9/20 - Pirates (Keller) vs Cubs (Steele): 6:40pm, Marquee

[chibears55]

This is kinda reminding me of 1998..

Good offense, a couple of good young SP, a tremendously overworked bullpen, struggled the last 2 weeks of season and ended up playing a game 163 to make the WC, and then got whooped by Atlanta because the bullpen was on fumes.

[UMFan83]

Of course 105+ MPH liner right at someone.

 

Thanks again Dansby would have been nice to have gotten 1 back there

Edit:  104, .620 xBA

 

Edited September 21, 2023 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

This is kinda reminding me of 1998..

Good offense, a couple of good young SP, a tremendously overworked bullpen, struggled the last 2 weeks of season and ended up playing a game 163 to make the WC, and then got whooped by Atlanta because the bullpen was on fumes.

Thats....actually a really good comp.  I remember just begging guys like Mulholland and Beck to please hold up for X more games.  I'd be doing the same thing with this year's Cubs guys except half of them are on the IL

Edited September 21, 2023 by UMFan83

[s2obed]

All Dansby had to do was put one in the air medium deep to at least drive the run in. Sigh.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

I remember just begging guys like Mulholland and Beck to please hold up for X more games.

I bet Mulholland's arm still hasn't recovered from that season 

[s2obed]

I wonder if they’re stretching Stroman out behind the scenes?

He hasn’t pitched since Saturday. Seems like he should’ve been available tonight. 

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, s2obed said:

All Dansby had to do was put one in the air medium deep to at least drive the run in. Sigh.

He had the same AB he's been having in all key situations lately.  Swing at the first 2 pitches, one of them fouled off very hard, then its a matter of how many balls he takes until he swings at a bad pitch for strike 3.  It's so predictable to everyone except David Ross.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Just picture an 11-8 game bases loaded 2 outs for Dansby this inning.

[squally1313]

Dansby Swanson has a .781 OPS and a 19% K rate in September before tonight. That K rate would be the lowest month of the year for him. 

(Back on my horsefeathers)

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Thats....actually a really good comp.  I remember just begging guys like Mulholland and Beck to please hold up for X more games.  I'd be doing the same thing with this year's Cubs guys except half of them are on the IL

Kerry wood game

Sosa 66 Homeruns

Cubs had chance but passed on Randy Johnson and the Astros got him and ran away with the Division 

Rod Beck Pitching on fumes in September 

 

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

The Mastrobuoni game 

[UMFan83]

PCA....still hitless

[chibears55]

Cubs have 7 runs with Steele on mound, youd think an easy W...

[UMFan83]

Actually now that I think about it the Cubs might be like the 98 Mets.  In complete control and then just loses most of their games down the stretch.

[Irrelevant Dude]

0-9 with 5 K's for PCA.  I love his defense, but is it worth it at this point?

Or maybe it's 0-8 with 4 K's. Either way, he isn't giving them competitive at bats.

Edited September 21, 2023 by Irrelevant Dude

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

0-9 with 5 K's for PCA.  I love his defense, but is it worth it at this point?

It's worth having him on the roster unless you want to call Mervis up, but yeah I think I'm perfectly fine with the limited playing time he's gotten.  Doesn't change how I feel about him long term, he just doesn't look ready for big league pitching, even of the Pirates variety.

Edited September 21, 2023 by UMFan83

[itisallpartoftheplan]

After Happ’s Grand Slam it seemed like we’d pull it off. But I guess not.

[squally1313]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

0-9 with 5 K's for PCA.  I love his defense, but is it worth it at this point?

I mean, it's a legitimate question, but not really one you answer based on 9 ABs. He certainly wasn't lighting up AAA offensively. 

It's amazing how much time we all spent complaining about Mervis and PCA just wasting time in Iowa only for them to come up and provide absolutely nothing. The depth is coming, but it's not here yet. 

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, itisallpartoftheplan said:

After Happ’s Grand Slam it seemed like we’d pull it off. But I guess not.

Started to feel like that White Sox game where Stroman got shelled.  Or the Mariners game 

[chibears55]

8 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

PCA....still hitless

Send him and Canario back to Iowa so they can win the Championship there

[itisallpartoftheplan]

This is going to end up with Jared Young pitching.

[Derwood]

This team somehow has five third basemen but also zero third basemen

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

It's amazing how much time we all spent complaining about Mervis and PCA just wasting time in Iowa only for them to come up and provide absolutely nothing.

I see those as two completely different cases.  Mervis has probably learned all he is going to learn at Iowa and is as ready as he's going to get.  If that's not good enough to be on this roster right now, he is likely never going to be good enough.  PCA on the other hand has all the upside in the world, but he hasn't had a ton of time in AAA.  It's not unreasonable to say that he could have used consistent playing time in AAA through the end of this season and maybe even to start next year.

I think the issue right now is the Cubs are going to PCA too quickly as a pinch runner or defensive replacement and that is leading to him coming up to bat in key late game spots that he really isn't ready for. Yes, it's not really fair to judge him on 8 at bats, but he has looked overmatched at times.

[squally1313]

7 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I see those as two completely different cases.  Mervis has probably learned all he is going to learn at Iowa and is as ready as he's going to get.  If that's not good enough to be on this roster right now, he is likely never going to be good enough.  PCA on the other hand has all the upside in the world, but he hasn't had a ton of time in AAA.  It's not unreasonable to say that he could have used consistent playing time in AAA through the end of this season and maybe even to start next year.

I think the issue right now is the Cubs are going to PCA too quickly as a pinch runner or defensive replacement and that is leading to him coming up to bat in key late game spots that he really isn't ready for. Yes, it's not really fair to judge him on 8 at bats, but he has looked overmatched at times.

You're probably right. Didn't mean for it to come off as grouping them together as prospects. Just more touching on how we've gotten nothing of value from these dudes all year. 

[PJCubfan]

I've enjoyed watching this Cub team this season, even when they were 10 under they had a swagger to 'em.  I'm a long time fan, since the late 1960's, so I have low expectations most of the time.  I hope they can complete the comeback tonight.