UMFan83

Unreal, thats a HR almost every day, and a double most other days

Oh my...that was bad

and just like that we're down

You are right that 11 games isn't enough time for Assad to greatly accumulate a meaningful amount of additional WAR than another pitcher. Though I would say that by being a metrics beater, ZIPS is naturally going to undersell Assad (though initial point remains). Also when we are talking such a small sample, one mistake, one bad inning, etc is going to have an oversized impact that you can't really account for with WAR. Sure that also means Assad can throw a bad pitch with the bases loaded and give up a grand slam where Rea might have induced a ground out. But in general, I'd trust the pitcher who has performed better to be less likely to make that mistake. Bottom line for me is that the depth doesn't really matter. Given who is coming back, it would take a significant number of setbacks for the loss of Civale or Rea to make a difference in the Cubs season. I'd prefer to maximize the chances of winning the division by remaining incrementally better, not sending down Assad to protect a player who is probably going to be DFA'd in a couple weeks anyways. Will it make a huge difference? Probably not, but the downside is minimal IMO. But agree to disagree, I understand your points and they make sense logically, I just don't think we need to protect a pitcher who is likely not long for this team anyways at the expense of continually sending Assad down and then back up again when he has performed in every season as a big league pitcher.

But the point I'm trying to make is, the risk of collapsing and missing the playoffs (currently up 8 games on a playoff spot and 6 games up for WC1) is small enough to the point where if you cut Civale or Rea and then deal with pitching injuries its not going to tank the season. But any incremental edge the Cubs can get to try to claw back and catch Milwaukee is important IMO. If you are worried about the Cubs screwing up their depth for the playoffs we still have hope that a few of Brown, Cabrera, Hollowell, Milner, Palencia and Steele can come back this year (correct me if I'm wrong with any of them, I haven't followed their progress too closely except Palencia since he's doing rehab). Which brings another question, who goes when some of those guys come back? Probably Civale, Rea, Thielbar. Also, I do think there's a big difference between Assad and Rea (or Civale). I understand Assad's underlying numbers show that he should be having much worse results but that's literally been the case every season of his career. Is 414 MLB innings enough so suggest he is a player that consistently overachieves his xFIP and he's not just getting lucky? I personally think so.

I don't agree with the logic. The advantages of winning the division are huge (assuming they stay in the top 2). Even if you bring him back up in a couple weeks when rosters expand, purposely having a worse roster could potentially cost the Cubs wins that they need to catch Milwaukee. At the same time the Cubs are pretty secure right now in terms of a playoff spot and that 4 seed to ensure HFA so even if they do continue their rash of pitcher injuries, not having Civale or Rea on the roster isn't going to kill them. And in terms of keeping Assad stretched out in case of a starter injury, we're talking what 2 weeks until rosters expand where he'll be called up and put in a long relief role anyways?

And we have Clay Holmes starting tomorrow?

Cubs are on pace for 95 wins, White Sox are on pace for 84 wins. One gets a bye into the LDS, the other has to win a 3 game series against most likely the Phillies. Wild

Yeah that was an awful throw. Not sure if he could have gotten him but the throw gave them no chance at all

THE CROSSTOWN CUP STAYS AT WRIGLEY ANOTHER YEAR

I never gave up on Bregman (jk)

Sox gave the Cubs a couple runs yesterday. They’ve made up for it tonight.

Come on Seiya. Definitely no DPs please

Conforto knows he doesn’t need a HR right?

I can’t decide if I’m more dumbfounded by the call or the lack of challenge by Happ. Now instead of 9-1-2 we get 8-9-1 in the 9th

That’s one of the worst strike calls I’ve seen this year and Happ just stood there

11:15 restart time being reported on social media

Yeah but that also means Thielbar will definitely be out of the game too. Oh wait thats a good thing.

Tie game late, out of nowhere rain delay. Which Cub is leading the pep talk in the weight room?

Really, after 41 pitches? Wasn’t he stretched out?

Meanwhile the Brewers are up *checks score* 22-0

Of course. Great play though

Boy I’m glad we didn’t run that guy out of town

Nah this dude is just good and a strikeout machine

Happ’s last 2 ABs have resulted in sac fly quality fly balls. How much you want to bet in his next AB he comes up with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs and strikes out?