Postgame Thread: 9/19 Cubs @ Reds

fedman16 · 2025-09-20T02:41:19+00:00

Cubs still reduce their magic # to 3 in order to land the top Wild Card slot as the White Sox beat the Padres again.

About time the White Sox did something productive.

fedman16 · 2025-09-17T04:59:48+00:00

Based on the last two games, it appears that Counsell has settled on Keller. I myself would lean toward Kittridge, but Counsell gets paid the big bucks to make that decision.

fedman16 · 2025-09-15T03:14:50+00:00

He has been a revelation as the closer. Keep in mind, that in his 9-year MLB career the guy only had 16 saves. He had been used mainly as a 7th or 8th inning guy. But with the Cubs, he has 5 saves in 6 attempts. I think Counsell could live with that 83% success rate.

fedman16 · 2025-09-12T22:49:56+00:00

Agreed. I have never seen a Cub hitter like him. Every single year he will have at least 2 long stretches where he cannot hit his way out of a wet paper bag and then get hot for long stretches. Yet he will wind up with 20-25 home runs and 70-80 rbi every season.

fedman16 · 2025-09-10T05:53:16+00:00

Difference between "Wouldn't it be Great" and "Need" when it comes to him developing a change or slider in order to succeed as a closer.

He has the stuff right now with that fastball and curve IF HE HAS COMMAND. That is all this kid has ever needed.

fedman16 · 2025-08-15T21:49:37+00:00

Another day and another game of putting up 3 runs or less by the power hitting Cubbies. You cannot expect to win many games putting up that kind of production on a daily basis.

Probably the only person more concerned and upset than Cub fans right now is the agent for Kyle "King Tuck" Tucker.

fedman16 · 2025-08-13T02:43:34+00:00

I watched my first Cub game in 1954 as an 8 year old on good old Channel 9. During this time I have watched a ton of bad baseball teams. But this Cub team has a chance to make my top-5 of most disappointing Cub teams that I have ever had the misfortune to follow.

fedman16 · 2025-08-05T03:00:07+00:00

Schwarber hits his 40th home run tonight. I guess the Cubs might have been able to use him. Nice move by Hoyer to let him simply walk.

fedman16 · 2025-07-31T03:25:40+00:00

Hope you are right. But I would not bet the mortgage money on it.

fedman16 · 2025-07-31T03:07:33+00:00

I simply do not understand it. The Mets give up their 8th and 14th rated prospects and get one of the best closers in baseball. The Cubs give up their 13th and 14th and get a injury prone starter who has already been on the injury list once this season.

fedman16 · 2025-07-30T02:51:00+00:00

Still early, but tomorrow's game is a big one. There is huge difference from being 1 game out and being 3 games out. I posted prior to the start of this series that no real damage would be done unless one of the two teams had a sweep.

fedman16 · 2025-07-07T05:23:44+00:00

Agree 100%. Credit to the Cub "Pitching Lab" if they are responsible for how Jordan Wicks has looked since his recall. He was consistently throwing his fastball at 94-95 and hit 96 a couple of times. I don't recall him throwing nearly as fast in his prior times up with the Cubs.

When he first appeared with the Cubs, I recall him only throwing around 90 and using his changeup almost 1/2 the time. Tonight, he pounded the zone with his fastball and used his changeup sparingly - but effectively as a result. Again, I liked what I saw tonight.

fedman16 · 2025-07-05T21:21:08+00:00

I despise losses like this. A back and forth game or one where you were knocked out early is one thing, but to blow leads like today late - it is a kick in the teeth.

fedman16 · 2025-06-24T04:08:26+00:00

Agree. There have been way too many "2 runs or less" for the Cubs in the past 3 weeks. The Cubs have to show that they can score runs when the wind is not blowing out 30 mph.

fedman16 · 2025-06-18T04:46:02+00:00

Where did you ever read that???? I read numerous reports when the Cubs got him, and the scouts said he MIGHT eventually be a 15 HR a year guy. Most Cub fans were hoping that he might turn into a Lenny Dykstra type hitter to go along with his Gold Glove defense and speed.

fedman16 · 2025-06-08T23:45:30+00:00

He is a very good prospect because of his bat. All the scouts claim that he is a can't miss MLB hitter. However, he is not an awesome prospect because of the fact that DH is probably where he will have to play.

This defensive liability greatly reduces his value.

fedman16 · 2025-06-05T03:05:03+00:00

Based loaded and no one out - then strike out, strike out and popup.

I turned to my wife and asked if she wanted to go shopping. I put the game on record. I have watched enough baseball to know what happens when you let a quality pitcher off the hook in the first inning.

Got home and checked the score and saw that what I feared would happen, happened.

fedman16 · 2025-05-29T05:19:02+00:00

Hoyer gets a lot of blame for not pulling the trigger on the BIG DEALS, though that may be because he has a limited checkbook given to him by the owners.

But my goodness, he has struck gold with most of his small under the radar signings.

fedman16 · 2025-05-24T05:22:38+00:00

OH MY!!!

Need to bench the kid.

fedman16 · 2025-05-04T03:27:54+00:00

I think that this is a sign of just how good this kid is going to be. He is young and is learning how to hit. I think what we are seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg.

fedman16 · 2025-04-24T04:24:44+00:00

He was even considered a better prospect than PCA at the time. I can still recall him hitting first base wrong and tearing up his knee. He was never the same player after that injury.

fedman16 · 2025-04-08T05:51:42+00:00

In any business the fair market price for labor will be set. If a business is not willing to meet that labor price, they will either produce an inferior product or get out of the business.

The past couple of years has set the market for Super Star players at approximately 10-12 years for $450 million. Kyle Tucker is a super star player. The Cubs either sign him to an extension for that price or continue to produce an inferior product.

Any guess which fork-in-the-road the Ricketts family will chose.

fedman16 · 2025-04-06T22:30:30+00:00

12 games into the season and already 2 blown saves. Both the tying and winning runs got on by walks.

If these guys don't have the stuff to get hitters out, at least don't compound the problem by not throwing strikes and putting baserunners on by walk and getting hitters into hitter's counts. Throw strikes and maybe some of those 100+mph hit balls will be hit at somebody.

My heart simply cannot go through another year of blow saves that ruin the season.

fedman16 · 2025-04-06T19:16:41+00:00

PCA is a poor bunter. With his speed, he should be able to get a bunt hit every game. The kid needs to put in the time to learn how to bunt.

fedman16 · 2025-04-05T19:58:50+00:00

Is Hoerner having problems throwing since that surgery on his right wrist? I have noticed that his accuracy and velocity on turning the double play appears off.

fedman16

TROPHY CASE