Cubs (Rea) vs Twins (Paddack): 7/10/25, 12:10pm

[Brandon Glick]

Besides the Tokyo Series to open up the campaign, the Cubs have not been swept this year. Can they keep the streak alive vs the Twins?

[gflore34]

Have not been remotely competitive these last two games, be awfully horsefeathers nice if they could manage some fight today.  Getting the first inning lead off batter for the Twins OUT would be a start.

[CubinNY]

This is a letdown series after the Cardinals. It happens. They are probably looking forward to the ASB. I'd like to see them win tonight and take 2 of 3 in the Bronx, but they never play well there. I went to all three games the first time the Cubs played the Yankees in new/old Yankee Stadium and it was a blood bath. 

[CubUgly]

22 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Have not been remotely competitive these last two games, be awfully horsefeathers nice if they could manage some fight today.  Getting the first inning lead off batter for the Twins OUT would be a start.

We looked like we had no energy.  The mindless defensive lapses last night speak to me as perhaps a bit of lack of focus?  Regardless those were two very disappointing efforts all the way around.

[UMFan83]

12 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

This is a letdown series after the Cardinals. It happens. They are probably looking forward to the ASB. I'd like to see them win tonight and take 2 of 3 in the Bronx, but they never play well there. I went to all three games the first time the Cubs played the Yankees in new/old Yankee Stadium and it was a blood bath. 

FWIW the Cubs won 2 of 3 in NY in 2023.  Prior to that they had never won in NY against the Yankees in the history of both franchises.

[squally1313]

23 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Have not been remotely competitive these last two games, be awfully horsefeathers nice if they could manage some fight today.  Getting the first inning lead off batter for the Twins OUT would be a start.

I mean, these were both two run games going into the 8th inning.

That being said, both of those pitchers were bad and besides Busch I don't really feel like anyone is running hot offensively right now, and the rotation feels pretty patched together. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, these were both two run games going into the 8th inning.

That being said, both of those pitchers were bad and besides Busch I don't really feel like anyone is running hot offensively right now, and the rotation feels pretty patched together. 

They scored 3 runs in 2 games, just let the people vent

[gflore34]

26 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, these were both two run games going into the 8th inning.

That being said, both of those pitchers were bad and besides Busch I don't really feel like anyone is running hot offensively right now, and the rotation feels pretty patched together. 

Paddock today isn't exactly good, I'd like to think someone could take advantage of, I'm certain, a decent amount of meatballs they'll see.

[Derwood]

I said it last night, but the Cubs look exhausted. This is the result of Counsell rarely using his bench (who, admittedly, suck out loud) so besides the catchers, everyone else plays every single day.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, these were both two run games going into the 8th inning.

That being said, both of those pitchers were bad and besides Busch I don't really feel like anyone is running hot offensively right now, and the rotation feels pretty patched together. 

I know it's batting average and not the metrics some of you love but....

July 2025 

Happ: 2-for-27 (.074)

Tucker: 6-for-27 (.222)

Suzuki: 8-for-30 (.267)

PCA: 10-for-33 (.303)

Swanson: 11-for-33 (.333)

Busch: 15-for-30 (.500)

Hoerner: 5-for-27 (.185)

Kelly: 5-for-15 (.333)

McGuire: 2-for-11 (.182)

Shaw: 1-for-22 (.045)

 

It amazing that they are 5 and 3 in July but as you can see the top 3 and bottom 3 of order has been struggling so far.

Happ needs to be taken out of leadoff spot and moved down, Swanson is hot despite not coming through with guys on base, maybe just switch them two in Newyork and see what happens.

[Cubbies1996]

Still not able to take advantage of multiple middle-middle pitches 👍

[Derwood]

Just now, Cubbies1996 said:

Still not able to take advantage of multiple middle-middle pitches 👍

I mean, Happ and Tucker hit 395 foot fly outs. Not exactly fooling them

[squally1313]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I know it's batting average and not the metrics some of you love but....

July 2025 

Happ: 2-for-27 (.074)

Tucker: 6-for-27 (.222)

Suzuki: 8-for-30 (.267)

PCA: 10-for-33 (.303)

Swanson: 11-for-33 (.333)

Busch: 15-for-30 (.500)

Hoerner: 5-for-27 (.185)

Kelly: 5-for-15 (.333)

McGuire: 2-for-11 (.182)

Shaw: 1-for-22 (.045)

 

It amazing that they are 5 and 3 in July but as you can see the top 3 and bottom 3 of order has been struggling so far.

Happ needs to be taken out of leadoff spot and moved down, Swanson is hot despite not coming through with guys on base, maybe just switch them two in Newyork and see what happens.

I get your point but also in this sample size it's just kinda modern, offensively depressed baseball. And to calm those nerves:

• Team average: .254 (12th)
• Team OBP: .340 (7th)
• Team Slug: .455 (9th)
• Total runs: 42 (8th)
• Offensive fWAR: 2.0 (6th)

Is it mostly Michael Busch? Yes. Did they do that thing that the 2024/2025 team does where they just explode in a couple games and then go quiet? Also yes. But even cutting it down to an 8 game sample size, they've been good. It's really just these two games. 

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

I know lineup construction is everyone's favorite topic, but I would be in favor of moving the team's best hitter up from the 5 spot.

[Geographyhater8888]

Does the Cubs getting blanked by pitchers they usually demolish in the first 2 games of this series mean they’ll tee off on Rodon and Fried in New York due to the randomness element of baseball? 

I’m giving this optimism thing a try.
 

 

[mul21]

8 minutes ago, Derwood said:

I mean, Happ and Tucker hit 395 foot fly outs. Not exactly fooling them

Yeah, they're going to hit more rockets off this guy.  Just a matter of finding grass or seats instead of gloves.

[squally1313]

Just now, Irrelevant Dude said:

I know lineup construction is everyone's favorite topic, but I would be in favor of moving the team's best hitter up from the 5 spot.

Yeah when Busch was consistently 7th that was almost my breaking point to start making those comments. 5th is better, and I don't really want Counsell reacting to one week hot (or cold) streaks. Ian Happ is struggling results wise, everything says he's still the same hitter he's always been, but.....we've leveled up elsewhere. Get the best hitters the most PAs. 

[Derwood]

Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm in love with T-Mac.

[mul21]

Just now, Derwood said:

Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm in love with T-Mac.

Yeah, she's not only gorgeous but seems like she's cool as hell too.

[Derwood]

3 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Yeah, she's not only gorgeous but seems like she's cool as hell too.

and absolutely cracks me up several times per broadcast. Boog/JD/T-Mac beats any other combo that Marquee trots out there.

[chibears55]

3 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Does the Cubs getting blanked by pitchers they usually demolish in the first 2 games of this series mean they’ll tee off on Rodon and Fried in New York due to the randomness element of baseball? 

I’m giving this optimism thing a try.
 

 

Part of why I see today game being big in a way that you'd hate for them to get on the plane to NY after getting swept by a team they easily should of take 2 of 3 from.

Mentally they have to be like WTF and now we gotta face the damn Yankees in NewYork, but at least with a win today they can take a deep breath, they have their two best starters going Saturday and Sunday and can have a positive trip.

[Cubbies1996]

A lead!

[chibears55]

5 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm in love with T-Mac.

Lmao, yea she has that factor, she definitely has to be fun to hang with.

Why boog goes all teenagery when she's around 😅😅😅

[UMFan83]

Shaw is so tough to watch at the plate sadly

[gflore34]

Shaw literally struck out on two hanging sliders, it's got to be beyond frustrating for him.