Cubs Day Off Musings

[Brandon Glick]

The Cubs have won two straight and the Brewers have lost three in a row... and the Cubs are still 5.5 games back in the division.

First NL Wild Card, here we come!

---

How are you feeling about the state of the Cubs right now?

[Tryptamine]

It's so disappointing that if hey had played just decent to good baseball over the last couple weeks, we're looking at a 2 or 3 game deficit in the division instead of 5.5.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

16 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

It's so disappointing that if hey had played just decent to good baseball over the last couple weeks, we're looking at a 2 or 3 game deficit in the division instead of 5.5.

So 8-1 this month instead of 5-4?

[Tryptamine]

12 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

So 8-1 this month instead of 5-4?

I was referring to their record since the start of the SF series, which admittedly goes a bit beyond 2 weeks. They've played a number of bad to really bad teams and went 7-8 over that stretch. 

[Tryptamine]

Unrelated, but I'm rather looking forward to that Horton vs Skenes game on 9/15.

[We Got The Whole 9]

We can always point to some painful losses along the way but the difference in the division is that the Brewers went supernova for a long time and we didn't. Thats it. The Cubs have not lost 4 in a row all season, the worst stretches we can point to are 2 weeks where they played slightly below 500. They've had a really, really good season and in other seasons they'd be the division champ. 

[Tryptamine]

14 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

We can always point to some painful losses along the way but the difference in the division is that the Brewers went supernova for a long time and we didn't. Thats it. The Cubs have not lost 4 in a row all season, the worst stretches we can point to are 2 weeks where they played slightly below 500. They've had a really, really good season and in other seasons they'd be the division champ. 

I mean the Cubs are kind of living off their hot streak to start the year too. They've been around a .500 team for months now. On June 7th they were 40-24(.758), since then they're 43-39(.524). Outside of that hot start, they've been basically the same team they were in 2023 and 2024. 

[Rcal10]

16 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I mean the Cubs are kind of living off their hot streak to start the year too. They've been around a .500 team for months now. On June 7th they were 40-24(.758), since then they're 43-39(.524). Outside of that hot start, they've been basically the same team they were in 2023 and 2024. 

How is 40-24, .758 ball. It is .625. Far cry from what the. Brewers did over 60 games. Doesn’t matter. The whole season counts. But 40-24 isn’t that amazing for 64 games. 
Also in 23 and 24 you can probably find a 50-60 game stretch the Cubs played .625 ball. Considering they were at one point in ‘23, 10 games under .500 and later that year were 10 games over .500, I am certain they had only over .625 ball for a time. 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Rcal10

[Bertz]

Quote

 

Hodge was the team’s closer in 2024 and was rather dominant for much of the season. But he struggled early this season with injury and ineffectiveness. Over the weekend, he looked sharp, albeit in low-leverage moments. Counsell put him in a one-run game in the sixth Wednesday, and the youngster stepped up.

“The way the game sequenced, I thought we had a really good spot to introduce Porter into a bigger inning,” Counsell said. “And he delivered. Absolutely take note of it. We talked about it (the other day), but we’re optimistic that he had turned some things around and could be important. Tonight was another step.”

 

via The Athletic this AM

It would be really fortunate if Hodge basically reverted to being the guy right as Palencia went down.

[Tryptamine]

25 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

How is 40-24, .758 ball. It is .625. Far cry from what the. Brewers did over 60 games. Doesn’t matter. The whole season counts. But 40-24 isn’t that amazing for 64 games. 
Also in 23 and 24 you can probably find a 50-60 game stretch the Cubs played .625 ball. Considering they were at one point in ‘23, 10 games under .500 and later that year were 10 games over .500, I am certain they had only over .625 ball for a time. 

When you make a typo in your calculator and don't notice.

[Rcal10]

Just looked at the standings. Instead of hoping the brewers lose and a long long shot chance of the Cubs passing them, I have decided to hope the Brewers win. I want them to beat out the Phillies for the top spot. Much rather play the Brewers if we win a WC round, than play the Phillies. Lead is only 2.5 games. 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Rcal10

[Rcal10]

Just now, Tryptamine said:

When you make a typo in your calculator and don't notice.

👍

[Tryptamine]

I still don't understand why the Cubs didn't pick up David Robertson for only money. It just seemed so obvious and while Robertson hasn't been elite, he has been more than good enough.

12.2 IP 2.84 ERA 3.54 FIP 2.57 xFIP 12.79K/9

 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Tryptamine

[17 Seconds]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

I still don't understand why the Cubs didn't pick up David Robertson for only money. It just seemed so obvious and while Robertson hasn't been elite, he has been more than good enough.

12.2 IP 2.84 ERA 3.54 FIP 2.57 xFIP 12.79K/9

 

is there reason to believe they didn't try? I'm guessing he wanted to go back to philly

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

is there reason to believe they didn't try? I'm guessing he wanted to go back to philly

I think he goes to the money. So that would be the reason to think they didn’t try. At least most players go to the money. But at his age and already financially secure maybe location does matter? Maybe he did like Philly more than Chicago.🤷

[17 Seconds]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think he goes to the money. So that would be the reason to think they didn’t try. At least most players go to the money. But at his age and already financially secure maybe location does matter? Maybe he did like Philly more than Chicago.🤷

he got cubs type money though. he was probably one of the guys they tried to get in the offseason

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Just looked at the standings. Instead of hoping the brewers lose and a long long shot chance of the Cubs passing them, I have decided to hope the Brewers win. I want them to beat out the Phillies for the top spot. Much rather play the Brewers if we win a WC round, than play the Phillies. Lead is only 2.5 games. 

Sounds good, I don't expect the Cubs to advance, if they do wouldn't be too bad to play the Brewers. 

I believe the Cubs have a better chance at a long playoff run than the Brewers.  Depends on one or more of the Cubs hitters coming out of the deep freeze they've been in the last three months. Say some of them come to life, then the Cubs have way more power than Brewers, the HR plays big in the post season.  The Brewers MO of needing multiple hits to score works well, hell is awesome, against the Ryan Presslys and Colin Reas of the regular season.  Post season is another story, for the most part, you don't have the luxury of facing the crappy pitching you see for a good deal of the regular season.  The hits are harder to come by, that's why when you get them it helps if they are big ones - HR's.

[Rcal10]

16 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Sounds good, I don't expect the Cubs to advance, if they do wouldn't be too bad to play the Brewers. 

I believe the Cubs have a better chance at a long playoff run than the Brewers.  Depends on one or more of the Cubs hitters coming out of the deep freeze they've been in the last three months. Say some of them come to life, then the Cubs have way more power than Brewers, the HR plays big in the post season.  The Brewers MO of needing multiple hits to score works well, hell is awesome, against the Ryan Presslys and Colin Reas of the regular season.  Post season is another story, for the most part, you don't have the luxury of facing the crappy pitching you see for a good deal of the regular season.  The hits are harder to come by, that's why when you get them it helps if they are big ones - HR's.

You don’t expect the Cubs to advance? You mean beat the Padres? Why is this? You talk about the Cubs starting pitching as if it is bad, but what about the Padres? Exactly why are the Padres better than the Cubs? I will take my chances with Imanaga, Boyd and if needed, Horton, over whatever 3 pitchers the Padres start. Padres are not particularly good against lefties and they will also be starting all right handed pitchers. Cubs don’t have to worry about a left handed starting pitcher. SD also has issues with hitting home runs.
Have you been following how bad they have been doing? Sorry, this is just the sort of thing that bugs me. People cutting down the Cubs for not being able to compete with whoever they are going to play, without really looking at the competition and their issues as well. They may very well lose the series. But I wouldn’t say I expect that to happen. 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Rcal10

[gflore34]

3 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

You don’t expect the Cubs to advance? You mean beat the Padres? Why is this? You talk about the Cubs starting pitching as if it is bad, but what about the Padres? Exactly why are the Padres better than the Cubs? I will take my chances with Imanaga, Boyd and if needed, Horton, over whatever 3 pitchers the Padres start. Padres are not particularly good against lefties and they will also be starting all right handed pitchers. Cubs don’t have to worry about a left handed starting pitcher. 
Have you been following how bad they have been doing? You refer to HR being needed. Any chance you looked at the Padres and their home run totals. Sorry, this is just the sort of thing that bugs me. People cutting down the Cubs for not being able to compete with whoever they are going to play, without really looking at the competition and their issues as well. They may very well lose the series. But I wouldn’t say I expect that to happen. 

You'll agree the big Cubs bat's have been in a deep funk for a while, yes?  We've seen a plethora of games where truly awful pitching dominates them.  I have not looked, it might be the same story with the Padres.  Nevertheless, because of the Cubs slumping bats, with no end in site, is why I do not believe they've much of a chance to advance.

[Rcal10]

48 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

You'll agree the big Cubs bat's have been in a deep funk for a while, yes?  We've seen a plethora of games where truly awful pitching dominates them.  I have not looked, it might be the same story with the Padres.  Nevertheless, because of the Cubs slumping bats, with no end in site, is why I do not believe they've much of a chance to advance.

Padres are 10-15 in their last 25. Cubs are 15-11 (6th best record in baseball since 8/15)

Obviously something isn’t working for the Padres either. They are bad against left handed pitching, very low in homers and starting 3 righties against the Cubs. So do you really think the Padres are any better. That is my point. People look at just the Cubs and see their flaws. With all their flaws they are 15-11 since 8/15. Again, Cubs very well could lose the series. But to say I expect them to would be a lie. 

Edited September 11, 2025 by Rcal10

[Rcal10]

51 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

You'll agree the big Cubs bat's have been in a deep funk for a while, yes?  We've seen a plethora of games where truly awful pitching dominates them.  I have not looked, it might be the same story with the Padres.  Nevertheless, because of the Cubs slumping bats, with no end in site, is why I do not believe they've much of a chance to advance.

No, I wouldn’t agree. I think the end of this is very near. Tucker was coming around and got hurt. Remains to be seen if he is back or not. Happ has done very well. Suzuki went something like 16 straight games getting on base recently. PCA appears to be doing a little better. Yes, they all need to do even better. We need some homers. I agree.
But, besides that Hoerner has been very good, Shaw has come around, Kelly is hitting again, and even Dansby has shown some life. Busch needs to get going. No, they are not what they were early in the season. But it is unrealistic to expect that to be the team the entire year. It is baseball. Guys hit then don’t hit. They ar who they are. Typically they even out. Cubs have enough talent to beat anyone. 

[gflore34]

34 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

No, I wouldn’t agree. I think the end of this is very near. Tucker was coming around and got hurt. Remains to be seen if he is back or not. Happ has done very well. Suzuki went something like 16 straight games getting on base recently. PCA appears to be doing a little better. Yes, they all need to do even better. We need some homers. I agree.
But, besides that Hoerner has been very good, Shaw has come around, Kelly is hitting again, and even Dansby has shown some life. Busch needs to get going. No, they are not what they were early in the season. But it is unrealistic to expect that to be the team the entire year. It is baseball. Guys hit then don’t hit. They ar who they are. Typically they even out. Cubs have enough talent to beat anyone. 

It's certainly true the Cubs have enough talent to beat anyone.  I hope you're correct about the end of the slumping bats, it'd make the post season a heck of a lot more fun if Busch, Tucker, PCA and company got going.

[Rcal10]

Just now, gflore34 said:

It's certainly true the Cubs have enough talent to beat anyone.  I hope you're correct about the end of the slumping bats, it'd make the post season a heck of a lot more fun if Busch, Tucker, PCA and company got going.

Common ground! I just think people focus too much on the cubs and don’t see the warts of the other playoff teams. 

[Post Count Padder]

Nico quietly (or maybe not quietly but I only just noticed) is 3rd in the NL in hits and AVG and is 2nd in dWAR. He might be team MVP given how the rest of the lineup has generally slumped.

[squally1313]

4 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

Nico quietly (or maybe not quietly but I only just noticed) is 3rd in the NL in hits and AVG and is 2nd in dWAR. He might be team MVP given how the rest of the lineup has generally slumped.

What PCA did in the first half is insane, but whatever award you want to assign to the guy who just went out and stayed at his borderline elite skill level week after week, it's definitely him. Monthly wRC never dipped below 99, and after topping out at 110 (in June), he's at 165 in September, which is giving him 121 for the second half, which is insane for an elite defensive middle infielder.