Cubs (Hendricks) vs Diamondbacks (Henry): 4/16/24, 8:40pm, Marquee

[CubinNY]

Losing Seiya's production is going to hurt a bit unless Beli, et al. pick it up, but this is a solid start of the season with a tough overall schedule. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

21 minutes ago, Rob said:

Like yeah, I'm not going to look at this team and claim it's perfect and there are no weaknesses. Jed clearly needs to try to make some moves once players start becoming available.

But nobody's available now, and the Cubs are overall looking way better than expected.

It feels like it takes real effort to be negative at this point in the season.

I'm just complaining about the offense. I like when the team gets on base and scores runs. i still feel pretty good about the prospects of the season. 

 

This is kind of my schtick :shrug:

[We Got The Whole 9]

14 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

They're averaging a hair under 4 runs per game in that 7 game stretch, league average so far is 4.5.  I just can't see danger in that small sample when they have about as difficult a set of external circumstances as you can(very strong opposing SP, on the road against competitive teams, in pitcher's parks), and they went 4-3 while being one swing or two from being league average offensively during the span.

I'm not seeing danger, I am just complaining. You've seen this before. 

 

But it's true. This type of offense will not get it done in Oct/Nov. So I just don't care for the excuse that they've faced a run of some pretty good SP. 1) you better hit it if you plan to make a deep run for a trophy 2) they've also faced a lot of crap. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

3 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

But it's true. This type of offense will not get it done in Oct/Nov. So I just don't care for the excuse that they've faced a run of some pretty good SP. 1) you better hit it if you plan to make a deep run for a trophy 2) they've also faced a lot of crap. 

I mean, none of these things are true!  And they're especially not true based on a singular week in April where they are in fact getting it done. 

[squally1313]

The FG article I found is from 2017, so grain of salt, but it aggregated the prior 20 years and said playoff teams went from averaging 4.94 runs per game in the regular season to 4.17 runs per game in the playoffs, so a drop off against premium pitching is basically built in already. 

[PackLandVA]

58 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The FG article I found is from 2017, so grain of salt, but it aggregated the prior 20 years and said playoff teams went from averaging 4.94 runs per game in the regular season to 4.17 runs per game in the playoffs, so a drop off against premium pitching is basically built in already. 

Wonder what the effect of relievers facing a "minimum of 3 hitters" has, if any.

[Dfan25]

With all the LHP they will face soon , it’s the perfect time to bring Wisdom up . Keep Cooper as well and Mastro going to Iowa . Nico can backup Dansby and Madrigal backs up 3B / 1B . I hope Wisdom is in Arizona right now .

[spaincubsfan]

Been a while, howdi peeps. It's a shame Seiya being hurt with that hot start he had gotten off too. Like others have said Belli, Happ, Swanson, & Nico will have to step up.

This might be a very critical start for the Prof, likely meaning if he gives up batting practice again he's toast.

[Bertz]

32 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

With all the LHP they will face soon , it’s the perfect time to bring Wisdom up . Keep Cooper as well and Mastro going to Iowa . Nico can backup Dansby and Madrigal backs up 3B / 1B . I hope Wisdom is in Arizona right now .

Yeah if Wisdom’s not back in the next few days I'm going to start thinking something is up.  I know he missed most of spring but he's pushing 30 at bats on his rehab assignment, and several of the arms coming up this week (including Henry tonight) are great matchups for him.  If not now then when?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

With Seiya's injury, Mastrobuoni is the only LHH on the bench most days.  In that light I think it's a tough sell to have all 3 of Canario, Cooper, and Wisdom on the roster, so Wisdom needs something else to give.  Maybe that's just comfort with his health and confidence he can fake it in RF, maybe it's belief in him that makes them okay DFA'ing Cooper(owner of a 213 wRC+ right now), or confidence he can hit enough RHRP to replace Mastrobuoni.  Since he has the option in the worst case, and I don't think any of those scenarios feel particularly likely, my guess is he's in limbo unless the MLB roster circumstances change, or he hits the rehab clock and they're forced to formally burn the option.

[mfcubs22]

There was some debate yesterday in the game thread, but Michael Busch is indeed eligible for the PPI

 

[Crusader]

Michael Busch, the gift that keeps giving.

[Bertz]

26 minutes ago, mfcubs22 said:

There was some debate yesterday in the game thread, but Michael Busch is indeed eligible for the PPI

 

This is great news, but also this is the type of stuff that has made me really harsh on BA the last few years.

[Jason Ross]

Not sure it means a ton, but some hopefulness coming from Hoyer on the Suzuki end.

[UMFan83]

 

Fwiw I’m pretty sure his strain last year was considered moderate

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Busch does get the nod

 

[Rex Buckingham]

There's just no way you can keep him out of the lineup right now

[chibears55]

8 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I'm not seeing danger, I am just complaining. You've seen this before. 

 

But it's true. This type of offense will not get it done in Oct/Nov. So I just don't care for the excuse that they've faced a run of some pretty good SP. 1) you better hit it if you plan to make a deep run for a trophy 2) they've also faced a lot of crap. 

I think we will be seeing a little bit of a  different roster by September, especially with pitching and if they make it to October I'm sure the bats will be a big reason why.

[chibears55]

8 hours ago, squally1313 said:

The FG article I found is from 2017, so grain of salt, but it aggregated the prior 20 years and said playoff teams went from averaging 4.94 runs per game in the regular season to 4.17 runs per game in the playoffs, so a drop off against premium pitching is basically built in already. 

Of course, theyre facing the best teams and their best 2-3 starters in every series, plus their best bullpen arms

[chibears55]

6 hours ago, Dfan25 said:

With all the LHP they will face soon , it’s the perfect time to bring Wisdom up . Keep Cooper as well and Mastro going to Iowa . Nico can backup Dansby and Madrigal backs up 3B / 1B . I hope Wisdom is in Arizona right now .

Wisdom starting for Iowa in RF tonight, so he could be getting ready to play some RF with the Cubs when they return home.

[squally1313]

1 hour ago, chibears55 said:

Of course, theyre facing the best teams and their best 2-3 starters in every series, plus their best bullpen arms

Right, which is another way of describing guys like Dylan Cease, Bobby Miller, and Merrill Kelly. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

7 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Right, which is another way of describing guys like Dylan Cease, Bobby Miller, and Merrill Kelly. 

The only pitchers they've faced in this slump 

[squally1313]

6 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The only pitchers they've faced in this slump 

What are we trying to prove here, if the offense slumps come playoff time and only scores 4 runs a game and only goes 4-3 while somehow only playing road games, then we'd....potentially be in trouble? Alright, yeah, maybe!

[UMFan83]

Damn Belli puts a charge into one and it’s a double play lineout. 4 pitch first

[PackLandVA]

4 pitches, 3 outs

Sweet start.