*****Official Cubs 2023 thread*****
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Meh, this team is going to be streaky. There are also still roster clean-up issues to deal with. If they do those things (I’m looking at you, Hosmer & Madrigal), they can certainly get better. This is a tough stretch, but we’re not to blow-it-up level yet.
SLG .879, OPS 1.271 currently. He also drew his first walk tonight. He's on fire.
I see Ben Brown had a bad outing in Indianapolis last night. 4 IP, 7R, 3HR
Growing pains.
I’m pretty sure Morel has seen his last option assignment.
Saw Brown’s game. Disappointing, but I’m sure he’ll learn from it. I just want the organization to remember how they handled Kilian at this stage…and do the opposite.
ya’ll really thought they wouldn’t piss this away?
Where was this sh** when I went to the Twins game last Friday..........
There's a reason they got a** blasted the next two games. Thanks for making me have to wade through miserable Twins fans on Friday.
wow
Just wow.
14 LOB and 2-10 RISP.
And no bullpen.
Jed better find a closer.
Just wow.
14 LOB and 2-10 RISP.
And no bullpen.
Jed better find a closer.
I can't think of a worse loss since blowing a 6-run lead in the 11th inning in Pittsburgh, and that was 30 years ago.
I've lived and followed the Cubs too long.
I think Keegan might be done. Absolute garbage recently. ERA of 10.13 last 7 games. He was showing decline in spring training, and I think it's caught up with him. And I'm convinced that Hughes is either still hurt or not confident enough in that knee to pitch effectively. I'll give Leiter a pass, since he's been our most reliable guy all season, along with Alzolay. Of course, then they have dead-weight Fulmer taking up space, also.
I think it's time to get Assad back to the show, although someone would have to go on the IL for him to come back before may 27th. The big problem the Cubs have is that there are literally no other bullpen options in house that are on the 40-man, PLUS they need to find room for Hendricks on the active roster when he's ready to come back, apparently next week. They may just have to have Alzolay, Estrada, Leiter, Rucker and Merryweather (who's been a lot better as of late) hold down the fort until they can figure out how to get some help, either by releasing Fulmer, releasing Hosmer or trading Madrigal/Mastobuoni.
What a frickin' horrible streak this team has been on since the Oakland series. Inventing ways to lose, it seems.
I think it's time to get Assad back to the show, although someone would have to go on the IL for him to come back before may 27th. The big problem the Cubs have is that there are literally no other bullpen options in house that are on the 40-man, PLUS they need to find room for Hendricks on the active roster when he's ready to come back, apparently next week. They may just have to have Alzolay, Estrada, Leiter, Rucker and Merryweather (who's been a lot better as of late) hold down the fort until they can figure out how to get some help, either by releasing Fulmer, releasing Hosmer or trading Madrigal/Mastobuoni.
What a frickin' horrible streak this team has been on since the Oakland series. Inventing ways to lose, it seems.
I’d start with a few moves. Not sure what Keegan’s issues are, but he hasn’t been right all year. He got away with bad command for a while early, but he’s been bad. I still like him long-term, but he needs to go down to Iowa ASAP. They also need to make a decision on Fulmer - either he gets more run because you think he’ll be fine or you cut bait. Same with Box when he comes back. Leiter and Alzolay are fine - sure, Leiter wasn’t great tonight, but he’s been rock solid all year and even made some great pitches tonight, just not enough.
If Estrada and Burdi are up, then use them. Hughes probably plays the lefty role for a bit while he regains confidence. If the Cubs make some moves and let Alzolay and Leiter be the back end guys (for now, anyway), I think the pen could improve quite a bit by mixing in Burdi and Estrada, sending Thompson down. Maybe you bring up Assad to be the long guy. I could live with Fulmer, Merryweather, Hughes, Estrada, Burdi, Heuer, Alzolay, Leiter When Heuer comes back. Maybe you cut Fulmer and pull up Assad….but they need to start letting the young arms throw. They’ll blow a couple games here and there, but clearly what’s going on now isn’t working.
The problem is that it's too early for the Cubs to be buyers. Can't go trading away some of the future for a proven closer when it's looking less and less like this team will be in a pennant race this season.
I'd say the team has about a year from now. We should know by Memorial Day '24 whether or not Heuer is looking like a closer, and if not, if this team is truly just that last piece away from being a true contender.
For now, Cubs just need to lick their wounds, limp into Philly after a long day off, and hope Stro can get 'em back on track.
There are other options besides Heuer, also. I think Alzolay has stuff that could close. Estrada absolutely has closer stuff. Burdi was closing at Iowa. There are some arms in AA the Cubs are trying hard to keep as starters for now that probably are future back-end bullpen guys. Just gotta stay with it and keep working the mix…and don’t be too reactionary jerking guys in and out.
Game notes on Bleacher Nation this morning mentioned that Thompson is un-hittable with three days of rest. Anything less than that and he slips.
That is when he seems to be at his best, but even when he was doing that to start the year, he was getting away with bad command - walking guys and leaving too many pitches middle-middle.
Kerry Wood will always be a favorite. He was good, never quite what he could have been, but always loved watching him pitch.
taking frustrations out on Phillies
I still cannot believe this dipshit staff left Morel down in Iowa until May.
Dipshits.
I still cannot believe this dipshit staff left Morel down in Iowa until May.
Dipshits.
I know it’s a minor thing, but it seems weird to DFA Hosmer on the road. It didn’t work out, but normally with a long time vet you stage a more graceful exit. Rios and Tauchmann aren’t fixing anything, so why not wait until you get home? I’m reminded of when they kept Doug Davis on the staff 10 years ago for about a month just so he could get to his full pension.
We don’t know when he was actually told. Wouldn’t surprise me if they made the decision Wednesday night before the team left.
Right…and it was probably pretty clear that Hos was the next position player in line to go if a roster spot was needed. I’m just going to guess that they didn’t fly him to Philly and tell him pre-game today. I would guess they handled this before they left Chicago.
