Royals (Cameron) vs Cubs (Brasier): 7/21/25, 7:05pm

[Derwood]

If only there had been $20-$30 million left over this off season to address this...

[Jason Ross]

Just now, We Got The Whole 9 said:

He needs a 2nd pitch. His fastball sucks.

His fastball is fine on the surface. It's two fold:
1. Hitters can sit on the fastball. Frankly, it desn't matter who you are and what your fastball is, if MLB hitters know it's coming, you're horsefeathered
2. He leaves it mid-mid too often early in the count. He's desperately trying to get to his deathball. But he won't throw the deathball behind to hitters because he wants to induce chase with that pitch. When ahead, hitters can spit on it more easily. 

It's a command/control issue. The pitch on the surface is not bad. It's everything around it. 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Cubs420psd said:

Why is Brown back with the big club already? Wasn't he down in AAA to work on some things? He got everything fixed in 2 weeks? So damn dumb.

Because Chris Flexen also sucks. The Cubs were probably hoping that Brown against the Royals would be more effective against a poor team and build confidence. Didn't work, sadly.

[Wilson A2000]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

Because Chris Flexen also sucks. The Cubs were probably hoping that Brown against the Royals would be more effective against a poor team and build confidence. Didn't work, sadly.

Flexen also sucks?

[Geographyhater8888]

9 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Ben Brown has great stuff, but he's a classic "command vs control" issue. Even tonight, his walk rate is solid. He hasn't walked anyone. 

But I fully believe he cannot command pitches in the strike zone well. He can "get 'em in" but he misses in too often. Specifically, IMO, he gets caught "stealing strikes". As a two-pitch guy, he uses his fastball almost exclusively behind in the count and his curveball a ton when ahead. He can deceive hitters with the two pitches, he throws the fastball up and the deathball breaks down; there's a tunnel there. So when he's ahead in the count, he creates natural confusion. But once you know he's basically only throwing the fastball, he becomes an easy solve. Early in the count, he'll try to sneak the fastball in to get ahead.

He *needs* a third pitch. He has not developed one. 

Nothing moves into or away from the plate either so it’s easy to lay off pitches at the edges of the plate as well. If you don’t have pin point command you need more than a high school level sequence of pitches. He has no business facing any hitters multiple times.

Edited July 22, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Cubs420psd]

4 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Because Chris Flexen also sucks. The Cubs were probably hoping that Brown against the Royals would be more effective against a poor team and build confidence. Didn't work, sadly.

Well then Hoyer needs to get his ass on the phone it seems. I don't understand waiting until the deadline if these are the options.

Edited July 22, 2025 by Cubs420psd

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Cubs420psd said:

Well then Hoyer needs to get his ass on the phone it seems. I don't understand waiting until the deadline.

It does take 2 teams to make a trade. This idea that Jed is sitting around doing nothing gets real old. He can’t make teams trade players if they are not sure if they want to dump or not. My guess is Jed would love to make a trade soon. Doesn’t mean there is one to be made. 

[Geographyhater8888]

Both Suzuki and Tucker have been absent for 2 games in a row.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Cubs420psd said:

Well then Hoyer needs to get his ass on the phone it seems. I don't understand waiting until the deadline.

It's a two-party system. The Cubs cannot force a team to make a trade unless they overpay. As much as people are upset today that Brown was ******, they'd almost assuredly be just as mad as the excess trade capital they'd have to make to force these teams off their stance of "I'm competing". It's a double edged sword and the Cubs are damned if they do and damned if they don't. 

You're currently stuck dealing with the Rockies, White Sox and the A's if you want a SP. Or you're dealing with the fringe teams, like even Baltimore, and forcing them off their "Oh yeah, well we aren't selling" mantra. Even if we  know they will eventually, they won't until they have to. These teams hold the power currently. It's a tough situation.

[chibears55]

1 minute ago, Cubs420psd said:

Well then Hoyer needs to get his ass on the phone it seems. I don't understand waiting until the deadline.

Takes 2 to tango, the better starters wont be available until closer to or at deadline because trading team GM wants to get the best offers possible from all buyers.

[BigSlick]

i know i tried to mentally will this team into winning last night and in return i got them.... losing by 4 more runs, but once again, I implore you:

 

this is the kind of game good teams lose, but the kind that great teams figure out how to win. Beat this garbo team! You can do it! 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Nothing moves into or away from the plate either so it’s easy to lay off pitches at the edges of the plate as well. He has no business facing any hitters multiple times.

It would help if he had a little horizontal movement, but I don't think you have to have it. Shota Imanaga kills RHP going fastball-splitter and they run on a similar plane. His control of the fastball up and the splitter away kills hitters. Brown just pipes too many pitches because he cannot spot the fastball enough in a good place. 

[chibears55]

Can we get a little more offense now

[Derwood]

Brown also doesn't have the mental fortitude to get his shit together when things start unraveling.

[Geographyhater8888]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

It would help if he had a little horizontal movement, but I don't think you have to have it. Shota Imanaga kills RHP going fastball-splitter and they run on a similar plane. His control of the fastball up and the splitter away kills hitters. Brown just pipes too many pitches because he cannot spot the fastball enough in a good place. 

Shota throws slider which moves horizontally. One of too many things to list he does better than Brown.

[Jason Ross]

6 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Flexen also sucks?

Flexen also sucks. Yes. He's a pumpkin. He's getting away with bottom barrel whiff (5th percentile) and chase (2nd percentile) rates. He misses barrels, but it's not an elite barrel miss rate. He also gives up a good deal of FB's so he doesn't profile as a FIP beater His xFIP is 4.83. 

[Derwood]

How fucking slow is Ian Happ, JFC

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Shota throws slider which moves horizontally. One of too many things to list he does better than Brown.

Shota only throws his sweeper to LHH. To RHH he is almost entirely fastball-splitter.

Even if Brown adds a changeup, it would almost be exclusively to LHH. He would remain fastball-deathball exclusively to RHH. The issue is not movement but command.

[Cubbies1996]

Soooo when’s that Happ “hot streak” gonna start? We’re patiently waiting

[JBears79]

Cant believe its the horsefeathers Royals that are the team that knock us out of first place.

[BigSlick]

*smacks Cubs team on the nose with a rolled up newspaper* bad baseball team! bad! 

[WhyCantWeWin]

5 minutes ago, Derwood said:

How fucking slow is Ian Happ, JFC

Is he just fat now? His sprint speed is abysmal 

[Wilson A2000]

4 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Flexen also sucks. Yes. He's a pumpkin. He's getting away with bottom barrel whiff (5th percentile) and chase (2nd percentile) rates. He misses barrels, but it's not an elite barrel miss rate. He also gives up a good deal of FB's so he doesn't profile as a FIP beater His xFIP is 4.83. 

He’s an out getter despite the peripherals and has had a really good season. He might not be a top-tier reliever, but by no means does he suck.

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, Cubbies1996 said:

Soooo when’s that Happ “hot streak” gonna start? We’re patiently waiting

He has gotten a hit in every game since the break. A homer and double among his hits. Does he have to get commented about every time he makes an out? Even the best players make way more outs than they get hits. Counting tonight 7 for his last 22. With a homer and a double in that time. Maybe not a “hit streak”, but not something to have someone bitch about every time he makes an out. 

Edited July 22, 2025 by Rcal10

[BigSlick]

oh. 

 

i'm sad again