Rcal10

I get that. Marlins will want to be paid as if Alcantara is still a TOR starter. However. TBH, based on comments from a lot of people, I have a feeling whoever the Cubs do end up getting there will be several people complaining they have up too much. Hell, I remember people saying that in ‘16 when they first Chapman. Honestly, some still say that, which RJ me is ridiculous.

I don’t like that, but whatever.

They did have a stretch were they went something like 10-17 and the less dropped to 6.5 games. Which is something people should realize this year. There is going to be a stretch of bad baseball. It just happens. It happened in 2016, I expect it will happen this year too.

Is Brown starting or will they use an opener? Sounds like he is starting.

But game 5 of the WS meant they got to go back to Cleveland. Yes, it was amazing. But they still had work to do. Game 6 of the NLCS was the clincher to go to the WS. I felt way more emotion in that one. The guy next to me was crying at that games conclusion. He was a friend I met as a season ticket holder. And the Montero homer in game 1 had to be the single biggest hit in Cubs history. The grandstands were actually vibrating. It was incredible.

Buddy’s pizza. It is safe walking distance from the ballpark Detroit style pizza.

I got more like 31/55. But still very solid. I think he will slow down some the second half.

Besides this, he mentioned once Imanaga coming back they could move Horton back down to AAA. I believe it was to keep an eye on his innings. So that would leave Rea and Brown in the rotation. Which is less than ideal. Of course they need a starting pitcher. To your point, it would take pressure off the others, and limit innings from iffy pitchers. Ideally, I would like to see Brown and Horton around 100-110 innings during the regular season. Then they can be used in the playoffs. Either in the pen, if the Cubs get at least one solid pitcher at the deadline, or even in the rotation. With that in mind, they need a pitcher ASAP.

I didn’t say my expectations were 4-5. I said I would be happy with that. I was also answering a person who suggested the Cubs were the best road team in baseball so why couldn’t they win those series. I believe I also said in those 35 games they could go 19-16 and that would be acceptable. That would put them at 58-39 with 65 games to go. How does that make you suggest I expect 105 wins? To get to 105 from there they would have to go 47-18. Show me where I said anything that would suggest that. As I said, I can see 55-57 wins in the last 100 games. Nowhere did I ever say 66-34. This is baseball. They can go 4-5 against those top teams and then go 4-6 on the homestand they should win at least 6 games. I have followed the sport long enough to know they will lose games they shouldn’t and win games they shouldn’t. But over 162 it should level out. Going in I thought this was a 90 win team. Nothing much has changed my opinion to lower that expectation. So 55-57 wins from here on out is basically an 89-92 win pace. i have watched baseball a long time and followed the Cubs for that entire time. I know not to pencil in wins based on competition. They will lose a series against a team well under .500. It happens. But they will also win some on the road against great teams. In the end it should level out.

Yep, and as for the other teams over .500 in the next 35 games, none are better than the Cubs. Cubs can go something like 19-16 in the stretch before the all star break and be fine. As long as they don’t give up games to Milw and St.l they are fine. Even 7-6 series wins against each of those teams is ok. I do expect better, but it is alright. Right now, if the Cubs played .500 ball the rest of the season (and I believe they will do better than that) they win 89 games. That is a playoff team. I am expecting more than that. Maybe another 55-57 wins and end with 94-96 wins. I think that is a realistic expectation.

Update on where the Cubs one currently stands. 10th in MLB and 3rd in the NL. Pretty good for just picking up a bunch of rejects. But I do have a question. In a game like yesterday where a team uses an opener, does his inning go towards starter stats and the guy (in this case, Rea) who comes in have his stats considered stats for the pen? Did the Cubs pen work 8 innings yesterday?

Isn’t Wicks hurt? Is he back? Also they need to limit innings. They can use a starter who eats innings to lower the innings if Brown, Horton and even Boyd.

I am thinking more 2015 because it basically snuck up on people. I think like 2015 people had hope like this years team, but didn’t expect this much success.

I think recent bias is in play here. 2016 was the most fun ever for Cubs fans. This is a good team and fun to watch, but it isn’t 2016. Maybe I am biased because I went to 35 games that year. In those 35 games I was at game 5 of the WS. And that isn’t even a top 2 game I went to that year. I was also at game 2 against the Giants in the first round. They beat the shark that day. But the 2 best games I was at are the Montero game where the park literally shook when he hit the grand slam. And then, or course, then greatest game ever played at Wrigley, game 6, the one to get them into the World Series. It wasn’t as loud as the Montero game. I think people were just watching and praying and taking it all in. We were actually robbed of being able to stand for the last out when Puig hit Into the double play. There was more a sense of relief and all sorts of people crying when they actually won. It ended so quickly people didn’t have time to cheer. So like I said, maybe my bias is because of those memories. This team has a chance to create that again. But it will be very hard to top the excitement that 2016 brought to Chicago.

Yep, that is why I think 4-5 is very possible. That is why I am not afraid of those teams. But Yankees are 20-10 at home, Tigers are 21-8 and Phillies are 19-12. Sure, Cubs can play them well and maybe even beat them. It is very possible. But those are 3 very good teams all on the road. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Cubs did better, I am just saying they need to tread water in those 3 series. 4-5 against 3 trams with a composite home record of 60-30 isn’t bad.

Those are all on the road. Sure, Cubs can beat them, but there is a good chance they are under .500 in those 9 games. I would take 4-5.

This didn’t age well. Also, even when it was mentioned it was a bad idea. This is the worst pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball all year. Cubs have gotten very lucky so far.

Well actually the prognosis was 4-6. I went 6. So maybe a little before the break.

I thought it was about 6 weeks. He isn’t coming back any time soon.

I doubt it goes to no umpires on the field anyway.

I think they are going to need more than 3. Rea is shaky to me. Fortunately I think they will score more.

Not that I agree that they would also do away with all umpires, but who cares really. If they can get the calls right electronically do they have to have umpires? Keep in mind, I think umpires will always have a job. But if it does get to your scenerio is it that bad?

Nice tag by Swanson. Pomeranz hit hard that inning.

Very tue. Miller is a perfect example of a typical middle relief pitcher. Cubs took a flyer on him last year and he was good. Doesn’t mean he will be good this year. Middle relief is just the hardest position to fill on a team.

Honestly, signing him is a nothing burger. Who cares. They need pitchers in Iowa.