I figured since the last post about the offense got us some runs, maybe I’ll reverse-curse the team and help their bullpen stop sucking too? Generally I think there are way too many uncompetitive pitches, getting them behind in the count, and then they have to go back into the zone where they almost invariably hang one in the happy zone to be destroyed. It’s kind of impressive, really, but not very entertaining. Anyway! Here’s to a more complete team effort, and hopefully it isn’t like stupid video game sliders where if you improve the pitching the offense goes away again.
Comments
I thought they already did this in AAA. Maybe it was just at some parks.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
They were doing part of the week as full ABS and the other part was challenge but it sounds like they are transitioning to full week challenge ABS
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Our other favorite “M” is back
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Morel day off
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-cubs/2024/06/18/746867/preview
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The thing about bullpens is they have to be consistent. Pretty much all pitchers will look dominant at their best, but the duration of that dominance separates the Riveras from the Alzolays. The Cubs haven’t had a legitimately consistent closer since . . . 2017?
Say what you want about Counsell magic, but he had pretty rock solid coverage of outs 22-27 for most of his time in Milwaukee. That will make any manager look pretty smart.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
And I’m not saying Counsell is overhyped, but if you can’t shut down opponents in the 8th and 9th on a consistently dominant basis, you’re going to experience massive frustrations. If the Cubs’ backend bullpen was what it should be, it wouldn’t be hard to find 6-10 losses that would have easily been wins. And if that were the case, our concerns about the offense would be mildly nagging instead of coronary triggers.
andcountingQuote Reply
Yeah, just scrolling through box scores, if the Cubs could have eliminated half of their 8th- or 9th-inning bullpen meltdowns they’d be 7 games over.500. That’s if the offense hadn’t changed at all. To improve the offense you need like 10 guys to perform better consistently. To improve your success at the end of games where you’re leading you need one or two guys to pitch better.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I am unsure if it’s confidence or nerves or poor execution or all of the above, but things like when Leiter loses his slider or when Neris and Wesneski decide to just hang one for batting practice happens too often for it to be just bad luck. Not that I personally have answers to that, mind you. But it is noticeable, even if one doesn’t dig into the data (I have not).
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I fully expect that it’s nerves/mental. To pitch consistently in clutch situations you have to be either really mentally tough or mindblowingly stupid. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
We’ve all met those people, right? Like surgeons? Their brains need a court order to be switched on, otherwise they survive on adrenaline, testosterone, and fart jokes, so their brains just never get in the way of literally anything.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I don’t remember who said it now but someone did say that there were certain classes of athletes who had to be a little nuts, that could be guys like hockey goalies and relief pitchers.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tonight’s attempt to win:
2B Hoerner
1B Busch
RF Bellinger
DH Suzuki
LF Happ
SS Swanson
CF PCA
3B Bote
C Amaya
I think I’d prefer they start trying Happ at leadoff again but this is probably fine
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Maybe the Cubs should get Grimace to throw out the first pitch. Worked for the Mets.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’d settle for Mayor McCheese
berseliusQuote Reply
🦢🍆
berseliusQuote Reply
Dansby did a thing that resulted in runs
Rice CubeQuote Reply
RIP Willie Mays 🙁
berseliusQuote Reply
Curt Casali you say
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Might be the longest Greatest Living Ballplayer run we will ever see
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
This was a major surprise, I knew he was way up there in years but I expected him to live forever 😔
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
As soon as they broke in with the news I knew what it was going to be 🙁
berseliusQuote Reply
This feels like a game the Cubs lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’m really sad the world lost Willie Mays, but I was pretty happy for the opportunity to explain the dimensions of the Polo Grounds to my kids.
andcountingQuote Reply
Fixed for wordiness.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Old school stadiums were fun, hit it into the right spot and you can run forever
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Fuck yeah, Busch. Fuck yeah, Belli.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Okay now this time, please no Hector Neris in the 9th.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Someone told me Keegan Thompson is in the bullpen so more runs should probably be scored
Rice CubeQuote Reply
We have the minimal requirement for a save situation.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
To be the best kind of correct, it’s the maximal requirement. Though 3 runs feels like 1 with this pen (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
I would trust Thompson over Neris at this point, but that’s a very low bar to clear.
PerkinsQuote Reply
M ——> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
andcounting,
I stand happily corrected. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
False
PerkinsQuote Reply
Baseball is better when the Cubs win
Rice CubeQuote Reply
RIP Willie Mays
dmick89Quote Reply
This is fun and possibly atypical for what should be a red state, no?
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40382107/kansas-lawmakers-approve-plan-lure-chiefs-missouri
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cerami at BN says the Cubs are going to DFA Gomes and sign Tomas Nido
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
That’s a shame, but it does seem like he may have broken down.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
And to think they already had Curt Casali.
PerkinsQuote Reply
So I guess it’s now between Maddux, Schmidt, and Rickey Henderson for Greatest Living Ballplayer, depending on how you feel about Bonds/A-Rod.
berseliusQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2024/06/19/happy-anniversary-to-kyle-farnsworth-absolutely-planting-paul-wilson/
berseliusQuote Reply
I’d say either of Bonds/Clemens, but I also don’t give a shit about PEDs. Maddux would probably be my favorite option though.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Oooh
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
Bonds is the easy answer in a vacuum, Maddux definitely my favorite.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
This is Frank Schwindel erasure!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Was he trapped in a vacuum at some point?
berseliusQuote Reply
CYLE.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
strikeout machine
berseliusQuote Reply
Gotta test Cyle with a Voight-Kampff machine after the game
berseliusQuote Reply
bases clogged, let’s fight off the NOBLETIGER here fellas
berseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing) you can make this shit up
berseliusQuote Reply
Not Bellinger’s best AB.
andcountingQuote Reply
Goddammit Cubs
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Good Kyle
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Get out the tape measure, loooooong gone
berseliusQuote Reply
🦢🍆!
berseliusQuote Reply
Hot damn.
andcountingQuote Reply
gigantEs
berseliusQuote Reply
Chaos?!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Great start by Kyle. Huge even.
andcountingQuote Reply
woof Giants defense is scufflin
berseliusQuote Reply
BABIP dragon taking pity (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
YAKETY SAX!!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
So, maybe let us laugh, Cubs bullpen.
andcountingQuote Reply
…..
berseliusQuote Reply
https://joeblogs.joeposnanski.com/p/isnt-willie-mays-wonderful
berseliusQuote Reply
Hold onto your butts. Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
At least it’s not Neris but 🤷♂️
berseliusQuote Reply
Curse those difficulty sliders!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Jesus Christ, what is this?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Cubes baseball
berseliusQuote Reply
M ——> inverted, no doubt about it
berseliusQuote Reply
Never easy (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
W(hew).
andcountingQuote Reply
Sorry the post didn’t work this time, but hey, can’t knock a series victory
Rice CubeQuote Reply
New shit you can listen to –> https://www.obstructedview.net/podcast/dreamcast-91-incomplete-game/
Rice CubeQuote Reply