Because he’s only bunted one time in his major league career
Chicago Cubs 2026
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
They either walk him, or the fly ball he hit scores Hoerner.
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.
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.
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)
I've said this before on this thread....They should have signed Milwaukee's front office instead of their manager. And it probably would have been cheaper.
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.
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.
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.
in the words of the immortal Ernie Banks on Home Run Derby in the early 60's, " its home run or nuthin' "
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...
I'd be ok with the philosophy if we had the home run portion of the quote in effect. Currently, we're solely nuthin.
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.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Well, he did get picked off first tonight. If Shaw was playing third this season, I don’t think he would have as high an average, but I think he’s capable of five homers and 19 driven in. He’d also be playing better D for a lot less $$$.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
It just feels like there is no hope right now.
Are the Cubs ever going to turn this around? No pitching. No timely hitting. Season over?
5-18 in the last 23. Worst in the Majors
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
Well-pitched games we lose 1-0 or 2-1.
It sure does have that vibe.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
They had my attention, they (barely) retain my curiosity, soon they will gain my apathy.
They’ve already got my apathy. Now they’re just a team to bet against on Kalshi every day. At least i can win back the money spent on my MLB subscription.They had my attention, they (barely) retain my curiosity, soon they will gain my apathy.
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.
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.
Well, any hope for the division is over.
Now we move to the wild card. Are they better than San Diego, Philly or Arizona?
They got Philadelphia at a great time during the year. They were awful and the Cubs took advantage (to their credit). The Philly team that was expected to show up is officially here.
San Diego....who know with those guys. They have a stacked roster but, just like last year, they're spinning their wheels.
Arizona.....meh, not overly impressed by them.
That said, at 5-18 over the last 23....cue the Jim Mora clip. Playoffs???
This time a month ago, we(briefly) had the best record in all of baseball and looked like a legit World Series contender. Now, I'n reading articles wondering if that seat is getting a lil toasty for Counsell. Crazy the difference a month can make.
I like Counsell, but when we kicked David Ross to the curb for him, I wasn't really sold on the idea that he was THAT much better than Ross that we basically yeet a beloved member of the World Series team to get him. Yes, Counsell has only been The manager for 2 1/3 seasons, but I remember when he was hired, so many people were saying how the Cubs were instant World Series contenders for the next decade just by dint of him being the manager.
If this collapse continues, I'm gonna start thinking the Brewers sent him here to sabotage us lol. Not really, but the results compared to the expectations set when he was hired have been mid at best...
I like Counsell, but when we kicked David Ross to the curb for him, I wasn't really sold on the idea that he was THAT much better than Ross that we basically yeet a beloved member of the World Series team to get him. Yes, Counsell has only been The manager for 2 1/3 seasons, but I remember when he was hired, so many people were saying how the Cubs were instant World Series contenders for the next decade just by dint of him being the manager.
If this collapse continues, I'm gonna start thinking the Brewers sent him here to sabotage us lol. Not really, but the results compared to the expectations set when he was hired have been mid at best...