7/14 - Red Sox (Bello) vs Cubs (Hendricks): 7:05pm, Marquee

[Brock Beauchamp]

Baseball is back and the Cubs open out of the break with a ten game home stand, seven games of which are against last-place teams.

The narrative around this stretch is that it's pretty much make-or-break for the 2023 Cubs. The three games against the Red Sox will be tough but that is followed by three games against the Nationals, then four games against St Louis, who hopefully has sold some of its veteran pieces by that point.

Had to edit this because I ended up on tomorrow's schedule without noticing. I'm very sleepy, it has been a long week.

[Derwood]

All three games are local only, no national games. 
 

LAME

[CubinNY]

boo, Friday evening games. 

[CubUgly]

54 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

boo, Friday evening games. 

 

I agree, what is the reasoning?  How many times have there been Friday night games played at Wrigley in the past.   Someone indicated this is only the second - I don't think that is accurate.

[champaignchris]

29 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

 

I agree, what is the reasoning?  How many times have there been Friday night games played at Wrigley in the past.   Someone indicated this is only the second - I don't think that is accurate.

I assume it’s to give the players a little extra time to get back from break. 

[Nolansomebody]

THANK GOODNESS BASEBALL IS BACK.

This week was so boring

[The_Achiever]

8 minutes ago, Nolansomebody said:

THANK GOODNESS BASEBALL IS BACK.

This week was so boring

I had Marquee on last night and it took me a couple of innings to realize that it was a replay (wasn't watching closely, just had it on in the background).

Dumb how they don't have a "replay" graphic on screen and had to hit info to see that it was indeed a replay (said "live" on my cable guide).  Had a big ol' lol; indeed actual live baseball will be back!

Also like the Friday evening game.  I know Friday afternoons are staples but I'm still at work.  This way I can go get tanked and enjoy the professor's show.  

[Nolansomebody]

 

 

[Rex Buckingham]

the bottom of that lineup is just awful

[CubinNY]

What a horsefeathers lineup 

[UMFan83]

Kyle might be getting shelled but at least we have 8 Mastro/Barnhart PAs to look forward to

[UMFan83]

I don’t think Kyle has it tonight 

[UMFan83]

4 home runs allowed in 3.1 innings and a couple other foul balls with HR distance for kyle. Completely rested pen but ok yeah let’s keep going 

[CubinNY]

Dripping a deuce tonight 

[abuck1220]

get barnhart off this team holy horsefeathers 

[muntjack]

Why have I heard the booth talk multiple times about how Leiter, Jr. has been clearly the Cubs best reliever? I've heard this conversation at least  3 times.  Alzolay's numbers are better, excepting K-rate. At least concede that it is close. I haven't even heard Adbert's name come up in these conversations.

[SpongeWorthy]

happ and suzuki have been absolutely brutal for like 6 weeks 

[mfcubs22]

Gotta start better players at the corners. 

[Nolansomebody]

What the horsefeathers was that?

[Derwood]

Wait, are you telling me that a lineup featuring Tauchmann, Mastrouboni, Young and Barnhart only scored 3 runs?

MADNESS

[UMFan83]

I noticed yesterday that Mastrobuoni has a total of 1 RBI in 78 PA this year.  That projects to 8 RBI (rounded up) over a 600 PA season. 
 

Edit: And that 1 RBI came on April 4th

Edited July 15, 2023 by UMFan83

[PackLandVA]

With Happ, Suzuki, and Wisdom not hitting for the past couple of weeks, it only emphasizes the inability of the other dregs in the lineup.

[cl smooth]

4 minutes ago, PackLandVA said:

…Wisdom not hitting for the past couple of weeks…

…weeks? Dude has sucked ass since the middle of April. 

[Derwood]

What does the FA market look like for 1B/3B? No one in this system seems like a long term solution

[UMFan83]

19 minutes ago, Derwood said:

What does the FA market look like for 1B/3B? No one in this system seems like a long term solution

Joey Votto

Josh Bell

Josh Donaldson

Evan Longoria

Max Muncy

Rhys Hoskins

Joey Gallo

 Justin Turner

Jesus Aguilar

Matt Chapman

Jeimer Candelario

Some of them might have options that are likely to be picked up, not sure. Just reading down a quick list I pulled up. Certainly wouldn’t say no to Matt Chapman. 

Edited July 15, 2023 by UMFan83