CubUgly

Considering the decimation of the pitching staff and Bregman not really contributing much and a horrific 5 week offensive stretch by the whole offense - yes I have to say I'm happy at 50-40. We'll have to get help before the deadline though to get where we all want to be. The only time I can remember such a rash of injuries on the Cubs staff was the 1985 team where all 5 starters spent time on the IL. The Cubs started that year out pretty well coming of that great 84 season, I think they may been 35-24 and first in the division at one point? But those injuries derailed the year and the Cubs ended 77-85. I don't think that will happen this year.

Can anyone remember ever, not just a Cub but any player going from quite literally the worst hitter in baseball at the time to about 2 weeks later having an historic offensive stretch like this? I mean the dude for Milwaukee who the Sox DFA'd last year had a pretty dramatic metamorphosis and improvement, but he didn't have 26 RBI in a week.

Same here - has given under 3 ERA his last 7 starts and only one earned run each of his last 3 starts including a win over the Dodgers in his most recent outing. But, let's play the game and see what happens.

Oh, It's not like I'm optimistic, just hoping and wishing because I do think he'll get more opportunity than many of us are comfortable with.

I mean it was just 9 months ago he was nails in the playoffs and at the end of the regular season too. Does it go that fast? Is there no hope at all? We've seen him look terrible for stretches before and recover to look pretty good before, it's not unprecedented. Well, all we can do is hope because he's gonna get some innings when he gets back and more than likely a relatively long leash, I would think whether I agree or not.

Yeah, gotta wonder how many games their contracts require, seems like they miss a significant percentage both. And if the hope was Elise might forge the chemistry with Alex others have not been able to, seemed to be a swing and a miss at least from my perspective. I really feel for Alex, seems like a nice dude.

Let's hope not. Not that I don't wish he could be.

Maybe not but I've seen a couple of other posts about Wicks being a leverage reliever here - I know recency bias is a thing but let's pump the breaks on this please. He would have to show more than once. I always liked his make-up but outside yesterday has not had very many even serviceable outings in the bigs.

Yeah, my feelings exactly, I've got enough of a sample size of Wicks that one inning against a team that struggled all day with RISP is not going to make me think he's a candidate to be our closer. And I'd be shocked if the Cubs even consider it for a second.

I know Wicks had a moment yesterday, but I just don't see it.

Maybe that's his only good game. Maybe he gives us what Flexen gave us last year. I have no idea, but he pitched great yesterday when we absolutely had to have it.

Yes, that was a Milwaukee Brewers type win.....and I'm loving it!!

I was thinking the same thing - We've had some nice wins this year but this one was different. There was no flukishness to it, their starting pitcher was one of the hottest in baseball and we drove his pitch count up and got him out of the game and when we got them on the ground stepped on their throat and kept adding on. Before the game I was feeling a serious send of inferiority given how thoroughly and completely the Brewers had embarrassed us this year. But we came with a sense of purpose tonight and punctured that narrative.

My thoughts exactly - Shaw was practically drawn and quartered for an almost identical situation earlier in the year and the runner in that case was safe!! Seiya seemed to have no clued the ball was going to be there in time. Now if Nico was signaling and Seiya just missed or ignored it my apologies. But I do think JD or someone wondered aloud if Nico had done it in real time on the broadcast.

As i said - I know it likely won't help. I certainly don't think it would hurt.