Cubs (Brown) vs Braves (Sale): 5/14/26, 6:15pm

[We Got The Whole 9]

Yeah gotta give it to him, hes been absolutely outstanding. Fun to have a possible big development win like that for the org. 

[Soul]

Hard to believe we’ve gone from dumpster fire Ben out of the pen to MVP Ben starter.  But I’m super glad to see it.

These bats have got to start producing again.  In fairness we were playing a great team in their building.

[We Got The Whole 9]

We were really close to taking that series even though the offense did jack squat

[mul21]

17 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Yeah gotta give it to him, hes been absolutely outstanding. Fun to have a possible big development win like that for the org. 

Yeah, as much heat as Jed has taken for building middling teams, the pitching infrastructure he's put together to both find arms and develop JAGs into useful pitchers has been really impressive

[Geographyhater8888]

Brown is getting chase on his change up too. He’s throwing 4 pitches effectively.

Edited May 15 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

23 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

Brown is getting chase on his change up too. He’s throwing 4 pitches effectively.

If Brown is a dude it makes me feel much better about making the post season and making noise in it Imanaga and Brown, if they continue with the success they are having, make a solid 1-2. You now have Boyd, Steele, Cabrera and probably someone they trade for to be the 3rd and 4th guy. And, break in case of an emergency, Tailon if all others falter. 
Brown also helps the look of the rotation next year. Maybe him, Steele, Cabrera take 3 spots. If they offer Boyd a QO maybe he takes it. Then there is still Rea, Assad, Wiggins and hopefully a big time FA pitcher (Peralta). And, who knows what happens with Shota? Maybe he comes back. And, of course, Horton (🤞eventually)

[Geographyhater8888]

29 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

If Brown is a dude it makes me feel much better about making the post season and making noise in it Imanaga and Brown, if they continue with the success they are having, make a solid 1-2. You now have Boyd, Steele, Cabrera and probably someone they trade for to be the 3rd and 4th guy. And, break in case of an emergency, Tailon if all others falter. 
Brown also helps the look of the rotation next year. Maybe him, Steele, Cabrera take 3 spots. If they offer Boyd a QO maybe he takes it. Then there is still Rea, Assad, Wiggins and hopefully a big time FA pitcher (Peralta). And, who knows what happens with Shota? Maybe he comes back. And, of course, Horton (🤞eventually)

I don’t know if they ever plan on stretching him and increase his workload as a starting pitcher or in a perfect world, playing the role of Andrew miller, but I really like what I see. 

Edited May 15 by Geographyhater8888

[Rcal10]

49 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

I don’t know if they ever plan on stretching him and increase his workload as a starting pitcher or in a perfect world, playing the role of Andrew miller, but I really like what I see. 

I absolutely believe they want him to be a starting pitcher. When Boyd comes back Brown should be fully stretched and I would expect him to be a part of the rotation. Rea might go to the pen. If/when Steele comes back maybe they go to some sort of hybrid 6 man rotation. 

[PeanutPunch33]

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I absolutely believe they want him to be a starting pitcher. When Boyd comes back Brown should be fully stretched and I would expect him to be a part of the rotation. Rea might go to the pen. If/when Steele comes back maybe they go to some sort of hybrid 6 man rotation. 

Personally, I hope the Cubs don't try to stretch him out again to be a starter, at least not until next season.  Let him keep dominating in this Cade Smith type of role with the occasional spot start.  Don't break what's working.  

[mk49]

1 hour ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Personally, I hope the Cubs don't try to stretch him out again to be a starter, at least not until next season.  Let him keep dominating in this Cade Smith type of role with the occasional spot start.  Don't break what's working.  

I want Ben to be a SP.  When Steele comes back, they can decide which one goes to the pen, depending on their performance.  

Also, I want the Cubs to keep Shota for 2 more years.

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Personally, I hope the Cubs don't try to stretch him out again to be a starter, at least not until next season.  Let him keep dominating in this Cade Smith type of role with the occasional spot start.  Don't break what's working.  

Well they are going to stretch him at least until Boyd comes back. If he is pitching well, IMO, he is way more valuable starting. And, technically that theory if don’t break what is working would qualify as a reason to keep him in the rotation. I cannot see a scenerio wheee Ben is pitching well every time out and the Cubs decide to take him out of the rotation. IMO that would be a terrible idea. 

[chibears55]

26 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Well they are going to stretch him at least until Boyd comes back. If he is pitching well, IMO, he is way more valuable starting. And, technically that theory if don’t break what is working would qualify as a reason to keep him in the rotation. I cannot see a scenerio wheee Ben is pitching well every time out and the Cubs decide to take him out of the rotation. IMO that would be a terrible idea. 

I can see him being stretched out to at least 80-85 pitches, and if he continues to pitch well,  they have to keep him in the rotation. 

Steele return will be slow and questionable for at least the first few starts, and Boyd isn't exactly reliable, especially now after this injury.

Hopefully Hoyer can get a TOR type starter at the deadline, id be satisfied with a rotation of...

New starter, Imanaga,  Cabrera,  Brown, Steele 

Rea, Taillon, Boyd they can put in bullpen,  trades,  whatever they see fit for them. They're all 35 and likely wont be with them next season. 

 

Edited May 15 by chibears55

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, chibears55 said:

I can see him being stretched out to at least 80-85 pitches, and if he continues to pitch well,  they have to keep him in the rotation. 

Steele return will be slow and questionable for at least the first few starts, and Boyd isn't exactly reliable, especially now after this injury.

Hopefully Hoyer can get a TOR type starter at the deadline, id be satisfied with a rotation of...

New starter, Imanaga,  Cabrera,  Brown, Steele 

Rea, Taillon, Boyd they can put in bullpen,  trades,  whatever they see fit for them. They're all 35 and likely wont be with them next season. 

 

Boyd is out another 5 weeks, minimum. Why would Brown only be stretched to 80-85 by then? Why not fully stretched to throw 100 pitches if he needed to? I know you said “at least”. But do you mean fully stretched out?

[PeanutPunch33]

4 hours ago, mk49 said:

I want Ben to be a SP.  When Steele comes back, they can decide which one goes to the pen, depending on their performance.  

Also, I want the Cubs to keep Shota for 2 more years.

I'm a Justin Steele truther, the idea of him going into the bullpen is blasphemy to me.. lol.  Jk.  I can't wait to watch him pitch again though.  He is a top 25-30 pitcher in the game and it's  not fair that the Cubs are down 2 of those guys.

[PeanutPunch33]

Those Sox jerseys are so damn ugly.  Trying too hard to be like the Bulls 

[PeanutPunch33]

clutch 

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I'm a Justin Steele truther, the idea of him going into the bullpen is blasphemy to me.. lol.  Jk.  I can't wait to watch him pitch again though.  He is a top 25-30 pitcher in the game and it's  not fair that the Cubs are down 2 of those guys.

who suggested Steele to the pen? 

[PeanutPunch33]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

who suggested Steele to the pen? 

He said 

“When Steele comes back, they can decide which one goes to the pen, depending on their performance”

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Boyd is out another 5 weeks, minimum. Why would Brown only be stretched to 80-85 by then? Why not fully stretched to throw 100 pitches if he needed to? I know you said “at least”. But do you mean fully stretched out?

Should of said gradually, 80-85 should be next step, yeh by July he should be at 100

 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

He said 

“When Steele comes back, they can decide which one goes to the pen, depending on their performance”

My bad. I thought you were referencing chibear. But he has Steele in the rotation. If Steele and Boyd are healthy I would do some sort of hybrid 6 man rotation. If there is a day off in the 6 game cycle, maybe skip a guy. Otherwise go 6 men. Be happy all are healthy. 

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

Should of said gradually, 80-85 should be next step, yeh by July he should be at 100

 

👍

[PeanutPunch33]

Suzuki swinging at anything and everything except what's right down the middle 

[PeanutPunch33]

Great situational hitting.  

[PeanutPunch33]

that's an embarrassing inning for PCA.  My goodness