3/28 - Cubs (Steele) vs Rangers (Eovoldi): 6:35pm, ESPN

[s2obed]

That blows. Don’t have much margin for error with this team. One injury away from being a meh team.

[UMFan83]

I've barely paid attention all spring, how far is Taillon away from returning?

[Irrelevant Dude]

I know we have high hopes for Imanaga, but can you imagine if he is bad, or even mediocre? Things could get ugly fast.

[chibears55]

A league average offense last season that didn't do anything to improve it, gonna be tough to win games without having solid pitching...

Losing their best starter for any amount of time is going to be rough, I guess it'll be Smyly til Taillon or Steele returns. Yikes

[UMFan83]

MLB.com gives us a very helpful timetable of "a few days to 3-4 months"

Again it all depends on severity.  It didn't look pretty though.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/injuries/hamstring-strain

 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

A league average offense last season that didn't do anything to improve it, gonna be tough to win games without having solid pitching...

Losing their best starter for any amount of time is going to be rough, I guess it'll be Smyly til Taillon or Steele returns. Yikes

The offense was 3rd in the NL last year.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I know we have high hopes for Imanaga, but can you imagine if he is bad, or even mediocre? Things could get ugly fast.

Or he steps in and puts up Steele like production immediately.  Or Taillon pitches a lot more like the Taillon we thought we signed.  Or Smyly pitches more like 2022 Smyly.  This definitely is nowhere close to a positive development but still plenty of time to figure out a way to survive.

[CubinNY]

All the beautiful women in Texas and they have to show a bunch of fat guys in cowboy hats for every crowd shot

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

A league average offense last season that didn't do anything to improve it, 

I would argue that Busch's potential at 1B plus a full year of Morel could be a substantial improvement, contingent on Bellinger's performance not completely falling off.

[chibears55]

Hopefully the fact he got up on his own and walked off  was a good sign

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Hopefully the fact he got up on his own and walked off  was a good sign

im just making horsefeathers up at this point but I feel like if it was a full tear worst case scenario he would have needed assistance walking off.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He's a pitcher not a runner, he should just play through it.

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I would argue that Busch's potential at 1B plus a full year of Morel could be a substantial improvement, contingent on Bellinger's performance not completely falling off.

That the problem with the bats, it's potentials and hopes, there nothing steady or consistent with any of them that you can count on.  

[UMFan83]

Belli got that 2 strike magic again

[chibears55]

Suzuki and Bellinger,  that the way to get the lead back, 2 big 2 out hits.

[squally1313]

Just now, chibears55 said:

That the problem with the bats, it's potentials and hopes, there nothing steady or consistent with any of them that you can count on.  

You’re just ignoring the 3rd in NL last year thing aren’t you 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

lol he ripped that 97 mph, a real middle finger to all the sustainability hawks

[chibears55]

Morel crushing one out of there now 

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

He's a pitcher not a runner, he should just play through it.

Yeah, do you even really even need legs to pitch?

[Irrelevant Dude]

Just now, Transmogrified Tiger said:

lol he ripped that 97 mph, a real middle finger to all the sustainability hawks

With that short little "put it in play" swing.  I love it.

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

You’re just ignoring the 3rd in NL last year thing aren’t you 

3rd in what ?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just now, chibears55 said:

3rd in what ?

Runs

[Rex Buckingham]

optimistic lip reading

 

 

[UMFan83]

Just now, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Runs

Sure if you want to judge offense by crazy new fangled stats like “runs”

[Irrelevant Dude]

Here's a difference in managerial styles already.  If David Ross was here, I guarantee Merryweather is back out for the 6th.