9/21 - Pirates (Oviedo) vs Cubs (Hendricks): 6:40pm, Marquee

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 errors tonight and both of them were killers.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

4 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

So Morel would have come up and swung harder?  It's the bottom of the 9th of a close game in a playoff race. I don't think "lighting a fire" is a real thing in that situation.

Soriano said it changed his season when Lou got tossed in 07.

Obviously you can’t go off whenever, but that’s a critical couple of misses when the pirates had big innings after some missed calls the last couple days.

So clearly you’re in the camp that a player or coach should never argue since it won’t change anything.

[Irrelevant Dude]

"That's not a good team." - David Ross in reference to the Pirates

That's not something you will hear a manager say out loud very often, if ever.

[UMFan83]

8 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

So Morel would have come up and swung harder?  It's the bottom of the 9th of a close game in a playoff race. I don't think "lighting a fire" is a real thing in that situation.

No one can quantify the value of “lighting a fire” under a team. It might not even be a thing. It certainly doesn’t hurt the team I don’t think, unless Ross going ballistic on an ump causes the team to feel the stress of their choking even more

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

"That's not a good team." - David Ross in reference to the Pirates

That's not something you will hear a manager say out loud very often, if ever.

Are you sure he wasn’t talking about the Cubs?

[WhyCantWeWin]

They wouldn't make it that far in the playoffs with their pitching in shambles anyway. Better to miss the postseason now IMO. 

[s2obed]

10 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

So Morel would have come up and swung harder?  It's the bottom of the 9th of a close game in a playoff race. I don't think "lighting a fire" is a real thing in that situation.

I am not speaking about that inning. Just in general. Did ya forget the rain delay speech? Certain things can get a team going. 

[javy knows my name]

Just now, s2obed said:

I am not speaking about that inning. Just in general. Did ya forget the rain delay speech? Certain things can get a team going. 

I'm pretty pissed at the cubs for pullin me back only to do this at the end of the season

[javy knows my name]

1 minute ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

They wouldn't make it that far in the playoffs with their pitching in shambles anyway. Better to miss the postseason now IMO. 

Couldn't disagree with this more 

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, itisallpartoftheplan said:

So clearly you’re in the camp that a player or coach should never argue since it won’t change anything.

Not necessarily, but arguing balls and strikes is futile.  MAYBE if it was earlier in the game and he wanted to try to plant a seed with the umpire for the remaining innings, but it was a bit late for that.

[Outshined_One]

8 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

this is as bad as 04

'04 saw huge trade acquisitions, the best rotation the Cubs have ever seen, and a team coming within a few outs of the World Series the prior season.

Coming into this season, a good chunk of people thought this team would be out of contention by the deadline and well under .500 by season's end.

2004 was way, way worse than this.

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

They wouldn't make it that far in the playoffs with their pitching in shambles anyway. Better to miss the postseason now IMO. 

 Very, very dumb take 

[WhyCantWeWin]

Just now, javy knows my name said:

Couldn't disagree with this more 

Steeles arm is about to fall off and the bullpen is completely ineffective. You think this team can score 10+ each night against playoff teams? Or do you think getting slapped in the playoffs is a good experience for a team like this. 

Just take the better draft pick IMO

[WhyCantWeWin]

Just now, squally1313 said:

 Very, very dumb take 

Coming from the guy who was happy when the bullpen imploded in the reds series, ill gladly be on the opposite end of what you consider intelligent. 

[UMFan83]

6 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

'04 saw huge trade acquisitions, the best rotation the Cubs have ever seen, and a team coming within a few outs of the World Series the prior season.

Coming into this season, a good chunk of people thought this team would be out of contention by the deadline and well under .500 by season's end.

2004 was way, way worse than this.

Assuming this path continues and they dont make the playoffs I'd rank this 4th in worst end of season finishes for the Cubs since 2000.  Top 9:

1. 2004

2. 2003

3. 2019

4. 2023

5. 2008

6. 2018

7. 2020

8. 2001

9. 2007

 

[squally1313]

8 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Coming from the guy who was happy when the bullpen imploded in the reds series, ill gladly be on the opposite end of what you consider intelligent. 

The team I like should miss the playoffs, he says, intelligently. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Stroman’s healthy

If so, I have to imagine he is on speed dial tomorrow. Any sign off shakiness from Taillon and they simply can't risk sticking with him.

[UMFan83]

10 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Steeles arm is about to fall off and the bullpen is completely ineffective. You think this team can score 10+ each night against playoff teams? Or do you think getting slapped in the playoffs is a good experience for a team like this. 

Just take the better draft pick IMO

I don't get why you wouldn't want to see playoff baseball when its right there for the taking.   I'm so annoyed at this team, but I'm annoyed at them because they are failing when I want them to make the playoffs so badly.

Best of 3 series anything can happen.  Probably wouldnt beat the Braves or Dodgers but whatever.

[UMFan83]

This is the part of the night where I get myself hopeful again for no good reason.

 

All I know is that every single team we are fighting with has sunk lower than us over the last 2 months.  The Diamondbacks and Marlins both dipped under .500 after being close to 20 games over .500 in July.  I'm sure their fans wrote off the playoffs, wanted to fire the manager, complained that they were tired or didnt have enough depth when they were 5 games back.  Obviously they had more time to bounce back but they did and in both cases pretty suddenly, they both got red hot and got themselves right back into the race.  The Reds have floated around the .500 mark too and looked burried.

We just need to play 1 game better than 2 teams over a 9 game stretch.  Figure out a horsefeathers way to do that and lets go to the playoffs.  Sweep the Rockies, go 3-3 against the Braves and Brewers, make the Marlins or Reds go 7-2 to beat you.

Edited September 22, 2023 by UMFan83

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

This is the part of the night where I get myself hopeful again for no good reason.

Just when I thought you couldn't get any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!

[UMFan83]

Sounds like it takes Rossy 13 games to get angry that the season is slipping away

 

[chibears55]

36 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Cubs scored 27 runs this series and went 1-2

With Steele and Hendricks on the mound for both of those losses

[WhyCantWeWin]

14 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The team I like should miss the playoffs, he says, intelligently. 

I'd rather them get a better draft pick than watch them get swept in the playoffs. I'm just being real, of course I'd prefer to see them in the playoffs but they can't beat the rockies or pirates right now because of the state of their pitching staff. It might be surprising but teams in the playoffs are going to be more talented than the rockies. 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

 

*Pat Hughes bursts through a wall* "You know I always thought that Grant Balfour was a horrible name for a pitcher to have"

I made a hilarious post about Pat and Grant Balfour several years ago that killed it on this forum but I can't remember the context of the joke anymore so I'm not sure why I'm even bringing it up.  Just to explain to newbies that I used to be funny sometimes I guess

[Irrelevant Dude]

Just now, WhyCantWeWin said:

I'd rather them get a better draft pick than watch them get swept in the playoffs. I'm just being real, of course I'd prefer to see them in the playoffs but they can't beat the rockies or pirates right now because of the state of their pitching staff. It might be surprising but teams in the playoffs are going to be more talented than the rockies. 

You're talking about the difference between like the 18th pick and the 20th pick in the draft. That isn't nothing, but it's pretty much nothing.