Cubs (Taillon) vs Astros (Valdez): 6/29/25, 1:10pm

[muntjack]

I'm not losing sleep over it,  but prior to the game,  Counsell was talking about the selflessness of Flexen,  giving an extra inning so the rest of the bullpen could be fresh and at-the-ready, and then Taillon is left to face Altuve a 3rd time at over 100 pitches. 

Because of the fresh pen,  I really thought they might go there to start the 5th. I was increasingly surprised by each hitter Taillon was allowed to face.  

 

[Rcal10]

30 minutes ago, muntjack said:

I'm not losing sleep over it,  but prior to the game,  Counsell was talking about the selflessness of Flexen,  giving an extra inning so the rest of the bullpen could be fresh and at-the-ready, and then Taillon is left to face Altuve a 3rd time at over 100 pitches. 

Because of the fresh pen,  I really thought they might go there to start the 5th. I was increasingly surprised by each hitter Taillon was allowed to face.  

 

He did strike Altuve out the previous 2 AB. Probably why he let him face him. I am sure he was his last batter, even if he got a single or a walk. He just happened to hit a homer on a fly ball that is an out in 29 of 30 parks. 

[BigbadB]

1 hour ago, muntjack said:

I'm not losing sleep over it,  but prior to the game,  Counsell was talking about the selflessness of Flexen,  giving an extra inning so the rest of the bullpen could be fresh and at-the-ready, and then Taillon is left to face Altuve a 3rd time at over 100 pitches. 

Because of the fresh pen,  I really thought they might go there to start the 5th. I was increasingly surprised by each hitter Taillon was allowed to face.  

 

Taillon had served up zero runs at that point, so the hope is that he gets through the 5th so he can have a chance at getting the win. In the big picture, that might seem tacky, but it's probably very important to the pitcher that he be given an opportunity to finish 5 innings, especially given the goose egg on the scoreboard. He worked out of several earlier jams and wasn't really in a jam when he served up the homer, which is a lazy fly ball in about 29 other parks. It's just a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. 

[BigbadB]

1 hour ago, Brian707 said:

I'm not worried about the Vaunted Brewers.  

They will be getting Brandon Woodruff back soon, but the Cubs have way more resources to improve their team at the deadline, and the Cubs have a better roster overall.

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

They will be getting Brandon Woodruff back soon, but the Cubs have way more resources to improve their team at the deadline, and the Cubs have a better roster overall.

If that rookie pitcher is for real and a TOR starter they have the best 2 starters on either team. If Woodeuff comes back healthy he is also very good. Time to give them some credit. They are a good team. I am not saying the Cubs won’t beat them, but they are the biggest threat, imo. And they are good. Even if the Cubs add a starting pitcher he isn’t going to be at the level of Peralta. 

[squally1313]

The offensive difference is pretty striking

 

[Bertz]

36 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

They will be getting Brandon Woodruff back soon, but the Cubs have way more resources to improve their team at the deadline, and the Cubs have a better roster overall.

Brandon Woodruff's velo is down 4 MPH, he looks pretty cooked.

That said to the broader point the Brewers pitching factory will keep churning and keep them in the mix.  But if the Cubs win the 90+ games they are currently on track for it shouldn't matter. 

[gflore34]

47 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Brandon Woodruff's velo is down 4 MPH, he looks pretty cooked.

That said to the broader point the Brewers pitching factory will keep churning and keep them in the mix.  But if the Cubs win the 90+ games they are currently on track for it shouldn't matter. 

I'm not all that convinced the Brewers are going to keep scoring enough runs, team wide OPS+ of 98.  That's with Frelick, Durbin and Collins over performing. The regression monster will hit, and, for good as Peralta and Misiorowski are and appear to be, they're not going to throw shutouts every start.  Misiorowski is going in the second game against the Mets, so far, his control issues haven't been a factor.  I would think they'll be a game or two where the control issues might arise, Mets might be a team to make them surface.

[Rcal10]

34 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

I'm not all that convinced the Brewers are going to keep scoring enough runs, team wide OPS+ of 98.  That's with Frelick, Durbin and Collins over performing. The regression monster will hit, and, for good as Peralta and Misiorowski are and appear to be, they're not going to throw shutouts every start.  Misiorowski is going in the second game against the Mets, so far, his control issues haven't been a factor.  I would think they'll be a game or two where the control issues might arise, Mets might be a team to make them surface.

Mets are also 3-9 their last 12 games

Edited June 30, 2025 by Rcal10

[gflore34]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Mets are also 3-9 thr last 12 games

Yes, but, I think it's safe to assume, at home, they're a step up in competition from the Rockies and Twins.

Edited June 30, 2025 by gflore34

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

The offensive difference is pretty striking

 

 

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

Brandon Woodruff's velo is down 4 MPH, he looks pretty cooked.

That said to the broader point the Brewers pitching factory will keep churning and keep them in the mix.  But if the Cubs win the 90+ games they are currently on track for it shouldn't matter. 

Thank you both for easing my concerns a bit. They are still my biggest fear, but if the Cubs do win in the low 90’s they should  be fine. 

[gflore34]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 

Thank you both for easing my concerns a bit. They are still my biggest fear, but if the Cubs do win in the low 90’s they should  be fine. 

I know it's the Brewers but, I don't think they're going to auto-magically get 2023 Woodruff when he comes back. 

[CubUgly]

5 hours ago, BigbadB said:

Taillon had served up zero runs at that point, so the hope is that he gets through the 5th so he can have a chance at getting the win. In the big picture, that might seem tacky, but it's probably very important to the pitcher that he be given an opportunity to finish 5 innings, especially given the goose egg on the scoreboard. He worked out of several earlier jams and wasn't really in a jam when he served up the homer, which is a lazy fly ball in about 29 other parks. It's just a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. 

I had much more of a problem with him leaving Taillon in once the score got to 5-5 versus the Cardinals.

My main concern now is we can't hit lefties anymore.  At what point does great in the clubhouse (Turner) justify being our platoon option at first and not moving on to look for something better?  Even our righties can't hit lefties outside of Seiya!!

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

He did strike Altuve out the previous 2 AB. Probably why he let him face him. I am sure he was his last batter, even if he got a single or a walk. He just happened to hit a homer on a fly ball that is an out in 29 of 30 parks. 

Maybe Altuve would have 8 career HR if he didn't pay in that park hahaha

[CubUgly]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

Maybe Altuve would have 8 career HR if he didn't pay in that park hahaha

I was there Friday and Saturday and there were AT LEAST 3 homers that would not have been in most parks those two games.  That's why Parades was a great pick up for them.  I imagine he might hit 10 this year that would not be homers in Wrigley.  The one he hit Friday would have been caught 40 feet in front of the wall in Wrigley. 

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

I was there Friday and Saturday and there were AT LEAST 3 homers that would not have been in most parks those two games.  That's why Parades was a great pick up for them.  I imagine he might hit 10 this year that would not be homers in Wrigley.  The one he hit Friday would have been caught 40 feet in front of the wall in Wrigley. 

Nico hit 2 in 3 games. Enough said. I hate that park. 

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Nico hit 2 in 3 games. Enough said. I hate that park. 

What about the choo-choo train?  Wouldn't a space ship lifting off be a better idea for the "Astros"?

At least they got rid of the ankle- breaking device in CF.

[PeanutPunch33]

If I'm being objective, I think the Cubs are the 3rd best team in the NL right now.  It's kind of hard not to be impressed with what Philly has done without Harper the last month, and they easily have the best rotation in the NL.  Possibly even the game.  The Dodgers are the Dodgers.  

I hope the Cubs have both of these teams top of mind as they go into the trade deadline.  Because the Phillies would be a nightmare playoff matchup with all the lefties they have in that rotation.  Both are beatable in a 5 or 7 game series but it'll take some aggressive moves.  

[Stratos]

9 hours ago, squally1313 said:

The offensive difference is pretty striking

 

Most baserunning runs in the MLB though, plus a top 5 defense (we're 2nd in baserunning and 4th in defense per FG)

[PeanutPunch33]

It would make a ton of sense for the Cubs to create 1 fat package for the Diamondbacks to acquire both Suarez and Gallen.  If and when the DBacks decide to sell, that team has everything we need 

[CubUgly]

13 hours ago, Stratos said:

What about the choo-choo train?  Wouldn't a space ship lifting off be a better idea for the "Astros"?

At least they got rid of the ankle- breaking device in CF.

Ha, yeah Tal's Hill was dangerous.  But the Crawford boxes have always yielded very cheap home runs.  I question the line distance even being 315.  First time I went Lance Berkman hit what I thought was an opposite field pop up and it landed in the seats. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

That stadium has always been dumb. Crawford boxes, Tal's hill, and left center's "let's just paint a line somewhere to mark home runs".