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You okay, Jeff?

We have a significant clue about Cubs “Trying To Do Too Much Syndrome.”

From BN:

“The Cubs are now 3-16 on the weekends this year. That means the Cubs are 22-16 on weekdays.”

So, Cubs are NOT trying to do too much on weekdays.

Cubs only trying to do too much on weekends.

Curt, what say ye about Cubs weekend behavior and psychology? And, what are Cubs doing right mentally on weekdays that neuters the Syndrome?

Maybe we need bedchecks on these boys.

Yeah, that’s it!

So, turns out that Cubs are terrible at hitting in the clutch because trying to do too much caused by late night carousing on weekends.

Thanks Curt for solving this mystery!

Ron, thanks much for the link to the Wittenmeyer article about Kyle Hendricks.  I've closely followed the Cubs 65+ years and he's certainly one of the Cubs' top pitchers over the last 6+ decades!  These excerpts were particularly fun to read:

(on Kyle's place among Cub pitchers) “He’s in the top 10 — oh, for sure,” said Fergie Jenkins, the greatest pitcher in franchise history...

“There’s just a lot that he’s done over his career here,” said Cubs broadcaster Ryan Dempster, a former All-Star pitcher and Game 1 playoff starter. “Big moments, complete games, shutouts, the Maddux game against the Cardinals that day. He’s just had all these really special moments. It wasn’t just one or two years.”

The day Hendricks debuted for the Cubs in 2014 in Cincinnati was the same day Anthony Rizzo challenged the entire population of the Reds dugout to a fight — perhaps the symbolic turning point in a Cubs’ tanking rebuild process that produced 97 wins the next season.

If Hendricks over the years has been overshadowed in moments or seasons by the likes of Arrieta, Lester or John Lackey, he has never been taken for granted by Ross, the manager said.

“Of course, he’s pitched big moments, but I think people should look at the body of work, at just how well he’s done for this franchise, in an era when everybody’s throwing 100 and he’s getting outs at a speed that everybody would question right now if you’re drafting guys,” Ross said.

“Man, has he done some amazing things here and been consistent with it. I trust that guy as much as anybody in my life when it comes to just how he’s going to compete, how he works, what his mentality is, how he’s going to stay in the moment and do what he does.”

Consider that from his debut through the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Hendricks had a career ERA of 3.12 — among the best in baseball over that stretch and better than such decorated, nine-figure-contract guys Justin Verlander (3.21), Gerrit Cole (3.19), Arrieta (3.21) and Lester (3.42).

This surprised me.

Yan Gomes career slash line vs. lefties:  .282-331-493   

I think that’s Stroman.  And Bellinger could factor into it if he’s healthy and producing decently.

Those aren't comments by Hoerner.  Those are comments by BN spinning comments by Hoerner.

What the heck is wrong with Hoerner.  Doesn't he even READ Reb's posts?

Those aren't comments by Hoerner.  Those are comments by BN spinning comments by Hoerner.

Not only that, but Dave has difficulty understanding my comments on the subject too. Let’s blame it on the bad air quality going around that is scrambling reading comprehension.