White Sox (Flexen) vs Cubs (Imanaga): 6/4/24, 7:05pm

[Rcal10]

46 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Setting aside the closer/legit debate, they do need another strong leverage reliever.  Right now that circle of trust is basically Neris, Leiter Jr, and kinda Wesneski?  Not good enough.  Getting Almonte(who I like) back a week before the ASB, Merryweather hopefully around the deadline, and Alzolay in late 2025 around the same time doesn't change the near-term outlook. Plus the guys who might get pushed off the roster even with everyone healthy have not established themselves as guys who must stay on the roster no matter what(otherwise we wouldn't need another leverage reliever!).

When Wicks comes back Brown might end up in the pen as well. So that helps too. 

[PeanutPunch33]

They need to get Mason Miller

[Jason Ross]

19 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

They need to get Mason Miller

In all kindness: what have the Cubs done over the last few years to make you think they'd be willing to pay the premium associated with Mason Miller, a reliever, a position the Cubs have not placed a lot of resources in?

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, Bertz said:

The Cubs are actually extremely well set up for the playoffs generally  and that best of 3 round particularly.  Being able to follow up Shota Imanaga with 2-3 innings of Ben Brown is a terrifying prospect.  And then the very next day doing the same thing with like Steele and Horton?  I'm not pissing on that opportunity if the Cubs have the temerity to end up the road team.

 

This is the sad part right now, they have  potentially one of the better trio of starters that could go for them in a playoff series with Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon plus with the bullpen they could put together with the young arms of Assad, Wicks, and Brown.

But, unless they can find a way to get alot better production from the offense and a true closer, it might not be enough for them to get that far.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

This is the sad part right now, they have  potentially one of the better trio of starters that could go for them in a playoff series with Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon plus with the bullpen they could put together with the young arms of Assad, Wicks, and Brown.

But, unless they can find a way to get alot better production from the offense and a true closer, it might not be enough for them to get that far.

They just have to play to what is expected of them offensively. Yes, the pen needs to get sorted out. I agree with that. But I do think people have overreacted to the teams offensive struggles. And I know right now they have been very bad.  But, IMO they will be fine. Catcher is a concern, but other than that, they are solid all around the field. 

[LBiittner]

Can I have what you're drinking?

[KCCub]

50 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

This is the sad part right now, they have  potentially one of the better trio of starters that could go for them in a playoff series with Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon plus with the bullpen they could put together with the young arms of Assad, Wicks, and Brown.

That starting 3 would be in the bottom half of the current NL playoff standings. 

[Bull]

30 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Can I have what you're drinking?

It is odd how multiple perennial positive offensive WAR position players have stopped hitting. I am still holding out hope that they are all banged up and we will see an offense that’s more and less offensive emerge any day now. Today would be good.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Jared Jones out here popping 101, are you kidding me?

[Rcal10]

7 minutes ago, Bull said:

It is odd how multiple perennial positive offensive WAR position players have stopped hitting. I am still holding out hope that they are all banged up and we will see an offense that’s more and less offensive emerge any day now. Today would be good.

Yes, they can start playing well anytime now. That would be nice.

[Rcal10]

46 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Can I have what you're drinking?

Stay hydrated. It’s a long season. 

[JHBulls]

Need to beat these useless punks twice. Get back to 500.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Bellinger is getting fooled badly by seriously high fastballs lately 

[Derwood]

7 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Bellinger is getting fooled badly by seriously high fastballs lately 

He has an extreme loopy lollpop swing, so high heat is impossible for him to hit

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 minutes ago, Derwood said:

He has an extreme loopy lollpop swing, so high heat is impossible for him to hit

He's offering at pitches a foot above the zone 

[PackLandVA]

Feel like PCA is gonna have himself a night at the plate. He's facing an AAAA pitcher, and I think that bodes well for him.

[profisme]

Imanaga had more time there than he realized to get the guy at first.  Too bad.

[Nolansomebody]

Nice play, Swanson!

[JHBulls]

So good that Shota is taking his last start out on the White Sox.  

[JHBulls]

Oh good, Jed is being interviewed. And not a single difficult question was asked that day.

 

[profisme]

It would be lovely if Dansby could hit straight 91 mph fastballs in the middle of the zone.

[We Got The Whole 9]

None of these guys can hit a high fastball. It's pretty embarrassing.

[Derwood]

Jed's answer about the struggling offense is cut short because the offense lasted 4 minutes in that inning

[PackLandVA]

Amaya is 5 for his last 17. No slug in those 5 hits, but it's a move in the right direction, I guess.

[abuck1220]

lol hoyer doesn’t have time to elaborate on why the offense sucks so hard because the offense sucks so hard the half inning is immediately over