Chicago Cubs 2026

#1,426      
EyeoftheIllini
KBLEE said:
So - Peterson and Assad to the pen? They have been 2 of our best starters of late. Now I wonder what their roles will even be.
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I know we as Cubs fans aren’t real familiar with the concept, especially this season with all the injuries, but it is called pitching depth. Craig will figure it out. Shota and Boyd aren’t going to pen and since all-star break have been essentially just as good. We didn’t spend prospect capital to get Gausman and Holmes to pitch them out of the pen. With Assad having strong experience out of the pen too and Peterson being a lefty, they make the most sense. It’s a good problem to have.
 
#1,428      
KBLEE
EyeoftheIllini said:
I know we as Cubs fans aren’t real familiar with the concept, especially this season with all the injuries, but it is called pitching depth. Craig will figure it out. Shota and Boyd aren’t going to pen and since all-star break have been essentially just as good. We didn’t spend prospect capital to get Gausman and Holmes to pitch them out of the pen. With Assad having strong experience out of the pen too and Peterson being a lefty, they make the most sense. It’s a good problem to have.
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I'm not saying it doesn't make sense. I just hope they are able to transition to middle- / long-relief, as neither will likely be pitching the 8th or 9th.
 
#1,429      
EyeoftheIllini
KBLEE said:
I'm not saying it doesn't make sense. I just hope they are able to transition to middle- / long-relief, as neither will likely be pitching the 8th or 9th.
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I just saw some Cubs fan site on Twitter touting Shelby Miller and predicting Holmes would be moved to bullpen in post season to give Cubs three legitimate closers on playoff roster. Beyond the fact that I’m not sure I’d call a guy with 13 career saves and 13 blown saves coming off TJ surgery a legitimate closer and just don’t see them moving Holmes to pen despite having had some success a couple years ago with NYY, I think the guy was spot on.
 
#1,431      
DRS
EyeoftheIllini said:
So we agree, Cabrera is 5th starter and Peterson to the pen — unless you believe they’re going to a six man rotation or sending Boyd, Shota, Holmes or Gausman to pen.
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not sure if I agree, I think Cabrera has the most high end potential, but he also has a better arsenal for the pen. I'd like to see him in the pen assuming those other two stay productive. Its crowded out there now.
 
#1,432      
EyeoftheIllini
DRS said:
not sure if I agree, I think Cabrera has the most high end potential, but he also has a better arsenal for the pen. I'd like to see him in the pen assuming those other two stay productive. Its crowded out there now.
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The discussion was about who would be sent to the pen, and in your previous post you said Cabrera will be the 5th starter. Sounds like agreement to me. Now who “should” be sent to the pen is a different discussion. I still think Peterson should be the one mainly because he gives Cubs another lefty in pen. I’m also a tad leery about whether he can keep this up. The only year he’s been pretty much consistent for the entirety was 2024. Last year the bottom fell out in August and September, and prior to 2024 he’s been good some and bad at other times most seasons.
 
#1,433      
2X2L
champaignchris said:
If you’re not entertained by Cookie Monster singing the 7th inning stretch, you hate the Cubs, baseball and America, and probably had a rotten childhood.
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And you are probably DSA.
 
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