Red Sox (Giolito) vs Cubs (Rea): 7/18/25, 1:20pm

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Just now, chibears55 said:

Isn't that Boog and JD guy, they would of had a field day with that one, never doubt the ball boy 😅

Fabian

[chibears55]

23 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I've wondered that, if deep down, he feels a little cheated by that. 

But as well, you have as rough of a start as he had to the year at times, it wasn't like it wasn't without cause. From an outsider perspective.

If he does then they should move him, maybe the Rockies could use him as a closer so they can tank more games.

😉😉

[Nolansomebody]

One more out.

[Rex Buckingham]

great start to the 2H

[chibears55]

Palencia gonna be the unsung hero for this season the way he has stepped up to fill the closer role for the Cubs...

 

W

[BKHoo]

Except for Pressly the BP looked dominant. 

[UMFan83]

7 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

If he does then they should move him, maybe the Rockies could use him as a closer so they can tank more games.

😉😉

Kind of feel bad for him... he's given up 2 ER in 22.2 IP since that 8 run blowup game, and people still perceive him as a potential tank commander for a historically bad team haha.  

I mean I still don't trust him either and his FIP suggests some luck (2.77 since that blowup vs. 0.79 ERA) but he's been fine imo, at least in terms of results

Edited July 18, 2025 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

With the Crochet vs. BP game looming on Sunday, feels good to take the first one. Lets win the series tomorrow.

[chibears55]

One of two will happen after tonight Dodgers Brewers game, Cubs will either be 2 games up on Brewers or have best record in NL.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Starting the 2nd half by setting a new watermark and ending a team's 10 game win streak is niiiiiice

[Outshined_One]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Palencia gonna be the unsung hero for this season the way he has stepped up to fill the closer role for the Cubs...

 

W

For all the early season bullpen turmoil, his emergence quieted the chatter over the Cubs needing a closer.

Dude's legit.

[chibears55]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Kind of feel bad for him... he's given up 2 ER in 22.2 IP since that 8 run blowup game, and people still perceive him as a potential tank commander for a historically bad team haha.  

I mean I still don't trust him either and his FIP suggests some luck (2.77 since that blowup vs. 0.79 ERA) but he's been fine imo, at least in terms of results

To me hes like a bomb set on a timer but you just dont know when it gonna blow..lol..

I just dont trust him long term either, didn't realize he has done well lately, dont know why it doesn't feel like it though.

  Guess it the trust issue

[cubfansince77]

59 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

That's fine....as we've talked about a ton lately, keep hitting it like that and it will even out.

Yeah, Matt looked good today and like you said....hopefully it'll even out in the end. IF he can raise his avg. to 240ish (I think he can) by the end of the year we'll have to call it good. His defense is great so that has to be taken into the equation. 

As for the game today I got home and I'm only to the 5th inning right now. Rea does it again, what more can be said about the guy? Is he signed for next year? I hope so and if not they need to get it done. Guy has been huge. To put it in perspective, if Assad OR Tallion would've had the year that Rea is having we would've been quite happy IMO. 

Edit: just found the article stating that the Cubs have a club option for '26 on Rea...oh happy day boys! He's ours next year for the paltry sum of 6 mil. He only made 5 mil this season. Talk about value...my gosh. 

https://www.mlb.com/news/colin-rea-contract-with-cubs

Edited July 18, 2025 by cubfansince77
left out a few facts

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

For all the early season bullpen turmoil, his emergence quieted the chatter over the Cubs needing a closer.

Dude's legit.

Ngl when Estrada broke out with the Padres, I was annoyed. Watching Palencia do his thing this year ended my annoyance with Estrada.

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

For all the early season bullpen turmoil, his emergence quieted the chatter over the Cubs needing a closer.

Dude's legit.

Always felt like he had the makings of a closer if he could figure out his control.  He clearly has that control now and looks elite.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, cubfansince77 said:

Yeah, Matt looked good today and like you said....hopefully it'll even out in the end. IF he can raise his avg. to 240ish (I think he can) by the end of the year we'll have to call it good. His defense is great so that has to be taken into the equation. 

As for the game today I got home and I'm only to the 5th inning right now. Rea does it again, what more can be said about the guy? Is he signed for next year? I hope so and if not they need to get it done. Guy has been huge.

Believe the Cubs have a club option on him for next year for a small raise over this year

[Bertz]

I'm wondering if we should read anything into Flexen getting warm in the 8th when it looked like the team was gonna play screw the closer.  Even if Sunday's a bullpen game you'd expect 2-3 innings of Flexen, and thus wouldn't want to use him today.

Is Brown coming back up or something?

[gflore34]

Very impressive win vs. a good Red Sox team today, really impressed with Anthony - he's the scary bat in their lineup.  I may be way off here however, watching Cassie in the futures game, he looked reminiscent of Anthony.  Of all the prospects he's the one I hope the Cubs value the most and won't trade.

[BKHoo]

11 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

One of two will happen after tonight Dodgers Brewers game, Cubs will either be 2 games up on Brewers or have best record in NL.

Let’s go Dodgers. 

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, BKHoo said:

Let’s go Dodgers. 

Believe the Dodgers have a real good chance tonight, think they're done pissing around.

[BKHoo]

4 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Very impressive win vs. a good Red Sox team today, really impressed with Anthony - he's the scary bat in their lineup.  I may be way off here however, watching Cassie in the futures game, he looked reminiscent of Anthony.  Of all the prospects he's the one I hope the Cubs value the most and won't trade.

Caissie is underrated as a prospect imho. Maybe the updated top prospects list will move him up. 

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'm wondering if we should read anything into Flexen getting warm in the 8th when it looked like the team was gonna play screw the closer.  Even if Sunday's a bullpen game you'd expect 2-3 innings of Flexen, and thus wouldn't want to use him today.

Is Brown coming back up or something?

Id prefer that then a full out bullpen game the day before the Brewers series, would much rather go into that series with a somewhat rested pen.

[chibears55]

7 hours ago, BKHoo said:

Let’s go Dodgers. 

Yea for now, id rather get some distance between us and Brewers for the division, and these next couple days can do that with Brewers playing Dodgers.

Edited July 19, 2025 by chibears55

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'm wondering if we should read anything into Flexen getting warm in the 8th when it looked like the team was gonna play screw the closer.  Even if Sunday's a bullpen game you'd expect 2-3 innings of Flexen, and thus wouldn't want to use him today.

Is Brown coming back up or something?

Bertz, that would be awesome. And it might be a good call by you. They have Roberts and some other 30 yr old career minor leaguer in the pen. It would make a lot of sense to bring Brown back for that bullpen game. 

[UMFan83]

13 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I'm wondering if we should read anything into Flexen getting warm in the 8th when it looked like the team was gonna play screw the closer.  Even if Sunday's a bullpen game you'd expect 2-3 innings of Flexen, and thus wouldn't want to use him today.

Is Brown coming back up or something?

Not sure but I did see on twitter that Luke Little is with the Cubs this weekend but not called up at the moment.  He could probably give them 2-3 innings if they go that route.