The Cardinals are like a talented horse who finds ways to lose. The kind of horse that makes a big move to come up to the leaders but doesn't want to go by. They start looking around, not changing leads, and when the finish line hits, someone is in front of them. That's the impression the 2019 Cardinals give.
Cubs
- Thread starter blueline
- Start date
blueline
EOG Master
The Cubs are among the teams showing interest in Nick Castellanos. They probably want to move Jason Heyward to center, add Castellanos RH bat in right. This one has some teeth.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) July 21, 2019
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) July 21, 2019
Heyward actually having a decent year. He's on pace to top 20 HRs for first time since 2012, drive in over 70 and the .823 OPS (best since 2010) and .467 SP is his best since 2012. If he had done this every year, you could live with the big contract. Just can't live with a contract like that with his 2016-2018 production.
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
That may be the end of Russell's Cub career.
theo brings up happ , hitting .233 in minors. Naturally goes 0-3 whiff , swarber hitting .223 pinch hits .. whiff ... maddon leads off the catcher whiffs 24% cubs lose to brewers . …………..Cubs whiff 12x in 30 at bats vs brewers fri night… too many sluggers on the team not enough hitters. .. Relief terrible in last 30 days.
now in 2nd place .
now in 2nd place .
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Cubs are now 55-48 and on pace to win 86 or 87 games.
Regular-season win total opened 89.5 and was bet down to as low as 87.
Is Joe Maddon's job in jeopardy?
Westgate before the season started had a pick 'em price (-110 either way) on the Cubs qualifying for the MLB postseason.
Regular-season win total opened 89.5 and was bet down to as low as 87.
Is Joe Maddon's job in jeopardy?
Westgate before the season started had a pick 'em price (-110 either way) on the Cubs qualifying for the MLB postseason.
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
Barring a WS appearance, Maddon will not be back. I know a team 8 miles south that could use him.
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FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
Strop has killed the Cubs in the last 2 weeks.
Sounds like a good move for everyone involved.
One thing's for sure: The press conference to introduce the new White Sox manager would not include a detailed biography.
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
The feeling from Cub higher-ups is Maddon has entered the Ditka part of his career. It’s not Maddon the manager any more, it’s Maddon the brand. Teams are not paying managers big money any more, they want Yes-Men in the position, like the Dodgers.
kane
EOG master
Fuck him, I have a very low tolerance for men who beat women
Viejo Dinosaur
EOG Master
They are not getting rid of the players...Maddon will be he first to go....
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
I doubt Russell plays for them again. His head is elsewhere. He had an awful series last weekend with a key error and several mental errors. The cubs are reluctant to take on more salary also. One thing that could help is it sounds like Zobrist is coming back.
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
Cubs are 12 under on the road in the division also.
blueline
EOG Master
Lester struck out a season-high nine, but the lingering effects of a fever forced manager Joe Maddon to pull him after seven innings and 94 pitches.
“I was gassed,” said Lester, who coughed several times during a two-minute interview. “The sixth and seventh inning got to me. I was dead. (Saturday) was my last day on a Z-Pak (an antibiotic), so I had to grind through it. Every pitch matters.
“I was gassed,” said Lester, who coughed several times during a two-minute interview. “The sixth and seventh inning got to me. I was dead. (Saturday) was my last day on a Z-Pak (an antibiotic), so I had to grind through it. Every pitch matters.
I have no problem with Garcia. He's made some nice plays in field and has power. Just hit the longest HR into McCovey Cove last week in nearly ten years.
i admit very early with Garcia., , the cubs have quite a few players that do not make contact with their AB. They have the same team as last year , maybe worse.
blueline
EOG Master
trade has been made
Garcia got sent down .Struck out 4x on wednesday. The cubs got kemp from astros who does not strikeout. Better than garcia. Kemp is now the 2nd baseman . The cubs got the top of the batting order straighten out . Zobrist should be available by September. This will be a close race with the cardinals who have better relief than the cubs.
Remember how great this team was defensively? Clearly the best defense in defensive runs saved in 2016, slipped a bit to 5th in 2017 and fell way off to 17th in 2018. This year they rank 8th, but my impression in 2016 was the team would likely be top 3 defense the next 5 years. That hasn't happened. Baez is a great defender and Heyward and Rizzo are solid but the rest haven't been as good as I thought. Russell not being with them has hurt defensively.
FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
The baserunning is awful also. All of the little things they used to do, they quit doing. It’s a big factor in their poor road record.
2016 team hit better along with striking out less . The cubs strikeout 3-4% & more now than in 2016. Cubs relief is 23rd in the 2nd half in 2019. Swarber killing them this year in left. The balls fall in more now then in 2016. Zobrist was a good fielder in 2016. A younger fowler in center. , Heywood was better in right in 2016. This castellos pick up this year can hit but he cannot field. Theo needs to get better players. One good note they turned darvish around. The cubs pitchers were 3rd in strikeouts in 2016...in 2019 they are 22nd
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FairWarning
Bells Beer Connoisseur
Darvish has pitched much better, agree. The cubs rotation is not built for the way Maddon likes to use the bullpen. It doesn’t do much good to have a rotation pitch 5 innings only to see the middle relief continue to give up runs.
Cubs have the oldest starting rotation in MLB. The cubs have to pitch to contact cause they cannot get the strikeouts when they need them. So they leaves the cubs to field the ball. The yankess were not winning championships by pitching to contact. Even the cubs in 2016 were third in pitching whiffs. The cubs need a complete overhaul .
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