2025 Regular Season IGT

[SilenceS]

The Cubs record thru April was nearly identical last year to what they've done this year. Also in both 2023 and 2024 they went 10-18 in May. The fact is....right now they are hitting the cover off the ball. That usually doesn't last. When it stops....losses will follow. Pitching and D can stem the tide to a certain extent but once again, management has left them short on the pitching side. Over a long 162 game schedule, things tend to revert back to the norm. Doesn't always play out that way but usually does. If people want to get all jacked up over a good start....fine. Just don't be disappointed when it doesn't work out like they are hoping it will.

Bro, I know you jaded. But if you think this is the same team of the last two years, you are wrong and greatly

 

[CSF77]

I was only referring to an argument that we improved the rotation with steel going out. That is not an argument I would agree with and two or three games will not fool me into thinking that. Rea may do well overall and I hope that he does but I’m not going to kid myself that he is Justin steel after three or four starts

Normally I would agree. Rea did make a adjustment and lowered his arm slot. So he is getting more rise on his 4 seam.

Aces matter in the play offs more. That is when you put your best up against their best starter.

In season scoring runs is a more viable source of wins

Just look at 2008 and 2016 Cubs. They were both at the top in scoring runs. The difference was on SP come the play offs. 2008 choked. 2016 had a strong top 3 starters

 

[CSF77]

So this is a strong in season team. If Horton comes in June and pitches like he is doing in Iowa. This team becomes a real threat in a series.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Slow your roll on Justin Steele being an ace. He has had 1 good season out of 3 and now won’t likely be back at full capability until he’s 32 (he will be 30 in July).

I definitely don't think he's an ace, but 1 good season out of 3? Not sure how you decided that

 

[SilenceS]

I definitely don't think he's an ace, but 1 good season out of 3? Not sure how you decided that

Show me an ACE? They aren't there anymore. You just need hot pitchers going into post season. Steel is a top pitcher but the league doesn't have aces anymore. Skenes is the closest to a Clemens or Pedro now a days

 

[CSF77]

Show me an ACE? They aren't there anymore. You just need hot pitchers going into post season. Steel is a top pitcher but the league doesn't have aces anymore. Skenes is the closest to a Clemens or Pedro now a days

I only care about potential play off match ups. NYM Senga and Holmes, SDP has King and Pivetta, LAD Yamaoto, SFG Webb., PHI Luzardo and Wheeler

Major League Leaderboards - 2025 - Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball

www.fangraphs.com

Cubs right now have 3 pitchers that you can trust. 1 that you can maybe work in in a 7 game. Then Bi polar goldilocks.

I am interested in seeing Horton vs MLB talent. It comes down to stuff sometimes in a series. Horton has stuff. Mindset and experience vs quality teams turns that into a ace.

That is why you promote Horton. You want him battle tested.

 

[beckdawg]

Re: PCA stuff, the 300+ PAs I used is not a small sample size. It's half a season. And clearly you can see he's made adjustments from his first half of 2024 to the second half and then more from the second half to the start of this season. Either way, I'm not sure what the **** we're talking about. He's 4th in the majors in fWAR, tied for 13th in homers and 4th in stolen bases. And that's the "unknown" aspect of his game. We know he can play lights out defense. He's on pace for 35 homers and 50+ steals as one of the best defensive players in baseball.

And just so we're clear this isn't "luck". His expected slash is .274/.369/.530. If anything his on base should be higher. Sure PCA has development left. He needs some work on pitch selection but Cliff Floyd in today's post game said the only one he's seen be able to hit balls out of the zone like PCA did for the homer yesterday was Vlad Sr. And I'd like to see him take more walks with his speed but as I said to start I fully expect that to tick up as pitchers start to realize they can't just groove fastballs in the strike zone to him with his power.

Re: the talk about his extension, I think the cubs know how good he is hence the reported offer. I suspect the offer was fine it's just PCA was betting on himself more. I think they'll get one done sooner or later though given the cubs since Theo showed up haven't really been the type to extend early. Fact they are trying is pretty telling.

 

[bamainatlanta]

Bro, I know you jaded. But if you think this is the same team of the last two years, you are wrong and greatly

Those teams didn’t have an elite Tucker or quickly emerging PCA

 

[CSF77]

N

Nutshot FTW. Cup bro.

 

[SilenceS]

PCA with pay me my money! CUBS BETTER DO IT! Also, how fun is Baez in CF. This game is funnier with these type of players

 

[TL1961]

NView attachment 45508

Nutshot FTW. Cup bro.

Thanks for posting. I saw that earlier today and wanted to see it here!

 

[CSF77]

So Cubs are at 208 runs scored on May 3.

I went back to some of the team scoring leaders over the years and few are close to that.

1009 Runs in 1999 by the Indians tops the list going back to the mid 80's. By May 3 they were at 165 Runs.

The closest team was 192 in 2000 by the White Sox. Ended up with 978 Runs scored.

So this year has been a unicorn for this O. The rest of the league are not at a pace that makes you think it is a league wide issue.

 

[CSF77]

Ballesteros on a 19 game hitting string. Hitting .391. I looked back and he only has 3 games that he went hitless so far.

Now the Cubs do not have issues with runs scored. So there is not this huge push to fix what is not broken.

So I will put this into a what if category.

There are 2 ways to get him into the line up with out major injury.

1. Reduce Amaya's playing time. This one is a improvement as Amaya is the weaker half of the catching tandem.

2. Move Kelly to 3B. This one comes a larger risk as Kelly has not been a 3B since the minors. But it gets his plus bat into the line up more regularly. The Cubs then can focus on late inning D replacement at 3B.

Now if Shaw keeps hitting .300 and gets repromoted it closes off option #2. But option 1 is still viable as Ballesteros/Kelly you potentially lose no O by giving a day off.

I'm pretty sure that Ballesteros is going to force a promotion. It really depends on how they approach it.


Kelly: .368/.513/.807
Amaya: .266/.294/.453
AAA Ballesteros: .391/.443/.582
AAA Shaw: .302/.455/.442

Amaya is drawing the short stick right now.

Being creative:

Keep Amaya as 3rd catcher.

DFA Turner and Brujan.

Promote Shaw and Ballesteros

Have Kelly take over 1B vs LH starters. This opens up more PA to Ballesteros. Also have Kelly take some reps at 3B. This allows Shaw to be moved to 2B and SS to give those 2 guys days off in the summer.

Being flexible with Kelly and Shaw opens up opportunity for Ballesteros while removing/lessening dead weight,

 

[Szlachcic]

Merryweather absolutely worst performer in the pen.

 

[DrGonzo]

Merryweather absolutely worst performer in the pen.

Sad - he used to be unhittable before he got hurt last year. On the other hand Palencia looks like his control problem might be resolving.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Merryweather absolutely worst performer in the pen.

The guy who had given up 1 ER over his last 9 appearances before today?

 

[Szlachcic]

The guy who had given up 1 ER over his last 9 appearances before today?

Are you sure about that?

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Are you sure about that?

Yes. And actually he's only given up earned runs in 3 of 15 outings this year

 

[knoxville7]

So Cubs are at 208 runs scored on May 3.

I went back to some of the team scoring leaders over the years and few are close to that.

1009 Runs in 1999 by the Indians tops the list going back to the mid 80's. By May 3 they were at 165 Runs.

The closest team was 192 in 2000 by the White Sox. Ended up with 978 Runs scored.

So this year has been a unicorn for this O. The rest of the league are not at a pace that makes you think it is a league wide issue.

Which is why many think the cubs will revert back to the mean some. Which is why they need to get to adding some pitching sooner than later

 

[CSF77]

Which is why many think the cubs will revert back to the mean some. Which is why they need to get to adding some pitching sooner than later

We will find out soon enough. Shota is getting a MRI. Could be Horton time