5/2/24 - CHC (Brown) @ NYM (Houser) 12:10 MSN

[squally1313]

7 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

You don't have to police complaining posts in every GT 

I like UMFan and think he's one of the better posters here, obviously been around forever. I just think it's dumb and overly negative to continue lumping in the bad September we had last year now that we're over 30 games into what has been, overall, a really successful season. 

[UMFan83]

Just now, squally1313 said:

I like UMFan and think he's one of the better posters here, obviously been around forever. I just think it's dumb and overly negative to continue lumping in the bad September we had last year now that we're over 30 games into what has been, overall, a really successful season. 

I appreciate you saying that.

That said, I've been doing this for years.  I cant even describe what "this" is but I know when I do it.  Most people just ignore me.

[squally1313]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

I appreciate you saying that.

That said, I've been doing this for years.  I cant even describe what "this" is but I know when I do it.  Most people just ignore me.

Trust me, me too. Just a different 'this'. 

[UMFan83]

What I don't get is that why a team seemingly built to win in the margins seems to be absolutely horrendous at baserunning and has had some pretty high profile defensive lapses.  What happened?  Is it just a fluke that will correct itself?  Or is it just glaring because we've played so many close games.

[UMFan83]

OK I went back and counted.  The Cubs have played 6 extra innings this year.  They've had a runner thrown out at home in 4 of those 6 innings.

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

OK I went back and counted.  The Cubs have played 6 extra innings this year.  They've had a runner thrown out at home in 4 of those 6 innings.

You're looking at things all wrong.  The Cubs HAVEN'T had a runner thrown out in 2 out of 6 innings!

[Cubs420psd]

Ian Happ sucks.

 

That is all.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

11 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

What I don't get is that why a team seemingly built to win in the margins seems to be absolutely horrendous at baserunning and has had some pretty high profile defensive lapses.  What happened?  Is it just a fluke that will correct itself?  Or is it just glaring because we've played so many close games.

Stuff like Thompson trying to underhand after bobbling a slow roller is fluky, but a team playing Morel and Busch at the corners is not the same as the built-on-defense identity of the 2023 team, for better(offense) and for worse(defense).  The baserunning thing I haven't even noticed a big issue with the decisions, in those close and late situations there's way more instances where you want to put pressure on the other team to make a play, and sometimes they make a play.

[Bertz]

I'll say the results weren't there today but the bullpen actually pitched well with 6 Ks, no BBs (1 HBP) and a good number of groundballs.  This felt like a bit of karma for all of Neris' smoke and mirrors thus far.

But if they keep pitching like today the bullpen issues today won't hold up.

[squally1313]

I feel like Cody being hurt impacts all of those 'margin' things too. If he's out for long enough (and PCA plays above a certain threshold) that it doesn't make sense to send PCA back down upon his return, you almost wonder if the late inning substitution changes from Morel/Madrigal to Busch/PCA (with Belli going to first) in a fully healthy lineup. 

[Outshined_One]

49 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I appreciate you saying that.

That said, I've been doing this for years.  I cant even describe what "this" is but I know when I do it.  Most people just ignore me.

Those of us who remember the 2016 playoffs know full well how most of the vets went completely off the rails with their doom boners.  Cripes, I'm pretty sure I banned imb because he was pissing me off right around Game 5 of the World Series.  He got reinstated once cooler heads prevailed.

So yeah, it helps knowing we all need a day after losses like this one.

[WhyCantWeWin]

47 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

OK I went back and counted.  The Cubs have played 6 extra innings this year.  They've had a runner thrown out at home in 4 of those 6 innings.

So you think they gotta fire Harris?

[We Got The Whole 9]

23 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

So you think they gotta fire Harris?

This is a total team effort. They are just hoping to get an offline throw.

[CubinNY]

Harrison Bader is a dick

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 hour ago, Cubs420psd said:

Ian Happ sucks.

 

That is all.

I have been saying this since well before he signed his extension, and have been consistently proven wrong.  I assume he will turn things around this season and prove us wrong again.

[PeanutPunch33]

2 hours ago, Cubs420psd said:

Ian Happ sucks.

 

That is all.

He is vastly overrated.  A corner outfielder who's best years will probably be .800 ops or less, doesn't supply a ton of power.  He's the worst contract on the team currently 

[Jason Ross]

49 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

He is vastly overrated.  A corner outfielder who's best years will probably be .800 ops or less, doesn't supply a ton of power.  He's the worst contract on the team currently 

He's been one of the most valuable OFers in baseball the last two years, being worth 7 fWAR combined in back to back years. Take the OPS and ignore it; we know there are better ways to evaluate players. I know *you* know that, too.

As well, the Cubs arguably don't have a single bad contract right now; they're either short term deals that run out by 2026 or Dansby Swanson. That's it. The worst Cubs contracts are still more than fine contracts. He's had a weak month. Just about every player in baseball will have one, even the best of the best do. He's not a star but based on rising contracts, being a $20m PF'er doesn't mean you have to be a star any more.

By the end of the season, it's more likely than not he'll be close to the 120 wRC+ hitter has been the last two seasons. There's little reason to overreact. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

When he first came up we all wondered if Happ was a secret serial killer, now we know whose dogs he offed to keep his dark passenger in check.

[ToolDRT]

Getting really horsefeathers tired of watching this team throw games away. We’re a month into the season and already have a handful. 

Edited May 3, 2024 by ToolDRT

[JHBulls]

I am looking forward to this upcoming Brewers series. I don’t know what it is about playing a club in your division, but if I had a first born child to give away, I would have that child away to beat the Brewers.

[Stratos]

12 hours ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

TIL the helmet actually counts as an extension of your body if you're holding it on the base

Can you slide to a bag with your helmet reaching out?

[Stratos]

30 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Getting really horsefeathers tired of watching this team throw games away. We’re a month into the season and already have a handful. 

Yeah.  Every lead after the SP leaves is an adventure.

I'm hoping Alzolay and Neris get right over the next month.  Steele getting back will stick Brown in the pen likely which will help.  Most of the pen is looking like JAG city right now.

Our bats really need to start to get going on the road more also.

[JHBulls]

34 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Can you slide to a bag with your helmet reaching out?

It was confirmed that PCA should have been out. That whole sequence must have confused the hell out of the umpires and they were stumped on what to do. Unfortunately, PCA didn’t find a loophole that everyone can use lol.

Edited May 3, 2024 by JHBulls

[NorthsideAvenger]

It's a bordline miracle that the Cubs are where they are at because of the injuries and the slow starts to some people. 

 

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

It's a bordline miracle that the Cubs are where they are at because of the injuries and the slow starts to some people. 

 

Exactly. And, yes, they have thrown some games away, but every team has done so as well. I am sure there are fans of other teams saying the exact same things this fan base is saying. If only we didn’t blow this game or that game. It is just baseball. Stuff happens. The reason for the long season is to hopefully have things even out and the best teams move on. But there is no point rehashing every game we think we should have won. Cubs have probably won as many games this year where the fans of the opposition are suggesting how that team should have beaten the Cubs. At this point with the injuries they have had and the poor play of guys you expect more out of, I am very happy with their records, regardless of how many games people think they should have won.