Cubs (Steele) vs Rays (Bradley): 6/13/24, 5:50pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

A nice comeback win yesterday that the bullpen once again attempted to unravel. With today's matchup, the Cubs have an opportunity to take a series in Tampa, never an easy feat.

[squally1313]

 

24 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

that the bullpen once again attempted to unravel.

I don't know why I'm being needlessly pedantic, but the bullpen yesterday went 4.1 innings, had 5 Ks, gave up 2 hits (including the home run), and a walk. Hector Neris, big 2024 picture, sucks out loud, but it's a little frustrating when like, we take a 3-2 in the 5th and everyone is like 'well obviously the bullpen is going to blow this one'. Pitchers give up runs, this isn't exclusive to the Cubs bullpen, score more runs. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I don't know why I'm being needlessly pedantic, but the bullpen yesterday went 4.1 innings, had 5 Ks, gave up 2 hits (including the home run), and a walk. Hector Neris, big 2024 picture, sucks out loud, but it's a little frustrating when like, we take a 3-2 in the 5th and everyone is like 'well obviously the bullpen is going to blow this one'. Pitchers give up runs, this isn't exclusive to the Cubs bullpen, score more runs. 

Oh for sure but given recent history, hard not to get angry at the pen every time things go sideways.

But it's not as if the offense has been some glorious savior of this team. Really, the rotation is the only thing keeping the Cubs in this thing.

[Andy]

4 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

 

I don't know why I'm being needlessly pedantic, but the bullpen yesterday went 4.1 innings, had 5 Ks, gave up 2 hits (including the home run), and a walk. Hector Neris, big 2024 picture, sucks out loud, but it's a little frustrating when like, we take a 3-2 in the 5th and everyone is like 'well obviously the bullpen is going to blow this one'. Pitchers give up runs, this isn't exclusive to the Cubs bullpen, score more runs. 

This is a fair point; we shouldn't be crapping on the entire bullpen when most of it has been OK.

We should be saying, "Well, Hector Neris is obviously going to blow this one, or at least try his damnedest to."

[spaincubsfan]

18 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

 

I don't know why I'm being needlessly pedantic, but the bullpen yesterday went 4.1 innings, had 5 Ks, gave up 2 hits (including the home run), and a walk. Hector Neris, big 2024 picture, sucks out loud, but it's a little frustrating when like, we take a 3-2 in the 5th and everyone is like 'well obviously the bullpen is going to blow this one'. Pitchers give up runs, this isn't exclusive to the Cubs bullpen, score more runs. 

Help is on the way:

 

[morrisjon]

We're the Cubs. We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we had clean 9th innings. 🙂

[UMFan83]

Here are some of Neris' ranks this year on the Cubs current pitching staff:

FIP: 5.14 - 2nd worst on the Cubs behind Hendricks

xFIP: 4.99 - Worst on the Cubs

K% - 20.9% - 3rd worst behind Hendricks and Taillon

BB% - 16.5% - 2nd worst behind Little

HR/9 - 1.05 - 4th worst behind Hendricks, Smyly and Steele

HB/FB - 12% - 2nd worst behind Hendricks

ERA - 4.21 - 3rd worst behind Hendricks and Little 

fWAR: -0.5 - 2nd worst behind Hendricks (-0.6)

[Tim]

16 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Here are some of Neris' ranks this year on the Cubs current pitching staff:

FIP: 5.14 - 2nd worst on the Cubs behind Hendricks

xFIP: 4.99 - Worst on the Cubs

K% - 20.9% - 3rd worst behind Hendricks and Taillon

BB% - 16.5% - 2nd worst behind Little

HR/9 - 1.05 - 4th worst behind Hendricks, Smyly and Steele

HB/FB - 12% - 2nd worst behind Hendricks

ERA - 4.21 - 3rd worst behind Hendricks and Little 

fWAR: -0.5 - 2nd worst behind Hendricks (-0.6)

The only conclusion I can draw from this is that we should have Hendricks closing.

 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'll maintain that Neris was perfectly fine for a long while until these last 2 games.  Bad series happen, and as JD noted part of yesterday's poor outcome in a win was due to him pitching to the situation.

 

But the greater point I made elsewhere is that the pen is not dripping with options.  If Neris isn't throwing the 9th then he's still probably throwing no earlier than the 7th in close games.  You could have Leiter close but you still need to bridge there and having Neris/Wesneski/Miller get you there is shuffling chairs.

One thing I'd like to see them do soon is send Little back down.  He's clearly outside of Counsell's trust, and for good reason because he cannot consistently avoid walks.  That's especially bad in this run environment, and with Leiter being a late inning option against LHP and Smyly looking functional as a 2nd lefty, there's several guys in Iowa who may be able to add to the circle of trust if they get a shot.  I think you can make the argument for several different guys, I'd probably go with Roberts but Carl and McWilliams have some internal logic too.  All 3 do require a 40 man spot though, and there isn't an obvious decision on who to cut since Almonte seems likely to return before his 60 day window would hit if you 60 day'd him(and that only kicks the can a few weeks down the road).

[mul21]

I think the easy decision for 2 spots are Mastro and Madrigal.  Both are terrible and with Bote and Vazquez now on the 40 man, they're redundant (outside of the LHH bat from Mastro, but that's a non-factor in my mind).  I think you can DFA either/both and not look back with any regrets. 

[squally1313]

41 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I think the easy decision for 2 spots are Mastro and Madrigal.  Both are terrible and with Bote and Vazquez now on the 40 man, they're redundant (outside of the LHH bat from Mastro, but that's a non-factor in my mind).  I think you can DFA either/both and not look back with any regrets. 

Cut the guy with the .534 OBP in his last 73 AAA PAs???

(Kidding, but also man are AAA numbers seemingly useless)

[CubinNY]

22 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Cut the guy with the .534 OBP in his last 73 AAA PAs???

(Kidding, but also man are AAA numbers seemingly useless)

More so every day. It seems it's used more as a holding area and less for a developmental league.

[spaincubsfan]

4 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

More so every day. It seems it's used more as a holding area and less for a developmental league.

It seems if you really dominate AA nowadays the jump to the show is more of a certainty, considering you will have to take your rookie & sophmore lumps.

[Derwood]

Happ and Swanson sitting.

1. Mike Tauchman, LF
2. Chris Morel, DH
3. Cody Bellinger, 1B
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Michael Busch, 2B
6. Nico Hoerner, SS
7. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
9. Yan Gomes, C

[Irrelevant Dude]

Is Swanson hurting again or just another off day for the guy who never takes a day off?

[JHBulls]

Ian Happ having a real day off after the 30 or 40 day offs he’s already had this year. 

[Andy]

2 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Is Swanson hurting again or just another off day for the guy who never takes a day off?

I was about to make a snarky comment about him not hitting but he's actually been OK lately so maybe he is banged up.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

9 minutes ago, Andy said:

I was about to make a snarky comment about him not hitting but he's actually been OK lately so maybe he is banged up.

Swanson has started all 20 games since coming off the DL so seems likely to be a normal rest sorta thing

[Derwood]

Seems like the Cubs still aren't all that interested in hitting

[WhyCantWeWin]

Another game, another completely mediocre pitcher dominating this team

[mfcubs22]

Woof. Back to looking like complete horsefeathers

[BKHoo]

10 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Seems like the Cubs still aren't all that interested in hitting

Or walking.  1 batter past the minimum through 4. 

[BKHoo]

1 minute ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Another game, another completely mediocre pitcher dominating this team

This pitcher had a terrible ERA coming in ….. but through 4 - one hit and six strikeouts. Yikes. 

[mul21]

RGI from PCA right there.

Also, while this pitcher's ERA isn't good, check out who he's pitched against and look at the stuff.  Dude isn't some journeyman chump.

[JHBulls]

Why doesn’t this feel exciting? Because we’ve seen it all before.