Pirates (Ashcraft) vs Cubs (Cabrera): 4/11/26, 1:20pm

[UMFan83]

If you break it down by month it was only really August that was really bad. September/October’s OPS was above their overall season OPS (.751)

[BigbadB]

10 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Has the bullpen been garbage? In this particular series they have worked 9 innings, including two with a runner starting in second. They gave up 2 earned runs(a homer against Theilbar). It is just so easy to rip the pen whenever they give up a run. I am not saying the pen is great, by any means. But it isn’t garbage. It just seems one guy messes up and gives up a run or two and the “bullpen sucks” familiar refrain starts up again. 

Sure seems like they have been garbage to me. Looking at the splits, I'd say yeah, they've mostly sucked so far.

[Butch Gernant]

Lets not panic. Every year it seems to take a while for the bullpen to settle in. The arms are there.

[Geographyhater8888]

I don’t know what’s more worse, 30 baserunners (+2 ghost runners) and only 3 runs scored or 30 baserunners and one XBH. Expect more of of the same until a lineup of 6 guys with 20+ home run power start hitting it over the fence. They’ve been anemic vs non AAAA pitchers. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 12 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

10 hours ago, chibears55 said:

That the concerning part for me...

Outside of Bregman and Ballesteros,  these are the same guys we watched struggle for the most part in August and September last year, and the bulk of them are crappn the bed so far these first 14 games.

The thing that aggravates me the most is that it not just a couple guys it 2/3 of the lineup slumping at the same time.

I guess if there could be a good thing,  it that when they snap out of it, we may see some exciting offense for a good stretch if they all break out at the same time.

Just need to hope the pitching stays leveled when they do

 

The pathetic slug from a lineup with 6 guys capable of 20+ home run power is unsustainable low. They’ll heat up. if they can maintain a 5 runs/game average with relatively even run distribution on a per game basis they’ll be in good shape. The problem is that it’s not a guarantee which is reflected in their pythag win underperformance since 2023. 

Edited April 12 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

11 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

If you break it down by month it was only really August that was really bad. September/October’s OPS was above their overall season OPS (.751)

Their hot start also predated their march-may splits. They were ice cold in until July 4th of 24 and it transferred over to 2025, scoring at a 5.6 runs/game clip over 126 games and went 96-66 from July 7th of 24-July 6th of 25 at their peak 162 game cherry picked sample size scoring 859 runs to 637 allowed.
 

They’re slumping right now with unsustainably low slugging and eventually they’ll heat back up. Hopefully they in a less volatile manner on a per game basis. 

Edited April 12 by Geographyhater8888

[We Got The Whole 9]

Throw a fastball up and in and you're pretty much guaranteed to induce a popup right now. 

[Geographyhater8888]

7 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Throw a fastball up and in and you're pretty much guaranteed to induce a popup right now. 

It’s nice that they can work counts and draw walks. That’s only effective if they can make solid contact on pitches in the strike zone. Where’s the power at? At least Mo jumped on a couple first pitch mistakes for singles. 

Edited April 12 by Geographyhater8888

[Sosa21MVP]

cobs mode activated

[Derwood]

Has ABS made hitters swing at high pitches more? 

[chibears55]

4 hours ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

The pathetic slug from a lineup with 6 guys capable of 20+ home run power is unsustainable low. They’ll heat up. if they can maintain a 5 runs/game average with relatively even run distribution on a per game basis they’ll be in good shape. The problem is that it’s not a guarantee which is reflected in their pythag win underperformance since 2023. 

Problem with run average with this team is they score 12 runs one game and then struggle to get 12 total the next 4.

The average will look good but the bats are too inconsistent.