MLB: ***Official 2019 Chicago Cubs Season Thread***
- Thread starter Cyched
- Start date
I’ve about had my fill of Bote.
Sucks Darvish walked so many, but a positive is that he also struck out a ton.
It’s almost like he is afraid to do anything but try to paint the corners...just needs to trust his defense.
Sucks Darvish walked so many, but a positive is that he also struck out a ton.
It’s almost like he is afraid to do anything but try to paint the corners...just needs to trust his defense.
Darvish did his best Chatwood impersonation tonight. Sucked that we had to use Quintana tonight. Basically used 2 starters to get through 6 2/3 innings and they threw a combined 156 pitches. At least the offense showed up tonight. And as I type this I see Carl Edwards is still the same gas can as last year in a tight situation...
And this is a situation that will get Joe canned this season if he keeps Edwards out there when he clearly is not throwing strikes
This game is exactly why things have been terrible since Game 7
Was just telling a guy at work the other day Maddon is lucky that how he used Chapman in the World Series didn't bite him in the ass and cost them the championship because he probably would have been fired by now if they did not win in 2016 and the drought was still alive. Just frustrates the hell out of me how he will pull a starter early instead of letting him try to get out of a jam to go to his unreliable bullpen then leaves a guy in that obviously can't locate his pitches and winds up making the 1 pitch that breaks open the game.
I don't hate Maddon, he did what no other manager did in 108 years but damn sometimes his decisions with the pitching you have to shake your head at. There is a reason why the front office didn't get him signed to an extension in the off season. It's obvious this team at the very minimum has to make the playoffs if not win a series or more for them to be comfortable with him going forward. They didn't make it any easier by doing almost nothing for moves in the off season but there is enough talent on this roster that a competent manager should be able to win the division.
Bottom line I think a lot of mistakes by our FO settling.
I don’t fault Maddon for putting Edwards out there, since he probably is our second best option based off last years results. However, Edwards being our second best reliever should be a serious red flag for this FO, so for Theo to come out and say he’s comfortable for how the bullpen is and then have this happen scares me a little bit of the ineptitude we have going on in this organization.
I don’t fault Maddon for putting Edwards out there, since he probably is our second best option based off last years results. However, Edwards being our second best reliever should be a serious red flag for this FO, so for Theo to come out and say he’s comfortable for how the bullpen is and then have this happen scares me a little bit of the ineptitude we have going on in this organization.
If you’re in the middle of a competitive window, don’t twirl your thumbs the entire offseason because you’re out of money and make Daniel Descalso your big offseason get.
Bote. Happ. Edwards. Caratini. All expendable for a somewhat reliable and consistent bullpen arm.
Bote. Happ. Edwards. Caratini. All expendable for a somewhat reliable and consistent bullpen arm.
I am still amazed how Edwards managed a 2.60 ERA last year. He always seemed to give up a big walk or hit when he came into tight games. Cishek and Strop are about the only guys I trust in the pen right now. I usually trust Monty too but he has his moments as well. It's going to be a scary season if the starters can't go 6-7 innings consistently with a bullpen you can't count on to eat up innings if they have to be pulled early. Already used a starter in game 2 of the season which says a lot about what Maddon thinks of his pen. He had Chatwood who hasn't pitched yet and Monty who threw 4 pitches 2 days ago and didn't use either.
I will say this, I watched Darvish answer questions in the clubhouse tonight in English instead of going through an interpreter like he has his entire career and he handled himself well with some tough questions. I think he knows the weight of burden that comes with his contract and wants to be the guy the Cubs thought they were getting when they signed him. It's 1 start, other guys on this staff have had rough outings in past seasons their 1st time out and rebounded so I'm anxious to see how he looks in his next start. When he is at his best he has filthy stuff and he has a career WHIP of 1.19 which is a stat I put a lot of emphasis on because if you aren't giving up a lot of walks and hits you usually are getting outs. There are guys out there that have good ERAs but WHIP of 1.40 or worse and their ERA is more of a reflection of the defense behind them than the quality of their pitching.
I watched as well and was rather impressed with how he handled the questions.
My biggest concern regarding Darvish is this - if my memory serves me correctly, he was awful in the post season. He was also awful last year, his first year under contract, and was pathetic tonight. I’ve wondered if he’s just a nut case but his humble demeanor tonight gave me hope.