Phillies (Wheeler) vs Cubs (Imanaga): 7/3/24, 7:05pm

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

We are seriously at the point where Amaya should be released 

Can't hit, can't throw, can't field, can't run

[Stratos]

I really like the Phillies post-hit celebration routine.

[gflore34]

10 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Little and Hodge looking real good tho

When Little has control he's almost un-hittable, if he could consistently throw strikes that could solve the closer problem.

[Bertz]

You're starting to see the contours of a really good 2025 bullpen, which is probably the #1 thing to nail down these next three months.  Maybe 1A with "figure out if PCA can hit enough to be a starter".

- Little and Hodge are starting to look like definite guys.  They, Little especially, will always have control issues but that's kind of irrelevant if you can keep the walk rate in the low double digits that's fine with a K rate bumping 40% or a GB rate bumping 70%

- Merryweather and Alzolay are due back later back later this month, hopefully you can get one of them back to '23 form over the last third of the season

- Leiter's already a guy

- There are additional youths ready or pretty close to ready for their tryouts specifically Roberts, Palencia, and Bigge.  Can we get one more of them into the Little/Hodge zone?

If heading into the offseason you can have five internal options you feel good about, plus with our SP depth you've got long reliever covered as well, that's a great place to be.  I'd still place a premium on adding an external closer in the offseason, someone like Pressly or Jansen.  But like I said you're seeing the makings of an outstanding bullpen.  

[chibears55]

17 minutes ago, Bertz said:

You're starting to see the contours of a really good 2025 bullpen, which is probably the #1 thing to nail down these next three months.  Maybe 1A with "figure out if PCA can hit enough to be a starter".

- Little and Hodge are starting to look like definite guys.  They, Little especially, will always have control issues but that's kind of irrelevant if you can keep the walk rate in the low double digits that's fine with a K rate bumping 40% or a GB rate bumping 70%

- Merryweather and Alzolay are due back later back later this month, hopefully you can get one of them back to '23 form over the last third of the season

- Leiter's already a guy

- There are additional youths ready or pretty close to ready for their tryouts specifically Roberts, Palencia, and Bigge.  Can we get one more of them into the Little/Hodge zone?

If heading into the offseason you can have five internal options you feel good about, plus with our SP depth you've got long reliever covered as well, that's a great place to be.  I'd still place a premium on adding an external closer in the offseason, someone like Pressly or Jansen.  But like I said you're seeing the makings of an outstanding bullpen.  

They basically just need that big closer that you can count on, they could add others if they choose but it not necessarily a need 

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

They basically just need that big closer that you can count on, they could add others if they choose but it not necessarily a need 

I agree they need a dependable pen arm. Not a “value” signing. But I am not sure it has to be a closer. They might have one in Brown, Hodge, or Bigge. Maybe someone else. I just doubt very much the Cubs will spend $15M a year on a 3 or 4 year deal for a closer. You could be right, it might be what they need. But I doubt it is what they do. But if not that, at the very least I hope they add one proven pen arm. 

[SpongeWorthy]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

You're starting to see the contours of a really good 2025 bullpen, which is probably the #1 thing to nail down these next three months.  Maybe 1A with "figure out if PCA can hit enough to be a starter".

- Little and Hodge are starting to look like definite guys.  They, Little especially, will always have control issues but that's kind of irrelevant if you can keep the walk rate in the low double digits that's fine with a K rate bumping 40% or a GB rate bumping 70%

- Merryweather and Alzolay are due back later back later this month, hopefully you can get one of them back to '23 form over the last third of the season

- Leiter's already a guy

- There are additional youths ready or pretty close to ready for their tryouts specifically Roberts, Palencia, and Bigge.  Can we get one more of them into the Little/Hodge zone?

If heading into the offseason you can have five internal options you feel good about, plus with our SP depth you've got long reliever covered as well, that's a great place to be.  I'd still place a premium on adding an external closer in the offseason, someone like Pressly or Jansen.  But like I said you're seeing the makings of an outstanding bullpen.  

if these were the 1 and 1a problems the team wouldn’t be death ass 

[mfcubs22]

55 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree they need a dependable pen arm. Not a “value” signing. But I am not sure it has to be a closer. They might have one in Brown, Hodge, or Bigge. Maybe someone else. I just doubt very much the Cubs will spend $15M a year on a 3 or 4 year deal for a closer. You could be right, it might be what they need. But I doubt it is what they do. But if not that, at the very least I hope they add one proven pen arm. 

Like Hector Neris? I kid. 
 

Gimme Tanner Scott or better. Or if we ever stumble into a save situation or 2 the rest of the way, give Porter a shot and see if he can run away with the job? Bigge should be up now as well to see if he can be a reliable piece next year. 

[chibears55]

59 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree they need a dependable pen arm. Not a “value” signing. But I am not sure it has to be a closer. They might have one in Brown, Hodge, or Bigge. Maybe someone else. I just doubt very much the Cubs will spend $15M a year on a 3 or 4 year deal for a closer. You could be right, it might be what they need. But I doubt it is what they do. But if not that, at the very least I hope they add one proven pen arm. 

I'd like to see them do it kinda like how the Yankees did it when they brought Wettland in to close for a couple seasons with Rivera as setup,  then Rivera was their guy and then Chapman came as a setup til he took over.

Cubs do have the arms in the system that can close like the guys you mentioned but I'd like to see them ease into it first as setup guys for a season or two first.

Maybe they can get a decent guy for 2 yrs instead of 3 or 4

[Bertz]

10 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

if these were the 1 and 1a problems the team wouldn’t be death ass 

The biggest problem on the roster by a country mile is C, but that's not really a "figure it out in-house" situation.