Cubs-Padres Game Two Thread: Imanaga's Opener Is A Necessary Evil

[Bertz]

5 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

I think MLB puts Cubs at 5pm Central if Red Sox win. If Yankees win probably 2pm again. Not sure though if Cincy somehow beats Dodgers. 

This was probably discussed before here

I might have missed it too but here are thr specifics

 

[Caesar]

Just now, Caesar said:

Let’s assume thee Cub win tomorrow. Do you believe they’ll get hot ? Or do you believe the next series will be a struggle to win each game? Remember many posters stated that the team that gets hot usually wins series? From what you’ve seen in what direction do thee Cub go? Struggle or get hot!

What’s your gut tell you?

[BKHoo]

Let’s get real PCA has absolutely sucked at the plate since the ASB. But tomorrow is a new opportunity. 

[Rcal10]

35 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

one team in this series has been operating closer to the edge of its resource potential and it ain’t the cubs 

What does this mean? Do you think the Padres are trying harder? Or are you suggesting they used their best pen arms two days in a row so they are  showing more urgency? I am talking strictly about this series. Whoever wins tomorrow didn’t have more urgency to win. They just won. Both teams will be playing as hard as they could. A bad AB or a bad pitching performance will not be a result of not caring as much as the other team. 

[gflore34]

The Padres blew they're wad today with Cease, they had to, given how well he's pitched lately.  It was an almost a certain win for the Padres today.  Darvish is a whole different story, he not what he was, has no margin for error.  He's has the type of stuff the Cubs have crushed, think we'll see big things from Tucker and PCA.  I'd much rather face Cease in game 2 than 3, that's why getting game 1 was so big. 

[Rcal10]

15 minutes ago, Caesar said:

What’s your gut tell you?

Did you just post something and then respond to your own post with a question? 

[Derwood]

I'm already tired of the 'he should've walked Machado" narrative. When you score zero runs, none of that matters.

[Brian707]

6 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Did you just post something and then respond to your own post with a question? 

He is either crazy or has a burner account 

[UMFan83]

11 minutes ago, Derwood said:

I'm already tired of the 'he should've walked Machado" narrative. When you score zero runs, none of that matters.

Butterfly effect. Who knows the mindset the Cubs take down 1 run where 1 swing can tie it vs down 3 runs which seems much more daunting. I hear you that it’s less important than the fact that the Cubs offense couldn’t do anything but the HR changed the rest of the game, particularly how the Padres deployed their pen

[Soul]

22 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Did you just post something and then respond to your own post with a question? 

Thanks. I thought it was just me.

[I owned a Suzuki]

39 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Pete might be better off bunting every AB even though he’s not really good at it

I would have him lay one down in his first AB as long as its situation appropriate

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Butterfly effect. Who knows the mindset the Cubs take down 1 run where 1 swing can tie it vs down 3 runs which seems much more daunting. I hear you that it’s less important than the fact that the Cubs offense couldn’t do anything but the HR changed the rest of the game, particularly how the Padres deployed their pen

I don’t think the Padres do anything different with their pen if it was 1-0 or 3-0. Sure, maybe something works out differently. I doubt it does, but maybe. That said, he used his top guys as if it was a 1 run game. Not sure how that would have differed. 

[Caesar]

28 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Did you just post something and then respond to your own post with a question? 

Yes.

[I owned a Suzuki]

49 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Pete might be better off bunting every AB even though he’s not really good at it

I would have him lay one down in his first AB as long as its situation appropriate

[Rcal10]

20 minutes ago, Derwood said:

I'm already tired of the 'he should've walked Machado" narrative. When you score zero runs, none of that matters.

Still a bad decision by Counsell. I was sure they were pulling Shota. Very surprised he pitched to Machado. Either take him out and don’t Machado with a righty pen arm or walk Machado and face Merrill. When he decided to leave Shota in I was sure they would want Machado. Not scoring any runs cost them the game. But that doesn’t mean the pitching decision wasn’t a mistake. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Caesar said:

Yes.

So maybe now answer the question you asked yourself. We are all waiting for your response. 

[Caesar]

Just now, Caesar said:

Yes.

All kidding aside. I don’t know how to operate this message boards well. I’m a bit older. Relax buddy! I’m not tech savvy.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Caesar said:

All kidding aside. I don’t know how to operate this message boards well. I’m a bit older. Relax buddy! I’m not tech savvy.

I was wondering about that. Hit the 3 dots at the top of your post. Just go to edit on your response and than add more narrative. Also, doubt you are older than I am. Lighten up a little too. I was only messing around. Old timers need to stick together, even if we don’t agree on a lot. 

Edited October 1, 2025 by Rcal10

[Outshined_One]

3 minutes ago, I owned a Suzuki said:

I would have him lay one down in his first AB as long as its situation appropriate

He should also slide head first into 1B, because everyone knows that's faster.

[Geographyhater8888]

40 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

What does this mean? Do you think the Padres are trying harder? Or are you suggesting they used their best pen arms two days in a row so they are  showing more urgency? I am talking strictly about this series. Whoever wins tomorrow didn’t have more urgency to win. They just won. Both teams will be playing as hard as they could. A bad AB or a bad pitching performance will not be a result of not caring as much as the other team. 

I think he’s referring to their payroll:revenue ratio. Could be wrong though.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

29 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

He is either crazy or has a burner account 

Surprised everyone hasn't put him on their ignore list at this point. 

[Caesar]

4 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I was wondering about that. Hit the 3 dots at the top of your post. Just go to edit on your response and than add more narrative. Also, doubt you are older than I am. Lighten up a little too. I was only messing around. Old timers need to stick together, even if we don’t agree on a lot. 

If they can somehow get past SD I believe they can win against Brewers . Thee Cub struggle against high velocity pitching. This series might be tougher than Brewers. Brewers will not beat thee Cub or SD. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So maybe now answer the question you asked yourself. We are all waiting for your response. 

Not all of us

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

Not all of us

😅

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, Caesar said:

If they can somehow get past SD I believe they can win against Brewers . Thee Cub struggle against high velocity pitching. This series might be tougher than Brewers. Brewers will not beat thee Cub or SD. 

This is something I don’t say often. I agree with you Caesar. I think whoever wins this series will beat the Brewers. The days off fit perfectly into the Padres being able to use their pen. And, for that matter. The Cubs too. Cubs top guys in the pen have been very good.