*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

[RoseClone]

Unavailable. Going on IR with oblique problem

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

So who’s more to blame for the bullpen over the last 3 years? Jed? Ricketts? I mean Jed can only do so much if Ricketts isn’t willing to write good checks for good arms. Counsell must absolutely go insane during front office meetings.

 

[cyatheart]

So who’s more to blame for the bullpen over the last 3 years? Jed? Ricketts? I mean Jed can only do so much if Ricketts isn’t willing to write good checks for good arms. Counsell must absolutely go insane during front office meetings.

Seems like they have this philosophy someone will just magically turn into a decent closer.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

Seems like they have this philosophy someone will just magically turn into a decent closer.

Not sure that’s ever worked for anyone ever

 

[NENick]

The four pitch walk showed he isn’t ready to close yet. Tucker could/should have caught that but when he didn’t, Palencia cratered.

Valencia has been pitching great, but he definitely lost focus after the hanging slider. Great closers don't lose focus.

 

[Clonefan32]

It's one game in a very long season, but it's amazing how much a loss like that can impact momentum. You go from winning 4 in a row by gutting out a win when your starter was really bad and being encouraged by Shaw and MB getting some hits to losing to the damn Marlins and only being up 1 on the Cardinals who just refuse to lose.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[CYdTracked]

I figured that would be the move when Happ came off the IL. He needs to play regularly and he won't get that in Chicago right now. Can keep working on things playing catcher in Iowa too as you never know when he may be needed to fill in there if we have an injury. He's basically blocked at catcher through 2026 and possibly 2027 if they pick up Kelly's mutual option at $7.5 mil. If he's healthy and still hitting well that will be an interesting option for both him and the Cubs as he's been a bargain at $5 mil this year.

 

[GoHawks]

It's one game in a very long season, but it's amazing how much a loss like that can impact momentum. You go from winning 4 in a row by gutting out a win when your starter was really bad and being encouraged by Shaw and MB getting some hits to losing to the damn Marlins and only being up 1 on the Cardinals who just refuse to lose.

Cardinals look like they'll hang around all year too. Have some young guys that are starting to become solid players and they have maybe the best defense in baseball. They aren't even getting much from Arenado up to this point. I was really hoping they'd suck and sell at deadline.

 

[CYdTracked]

Cardinals look like they'll hang around all year too. Have some young guys that are starting to become solid players and they have maybe the best defense in baseball. They aren't even getting much from Arenado up to this point. I was really hoping they'd suck and sell at deadline.

This is what is frustrating about St Louis as even years you think they are going to be down they always have some young guys coming up that make a difference and raise the bar a bit on expectations. This isn't just a fluke thing either they do it fairly consistently which I wish the Cubs would be able to get to a point with their player development that we can just plug and play the next guy up when we lose someone to injury and free agency and not have it be a huge blow to the season.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

A good blowout win tonight would make me forget last night quickly

 

[GoHawks]

This is what is frustrating about St Louis as even years you think they are going to be down they always have some young guys coming up that make a difference and raise the bar a bit on expectations. This isn't just a fluke thing either they do it fairly consistently which I wish the Cubs would be able to get to a point with their player development that we can just plug and play the next guy up when we lose someone to injury and free agency and not have it be a huge blow to the season.

Frustrating is right. Since turn of the century they've finished below .500 twice. I think reports of how bad Central would be in beginning of year was greatly exaggerated.

On flip side maybe if Cubs had a healthy division lead at deadline management sees it as sufficient and is less aggressive. Tight race hopefully provides additional motivation to add.

 

[TClone99]

Cardinals look like they'll hang around all year too. Have some young guys that are starting to become solid players and they have maybe the best defense in baseball. They aren't even getting much from Arenado up to this point. I was really hoping they'd suck and sell at deadline.

Is the Cardinals pitching gonna hold up? I don’t think this is an ideal scenario for Bloom. I’m sure he’d like to have an opportunity to acquire some young talent that he’s had his eye on. Being enough in contention to not sell but not being good enough to plausibly compete with the top teams is not a good place to become

 

[Clark]

What's the Cardinals strength of schedule so far?

 

[GoHawks]

Is the Cardinals pitching gonna hold up? I don’t think this is an ideal scenario for Bloom. I’m sure he’d like to have an opportunity to acquire some young talent that he’s had his eye on. Being enough in contention to not sell but not being good enough to plausibly compete with the top teams is not a good place to become

I think that's the million dollar question. Bullpen is solid and rotation has been up to this point but they don't get a ton of strikeouts so maybe it's a little luck aided. Their defense does certainly help the pitching too. I agree with your thoughts on Bloom. It's an odd spot for sure. I'm sure they had thought 3 weeks ago they'd be moving Arenado, gray, and helsley.

 

[BigJCy]

What's the Cardinals strength of schedule so far?

Believe it was fairly weak early on but lately they have played better teams (Mets, Phillies, Royals, & Tigers) and have won.

 

[Cyforce]

So Amaya looks like he still has what he ended last season with. Kelly has been slumping. Thinking maybe we sell on him while his OPS is north of 800.

Ballestareos problem is suddenly solved.
I saw after Horton’s last start Cade mentioned he’s come a long way behind plate. Probably not ready now but we have a bit before the trade deadline

 

[isucy86]

So Amaya looks like he still has what he ended last season with. Kelly has been slumping. Thinking maybe we sell on him while his OPS is north of 800.

Ballestareos problem is suddenly solved.
I saw after Horton’s last start Cade mentioned he’s come a long way behind plate. Probably not ready now but we have a bit before the trade deadline

During Horton's interview he sounded a lot like the great ballplayer Nuke LaLoosh who once said "I'm just happy to be here. Hope I can just help the team".

I think if the interviewer asked Horton if Ballesteros could fart diamonds, Hortons response would have been "Every day of the week and twice on Sundays.".

 

[Cyforce]

I think if the interviewer asked Horton if Ballesteros could fart diamonds, Hortons response would have been "Every day of the week and twice on Sundays.".

Well maybe he can

 

[RoseClone]

I figured that would be the move when Happ came off the IL. He needs to play regularly and he won't get that in Chicago right now. Can keep working on things playing catcher in Iowa too as you never know when he may be needed to fill in there if we have an injury. He's basically blocked at catcher through 2026 and possibly 2027 if they pick up Kelly's mutual option at $7.5 mil. If he's healthy and still hitting well that will be an interesting option for both him and the Cubs as he's been a bargain at $5 mil this year.

Yep. I don't think it was ever the plan to keep him up unless he made it hard to send him down. Go get better in Iowa and we'll see you again.