Cubs (TBD) vs Mets (McLean/Manaea): 6/24/26, 12:10pm/6:10pm

[Jason Ross]

There was a study I can find in 2022 looking at consistent hitters and inconsistent ones. Funnily enough, the most consistent hitter of 2022 (by one metric) was...Patrick Wisdom and the least consistent hitter was Mike Trout. 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/measuring-this-seasons-most-and-least-consistent-hitters/

It's old data but it goes to speak to the topic at hand at least. Basically, while consistency is a good thing, it also takes a pretty impressive amount of talent to put up those monster weeks, as well. 

[chibears55]

Swanson game...

Cubs W

Can we keep playing the Mets til we catch up to the Brewers 😂

[Derwood]

8-3 over last 11 games. Offense unlocked:

RUNS

9
5
6
1 (L)
5
2 (L)
8
16
6 (L)
9
10

 

[squally1313]

Cubs now have the third highest wOBA, 5th highest xwOBA, 3rd best wRC. 13th in baserunning, (comfortably) first in defense. 

Coincidentally, the venn diagram of 'people who complain about the lack of power' and 'people who worship the milwaukee brewers' is basically one circle, so it's interesting to note that the Brewers have all of 68 home runs this year, 28th in baseball and 27 less than the Cubs. 

[chibears55]

4 minutes ago, Derwood said:

8-3 over last 11 games. Offense unlocked:

RUNS

9
5
6
1 (L)
5
2 (L)
8
16
6 (L)
9
10

 

That 3rd L should of been a W....

Gotta keep it rolling somehow to the break

[Derwood]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

That 3rd L should of been a W....

Gotta keep it rolling somehow to the break

Either way, they're averaging 7 runs/game over the last 11 games

[Soul]

Ben to the IL.

 

of course!

[Bertz]

I'll say even as someone who has A) generally been pro-Dansby and B) thinks much of this fanbase is whiny petulant children, it's worth noting that this was the worst slump of Dansby's Cubs career.  And it's not close, and unlike some of the others there wasn't a "but his xwOBA!" excuse

I don't blame people for thinking "oh he mighy actually be cooked this time."

[Rcal10]

26 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Cubs now have the third highest wOBA, 5th highest xwOBA, 3rd best wRC. 13th in baserunning, (comfortably) first in defense. 

Coincidentally, the venn diagram of 'people who complain about the lack of power' and 'people who worship the milwaukee brewers' is basically one circle, so it's interesting to note that the Brewers have all of 68 home runs this year, 28th in baseball and 27 less than the Cubs. 

They still need another big bat to be considered a contender. Way more important than a pitcher. 🤢

[Dfan25]

Wait they won ? They won ? Ha , you can all thank me for that one 

[chibears55]

https://x.com/i/status/2069886757751963790

[Post Count Padder]

Jed again playing pitcher roulette. At least Bryse Wilson has had "some" success in the past.

[PeanutPunch33]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

Cubs now have the third highest wOBA, 5th highest xwOBA, 3rd best wRC. 13th in baserunning, (comfortably) first in defense. 

Coincidentally, the venn diagram of 'people who complain about the lack of power' and 'people who worship the milwaukee brewers' is basically one circle, so it's interesting to note that the Brewers have all of 68 home runs this year, 28th in baseball and 27 less than the Cubs. 

I mean... let's not pretend like you saw PCA's historic stretch happening lol.  The concerns about the offense began when they had a .650 something OPS guy leading off every game and nobody in the lineup coming close to an .800 OPS.  Anyways, I agree that the way the offense is playing great now.  PCA, Happ, Suzuki and Busch all deserve a lot of credit for turning their seasons around. 

[Dfan25]

Carrasco was just DFA , probably a Cub soon

[squally1313]

2 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I mean... let's not pretend like you saw PCA's historic stretch happening lol.  The concerns about the offense began when they had a .650 something OPS guy leading off every game and nobody in the lineup coming close to an .800 OPS.  Anyways, I agree that the way the offense is playing great now.  PCA, Happ, Suzuki and Busch all deserve a lot of credit for turning their seasons around. 

I mean, did you see Dansby and Nico as being permanently broken? Players get hot, players got cold, water eventually finds its level (career performance along a gradual age curve)

[PeanutPunch33]

48 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

They still need another big bat to be considered a contender. Way more important than a pitcher. 🤢

The 1st part is probably still true and I never said "it's way more important".  I simply said that if the option is there to get a big time bat I would do it, because it probably helps them more going into next season.  But sure, the Cubs are an offensive juggernaut and the best lineup ever since they won a meaningless game in June against the Mets. lol 

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, did you see Dansby and Nico as being permanently broken? Players get hot, players got cold, water eventually finds its level (career performance along a gradual age curve)

Not at all, but PCA's dominance is why I firmly believe in this offense now.  I didn't see that breakout happening.  And that's the difference, IMO.  He's a bonafide superstar.  Having a great leadoff hitter is such an underrated thing. 

Edited 8 hours ago by PeanutPunch33

[Jason Ross]

7 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I mean... let's not pretend like you saw PCA's historic stretch happening lol.  The concerns about the offense began when they had a .650 something OPS guy leading off every game and nobody in the lineup coming close to an .800 OPS.  Anyways, I agree that the way the offense is playing great now.  PCA, Happ, Suzuki and Busch all deserve a lot of credit for turning their seasons around. 

It isn't about predicting one anecdotal story about one player's month. The premise was always "the Cubs offense is good, bordering on very good". No team gets a month of data exactly the way you predict it. 

Yes, the Cubs got a historic month from PCA. They got really bad months from good hitters too. It balances out. 

I've got the same belief in the offense in July. And chances are someone else will carry a lot of the load. Maybe Busch. Or Maybe Suzuki. And someone will struggle. 

[PeanutPunch33]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

It isn't about predicting one anecdotal story about one player's month. The premise was always "the Cubs offense is good, bordering on very good". No team gets a month of data exactly the way you predict it. 

Yes, the Cubs got a historic month from PCA. They got really bad months from good hitters too. It balances out. 

I get that, but star power matters when the games matter.  Those are the guys that show up in October.  I don't believe average Joe's like Swanson will do much of anything at the plate when he's facing Mis in October.  But your guys at the top have to deliver.  PCA's breakout is why I have confidence in this lineup now.  I'm just saying that what he's doing the last 5 weeks could not have been predicted by anyone.  It's like when D Rose went from year 2 to year 3 and went from "really good" to "holy horsefeathers this guy is a unicorn".  

[squally1313]

1 minute ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Not at all, but PCA's dominance is why I firmly believe in this offense now.  I didn't see that breakout happening.  And that's the difference, IMO.  He's a bonafide superstar.  Having a great leadoff hitter is such an underrated thing. 

I mean, he's absolutely not a 150 wRC hitter. There's like 3-5 of those guys and having a double digit walk rate is pretty much a pre-requisite and something he's never shown before. It's fine, we can be perfectly happy with a 7-8ish fWAR guy, but he's probably not going to keep up his 10 win pace.

But Dansby is much better than the hitter he's been, ditto for Nico. Happ, Suzuki, Busch have been about what they've always been. Add all that up, and you get the results you've gotten....essentially elite offensive production with the best defense in baseball. 

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

Cubs now have the third highest wOBA, 5th highest xwOBA, 3rd best wRC. 13th in baserunning, (comfortably) first in defense. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

The 1st part is probably still true and I never said "it's way more important".  I simply said that if the option is there to get a big time bat I would do it, because it probably helps them more going into next season.  But sure, the Cubs are an offensive juggernaut and the best lineup ever since they won a meaningless game in June against the Mets. lol 

Did you read the post by squally? Where in that post did it suggest the Cubs were an offensive juggernaut? Also, where was anything said about them being good because of what they have done against the Mets? Why is it so hard for you to acknowledge offense is not the problem with this team. Stat after stat continually tells you the offense is fine and the pitching is bad. And you still cling to the belief they need offense first. Top 5 or 6 in offense and bottom 5 or 6 pitching. Sounds pretty simple what is needed more. 

[PeanutPunch33]

2 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 

Did you read the post by squally? Where in that post did it suggest the Cubs were an offensive juggernaut? Also, where was anything said about them being good because of what they have done against the Mets? Why is it so hard for you to acknowledge offense is not the problem with this team. Stat after stat continually tells you the offense is fine and the pitching is bad. And you still cling to the belief they need offense first. Top 5 or 6 in offense and bottom 5 or 6 pitching. Sounds pretty simple what is needed more. 

Even if the pitching candidates that are projected to be available are dog horsefeathers and the hitting candidates projected to be available might be as good as we've seen in 10 years?  

[mul21]

6 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

I get that, but star power matters when the games matter.  Those are the guys that show up in October.  I don't believe average Joe's like Swanson will do much of anything at the plate when he's facing Mis in October.  But your guys at the top have to deliver.  PCA's breakout is why I have confidence in this lineup now.  I'm just saying that what he's doing the last 5 weeks could not have been predicted by anyone.  It's like when D Rose went from year 2 to year 3 and went from "really good" to "holy horsefeathers this guy is a unicorn".  

How many "superstars" are on this list? I'll give you 5 in Ortiz, Bumgarner, Strasburg, Seager, and Freeman and 2 of them are pitchers.

[PeanutPunch33]

5 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I mean, he's absolutely not a 150 wRC hitter. There's like 3-5 of those guys and having a double digit walk rate is pretty much a pre-requisite and something he's never shown before. It's fine, we can be perfectly happy with a 7-8ish fWAR guy, but he's probably not going to keep up his 10 win pace.

But Dansby is much better than the hitter he's been, ditto for Nico. Happ, Suzuki, Busch have been about what they've always been. Add all that up, and you get the results you've gotten....essentially elite offensive production with the best defense in baseball. 

I need to see a longer stretch of it this season but I generally agree with what you are saying.  It's easy to get impatient when these guys have a track record of success.  PCA's breakout is what takes them from just a good offense to potentially great.  I still think they should jump all over it if there's an opportunity to find one more dude like that.  Plenty of good pitching options available every off-season.  

[mul21]

1 minute ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Even if the pitching candidates that are projected to be available are dog horsefeathers and the hitting candidates projected to be available might be as good as we've seen in 10 years?  

I mean, at some point you have to get guys to eat innings and you have finite resources.  Even in a case like this, the delta between the pitcher you get vs the dregs you'd otherwise send out there is greater than whatever bat you get vs the probably already solid one you replace.