General Cubs Chit-Chat

[Sammy Sofa]

It is! But in a very shaky bullpen missing any kind of real power arm, I can't help but be wary when a dude not only stops getting as many ground balls, but also isn't striking out nearly as many guys, too. Relying too much on, "oh, I'll just get them to fly out," seems a bit iffy for a guy who has struggled with giving up dongs.

He's definitely better than he was and a serviceable reliever is a godsend at this point; I just think it's a bit premature for anything along the lines of a declaration that he's fixed.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It is! But in a very shaky bullpen missing any kind of real power arm, I can't help but be wary when a dude not only stops getting as many ground balls, but also isn't striking out nearly as many guys, too. Relying too much on, "oh, I'll just get them to fly out," seems a bit iffy for a guy who has struggled with giving up dongs.

He's definitely better than he was and a serviceable reliever is a godsend at this point; I just think it's a bit premature for anything along the lines of a declaration that he's fixed.

The way I'm thinking of it is that by the end of the year I'm hoping for one of Edwards or Morrow to be healthy and in form. As long as there isn't any catastrophe with Kimbrel/Strop/Cishek, that means you have a really strong 6th inning on plan for the playoffs, plus some other arms that are potentially serviceable based on their history(Montgomery, Chatwood, Brach).

[Cubswin11]

It is! But in a very shaky bullpen missing any kind of real power arm, I can't help but be wary when a dude not only stops getting as many ground balls, but also isn't striking out nearly as many guys, too. Relying too much on, "oh, I'll just get them to fly out," seems a bit iffy for a guy who has struggled with giving up dongs.

He's definitely better than he was and a serviceable reliever is a godsend at this point; I just think it's a bit premature for anything along the lines of a declaration that he's fixed.

The GBs are ticking up, 7 of last 12 outs he’s recorded have been GBs, 3 have been Ks, 2 have been FB. So 10 of his last 12 recorded outs have been Ks or GBs. He’s looked better and is getting results, I’m not saying he’s “fixed” or super reliever Carl is finally here after seeing glimpses. But he may have turned a corner to becoming useful in some capacity.

[Brian]

[Brian]

[Proven Veteran]

Rizzo with the fried chicken and beer, hilarious.

[CubinNY]

What a great weekend of Cubs baseball!

[Old Style]

Epstein: Zobrist could return to Cubs this season

"There's been a little definition added to how he hopes this thing might go," Epstein said on Thursday before the Cubs played the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I've been in constant touch with Zobrist. He knows the door is open. I think he's got an idea in mind on how he would like this to go, but his priorities are clear -- that's family first."

Zobrist has been in touch with the team throughout the process and recently reached out to his teammates. If he returns to the Cubs it's likely to be late in the season, potentially in September, according to one source.

[UMFan83]

What a great weekend of Cubs baseball!

And then we went on the road

[Cubswin11]

[champaignchris]

I so want Kimbrel to come out pitching angry. I want him like, “I am the greatest horsefeathering closer of this generation and all you [expletive] who didn’t sign me are going to perish in a rain of hellfire and curveballs!”

[Cubswin11]

Fly out, ground out and K for Kimbrel in his Iowa outing. Hit 95-96. Chatwood starts Thursday and not Adbert, boooo.

[Sammy Sofa]

Chatwood starts Thursday and not Adbert, boooo.

I know I'm pretty horsefeathering biased in this regard, but I can't remember a recent decision by this org that didn't have me wanting to scream at them for being cowards. Even the Kimbrel signing was such a chicken horsefeathers move based on when and how it happened.

[Cubswin11]

Chatwood starts Thursday and not Adbert, boooo.

I know I'm pretty horsefeathering biased in this regard, but I can't remember a recent decision by this org that didn't have me wanting to scream at them for being cowards. Even the Kimbrel signing was such a chicken horsefeathers move based on when and how it happened.

I would’ve started Adbert but my only thought is that Chatwood has pitched better this year he’s “earned” a start in their eyes, maybe keeps him a little happier/engaged or whatever and maybe the Hendricks injury really is that minor so it is only 1-2 starts so just let Chatwood take it. I don’t like it but get the reasoning to an extent. They also mentioned they might go 6-man next time through the rotation so maybe Adbert gets a start then.

[Sammy Sofa]

Chatwood starts Thursday and not Adbert, boooo.

I know I'm pretty horsefeathering biased in this regard, but I can't remember a recent decision by this org that didn't have me wanting to scream at them for being cowards. Even the Kimbrel signing was such a chicken horsefeathers move based on when and how it happened.

I would’ve started Adbert but my only thought is that Chatwood has pitched better this year he’s “earned” a start in their eyes, maybe keeps him a little happier/engaged or whatever and maybe the Hendricks injury really is that minor so it is only 1-2 starts so just let Chatwood take it. I don’t like it but get the reasoning to an extent. They also mentioned they might go 6-man next time through the rotation so maybe Adbert gets a start then.

I know, I get it, too; it's still boring and lame, though, right? Do something cool, Cubs.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, I was thinking I had just glossed over Chatwood's recent appearances by how little it felt like he had pitched, but I checked and he's only made 3 appearances this month (though, granted, for just shy of 6 innings), and, woof, he stunk it up fierce in 2 of them.

[Banedon]

Chatwood starts Thursday and not Adbert, boooo.

I know I'm pretty horsefeathering biased in this regard, but I can't remember a recent decision by this org that didn't have me wanting to scream at them for being cowards. Even the Kimbrel signing was such a chicken horsefeathers move based on when and how it happened.

I would’ve started Adbert but my only thought is that Chatwood has pitched better this year he’s “earned” a start in their eyes, maybe keeps him a little happier/engaged or whatever and maybe the Hendricks injury really is that minor so it is only 1-2 starts so just let Chatwood take it. I don’t like it but get the reasoning to an extent. They also mentioned they might go 6-man next time through the rotation so maybe Adbert gets a start then.

[Cubswin11]

If they start Adbert next week around the 25th and then again around the 1st and stick to a 6-man with Chatwood (or Monty) that would allow us to get a look at Adbert and also back off everyone a bit and give them some extra rest.

If we use Adbert on the 25th/1st and go 6-man from there.... Chatwood, Darvish and Q have 3 starts until the break, Hamels and Lester 4 and then Adbert’s 2. Hendricks could get a start in there too (hopefully over Hamels or Lester to lessen their load). That’s all over about 3-4 weeks so gets everyone some extra rest up to the break then obviously the days off over the break. Then out of the break we have 1 off day a week for every week of July remaining and an off day a week every week in August except 1, so build in some rest now until the break and the schedule provides rest until September.

[Bertz]

If they start Adbert next week around the 25th and then again around the 1st and stick to a 6-man with Chatwood (or Monty) that would allow us to get a look at Adbert and also back off everyone a bit and give them some extra rest.

If we use Adbert on the 25th/1st and go 6-man from there. Chatwood, Darvish and Q have 3 starts until the break, Hamels and Lester 4 and then Adbert’s 2. Obviously Hendricks could get a start in there too (hopefully over Hamels or Lester). That’s all over about 3-4 weeks so gets everyone some extra rest. Then out of the break we have 1 off day a week for every week of July remaining and an off day a week every week in August except 1, so build in some rest now until the break and the schedule provides rest until September.

This makes a lot of sense. I also wonder if the Alzolay and Kimbrel roster moves will coordinate. Kimbrel will probably be ready next weekend. Call up Alzolay and make whatever reliever roster move late next week, and then the day after Adbert's start send him down and call up Kimbrel. When Kyle's ready a week or two later, call Alzolay up and then option him back down when you activate Kyle.

[Regular Show]

[Derwood]

[tweet]https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBStats/status/1141146322956890113[/tweet]

And Randy Johnson was at just over 50% of his career K's at age 35

[CoolHandLuke]

[tweet]https://mobile.twitter.com/MLBStats/status/1141146322956890113[/tweet]

And Randy Johnson was at just over 50% of his career K's at age 35

After checking his fangraph page, I can definitely conclude that I haven't appreciated just how great he was.

[OleMissCub]

so when do we launch Descalso into space? Surely Happ couldn't be any worse and can occasionally run into one every now and then.

[jersey cubs fan]

so when do we launch Descalso into space?

If/when Zobrist returns

[Cubswin11]

We have 5 players with 15 Dongs or more, no other team has more than 3. That's kinda cool. Both and Heyward could make it 6 or 7 relatively soon if they get on a heater, Bote is at 9 and Heyward is at 10.