apete6

I get that Keuchel is really good. I also get that Chris Sale is better and a hell of a lot more fun to watch pitch. And Kluber got robbed.

So Chris Sale IS going to pitch, but he's not starting? #Yosted

Funny that Mike Martz was the only non-disaster as a coach he's had. Head or OC. Hell, the DCs have been jokes most of the time too. From incompetent (Tucker) to Babich just there for show, the Bears as an organization has been terrible since the Cutler trade. Lovie was far from a disaster. But, yes, everyone else has been a joke.

So, yeah, I was unaware they've been doing this since 2010 ,thanks for the answer. I get both sides of the DH argument and am really on the fence, but this example is a pretty bad look for the hardcore NL-ers out there. Let's hope Rizzo does well enough to further the discussion.

When did they start using the DH in NL parks? And can we just use that as a steppingstone to using it across MLB already? Pretty shitty argument from the league as to why the DH isn't in the NL if it's used in the highest profile game they have all season.

Up and down, yes, but that up and down also included a NLCS in 2011 and they didn't really invest the $$$ in free agents like the Cubs should be able to do.

At the very least, move Castro to 9th in the order. He's absolute trash at this point.

Yeah, good thing there's no chance Baez can be that bad. Maybe, maybe not. At least it will be different. Better D and more power is almost guaranteed.

When Javy is ready, just bench his ass. Can't have a negative WAR player in the lineup. SorrY, but PTR is going to be eating that contract.

Hopefully Yeah. They sure are adept at hitting homers. God forbid they hit one in a [expletive] game sometime.

Really? I don't get it. The White Sox "rivalry" means jack to me. It's not so much the rivalry as it is we are about to go into the most boring week on the sports calendar and we won't get to watch the Cubs for 4 days. I hate the all star break. Also, some [expletive] on ESPN1000 just lamented the fact that Theo traded DJ [expletive] LeMahieu. The Cubs being good is such a double edged sword because there are so many people that should be quietly put down. DJ Lemahieu cumulative WAR (fangraphs) from the start of 2013 to present: 2.7 Starlin Castro cumulative WAR (fangraphs) from the start of 2013 to present: 2.1 Baaaaaaaaaaaaaarf

The Cubs are 5th in MLB vs. LHP (by OPS), which gives me optimism. We are facing 3 excellent lefties, however, which gives me pessimism. Just take 2 of 3 so we can go into the break without any negativity. FYI, the Sox are dead last in MLB vs. LHP with a disgusting .577 OPS, so Lester should be OK tomorow vs. Sale.

Here's some fatalism for you: White Sox sweep the Cubs on their way of getting back into the Wild Card race and send the Cubs into a tailspin. Pirates, Mets, and Giants all sweep this weekend's series and Cubs are in a dogfight the rest of the way. HOW'S THAT FOR FATALISM, MOTHERFUCKERS?!

Seems apropos after last night's BS game.

[tweet] [/tweet] So now he's allowed 3 runs in 18 appearances...and cost us 2 games vs. the Cardinals. Doesn't make me feel any better. Does it make you feel better to think of it this way: In that time period, Strop helped us win 14 games, by pitching scoreless innings in high-leverage situations, often against the heart of the order. Or you could continue to be mad about a guy giving up 3 -- 3! -- runs in 18 appearances. Either way... I would suggest not flipping out every time a relief pitcher gives up some runs, though. They all do. And fairly often. It's kind of a thankless job, when troglodytes like you crucify them for giving up a run once, while never acknowledging the times they perform well. I just think Rondon would have been a better choice there. Strop has been great, but I trust Rondon more with the game on the line.

Saad signed with Columbus on the 3rd. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/ct-nhl-hockey-saad-blue-jackets-blackahawks-spt-20150703-story.html Oduya and Kruger are both waiting things out, hoping to re-sign with Chicago, but they still have to clear salary. Stan and company have done the last minute cap clearing before. They'll get there. Missed the Saad news during my drunken haze the past weekend. Carry on, then. Is it possible they keep Sharp, Oduya, and Kruger if they get rid of Bickell and Versteeg? Or to keep Oduya both Sharp and Bickell have to go?

[tweet] [/tweet] So now he's allowed 3 runs in 18 appearances...and cost us 2 games vs. the Cardinals. Doesn't make me feel any better.

With Sharp, Bickell, and, to a lesser extent, Versteeg, still on the roster, should we start to be at all concerned that Stan overplayed his hand and/or the other GMs refuse to bail him out because they know he'll get the better of him? How long will Oduya wait for the cap movement? Also, what is taking so long with Saad's contract with Columbus? Any chance he just takes 1 year with them and becomes a UFA after next season?

Can we discuss why in the [expletive] Rondon wasn't the closer last night? Strop clearly can't handle the pressure, especially vs. the Cardinals and Rondon hasn't given up a run in a month. I get that Maddon wants him to set up Motte, but that was a Yostian move last night "Hector is our 8th inning guy". [expletive].

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick? Luckily the next few years we'll have a 50-50 shot of winning the WS. Let's all say a prayer that we don't have to lose the 22nd overall draft pick. Losing it could tank our farm system for years to come. I can't. I just can't. Don't spend money now because it might handicap us in 2021 is the new don't try now because then it might handicap us in 2017. So, you think that the odds to win the WS are the same coming from a 1 game playoff as they are having home field advantage in the Division Series? The Royals and Giants pull one out of their collective asses last year and statistical probability goes out the window? Good to know. If you think that Jed & Theo don't factor/value the 22nd overall pick, you're wrong. For all we know, that's an extra few million they're willing to go to sign a guy. It won't make or break their offseason decision making, but if they had the choice, I'm sure they'd rather sign a guy who doesn't require giving up a pick (and the associated draft pool money) in a year when they will have basically no big international signings than a guy who does require giving up the pick. And if you don't think #PoorTomRicketts will have anything to do with their offseason spending plans, then I don't know what to tell you. They could have had James Shields last year but wouldn't go the extra few million to sign him. Instead we get the TWood/Wada/Roach/Richard [expletive] show every 5 days and this trade deadline talk that goes along with it. Also, I said "best case scenario" not "only way they'll sign a big pitcher". If I had to guess, they'll sign Price this offseason, draft pick and $$$ be damned, instead of giving up what it would take to get Hamels or even Cueto. After that possible Price signing, though, how many more 9-figure contracts you think they'll give out before they have to shell out for Bryant and/or Russell and/or Rizzo's next extension? And that's assuming Arrietta doesn't join that club, which he easily could given his recent trajectory.

Yep. Why is it so hard to understand that they refuse to trade top prospects in a year where they know a lot would have to go really right to win the WS AND they have the budget to sign guys in the offseason while giving up, at most, a draft pick? Best case scenario is the Lester scenario where one of the top FA guys gets traded this summer, thereby losing the draft pick compensation attached to him, and the Cubs sign him for, literally, nothing besides a heaping mountain of cash. This is probably the last year they can go berzerk with FA signings before they start to have some serious payroll issues after 2020 when they have to start really shelling out to keep their current young stars in FA (Bryant, Russell, etc..).

Hahaha. Only the [expletive] Cardinals. But that's an outstanding bat flip.

When's the last time Jonathan Herrera got intentionally walked? High school?

Cubs who have had a career defining game in the past 31 years: Ryne Sandberg Kerry Wood Brant Brown JONATHAN [expletive] HERRERA LOL

Do yourself a favor and don't look at the lineup for the game. Just don't do it.