Detroit had two relievers throw multiple innings.
We had the FNG close it out. It was the perfect opportunity to see if his stuff still played.
••• 2026 Official Chicago Cubs Thread •••
- Thread starter Cyforce
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We had the FNG close it out. It was the perfect opportunity to see if his stuff still played.
Cubs have the best defense in baseball and one of the best offenses. It would have been fun to see what this club could have done if their pitching staff wasn't decimated by injuries.
they need to switch the position player pitching stipulations to innings and not runs trailing. Tigers could've pulled that crap in the 5th inning if they wanted to
That's going to be the big "what if" of this season. What sucks too is that 1 guy we were not necessarily counting on playing a big part coming into the season like he did was Ben Brown who had a breakout as probably our best starter before he got hurt. Think of the shape this rotation could be in right now had Horton not got hurt for the season, Steele didn't have a rehab setback, Brown and Cabrerra were able to stay healthy. Cyforce would have got his wish and Taillon booted from the rotation by now as Shota would have been the 5th guy in the rotation had we had the best case scenario with those other 4 guys.
The bullpen has had its share of injuries too. Palencia has made just 19 appearances and once again Rea has had to step into the rotation when we were hoping to use him as a multi-inning guy out of the pen the past 2 seasons now. Hunter Harvey did not work out (no surprise given his injury history) and Maton has sucked. Even the up/down guys in the bullpen like Roberts has been hurt and Porter Hodge has not thrown an inning yet. It's been just like last season where we have been picking up DFA guys to fill the pen and hope we hit on 1 or 2 of them. Haven't been quite as lucky as we were with that last season.
I'd like to see some pitching added at the deadline but we really need some of our own guys like Steele, Brown, and Palencia to get healthy and be productive too which would be internal additions that would upgrade the pitching. I'm not expecting to see Shelby Miller this year but it would be great if his rehab goes well that he maybe could make an impact in the pen late in the season.
I have no issue with PCA getting a day off at some point. But neither Sutcliffe or you have any clue what he “needs” like Sutcliffe was ranting about. It was a very weird rant
PCA showing some plate discipline lately. 3 walks last night.
He's been way more dialed in at the plate since the move to the leadoff spot. He's BA/OBP at leadoff has been .339/.454. Also is 13-15 stealing bases too. Been fun to watch him grow into the roll he is probably best suited for. Nothing wrong with having a guy with some power in the leadoff spot either especially if the bottom of the order can get guys on base for him. Dexter Fowler had some pop to his bat at leadoff too
I don’t know what he needs but it was pretty clear last year he wore down. Was it from over use? Nobody knows, but he was right in saying he’s the only guy on the team that didn’t get a four day reset. Hopefully they do it before the wear starts to show.
But yes Sut uses 300 words when 20 would suffice. Makes you feel like you’re getting scolded. Like I said before Sutcliffe just makes us appreciate Dempster that much more.
At least one rotation arm and likely one or two more for the bullpen. I've seen talk around Joe Ryan from the Twins and Robbie Ray from SF as likely options. The Cubs also have quite a few prospects who are blocked from serious playing time in Chicago at every position except the outfield corners that they can deal.
My worry is that Jed and Tom get shy about giving up guys with team control with the specter of a lockout looming next year.
We talked about this here recently. They have guys that are blocked at certain positions they should not hesitate to include in a deal if it's a good fit. If we trade some top prospects for rental types then we better not be just making 1 big trade and that's it we need 2 or 3 bold ones and commit to contending this year. We have more issues than just 1 trade can solve. I would guess based on recent history that Jed will once again balk about trading our top prospects and go shopping in the cheaper tiers though. Hope I am wrong but his track record doesn't give me much confidence.
With the cost of starting pitching likely through the roof I’ve been thinking of other options.
If we could add Arraez to DH and bat behind PCA it would likely bring our offense to an unmatched status.
Mason Miller, shuts down the 9th plus at some point we’re getting Palencia back and hopefully Shelby Miller come September.
It’s been reported Steele and Brown aren’t going to be stretched out in time to start but if each could give you one time through the lineup they could be piggybacked to give us one solid spot in the order equivalent to anyone we could add not named Skubal.
Ryan or Wacha are going to be very pricey. But if Arraez is added to the lineup. I think we could live with a Shota, Boyd, Robertson ( Steele/Brown combo) playoff Rotation. Plus we still have Rea, Assad and Taillon to get us to the finish line and Wiggins is also throwing again.
Every acquisition has a risk of being a bust but Arraez and Mason Miller to me are the closest things other than Skubal of being sure things.
If we could add Arraez to DH and bat behind PCA it would likely bring our offense to an unmatched status.
Mason Miller, shuts down the 9th plus at some point we’re getting Palencia back and hopefully Shelby Miller come September.
It’s been reported Steele and Brown aren’t going to be stretched out in time to start but if each could give you one time through the lineup they could be piggybacked to give us one solid spot in the order equivalent to anyone we could add not named Skubal.
Ryan or Wacha are going to be very pricey. But if Arraez is added to the lineup. I think we could live with a Shota, Boyd, Robertson ( Steele/Brown combo) playoff Rotation. Plus we still have Rea, Assad and Taillon to get us to the finish line and Wiggins is also throwing again.
Every acquisition has a risk of being a bust but Arraez and Mason Miller to me are the closest things other than Skubal of being sure things.
RHP Kevin Gausman could be a rental option with playoff experience. His 8-team no-trade list just got reported today and the Cubs are not on it.
Good news is the once you get to the postseason, it’s a crapshoot unless you have a $600 mil roster like the Dodgers.
Get there and see if you can make some noise. Cubs have the talent to do so.
The stat they showed was crazy. In 2024-2025 it took PCA 1,050 plate appearances to draw 50 walks. This year, it took him 420.
Not your typical no trade list. Milwaukee Seattle Detroit. Pittsburgh and the White Sox completely understand but both may be legitimate buyers this year.
RHP Kevin Gausman could be a rental option with playoff experience. His 8-team no-trade list just got reported today and the Cubs are not on it.
RHP Kevin Gausman could be a rental option with playoff experience. His 8-team no-trade list just got reported today and the Cubs are not on it.
I hope Jed approaches the deadline with the mindset/analytics- is XYZ's game built for the playoffs.
Any starter the Cubs add at the deadline needs to be a #1/#2 starter. Have shut down stuff. Because I feel the Cubs have the #3/#4 starter talent covered with: Imanaga, Boyd, Cabrera, Taillon.
So in the case of a guy like Gausman, I'd rather spend prospect capital on a quality reliever than #3/#4 starter talent.
I would give my left testicle to see Arraez in a cubs uniform. I just have no idea where you play him. Personally would move Nico to short, play him at second, and bench Swanson, but that isn't going to happen. Just have a hard time seeing this cubs mgmt having a guy with little power in the DH spot. But man that dude can hit, he's exactly what we need in the lineup.
