Re: Commentary: Ranting about the Cubs? Pick your battles

Hot Dog Vendor [54]

CubPulse: 100%

Posts: 115

Joined: 2019

Apr 15, 2019, 8:42 AM

I agree with all 8 of your rants. The bullpen has been flat out horrible. You cannot come into a game and issue walks to the 1st or 2nd batter you face.

Almora should play everyday, he'll never hit right handed pitching if he doesn't face any righties. He's the best defensive center fielder in our division.

Schwarber has had 2+ years to prove that he can hit and he has failed miserably. Time to sit. Put Bote in left. I don't understand why Maddon can't stick with the same line-up for two days in a row.

We need a legitimate leadoff hitter. There is too much talent on this team to be in the position they are in. We score 10 runs and give up 11, so frustrating

The starters need to go at the very least 6 innings, regardless of how effective they are, it's no worse than bringing in someone from the ineffective bullpen.

Need to get back to playing fundamental baseball, there is no excuse not to at this level and their salaries.

I'm a believer in the concept of if you ain't hitting, you ain't playing.

I get the feeling that the chemistry we've had just isn't as present as it has been.

Seems to be too much focus on individual success rather than situational hitting as a team.

It's a long season and yes it's early, but two months into the season you can no longer use that's as an excuse

I don't see the hunger to win. If you don't have that hunger to win you will most definitely be a loser

No reason to panic, but don't dig yourself into a hole that you can't get out of. We are better than that.

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Hi Brusch- thanks for joining the message boards, and thanks for the insightful reply.

I agree with everything you said with the exception of Schwarber. I do agree that he's not been overly functional at the plate this year, but he's not doing much worse than Bryant (which is scary in itself). Both of those guys need a 3 for game to break out of that slump, or the Cubs will be in some serious trouble as they proceed (not that there isn't signs of serious trouble now).

With the bullpen in shambles (save for Kintzler, Strop and to some extent Brach), the starters need to be chewing up every inning and getting every out that they possibly can. Maddon has been pulling guys WAY too early in a lot of cases (specifically Darvish and Hendricks), to replace them with guys who are pitching worse. Darvish got himself into some jams during his last start (vs Pittsburgh), but I think he had a lot better chance of getting out of the final jam (when he was removed in the third), than did Kyle Ryan who ended up allowing both of the inherited runners to score.

There is plenty of relief talent in the Iowa, and I don't think Webster was the smartest choice. Granted, he has a little MLB experience, but I think Mekkes or Maples should have been brought up ahead of Webster. I'm also still shaking my head on the release of Tazawa.

Anyway, thanks again for the reply, and lets hope the Cubs can land themselves some Marlin.

-Ken

CubsHQ Boards

Commentary: Ranting about the Cubs? Pick your battles