possibly the front office's ability to supplement it. So if you think the Cubs have a mediocre rotation going forward, then by all means indulge the desire to freak out about their slump. If you think they're still above average, then recognize that this sucks but is largely bad timing in a longer and successful season.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I remember last July thinking the Cubs weren't going to make the playoffs based on an offense that had been terrible for much of the season. And then they went off.

 

So I feel like the pitching can do the same this time.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Logically, I know the Cubs are fine. We are a powerhouse that is built to win for at least the next several years.

 

Emotionally... I'm not doing so hot. Can you blame me? After everything we've been through? It's like that little OCD voice is starting to creep in saying, "this is the part where the Cubs horsefeathers it all up".

[Sammy Sofa]

Even though I'm really frustrated with how they are playing right now, I'm absolutely sold on this team. That's mainly because I don't have a raging case of recency bias. I'm able to sit back and look at the results of the season as a whole. Hell, the two articles I wrote for the front page today go through the players one by one and give me a lot of reason for my optimism.

 

This group of position players is damn good. Maybe **maybe** Boston has a better group. But that's it.

 

The pitchers have been a dumpster fire the past three weeks, yes. But that does not mean nearly as much as their track record before that. They are good pitchers, they are healthy, they will get it worked out. Except for Hammel. He's going to get worse and needs to be replaced.

 

Rondon / Strop is fine. The rest of the pen needs upgrading, even if it is just moving some guys down a slot or two.

 

There's just no reason to believe that things will always remain the way they are right now.

 

No, but there is reason to believe it continues long enough for the Pirates to get back into it and they spend the rest of the season battling it out. Like I just said, the Pirates are just getting over from sucking for an entire month; this stretch COULD very easily drag on to varying degrees for another week or two after the ASB.

Edited July 10, 2016 by Sammy Sofa

[Thusly Boned]

We're probably still going to win the division handily, but this is absolutely infuriating, vexing, and nearly vomit inducing.

Oh, absolutely. There's a reason I turned the game off tonight. But I still believe this is the best team in baseball by a decent margin.

Oh my! This team as it is playing currently is probably closer to the bottom than the top. I can't see how anyone who has been watching this team the last 3 weeks can have an optimistic outlook on this season at this point. I mean they aren't just losing some series here. The complete collapse of the rotation combined with the nightmare of a bullpen doesn't seem to inspire a lot of hope.

 

Well if you're mentally defective and can't see the forest for the trees, then sure, I could see how you would feel that way. This team may not be 24-6 great, but it sure as hell isn't 4-15 awful.

[badger]

when the hell are dex and soler back? I really need them right now.

[Sammy Sofa]

I feel like the repeated longing for Soler is truly the best barometer for how bad things have gotten.

[Agony and Ivy]

Oh, absolutely. There's a reason I turned the game off tonight. But I still believe this is the best team in baseball by a decent margin.

Oh my! This team as it is playing currently is probably closer to the bottom than the top. I can't see how anyone who has been watching this team the last 3 weeks can have an optimistic outlook on this season at this point. I mean they aren't just losing some series here. The complete collapse of the rotation combined with the nightmare of a bullpen doesn't seem to inspire a lot of hope.

 

You realize they're playing a team that was absolutely horrible for an entire month, right? I mean, it's one thing to be concerned and to realize they're playing like ass right now, but it's absurd to just assume they're going to be garbage for the ENTIRE REST OF THE SEASON.

 

It won't be like this the rest of the season. There's too much talent on this team. Luckily the Cardinals actually blow and it'll be a two team race.

 

The Pirates play their weakest stretch of opponents coming out of the break so the gap should close a bit more. Luckily the awesome start has bought this team some breathing room but if you aren't concerned then you're an idiot.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

The offense has scored the better part of 5 runs per game during this terrible stretch, so if you're worried the Cubs aren't going to be any good going forward, the worry has to be about the pitching. Not even the Reds and Rockies are this bad in the long run, so there will be improvement organically(not playing literally every day will help too). The rest is up to your level of optimism in the entire rotation, and possibly the front office's ability to supplement it. So if you think the Cubs have a mediocre rotation going forward, then by all means indulge the desire to freak out about their slump. If you think they're still above average, then recognize that this sucks but is largely bad timing in a longer and successful season.

 

This is where I'm at.

[badger]

Logically, I know the Cubs are fine. We are a powerhouse that is built to win for at least the next several years.

 

Emotionally... I'm not doing so hot. Can you blame me? After everything we've been through? It's like that little OCD voice is starting to creep in saying, "this is the part where the Cubs [expletive] it all up".

 

 

The difference is that you're aware of your emotionality. People like vinestal are actually believing were awful through reasoning.

[Tim]

btw - I like Spencer Patton's stuff. I do wish he'd have more outings where he owns the zone.

[badger]

I feel like the repeated longing for Soler is truly the best barometer for how bad things have gotten.

 

It's emotional connection to a better time. One when we were donging, RD'ing, and pitching amazing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Clearly Maddon's not yelling hard enough. The only thing that can help us now is somebody to yell at Maddon for his piss poor yelling ability. I wonder what Ozzie Guillen's up to. Now there's a man who knew how to yell at other men. We can bring him on as Special assistant inn charge of supervising men who yell at men. And being bilingual, his yelling technique should be equally effective on hispanic men as it Caucasian men. Though if Kawasaki requires yelling at, that could make things complicated. Impossible? Oh, no. Just complicated. But that's not important. What is important is that men will be yelled at by other men, and it will be glorious. Edited July 10, 2016 by Little Slide Rooter

[Thusly Boned]

I feel like the repeated longing for Soler is truly the best barometer for how bad things have gotten.

 

I haven't consigned Soler to oblivion like many here have. That said, The offense isn't the problem, and the rotation will probably right itself.

 

The bullpen is a different story.