Padres (Pivetta) vs Cubs (Boyd): 4/5/25, 1:20pm

[Radar3454]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Pecota seems to think they are. The updated wins has them at 93 with no one else in the division at .500. Cubs total is second best in BASEBALL to the Dodgers. Maybe they are good🤷. Maybe Jed made some good signings (Boyd and Kelly) and found a few guys on a dumpster dive as well. 

I was thinking low 90s before seeing our bullpen in action. Not as confident now.

[gflore34]

May have a quality team on our hands, can the bullpen manage average?  If so,  90+ wins could be well within reach.  By the way was at rally all day - 501 - 50 states 1 day - was pleasantly surprised when I checked the score.  Best sign I saw was “The Turd Reich” with images of the players as Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, etc.

Edited April 6, 2025 by gflore34

[Bertz]

Cam Smith has a 43% K rate and a 67% groundball rate.  I've never seen those numbers combine for over 100 before (though it's obviously possible because they have different denominators).

Maybe the minor leagues are necessary.  Who knew?

[Jason Ross]

18 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Cam Smith has a 43% K rate and a 67% groundball rate.  I've never seen those numbers combine for over 100 before (though it's obviously possible because they have different denominators).

Maybe the minor leagues are necessary.  Who knew?

[imb]

Let’s go find 2 decent relievers and win 95 games baby. This team is good and fun

[gflore34]

3 minutes ago, imb said:

Let’s go find 2 decent relievers and win 95 games baby. This team is good and fun

Luke Little could be one of them.  Brasier or Palencia the other?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I can’t believe I never saw a Kyle Tucker AB before this season. He is absolutely dreamy, and I am going to the bank on Monday to ask for a loan to buy the Cubs so I can sign him to a 15 year deal.

[JHBulls]

When is it too early to scoreboard watch? Reds lead Brewers 10-7 in the 8th. 

Edited April 6, 2025 by JHBulls

[Stratos]

Boyd obviously looks great.  His FB is also up 1.3 mph from last year.  And solid slider and change-up, so has weapons vs RHB and LHB.

Kelly and the bottom half of the order doing it today.

Congrats to Happer on game #1000 and the great catch.  Everything you want in a player who isn't a superstar.

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

That LD hit Boyd’s left shoulder? I imagine the bruise alone will cost a start or two?

Looked like it hit his left shoulder i think.  Was hit hard but didn't hit him 100% flush and absorb all impact since the redirection got all the way to Nico.  Hope he's ok.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, imb said:

Let’s go find 2 decent relievers and win 95 games baby. This team is good and fun

Let's see.  Hodge, Pressly, Merryweather, Keller all have potential to have good years, plus maybe Brasier and more.  They might be fine if they're healthy.

[gflore34]

17 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Let's see.  Hodge, Pressly, Merryweather, Keller all have potential to have good years, plus maybe Brasier and more.  They might be fine if they're healthy.

Thielbar has also flashed some good stuff, he might not be completely terrible.

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, JHBulls said:

When is it too early to scoreboard watch? Reds lead Brewers 10-7 in the 8th. 

It is when you’re not sure which team out of the 2 you’d prefer to lose for standings purposes

[Stratos]

Today Boog said the Cubs in April have the hardest month schedule any team will have in any month this season (based on 2024 records), and in May will have the easiest month any team will have this season.  If we can get through April in decent shape that'll be huge!  We're off to a great start.

[Stratos]

Shaw has flashed 91st percentile sprint speed per Savant.  Didn't know he was that fast!

[BKHoo]

11 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Shaw has flashed 91st percentile sprint speed per Savant.  Didn't know he was that fast!

He looks plenty athletic. Hopefully he can hit. (this year)

[BigbadB]

9 hours ago, Stratos said:

Let's see.  Hodge, Pressly, Merryweather, Keller all have potential to have good years, plus maybe Brasier and more.  They might be fine if they're healthy.

Pressly will be better than he's been so far. Between the guys here now, guys on the IL, guys in the minors and the trade deadline, I think they have the ability to make the bullpen an extreme asset by playoff time. Merryweather was my favorite bullpen arm pre-injury. Hoping he gets back to that level again.

[CubinNY]

I’m not going to make a new thread, but there is no love lost between Estrada and the Cubs from Hoyer on down. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. I hope they learn from it. 

Edited April 6, 2025 by CubinNY

[Bobson Dugnutt]

25 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I’m not going to make a new thread, but there is no love lost between Estrada and the Cubs from Hoyer on down. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. I hope the learn from it. 

lol I love it

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6256924/2025/04/05/jeremiah-estrada-cubs-padres/

Quote

“It feels like it’s the same thing (this weekend). But you know what? It’s more like, I’m 26. Let’s act mature. … I would love to freaking strike out the side, look at freaking Jed Hoyer and say what’s up, you know?” Estrada laughed. “I’m just gonna go out there and do my job. I want to do what’s gonna help us win.”

 

[BKHoo]

9 hours ago, Stratos said:

Today Boog said the Cubs in April have the hardest month schedule any team will have in any month this season (based on 2024 records), and in May will have the easiest month any team will have this season.  If we can get through April in decent shape that'll be huge!  We're off to a great start.

Brutal stretch. After the Padres it’s the hot Rangers for 3 and then @ Dodgers. 

[Rcal10]

37 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Brutal stretch. After the Padres it’s the hot Rangers for 3 and then @ Dodgers. 

After the Dodgers don’t they go to SD then come home to Arizona, Dodgers and Phillies? Why stop the “brutal stretch” after @ Dodgers? It keeps going. 

[javy knows my name]

Because baseball is stupid, I predict we'll have a winning record in March + April and a losing record in May

Edited April 6, 2025 by javy knows my name

[Derwood]

44 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

After the Dodgers don’t they go to SD then come home to Arizona, Dodgers and Phillies? Why stop the “brutal stretch” after @ Dodgers? It keeps going. 

 

And our "easy" May includes a (currently) above .500 Mets and Marlins team, and a 7-1 Giants team

 

[Rcal10]

42 minutes ago, javy knows my name said:

Because baseball is stupid, I predict we'll have a winning record in March + April and a losing record in May

Because baseball is stupid, you might be right. 🤷 

[JudasIscariotTheBird]