Chicago Cubs 2026

#826      
EyeoftheIllini
Emerson Bigguns said:
Sometimes promotions in the minors are just number crunches, just like the bigs. Guy gets hurt, and ready or not, next man up. I'd guess he was battling something in his delivery, (maybe tipping pitches) and finally got it straightened out.

Sometimes a guy can just get locked in and stay there for awhile...

In Jake Arrieta 's last 5 starts in Baltimore in 2013, he averaged 9 hits and 6 walks per 9 IP. He gets to Chicago and immediately it's 5 hits and 4 walks... We all know what happened the following 4 years. (What i wouldn't give to watch 2015 Jake Arrieta pitch in a Cub uniform for the rest of the season...)

Let's hope this kid's story is very different. lol
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The promotion to AAA could have been just a numbers game, but on the surface a very strange choice to be promoted. He had a 7.76 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP and hitters were batting .313 against him in 7 starts this year. And it’s not like the bad start right before the promotion just screwed up his numbers. In his final three AA starts, he threw 13.1 innings and had a 9.47 ERA and 1.88 WHIP.

As to Arrieta, very dissimilar situation. He switched organizations and spent 1.5 months at Iowa before pitching with the Cubs, so he and Cubs had time to make adjustments. Hardin is with same organization and there was only 7 days between his last start at AA and his first start at AAA. Obviously, something clicked. Just very curious what it is they were working on.
 
#827      
EyeoftheIllini
IanKEvans2 said:
When they traded Durbin for Harrison to Boston this offseason my brother & I knew they just landed another ace. He's easily a MLB top-20 SP this season, and isn't even the best SP on their team. Truly fascinated by their pitching development and analysis.

In semi-hopeful Cubs pitching news, Edward Cabrera is back from his blister/IL stint this weekend against San Francisco.
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Boyd is making his second rehab start on Saturday. Hopefully, that’s all he’ll need.
 
#830      
Gary J
I’m still waiting for Bregman to do something. Not much power this far.

I’d rather see Shaw playing 3rd. His defense is better and he has speed. A little undisciplined at the plate. But I’d like to the chance with him. Unfortunately, with Bregman’s contract, he will be playing everyday.

Btw, I believe House is going to regret this signing.
 
#831      
Emerson Bigguns
EyeoftheIllini said:
The promotion to AAA could have been just a numbers game, but on the surface a very strange choice to be promoted. He had a 7.76 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP and hitters were batting .313 against him in 7 starts this year. And it’s not like the bad start right before the promotion just screwed up his numbers. In his final three AA starts, he threw 13.1 innings and had a 9.47 ERA and 1.88 WHIP.

As to Arrieta, very dissimilar situation. He switched organizations and spent 1.5 months at Iowa before pitching with the Cubs, so he and Cubs had time to make adjustments. Hardin is with same organization and there was only 7 days between his last start at AA and his first start at AAA. Obviously, something clicked. Just very curious what it is they were working on.
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Between high A & AA last year he pitched to a 2.72 ERA last season. (21 starts)

Sometimes you just bet on regression...

Despite the 7+ ERA, his Strikeouts per 9 innings was 14.8 in April. They were likely betting on his stuff, which apparently is pretty darn good. (I still wonder if he was tipping pitches)
 
#833      
Second place is 1st loser
Illiniaaron said:
Why not have Bregman bunt in the ninth?
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Honestly, I'm glad you said this because I said the exact same thing when he was coming up to the plate. I believe that the heart of the Cubs order(3, 4, 5) is the worst in baseball over the last month. We're into double digits with the amount of times that 1 and 2 got on, with nobody out, and they don't only not score, but they don't advance.

It's usually a combination of K, pop out, fly out......Pop out, K, K, etc. Whether it be Bregman, Happ or Suzuki, they can't even get a productive out much less a hit.

Counsell doesn't have the rocks to do it, but if those situations come up, for the foreseeable future....they're bunting. The outcome literally can't be any worse than what they're getting. The K rate in those situations from all three guys is AWFUL.
 
#834      
Emerson Bigguns
EyeoftheIllini said:
The promotion to AAA could have been just a numbers game, but on the surface a very strange choice to be promoted. He had a 7.76 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP and hitters were batting .313 against him in 7 starts this year. And it’s not like the bad start right before the promotion just screwed up his numbers. In his final three AA starts, he threw 13.1 innings and had a 9.47 ERA and 1.88 WHIP.

As to Arrieta, very dissimilar situation. He switched organizations and spent 1.5 months at Iowa before pitching with the Cubs, so he and Cubs had time to make adjustments. Hardin is with same organization and there was only 7 days between his last start at AA and his first start at AAA. Obviously, something clicked. Just very curious what it is they were working on.
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Also looks like his batting average on balls in play has cratered since the call up. (.435-.316) AA defense might be sub-par too.
 
#835      
Second place is 1st loser
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
Seiya was up next.
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If Bregman moves the runners along, at worst it's 2nd and 3rd and only one out. There are a lot of ways to get that runner in from third. There's a decent chance that they walk Seiya to load the bases. A walk or wild pitch gets the run across.

The second Bregman K'd, it means that Seiya or Happ has to come through with a hit and the hasn't been happening very often. Happy has had a K rate of over 50% with RISP. Suzuki not much better.

They either have to start playing small ball in what would be an incredibly embarrassing situation for any of those guys of you have to split them up in the order.

Bregman hasn't earned the right to have any discontent with being told to bunt.
 
#836      
Mr. Tibbs
Second place is 1st loser said:
Honestly, I'm glad you said this because I said the exact same thing when he was coming up to the plate. I believe that the heart of the Cubs order(3, 4, 5) is the worst in baseball over the last month. We're into double digits with the amount of times that 1 and 2 got on, with nobody out, and they don't only not score, but they don't advance.

It's usually a combination of K, pop out, fly out......Pop out, K, K, etc. Whether it be Bregman, Happ or Suzuki, they can't even get a productive out much less a hit.

Counsell doesn't have the rocks to do it, but if those situations come up, for the foreseeable future....they're bunting. The outcome literally can't be any worse than what they're getting. The K rate in those situations from all three guys is AWFUL.
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in the words of the immortal Ernie Banks on Home Run Derby in the early 60's, " its home run or nuthin' "
 
#837      
Emerson Bigguns
Gary J said:
I’m still waiting for Bregman to do something. Not much power this far.

I’d rather see Shaw playing 3rd. His defense is better and he has speed. A little undisciplined at the plate. But I’d like to the chance with him. Unfortunately, with Bregman’s contract, he will be playing everyday.

Btw, I believe House is going to regret this signing.
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Bregman has been a much better 2nd half hitter in his career. (1st: .262, 2nd: .286) Hopefully that holds up.

He has been lousy at Wrigley (.217) and really good on the road. (.293)

For a guy as pull happy as he is, he isn't generating the slug you'd expect.

In regard to him bunting in that 9th inning situation, it looks like he has attempted a total of 3 bunts in his career...
 
#839      
Second place is 1st loser
Emerson Bigguns said:
Bregman has been a much better 2nd half hitter in his career. (1st: .262, 2nd: .286) Hopefully that holds up.

He has been lousy at Wrigley (.217) and really good on the road. (.293)

For a guy as pull happy as he is, he isn't generating the slug you'd expect.

In regard to him bunting in that 9th inning situation, it looks like he has attempted a total of 3 bunts in his career...
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While it's pretty unorthodox, to say the least.....it can't be worse than what's currently happening. I put Happ and Suzuki right with him. The lack of run production is at their feet. It's abysmal. At this point, let's try something different. Either commit to small ball or break 3, 4, 5 up.
 
#844      
KBLEE
suburbanILLINI said:
5-18 in the last 23. Worst in the Majors
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we suck again GIF
 
#849      
Mr. Tibbs
SS DY

I wouldnt waste my time and effort going down there for a game even if they were really good seats for free and someone gave me a voucher for $250 for "treats"
 
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#850      
Grandpa
Mr. Tibbs said:
SS DY

I wouldnt waste my time and effort going down there for a game even if they were really good seats for free and someone gave me a voucher for $250 for "treats"
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I have whined about this before, but I have tickets for 4 people for 2 games in Miami. Who will be on the team by then?
They invite people to bring noise makers and musical instruments to the games. :mad:🤬😵‍💫
The company will be good. There will be ice skating for my daughter and I during the visit. Nobody else in her family can skate. Grandma isn't a skater. There will be good food including Flannigan's.
 
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