|
|
Post by cub87fan on Jul 6, 2016 14:40:18 GMT -5
Over a long season, it is inevitable that things will stop clicking for even the best teams at some point. It's better that it happens now and they have a chance to get hot again, rather than at the end of the season. I also think it builds character and can be humbling. Just look at the recent WS winners:
2015 Royals: Started 28-14 (.667%), followed with 17-19 (.472%) stretch, and then went on to go 50-34 (.595%)
2014 Giants: Started 43-21 (.671%) and followed with a mediocre 45-53 the rest of the way (.459%)
2013 Red Sox: Started 20-8 (.714%), then went 13-15 (.464%), then went on to go 64-42 (.604)
2016 Cubs: Started 47-20 (.701), have gone 5-11 (.313), will finish...?
The trend seems to be that each team goes through some type of mid-season swoon, sometimes lasting into the end of the season, but that they have at least one excellent stretch of baseball. Going back to the 2012 Giants, the trend is actually reversed, where they started poorly but finished strongly. The key, though, is that each showed the ability to be dominate at some point, which the Cubs have done. Their start most resembles the 2014 Giants from recent years, who, interestingly, were sub .500 for the rest of the season. It's a matter of having everything click at the right time. Let's hope that our Cubbies can.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 14:55:22 GMT -5
yes, but there are some issues with the BP and maybe rotation that have to be addressed.
|
|
|
|
Post by jsnhbe1 on Jul 6, 2016 15:48:26 GMT -5
Yes, adversity is good for the playoffs. They know they are good and can beat anyone. Health has been a factor. Hopefully, everyone can get healthy by playoff time. The bullpen is a real problem though that needs addressed.
|
|
|
|
Post by TheChico on Jul 6, 2016 16:26:47 GMT -5
Mariners did not have any swoon in 2002, and Yankees kicked their ass in the playoff. Adversity is a good thing and something you can lean back to as a reminder.
|
|
|
|
Post by cub87fan on Jul 6, 2016 16:47:25 GMT -5
Mariners did not have any swoon in 2002, and Yankees kicked their ass in the playoff. Adversity is a good thing and something you can lean back to as a reminder. I think you mean 2001 and you are right. They didn't lose more than 9 games in any month. |
|
|
|
Post by jsnhbe1 on Jul 6, 2016 16:53:04 GMT -5
I do not believe the rotation is a problem. Now, I'll gladly accept another starter but we have been spoiled by all of our starters getting off to ridiculous starts. Fact is, four are still well under 3.00. Sure, they have come back down to earth lately but they're not bad. Jake will come around. LEster has only one bad start. Hendricks is still good. Hammel is a concern. And, Lackey is Lackey. He's off and on but mostly solid. They'll come around. Again, just like the 130 win pace, we have been spoiled. The bullpen is a problem pretty much everywhere. They need two guys and one of them needs to be a shutdown type. With how bad they have been in the pen I have a feeling the cubs are going to unload the cupboard.
|
|
|
|
Post by pablovi on Jul 6, 2016 16:57:46 GMT -5
Is not about the record, the BP has been exposed, and so does the rotation, which although not bad, is not elite, and the stats will prove it in the end. And the hating has been exposed as well, we still rely a lot on HR's, can't hit for contact anymore and are not patient anymore.
Those are the things that worry me, not the record.
|
|
|
|
Post by jsnhbe1 on Jul 6, 2016 17:07:27 GMT -5
Once everyone is healthy they'll come around. I'm not worried one bit...except about the bullpen. They're trash
|
|
|
|
Post by mel10 on Jul 6, 2016 17:11:39 GMT -5
I think that the ASB is coming at the right time, it's kinda too bad that we have so many players in it. They all could use the rest.
|
|
|
|
Post by holycow23 on Jul 6, 2016 17:17:59 GMT -5
I think players like almora, willson, jeimer, and edwards getting time with the cubs is a good thing. Only makes us deeper and the experience now might pay off down the road. The only think that frustrates me is what happened to the lineup grinding down starting pitchers and spitting them out. That was the reason for the hot start and the turn around last season.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 9:02:48 GMT -5
Is not about the record, the BP has been exposed, and so does the rotation, which although not bad, is not elite, and the stats will prove it in the end. And the hating has been exposed as well, we still rely a lot on HR's, can't hit for contact anymore and are not patient anymore. Those are the things that worry me, not the record. the rotation doesn't need to be elite. outside of cueto and bumgarner the royals and giants rotations were not elite and they've got 4 rings in the last 5 years. now the offense not hitting for enough contact is a concern, but this is the offense they've got to get it done with. they just need to get back to what made them successful early in the year and be firing on all cylinders come playoff time, which holds true for any team that's going to win the WS. the BP is the elephant in the room for sure. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2016 9:05:45 GMT -5
The only think that frustrates me is what happened to the lineup grinding down starting pitchers and spitting them out. That was the reason for the hot start and the turn around last season. i think a lot of that has to do with the youth in the lineup right now. it's just a by-product of young and inexperienced hitters. fowler, soler and la stella getting back into the lineup will help set the tone again. |
|
|
|
Post by bbuck22 on Jul 7, 2016 10:26:43 GMT -5
Over a long season, it is inevitable that things will stop clicking for even the best teams at some point. It's better that it happens now and they have a chance to get hot again, rather than at the end of the season. I also think it builds character and can be humbling. Just look at the recent WS winners: 2015 Royals: Started 28-14 (.667%), followed with 17-19 (.472%) stretch, and then went on to go 50-34 (.595%) 2014 Giants: Started 43-21 (.671%) and followed with a mediocre 45-53 the rest of the way (.459%) 2013 Red Sox: Started 20-8 (.714%), then went 13-15 (.464%), then went on to go 64-42 (.604) 2016 Cubs: Started 47-20 (.701), have gone 5-11 (.313), will finish...? The trend seems to be that each team goes through some type of mid-season swoon, sometimes lasting into the end of the season, but that they have at least one excellent stretch of baseball. Going back to the 2012 Giants, the trend is actually reversed, where they started poorly but finished strongly. The key, though, is that each showed the ability to be dominate at some point, which the Cubs have done. Their start most resembles the 2014 Giants from recent years, who, interestingly, were sub .500 for the rest of the season. It's a matter of having everything click at the right time. Let's hope that our Cubbies can. Sometimes it is good for a team to get checked and it makes them stronger. |
|
|
|
Post by TheChico on Jul 7, 2016 11:09:33 GMT -5
Sometimes I forget how spoiled we actually are and what the Cubs did the first couple months was not sustainable for a whole season, way to many things happen over a course of the season and kind of glad all those expectations of going for the all-time record and etc. are now a far distance and can just focus on the task on hand again.
I look back to last year when Cubs got swept by the Phillies towards the end of July and got no-hit (On my Birthday  ), then after that series the Cubs caught fire and ran away with it for the rest of the season. It is not a matter of "IF" the Cubs will turn it around it is just "When" will that happen. The team is way to talented, driven and lead by some of the best in he business to fail.
Go Cubs! |
|
|
|
Post by mel10 on Jul 7, 2016 11:12:43 GMT -5
Good post, Chico.
|
|
|
|
Post by pablovi on Jul 7, 2016 11:54:55 GMT -5
Is not about the record, the BP has been exposed, and so does the rotation, which although not bad, is not elite, and the stats will prove it in the end. And the hating has been exposed as well, we still rely a lot on HR's, can't hit for contact anymore and are not patient anymore. Those are the things that worry me, not the record. the rotation doesn't need to be elite. outside of cueto and bumgarner the royals and giants rotations were not elite and they've got 4 rings in the last 5 years. now the offense not hitting for enough contact is a concern, but this is the offense they've got to get it done with. they just need to get back to what made them successful early in the year and be firing on all cylinders come playoff time, which holds true for any team that's going to win the WS. the BP is the elephant in the room for sure. I agree with the rotation not needed to be elite to win it all, but with the offense we have now, it does. We have lost 10 games this past month by a run or two, low scoring games, were pitcher did their job, but our offense failed to do it. |
|
|
|
Post by TheChico on Jul 7, 2016 12:11:54 GMT -5
the rotation doesn't need to be elite. outside of cueto and bumgarner the royals and giants rotations were not elite and they've got 4 rings in the last 5 years. now the offense not hitting for enough contact is a concern, but this is the offense they've got to get it done with. they just need to get back to what made them successful early in the year and be firing on all cylinders come playoff time, which holds true for any team that's going to win the WS. the BP is the elephant in the room for sure. I agree with the rotation not needed to be elite to win it all, but with the offense we have now, it does. We have lost 10 games this past month by a run or two, low scoring games, were pitcher did their job, but our offense failed to do it. Somewhat Incorrect, bullpen failed to do their job. Offense has been solid overall but needs to improve their situational hitting and move runners over more efficiently but bullpen at the same time needs to hold the lead, quite a few of those games the bullpen has blown the lead too and then you have to face those teams best relievers to try to come back and win which is tough to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by bbuck22 on Jul 7, 2016 16:43:01 GMT -5
I think that the ASB is coming at the right time, it's kinda too bad that we have so many players in it. They all could use the rest. I agree |
|
|
|
Post by bbuck22 on Jul 7, 2016 16:43:55 GMT -5
To me the bullpen is the biggest but nothing a trade or 2 couldn't cure.
|
|
), then after that series the Cubs caught fire and ran away with it for the rest of the season. It is not a matter of "IF" the Cubs will turn it around it is just "When" will that happen. The team is way to talented, driven and lead by some of the best in he business to fail.