Chicago Cubs 2016 Season

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#726      
ChicagoIllini
Another wild walk-off win!

CUBS-WIN-.gif~c200
 
#727      
Greensboro
IanKEvans2 said:
On the topic of Hendricks, it's been remarkable to watch him blossom this season. Definitely Maddux-light. His 3rd ranked ERA (2.22) has benefited from great defense (11th ranked 3.32 FIP), but his approach has led to leading MLB in soft contact percentage (25.9%). He is fantastic at containing fires; preventing small problems from developing into large ones. Hendricks has been one of the best pitchers in the NL this season.
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Anyone remember John Tudor well enough back in the day as a comparison, initial obvious fail is he was a lefty. Link says he once threw in the 90's, but pretty sure in his Cardinal days he was down in the 80's, had a pretty good year with what seemed like pretty average stuff, but I never paid enough attention to the Cards to really care how he did it.

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b7e0addd
 
#728      
champaignchris
Greensboro said:
Anyone remember John Tudor well enough back in the day as a comparison, initial obvious fail is he was a lefty. Link says he once threw in the 90's, but pretty sure in his Cardinal days he was down in the 80's, had a pretty good year with what seemed like pretty average stuff, but I never paid enough attention to the Cards to really care how he did it.

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b7e0addd
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Tudor was the paradigmatic late-blooming lefty. Kind of the test-run for Jamie Moyer. I seem to remember him being more of a Moyer-esque junk-baller, but the link you posted to sounds more like a left-handed Hendricks.

Actually, Tudor reminded me of a good right-handed comp from the Cardinals of about the same era: Bob Tewksbury.

Of course, the difference between Hendricks and both Tudor and Teeksbury is that Hendricks is a much, much better pitcher at age 26 than either Tudor or Tewksbury were at the same age.
 
#729      
IanKEvans2
Soler back, Joe Nathan DFA. Hopefully Soler can pick up where he was prior to getting injured.
 
#733      
ChiCityHoops34
Its pretty mind blowing that Rizzo and Bryant could finish 1/2 in the MVP voting yet Fowler is the MVP of the Cubs.
 
#734      
IanKEvans2
Complaints are hard to come by of late, and the boo birds sure have quieted. Cubs back at their season high 27 games over .500.

This isn't the Cubs team from days of old.
 
#735      
danielb927
Item of a semi-relevant nature - I'll be singing the anthem for the game tomorrow, which is the first time I've been able to do so when the Cubs are playing! Hoping this helps with a chance to sing at Wrigley someday.

I doubt it'll be broadcast at all, but if it is and anyone happens to see something on TV, I'd love a picture to save as a souvenir!
 
#736      
IanKEvans2
[ W ]

Hendricks' was business as usual, and Bryant & Soler each homered.

Cubs are a season best 28 games over .500 with a 11.5 game lead in the division (season high was 12.5 on 6/19), while riding a 7 game win streak.
 
#737      
Hoppy2105
An 11.5 game lead on August 7th? I'll take it!

Also, I'd like to point out that I've heard many experts say that to win in the playoffs a team needs offense (which we have) but also at least 3 great pitchers or a "three headed monster" as I've heard it put.

If Jake pitches like he did at the end of last season, we may have our three headed monster. Everyone thought it would be Arrieta, Lester, and Lackey but Hendricks has been awesome this season so it feels like we have more of a 4 headed monster. Even if Lackey isn't elite, we would still have 3 very good pitchers that would all be tough come October.
 
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#739      
Illini B-Ball Fan
danielb927 said:
Item of a semi-relevant nature - I'll be singing the anthem for the game tomorrow, which is the first time I've been able to do so when the Cubs are playing! Hoping this helps with a chance to sing at Wrigley someday.

I doubt it'll be broadcast at all, but if it is and anyone happens to see something on TV, I'd love a picture to save as a souvenir!
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How did you do? Hope well. FYI, Cubs have 26 home games and 25 away games left.
 
#740      
danielb927
Illini B-Ball Fan said:
How did you do? Hope well. FYI, Cubs have 26 home games and 25 away games left.
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It was, as usual, a great experience! Got a shoutout from Pat Hughes on the Cubs' radio broadcast, plus my folks and some other relatives were able to visit from Chicago for the game. And to top it all off, a Cubs win!
 
#743      
South Farms
danielb927 said:
It was, as usual, a great experience! Got a shoutout from Pat Hughes on the Cubs' radio broadcast, plus my folks and some other relatives were able to visit from Chicago for the game. And to top it all off, a Cubs win!
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here's my funny national anthem story:

A neighbor and friend of mine was a founding member of the Ides of March. About 2-3 members of that band lived near me, as they were originally all from Morton West (or East?) High School in Berwyn . For awhile about 10-15 years ago, they would often perform the anthem at Sox games and then get free tix about 20 rows behind the dugout. not "scout section" seats, but still pretty decent tickets.

They always wanted to have at least 4, and ideally 5 guys. One time my neighbor calls me and tells me they are doing the anthem the next night, and 2 guys couldn't make it and would I be willing to stand with them and lip sync (because I cant sing) so that they would have four guys out there. I said sure and for one night I was an honorary member of the Ides of March.
 
#744      
champaignchris
South Farms said:
here's my funny national anthem story:

A neighbor and friend of mine was a founding member of the Ides of March. About 2-3 members of that band lived near me, as they were originally all from Morton West (or East?) High School in Berwyn . For awhile about 10-15 years ago, they would often perform the anthem at Sox games and then get free tix about 20 rows behind the dugout. not "scout section" seats, but still pretty decent tickets.

They always wanted to have at least 4, and ideally 5 guys. One time my neighbor calls me and tells me they are doing the anthem the next night, and 2 guys couldn't make it and would I be willing to stand with them and lip sync (because I cant sing) so that they would have four guys out there. I said sure and for one night I was an honorary member of the Ides of March.
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That. Is. Awesome! I would totally have lip synced the Anthem, too. But if they'd have asked me to lip sync "Vehicle," I would have had to decline. No way I can hear that song and not yelp the chorus at the top of my lungs. (Badly.)
 
#746      
IanKEvans2
champaignchris said:
It really is. And you have to wonder what guys like Grimm, Cahill and Almora are thinking as they've handled the Cubs' roster juggling like complete pros.
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It sounds like the front office allowed him some extra time to report to Iowa, but it's been 2+ weeks and he's in New Jersey, I'm assuming with family.

What do you feel will result from this? Trade, cut, forgiveness?
 
#747      
Shane Walsh
Not sure, but the longer he holds out the worse it will be for him unfortunately. Sounds like he punched the wall in the clubhouse upon being demoted. You have to wonder if he injured himself again.
 
#748      
champaignchris
IanKEvans2 said:
It sounds like the front office allowed him some extra time to report to Iowa, but it's been 2+ weeks and he's in New Jersey, I'm assuming with family.

What do you feel will result from this? Trade, cut, forgiveness?
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I have no idea.

With Soler back and looking healthy, filling out the outfield, you have to wonder whether LaStella would already be back (with Cogs released) had he simply reported to Iowa. Now, with Maddon's recent - and somewhat cryptic - comments, it sounds like LaStella reporting to Iowa is a prerequisite to getting back good with the organization.

I just can't believe Theo and Co. would stand for a young player responding to a demotion with an outright, "No." There'd almost have to be a suspension or something. But then, everything has been so hush hush in the media, for all we know a suspension is precisely what's happening right now.

If what I think happened is what happened - that LaStella threw a hissy fit upon being demoted - I would personally be inclined to bury him in the minors for the duration of his contract unless or until someone knocked my socks off with a trade offer. The Cubs are an extremely deep team that has no need whatsoever to deal with crap like that from what is essentially their third-string second baseman.
 
#749      
bdutts
IanKEvans2 said:
It sounds like the front office allowed him some extra time to report to Iowa, but it's been 2+ weeks and he's in New Jersey, I'm assuming with family.

What do you feel will result from this? Trade, cut, forgiveness?
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I assume no one really knows what's going on?

My personal opinion is that if he doesn't show within 24 hours (or whatever timeframe), he'd be cut or traded. Perferably traded to get something for him but cut if they can't get anything. Obviously a solid player whose numbers didn't deserve a demotion but unfortunately he had options.
 
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