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

[javy knows my name]

7 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Is there anyone who looks less like a major leaguer than Luis Guillorme? 

5 dudes on the Cardinals

[Derwood]

4 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

 Definition of average.  

So "average" = "sucks" in your world?

[JHBulls]

2 minutes ago, Andy said:

Valdez is really tough to hit and he had some filthy movement on that strikeout pitch but Turner was fishing that whole AB 

Okay, Valdez is a fantastic pitcher. I meant more about JT’s entire body of work this year. I don’t think we should carry all of JT, Berti and Brujan on the major league roster. 

[PeanutPunch33]

3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Kinda feel like Steele is about as close as you can get to Valdez, to be fair 

Yeah, Steele is so underrated.  I'd take him when he's at his best over Valdez 

[Geographyhater8888]

Justin Turner had a 116 wRC+ last season though. I was told by a few people that it was relevant and mattered.

Edited June 29, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Derwood]

Also, Jamo had a 1.5 fWAR in 2023 and a 2.3 fWAR in 2024, so I don't know what Peanut is talking about

[squally1313]

Just now, Geographyhater8888 said:

Justin Turner had a 116 wRC+ last season though. I was told by a few people how it mattered. 

Do you think it doesn’t 

[Andy]

That play a reminder of how spoiled we (and other Cubs infielders) are to have Busch at first most days

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, Derwood said:

So "average" = "sucks" in your world?

Pretty sure I said Jamo is "mid", and "average", I never said he sucks.  I said Colin Rea sucks.. and... he kinda does based on his career numbers?  

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Do you think it doesn’t 

How does it matter this year?

[Derwood]

1 minute ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Pretty sure I said Jamo is "mid", and "average", I never said he sucks.  I said Colin Rea sucks.. and... he kinda does based on his career numbers?  

What he did in Milwaukee doesn't concern me.

He's been a serviceable #5 starter this year

[Andy]

Credit to Taillon, all those early foul balls screamed "guy who doesn't have putaway stuff today" but he's had 2 better innings since

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Derwood said:

Also, Jamo had a 1.5 fWAR in 2023 and a 2.3 fWAR in 2024, so I don't know what Peanut is talking about

And prior to his last 2 starts this year was doing very well. Which is why I said he was an ok #3 and a solid #4. In ‘24 he was actually a good #3. And prior to his last 2 starts he was trending that way again this year. 

[Geographyhater8888]

4 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Do you think it doesn’t 

Do I think his 116 wRC+ vs lefties from 2024 matters in 2025? I’d say no considering that he’s hovering around the 80’s, is 40 years old and looks every year of it.

[Derwood]

Valdez is throwing wiffle balls out there. The movement is crazy

[PeanutPunch33]

5 minutes ago, Derwood said:

What he did in Milwaukee doesn't concern me.

He's been a serviceable #5 starter this year

That's fine I guess

When the Cubs acquire some real starting pitching at the deadline, it'll probably take the edge off for a lot of us 

[Illiterate Scholar]

3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Do you think it doesn’t 

To be fair, I think we're at, or getting to the point where it doesn't. It's annoying when reactionary game thread posters who decided he sucked after 2 weeks of sporadic ABs in April turn out to be right, but here we are. We saw it with Gomes and now Berti too. There's a cliff.

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, Derwood said:

How does it matter this year?

Because I want to lean on larger sample sizes whenever possible. He didn’t fall off a cliff before his age 37, 38, and 39 season. He’s underperforming his expected wOBA by 54 points in a 120 PA sample this year. 
 

to be fair, at this point I’m pretty indifferent. Him, Jonathan Long, whoever…it’s not going to change the future prospects of the team. People wanting him cut after April were definitely overreacting. 

[UMFan83]

They keep suggesting PCA bunts for a hit but he has so much movement on his pitches I’m not sure how effective it would be. Worth a try L on L though I suppose 

[javy knows my name]

Everything going against Taillon today and he's just getting guys out

[squally1313]

5 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Do I think his 116 wRC+ vs lefties from 2024 matters in 2025? I’d say no considering that he’s hovering around the 80’s, is 40 years old and looks every year of it.

Did he not look 39 last year

[UMFan83]

On pace to throw 8 innings at this rate

[Andy]

Considering the way he's throwing, our best chance at scoring in this game is probably Valdez injuring himself

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Not scoring off Valdez today. I’m going to go clean up dog poop in the back yard instead.

[Dfan25]

They have no chance against Framber . Swing and a miss , after swing and a miss .