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

[PJCubfan]

Well, I stayed to the end as I always do.  It didn't end well.  But I'll be back at it tomorrow night and the day after too.  

It's still a shame to lose to a bad team like the Pirates, no matter how many the Cubs have taken in the past.  These games are doubly important.

[Derwood]

Ending the game on a Dansby strikeout seems appropriate

[Outshined_One]

This team is completely gassed. Their young pitchers have exceeded previous IP/pitch counts, their bullpen has been a merry-go-round most of the season, and even their position guys seem worn out.

It's not effort or desire to win; I just think they're physically spent.

[UMFan83]

Dansby Swanson - 0/5, 4 K

[UMFan83]

Just now, Outshined_One said:

This team is completely gassed. Their young pitchers have exceeded previous IP/pitch counts, their bullpen has been a merry-go-round most of the season, and even their position guys seem worn out.

It's not effort or desire to win; I just think they're physically spent.

I agree...sputtering to the finish line.  We just didn't have enough depth to make it to the end of the year.  But who knows, lets see how the last 10 play out.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, Outshined_One said:

This team is completely gassed. Their young pitchers have exceeded previous IP/pitch counts, their bullpen has been a merry-go-round most of the season, and even their position guys seem worn out.

It's not effort or desire to win; I just think they're physically spent.

I can't argue with that observation for the pitching staff, but I don't know that the same is true for the position players. Other than Dansby, most guys in the lineup still gave good at bats tonight. They scored enough to win, but can't overcome that type of pitching effort. The pitching issues were probably going to catch up to them sooner or later, and it appears like it is going to be extremely difficult to work around them now.

[Derwood]

9 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Dansby Swanson - 0/5, 4 K

There isn't even an obvious "hole" in his swing. Pitchers are getting him to swing through different pitches in and out of the zone.

 

Maybe he shouldn't have switched to Mike Olt's optometrist...

[squally1313]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I agree...sputtering to the finish line.  We just didn't have enough depth to make it to the end of the year.  But who knows, lets see how the last 10 play out.

You just need so much pitching depth these days, I really don't know how any team does it. I tried to make a comparison to the 2016 Cubs (never smart!) and how all 5 of those dudes were veterans, totally stretched out in the years before, etc. But honestly it's not fair to like, knock this version of the Cubs for not having that kind of freakish health luck (152 games started by those 5) and really it's just a different game in general. They'd all be top 30 in innings right now. I don't know where these top teams find all the innings. 

[UMFan83]

7 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I can't argue with that observation for the pitching staff, but I don't know that the same is true for the position players. Other than Dansby, most guys in the lineup still gave good at bats tonight. They scored enough to win, but can't overcome that type of pitching effort. The pitching issues were probably going to catch up to them sooner or later, and it appears like it is going to be extremely difficult to work around them now.

Last week the offense seemed gassed, or maybe gassed is just a convenient word when the team sucks.  But this is what happens when you hit the end of your depth.  Some parts work while others fall apart.  Then it switches with the net result being a 3-9 stretch.  We've got a rotation with 2 guys who were not really expected to start for the Cubs this year, one of them no one expected to make the majors this year.  Our bullpen got overused in July and August and now half of the high leverage guys are on the IL and we're relying on failed starters and guys who don't know where the ball is going when they throw it. 

We've got no hitting, we've got no pitching, our pets HEADS ARE FALLING OFF

[WhyCantWeWin]

I dont think they are gassed aside from the bullpen guys that Ross overused. Think they are an average team with a below average manager and are performing to that end. 

[s2obed]

32 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Last week the offense seemed gassed, or maybe gassed is just a convenient word when the team sucks.  But this is what happens when you hit the end of your depth.  Some parts work while others fall apart.  Then it switches with the net result being a 3-9 stretch.  We've got a rotation with 2 guys who were not really expected to start for the Cubs this year, one of them no one expected to make the majors this year.  Our bullpen got overused in July and August and now half of the high leverage guys are on the IL and we're relying on failed starters and guys who don't know where the ball is going when they throw it. 

We've got no hitting, we've got no pitching, our pets HEADS ARE FALLING OFF

I’m proud of the effort no matter what happens. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be pissed if we blow this but no one expected us to be here. Everything had to go right for this team to contend. 

[JHBulls]

27 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

I dont think they are gassed aside from the bullpen guys that Ross overused. Think they are an average team with a below average manager and are performing to that end. 

Yep, it’s genuinely incredible to be deep into September with a chance at the postseason still. The Rockies and the current “let’s-just-get-through-162” version of the Braves couldn’t have come at a better time. 

Edited September 21, 2023 by JHBulls

[thawv]

9 hours ago, s2obed said:

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. 

I thought the same thing

[Brock Beauchamp]

7 hours ago, JHBulls said:

Yep, it’s genuinely incredible to be deep into September with a chance at the postseason still. The Rockies and the current “let’s-just-get-through-162” version of the Braves couldn’t have come at a better time. 

Welcome to North Side Baseball!

[Andy]

I have nothing to add from last night except I have no clue how PCA put up numbers in AAA with the swings he puts out there. He looks like he's swinging a tree branch.

[JHBulls]

5 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Welcome to North Side Baseball!

Thank you. Good to be here. 🙂