***Official 2023 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[David Freshman1982]

Not going to lose any sleep over that one. Bound to have a bad game every once in awhile. They've still won 7 of their last 10 games just need to keep winning series and the pennant will be within reach.

As for Taillon hoping after they season they reveal he was battling some minor injury all season that at least could explain the big drop off in his performance this season. Either need to figure out how to get him right again in the offseason else he's going to be a very expensive long reliever or hard pill to swallow to release. Would even consider swapping for someone else's bad contract if they could find a match. Lot of young pitching starting to come up through the system that could push him out of the rotation mix if not roster altogether if he can't figure things out.

Well, at one time Wade Davis was a failing/awful starting pitcher with numbers even worse than Taillon, that the Royals moved to the bullpen as a last resort...and the rest is history. So maybe with Taillon lightning can strike for next year? LOL. Actually, now that I think about it the Royals did the same thing with Ian Kennedy. The results weren't as impressive as with Davis, but Kennedy was a somewhat effective reliever at the end of his career.

 

[CYdTracked]

Well, at one time Wade Davis was a failing/awful starting pitcher with numbers even worse than Taillon, that the Royals moved to the bullpen as a last resort...and the rest is history. So maybe with Taillon lightning can strike for next year? LOL. Actually, now that I think about it the Royals did the same thing with Ian Kennedy. The results weren't as impressive as with Davis, but Kennedy was a somewhat effective reliever at the end of his career.

Cubs have done this with a few guys over the years with some success. Ryan Dempster and our current closer Alzolay are prime examples of guys that struggled as starters and/or health but had success in the bullpen. Kerry Wood they converted to a reliever but that was more to just keep him healthy at that point. For now Smyly has had better success this year out of the bullpen (small sample size though) than he has starting. It would suck though if both had to come out of the bullpen next year though, Smyly maybe not so much at $8.5 mil but Taillon at $18 mil is a very expensive reliever so he'd have to be REALLY good out of the pen to justify that much payroll on a bullpen guy.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[ISUCubswin]

Hell of a game from Taillon

A tendency I’ve noticed with top pitchers/aces is we tend to attack early in the count. This has worked out (Woodruff, Burnes) and not worked out (Senga, Gallen) but it’s been a fascinating watch. With non-top starters, we tend to make them work.

 

[chuckd4735]

Multiple posts about how much Taillon sucks the last few days. The dude throws a gem today, and there is one ******* post. Be better people.

 

[Cyforce]

Appears Leiter still isn't right. That's a huge hole in the pen. Little may have to be our main guy to get lefties.

Pulling Taillon was a tough call. I probably would of done the same. Great start, didn't risk that blow up inning as he starts to tire.

 

[Cyforce]

Multiple posts about how much Taillon sucks the last few days. The dude throws a gem today, and there is one ******* post. Be better people.

Give me a chance been, busy at work.

 

[Cyforce]

His control today was outstanding. Everything on or just off the edge. Hopefully this wasn't a fluke and he's actually figured something out.

 

[ISUCubswin]

As I mentioned earlier today, Taillon has been pretty damn good and put us in spots to win in all but 2 games since the first week of July.

Just got to score some runs for him

 

[clonebb]

Galien goes 9 and throws 106 pitches. Offense sucked again today.

 

[RoseClone]

Michael Rucker might not be ready for Chicago. 2 run HR and solo HR in the top of the 9th in Iowa.

 

[NENick]

Multiple posts about how much Taillon sucks the last few days. The dude throws a gem today, and there is one ******* post. Be better people.

It hasn't been just the last few days.
Now that he's had this excellent start, gotta ***** about somebody else. Wisdom? Morel? Ross?

 

[Cyforce]

It hasn't been just the last few days.
Now that he's had this excellent start, gotta ***** about somebody else. Wisdom? Morel? Ross?

I think our current biggest issue is Swanson in the 5 hole. Rossy coming out and repeating that Dansby proclaimed no more days off. Problem is he's taken a couple weeks off at the plate.

 

[ISUCubswin]

It hasn't been just the last few days.
Now that he's had this excellent start, gotta ***** about somebody else. Wisdom? Morel? Ross?

Morel hit .149 in August and is hitting .177 this month and striking out 34% of the time. Some people see his two big homeruns and think he's deserving of every day at bats but there is not one statistic that says he should have any playing time other than a "homerun or lose" situation.

Having Morel starting games is almost like starting Smyly. With Smyly, you know your offense is going to have to score 5+ runs to have a chance to win. With Morel in the starting lineup, you're giving up 1 out every 9 batters unless there is a hanging slider.

Swanson has been the same with the bat, but Swanson actually plays defense.

As for Wisdom, I don't hate him starting if he's DHing and isn't rotated out immediately after one at bat. But no one would be sad if someone threw his glove in Lake Michigan.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I'm at the point where I'd like to see Mastrobouni sent down and Mervis brought up to serve as our DH vs. righties. I also wouldn't hate just stirring up the lineup a bit. Find a way to move Swanson to the 8/9 spot to build some confidence.

Happ, LF (OBP machine)
Hoerner, 2B
Suzuki, RF (or will it **** up his confidence?)
Bellinger, CF
Mervis, DH (Boom boy after Belli gets his 2 out, 2 stike single)
Gomes, C
Candelario, 1B
Swanson, SS
Madrigal, 3B

 

[Cyforce]

I'm at the point where I'd like to see Mastrobouni sent down and Mervis brought up to serve as our DH vs. righties. I also wouldn't hate just stirring up the lineup a bit. Find a way to move Swanson to the 8/9 spot to build some confidence.

Happ, LF (OBP machine)
Hoerner, 2B
Suzuki, RF (or will it **** up his confidence?)
Bellinger, CF
Mervis, DH (Boom boy after Belli gets his 2 out, 2 stike single)
Gomes, C
Candelario, 1B
Swanson, SS
Madrigal, 3B

I like it, platoon Canario at DH

 

[Cyforce]

Great news, I could see them use him as an opener every 3 days or so for anyone but Steele until he's stretched out for the playoffs. Dodgers rotation has taken some hits recently. If we can somehow pass the Brewers we could really make some noise in October.

Wait … Marcus Stroman Could Return As Soon As Late Next Week, and As a Reliever?!

Some wild reports today on Marcus Stroman's return timeline for the Cubs.

www.bleachernation.com

 

[CycloneSpinning]

Great news, I could see them use him as an opener every 3 days or so for anyone but Steele until he's stretched out for the playoffs. Dodgers rotation has taken some hits recently. If we can somehow pass the Brewers we could really make some noise in October.

Wait … Marcus Stroman Could Return As Soon As Late Next Week, and As a Reliever?!

Some wild reports today on Marcus Stroman's return timeline for the Cubs.

www.bleachernation.com

I don’t know - I would be concerned you might throw the other starters off. I could see them having him being an opener for Smyly…and then use him in games where a pitch count is creeping up and you say see by the start of the 4th that a guy is only going to last 5. That would give him plenty of time to warm up. You could also use him as a long reliever when someone gets blown up early, but you would definitely need to get an emergency guy in first for an inning. You definitely don’t want Stroman trying to hurry up and get ready…

I do like hearing he’s coming back though. This could be a game-changer.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Also possible he becomes an opener for Hendricks. Dude is putting up Cy Young numbers after the first 13 batters of the game but looks like me out there until then.

 

[Cyforce]

I don’t know - I would be concerned you might throw the other starters off. I could see them having him being an opener for Smyly…and then use him in games where a pitch count is creeping up and you say see by the start of the 4th that a guy is only going to last 5. That would give him plenty of time to warm up. You could also use him as a long reliever when someone gets blown up early, but you would definitely need to get an emergency guy in first for an inning. You definitely don’t want Stroman trying to hurry up and get ready…

I do like hearing he’s coming back though. This could be a game-changer.

If you can get him back to pre London he's your clear #2 minimum. He could go 40 on Friday. 60 on Monday. Then be a regular starter the following Saturday. Come playoff time other then Steele everyone else is just fill in the gaps.