5/31 Reds (Ashcraft) @ Cubs (Assad) 1:20 PM CT

[Wilson A2000]

Listening to Counsell’s pregame, he really has no answers for this team. Getting swarmy with the media. This is pressure under higher expectations than he ever had in Milwaukee.

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Why on earth was Madrigal hitting for Wisdom if he wasn’t going to bunt ? . Why would you want Madrigal swinging the bat in that spot . . What a dumbass move by Counsell especially with the wind blowing out to LF.

They continue to believe that just making contact is all that is needed. I would bet he has a 10 wRC+ in his Cubs career in high leverage situations. 

 

He should absolutely not be on the roster anymore.

[LBiittner]

Last one here, please turn off the lights

[GoCubsGo1978]

Cubs are on their way to losing 6 straight series.  CWS two game series looks like it could be challenging now.  Month ago, I would have said two game easy sweep, now I would be ok with a split.  Sad to say...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

7 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

They continue to believe that just making contact is all that is needed. I would bet he has a 10 wRC+ in his Cubs career in high leverage situations. 

Sharing this not because I thought Madrigal was the right call there(I think you've gotta give Wisdom a chance to slug given the circumstances), but because I am genuinely shocked that these are the numbers for this year

[Rcal10]

11 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

It's a team with a super aggressive 3B coach, poor baserunning instincts and a sense of desperation during a horrifically bad stretch.

I’ve defended the contact play out at home or the two out send where the guy gets thrown out at home. But there is NO DEFENSE for that send. The play in left was easy to see. As soon as the left fielder stopped that ball from getting to the wall Harris had to stop Madrigal. That was an easy play for the SS to make. He is out no matter who makes the throw from SS. Just an awful send. And then, of course, Bellinger hits a long fly that would have tied the game. 

[JHBulls]

19 minutes ago, GoCubsGo1978 said:

In addition, what were other teams record in the Central at the same time?

After play on May 31st 2023

Reds 25-32

Cards 25-32

Pirates 28-27

Brewers 29-26

[chibears55]

Harris is the new Waving Wendell Kim...

He watching the whole play and can see where Madrigal is as Cruz is about to recieve the throw, terrible send, he also has to know that he has Bellinger and Morel coming up to get those runs home, so zero reasons to be extra aggressive there and risk it.

 

[Thusly Boned]

20 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Why on earth was Madrigal hitting for Wisdom if he wasn’t going to bunt ? . Why would you want Madrigal swinging the bat in that spot . . What a dumbass move by Counsell especially with the wind blowing out to LF.

Yeah, I don't really have issue with any of what Craig does, but that one instantly bothered me. I'd much rather have Wisdom and his walkoff potential there. Even if he strikes out, I'll take that over a Madrigal grounder with runners on first and second. Hell, Wisdom is probably more likely to beat out a gidp chance than Nicky as well.

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Harris is the new Waving Wendell Kim...

He watching the whole play and can see where Madrigal is as Cruz is about to recieve the throw, terrible send, he also has to know that he has Bellinger and Morel coming up to get those runs home, so zero reasons to be extra aggressive there and risk it.

 

Exactly. Thereis no defense for this send. I know you say you can see Cruz getting the throw and that should have been when the stop went up. And maybe so. But I think as soon the left fielder fielded the ball cleanly, Harris should have stopped him. Scoring shouldn’t have even been a consideration. And, especially so, because, as you alluded too, Bellinger and Morel were coming up. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

35 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Sharing this not because I thought Madrigal was the right call there(I think you've gotta give Wisdom a chance to slug given the circumstances), but because I am genuinely shocked that these are the numbers for this year

Seriously shocked. 

[LBiittner]

36 minutes ago, Thusly Boned said:

Yeah, I don't really have issue with any of what Craig does, but that one instantly bothered me. I'd much rather have Wisdom and his walkoff potential there. Even if he strikes out, I'll take that over a Madrigal grounder with runners on first and second. Hell, Wisdom is probably more likely to beat out a gidp chance than Nicky as well.

Nicky actually hit a double play grounder but candelario muffed it. 

I'm not sure why people think he can hit? 

As a side note, I was expecting a blown hammy on his way to the plate. 

[CubinNY]

They have to be close to their nadir. They might not be a great team, but they aren’t this bad either. 
 

I hope a month from now we will look back on this stretch and wonder. 

[KCCub]

 

[Tryptamine]

1 hour ago, KCCub said:

 

Is using prospect resources on this team even a wise use of assets at this point? Personally,  I'm leaning towards no.

[KCCub]

20 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Is using prospect resources on this team even a wise use of assets at this point? Personally,  I'm leaning towards no.

Only if it’s a multi year piece imo. Honestly, I’m not sure this current offense/position core is good enough, but I’m not certain Jed can sell a retool and maintain his role either. I could get on board with a Vlad Jr type move if we truly  try to extend him. I dream of an Olson type move at some point from Jed, but not sure it’s ever going to happen. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

The defense and base running tanking like this was totally unexpected by me. The offense has these spells every single year. They are annoying as horsefeathers but they are an annual event for whatever reason.

 

I really have to take back my effusive praise of Counsell though. He has made a lot of decisions that I questioned when made that came back to bite us immediately. He hasn't been the finger on the pulse guy I anticipated. Hes actually been bad. I also expected Kelly to bring our offensive ebbs and flows down a notch too, so thats been surprising as well. To me, sorry to repeat myself, but I question if this team prepares for each pitcher they face on the level of the better offensive teams in the league. Some of the best lineups in the game aren't star-studded but they don't have enormous weaknesses up and down like we do and they avoid those long valleys IMO. Too often we just look unprepared and get dominated. They are just not built to combat the stuff that dominates the league these days.

[UMFan83]

2 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

Is using prospect resources on this team even a wise use of assets at this point? Personally,  I'm leaning towards no.

Yeah there's absolutely no way Jed is going to fortify a team in the middle of a 11-21 tailspin.  And I don't know if he should until this team plays like its worth adding to.

[UMFan83]

Also I've been really bitching about all the outs on the bases, but I also noticed that despite annually being in the top 5 of most outs on the bases, they somehow are also always towards the top of the league in BsR (Base running runs above average).  Not sure how good this metric is, but at least according to that the Cubs are actually adding value with their baserunning.

Outs on the bases: 

2024 - Most

2023 - 4th Most

2022 - 2nd Most

2021 - 9th Most

 

BsR:

2024 - 8th Best

2023 - 8th Best

2022 - 4th Best

2021 - 18th Best

 

I'm having a difficult time understanding how the Cubs can annually be among the worst at committing outs on the bases, but also annually be in the top 3rd of teams in value created from base running.  I get that there is more to base running metrics than how often you get out.  The Cubs could be exceptional at going from 1st to 3rd on a single or scoring from 1st on a double I guess.  Even still it doesn't make sense to me that the team that commits so many outs is also considered good.  

My only theory is that the Cubs must stress very aggressive baserunning, and because of that they are naturally going to be thrown out more than other teams.  But at the same time they're also benefitting from taking extra bases more often than other teams, and when you add it all up, the aggression results in a good baserunning team.

BTW none of this excuses the send today, that was awful.  But as someone who has been putting the Cubs on blast for their baserunning for a couple of weeks, I feel compelled to also point out the positives with their baserunning.

[Stratos]

11 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Nice hustle from Swanson there, bro really doesn’t care 

I know this is sarcasm because i've never seen Dansby hustle in my life.

[BigbadB]

3 hours ago, Stratos said:

I know this is sarcasm because i've never seen Dansby hustle in my life.

The part after his comma kinda made it obvious it was sarcasm.

[Rcal10]

I see Harris took the blame for the send in the 9th and the Swanson play. That makes sense. Ball is behind Swanson. He just did what the coach told him to do. Keep running. And really, if India throws to first it would have been a great send. This is one of those times where a guy is out and it looks like a very stupid play. But in reality they had Gomes up next. His chance of getting a hit is probably about 15%. Factor in a wild pitch, maybe he walks and the next guy gets a chance and maybe the Cubs have a 20% chance of scoring. Now, if India actually throws to first Swanson scores. So does a second baseman try a throw to first more often than 1 out of every 5 times that ball is played? If they do the send makes sense. And either way, Swanson shouldn’t be blamed for that one. It wasn’t him making the mistake,but was Harris. Again, no defense of the 9th inning send but I do see the reasoning behind Harris sending Swanson. I feel that was a 50/50 decision. And either way, not a fault of Swanson. 

[Stratos]

21 hours ago, JHBulls said:

Anyone suspect umpires are on a protest since their pal Angel Hernandez reti… was tapped on the shoulder? Umpiring has always been atrocious but the last week it’s just seems more hopeless than usual.

Not a protest, a tribute. 

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

I see Harris took the blame for the send in the 9th and the Swanson play. That makes sense. 

I'm all for some risk with sends with 2 outs, but the number of puts we've had between 3rd and home this year especially less than 2 puts is crazy.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

I'm all for some risk with sends with 2 outs, but the number of puts we've had between 3rd and home this year especially less than 2 puts is crazy.

Less than 2 outs should not happen except for the contact play. If it is called and hit to an infielder there is nothing the coach or the runner can do about it. The 9th inning send is absolutely inexcusable. 
as for the one with Swanson, as I said, that could go either way. If India goes to first everyone is saying what a great play Swanson made and what a great send from Harris.