MLB: ***Official 2018 Chicago Cubs Season Thread***

[CYdTracked]

As frustrating as it is to watch Baez look horrible swinging as hard as he can at crappy pitches he sure makes you love him when he can run the bases or field a ball.

Liked the move to go with a 5 man infield at the end of the game but gotta hand it to Arcia for being able to poke a hit out into RF to win it. Just one of those game where the bullpen did it's job but just couldn't get that big hit late in the game to get the lead and let them close it out.

 

[CYdTracked]

At least we won the World Series two years ago. I was alive to see them win one. No one can take that away.

Imagine if the Cubs had not won the World Series in 2016. I'm guessing they would have broke the bank to keep Chapman and Fowler to keep the band together and make another run at it and I have my doubts that team would have won it all last year after seeing how they struggled in key situations. Glad they got that monkey off their back when they did in 2016 because with a high payroll and expectations riding on a team built to win it all Theo and Maddon would be facing the hot seat this season vs having some great job security for putting an end to the curse.

 

[FerShizzle]

Imagine if the Cubs had not won the World Series in 2016. I'm guessing they would have broke the bank to keep Chapman and Fowler to keep the band together and make another run at it and I have my doubts that team would have won it all last year after seeing how they struggled in key situations. Glad they got that monkey off their back when they did in 2016 because with a high payroll and expectations riding on a team built to win it all Theo and Maddon would be facing the hot seat this season vs having some great job security for putting an end to the curse.

Maddon’s seat would be white hot. Especially if they lost game 7 in extras after yanking Hendricks early and using a tired Chapman to blow the lead. He mismanaged the crap out of that WS but his players won it despite him.

 

[chuckd4735]

Maddon’s seat would be white hot. Especially if they lost game 7 in extras after yanking Hendricks early and using a tired Chapman to blow the lead. He mismanaged the crap out of that WS but his players won it despite him.

Hindsight is 20/20. Last night spoke perfectly to why Maddon pulled Hendricks early in Game 7... He not good the third time around the lineup.

 

[FerShizzle]

Hindsight is 20/20. Last night spoke perfectly to why Maddon pulled Hendricks early in Game 7... He not good the third time around the lineup.

Definitley. It’s alsways easy to second guess. I just wish Maddon would manage his group of hitters a bit differently, and maybe he will once we get into the heart of the season.

 

[ISUCubswin]

That was a fun game to watch. A lot of postgame attention went on Bryant...I guess mine would've gone on Joe.

Why, with runners on first and third and one out, would you throw four straight pitches 6 inches outside?

It doesn't matter if it's over the plate or not, all major league hitters are smart enough to adjust and bloop it into the outfield. The sole focus was to prevent the squeeze. If you wanted to prevent the squeeze, just intentionally walk the guy. Don't play with fire.

 

[chuckd4735]

Definitley. It’s alsways easy to second guess. I just wish Maddon would manage his group of hitters a bit differently, and maybe he will once we get into the heart of the season.

The offense is not really the problem, IMO. The pitching is not where it was in 2015-2016. Given it was so freaking good in those years, but hopefully it can continue to get better, and closer to where it was.

 

[stormchaser2014]

Can't decide whether to watch on FSWI or FS1.

 

[Cyched]

ISU hat sighting!

 

[FerShizzle]

The offense is not really the problem, IMO. The pitching is not where it was in 2015-2016. Given it was so freaking good in those years, but hopefully it can continue to get better, and closer to where it was.

It’s been a pretty big problem in 3 of their 4 losses.

 

[stormchaser2014]

GET UP GET OUTTA HERE GONE!!!!

 

[Shawker]

It's getting frustrating to watch the offense look completely inept against mediocre to poor pitchers.

 

[Cyched]

It's getting frustrating to watch the offense look completely inept against mediocre to poor pitchers.

As is tradition.

 

[Cyched]

Don't like seeing the deep flys off of Darvish.

 

[dirtyninety]

the art of bunting is lost on this team.....

 

[Cyched]

Of course it's La Stella and Caratini that get it going.

 

[CycloneErik]

A double play could still happen, so I will not get overconfident here.

 

[stormchaser2014]

Out.

 

[CycloneErik]

Definitely close enough to challenge.

 

[Shawker]

I disagree with that call. I thought his right foot caught the plate before the catcher's glove got down. Typical though.