Cubs @ Reds. June 9. 12:40 Central.

[Rex Buckingham]

Like Ian Happ not so long ago, I took a few days off. Let's hope that like Ian at the plate (9th inning this afternoon excepted) the time away will improve my game thread starting performance. 

Someone will pitch for the Cubs and probably pitch pretty well. Will the Cubs score enough runs for it to matter? Tune in for another edge of your seat 2024 Chicago Cubs thriller! Or don't. I get it. 

[UMFan83]

Who the horsefeathers cares 😂

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Who the horsefeathers cares 😂

Only a masochist.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I've been watching a lot of losing baseball lately. It's less fun than the other kind of baseball.

[mfcubs22]

Wow Michael Busch starting at 2b

[Derwood]

4 minutes ago, mfcubs22 said:

Wow Michael Busch starting at 2b

CC is throwing horsefeathers at the wall now

[mfcubs22]

To be fair, he played a decent amount there last year. Something like 30ish minor league starts. And with Shota on the mound, infield defense is less important. Still very unexpected. I guess worth a shot? 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Over 70% of Busch's minor league innings came at 2B.  I doubt he's going to look particularly great there, but he wasn't as error prone as, say, Morel was as a MiLBer on the left side of the infield.  

[Rex Buckingham]

Full lineup

 

I think its worth a shot while Nico is hurt. Glad to see Seiya in there as DH

[Eeyore]

Hopefully, somebody can try to fill the role of being a contact hitter instead of everybody trying to hit a five run homer every swing. Not that they were scoring a lot of runs with Nico in the lineup but now we don't have any dudes clogging the bases (toothpick hanging out of my mouth like Dusty).

My frustration isn't so much about them losing. I'm 53. I've seen them lose a few times. I'm frustrated that they didn't improve from last season and that the contract situation makes it obvious that they won't do much next off season either.

 

[gflore34]

Predictions - Seiya does not finish the game because a strong gust of wind tweaks his side and the Cubs lose a 1-0 on an Amaya PB.

[Soul]

7 minutes ago, Eeyore said:

Hopefully, somebody can try to fill the role of being a contact hitter instead of everybody trying to hit a five run homer every swing. Not that they were scoring a lot of runs with Nico in the lineup but now we don't have any dudes clogging the bases (toothpick hanging out of my mouth like Dusty).

My frustration isn't so much about them losing. I'm 53. I've seen them lose a few times. I'm frustrated that they didn't improve from last season and that the contract situation makes it obvious that they won't do much next off season either.

 

After watching last offseason I don’t think the Cubs would do much even if the contract situation was more favorable.  Seems pretty clear they want to build from within first.

Looking for an Imanaga shut down performance today.  Do we ever need it.

[Geographyhater8888]

Everything was supposed to be fine. If only Jeds assumption those pesky Brewers forgot they were supposed to stink in the absence of Counsell and the Pirates Reds and Cardinals would turn back the clock to 2023 improving this roster in the offseason wouldn’t have been necessary..

 

too bad our 7 WAR manager is coaching a team that’s fundamentally flawed, and a the antithesis of those Brewers managed teams.

[CubinNY]

10 minutes ago, Eeyore said:

Hopefully, somebody can try to fill the role of being a contact hitter instead of everybody trying to hit a five run homer every swing. Not that they were scoring a lot of runs with Nico in the lineup but now we don't have any dudes clogging the bases (toothpick hanging out of my mouth like Dusty).

My frustration isn't so much about them losing. I'm 53. I've seen them lose a few times. I'm frustrated that they didn't improve from last season and that the contract situation makes it obvious that they won't do much next off season either.

 

Yeah, the problem is that they have a bunch of singles and doubles hitters.

[Geographyhater8888]

Difference between Jed and Theo is Theo was all or nothing. Instead of half a$$ing a roster full of r complimentary players in an effort to skate mediocrity Theo would use the Taillons Stromans Happs and Bellinger as trade bait to add farm at talent at the deadline.

 

It’s an awful roster building strategy. $240 million spent on mediocrity (really bad as of now) needs serious explanation.

[muntjack]

At first I was annoyed at this forum's recent paradigm shift toward the old Cubs.com format of incessant whining about what amounts to standard issue variance, but now I'm starting to enjoy it.  A bit of nostalgia.  

That said,  I'm not beyond being frustrated by my team looking like horsefeathers.  

[Eeyore]

Is anyone else watching the London game. I'm a bit embarrassed by the American who decided that it was a good idea to hold a sign that says "Party like it's 1776."

If you're a guest, don't spit on your host 

[Max Power]

1 hour ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Difference between Jed and Theo is Theo was all or nothing. Instead of half a$$ing a roster full of r complimentary players in an effort to skate mediocrity Theo would use the Taillons Stromans Happs and Bellinger as trade bait to add farm at talent at the deadline.

 

It’s an awful roster building strategy. $240 million spent on mediocrity (really bad as of now) needs serious explanation.

There aren’t many similarities between the two.

One they do share, the insistence on playing shorthanded.

[Eeyore]

37 minutes ago, muntjack said:

At first I was annoyed at this forum's recent paradigm shift toward the old Cubs.com format of incessant whining about what amounts to standard issue variance, but now I'm starting to enjoy it.  A bit of nostalgia.  

That said,  I'm not beyond being frustrated by my team looking like horsefeathers.  

The performance of the team and the action of the front office dictate fan reaction. I doubt that there would be much negativity if they were playing as they were earlier in the season. I also doubt that people would be negative if the front office was perceived as going all out to improve things. 

[Bertz]

Today will be I believe Shota's first start on 4 days rest, will be interesting to see how it goes.

The Busch thing is fun.  You probably should only do it on Shota day but hey here we are.

[WhyCantWeWin]

Have a bad feeling Shota is gonna give up a few dongs at the great American small park. Hopefully the offense can smack Montas around a bit

[BKHoo]

13 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Who the horsefeathers cares 😂

You do. 

[Derwood]

This team reminds me of my Blue Jackets (poor use of financial resources to field a mediocre team with nowhere to upgrade due to the cap)

[LBiittner]

1 hour ago, muntjack said:

At first I was annoyed at this forum's recent paradigm shift toward the old Cubs.com format of incessant whining about what amounts to standard issue variance, but now I'm starting to enjoy it.  A bit of nostalgia.  

That said,  I'm not beyond being frustrated by my team looking like horsefeathers.  

The heck with Thomas Wolfe and Jon Bon Jovi, see you can go home again. 

[PackLandVA]

For those of you out of market and don't subscribe to MLB.TV, the Cubs/Reds is the "Free Game of the Day".

Link to the Game