Cardinals (Mikolas) vs Cubs (Rea): 7/4/25, 1:20pm

[gflore34]

Brewers get 3 in the most Brewers way possible, bloop single (PCA might have caught it), two run GB single that hits off Alcantara.

[BKHoo]

3 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Marlins have been playing well of late, believe they have a real good chance tonight.

Except their starting pitcher is downright awful. 

[Brian707]

3 hours ago, itisallpartoftheplan said:

Time to rewatch PCAs diving catch and all 8 cub homers with the Cardinals radio broadcast on Apple TV to have some laughs.

How long does Apple TV keep the game? I'm out of town until Sunday 

[PeanutPunch33]

I've never been the biggest Taillon fan but his absence will hurt.  I don't think the Cubs will wait around to get an SP or two.. 

[gflore34]

10 minutes ago, BKHoo said:

Except their starting pitcher is downright awful. 

They did tie the game, Otto Lopez with a 2 run HR - good to see these average type players do damage to someone besides the Cubs.  Alcantara has had a good deal of bad luck, he's made some good pitches.

[PeanutPunch33]

I feel for Alcantara.  Seems like yesterday he was one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball, and now it seems like that team can't wait to get rid of him.  He will probably find it again but it'll be next year, doubt he adds much value to anybody this year 

[CUBDOM4life]

There’s no other team I’d rather the Cubs set a HR record against. What a satisfying game. I enjoyed every single moment this afternoon

[gflore34]

11 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I feel for Alcantara.  Seems like yesterday he was one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball, and now it seems like that team can't wait to get rid of him.  He will probably find it again but it'll be next year, doubt he adds much value to anybody this year 

I think a change of scenery will make a big difference.  If the Marlins are willing to move him at low cost I'd love for the Cubs to take a chance.

[gflore34]

11 minutes ago, CUBDOM4life said:

There’s no other team I’d rather the Cubs set a HR record against. What a satisfying game. I enjoyed every single moment this afternoon

What's even better is last week the Cardinals played HR (4) derby with the Cubs.  Well, the Cubs played HR (8) derby with the Cardinals and did it twice as good.

[PackLandVA]

Has a player ever hit 3 HRs in a game and then not started the following game?

[itisallpartoftheplan]

3 hours ago, Brian707 said:

How long does Apple TV keep the game? I'm out of town until Sunday 

Not sure, google says no set expiration date. So my guess it’ll still be available when you get back. It says to look under Friday Night Baseball, Past Games.

[JHBulls]

1 hour ago, PackLandVA said:

Has a player ever hit 3 HRs in a game and then not started the following game?

I just asked ChatGpt

“

Yes, there have been instances in Major League Baseball where a player hit three home runs in a game and was not in the starting lineup for the following game.

One notable example occurred on August 1, 2021, when Michael Toglia of the Colorado Rockies achieved the rare feat of hitting three home runs in a single game. Despite this impressive performance, Toglia was not in the starting lineup for the Rockies' next game. This decision was likely influenced by the team's strategic considerations, such as matchups, player rest, and overall team dynamics. mlbdailydingers.com

Another example is Seby Zavala of the Chicago White Sox, who became the first player in MLB history to hit his first three career home runs in the same game on July 6, 2021. Despite this remarkable achievement, Zavala was not in the starting lineup for the White Sox's next game. This could have been due to various factors, including the team's roster decisions and the need to manage player fatigue. espn.com+1mlbdailydingers.com+1

These instances highlight that even after a player delivers an outstanding individual performance, team management may opt to make lineup changes based on broader strategic objectives.”

 

 

[JHBulls]

4 hours ago, Brian707 said:

How long does Apple TV keep the game? I'm out of town until Sunday 

Just had a quick look and it looks like Apple TV stores six weeks worth of their Friday night games. The first game I can select is Dodgers/Mets on May 24th up until last night. 

[Geographyhater8888]

8 hours ago, PackLandVA said:

Has a player ever hit 3 HRs in a game and then not started the following game?

It’s important to let out $6 million glorified bench coach with his signature Cubs moment wearing fake nuts those ABs vs lefties and bench our 920 OPS 1st baseman for reasons that only Counsel knows. 
 

At least those fake nuts only cost $6 million instead of $184 million for an alleged speech in the World Series that might never have been needed if he had more than 5 hits in the 2016 postseason.

Edited July 5, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

It’s not a secret that Left handed pitchers are the cubs kryptonite. With that said it’s encouraging when Ian Happ is 7th in team wRC+ and I’m counting all 3 catchers as a single player.

 

add another pitcher quickly. With Taillon down we’re back to 2 reliable starters again unless Wicks can ascend as that quality number 4 starter he projected as.

[bukie]

Cubs are now 29-13 at Wrigley this season (0-2 at "home" in Japan).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

2 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

It’s not a secret that Left handed pitchers are the cubs kryptonite. With that said it’s encouraging when Ian Happ is 7th in team wRC+ and I’m counting all 3 catchers as a single player.

The Cubs are 6th in MLB in wRC+ against LHP, 2nd in the NL.

[Derwood]

12 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

The Cubs are 6th in MLB in wRC+ against LHP, 2nd in the NL.

That must be front-loaded for the season, because they struggled mightily recently. Now some of those recent lefties are staff aces, so that stands to reason

[Sammy Sofa]

9 hours ago, JHBulls said:

I just asked ChatGpt

“

Yes, there have been instances in Major League Baseball where a player hit three home runs in a game and was not in the starting lineup for the following game.

One notable example occurred on August 1, 2021, when Michael Toglia of the Colorado Rockies achieved the rare feat of hitting three home runs in a single game. Despite this impressive performance, Toglia was not in the starting lineup for the Rockies' next game. This decision was likely influenced by the team's strategic considerations, such as matchups, player rest, and overall team dynamics. mlbdailydingers.com

Another example is Seby Zavala of the Chicago White Sox, who became the first player in MLB history to hit his first three career home runs in the same game on July 6, 2021. Despite this remarkable achievement, Zavala was not in the starting lineup for the White Sox's next game. This could have been due to various factors, including the team's roster decisions and the need to manage player fatigue. espn.com+1mlbdailydingers.com+1

These instances highlight that even after a player delivers an outstanding individual performance, team management may opt to make lineup changes based on broader strategic objectives.”

 

 

Why does this horsefeathers always sound like a high schooler trying to fill the minimum word count for a term paper.

[Geographyhater8888]

26 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

The Cubs are 6th in MLB in wRC+ against LHP, 2nd in the NL.

Are we still pretending they haven’t been awful vs lefties for the last month +?

 

10 runs in the last 50.2 innings vs left handed starters. 

Edited July 5, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Transmogrified Tiger]

37 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Are we still pretending they haven’t been awful vs lefties for the last month +?

 

10 runs in the last 50.2 innings vs left handed starters. 

This is working backwards from vibes you get when being annoyed the Cubs don’t score 6 every game.  “The Cubs have been mediocre against LHP over a 30 game span” is not a thing to worry about, and absent some very compelling specifics, there’s no reason to think that 30 games is more predictive than the previous 50

[Geographyhater8888]

31 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

This is working backwards from vibes you get when being annoyed the Cubs don’t score 6 every game.  “The Cubs have been mediocre against LHP over a 30 game span” is not a thing to worry about, and absent some very compelling specifics, there’s no reason to think that 30 games is more predictive than the previous 50

As soon as they add a platoon bat to replace Turner I’ll assume it’s just a bad stretch. But when 3/4 top sluggers are left handed bats obviously they won’t be as potent vs lefties, which isn’t necessarily cubs specific to be fair.

[PeanutPunch33]

12 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

As soon as they add a platoon bat to replace Turner I’ll assume it’s just a bad stretch. But when 3/4 top sluggers are left handed bats obviously they won’t be as potent vs lefties, which isn’t necessarily cubs specific to be fair.

With the entire body of work they don't look so bad, tied with Toronto for 6th best against LHP (I'll go ahead and say they are 7th since Toronto has a lower BABIP and way more righties in their lineup).

However, most of that is due to what the Cubs did in April.  Since May 1st, they are 16th with a 91 WRC+ against lefties.  Basically slightly below league average.

There is now a longer sample size of them being mediocre vs. lefties than being good against lefties.  They need to upgrade 3rd base with Suarez and send Shaw back to AAA

[Geographyhater8888]

10 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

With the entire body of work they don't look so bad, tied with Toronto for 6th best against LHP (I'll go ahead and say they are 7th since Toronto has a lower BABIP and way more righties in their lineup).

However, most of that is due to what the Cubs did in April.  Since May 1st, they are 16th with a 91 WRC+ against lefties.  Basically slightly below league average.

There is now a longer sample size of them being mediocre vs. lefties than being good against lefties.  They need to upgrade 3rd base with Suarez and send Shaw back to AAA

Obviously they’re better than this 10 runs in 50 innings stretch but PCA struggles a bit vs lefties and Busch, our 920 OPS first baseman isn’t even allowed in the lineup until today so regression is predictable. 

but we’re not allowed to make these basic observations until the sample size reaches 3 months like with Turner? Is that the rule? 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

11 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

but we’re not allowed to make these basic observations until the sample size reaches 3 months like with Turner? Is that the rule? 

generally, yes, the rule is to wait until you have a meaningful sample size to draw conclusions.