Cubs (Gausman) vs Padres (Pivetta): Wild Card Game 2, 9:00pm CST

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

11 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I seriously don't know how the Cubs fix this.  Realistically, PCA isn't going to repeat what he did this year, and there are gaping holes at LF, RF, possibly C, and the entire pitching staff.  The team is going to look a lot different next year, and probably not for the better.

I probably shoudn't put this in writing, but it would be almost impossible if the pitching staff didn't improve next year. Couldn't care less about losing Kelly and I think there's a good chance Happ is back on the QO. Seiya is going to be a big loss though.

[Geographyhater8888]

I can live with a loss, I can’t live with such uncompetitiveness. What an embarrassment, and this is far from the first time they’ve lost a playoff series where they looked like the 2024 Whitesox.

Edited 33 minutes ago by Geographyhater8888

[NorthsideAvenger]

11 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

if they insist on the WC round, i'd rather have them cut the season by a week and make all the playoff series 4/7. two ****** games and your season is over f'n sucks

I am on the opposite side of that, I prefer the 1 game, do or die WC If I can not have that, I prefer best out of 5 in the WC. Best out of three is weak. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I am on the opposite side of that, I prefer the 1 game, do or die WC If I can not have that, I prefer best out of 5 in the WC. Best out of three is weak. 

I don't know, I just can't get behind going through the marathon of the baseball regular season and it all coming down to a one-game playoff. Doesn't make any sense to me.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1 minute ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I am on the opposite side of that, I prefer the 1 game, do or die WC If I can not have that, I prefer best out of 5 in the WC. Best out of three is weak. 

Best of 5 is just too long to have teams sitting around not playing.  Best of 3 is already pushing it.  I think I lean toward the previous 1 game format, but that had fewer teams and we know there's no going back.  And I don't ever want to put a division winner in a 1 game series.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Sounds like Gausman is at least considering retirement.

[NorthsideAvenger]

8 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

I don't know, I just can't get behind going through the marathon of the baseball regular season and it all coming down to a one-game playoff. Doesn't make any sense to me.

That's the thing, if you do not want your team season comes down to one game......then win the division. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

8 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Best of 5 is just too long to have teams sitting around not playing.  Best of 3 is already pushing it.  I think I lean toward the previous 1 game format, but that had fewer teams and we know there's no going back.  And I don't ever want to put a division winner in a 1 game series.

Then I don't know the answer. Best of three is weak, though

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Just now, NorthsideAvenger said:

Then I don't know the answer. Best of three is weak, though

the best answer would be to just get rid of the extra wild card teams, but there's no chance of that happening

[Geographyhater8888]

2007: 0-3 vs Az. Outscored 16-6,

2008: 0-3 vs LA, outscored 20-6

2015: 0-4 vs Mets, R vs RA 21-8 

1-4 vs LA 2017, outscored 29-7

2018 vs Rockies: 0-1, outscored 5-1

2020: 0-2 Vs Marlins, outscored 1-7

2025: 2-3 vs Milwaukee, outscored 17-22 (competitive)

2026: 0-2 vs the Padres, outscored 12-1

 

Edited 38 minutes ago by Geographyhater8888

[17 Seconds]

at least they won't lose to the brewers sgain

[chibears55]

53 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Counsell thinks "we've raised the bar."

That narrative worked last year, but I'm not buying it this time 

I think it was lets raid the bar 🍺🍺🍺

😅😅

[Stratos]

55 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I seriously don't know how the Cubs fix this.  Realistically, PCA isn't going to repeat what he did this year, and there are gaping holes at LF, RF, possibly C, and the entire pitching staff.  The team is going to look a lot different next year, and probably not for the better.

For next year i would assume a decline in the team's offensive production and improvement in the pitching (hard to be as bad and injured as they were).

So the good thing is if they pitch better that can make up for a decline in offense via i.e. PCA not being as good and Seiya likely leaving.  Hard to see the team improving much overall though, unless they raise payroll a bunch.

At least corner OF is the easiest position to find if Happ/Seiya leave.