Yu complete me: Chicago Cubs 2018

hamels is looking like a great pick-up so far: over 18 innings with the cubs, he has 1.00 era and 20 Ks, with no homers. obviously unsustainable but still promising.

especially now that lester's luck appears to be running out

Lester needs rest that he's not going to get. Not sure why there's so much confidence in Justin Wilson as a reliever, but we got what we got. Sure glad that Strop has stepped up this year - he's fun to watch.

I think the big question, is who gets sent down. I vote Russell and put Baez at Short and Bote on Second Base, when Bryant returns.

russell is def the one guy who i don't have much confidence in when he steps up to bat. he's great defensively though.

breaking down the details

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/david-bote-and-the-maximum-swing/

it feels like every single game this season has started with them giving up 2-4 runs in the first inning or two

in support of that statement: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/hamels-and-pray-for-rain-and-pray-for-more-rain/

Quintana's downturn is depressing.

One of the hardest games I ever sat through - can't bring myself to look at scorecard again. Best quote I saw on reddit's /r/ChiCubs channel: Worth remembering that Quintana's affordable contract was a big selling point. That financial freedom allowed them to acquire both Chatwood and Darvish. I have a pretty big oven if anyone's head wants to join mine in it.

If everyone is healthy, the Cubs have six lineup spots for:

- Kris Bryant
- Javier Baez
- Kyle Schwarber
- Daniel Murphy
- Ben Zobrist
- Addison Russell
- Albert Almora
- Ian Happ
- Jason Heyward
- David Bote

That is a first-world problem.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 21, 2018

how are the cubs not a 100-game winner this year? it always seems like if the starting pitching could revert back to anywhere close to what most people expect (esp for quintana, lester) they'd instantly be unbeatable again

xp a reminder that september expanded rosters are bullshit

Daniel Murphy?

Oh just saw the news.

i mean that's a great offensive lineup but also they had one run in each of their last four games so ???

Rizzo has been more or less struggling all season, Bryant is injured, Heyward is Heyward, Happ and Almora have wrc+ of 100, sure it's a very good lineup but a four game funk can happen to even better lineups.

Was Hendricks ever good or was that just my imagination.

2016 he was very good

#Cubs starting pitchers: 1.67 ERA, 0 HR allowed over last 10 games

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 26, 2018

tbf their last 10 games are against the pirates, tigers and reds. but yeah that's pretty good

i think chatwood only started one of those games, which helps too

mills looked promising in his first start, curious to see how he does on wednesday

It says something to the Cubs depth of roster talent how well they have played the last two seasons with people having off years and quite a few injuries.

Current Cub WAR on Baseball Reference -

Baez 5.4
Contreras 3.2
Zobrist 2.6 (!)
Russell 2.3
Chisek 2.1

You might figure a couple of those guys would be in their top 5. Zobrist has had a nice bounce back year.

crazy that neither bryant nor rizzo makes the cut

contreras and russell (especially russell) haven't been hitting that well so that's mostly defensive war

ICYMI

"Oh dear..."

http://thecomeback.com/mlb/daniel-murphys-message-to-gay-cubs-fans-oh-dear-i-hope-you-root-for-the-cubs.html

i'm glad people are still pushing him on that, it seemed like it had been forgotten

i was at the game last night. i think i'm good luck for lester - he had the 2-run single off of syndergaard, picked a guy off at first, and made a great snag of a hard hit. last time i saw him pitch he hit his first career home run.

Jesse Chavez pitches in prescription sunglasses, even in night games. Who knew.
https://securea.mlb.com/assets/images/6/8/8/286528688/cuts/960x540/cut.jpg

Daniel Murphy now gets Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" from @bravesorganist #Cubs

— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) August 31, 2018

joker

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24665452/anthony-rizzo-chicago-cubs-wears-uniform-overnight-flight-joke-makeup-game-vs-washington-nationals

i think this long string of games with no breaks is wearing on them, especially the bullpen - their games feel laborious lately

Just met @benzobrist18 cuz he was casually riding a bike down the street in his uniform.
I’m shook ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/ACKGUjFz8J

— Becca Gerke (@beckersg3) September 16, 2018

he lives near me, so about 2 miles from wrigley (unless he's moved in the past couple of years). biking makes sense.

he also has a podcast apparently? https://www.theshowandgo.com/

https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/09/21/addison-russells-wife-melisa-comes-forward-with-details-about-years-of-abuse/

Major League Baseball issued the following statement today:

“Major League Baseball takes all allegations of Domestic Violence seriously. When the allegations against Addison Russell became public on June 7, 2017, the Commissioner’s Office’s Department of Investigations immediately commenced an investigation. Melisa Russell declined to participate in the investigation at that time. Our investigation of this matter has remained open and we have continued our efforts to gather information.

“With the new details revealed in today’s blog post by Ms. Russell, Mr. Russell has been placed on Administrative Leave in accordance with the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence Policy. We are hopeful that this new information will allow us to complete the investigation as promptly as possible.”

lovable mug joe maddon has thoughts on the matter

#Cubs' manager Joe Maddon on Addison Russell (cont.):

"This is b/t her and Addison. ... I'm not gonna be swayed one way or the other by reading this. ... I'm interested in the investigation finalizing itself. ... Anyone can write what they want with social media these days."

— Bernstein & McKnight (@Bernstein_McK) September 25, 2018

disappointing but not surprising

most baseball guys gonna say that, esp if they're 64

Most games this season with 1 or 0 runs scored:
40 Orioles
39 Cubs
37 Marlins
36 Giants
35 Mets

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) October 1, 2018

plus side: great seasons for javy and zobrist, two dudes i did not really expect to be the most consistently productive all-around players for the cubs this year

Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced today that Chicago Cubs infielder Addison Russell has accepted a 40-game suspension without pay for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The unpaid suspension of Russell is retroactive to September 21st. Russell has agreed not to appeal the discipline. Consistent with the terms of the Policy, Russell will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board.

Commissioner Manfred issued the following statement regarding the discipline:

“My office has completed its investigation into the allegations that Addison Russell violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Russell violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover 40 games.”

The feeling when 40 days of rest from work is the worst that will happen to domestic abusers.

It would be risky and controversial. There has been no guarantee or final decision yet. But the Cubs are seriously considering bringing back Addison Russell after his domestic abuse suspension, sources told The Athletic. https://t.co/ltkiqxjq94

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) November 4, 2018

controversial? i wish, but was there ever any doubt that he'll just go back to playing and everyone will cheer him? that's how sports works, pretty much. yankees fans still love aroldis chapman (and the cubs fans before that, and pretty much any fanbase) because he throws a ball very fast.

i don't really know what to make of this team claiming that they don't have any money to spend this offseason and they aren't even looking at any big signings

Ricketts will be funding Trump2020

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-cubs-sinclair-regional-sports-network-20190212-story.html

puuuuke

on june 18, 2021, the cubs were alone in first place in the NL central with a 39-31 record

since then they are 66-115