We Got The Whole 9

How many playoff caliber starters have we faced over the last month and change since the offense died? Maybe 5? Teams are just kitchen sinking us and we can't do horsefeathers. Can't even score 6 runs in Coors with the worst pitching in the league. Humiliating.

horsefeathers, that hurts. Poles has been bad so far. I pounded the table for a haul of picks, including 2 firsts, so I have to knock him a bit on that trade for taking Moore back instead. It doesn't feel like any of his picks have elite potential. He landed some solid starters - and not just in the sense that they are only good enough to start for the Bears - but overall they are extremely thin and he has refused to sign anyone significant in FA. We're a few years away from being a legit team.

I always felt that the offense came to a halt in the series vs the Mets and now looking at the numbers since, we have hit 244/308/413/95, which is 20th in MLB. During that time, our barrel rate is 27th at 6.2, hard% 22nd at 37.7. Basically no better than average in any important category. It's rough because the rotation has really been stellar for the last couple of weeks and we have relinquished a few pretty easy opportunities to make up ground. I'm not even concerned with winning the division; I think that ship has sailed. I really want them to clinch the top WC spot.

Really that play was spectacular. If the Cubs caught another team's fastest runner that way we'd be effusive with praise, even if it took a fair bit of serendipity to take place.

It's pretty clear what they see in him. It's not common for a guy to have velo from that arm slot and funky delivery and he is really hard to square up and gets a lot of weak contact. But too often the control is awful. 12 BB and 3 HBP in just 16 IP as a Cub is atrocious. The bottom is sure to drop out if he doesn't get that reined in. His control was not so awful in KC and he was getting significantly more chases and whiffs. Feels like the Cubs pixie dust really isn't working on him yet.

Loved this comment: "I'd give him a shot next year but he wouldn't take it."

Seiya got some FG love

So what do we make of Wicks' 6 K's in 17.2 IP since his debut? Good thing he's keeping the ball in the yard and getting GBs. To me it looks like hitters are differentiating his pitches quickly and the tunneling isn't right yet. But then again, his Oswing - pardon the SSS - is 38%, the league average is 28, and Strider is the league leader at 37.

That game was excruciating. I am so glad to look so foolish.

They have been getting a major helping of sinkers lately and they have a voracious appetite to swing. This is a loss. Call me a ninny all you want. The offense is just a freaking mess right now.

They kind of suck ass right now and have not been fun to watch.

God man, had 0-2 on the previous hitter and just started throwing non-competitive chase pitches. So irritated right now.

Ross should not have used his challenge ugh

Moreno is the toughest C to run on this year

Moreno is the toughest C to run on this year

How the horsefeathers did they make that play?

Just absolutely abysmal ABs by Swanson and Happ. Stop horsefeathers getting yourself out chasing trash.

I had been noticing Verdugo's numbers in the boxes for a couple weeks but it wasn't until your article last week that I saw the run he has been on cumulatively, and then he followed that up with just a monster week. Yeah, he's a little old but when you have a SS putting up monster power numbers and controlling the zone like that, you perk up a bit. His 2 month run is sensational, no doubt.

So his KBB has basically done a 180 with us but we should hang our hat on a half mph bump (though I am showing a 92.5 with Cubs, up from 92.3) and data gleaned from experience?

There's always the possibility that you don't know what you're looking at. You really think they're trying to pad the stats of a 5th round nobody?

Possibly the worst 3rd down defense I have ever seen.

I believe Starlin is the last Cubs to reach AA at 19. Hoping to see a bit more power/loft from Mo next year.

PCA can his lefties. We're talking about a freaking 250 ISO. I hope they don't platoon him. Throw him in the deep end. Half of the hitters suck right now anyway.

I don't care that the score was 7-6 for a while and 10-6 into the half, that game was effectively over on the Kmet whatever you wish to call it stupid ass horsefeathers call. It was slow to develop and it seemed like not a single player was committed on that play, especially Kmet. It didn't catch anyone off guard, and they followed it up with a pitiful Fields sneak. I get it, you want to score on your first possession, but that set a horrible tone for the game. They might as well not even motion anybody because when they do everyone on offense looks confused. The OL with the back to back false starts was just clownshoes. It's inexcusable how unprepared they looked today. There was a rusher free and in Fields vicinity on almost every pass play. I don't see him or anyone adjusting the protection very often. Guarantee nobody on that line grades over a 60. That whole line was horrendous. I hated watching Jay Cutler play QB but I would take Cutler offense over Trubisky offense any day. Yeah he's gonna throw some passes that are gonna make you rip your hair out, but at least he's giving his receivers a chance to make some plays. I cannot stand this bottled up screen heavy horsefeathers wackness. Fields was so bad. His clock is almost non-existent. He still moves into pressure. His release is loong, he is way too easy to read and it's obvious that he cannot throw against a zone. There is no doubt that he left points on the field because he just couldn't process what he was seeing.

This is absolutely pathetic.