UMFan83

Hmm I know, they are saying that was a rehearsal but would be funny if they leaked out the results early

Yeah I like using Leiter as a high leverage situation guy rather than someone who pitches the 9th exclusively. At the end of the day, the starters aren't going 8 innings a game so just about every game is going to require multiple relievers and the vast majority of them are simply not getting the job done so I don't think it really changes much if he's the closer. I guess the only argument you could make is that saving him for the 9th eliminates wasted appearances where Leiter pitches, does his job, and then someone else blows the game. As the closer, the game will already be blown before he comes in and thus less unnecessary wear and tear. It's very sad to have to think with that mindset, but that's where we're at right now.

I know it maybe sounds greedy to say we're "only" 21-15, but to see that stat and know that we're only 21-15 is frustrating.

Last 4 games: Starters: 23.0 IP, 12 H, 0 ER, 8 BB - 0.00 ERA, 0.87 WHIP Bullpen: 13.0 IP, 20 H, 14 ER, 4 BB - 9.69 ERA, 1.85 WHIP

Baseball is a game completely full of things that seem designed to annoy you but nothing annoys me more than loading the bases with 0 outs and not scoring. It shouldn't annoy me as much as it does, there are obviously still many situations where you can fail but it always leaves such a bad taste in my mouth when it happens.

Also I stopped following for a bit, didn’t realize Gomes homered. Still don’t think he should have hit but it’s encouraging to see him do something.

Anyone but the washed guy with no bat speed and has barely played of late. I would have taken Amaya there even

Man this bottom of the order is frustratingly bad

Would really suck if the Cubs didn’t get a single run in this situation, especially with Madrigal’s hit with RISP (not saying they should have sent him just that it was hit in a way where it didn’t make sense to send him) and then the passed ball that they probably could have scored on. Being safe with no outs is the right call but sucks when it’s PCA and Gomes due up. but down 2 in the 9th is better than down 3

Dammit PCA. definitely a situation where we miss Seiya and Bellinger

Is the umpire just guessing up there?

Literally just this morning I was reading suggestions that he should be the new closer/pitch in higher leverage situations

Cheap hits or not, its hilarious in an actually not that funny way that once again the Cubs starter was nearly flawless only for the bullpen to come in and immediately get shelled. Steele - 4.2 IP, 0 ER Pen - 0.1 ER, 6 ER Cubs starters haven't allowed a single run in the last 4 games, but the Cubs will likely be 2-2 in that stretch, and one hit away from potentially being 1-3 all because the pen is just unbelievably bad (though they did manage to pitch well yesterday)

Maybe get some outs bullpen?

An inning after PCA hits a 101 mph lineout with a .860 xBA

He jammed a hitter then got 2 weak ground balls. I don't really blame Lovelady there...

So the Padres have 2 on and 0 outs after hitting a 78 mph exit velo bloop single and a perfectly placed ground ball. And now a single on another perfectly placed ground ball and its 2-0 Padres. Wonderful.

Busch has a .521 OPS and 42% strikeout rate since his HR binge ended 17 games ago.

Edit: wrong thread grr

This ump blows

Ugh not great for pitch count

Damn you Happ

I haven’t really heard any fans say they don’t want Hard Knocks. Either way, I have a hard time believing that in one season the NFL is going to make the Bears: -Play an extra preseason game (HOF game) -Sacrifice a home game for a game in Europe (meaning that in the era of 9 home games every other season the Bears will have had 9 just once in the first 5 years) -Appear on Hard Knocks

I was just looking at the Cubs team fielding statistics, as one does at 10pm on a Sunday night, and yikes Outs Above Average: -9 (26th in MLB) Fielding Run Value (runs above average): -7 (25th in MLB) Defensive WAR: -6.5 (24th in MLB) Defensive Runs Saved: -10 (25th in MLB) In terms of individual players, just 4 current Cubs have at least 1 OAA this year, Swanson (2 OAA), Tauchman, Canario and PCA (all 1 OAA). For reference there are 166 players with at least 1 OAA with the league leader being Semien with 9. On the negative side, 10 players have at least -1 OAA with Morel (-4) and Madrigal, Happ and Bellinger (-2) "leading" the way. For Fielding Run Value, there are 3 current Cubs that have at least 1, and they all have exactly 1 (Tauchman, Swanson, PCA). There are 176 players with at least 1, with the leader again being Semien with 6. There are 9 players with at least -1 FRV with Morel (-3) and Bellinger (-2) leading the way. Interestingly, Nico has -1 OAA and -1 FRV this year. But when it comes to range, they seem to be doing pretty good: UZR/150: 2.4 (9th in MLB) Range RAA: 2.6 (5th in MLB) Maybe ~30 games isn't enough time to draw anything conclusive, especially with several established solid defensive players having down starts according to this, but definitely something to maybe be at least a little concerned about.

Ugh, had my kids baseball game all afternoon, seems like I missed the one relaxing Cubs victory we've had in like the last 3 weeks. Happy to see the score though when I checked my phone!