Irrelevant Dude

White Sox pitching blows. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That is correct according to this: https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-tigers-september-28-games-scenarios Just want to note that in order for the Cards to tie, they have to win their last 4, which include 2 against the Brewers. By winning those 2 games, they would have a better intradivision record than the Cubs and would then have the tie breaker (23-17 vs 22-18). So yes, if the Cubs lose the next two, the Cards then have to play at least 1 more game (if they lose the first game against the Tigers, they wouldn't play the second). Not that I want the Cubs to lose, but it would be great for the Cardinals to play both games of the double header and lose the last one. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Even when their team is good, the inferiority complex still persists Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Doesn't the shift play into that value proposition though? Why hit for contact if someone is going to be positioned where you are likely to hit the ball? That pushes hitters even further into selling out for power.

Up until this year, my opinion has always been that MLB should not legislate defensive positioning, meaning teams should be able to shift however they want. I have thought that hitters can and should adapt to counter the shift and hit the ball into the large open spaces on the field. Upon further review, I'm not sure MLB has the luxury of waiting for hitters to adapt, when it isn't inevitable that will ever happen. With batting averages trending down over recent years, I think the game is suffering notably from a lack of sustained offense. There are certainly other factors involved (increased reliance on home runs, increased strikeout rates, etc.), but the shift is also playing a big part in taking singles away from hitters. I think MLB should consider doing something, if not multiple things, to get the ball in play and to provide more positive results when the ball is put into play. One of those changes could be a ban on the shift, enforcing that there must be 2 infielders on each side of the field, and that they can't play behind second base. The shift has revolutionized defense. When only a handful of teams were doing it, it was innovative and somewhat interesting. Now that shifting has been adopted all across MLB, I just don't think the results are good for the game. This may be an overreaction due to an unusual outlier season, and/or an overreaction due to a historically bad Cubs offense, but I don't know how much of an outlier this season really is. I'm willing to wait and see if offenses bounce back next year, but I am certainly open to changes now or in the near future. Banning the shift would be much less offensive to me than the 3-batter rule for pitchers or the runner on second base in extra innings. Will the shift be addressed by MLB at some point or is it here to stay?

Quick, someone check the rulebook. What does it mean??? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That was unexpected. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Has Jose Martinez ever had a hit? For someone who is an awful defender, you would think he would have at least one redeeming quality that got him to the major leagues. Apparently not. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Sure, if he's willing to sign for what a "pretty good" player is worth, which is nowhere near the numbers being talked about a few years ago. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk Whether it’s from us or not he’s gonna be getting a lot less than the $200+ people were talking about in the last 2-3 years. Hopefully he realizes it and we get him to re-sign for ~$150 mil this offseason on an extension. I can't see a Scott Boras client signing a long term extension after his absolute worst season. He's going to put all his eggs in the 2021 basket. For both his and the Cubs sake, hopefully he has a huge contract year to justify a big contract from someone. If not, he's a 30 year old free agent with less than spectacular numbers and potentially injury prone. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Sure, if he's willing to sign for what a "pretty good" player is worth, which is nowhere near the numbers being talked about a few years ago. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

I don't even know if it solves anything now with the shift, but give me some guys who put the freaking ball in play. This offense is unbelievably broken and has been for years. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

He should go into arbitration with some nice leverage this year. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That was as horseshit of a call as I've seen all year. Of course it was Angel Hernandez. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

I never even thought about it until Lester's post-game comments, but last night could have been his last start at Wrigley Field in a Cubs uniform. The way he spoke, it certainly sounded like that could be the case. What are everyone's thoughts about bringing him back next year? Obviously he isn't worth anywhere near his $25 Million option, and the Cubs will pay the $10 Million buy-out, but I would be open to bringing him back as a 4/5 starter on a cheaper deal. I can't imagine that a declining guy like Lester is going to have a lot of value on the open market, especially in the current economic climate. Would something like 2 years / $15 Million be enough to keep him around?

When was Schwarber's last hit? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

I had almost forgotten about this stupid runner on second base rule. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Why did Lester come out after only 62 pitches? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Coming up on 3 hours and the game is still in the 6th inning. How's that game time initiative coming along? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That depends. Do we also get to replace Bryant with a replacement level player? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Yes. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

I just saw the replay of Chapman's pitch for the first time. He should be suspended for 15+ games. That pitch could have killed someone. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Who had Heyward, Happ, and Schwarber in the preseason "best hitter" pool? Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

That's one way to lose. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

If the season just ends, what change are they actually affecting? And what can the league possibly do to convince the players to change their minds? I can't reconcile what the right course of action is, and what the endgame is for this scenario. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

It is going to put the Cubs in a really interesting situation if nobody in the "core" performs well enough to justify a big contract. Bryant and Baez are both trending the wrong way, while Schwarber is pretty much just holding steady as a solid player who hasn't developed into the elite hitter they hoped for. It might just come down to, out of that group, who is willing to accept a somewhat team-friendly deal in exchange for long term security.