9/27 - Cubs (Taillon) vs Braves (Vines): 6:20pm, Marquee

[squally1313]

Guys, all these dudes who you have issues with Ross using....they're, at best, marginal major leaguers. Here's the problem, the other options suck at least as much, if not worse. It's not a full major league roster. Needed a full go approach to a playoff run or a lot better health luck. 

[Thusly Boned]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

It's either a good team that has been mismanaged, or an awful team that Ross got a 500+ record for the year. Probably can't be both. 

Or its just an average team with an average manager that was constructed to kinda give a half measure of a shot this year and it came back to bite them. 

It's a middling team that managed to play itself into contention and was undermined by their manager. It's been said that a manager can't really do a ton to improve a team, but can do a lot to screw it over, and imo we're seeing that.

I'm not furious really, as I don't think this squad had/has much postseason run in it, but looking to the future Ross isn't the guy I want to be calling the shots if we get some actually well constructed teams.

[WhyCantWeWin]

2 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Of all the things to complain about lol

I'll take my luck with Morel slapping a dick instead of Boner slapping a single any day of the week

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

Guys, all these dudes who you have issues with Ross using....they're, at best, marginal major leaguers. Here's the problem, the other options suck at least as much, if not worse. It's not a full major league roster. Needed a full go approach to a playoff run or a lot better health luck. 

You got it.  If not Mastrobuoni, then who?  He's the best of the not-great options at this point.

[abuck1220]

the cubs run differential tells you the cubs aren’t “terrible.” but they’ve been losing games on the margins all season because their bad GM put together a flawed roster that led to lots of bums taking too way many at bats and their manager consistently fails in close games.

 

the cubs run differential vs their actual record is all you need to know about ross’ performance in close games. 

[soccer10k]

https://x.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1707220118151872934

i can’t get the stupid tweet to load correctly.

 

Edited September 28, 2023 by soccer10k

[Thusly Boned]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

You got it.  If not Mastrobuoni, then who?  He's the best of the not-great options at this point.

I don't care about that, even. Not much to work with right now.

For me it's the body of work with the bullpen mostly, lineup construction, and in game tactical decisions. All garbage.

[s2obed]

Hoyer didn’t do enough at the deadline.

And Ross wanted to reward the guys who got them where they are now. Both bad moves. One thing I loved about Maddon is he knew how to rest his players and keep them fresh. Granted we don’t have any star bench/role players but riding his top guys to end the season is about to bite him in the ass.

Edited September 28, 2023 by s2obed

[UMFan83]

5 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Guys, all these dudes who you have issues with Ross using....they're, at best, marginal major leaguers. Here's the problem, the other options suck at least as much, if not worse. It's not a full major league roster. Needed a full go approach to a playoff run or a lot better health luck. 

Everyone is cooked in the pen, thats why they blew the 4.5 game lead and why they're losing these games.  They've apparently lost 5 games this month with a lead in the 8th or later which is tied for their most in a month in 50 years.  

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Losing close games is more luck than skill, regardless of how frustrating it is.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Just now, s2obed said:

One thing I loved about Maddon is he knew how to rest his players and keep them fresh. Granted we don’t have any start bench/role players but riding his top guys most likely is coming back to bite him in the ass.

That's a subject for argument.  Who is most at fault for the state of the bullpen?  Is it Ross for misusing his high leverage relievers by not giving them proper rest and leading to a rash of (mostly forearm) injuries.  Is it Hoyer for not building a deep enough bullpen to withstand the injuries, and/or leading to Ross overusing the high leverage guys due to a lack of options?  Is it just bad luck that everyone got hurt or burned out around the same time?

[s2obed]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

That's a subject for argument.  Who is most at fault for the state of the bullpen?  Is it Ross for misusing his high leverage relievers by not giving them proper rest and leading to a rash of (mostly forearm) injuries.  Is it Hoyer for not building a deep enough bullpen to withstand the injuries, and/or leading to Ross overusing the high leverage guys due to a lack of options?  Is it just bad luck that everyone got hurt or burned out around the same time?

Both are to blame for sure.

[Irrelevant Dude]

6 minutes ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

Losing close games is more luck than skill, regardless of how frustrating it is.

Over the course of a season, you are probably right. Tonight's game was lost almost entirely on skill though.

[UMFan83]

We didn’t control our destiny last night, we don’t tonight. Just pretend nothing changed tonight. 4 games left, gotta find a way to outplay them by 1. If not, it is what it is

[squally1313]

9 minutes ago, s2obed said:

Hoyer didn’t do enough at the deadline.

And Ross wanted to reward the guys who got them where they are now. Both bad moves. One thing I loved about Maddon is he knew how to rest his players and keep them fresh. Granted we don’t have any star bench/role players but riding his top guys to end the season is about to bite him in the ass.

I know people are going to pin that one quote on Ross until opening day next year, but the fact is that Jordan Wicks has gotten plenty of run here, Luke Little didn't really show much in his chances (and really, would that have been the difference), and the offense has been fine (4th in offensive fWAR in September) and Canario and PCA have combined for one good swing and a whole lot of crap play this month. 

[Derwood]

So annoying that the Cubs (+99) are tied with the Marlins (-58)

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just a brutal two games.

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I know people are going to pin that one quote on Ross until opening day next year, but the fact is that Jordan Wicks has gotten plenty of run here, Luke Little didn't really show much in his chances (and really, would that have been the difference), and the offense has been fine (4th in offensive fWAR in September) and Canario and PCA have combined for one good swing and a whole lot of crap play this month. 

I agree.  If anything, most of what has happened has reinforced what Ross said.  Maybe they could have given Canario a bit more of a look, but I also understand not wanting to throw him out there.  Maybe Mervis could have given them some production, but he wasn't even on the roster.  PCA is clearly trying to do too much and probably shouldn't even be here right now.  Who else isn't getting a chance to contribute that should be?

[Rex Buckingham]

Anyone else feel like the infield should have been back with Acuna up? Feels like Nico would have caught that line drive from normal depth.

[Irrelevant Dude]

4 minutes ago, Derwood said:

So annoying that the Cubs (+99) are tied with the Marlins (-58)

Just wait until the Marlins and their -58 go to the NLCS.

[gflore34]

Now, there's literally nothing for the Braves to play for, they've clinched the top seed. Think there's still a real good chance the Cubs leave Atlanta a game up on the Marlins.

Edited September 28, 2023 by gflore34

[Irrelevant Dude]

Just now, Rex Buckingham said:

Anyone else feel like the infield should have been back with Acuna up? Feels like Nico would have caught that line drive from normal depth.

Yes, but I also can't fault the decision for having them in.  But I did think, even before the hit, that he is too good a hitter to give any extra advantage to and I would have played back and possibly conceded the run.

[UMFan83]

Kind of funny that it took the Cubs going 6-12 in an 18 game stretch to blow their WC lead...how bad do you have to be to win this horsefeathers?

Edited September 28, 2023 by UMFan83

[17 Seconds]

just end this by Friday so I can enjoy my weekend please

[gflore34]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Just wait until the Marlins and their -58 go to the NLCS.

Never going to happen, their smoke and mirrors shtick will not carry on to the playoffs.