2025 Regular Season IGT

[Discus fish salesman]

I'm pretty sure that Rea goes back to long relief when Shota returns. Cabrera becomes the odd man out due to Craig just not utilizing him as frequently and in low pressure.

After that he will need to shut down Cade at some point. There is no innings limiter per day. They look at fatigue and velocity more so as indicators vs self imposed limits

So I do not see them going towards Rea or Assad going into the play offs. They will need a upgrade to both.

Zach Effen is worse than Rea. SO/9 near 6 and a ERA around 4.5. This is a penny pincher special that is backwards.


Sawer Gibson Long has little track record and on a contender. I do not see this as a thing TBH.

The right move is Sale still. Just to keep him off of a potential play off match up alone you do this.

Teams do not plan for Zach freken Effen. They do plan for Chris Freken Sale.

I'd target sale and a lesser arm like German Marquez that wouldn't cost much. I know most will balk at the idea of Marquez because he's generally been mediocre to bad but he has good stuff and has been stuck in Colorado on terrible teams for what seems like forever. He's a low cost secondary option (to supplement someone like sale that should also be added) that I think could have success in a different environment

 

[bamainatlanta]

Please jump on this bum early & often. Looks like he struggles against righties.

 

[SilenceS]

I'm pretty sure that Rea goes back to long relief when Shota returns. Cabrera becomes the odd man out due to Craig just not utilizing him as frequently and in low pressure.

After that he will need to shut down Cade at some point. There is no innings limiter per day. They look at fatigue and velocity more so as indicators vs self imposed limits

So I do not see them going towards Rea or Assad going into the play offs. They will need a upgrade to both.

Zach Effen is worse than Rea. SO/9 near 6 and a ERA around 4.5. This is a penny pincher special that is backwards.


Sawer Gibson Long has little track record and on a contender. I do not see this as a thing TBH.

The right move is Sale still. Just to keep him off of a potential play off match up alone you do this.

Teams do not plan for Zach freken Effen. They do plan for Chris Freken Sale.

They have had scouts watching them. Eflin is a big league pitcher on a demoralized team, The other guy I don't know much about, but he is 27 with not a lot of mileage on his arm so I assume the Cubs are interested in something they see.

 

[CSF77]

They have had scouts watching them. Eflin is a big league pitcher on a demoralized team, The other guy I don't know much about, but he is 27 with not a lot of mileage on his arm so I assume the Cubs are interested in something they see.

It is the tigers. Contenders normally don't do business with each other.

Effen has a 6 SO/9 and a 4.5 ERA. If that is Jed's saviour then he needs to be fired prior to any transaction.

 

[CSF77]

Oh early game today. Shoot

 

[CSF77]

 

[CSF77]

PCA was going to need a day off eventually.

This is where the "we need to upgrade the bench comes in"

 

[CSF77]

If they win today it would be shocking. 4-9 yikes.

 

[bamainatlanta]

Well this was certainly a let down. Made this bum look like a cy young contender

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Well this was certainly a let down. Made this bum look like a cy young contender

Luzardo really isn't a bum. He had a 2 era over his first 11 starts then gave up 20 runs over 5 innings in starts 12 and 13

 

[CSF77]

Phills spank Brown again

 

[Szlachcic]

I don't care what anybody say, Brown is not consistent enough to start.

 

[Probie2429]

Cubs are good but not really contenders.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Cubs are good but not really contenders.

Unless they add an ace and realistically should look to add a couple starters

 

[beckdawg]

Cubs are good but not really contenders.

Cubs have the 2nd best run differential in baseball behind only the yankees by 3 runs). They are 9-5 in 1 run games which is typically what people point to for playoffs since closer competition. They are 41-27 vs teams over .500 which is 4th best behind the mets, tigers and yankees. People need to fucking relax. They've done most of that without their top 2 pitchers as well not to mention Assad who was fantastic last year.

If you want to make an argument that they need a Steele replacement then sure I think that's a worthy consideration. But when Shota is back and presumably Assad soon there after, you're going to have a lot of pitching. You could easily slot those 2 in for Rea and Brown until July where you pick up someone. And Rea and Brown moving to the bullpen probably improves that too when the bullpen has been really strong lately.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Cubs have the 2nd best run differential in baseball behind only the yankees by 3 runs). They are 9-5 in 1 run games which is typically what people point to for playoffs since closer competition. They are 41-27 vs teams over .500 which is 4th best behind the mets, tigers and yankees. People need to fucking relax. They've done most of that without their top 2 pitchers as well not to mention Assad who was fantastic last year.

If you want to make an argument that they need a Steele replacement then sure I think that's a worthy consideration. But when Shota is back and presumably Assad soon there after, you're going to have a lot of pitching. You could easily slot those 2 in for Rea and Brown until July where you pick up someone. And Rea and Brown moving to the bullpen probably improves that too when the bullpen has been really strong lately.

Is Assad throwing at all yet? Once he reaggravated his injury I pretty much chalked him up as a lost season.

 

[SilenceS]

Is Assad throwing at all yet? Once he reaggravated his injury I pretty much chalked him up as a lost season.

His ETA is July with Amaya around the same time. Hodge and Shota should both be in the next two weeks.

 

[beckdawg]

Yeah rotowire has his ETA as "6/23/2025". Last report they have is the 26th of may where he was playing catch. But when you get him and Shota back you have Shota as your #1, Boyd who's been great as your #2, Jamo as your #3, Assad as your #4 and I'd go with Horton as your #5. Horton probably has some seasoning he still needs to be who he's gonna be but for me the difference between him and someone like Brown who i'm iffy on is Brown is feast or famine. Horton usually keeps you in the game at worst.

But if you're rolling that until presumably you find a trade partner, Shota has a career 2.89 ERA, Boyd has a 2.89 ERA this season, Jamo has a 3.54 ERA, Assad has a career 3.40 ERA and Horton has a 4.11 ERA. That's a pretty decent rotation. Jamo is maybe a little weak as a playoff 3 hence the idea of replacing steele but it's far from bad.

I'm honestly more interested in what they do with their bench. Busch is great vs RHP but they seem to want to platoon him understandably. And if you look at what you would replace him with, Turner has a 68 wRC+. Berti has a 55 wRC+. Brujan has a 57 wRC+. Excluding your back up catcher the bench has given you nothing.

So, it's not even like they can really play match ups much other than at C. Rest of the bench is pretty far below replacement level thus far.

 

[CSF77]

Brown has struggled against the Phills. Not the first time.

Horton is far from perfect

Right now I trust Jamo and Boyd. Rest are 50:50 at this point

Shota gives a solid 3 man rotation. They need a strong 4th starter.

I don't see Assad as that guy. Assad got himself into trouble far too much and his Fip was shite.

I would rather get Shota back then target Sale and send Brown and Horton down. Horton needs to perfect his change and curve and really focus on command. Brown needs a working 3rd pitch. His half ass change up is not cutting it and he takes forever to get his fastball down in the zone.

 

[CSF77]

Now if I was crazy I would say:

Go for broke.

Trade Horton and Brown in 2 separate deals and get deGrom and Sale back. Jed needs to worry about getting another deal and if Tom won't pony up screw him in contract

Make a big run and bail out leaving Tom to hold the bag.

F-em