4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

so the cubs sleepwalking through the season like last year oh so great.

[stlducks]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

so the cubs sleepwalking through the season like last year oh so great.

I think the central will be better this year so they can't afford to wait too long before turning it on. With that said, it's still extremely early.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

I think the central will be better this year so they can't afford to wait too long before turning it on. With that said, it's still extremely early.

true yeah I'm not worried unless people really believe pirates are going to win 110 games lol. just stating what it looks like. and Rizzo being out is pretty important.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

NL Central gonna mess around and put 3 teams in the postseason.

[Yari]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

true yeah I'm not worried unless people really believe pirates are going to win 110 games lol. ...

As much as I would love this to happen, I just can't see it. That said though, if it happens I'm sourcing you first.

[Steven78]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

Cubs must be still on that World Series hangover.

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[Sportsforever]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

Great way to kick off the series for the Braves...they are no able to bring up Acuna whenever they want and not lose service time. I was hoping they were just around .500 with him in the minors...at 8-5 they have been pleasantly surprising.

[notsobabybombers]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

Hoping the Yankees get back on track, starting tonight with a series against Detroit.

[Jr.]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

I'm starting to dislike this Cubs team

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[19]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

I'm starting to dislike this Cubs team

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The one that hits or the one that doesn't? Their W/L splits are insane.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

Aaron Hicks 2 run inside the park home run, much needed lead early in this game for us.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

In place of who? Happ moves to 3B?

In house option would be Baez to 3B. Of course, a deal for Manny Machado would give a 3B option as well.

so the cubs sleepwalking through the season like last year oh so great.

I'm starting to dislike this Cubs team

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I'm not panicking yet. Rizzo hasn't played much and he makes a big difference on offense and defense--watching Bryant try to pick it on Addy's low throw today was funny. Some good things are happening; the club is just playing mostly incomplete games. Good defensive plays by Schwarber and Heyward in the OF today. Good CS by Willy. They're not striking out as much. Bullpen has been fantastic except for Wilson. Out of offense, defense, starters, bullpen, maybe only 2 aspects are firing in any given game. That's really the problem.

They're also doing that scoring in bunches and then getting shutout thing a little too much. Shutout 3 times already in 13 games. But, I thought Trevor Williams was pretty fantastic with his command yesterday. In fact, him vs Hendricks was a really well pitched game for the most part. Both were all over the edges of the strike zone if you looked at the PitchCast.

The previous 2 Cub losses were almost entirely due to a bad IP by Justin Wilson and a bad IP by Yu Darvish. Darvish looked good today thru 4 IP and then looked like an overwhelmed rookie in the 5th with the balk, WP, and total loss of confidence afterward. I hope he learns to take more of an NL mentality and pitch to contact so he's not constantly at 95 pitches through 4+ IP while nibbling and trying to strike everyone out/wearing the pen out in the process. I hope he realizes the Cubs didn't pay $20MM/yr to get a 5-inning pitcher.

I would much prefer the hungry 2016 Cubs team that was fresh off an embarrassing sweep to the Mets in the NLCS. I am starting to question Joe Maddon's ability to motivate this team. As much as I dare question a manager that's taken this team at least to the NLCS in every year he's been here. They seem to be awfully comfortable sometimes.

[Speedy]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

Great way to kick off the series for the Braves...they are no able to bring up Acuna whenever they want and not lose service time. I was hoping they were just around .500 with him in the minors...at 8-5 they have been pleasantly surprising.

When do you think he gets called up?

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[Sportsforever]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

When do you think he gets called up?

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From what I've read, AA isn't going to rush him (he made the statement Acuna wouldn't have been moved to AAA last year under him). That said, I saw an article reporting he might get called up for Monday's home opener against the Phillies.

[Jr.]

Re: 4/9 - 4/22 Game Discussion Thread

I would much prefer the hungry 2016 Cubs team that was fresh off an embarrassing sweep to the Mets in the NLCS. I am starting to question Joe Maddon's ability to motivate this team. As much as I dare question a manager that's taken this team at least to the NLCS in every year he's been here. They seem to be awfully comfortable sometimes.

I'm starting to agree with this. Maddon seems to be less able to create uncomfortability within the players than he was at getting them prepared to be a good team. They aren't making changes to their offensive approaches, Rizzo excepted. I read earlier this week that they have the 2nd most opportunities with runners on 3rd and less than 2 outs, and the fewest runs scored. That's absolutely absurd with the amount of offensive "talent" that is on the team.