CubFaninPA

It seems that opponents frequently make mistakes that end up with Cubs crossing home plate. Fortunately, Cubs fielders seldom give away runs to the opponents. While getting free runs is desirable, lumped into the total runs scored they may make the Cubs' offense appear more potent than it is. Are there statistics on how many runs are actually scored because of Cubs' bats?

Counsell should have the relievers he intends to use in the 7th, 8th & 9th pitch the first three innings. At the end of the 3rd he has a decision to make about the hole the relievers have made: is it too deep to overcome in the six remaining innings? If it isn't too deep, he can send out his starter. If it isn't, he has plenty of options to throw out there until he can use position players. This approach saves wasting so many good efforts by our starting pitchers.

Now we know why Taylor was available.

When Thielbar started to warm up in the 7th, I prayed that Assad would get through he inning somehow. He wasn't as sharp as usual last night but Assad did enough to keep Thielbar off the field. Plus, he saved the bullpen for today.

Well, he seems to have broken his slump in a big way this weekend. Let's hope he keeps it up and only faces right handers.

We'll see soon enough if his homer marks the end of a slump or is just a blip.

He is literally 0 for August. He would make a good late inning defensive replacement but he isn't hitting a lick now from either side of the plate.

I meant emergency catcher not a third catcher. He would have replaced the pinch runner had he not scored. But if he was already in the game at another position, he would have been shifted to catcher.

Kelly is the last person we want as ghost runner. If the Cubs had an emergency catcher, Kelly would have been replaced by someone who would have beat the throw home and the game would have been over.

My hope when Theilbar came in was that he'd only give up one run. Thanks to Bregman, that didn't happen.

With all the talent the Cubs just acquired why is Thielbar still being put into games the Cubs hope to win? If they're forced to use him, he should go in as early as possible to give the Cubs more time to make up the runs he will surely give away.

There's no doubt pitching upgrades are needed, especially in the bullpen but pitching didn't lose this series to the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers scored exactly two runs in each game and won two of them. The Cubs were shut out in the first and only scored once in the last game. Since trading for hitters doesn't seem to be in the cards, perhaps some internal moves could be made. When Shaw comes off the injured list, he could platoon with Happ in left field against left handers. Ayers could be brought up and given some at bats as DH to see if he can hit major league pitching. If he can, he could be tested behind the plate. Are the Cubs leading the league in hitting into double plays? It sure seems like it. Are some hitters getting bonuses for staring at third strikes that are clearly in the strike zone? It happens so often with certain hitters I wonder about that.

Based on what they have done so far, I don't think the front office is convinced this team is worth spending more to improve it. Recent additions cost little more than some bats and balls.

It will be interesting to see how Peterson does away from Wrigley without a gale force wind blowing in.

Happ should definitely lead off because he will hit into fewer double plays in that spot. Lately, defenses have given him a break by only getting the runner out at second some of the time.