Mets (Tong) vs Cubs (Boyd): 9/24/25, 7:05pm

[Brandon Glick]

For the first time all year, the Cubs have lost five in a row. They are now just 1.5 games up on the red-hot Padres for the 1st Wild Card.

[gflore34]

Wonder if it's worth the time to watch this game.  Cubs are going to lose coupled with an ESPN crew that'll have a hard-on for the Mets.  Maybe it's best to avoid the frustration and be pleasantly surprised, if by some miracle the Cubs win, checking the score tomorrow.

Edited September 24, 2025 by gflore34

[soccer10k]

8 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Wonder if it's work the time to watch this game. 

[Soul]

Bad, new pitcher = baffled Cub hitters.  Cubs < 3 runs.

[Brian707]

Maybe the Padres will lose before the Cubs even start to lose today?

[UMFan83]

Cubs Magic Number over SD entering each day over the past 6 days:

Friday: 4

Saturday: 4

Sunday: 4

Monday: 4

Tuesday: 4

Wednesday: 4

[Brian707]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

Cubs Magic Number over SD entering each day over the past 6 days:

Friday: 4

Saturday: 4

Sunday: 4

Monday: 4

Tuesday: 4

Wednesday: 4

[gflore34]

What's the over under on the number of HR's Boyd, etc. will give up against the wind?  While Cubs hitters roll-over, pop up or hit a screamer at someone on every meatball. 

I understand Cubs pitchers are going to give up some HR's every now and then.  The most frustrating aspect is Cubs' hitter rarely take advantage of the mistakes they get.  Or, at least, not as often as their opposition does, and, it's been this way for nearly 3 months.

Edited September 24, 2025 by gflore34

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Wonder if it's worth the time to watch this game.  Cubs are going to lose coupled with an ESPN crew that'll have a hard-on for the Mets.  Maybe it's best to avoid the frustration and be pleasantly surprised, if by some miracle the Cubs win, checking the score tomorrow.

I bailed last night and just checked the score 3 hours after game time. Highly recommend.

[soccer10k]

9 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I bailed last night and just checked the score 3 hours after game time. Highly recommend.

I tuned in when it was 7-7, saw a bloop single and PCA airmail a throw trying to double the runner off first. Even if it did go out of play, it wouldn’t have mattered since the next batter homered. I’d seen enough at that point.

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Soul said:

Any pitcher = baffled Cub hitters.  Cubs < 3 runs.

Fixed.

[Jason Ross]

Tong is a funky pitcher. For the uninitiated, he has one of the most over the top motions in any league, coming with a 64-degree arm angle. It's pretty nuts if you haven't seen it. If you're in your 30's, he will instantly remind you of Tim Lincicum. 

He hasn't been good yet at the MLB level but he's funky enough that any given night could be a shut down night from such an awkward motion. His stuff only grades out as mediocre outside of a really good fastball. 

He should be hittable, but like I said, could be night where funk reigns supreme.

[ILMindState]

Not ideal

[Brian707]

Hopefully just a precaution and he starts next week

[squally1313]

The decision to not upgrade the rotation looks better and better every day

[gflore34]

18 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The decision to not upgrade the rotation looks better and better every day

You mean during the off season?  At the trade deadline I don't think it was feasible, we saw no teams we're able to upgrade their rotations.  The price tags were probably outrageous and completely unrealistic. I'm certain teams were trying to fleece the Cubs farm system for a rental.

Edited September 24, 2025 by gflore34

[Outshined_One]

27 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Hopefully just a precaution and he starts next week

I heard Counsell's interview.  He said it was purely precautionary, and they were optimistic about it.

[Stratos]

Boyd needs to have a good start tonight.  

[squally1313]

10 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

You mean during the off season?  At the trade deadline I don't think it was feasible, we saw no teams we're able to upgrade their rotations.  The price tags were probably outrageous and completely unrealistic. I'm certain teams were trying to fleece the Cubs farm system for a rental.

I mean, we'll never know, right? The Cubs needed starting pitching more than probably any other contending team and the Cubs also had between pure prospect talent and the extent to which MLB spots are blocked through next year, the most trading capital to use. 

We've got Shota who has taken a step back pretty much since the jump of this season, a maybe unlucky but maybe struggling/overworked Boyd, a rookie blowing past any career high in innings, who may or may not be healthy, and Jameson Taillon and his 4.71 FIP. Yes this is short term thinking and with the benefit of hindsight, but we knew we were a playoff team, and these chances don't come around too often. 

Dumb prediction here, but if I had to guess we're going to see a game like last night where the offense does more than enough but the pitching gives it away and then everyone blames like....Dansby or Happ for striking out with guys on in the 7th or something before losing 10-8.

[mul21]

5 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, we'll never know, right? The Cubs needed starting pitching more than probably any other contending team and the Cubs also had between pure prospect talent and the extent to which MLB spots are blocked through next year, the most trading capital to use. 

We've got Shota who has taken a step back pretty much since the jump of this season, a maybe unlucky but maybe struggling/overworked Boyd, a rookie blowing past any career high in innings, who may or may not be healthy, and Jameson Taillon and his 4.71 FIP. Yes this is short term thinking and with the benefit of hindsight, but we knew we were a playoff team, and these chances don't come around too often. 

Dumb prediction here, but if I had to guess we're going to see a game like last night where the offense does more than enough but the pitching gives it away and then everyone blames like....Dansby or Happ for striking out with guys on in the 7th or something before losing 10-8.

I blame Dansby for booting a ground ball and allowing an inning to continue.  The offense did plenty last night.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, we'll never know, right? The Cubs needed starting pitching more than probably any other contending team and the Cubs also had between pure prospect talent and the extent to which MLB spots are blocked through next year, the most trading capital to use. 

We've got Shota who has taken a step back pretty much since the jump of this season, a maybe unlucky but maybe struggling/overworked Boyd, a rookie blowing past any career high in innings, who may or may not be healthy, and Jameson Taillon and his 4.71 FIP. Yes this is short term thinking and with the benefit of hindsight, but we knew we were a playoff team, and these chances don't come around too often. 

Dumb prediction here, but if I had to guess we're going to see a game like last night where the offense does more than enough but the pitching gives it away and then everyone blames like....Dansby or Happ for striking out with guys on in the 7th or something before losing 10-8.

I don’t think a deadline trade for a useful starting pitcher was a reality. Maybe Kelly? But that is about it. From reports since the deadline, it sounds like teams wanted Horton, Shaw, Cassie etc. A combo of those guys. I think the issue is they shouldn’t have put themselves in this position. They should have gotten pitching in the off season. Instead of Rea, maybe they should have gotten Pivetta. It was reported that even the pirates wanted more than Cassie for Keller. The Cubs mistake was expecting pitching to be available. 

[Rcal10]

13 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, we'll never know, right? The Cubs needed starting pitching more than probably any other contending team and the Cubs also had between pure prospect talent and the extent to which MLB spots are blocked through next year, the most trading capital to use. 

We've got Shota who has taken a step back pretty much since the jump of this season, a maybe unlucky but maybe struggling/overworked Boyd, a rookie blowing past any career high in innings, who may or may not be healthy, and Jameson Taillon and his 4.71 FIP. Yes this is short term thinking and with the benefit of hindsight, but we knew we were a playoff team, and these chances don't come around too often. 

Dumb prediction here, but if I had to guess we're going to see a game like last night where the offense does more than enough but the pitching gives it away and then everyone blames like....Dansby or Happ for striking out with guys on in the 7th or something before losing 10-8.

Oh, I am sure when the Cubs do get eliminated it will be either Dansby or Happ’s fault. 

[squally1313]

5 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I blame Dansby for booting a ground ball and allowing an inning to continue.  The offense did plenty last night.

That's what I'm talking about though. The pitching gave up 11 hits, 2 walks, and 3 HRs. That's not good! Now, granted, I don't really think it's indicative of what we expect to be seeing next week. Horton either goes longer or they turn to Taillon in that situation. But, while the Dansby error was bad, he didn't give up the home run. Or the home run in the 8th. Or the three runs before that. 

In September, the offense has been 11th in wRC, 9th in overall production, bolstered by the second best defensive rating in the league. We're 17th in pitching fWAR, 5th in ERA but 16th in FIP. Second best BABIP against in the league. If you look beyond one play, the pitching has been average at best, and the defense has been consistently excellent. We don't have any elite arms (the Mets have Edwin Diaz to get 6 outs. We used Caleb Thielbar), and we don't have enough reliable arms. The time has come and gone to overpay for them. But we should have. 

[Rcal10]

21 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

That's what I'm talking about though. The pitching gave up 11 hits, 2 walks, and 3 HRs. That's not good! Now, granted, I don't really think it's indicative of what we expect to be seeing next week. Horton either goes longer or they turn to Taillon in that situation. But, while the Dansby error was bad, he didn't give up the home run. Or the home run in the 8th. Or the three runs before that. 

In September, the offense has been 11th in wRC, 9th in overall production, bolstered by the second best defensive rating in the league. We're 17th in pitching fWAR, 5th in ERA but 16th in FIP. Second best BABIP against in the league. If you look beyond one play, the pitching has been average at best, and the defense has been consistently excellent. We don't have any elite arms (the Mets have Edwin Diaz to get 6 outs. We used Caleb Thielbar), and we don't have enough reliable arms. The time has come and gone to overpay for them. But we should have. 

I don’t agree that we should have overpaid. Not if the cost was Horton+. Again, if Keller cost more than Cassie what would Alcantara, Cabrera, Ryan or Gore have costs. Would renting Gallen be worth Cassie? Maybe? But prior to the actual deadline everyone here suggested there was no way a top 100 prospect gets traded for a rental. The mistake was in the off season and also thinking you can add at the deadline. 

[Rcal10]

40 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

That's what I'm talking about though. The pitching gave up 11 hits, 2 walks, and 3 HRs. That's not good! Now, granted, I don't really think it's indicative of what we expect to be seeing next week. Horton either goes longer or they turn to Taillon in that situation. But, while the Dansby error was bad, he didn't give up the home run. Or the home run in the 8th. Or the three runs before that. 

In September, the offense has been 11th in wRC, 9th in overall production, bolstered by the second best defensive rating in the league. We're 17th in pitching fWAR, 5th in ERA but 16th in FIP. Second best BABIP against in the league. If you look beyond one play, the pitching has been average at best, and the defense has been consistently excellent. We don't have any elite arms (the Mets have Edwin Diaz to get 6 outs. We used Caleb Thielbar), and we don't have enough reliable arms. The time has come and gone to overpay for them. But we should have. 

The misplay by Dansby was a terrible decision on how to play the ball. He tied to charge it to take the short hop to turn a double play. But in doing so he made the play harder. If he waits on the ball he doesn’t get the double play, but he gets an out. Up 6-1 he should take the easy play. However some people go k webinars with Swanson criticism. It was his 11th error of the year. Maybe people should watch other baseball games and see plays other SS don’t make that Cubs fans take for granted. And, as you said, he didn’t give up the homers.