PackLandVA

And the Cain/Yelich combo lead off the top of the tenth with a walk and a hit. VB have 2nd and 3rd and nobody out in a tie ballgame.

Probably depends on the opponent and who's hot. But yeah if our guys don't get it together any potential playoff run by us will look like last year's Yankees and 2016's Indians. Bullpen early and often. I hate this trend. Maddon is going to be quick-hooking pitchers left and right this post-season and it's going to drive me crazy Not if the starting pitchers get their sh!t together and the offense hits hits like it's capable.

Q? Then the relievers you mention.

And the Brew Crew come right back and tie it with two outs in the 8th.

F the Yankees!!!

Any teams they could trade him for salary dumps? He still has almost $50 million over the next 3 years, so it would be tough for the Cards to swallow. And also tough for another team to take on. Would the DBacks take a flyer on him in order to get rid of Yasmany Tomas' contract? Wouldn't he be the type of player the Cards think they could resurrect? The money isn't equal, but YT is quite a bit younger and maybe seen as having potential. What about Samardzija? He's due about $40+ million over the next two years. Or maybe Melancon? I don't think any of these players really help the Cards, and Dex probably doesn't help the other teams. But like many have stated, I'd like to see Dex go to a team where he's appreciated. +++++++++++++++ On a side note, not that it would ever happen. But if the Cards were willing to take Heyward back with his current contract if the Cubs took Dex back with his current contract, who says no first? Would anyone on this board make that trade?

That guy has whole chickens on his fists! THAT'S CRAZY!!! http://media.vanityfair.com/photos/5822416e111bb9951d299bc5/master/w_768,c_limit/Brian%20Fellow_final.jpg

Justine Wilson of 2017 seems to have gone back (at least modestly) to 2018 Justin Wilson. Maybe there's hope for Chatsuck.

Someone send it to Len. If he or JD don't know, maybe they'll send it to that rules guy they were talking about yesterday or Saturday.

Isn’t most of their success this year based on timely hitting, production from players well over their careeer numbers, solid starting pitching, a really good bullpen, and a bunch of 1-run victories?

What about Trent Giambrone? He’s getting love in the Minor League Musings forum. Bote 2.0

Done!

Wonderful. West coast games. The first of at least three that I will refuse to stay up and watch. I'd imagine Raisin is happy, though. Some rookie left-hander I've never heard of is going for the Giants. He's was great in June (2.62 ERA) and followed it up with 7 innings and only 1 run AT Colorado. But the Cubs are historically great against rookie pitchers they've never faced, right? Or was that some other team? The inconsistent Cubs, meanwhile, send out their very own Kyle HRendricks. The Giants have had trouble scoring runs, but they've gotta be happy with who they're facing in this game. Somehow, HRendricks starts this year have reminded me a lot of this movie: http://santmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Simmons-Teller.png At least they don't have to face MadBum this series. Have fun in the game thread. I'll be checking the final of this one on Tuesday morning.

Someone is gonna score in the tenth.

He'll be left in the on deck circle.

Strong defensively "up the middle", right? Keep Javy, Russell and 'bert up the middle.

Gotta hand it to ya’ Jersey, took me a sec to get your meme.

I wish Tyler Chatwalk would use Eddie Butler’s toothbrush or drink from his water bottle or something.

And in the ten games before the last ten, they scored 29 runs. Not very impressive. Which is why my original post stated that "stats really don’t show how awful the offense can be over the course of several games so often this season." And your point bringing that up now is... Bringing it up now, like this evening? Or now, like today during the game? The Cubs had a nice win streak going and were scoring runs. With an offense that we as fans expect, and an offense the Cubs should have, IMO, more often. Then the high powered Reds come to town and once again, the offense goes flat with 2 runs against.....some guy. So today’s game is going on, and the predictable suckiness of Chatwalk has put me and everyone else in the game thread in a sh!tty mood. And it appears that Matt Harvey will hold the Cubs in check. Again. So my comment during the game when they were down 7-3 was out of frustration and a bit of an overreaction, especially given the offensive output over the past week+ (against some poor teams). And then it was pointed out later that the Cubs have scored 80 runs in the past 10 games. Great. Ill-timed over reaction. The reality, though, is the Cubs offense has been Jeckyl and Hyde all season. And, IMO, the stretches of incompetent offense given their talent happens way too often this first half of the season. And maybe it skews the stats just a bit. So they scored 80 runs in their last 10. And only 29 in the 10 prior. Not real good. Anyway, there’s plenty of knee-jerk reactions during game threads. Some steeped in sarcasm. Some in frustration. Some in reality. And some a mix.

Anyone want to cop to suggesting he be traded at any point over the past 3+ seasons/off-seasons?

Wouldn’t mind seeing the Cards or Dodgers lose a couple top prospects for a rental.

So the Cubs get a come from behind win against the Mighty Reds. Who'd a thunk? I really don't know what to think about this game. -On one hand, Johnny Lester is pitching. And he's been terrific in June. -On the other hand, it's July. And many on NSBB think he's not pitching as well as his record. -On one hand, Cubs killer William Hamilton will be in the lineup. In his career, he's batting .333 against aforementioned Lester with two HRs, a .364 OBP, 1.030 OPS and 6 stolen bases. -On the other hand, in the past two years he's only 1 for 11 with 3 Ks and ZERO stolen bases against the big southpaw. -On one hand, Cy Castillo is starting for the Reds, and he's really not that good. At least not yet. -On the other hand, the Reds have beaten the Cubs in Cy Castillo's last two starts against them this year. And the Cubs haven't hit him particularly well. And did I mention the Cubs often struggle against mediocre pitchers? -On one hand, the Cubs have been pretty good of late, wining 7 of their last 8, albeit against some weaker teams. -On the other hand, the Reds have been pretty good of late themselves, winning 14 of 19 against a couple of good teams. -One one hand, I feel pretty good about the Cubs chances in this one. Despite my mid-game rant Saturday about the lack of offense, they've been pretty good at scoring runs of late. -On the other hand...... http://memeguy.com/photos/images/dont-get-your-hopes-up--7473.jpg Maybe I'll hit the bike trails again tomorrow and be pleasantly surprised when I get back and flip the game on. On the hand, I think it might rain.

The Cubs offense has scored 80 runs over the last 10 games, and leads the league in OBP.. The Royals have scored 67 runs over their past 30 games. Wait until the second half nothing, this is easily the best offense in the NL right now. And in the ten games before the last ten, they scored 29 runs. Not very impressive. Which is why my original post stated that "stats really don’t show how awful the offense can be over the course of several games so often this season."

Cubs have ten starters for eight positions. Everyone will get their ABs.

As mentioned previously, focus can be put on the pitching. But the Cubs offense this season is a joke. The season stats really don’t show how awful the offense can be over the course of several games so often this season I know, I know. Wait until the second half.