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

[UMFan83]

Oh I see we have another ump favoring the Padres today.

[cl smooth]

7 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

i can't believe this color commentator is white sounds like katt williams impersonating steve harvey

Ben McDonald. Came up with the orioles in the late 80s. Straight outta Louisiana. Dude is part swamp gator.

[PeanutPunch33]

Cease has an ERA of 4.5+, yet always destroys the Cubs.  They need to make a statement today 

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, cl smooth said:

Ben McDonald. Came up with the orioles in the late 80s. Straight outta Louisiana. Dude is part swamp gator.

He was the number 1 overall pick in the draft too.  I was living in Maryland at the time and remember there being a lot of hype for him even though I was like 8 years old

[UMFan83]

11 pitches, not bad

[Jason Ross]

Shota shoved that inning. 

[Jason Ross]

Cease really struggles once teams have seen him once. First inning was a lot of really hard hit balls. wOBA against jumps almost .100 points once it's a 2nd viewing this year. Feel good that the Cubs will get to him, even if it's not the first two or so innings.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

Cease really struggles once teams have seen him once. First inning was a lot of really hard hit balls. wOBA against jumps almost .100 points once it's a 2nd viewing this year. Feel good that the Cubs will get to him, even if it's not the first two or so innings.

Yeah but the Padres will have a quick trigger today so if he struggles hopefully its HR balls or at least a couple of quick XBH

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Cease really struggles once teams have seen him once. First inning was a lot of really hard hit balls. wOBA against jumps almost .100 points once it's a 2nd viewing this year. Feel good that the Cubs will get to him, even if it's not the first two or so innings.

They'll probably pull him in the 4th or 5th and won't get a real chance to get to him.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, chibears55 said:

They'll probably pull him in the 4th or 5th and won't get a real chance to get to him.

Unless they pull him in the 3rd, the Cubs are going to get a second look at him.

His wOBA against the 2nd time through is the same as the 3rd time through. And mirrors most pitchers 3rd time through. 

They can pull him in the 4th. They'll still get through the hitters you want to see him a second time. 

[Hortonhearsawho]

Pete needs to be moved to the 9 hole. 

[Outshined_One]

Happy to see PCA battle.

Not so happy with the result.

[UMFan83]

I guess PCA is only going to be useful for his defense in this series.

Seems to press very easily.  Start of his career in 2023, start of 2024, start of 2025, long slump this year, now the start of his first playoff series.  He was starting to look better at the end of the year, now he's up there guessing again and being over eager.

Edited October 1, 2025 by UMFan83

[Tryptamine]

I'm finding it real suspicious that Cease keeps putting his hand through his hair then rubs down immediately after time after time.

[s2obed]

PCA hot garbage as usual. He'll be Javy 2.0 when all is said and done... quote me.

[Caesar]

Same exact pitch to strike him out 4 at bats in a row. At least he battled and raised pitch count 

[UMFan83]

Watch us lose 1-0 with the only run scoring off the opener.

[Brian707]

I see this game thread is starting like yesterday's game thread. Hoping for a similar result as yesterday

[Jason Ross]

In PCA's defense, ESPN's K-Zone makes it seem like he's chasing more than he is. 

 

[chibears55]

Cease gonna go 6 scoreless with 10 Ks isn't he? 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[Cubbies1996]

Would be nice if PCA actually “locked in” like he said he was in his article…

[mul21]

23 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Was thinking about this earlier, wouldn't it have been better to use someone other than Kittredge since they just saw him yesterday?

 

This was exactly where I was.  I didn't like that he faced 2 of those guys yesterday.

[soccer10k]

A double to the 9 hitter with 0 outs isn’t great.

[PeanutPunch33]

that's a huge out 

[Stratos]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

I guess PCA is only going to be useful for his defense in this series.

Seems to press very easily.  Start of his career in 2023, start of 2024, start of 2025, long slump this year, now the start of his first playoff series

They're pitching him well.  High fastballs and low breaking stuff out of the zone.  He just chases and gets himself out.

PCA hitting .181 in Aug and Sept, a 45 wRC+.