Cubs (Brown) vs Reds (Lodolo): 5/25/25, 12:40pm

[Irrelevant Dude]

4 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I think theyre grooming him to take over for Boog

That's fine and all, but my fear is the Cubs also think they are grooming Zaidman to take over for Pat when he leaves, and maybe that is sooner than we would think.

Going from one of the best radio broadcasters in the league to the absolute worst is extremely jarring 

[chibears55]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

That's fine and all, but my fear is the Cubs also think they are grooming Zaidman to take over for Pat when he leaves, and maybe that is sooner than we would think.

Going from one of the best radio broadcasters in the league to the absolute worst is extremely jarring 

I get that, I don't normally listen to radio calls nowadays so it won't affect me, but yea it'll probably be like going from Harry to Chip😅 for those of you who do listen to Pat most of season. 

Stone couldn't even save Chip lol

 

[BKHoo]

3 hours ago, BigbadB said:

Funny reading all the doom bonering in these threads. This team loves embarrassing all you negative Nancy’s. 

I say negative things to get the team mad (and it works). You are welcome. 

[chibears55]

4 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

I say negative things to get the team mad (and it works). You are welcome. 

Yea, it like sitting with your buddies or whomever watching on TV and cussing them out when they look bad, all long time true fans of teams go through those emotions 😅🤣

[Hot Sauce]

2 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I like Cohen.  Yeah, he makes some cringe-worthy comments at times and sounds like he might be trying a bit too hard, but I think he will get better if given the opportunity to settle into the role. 

Zaidman, on the other hand...

As fans we have been really fortunate to have some of the best play by play guys in the business. I was blessed to grow up with Harry on WGN. Jack Brickhouse for the even older fans. Len was great. Pat on the radio. So yea, my expectations are pretty lofty. 

[Bertz]

26 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

When Sho gets back move Brown to the pen. Seems too easy. 

Setting aside any of the bad luck parts of Brown's performance (I can read the room enough here to know no one wants to have that conversation) why do you think a guy who has struggled so mightily in the first inning would be a good fit for the pen?

[BKHoo]

26 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Setting aside any of the bad luck parts of Brown's performance (I can read the room enough here to know no one wants to have that conversation) why do you think a guy who has struggled so mightily in the first inning would be a good fit for the pen?

Mostly because it would be a mental change for him. 

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

Setting aside any of the bad luck parts of Brown's performance (I can read the room enough here to know no one wants to have that conversation) why do you think a guy who has struggled so mightily in the first inning would be a good fit for the pen?

I could see some deal of batted ball bad luck for Brown today however, it wasn't bad luck he started the game with, what, 10 straight balls?  Coming no near the strike zone for 2+ batters, that's the problem, it happens far to often with him.  When he finally dialed it in, he was very effective, setting down 9 in a row, why can't he start games dialed in?

Edited May 26, 2025 by gflore34

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

I could see some deal of batted ball bad luck for Brown today however, it wasn't bad luck he started the game with, what, 10 straight balls?  Coming no near the strike zone for 2+ batters, that's the problem, it happens far to often with him.  When he finally dialed it in, he was very effective, setting down 9 in a row, why can't he start games dialed in?

Ben Brown's walk rate is 50th of 92 pitchers with at least 50 innings this year.  His control's not a strength but it's fine.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

2 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

That's fine and all, but my fear is the Cubs also think they are grooming Zaidman to take over for Pat when he leaves, and maybe that is sooner than we would think.

Going from one of the best radio broadcasters in the league to the absolute worst is extremely jarring 

I think there is zero chance they are grooming Zaidman and close to zero they are grooming Cohen. This is a unique situation where Pat wants to take off an inning and Boog needs to take off for national games. You don’t get top of the line talent to fill in for one inning or every so often (even though Boog seems to miss every game this year). When Pat retires, or if Boog leaves, they will do a national search again. Cohen is not the guy and Zaidman wouldn’t even be in consideration. 

[PeanutPunch33]

They should just bring Kasper back

[JBears79]

8 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Sorry man I don't think he has any interest in developing a 3rd pitch. 

You are probably right haha

[Stratos]

10 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

I didn’t get all the masturbation jokes, just found out Mcguire was arrested a few years ago for jorking it in a parking lot

New favorite player. 

[Rcal10]

9 hours ago, gflore34 said:

I could see some deal of batted ball bad luck for Brown today however, it wasn't bad luck he started the game with, what, 10 straight balls?  Coming no near the strike zone for 2+ batters, that's the problem, it happens far to often with him.  When he finally dialed it in, he was very effective, setting down 9 in a row, why can't he start games dialed in?

He has started dialed in before and had a few good starts. But he has also sucked after being dialed in for several innings. I believe he started well against the Phillies and then lost it. It just seems like at some point in the game he dominates and then when things go a little rough he falls apart completely. He is a very frustrating pitcher because he does have 2 really good pitches and probably one of the highest upsides on the team. When he is going good he looks great. But when he hits a bump he falls apart. I don’t see how he can start this week. Especially since it would be against the Reds again. 

[BigbadB]

11 hours ago, BKHoo said:

I say negative things to get the team mad (and it works). You are welcome. 

I say them to. I just don't document them in the game threads very often. And that's not a knock on anyone. I just think it's funny reading them when the game turns around. It sucks reading them when the suckage continues and they put up an L.

[BigbadB]

I'm not annoyed by Cohen at all. And I also think JD seems to click with him a bit more lately. Probably because of the more regular work together. Not sure how many people have worked with JD over the years, but I'm sure it gets tiring training rookies or having some of the same conversations over and over with new people.

[CubUgly]

15 hours ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I like Cohen.  Yeah, he makes some cringe-worthy comments at times and sounds like he might be trying a bit too hard, but I think he will get better if given the opportunity to settle into the role. 

Zaidman, on the other hand...

Yeah, as far as likability - I actually like Cohen better than Boog who for me comes across almost like he wants to show he's the smartest guy in the room.  But the chemistry between Cohen and and JD is awful, and I sense Cohen thinks so too as he seems to try way too hard to make it batter and as you say it becomes a cringe-fest.  I found him better when paired with Dempster, at least Demp would talk to him. 

[SeldomSeen]

Just bring Len back for radio when Pat retires, and move JD over there with him. They’re just so fun together. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Cohen is awful, and I don’t think the worst parts of him can get better.

[Crusader]

2 hours ago, BigbadB said:

I'm not annoyed by Cohen at all. And I also think JD seems to click with him a bit more lately. Probably because of the more regular work together. Not sure how many people have worked with JD over the years, but I'm sure it gets tiring training rookies or having some of the same conversations over and over with new people.

I'd disagree about JD clicking with him. How many times does Cohen say some stupid crap, and JD just doesn't say anything letting the awkward silence just linger until Cohen is forced to fill the silence by again saying more stupid crap.

Edited May 26, 2025 by Crusader

[imb]

5 hours ago, Stratos said:

New favorite player. 

i know you're not a real gooner or he would have already been your favorite player. real jerkheads been knowing

 

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, BigbadB said:

I'm not annoyed by Cohen at all. And I also think JD seems to click with him a bit more lately. Probably because of the more regular work together. Not sure how many people have worked with JD over the years, but I'm sure it gets tiring training rookies or having some of the same conversations over and over with new people.

Difference between Cohen and Boog is that Boog likes to talk about stats and weird horsefeathers, and Cohen is just being a fan of the team and game. so if you like to hear about different stats throughout the game over just talking mostly about the game you'll enjoy boog more.

As far as JD goes, yea I think he's getting bored with commentating and probably ready to move on, as to why he seems to be taking more games off.

 

[Andy]

13 hours ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

They should just bring Kasper back

I'd love this. I know he's got some weird boomer love for radio and that's cool, bring him back as Pat's replacement. I don't think it'll happen but I'd be all over it; I also think Len and Ron would actually play off each other pretty well.

[CubinNY]

5 hours ago, SeldomSeen said:

Just bring Len back for radio when Pat retires, and move JD over there with him. They’re just so fun together. 

Len has a different personality on the radio. 

[Stratos]

11 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Difference between Cohen and Boog is that Boog likes to talk about stats and weird horsefeathers, and Cohen is just being a fan of the team and game. so if you like to hear about different stats throughout the game over just talking mostly about the game you'll enjoy boog more.

As far as JD goes, yea I think he's getting bored with commentating and probably ready to move on, as to why he seems to be taking more games off.

 

JD is 64.  I can understand him not wanting to work 162 games a year or go on every road trip, especially the far ones on the West Coast.  I'm ok with that.  I think he's still pretty good at his job.

I like the topics Boog talks about.  He tries to stay informed on stats etc., even if he can definitely be a know-it-all sometimes.  Boog and JD (and Taylor) play off each other well.

Cohen is more like a salesman.  He's insincere and tries too hard, and more of a homer.  I'm sure he's a good dude but he's just not good enough for MLB games.  He just can't get comfortable in the booth.  He might even be the worst baseball play-by-play guy i've ever heard.