Chicago Cubs 2026

#1,826      
Second place is 1st loser
Impossible situation for Counsell here. Boyd is rolling along, is under 90 pitches, but only has a 2-1 lead in the 8th. He's also be prone to the long ball.

However, you've built your bullpen to have control of games in the 7th, 8th and 9th, but they've struggled. If you want to win in the playoffs, those three have to perform.

Craig is going to be second guessed if his decision goes wrong, but neither option is ideal given how they've all performed.
 
#1,827      
Warren Carter Fanclub
Second place is 1st loser said:
Impossible situation for Counsell here. Boyd is rolling along, is under 90 pitches, but only has a 2-1 lead in the 8th. He's also be prone to the long ball.

However, you've built your bullpen to have control of games in the 7th, 8th and 9th, but they've struggled. If you want to win in the playoffs, those three have to perform.

Craig is going to be second guessed if his decision goes wrong, but neither option is ideal given how they've all performed.
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I don't care how bad the bullpen has been, absolutely ZERO reason for Counsell to leave Boyd in for that last batter he faced.
edit: Zefferjahn sucks too.
 
#1,831      
Illiniaaron
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
I don't care how bad the bullpen has been, absolutely ZERO reason for Counsell to leave Boyd in for that last batter he faced.
edit: Zefferjahn sucks too.
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It’s kind of like, who out of the pen doesn’t suck at this point. Who’s even going to be available for the playoffs. I can’t see Cabrera being on a playoff roster. Palencia has a couple weeks to figure something out or you won’t be able to pitch him either.
 
#1,834      
Second place is 1st loser
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
I don't care how bad the bullpen has been, absolutely ZERO reason for Counsell to leave Boyd in for that last batter he faced.
edit: Zefferjahn sucks too.
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Agree. I was ok going hitter by hitter with Boyd. If he gets the first guy, he gets a second, but if one gets on, he's done. The walk should have been the end of the outing. Going through the order for the 4th time just wasn't a great idea.

Now, Zefferjahn was no better, but who knows how his approach differs if he starts the inning clean.

This all started with the Series in Seattle. That pen has taken them from a home playoff series in the WC round to looking over their shoulder at Arizona and San Diego. The Cubs have a very difficult schedule down the stretch.
 
#1,836      
Illinirog70
When you're leading the majors in runs, hits, on base percentage and defense, you'd think they would be closer to the top. It's relief pitching EVERY DAY. Every single day! It comes down to a lead blown by the relievers.

I wish there was a way to charge the relievers with inherited runs allowed, especially if the guy is only on first base. All the starters can do is bury their heads in a towel.

As long as I've been following the Cubs (73 years!) I don't remember a year like this-- such a dichotomy between hitting, fielding, starting and relief pitching.
 
#1,837      
EllderIlliniFan
Illinirog70 said:
When you're leading the majors in runs, hits, on base percentage and defense, you'd think they would be closer to the top. It's relief pitching EVERY DAY. Every single day! It comes down to a lead blown by the relievers.

I wish there was a way to charge the relievers with inherited runs allowed, especially if the guy is only on first base. All the starters can do is bury their heads in a towel.

As long as I've been following the Cubs (73 years!) I don't remember a year like this-- such a dichotomy between hitting, fielding, starting and relief pitching.
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There may be more to this. The offensive numbers are based on murdering teams with double digit margins and then losing low scoring games when they leave many in scoring position. Relief pitching is bad but so is timely hitting.
 
#1,841      
IanKEvans2
Matt Shaw continues to disappoint. What a sad sequence of events in their at bat in the 9th. Misses the bunt twice, strikes out looking, and loses a challenge because frustration got the best of him.

Edit: Kelly bails him out! What an at-bat. Worth the rewatch.
 
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#1,842      
JSpence
Just sat down to watch the game. Two pitches later, I know I'm bad luck.
 
#1,843      
Illiniaaron
Good Lord. Unless there’s some miracle where the Cubs get several injured/rehabbing guys back to pitch in the bullpen they’re cooked.
 
#1,848      
JSpence
oldman said:
Un effing believable.
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I wish this were true. Winning two playoff games by 6 or more runs feels doable. Winning a single close or low-scoring playoff game feels almost impossible.
 
#1,849      
Illiniaaron
IanKEvans2 said:
Matt Shaw continues to disappoint. What a sad sequence of events in their at bat in the 9th. Misses the bunt twice, strikes out looking, and loses a challenge because frustration got the best of him.

Edit: Kelly bails him out! What an at-bat. Worth the rewatch.
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Shaw and Palencia have basically had lost seasons.
 
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