Chicago Cubs 2026

#626      
EllderIlliniFan
EyeoftheIllini said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2054184822721966485
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Ernie's Quotes

"It's a great day for a ball game; let's play two!"

"I was thinking (when he hit his 500th home run) about my mother and dad, about all the people in the Chicago Cubs organization that helped me and about the wonderful Chicago fans who have come out all these years to cheer me on. They've been a great inspiration to me."

"The Cubs are due in sixty-two."

"The Cubs are gonna shine in sixty-nine."

"The only way to prove that you're a good sport is to lose."

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." Source: The Sporting News (May 12, 1970)

"You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace."
 
#627      
2X2L
EllderIlliniFan said:
What a great Cub and great person. My hero from the time I could listen to the Cubs on WGN radio. Wore number 14 whenever I could.
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As a kid in the '50s, I copied his batting stance, magic wiggling fingers. All wrong for me (like Stan the Man's stance).

Ernie was quite an imposing figure at the plate and a fierce competitor at short and first. Check out clips and the determined look on his face as he turns a double play and throws to first. Gold Glove ss. MVP back to back on losing teams. I guess voters were as impressed with him as much as I was.

Oh, by the way, who hit more homers than anyone in the majors 1955-60?

Yep.

No. 14, my hero.
 
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#628      
champaignchris
Ernie was the prototype “big” shortstop. They just didn’t make them like that before he came along and they’ve been few and far between since he left.

Only A-Rod’s 96-03 rivals Ernie’s 55-61 in terms of offensive production by a shortstop. No one else is even in the same ball park. Jeter and Ripken did it longer, but never as well, and neither were the defender that Ernie was.

Robin Yount, Francisco Lindor and Bobby Witt Jr might be the only other guys that even merit mention. Beyond them, great short stops have all been in the Ozzie mold.
 
#631      
Gary J
The Cubs will be fine. They are going to win the division and will be competitive in the playoffs.
 
#633      
pruman91
Ernie Banks was my non Cardinals favorite player growing up......I loved his cheerful attitude and his skills as a bigger SS and power hitter.....

I played SS when not pitching so I knew how hard a position it was to play....I remember him always smiling ....................
 
#636      
Warren Carter Fanclub
The Cubs starters have no margin of error to work with.
The Braves just bring stud after stud after stud out of the bullpen. The Cubs have Phil Maton.
Sorry if I'm being too critical. Yes, I know it's just 4 games. But it's been a really bad 4 games. Very frustrating to watch.
 
#640      
Second place is 1st loser
Illiniaaron said:
I think it’s conceivable that Maton was a bad signing.
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He hasn't been great, he's missed some time, he has time to get it together. Over the last week(4 games), if the offense was competent at all, at worst their 2-2. If you lose to deGrom, whatever. That's the nature of the beast. Getting shut out by Leiter on Saturday, then yesterday's game....the staff deserved better. Shut out twice, a game with 1 hit and a game with 1 run....... obviously not going to win games.

Shota getting the loss yesterday was criminal.
 
#641      
bdutts
Illiniaaron said:
I think it’s conceivable that Maton was a bad signing.
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One thing seems to be true: The Astros seem to know when to move on from pitchers. Looks like the Cubs are 0-2 when signing former Astros relievers. Still early and he could turn it around.
 
#642      
Warren Carter Fanclub
Second place is 1st loser said:
He hasn't been great, he's missed some time, he has time to get it together. Over the last week(4 games), if the offense was competent at all, at worst their 2-2. If you lose to deGrom, whatever. That's the nature of the beast. Getting shut out by Leiter on Saturday, then yesterday's game....the staff deserved better. Shut out twice, a game with 1 hit and a game with 1 run....... obviously not going to win games.

Shota getting the loss yesterday was criminal.
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No worries. We should be able to break out of it tonight against Chris Sales. 🥺
 
#643      
Grandpa
bdutts said:
One thing seems to be true: The Astros seem to know when to move on from pitchers. Looks like the Cubs are 0-2 when signing former Astros relievers. Still early and he could turn it around.
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Don't they leave the Cubs, and go back to Houston and pitch well?
 
#645      
bdutts
Grandpa said:
Don't they leave the Cubs, and go back to Houston and pitch well?
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Pressley was released by the Cubs mid year last year and no one picked him up. He's still available unless he retired. Neris was released in 2024 and picked up by the Astros where he pitched worse. Not sure if there were more...
 
#646      
Red77sng
Emerson Bigguns said:
LOL. It's a long season. The Cubs lead the majors in on-base%, #5 in OPS... We just happen to be playing the best pitching AND hitting team in the majors right now... The only team having a good time in Atlanta this year is the Braves.
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29th in RISP
 
#648      
Illiniaaron
Emerson Bigguns said:
LOL. It's a long season. The Cubs lead the majors in on-base%, #5 in OPS... We just happen to be playing the best pitching AND hitting team in the majors right now... The only team having a good time in Atlanta this year is the Braves.
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A decent chunk of the lineup has been scuffling since the first ten game winning streak ended on April 25. Hoerner, Swanson, Bregman, and Ballesteros have slumped, and now Happ has joined in.
 
#649      
EllderIlliniFan
Pitching and defense win in the long run. Especially in 5 and 7 game series playoffs. They have great defense. Unless the Cubs can reload their pitching staff, it will be tough winning into October depending on superior (or not) offense.
 
#650      
Grandpa
They haven't hit the ball since Friday. It's going to be hard to win until they do.
 
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