Cubs (Taillon) vs Braves (Sale): 5/14/24, 6:20pm

[ToolDRT]

22 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

We were never supposed to be in their league. 

We’re the Chicago Cubs. We should be. At least, we should be closer at this point. This is like men playing a little league team. 

Edited May 15, 2024 by ToolDRT

[ToolDRT]

Off to watch hockey! Enjoy the rest of the game everyone. 

[Soul]

3 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Off to watch hockey! Enjoy the rest of the game everyone. 

Quitter.

[We Got The Whole 9]

3rd best team in the majors vs LHP and they have now covered all 17 innings vs us and thoroughly dominated us.

[chibears55]

52 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Happ, Alzolay, Amaya. Three dudes who shouldn’t be at this club next year. 

Can add a few more to that list

[ToolDRT]

1 minute ago, Soul said:

Quitter.

It was finish the bruins game or hope for a run 🤣

[chibears55]

Cubs just gonna have to try not to drown til they get everyone right again...

[spaincubsfan]

Welp, they are trending badly in the wrong direction. At some point the starting pitching is bound to come back to earth and when that happens, yuk!!! 

[UMFan83]

I mentioned last week that so far the season felt like 2023 with the Cubs starting out playing well both Aprils followed by some tough injuries, bad bullpen play and struggling offense causing a rougher May.   I think most realize that similar does not equal exactly the same, and 6-7 in May considering all the headwinds is not that bad.   

But similar to last year, to me it feels like there's a gear that we're not yet hitting for whatever reason.  Last year's team found that gear and played like a 103 win team for basically half the season (49-28 in 77 game stretch).  I'd like to think this team is equipped to do something similar.  But can't help but feel similar vibes/ebbs and flows this year as last year even if they aren't an identical comparison.

[JHBulls]

49 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Can add a few more to that list

More are getting added by the day.

[ToolDRT]

These are much easier to stomach than the bullpen blowing it. But damn, some of those early season meltdowns feel like they’re gonna really cost us when all is said and done. 

[Derwood]

Anyone saying "we'll be fine when we're healthy" is really putting a lot of faith in us every getting healthy again

[CubinNY]

10 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

I mentioned last week that so far the season felt like 2023 with the Cubs starting out playing well both Aprils followed by some tough injuries, bad bullpen play and struggling offense causing a rougher May.   I think most realize that similar does not equal exactly the same, and 6-7 in May considering all the headwinds is not that bad.   

But similar to last year, to me it feels like there's a gear that we're not yet hitting for whatever reason.  Last year's team found that gear and played like a 103 win team for basically half the season (49-28 in 77 game stretch).  I'd like to think this team is equipped to do something similar.  But can't help but feel similar vibes/ebbs and flows this year as last year even if they aren't an identical comparison.

The schedule was front loaded with tough teams and match-ups. IF (big) they ever get relatively healthy the schedule is much more favorable for them. I wrote in another thread, that once they get the starting rotation healthy it may solve some of the bullpen issues. However, the offense needs some pop from someone other than Morel. 

[LBiittner]

40 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Anyone saying "we'll be fine when we're healthy" is really putting a lot of faith in us every getting healthy again

I wonder the odds the trainer will be someone different in 2025? Just saying, somebody has to fall on their sword

[Brock Beauchamp]

A reminder to @mul21 that the game thread is theirs today.

[Bertz]

12 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

I mentioned last week that so far the season felt like 2023 with the Cubs starting out playing well both Aprils followed by some tough injuries, bad bullpen play and struggling offense causing a rougher May.   I think most realize that similar does not equal exactly the same, and 6-7 in May considering all the headwinds is not that bad.   

But similar to last year, to me it feels like there's a gear that we're not yet hitting for whatever reason.  Last year's team found that gear and played like a 103 win team for basically half the season (49-28 in 77 game stretch).  I'd like to think this team is equipped to do something similar.  But can't help but feel similar vibes/ebbs and flows this year as last year even if they aren't an identical comparison.

The thing most fans just absolutely refuse to acknowledge is the schedule.  Last year the schedule for about 6 weeks from late April to early June was BRUTAL.  There were some injuries on top of it but the team played most of their tough series in pretty quick succession and predictably got body slammed.

This year's less extreme, but the tough part of the schedule is still front loaded.  The Cubs are a little more than 1/4th of the way through the schedule and yet already have under their belt:

- 2 of 4 series against the two super teams in the Braves/Dodgers

- 3 of their 6 road west coast series

- The worst stretch of the season in terms of off days (one day off between April 12th and May 8th)

- 5 more road games than home games

In August when tbe Cubs get 5 off days and play the Marlins, Nationals, and a bunch of central division teams and start fattening up it'll be because they paid for that luxury with the tough games early on.

[We Got The Whole 9]

For me my annoyance is heightened by the fact that only Tauchman and Belli would make it into the Brewers top 7 hitters. The fact that, Turang, Bauers, Sanchez, and Ortiz are all hitting better than 80% of our regular lineup and the Brewers have lapped us in position player WAR really grinds my gears.