Cubs (Assad) vs Reds (Greene): 6/6/24, 6:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Okay, now that the Cubs can't beat up the White Sox, we'll see if their offense has turned the corner.

[UMFan83]

I am shocked and stunned that the Cubs get Greene and Lodolo again right off the bat. 
 

/s

[CubinNY]

Narrator voice: The cubs were not able to turn that corner. 

[Bertz]

54 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I am shocked and stunned that the Cubs get Greene and Lodolo again right off the bat. 
 

/s

I'm cautiously optimistic about these two games.  I think hitters usually get a boost seeing guys in quick succession like this.  Though as we saw with Skenes that's not a hard and fast rule.  Plus I'm not sure that Greene's not hurt.  The rain delay on Saturday obviously could have impacted preparation but his velo was alarmingly down.  Seriously, the two slowest fastballs of his career and 6 of the slowest 11 came on Saturday.

Even if I'm wrong, after tomorrow the pitching schedule in general gets lighter than we've gotten used to.  It's not light, but we'll go about a week and a half before facing another SP I'd consider intimidating

- Abbott and Montas for the Reds are not bad but they're probably south of average (don't believe Abbot's ERA)

- The three Rays starters are better than their ugly ERAs but still more solid than anything

- We currently project to miss Sonny Gray in the Cardinals series

- Unfortunately looks like we will draw Logan Webb during the Giants series

Not an opportunity to fatten up against like the Angels but a fresh change from May where it felt like we faced an Ace every 3 days.

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

I'm cautiously optimistic about these two games.  I think hitters usually get a boost seeing guys in quick succession like this.  Though as we saw with Skenes that's not a hard and fast rule.  Plus I'm not sure that Greene's not hurt.  The rain delay on Saturday obviously could have impacted preparation but his velo was alarmingly down.  Seriously, the two slowest fastballs of his career and 6 of the slowest 11 came on Saturday.

Even if I'm wrong, after tomorrow the pitching schedule in general gets lighter than we've gotten used to.  It's not light, but we'll go about a week and a half before facing another SP I'd consider intimidating

- Abbott and Montas for the Reds are not bad but they're probably south of average (don't believe Abbot's ERA)

- The three Rays starters are better than their ugly ERAs but still more solid than anything

- We currently project to miss Sonny Gray in the Cardinals series

- Unfortunately looks like we will draw Logan Webb during the Giants series

Not an opportunity to fatten up against like the Angels but a fresh change from May where it felt like we faced an Ace every 3 days.

Actually felt like 2 out of 3 days. 

Edited June 6, 2024 by Rcal10

[UMFan83]

I wouldn't call this "hot" but the Cubs offense has a .241/.326/.436/.762 batting line over the last 6 games.  Considering their line over the 15 games prior to that was .196/.270/.285/.555 its good to see things getting more normal offensively.

[CubinNY]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I wouldn't call this "hot" but the Cubs offense has a .241/.326/.436/.762 batting line over the last 6 games.  Considering their line over the 15 games prior to that was .196/.270/.285/.555 its good to see things getting more normal offensively.

In life all things are relative. I like that Ian is starting to hit line drives. 

[Jason Ross]

22 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I wouldn't call this "hot" but the Cubs offense has a .241/.326/.436/.762 batting line over the last 6 games.  Considering their line over the 15 games prior to that was .196/.270/.285/.555 its good to see things getting more normal offensively.

League average this season is .240/.310/.388/.698 so the Cubs line is, actually, pretty good for the 2024 season over the last six. League offense isn't particularly great this year, so if the Cubs can be in that range for a while, we'd likely be doing pretty darn well.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, 1908_Cubs said:

League average this season is .240/.310/.388/.698 so the Cubs line is, actually, pretty good for the 2024 season over the last six. League offense isn't particularly great this year, so if the Cubs can be in that range for a while, we'd likely be doing pretty darn well.

Agreed. And I do think you will see this offense be better than they have shown so far. If you look at the starters right now, IMO, most, if not all, will have better ops+ at years end than they do now. Maybe Tauchmam and Busch won’t. But I think all the rest will. So I do expect better baseball the last 100 games. 

[KCCub]

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

I don't love PCA getting semi-frequent starts over Busch right now, but I can't really complain about it either.

[CUBDOM4life]

Good to see Morel is apparently okay

[Stratos]

Cubs still having major issues scoring. off the SP, even the crappy ones.

[Bertz]

46 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I don't love PCA getting semi-frequent starts over Busch right now, but I can't really complain about it either.

I think you expect both guys to struggle pretty heavily with premium velo at the top of the zone like Greene attacks with, but with PCA you at least get that defense.

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, CubinNY said:

In life all things are relative. I like that Ian is starting to hit line drives. 

Yes, it just takes 2 guys to heat up and provide juice into a dead offense.

[chibears55]

57 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I don't love PCA getting semi-frequent starts over Busch right now, but I can't really complain about it either.

I think Counsell has to work matchups with both him and PCA now to get them on track.

[LBiittner]

Welp Nicky Madrigal fractured his hand last night. So there's that.

 

[Outshined_One]

30 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I think Counsell has to work matchups with both him and PCA now to get them on track.

Happ had an interview on The Score earlier this week that I found really interesting. He discussed how matchups and lineup construction have evolved so much in recent years that it was no longer just about lefty/righty matchups or velo vs breaking stuff, but it's now also about pitch shapes and locations. It's not just about whether a guy can generally handle velo, but instead about analyzing how pitchers utilize sequencing, location, spin, etc. and how hitters respond to it.

In this instance, Busch and PCA might be able to handle velocity the similarly, but PCA is the better matchup against Greene.

[Rcal10]

45 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Happ had an interview on The Score earlier this week that I found really interesting. He discussed how matchups and lineup construction have evolved so much in recent years that it was no longer just about lefty/righty matchups or velo vs breaking stuff, but it's now also about pitch shapes and locations. It's not just about whether a guy can generally handle velo, but instead about analyzing how pitchers utilize sequencing, location, spin, etc. and how hitters respond to it.

In this instance, Busch and PCA might be able to handle velocity the similarly, but PCA is the better matchup against Greene.

Either will struggle with Greene. But with PCA you get better defense and if he does get on you get a base stealing threat. But with 2 lefties following I don’t like the idea of Busch sitting 3 days in a row. 

Edited June 6, 2024 by Rcal10

[LBiittner]

Alonzo plays everyday

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

Alonzo plays everyday

So? What is your point. Alonso in the line up everyday means everyday they have a bad fielding first baseman and along with Busch someone else sits. Honestly, he doesn’t move the needle enough for the Cubs to trade what the Mets might want for him. I would take him if they could get him for Canario or less. But otherwise I am fine with the Cubs juggling the 6 guys they are juggling for 5 spots. I think you mentioned Alcantara the other day. No way. Not saying Alcantara can’t be traded. I am fine moving him. But not for 4 months of a 1 dimensional player. Not when they really don’t need him. They need a catcher who can hit. Or maybe a 3rd baseman who can field and hit. They don’t need another 1B/DH. 

[LBiittner]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So? What is your point. Alonso in the line up everyday means everyday they have a bad fielding first baseman and along with Busch someone else sits. Honestly, he doesn’t move the needle enough for the Cubs to trade what the Mets might want for him. I would take him if they could get him for Canario or less. But otherwise I am fine with the Cubs juggling the 6 guys they are juggling for 5 spots. I think you mentioned Alcantara the other day. No way. Not saying Alcantara can’t be traded. I am fine moving him. But not for 4 months of a 1 dimensional player. Not when they really don’t need him. They need a catcher who can hit. Or maybe a 3rd baseman who can field and hit. They don’t need another 1B/DH. 

Yankees moved Alcantara for a potential rental?

[JHBulls]

Hopefully a good start again from Assad today. Need the rotation as a whole to be on song again.

[Derwood]

Anyone have any pirate stream links? I'm blacked out and don't have a VPN

EDIT: Found one

Edited June 6, 2024 by Derwood

[CubinNY]

I’ve been in that LF position before. It’s awful