Cubs (Steele) vs Brewers (Gasser): 5/27/24, 3:10pm

[gflore34]

Just now, chibears55 said:

Does it matter ?

Seriously he's no loss if they just released him.

Thought about that as I was typing, you're correct, he's no big loss on release.

[abuck1220]

can’t wait to see if Swanson can get that OPS down under .600.

[Wilson A2000]

13 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Who is the alternative that Jed is giving him?  Are we ready for another Mastrobuoni run?  This roster is no good.

Tauchman should be in the lineup and Madrigal shouldn’t 

[JHBulls]

Nice 5 game losing streak lately. It would have been great if Counsell didn’t skip an Imanaga start against the Cardinals, despite Shota lining up to face the Brewers anyway. Maybe then this team would have won on the weekend. 

[Derwood]

Team .639 OPS coming into today, even lower now 

[Dfan25]

Swanson with a 79 wrc and showing signs of declining defense already . Only 5 more years left after this one on that deal 

[UMFan83]

Not really about this game in particular but it drives me nuts that the Cubs play in a division that has 4 teams from cities that combined don’t have as many people as Chicago metro. 
 

the cubs play in a division with the 23rd, 27th, 30th and 40th largest metros in the US. Other MLB teams should be complaining to Manfred about the significant competitive advantage the Cubs have playing in a division with 4 tiny market teams. But obviously they’ve never had a reason to complain since the Cubs can’t do anything with that significant advantage. 

[Max Power]

This team lacks impact talent, especially the position players. Have a few decent pieces, but winning with just a few decent pieces isn’t easy. Not a lot of room for error. Either the hyped system is going to start to supply some, or they’re going to have to start paying for it. Until then, mediocrity.

[17 Seconds]

the window is already closed. did it ever open? 

[UMFan83]

9 minutes ago, Max Power said:

This team lacks impact talent, especially the position players. Have a few decent pieces, but winning with just a few decent pieces isn’t easy. Not a lot of room for error. Either the hyped system is going to start to supply some, or they’re going to have to start paying for it. Until then, mediocrity.

Yeah that has been my gripe for 2 years.  But the Cubs managed to play 103 win baseball for almost 3 months with that starless team and I kind of believed we had the right pieces to be effective without stars considering how well we grind out at bats and find ways to get on base when we're hitting well.  

Maybe that team is still there waiting to break out.  I cant even remember what the mood of the board was at the end of May last year.  Maybe we were more resigned because we didnt have our expectations raised.  But either way, we were this bad last year at the same time.  And then we reached a point in the season where we had a 93% chance of making the playoffs.  Right we're in the thick of the WC race.  There's hope....though its fading daily.

Also yes I do this weird thing where I overreact pessimistically when things aren't going that bad and then become overly optimistic when things are awful.  

Edited May 27, 2024 by UMFan83

[Soul]

42 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Nice 5 game losing streak lately. It would have been great if Counsell didn’t skip an Imanaga start against the Cardinals, despite Shota lining up to face the Brewers anyway. Maybe then this team would have won on the weekend. 

I’m not so sure.  They can’t score, and can’t stop the other team once it’s bullpen time.  Steele just pitched lights out today.

[Tryptamine]

52 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

the window is already closed. did it ever open? 

Pretty exciting, especially when the farm has more major league regular types than guys who actually have star potential.

[UMFan83]

I'm not actually suggesting that Vazquez would have changed anything but kind of funny that he has 1 PA in 8 games after being called up when everyone said it was really weird timing to call him up with Nico and Dansby both returning.  I guess the Cubs just really like competing with a 25 man roster and a pitchers spot in the order (our catchers) just like the old days.  Who knew Jed was a traditionalist.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 hour ago, Max Power said:

Either the hyped system is going to start to supply some, or they’re going to have to start paying for it.

I predict Option C - None of the above

Outside of Horton, there are still no clear impact prospects in the system.

The Cubs already took their shot at a big, long term deal, and we got Swanson out of that.  I don't think Jed is going to seriously compete for any of the real top tier star free agents (and there aren't many who will be available in the near future to begin with).

Jed has also shown an unwillingness, or inability, to turn Minor League depth into significant MLB contributors.

We are stuck with this "core" for the next few years, and the hope that somehow a few of the minor league pieces will be able to supplement them enough to produce a mid-level playoff contender.

[Jason Ross]

15 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I predict Option C - None of the above

Outside of Horton, there are still no clear impact prospects in the system.

The Cubs already took their shot at a big, long term deal, and we got Swanson out of that.  I don't think Jed is going to seriously compete for any of the real top tier star free agents (and there aren't many who will be available in the near future to begin with).

Jed has also shown an unwillingness, or inability, to turn Minor League depth into significant MLB contributors.

We are stuck with this "core" for the next few years, and the hope that somehow a few of the minor league pieces will be able to supplement them enough to produce a mid-level playoff contender.

I would push back on the idea that the Cubs font have any impact talent. We can agree or disagree on how likely they may be to hit their ceilings, but PCA, Caissie, Alcantara, Shaw, Rojas and Horton all have impact upside. They may not be clear to you, but there are signs to suggest all have that upside. Clarity is hard, but like, no one thought Jared Jones was a clear impact prospect, for example.

And let's not forget, the Cubs have gotten significant contributions from Assad, Hoerner and Steele (all drafted/signed/developed) by the Cubs. Ben Brown is on a three win pace bouncing between rotation and bullpen, too. Jordan Wicks showed good improvements as well. 

I think it's fair to be a bit "whelmed" right now, but I think worrying about the Cubs development of young players is something that probably goes in the face of recent years. Maybe no one wins an MVP award, but the Cubs should have quality contributions from the farm in the next few seasons assuming they don't deal it all away. They have too many bullets to not find an all star or two in that group.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

3 hours ago, profisme said:

Is it a hitting philosophy thing or a poor talent acquisition thing? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a team with this low of a cumulative BA ever. 

There are literally 5 teams this season with a lower BA

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Pretty exciting, especially when the farm has more major league regular types than guys who actually have star potential.

Why they should probably sell and then play guys like Caissie,  and PCA to see what they have in them and then actually go after a star in offseason .

This group here, maybe they luck into a WC spot but it not a group that going to grow together and contend going forward. 

[chibears55]

Angel Hernandez retired....

Wonder if he was gonna face discipline or something to be suspended or fired.

[profisme]

31 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

There are literally 5 teams this season with a lower BA

Uffda that is dismal. I guess I should have been more specific and said Cubs teams but your point is noted. We have a juggernaut of an offense!

[Irrelevant Dude]

53 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

There are literally 5 teams this season with a lower BA

So how is banning the shift working out?

[Irrelevant Dude]

26 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Starters are stars 

I love watching the annual All-Starter Game.

[soccer10k]

5 hours ago, Derwood said:

Glad I skipped this one

Ditto. I checked in on the game twice, in the 5th and 7th innings, and didn't even consider tuning in. Likely won't tune in tomorrow either.

[731.4life]

1 hour ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

So how is banning the shift working out?

Agreed, Jed gambled on the return of Madrigal for Kimbrel because he figured Madrigal bat will play with the new shift rules, and it hasn't. 

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, GoCubsGo1978 said:

Last year's record means nothing.  Bottom line, this team is sooooo much better than a .500 ball club.  Yet they are .500 and playing like they belong being the doormat of the division.

It's not that they're even just slumping bad, they're playing like total garbage.  Sloppy defense, terrible baserunning.  Looks like Spring Training hasn't ended yet.  If you can't hit then at least play the ball and run the bases well.  Do these infielders only take grounders in pratice from 45mph fungos?

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

This hurts. Madrigal is a big upgrade over the literal worst defensive third baseman in baseball, but that play certainly won't help his case to remain on the MLB roster for much longer.

Honestly, you play 3B once a week what do you expect?  Nobody's launching 105mph fungos at him.  Do players even take batting practice on the field anymore with fielders?  LOL

Seems like every grounder over 100mph the left side of this infield can't handle.