Bleacher Bums Forum

Very, very early.  But I speculated a long time ago that Joe Maddon's self-promoting antics, which clearly work well out of the gate, ran the risk of losing the team at some point.  Based on how lifeless they've seemed the last two seasons, you have to wonder if there's an element of that here.  They don't have the excuse of a 108-year hangover this time around.

I agree with Play. Good pitchers only have to worry about one third of the lineup. Bryant and Rizzo are stars, and Contreras is well on his way to joining them. The rest of the lineup isn't that hard for good pitchers to face.

They really needed to add another hitter this offseason, even if it meant they had to settle for Cobb instead of Darvish.

Eh, in 13 games, the Cubs have been shut out 3 times and scored only 1 twice.  Yes, they've also blown other teams away which is why the stats you are using are highly deceptive.  BTW, Cub pitchers have hurled two shut outs of their own.   Their lineup is fun to watch and exciting when they are hitting, but the type of hitter most of them tend to be means that maintaining a rally or coming from behind rarely will happen.  I believe it will improve, but what it may take will **** a few people off.

I’d love to have an offense that is super consistent and scores x number a game every game. So would every other team, because it doesn’t exist.

Offense are going to have good days and bad days. The starting pitching has been bad this season.

Things on offense I don’t think will continue

Anthony Rizzo being on the DL or a .433 OPS

Happ striking out 40% of the time

Russell with a 15% K% and nearly 12% BB having a .609 OPS.

The Cubs struggles with RISP.

So much is made of the Cubs strike out problems, but they have 6 regulars with a K% above 20% and only 2 (Happ and Schwarber) are above 25%.

They have 6 guys below 20% with 3 below 15%.

Offenses are inconsistent, every offense is. The difference between the Cubs and the Astros is the Astros have won 4 games when they have scored 3 runs or less and the Cubs have won 1.

Light rain, 37°, winds in from center at 30 mph

A day off might be what the Cubs need.

How many times has he been on the DL because of his back already? Or at least missed time or had struggles blamed on it. MRIs can’t tell you everything where chronic back pain is concerned.

Light rain, 37°, winds in from center at 30 mph

A day off might be what the Cubs need.

Almora is better