8/22 - Cubs (Smyly) vs Detroit (Olson): 5:40pm, Marquee

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jordan Wicks has 7 starts and 33 innings at AAA with middling results, I'd peg him no better than 3rd in the rotation pecking order at this point, behind Wesneski and Kilian.

[chibears55]

5 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

lol. No they don't. But it's certainly never good to go to your bullpen in the 4th. Especially when the outcome was this predictable.

He threw 3 pitches in the 4th, they basically have Alzolay and Merryweather of the good relievers rested, so getting 3 full innings out of Wesneski would be good and somewhat needed for the pen.

[bukie]

3 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Jordan Wicks has 7 starts and 33 innings at AAA with middling results, I'd peg him no better than 3rd in the rotation pecking order at this point, behind Wesneski and Kilian.

No, someone mentioned his name in an article, so it's clearly the best option.

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Jordan Wicks has 7 starts and 33 innings at AAA with middling results, I'd peg him no better than 3rd in the rotation pecking order at this point, behind Wesneski and Kilian.

I would disagree.  I like Wesneski still long term, but he simply cannot get LHH right now and has shown it consistently.  He needs to develop a LHH out-pitch or he's a BP arm.  Killian just isn't an MLB starter, IMO and I don't say that lightly.  I really liked him entering last year, but his inability to develop any sort of chase pitch is a pretty decent death knell.  The velo returning is nice, but I just don't see it.  Wicks has the changeup, he throws strikes, and he'll get ground balls.  I don't think he's going to be a revelation at first, but I think he can be a stabilizing force in the sense of I'd trust him a bit more to make it 4 solid innings.  I'd order it: 1) Wicks, 2) Wesneski and 3) Killian.  I think Wicks is a pretty slept on arm.  

Edited August 23, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Tryptamine]

Just now, bukie said:

No, someone mentioned his name in an article, so it's clearly the best option.

Yes, because none of us knew who he was before the article 

[chibears55]

Off topic: just saw the Sox fired Williams and Hahn with Chicago sports personnel chirping for Theo to take control Off topic: just saw the Sox fired Williams and Hahn with Chicago sports personnel chirping for Theo to take control 

[bukie]

2 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Yes, because none of us knew who he was before the article 

If you are convinced he's the best starting option for the Cubs right now, then yes, I am skeptical you knew who he was before the article. Smyly may not be a viable MLB starter option, but Wicks is barely a viable AAA starter option at the moment.

[Tryptamine]

Nice throw Amaya

[Irrelevant Dude]

Throwing doesn't seem to be Amaya's strong suit 

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, bukie said:

If you are convinced he's the best starting option for the Cubs right now, then yes, I am skeptical you knew who he was before the article. Smyly may not be a viable MLB starter option, but Wicks is barely a viable AAA starter option at the moment.

"Barely viable in AAA" is pretty harsh for someone who's striking out just under a hitter per inning, has a GB% nearing 50% and has a HR/FB% under 10.  

Edited August 23, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[squally1313]

19 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

Are you really whining that people are complaining about Drew Smyly giving up 7 runs in less then 4 innings? Personally I'll keep cheering for the cubs offense while also recognizing throwing out an awful pitcher over and over is a bad idea. 

I’m not saying you can’t question the decision Ross made in choosing between like, three terrible options. I’m saying this thread is 95% furious that we didn’t throw out an average AAA pitcher off-turn and then like 4 posts about the 6 runs we’ve scored in 6 innings. After yesterday spending the whole time bitching about how terrible the offense is. We’re down 1 on the road, maybe calm down a bit. 

[Rcal10]

19 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Win or not, starting Smyly is stupid

I didn’t have much of an issue with him starting tonight. Tigers bad against lefties and Smyly did ok in a few relief appearances. Letting him start, I was hoping they worked with him between his last start and they figured something out. Apparently that was not the case. From this point on he cannot start. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I would disagree.  I like Wesneski still long term, but he simply cannot get LHH right now and has shown it consistently.  He needs to develop a LHH out-pitch or he's a BP arm.  Killian just isn't an MLB starter, IMO and I don't say that lightly.  I really liked him entering last year, but his inability to develop any sort of chase pitch is a pretty decent death knell.  The velo returning is nice, but I just don't see it.  Wicks has the changeup, he throws strikes, and he'll get ground balls.  I don't think he's going to be a revelation at first, but I think he can be a stabilizing force in the sense of I'd trust him a bit more to make it 4 solid innings.  I'd order it: 1) Wicks, 2) Wesneski and 3) Killian.  I think Wicks is a pretty slept on arm.  

That wasn't an endorsement of Wesneski or Kilian, but they have demonstrated a far greater level of MLB readiness than Wicks.  I'd almost go as far to say they may try some type of piggyback setup with Shane Greene before they go to Wicks, he's barely pitched at the AAA level and he hasn't been all that good.  I get the urgency and desperation of the situation, but there's nothing about Wicks' performance(not missing bats or controlling the zone at AAA) or trajectory(7 starts at AAA w/ < 5 IP/start, all on 5+ days rest) that point to him being ready to start taking turns in an MLB rotation.

[Irrelevant Dude]

A Maddux-like grab!

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I’m not saying you can’t question the decision Ross made in choosing between like, three terrible options. I’m saying this thread is 95% furious that we didn’t throw out an average AAA pitcher off-turn and then like 4 posts about the 6 runs we’ve scored in 6 innings. After yesterday spending the whole time bitching about how terrible the offense is. We’re down 1 on the road, maybe calm down a bit. 

As I said, starting him today was probably  the move that made the most sense. I hoped maybe he worked out some issues. But now, they can’t start him again. I still think they have a decent chance of winning tonight. That isn’t the issue with me. I am talking about moving forward. 

[Tryptamine]

Just now, bukie said:

If you are convinced he's the best starting option for the Cubs right now, then yes, I am skeptical you knew who he was before the article. Smyly may not be a viable MLB starter option, but Wicks is barely a viable AAA starter option at the moment.

Wesneski can't get out lefties, Smyly can't get anyone out and Killian has been awful in an admittedly small sample, so yeah give me the guy with a 3.41 ERA over the last 2 months and 3.09 over the last month.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

28 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I'm not exactly jacked up about suggesting Wesneski either.  But I'd much rather have him start than Smyly for a variety of reasons.

But seriously, ignoring how bad the options are, who are you starting the next turn in the rotation?

Even if you don’t care enough to debate Smyly/Wesneski, Smyly should’ve been done after the Cubs got the lead. Try to win the ball game.

Obviously geared towards Tom, but the quotes are silly now.

[UMFan83]

Hey offense, job's not done yet.

[Jason Ross]

10 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

That wasn't an endorsement of Wesneski or Kilian, but they have demonstrated a far greater level of MLB readiness than Wicks.  I'd almost go as far to say they may try some type of piggyback setup with Shane Greene before they go to Wicks, he's barely pitched at the AAA level and he hasn't been all that good.  I get the urgency and desperation of the situation, but there's nothing about Wicks' performance(not missing bats or controlling the zone at AAA) or trajectory(7 starts at AAA w/ < 5 IP/start, all on 5+ days rest) that point to him being ready to start taking turns in an MLB rotation.

I would, again, disagree that he hasn't been that good and think he's actually looked really great at times, especially over his last few starts.  He striking out about a hitter per inning, and his swinging strike has been going up.  Over his last 19 IP, he's got a K% of 22%, which is pretty good.  The fastball has some really good movement to it (mitigating the velocity a bit) and his changeup is a legit plus-plus pitch.  Then add in the high number of GB's for a Cubs defense who is among the very best in baseball when it comes to ground balls, and I think it's a pretty good combination.  

I'll remain on record; Jordan Wicks is where I'd go if I needed 4 solid innings at the MLB level.  I wouldn't count on him to get much more, maybe a 5th, but I wouldn't count on Wesneski, Killian or Smyly to get me more than 4 either.  The 6 day rest thing isn't great right now, and I'd buy that being a bit of a speed bump, so I'll concede on that point.

Edited August 23, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[itisallpartoftheplan]

This next inning will probably decide the game. Need another shutdown inning in the bottom half and hope that Bellinger, Dansby, Sieya, and Candy can get something going in the top half.

[chibears55]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

Hey offense, job's not done yet.

Waiting for the 9th 🤷‍♂️😅

[UMFan83]

Just now, TomtheBombadil said:

It’s currently 7-6 mid 7th 

I love that your defense of "try to win the game" is to point out that the Cubs are losing with 6 outs to go.  

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

I love that your defense of "try to win the game" is to point out that the Cubs are losing with 6 outs to go.  

But they are getting blown out, so yay

[itisallpartoftheplan]

1 minute ago, TomtheBombadil said:

It’s currently 7-6 mid 7th 

We have a chance because the offense and the pen hasn’t given anything up yet. Giving up 7 runs in 3.2 from your starter is your great recipe for winning.

[UMFan83]

Palencia is such an adventure.  You have no idea what you are going to get when he steps onto the mound.