Cubs (Imanaga) vs Cardinals (Gray): 8/10/25, 6:10pm

[Tryptamine]

2 minutes ago, Michael Busch Light said:

Holy smokes extending Hoyer early may be one of the bigger own goals in Cubs history 

There was just absolutely no reason to do it before the season ended. It's not like there were going to be tons of teams ready to poach him from the Cubs. A completely self inflicted unnecessary wound which is what Chicago sports is all about for the last decade.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Ben Brown vs the best team in the AL for the next game. 

[Cubbies1996]

What really sucks the most as a fan is hearing all the writers and reporters saying that Jed and the FO love this team and will go all in and do what they need to do to be serious contenders at the deadline. We heard that all spring and summer and Jed just sat on his ass, got a couple new bullpen arms and a guy to backup PCA and Shaw and just sat on his ass when everyone could see this team just needed a jolt. The third(?) biggest market in America and Tom treats it like it’s a second rate city. Even Tampa and KC did more at the deadline with worse prospects. Hate this front office with a burning passion. Just skate by enough to draw fans. 

[JBears79]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

There was just absolutely no reason to do it before the season ended. It's not like there were going to be tons of teams ready to poach him from the Cubs. A completely self inflicted unnecessary wound which is what Chicago sports is all about for the last decade.

What do you mean? This is everything TR wanted. It was perfect for him. Extend his yes man that helps him line his pockets and keeps payroll low while the team looks good. Then when they miss the playoffs he still gets to keep him for another few years and get more money in his trust fund

[Tryptamine]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

8-11 in our last 19.  Still not a complete bottoming out but this is an extended poor stretch.  At least we're not the Mets or Yankees.

Since June 7th, this team is 27-26. This is what they are, a mediocre team who got red hot to start the year. If I had to guess right now I'd say they finish 87-75 and get ousted right away.

[Hot Sauce]

13 minutes ago, CledusSnow said:

Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t stand the ESPN baseball crew.

It isn’t just you. lol

[Cubbies1996]

Counsell: “ We didn’t create enough run scoring opportunities tonight”

like clockwork 😂😂😂😂

[UMFan83]

8 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Since June 7th, this team is 27-26. This is what they are, a mediocre team who got red hot to start the year. If I had to guess right now I'd say they finish 87-75 and get ousted right away.

I was kind of thinking about this earlier.  The 2023 Cubs had an extended hot stretch similar to the start of this year (it just happened June-August) and won at a similar rate as this year's team started the season out.  Then suddenly the offense went cold, the pen collapsed and the Cubs played themselves out of the playoffs.

2024 the offense also started out red hot for maybe a month before going into a 2 month extended offensive funk.  

This offense is better, I truly believe that, but still many of the same players who were involved in the last 2 years of this.

I'm kind of a tweener at this point in the overreaction/calling out overreactions battle.  If I'm overreacting here please do call me out, it just feels similar.  I'm too tired to do my usual statical checking to see how they've looked the last couple weeks as a team, but it seems like every series is 2 games of terrible offense and then one game where they score a healthy amount of runs.  Maybe thats just bad luck, like sequencing but over the course of a series instead of a game.

Edited August 11, 2025 by UMFan83

[NorthsideAvenger]

7 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Since June 7th, this team is 27-26. This is what they are, a mediocre team who got red hot to start the year. If I had to guess right now I'd say they finish 87-75 and get ousted right away.

Which means this is still the same 83 win team they have been the past couple of years. 

Maybe Jed should stop trying to build the roster and give that job to somebody who actually knows what he is doing. 

Edited August 11, 2025 by NorthsideAvenger

[Dfan25]

With the way this team is hitting and 8 of the next 11 againts Tor / Mil / I could see a 3-8 coming . Hopefully the Reds don’t play well the next 2 weeks .

[UMFan83]

6 minutes ago, Cubbies1996 said:

Counsell: “ We didn’t create enough run scoring opportunities tonight”

like clockwork 😂😂😂😂

I don't know what people want him to say.  Lou Piniella like tirade? "Guys the Cardinals are luck merchants, our xBA was significantly higher tonight" (it was).  He's an even keel boring guy, thats just who he is.

Edit: correction, the win expectancy was almost even, but slight edge to St Louis.

Edited August 11, 2025 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Dfan25 said:

With the way this team is hitting and 8 of the next 11 againts Tor / Mil / I could see a 3-8 coming . Hopefully the Reds don’t play well the next 2 weeks .

next 2 series are against the Phillies and Brewers

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I don't know what people want him to say.  Lou Piniella like tirade? "Guys the Cardinals are luck merchants, our xBA was significantly higher tonight" (it was).  He's an even keel boring guy, thats just who he is.

Let's get Big Z back to hit us with the "We stinks!" tirade.

[17 Seconds]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

next 2 series are against the Phillies and Brewers

The Brewers will lose the Reds series, I'm positive 

[Wilson A2000]

30 minutes ago, abuck1220 said:

PH-ing for PCA didn’t work. Pinch running Berti didn’t work. not super complicated. 

PCA has been brutal, especially against lefties. Berti had the base stolen, just one of those flukey things where his hand momentarily jumped off the base. That’s not Counsell’s fault.

 

 

 

[Wilson A2000]

We can say we wished Hoyer got us more pitching, but the pitching has been fine. It’s the hitting that is the problem and the guy we were going to bench (Shaw) for Suarez is our only good hitter.

[ToolDRT]

I find it very amusing that Jed can’t even build a division winner with a 200mil payroll.

I think I’m at the point where I’d prefer seeing them just completely knocked out of playoff contention. Nothing will change either way, I get that, but there’s a better chance of something drastic happening if we just completely horsefeathers the bed as opposed to squeaking in as a wildcard and being immediately excused.  

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Wilson A2000 said:

PCA has been brutal, especially against lefties. Berti had the base stolen, just one of those flukey things where his hand momentarily jumped off the base. That’s not Counsell’s fault.

 

 

 

Yeah ideally we stay away from "it didnt work so it was the wrong decision" second guessing.  Both moves made logical sense to me, and Berti in my mind was safe.  Nico and Dansby both got hits after the out call (obviously we dont know if the same thing happens if Berti was safe but still).

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I find it very amusing that Jed can’t even build a division winner with a 200mil payroll.

I think I’m at the point where I’d prefer seeing them just completely knocked out of playoff contention. Nothing will change either way, I get that, but there’s a better chance of something drastic happening if we just completely horsefeathers the bed as opposed to squeaking in as a wildcard and being immediately excused.  

I still want to see them get in. You just never know what can happen in October. This team is definitely better than that Marlins team that won it all 

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I find it very amusing that Jed can’t even build a division winner with a 200mil payroll.

I think I’m at the point where I’d prefer seeing them just completely knocked out of playoff contention. Nothing will change either way, I get that, but there’s a better chance of something drastic happening if we just completely horsefeathers the bed as opposed to squeaking in as a wildcard and being immediately excused.  

Maybe if Jed didn't sign an extension, but at this point we're stuck with him, there is nothing good that comes from collapsing and missing the playoffs.  Tucker will still probably walk because we won't offer him the money, Jed will still be here, we still won't spend as much as we should because we have Caissie, Ballesteros and Alcantara waiting to come up.  Maybe 1-2 of them go in trades for someone thats cost controlled but either way not much is going to change regardless of whether the Cubs make the playoffs or collapse and miss out.

[ToolDRT]

Just now, PeanutPunch33 said:

I still want to see them get in. You just never know what can happen in October. This team is definitely better than that Marlins team that won it all 

Oh I’m fine with them getting in as a wildcard and going on a run. My fear, is we get in, get eliminated immediately and Jed and Tom use that playoff appearance as a declaration that the way their running this team is right. 
 

They both just suck. Tom needs to forget the damn luxury tax, and Jed needs to stop worrying about the 2032 Chicago Cubs team. This is maddening. 

[ToolDRT]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

Maybe if Jed didn't sign an extension, but at this point we're stuck with him, there is nothing good that comes from collapsing and missing the playoffs.  Tucker will still probably walk because we won't offer him the money, Jed will still be here, we still won't spend as much as we should because we have Caissie, Ballesteros and Alcantara waiting to come up.  Maybe 1-2 of them go in trades for someone thats cost controlled but either way not much is going to change regardless of whether the Cubs make the playoffs or collapse and miss out.

This, I agree with. My only hope would be a large enough embarrassment would change the philosophy of the offseason from one of the two in charge. I know it’s not gonna happen though. 

[chibears55]

21 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

 

Maybe Jed should stop trying to build the roster and give that job to somebody who actually knows what he is doing. 

Exactly what needs to be done. 

once the season ends fire Hawkins and Jed needs to bring in a guy who will handle all players acquisitions, but i wouldn't be surprised if they just fire Hawkins and not hire a GM so TR wont have to pay a guy to have that title.

 

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Oh I’m fine with them getting in as a wildcard and going on a run. My fear, is we get in, get eliminated immediately and Jed and Tom use that playoff appearance as a declaration that the way their running this team is right. 
 

They both just suck. Tom needs to forget the damn luxury tax, and Jed needs to stop worrying about the 2032 Chicago Cubs team. This is maddening. 

Oh yeah I've already accepted that will happen lol.  They are perfectly content just getting into the playoffs and putting fans in the seats.  They don't actually care about winning.  

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Tucker will still probably walk because we won't offer him the money,

I sure hope he does something in the near future that would make this a bad thing.