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Author Topic: Cubs in ‘23  (Read 69658 times)

Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3045 on: October 03, 2023, 12:38:09 am »
Quote from: CUBluejays on October 02, 2023, 10:24:32 pm

Being .500 and competing for a wildcard just isn’t that fun for me.  I think some of it is selling off the World Series team.  Some of it is dislike of Pete Ricketts.  Some of it is thinking the Cubs got exactly what they wanted, a perfectly ok team that stayed below the luxury tax.  I am at the point where the Cubs need to earn my interest in them back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FaLLI5laso
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3046 on: October 03, 2023, 08:11:18 am »
Quote from: CUBluejays on October 02, 2023, 10:24:32 pm
Being .500 and competing for a wildcard just isn’t that fun for me.  I think some of it is selling off the World Series team.  Some of it is dislike of Pete Ricketts.  Some of it is thinking the Cubs got exactly what they wanted, a perfectly ok team that stayed below the luxury tax.  I am at the point where the Cubs need to earn my interest in them back. 

Are you saying that you wanted the Cubs to have resigned Bryant, Baez and Rizzo at the type of contracts that they each got, and still think that they should have?
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CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3047 on: October 03, 2023, 09:01:35 am »
I would have kept Bryant and Rizzo.  It probably was the right choice to let them all walk.  Once they let everybody go, I’d have done a full tank.  The problem with Cubs is they didn’t and know they are stuck in the middle.  The only way out is to spend a lot and that has risks.  The owner and GM don’t seem to keen on spending so I don’t know what they are doing.

We just have different opinions on what is fun.  After watching a really great team that is what I want.  I’m just not interested in a mediocre/OK team that needs a lot of things to break right to contend.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2023, 02:55:26 pm by CUBluejays »
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Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3048 on: October 03, 2023, 01:42:09 pm »
Quote from: CUBluejays on October 03, 2023, 09:01:35 am

…..We just have different opinions on what is fun.  After watching a really great team that is what I want.  I’m just not interested in a mediocre/OK team that needs a lot of things to break right to contend.

Living in the D.C. area I know a bunch of Orioles fans. Those fans went thru a lot of very lean seasons in recent years, stayed on board as rabid fans, and now get the emotional rewards of a 100 win team. They earned that by not picking and choosing what season would get their interest and what season would not get their interest. Many Cubs fans, of course, did the same in the years running up to the WC.

Of course, it’s totally up to each person how they want to invest in their fandom. Nobody really cares how somebody else wants to do that or not do that.

Personally, I am enjoying the delight that these Orioles fans are getting now after paying their dues and maintaining rabid interest during the lean years. Sure, let the fair weather fans join in the fun. The more the merrier. But the dues-paying Orioles fans know the difference.
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3049 on: October 07, 2023, 01:59:46 pm »
Paul Sullivan has a column on "Clues for the Chicago Cubs’ late-season collapse were right in front of our eyes all along." It's not a bad column, but it's classic Sullivan, a combination of legitimate and useful observations that are tainted by at least one questionable claim not particularly accurate, but it's there because it supports his proposition. 

In support of his statement that "4. Swanson and Christopher Morel, two of the biggest pieces of the lineup, could not get on track after the All-Star break," Sullivan said: "Morel had the season’s signature moment — the walk-off home run against the White Sox on Aug. 16 — but hit .231 with a 32% strikeout rate in the second half, 10th-worst among qualified hitters." 

That is true enough, but during the Cubs' collapse, it was a different story. During the last 28 days of the season, Morel had a .932 OPS (while striking out 22%, not great but not horrible for his production). That certainly does not support the claim that he shared in responsibility for the collapse.

I would appreciate Sullivan so much more if he didn't stoop to this sort of thing.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-collapse-jed-hoyer-20231006-rvpokljgvvel3oci6qeaszc6li-story.html?lctg=E4B3A4BF547E25A4F491548395&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2fsports%2fcubs%2fct-chicago-cubs-collapse-jed-hoyer-20231006-rvpokljgvvel3oci6qeaszc6li-story.html&utm_campaign=Dont-Miss-News-and-Sports&utm_content=alert
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3050 on: October 07, 2023, 02:19:02 pm »
I think bullpen MIA's and some of Ross' odd lineup and game decisions contributed more than any one player's decline in hitting or defense.
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Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3051 on: October 07, 2023, 04:31:12 pm »
It's pretty weird looking at the numbers.  The Cubs offense (in terms of runs scored) was fine over the last month.  The pitching overall was about the same as it was all season (based on ERA and WHIP).  No doubt, the bullpen was worn down and they couldn't hold a lead.  But the Cubs overall really didn't fall apart statistically, and comparisons to 1969 seem way off base.

The basic problem is they didn't quite have the overall talent to make the postseason.  IMO, there's no shame in that.  But there will be if we're saying the same thing a year from now.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2023, 05:10:43 pm by Playtwo »
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Reb

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3052 on: October 10, 2023, 04:53:35 pm »
Cubs OF offense was really, really good in 2023.

Cubs OF in the aggregate had 125 wRC+ which was #3 in majors. Cubs were actually closer to Braves at #1 (129 wRC+) than to Dodgers at #4 (120 wRC+).

Of course, Bellinger offense in CF was a big part but Cubs also #4 in RF and tied for #7 in LF.
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3053 on: November 05, 2023, 10:47:43 am »
The Trib has an article on the Cubs' up the middle infield combo, Swanson & Hoerner, each of whom is nominated for a gold glove.  Here are some excerpts:

"Hoerner excelled on plays to his left, where he stole plenty of hits. His eight outs above average (OAA) in that direction were tied for the most among major-league infielders, and his 12 defensive runs saved (DRS) were tied for the most among NL second basemen."

"Swanson’s 20 OAA led all players this year, while his 18 DRS were the most among big-league shortstops and tied for fifth among all positions.

He was notably elite on balls he came in on, recording a major-league-best 11 OAA, and when going to his right, where his glove work and athleticism produced eight OAA — tied for tops among shortstops — and created numerous highlight-reel plays."

Those seem like pretty darned impressive stats.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-dansby-swanson-nico-hoerner-20231103-uuzipdb7djh53h2si2qz6n4equ-story.html?lctg=E4B3A4BF547E25A4F491548395&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2fsports%2fcubs%2fct-chicago-cubs-dansby-swanson-nico-hoerner-20231103-uuzipdb7djh53h2si2qz6n4equ-story.html&utm_campaign=Dont-Miss-News-and-Sports&utm_content=alert
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Dave23

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3054 on: November 05, 2023, 11:01:43 am »
We would be fools to mess with that config anytime in the near future. They are as good as it gets in the field.
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3055 on: November 05, 2023, 12:44:46 pm »
Something there is no stat for: how often Bellinger kept the line moving by not k-ing or hitting the ball hard.
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Jack Birdbath

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3056 on: November 05, 2023, 01:22:02 pm »
There’s probably a reason there is no stat for that.
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3057 on: November 05, 2023, 07:00:53 pm »
Swanson and Hoerner both win Gold Gloves.

https://www.facebook.com/Cubs
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CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3058 on: November 05, 2023, 07:03:44 pm »
Deservedly
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Ron

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Re: Cubs in ‘23
« Reply #3059 on: November 05, 2023, 07:20:33 pm »
And Ian Happ makes it 3 Gold Gloves for the 2023 Cubs. His second in a row. Who would have predicted this a few short years ago?

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=887248546095883&set=a.281249310029146
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