Reds (Burns) vs Cubs (Imanaga): 08/30/26, 6:20 PM

[We Got The Whole 9]

Just now, Soul said:

Even if they are a playoff team, it’s not a playoff pitching staff.

Honestly - have avoided saying it, because it's baseball and stranger things have happened - but I haven't thought this team was a WS contender for months. Legitimately thinking they might miss the playoffs. 

[chibears55]

Homeruns allowed last 2 years

202 in 2025 Imanaga 31

208 in 2026 Imanaga 33

38 is cubs individual record set by Warren Hacker in 1955

235 HRs in 2021 is the team record 

[squally1313]

Just now, gflore34 said:

That's not happening, pitching staff will do them in.

what's not happening? making the playoffs? they were at 98.7% going into today.

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

what's not happening? making the playoffs? they were at 98.7% going into today.

They're not going to score the 7+ runs they need every game and that's what it's going to take.

[abuck1220]

kinda hate busch 

[Andy]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

They're not going to score the 7+ runs they need every game and that's what it's going to take.

TBF not every team is going to blast home runs at this rate on us, even if the pitching does suck that kind of thing doesn't happen for a month straight.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, abuck1220 said:

kinda hate busch 

Have to be honest, very disappointing year coming off of last season.  He was 4.5 bWAR last year, just 1.6 so far this year.

[chibears55]

Just now, abuck1220 said:

kinda hate busch 

Hes going to need to spend the offseason readjusting whatever he readjusted to last offseason 

[Soul]

6 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

That's not happening, pitching staff will do them in.

Yeah I’m not wanting to give up on them but what I’m seeing isn’t just a bad streak.  They are genuinely not good.  Crew are going to take.

[UMFan83]

Just now, Soul said:

Yeah I’m not wanting to give up on them but what I’m seeing isn’t just a bad streak.  They are genuinely not good.  Crew are going to take.

Eh we were terrible in May too and then bounced back and were red hot.  This team is either on a hot streak or slumping

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Hes going to need to spend the offseason readjusting whatever he readjusted to last offseason 

Whoever helped him break himself to OPS 750 against lefties should be fired

[squally1313]

We scored 17 runs yesterday am I taking crazy pills or something

[Soul]

2 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Eh we were terrible in May too and then bounced back and were red hot.  This team is either on a hot streak or slumping

I hope you are right but May ain’t September and we have some guys who have seemingly turned into pumpkins like Shota, Thielbar, Thornton.  I don’t see those guys coming out of it.  I don’t see them as just having a bad stretch of games.

[Irrelevant Dude]

14 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Legitimately thinking they might miss the playoffs. 

That is still incredibly unlikely, but it may FEEL like they missed the playoffs if they go to Philadelphia and lose two straight.

[chibears55]

5 minutes ago, Andy said:

TBF not every team is going to blast home runs at this rate on us, even if the pitching does suck that kind of thing doesn't happen for a month straight.

True but how confidence are you in not just cubs starters but bullpen to hold teams under 4-5 runs, cause its going to be tough for the cubs hitters to put up those runs against Phillies, Dodgers, Braves pitching, teams they may face in WC round 

[Papa Cub]

37 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

horsefeathers. Did not realize that if we fall into a tie or, god forbid, go down a half game in the wild card top seed standing that it goes away and we can never get it back. That seems a little unfair but if so we probably shouldn’t let it happen. 

This team’s pitching will most likely not improve enough to secure the top wild card seed IMO. They have the bats and could hang with anyone. Season isn’t over, but personally, what I have witnessed from this pitching staff is not going to improve is my point. I truly believe they will have a very difficult time making the postseason. If they do, which statistically shows they will, they would travel to Philly, LA or Atlanta. Not good lol - 🤷‍♂️

[Irrelevant Dude]

Votto is a bit of a weird dude... in a kind of interesting baseball psycho kind of way.

[Rex Buckingham]

I hate how the pitching staff might end up wasting such an amazing season from PCA (and probably Seiya's best Cubs season?) 

[chibears55]

That all important 4th run, now just down 3 going into the 9th 

Edited yesterday at 02:18 AM by chibears55

[Papa Cub]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

True but how confidence are you in not just cubs starters but bullpen to hold teams under 4-5 runs, cause its going to be tough for the cubs hitters to put up those runs against Phillies, Dodgers, Braves pitching, teams they may face in WC round 

That is exactly what I’m saying too - Cubs can go toe to toe with anyone as far as offense and defense, but their pitching is pure horsefeathers. Name one starter or reliever you would feel fully confident going against any one of those teams you just mentioned……maybe Holmes? That is it for me. Can’t throw him every horsefeathers game lol

[squally1313]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

True but how confidence are you in not just cubs starters but bullpen to hold teams under 4-5 runs, cause its going to be tough for the cubs hitters to put up those runs against Phillies, Dodgers, Braves pitching, teams they may face in WC round 

• Phillies: 47 runs in 6 games, 5-1 record
• Dodgers: 32 runs in 6 games, 4-2 record
• Braves: 5 runs in 3 games, 1-2 record, another series to come

So I guess just hopefully not the Braves unless we score a bunch of runs against them in a few weeks, which is certainly possible given our most-runs-in-baseball offense?

[Derwood]

Seems like a bad use of Webb here with the Brewers series looming

[chibears55]

3 minutes ago, Rex Buckingham said:

I hate how the pitching staff might end up wasting such an amazing season from PCA (and probably Seiya's best Cubs season?) 

Reminds me of 1987,  Dawson was obviously incredible with the MVP, had a couple other guys put up good offensive numbers, but outside of Sutcliffe,  the pitching wasn't very good. 

[Soul]

Webb is a guy who MAYBE just ran into a bad patch.

MAYBE Palencia can find his groove.

[gflore34]

11 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

True but how confidence are you in not just cubs starters but bullpen to hold teams under 4-5 runs, cause its going to be tough for the cubs hitters to put up those runs against Phillies, Dodgers, Braves pitching, teams they may face in WC round 

I'll spot you Sale, rest of their staff is exactly stellar and they can most certainly be had. Holmes, Elder and Perez are average MOR types, nothing special.

Edited yesterday at 02:25 AM by gflore34