8/16 Cubs (Lester) at Pirates (Nova) 6:05 p.m. CSN Chicago

[UMFan83]

Can’t wait to see Lester’s comments about this game. Was definitely a ‘shut up the critics’ type of performance

[Guancous]

http://twitter.com/nissen54/status/1030273201601839104

[TMan92]

Hey. Nice job Jon. Keep doing that. 1-0 wins are cool, but runs would be nice.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I would be ok with Lester being fixed.

Be honest, you really wouldn’t

 

I'd be OK with the whole thing going down in flames too. It's the middle ground that is boring.

[Sammys Boombox]

I’ll take it. Come on offense tho.

 

20 games over .500 for the 4th season in a row

Lots of fake dongs early

 

 

Also, reminder that 90 win teams are only 18 games over .500.

 

And Fangraphs projects 0 NL teams (besides the Cubs) to reach 90 wins.

[Sammy Sofa]

HUZZAH.

[Tim]

:flythew: :flythew:

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

I haven't had a chance to watch the game yet (DVR'd it) and poked in to just see the active topics but not spoil the game for myself. I saw the game thread was only 3 pages as of a few minutes ago and figured Lester probably got shelled and everyone checked out early. Nice to see that wasn't the case.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

1-0 doesn't help our L23 VRD very much, though.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

1-0 doesn't help our L23 VRD very much, though.

 

Better to be lucky than good.

[Sammy Sofa]

1-0 doesn't help our L23 VRD very much, though.

 

I know this is your thing now, but what was the threshold that they passed in the first half where you decided that the RD was legit and not just an arbitrary collection of endpoints? 40 games? 50? 60?

 

Like, it just seems SLIGHTLY ahead of yourself to be getting all cocky on their offense right now.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

1-0 doesn't help our L23 VRD very much, though.

 

I know this is your thing now, but what was the threshold that they passed in the first half where you decided that the RD was legit and not just an arbitrary collection of endpoints? 40 games? 50? 60?

 

Like, it just seems SLIGHTLY ahead of yourself to be getting all cocky on their offense right now.

 

I think pretty much the only time I've referenced RD seriously this year was in early May or whenever when we were a couple games over .500 but the VRD said we had played better. I thought it was fluky that our offense was so boom-or-bust with so many 12+ run games and the long droughts. They've been a lot more stable offensively since then. And our Pythag record is now the same as our actual record.

 

I agree that we haven't played well lately. We were probably unlucky then and are lucky now. But that horsefeathers happens.

 

I think it's silly to take a completely arbitrary VRD sample out of a larger whole, though.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

That's not to say that our RD the last few weeks doesn't matter at all. It means that we are a lesser team than I would have thought three weeks ago. But three weeks ago, I thought we might challenge 100 wins.

 

But the last three weeks are still only a part of the whole.

[Sammy Sofa]

1-0 doesn't help our L23 VRD very much, though.

 

I know this is your thing now, but what was the threshold that they passed in the first half where you decided that the RD was legit and not just an arbitrary collection of endpoints? 40 games? 50? 60?

 

Like, it just seems SLIGHTLY ahead of yourself to be getting all cocky on their offense right now.

 

I think pretty much the only time I've referenced RD seriously this year was in early May or whenever when we were a couple games over .500 but the VRD said we had played better. I thought it was fluky that our offense was so boom-or-bust with so many 12+ run games and the long droughts. They've been a lot more stable offensively since then. And our Pythag record is now the same as our actual record.

 

I agree that we haven't played well lately. We were probably unlucky then and are lucky now. But that horsefeathers happens.

 

I think it's silly to take a completely arbitrary VRD sample out of a larger whole, though.

 

I don't think it's silly at all to simply point out that, not coincidentally, they've had a pretty unremarkable stretch at best where, again, not coincidentally, the offense has looked...uninspired. It doesn't mean they're fucked, or that this will continue, and it's awesome that the stupid Brewers remembered who they were at about the same time, but basically taking a "LALALALALALALALA, I CAN'T HEAR YOU APPROACH" to how one of the things most stable about them is how little they score for weeks now is a tad goofy.

 

There's better things to start swinging your dick over, that's all.

[Sammy Sofa]

And hell, I think if they even just go .500 the rest of the way they're almost certainly set. It's not like I'm sitting here thinking they need to suddenly become offensive juggernauts to pull this off. Just get to the playoffs with the starting rotation not a complete coal mine inferno and some semi-working version of Bryant and let's see what happens.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The VRD is just retaliation for the incessant “if you take a different encouraging stat from every pitcher, they’re actually good” posts

[17 Seconds]

http://twitter.com/nissen54/status/1030273201601839104

 

baez just wants to eat some seeds, man

[Aaron_Kennelly]

The VRD is just retaliation for the incessant “if you take a different encouraging stat from every pitcher, they’re actually good” posts

 

My main thing with the starting pitching is that I just don't care. I think people have focused way too much on it as the Cubs have played their way to the best record in the NL despite it.

 

If there was any optimism from me in the rotation turning it around, it had way more to do with the hundreds of quality inning we've seen from them before this season. It takes more than 80 innings for me to fully accept that this is the new normal. The only one who has really fooled me is Quintana. I did think he was going to turn it around, at least somewhat. I thought there were signs of progress. But I only thought there might be progress because of what he's done the rest of his career. If he had pitched like Eddie Butler before this season, my thinking would be a lot different.

 

Anyway, I was wrong. If anything, he's gotten worse. I've since given up on him.

 

But, oh well. Still in first. Still the best team in the NL.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

 

I know this is your thing now, but what was the threshold that they passed in the first half where you decided that the RD was legit and not just an arbitrary collection of endpoints? 40 games? 50? 60?

 

Like, it just seems SLIGHTLY ahead of yourself to be getting all cocky on their offense right now.

 

I think pretty much the only time I've referenced RD seriously this year was in early May or whenever when we were a couple games over .500 but the VRD said we had played better. I thought it was fluky that our offense was so boom-or-bust with so many 12+ run games and the long droughts. They've been a lot more stable offensively since then. And our Pythag record is now the same as our actual record.

 

I agree that we haven't played well lately. We were probably unlucky then and are lucky now. But that horsefeathers happens.

 

I think it's silly to take a completely arbitrary VRD sample out of a larger whole, though.

 

I don't think it's silly at all to simply point out that, not coincidentally, they've had a pretty unremarkable stretch at best where, again, not coincidentally, the offense has looked...uninspired. It doesn't mean they're horsefeathers, or that this will continue, and it's awesome that the stupid Brewers remembered who they were at about the same time, but basically taking a "LALALALALALALALA, I CAN'T HEAR YOU APPROACH" to how one of the things most stable about them is how little they score for weeks now is a tad goofy.

 

There's better things to start swinging your dick over, that's all.

 

I've been swinging my dick for three straight years now and the Cubs have remained the best team in the division the whole time. A three-week slump from the offense isn't going to make me stop swinging. The Cubs have more talent than everyone and they've played pretty good baseball this year on the whole. I remain convinced that will continue to be the case.

 

And the reason I haven't been listening to any of the wailing and bemoaning "real collapse potential" is because the Cubs haven't been in any real danger all year. Here is the Cubs' playoff odds progression this year. They've been over .500 in every month. They've consistently been a good baseball team. But I'm the goofy one for not constantly freaking out.

 

[Regular Show]

The VRD is just retaliation for the incessant “if you take a different encouraging stat from every pitcher, they’re actually good” posts

 

The only one who has really fooled me is Quintana. I did think he was going to turn it around, at least somewhat. I thought there were signs of progress. But I only thought there might be progress because of what he's done the rest of his career. If he had pitched like Eddie Butler before this season, my thinking would be a lot different.

 

Anyway, I was wrong. If anything, he's gotten worse. I've since given up on him.

 

I wasn't a big fan of Quintana. I didn't say anything when we traded for him last season because everyone was super excited about getting him. The Cubs did takeoff and play better in the second-half of last season and we absolutely needed to make a trade. I wanted us to get Verlander last season before the trade deadline, but I had no way of knowing that he'd be this dominant so I don't want to take credit for this version of Verlander. I also thought we could get Verlander without having to give up too much or our best prospects.

 

I'm a big Eloy fan and I think he'll be really good for the White Sox. It sucks that we gave up Eloy to get Q because we could've flipped him for someone else. Opportunity cost is a very real thing and I'm pretty sure Eloy's value has only increased since we traded him. I didn't mind giving up Cease because I think he's a reliever all the way. Maybe he becomes a high-leverage guy/Closer, but I don't think he'll ever have a season over 3 WAR.

 

Hopefully Quintana does better next year, but yeah I've pretty much given up on him this year as well.

[TMan92]

The VRD is just retaliation for the incessant “if you take a different encouraging stat from every pitcher, they’re actually good” posts

 

The only one who has really fooled me is Quintana. I did think he was going to turn it around, at least somewhat. I thought there were signs of progress. But I only thought there might be progress because of what he's done the rest of his career. If he had pitched like Eddie Butler before this season, my thinking would be a lot different.

 

Anyway, I was wrong. If anything, he's gotten worse. I've since given up on him.

 

I wasn't a big fan of Quintana. I didn't say anything when we traded for him last season because everyone was super excited about getting him. The Cubs did takeoff and play better in the second-half of last season and we absolutely needed to make a trade. I wanted us to get Verlander last season before the trade deadline, but I had no way of knowing that he'd be this dominant so I don't want to take credit for this version of Verlander. I also thought we could get Verlander without having to give up too much or our best prospects.

 

I'm a big Eloy fan and I think he'll be really good for the White Sox. It sucks that we gave up Eloy to get Q because we could've flipped him for someone else. Opportunity cost is a very real thing and I'm pretty sure Eloy's value has only increased since we traded him. I didn't mind giving up Cease because I think he's a reliever all the way. Maybe he becomes a high-leverage guy/Closer, but I don't think he'll ever have a season over 3 WAR.

 

Hopefully Quintana does better next year, but yeah I've pretty much given up on him this year as well.

 

The optimal scenario is Darvish can get back and be one of the four in the playoff rotation. I actually wouldn’t mind Quintana to be the middle inning guy like Maeda was last year for the Dodgers. Q with just a couple innings here and there could be valuable.

[Cubswin11]

Tonight was our 13th shutout of the year, that’s tied for the lead in MLB

[jehr]

Tonight was our 13th shutout of the year, that’s tied for the lead in MLB

That definitely makes for a funny stat. Our starting pitching is our biggest concern, and we're tied for MLB lead in shutouts. Just another reason why we all love baseball.

[bcl412]

Discussing how much we suck after we win is annoying

[jersey cubs fan]

Tonight was our 13th shutout of the year, that’s tied for the lead in MLB

That definitely makes for a funny stat. Our starting pitching is our biggest concern, and we're tied for MLB lead in shutouts. Just another reason why we all love baseball.