2025 Cubs

[1060Ivy]

Silly that Astros expected Smith to play at MLB level to start this season. The trade looks amazing for Cubs during the first month of season but how will trade appear 2-4 seasons from now? We will see

Hopefully, Cubs sold high on Smith and get Tucker another series ring

[Butcher]

I mean…we kind of expected Matt Shaw to play at MLB level to start the season…

[Destined]

hi guys. I think the Cubs are good.

[rok]

Destined!!!

They’re not all bad, I suppose….

[Butcher]

We might have ourselves a squad.

[Bricklayer]

All this is just going to make it hurt more, isn't it?

Damn it, I fear as if we need to have it proved out again and again that Ricketts and Co will be more than happy to catch lightning in bottle and have one year of success but not try to extend anyone to make sure it can be repeatable.

I hate being like this.

[Butcher]

Hi Brick!

[1060Ivy]

Cubs have played some fun and great baseball against talented teams so far this season. Psyched by the great wins.

Still concerned that quality of the bullpen, the health of the starters, and continued black hole at third base will lead to a swoon in coming months (please no repeat of last season’s crap May)

Yup, we’re all doomed

[Butcher]

I like Hodge and Merryweather a lot. And Pressly has stabilized a bit, but I’m not sure I like him as a closer. But, if you can count on those three guys and one more reliable arm (Palencia, maybe?), that’s a pretty solid bullpen. Maybe Tyson Miller comes back strong? Keller has shown some signs, too.

3B is definitely a problem, but we’re getting production out of almost every other spot in the lineup.

Maybe I’m drinking the Kool Aid, but this looks like a legit contender. Lots of season to go, of course, but I like what I’m seeing.

[1060Ivy]

Another set of reasons to be happy about the young 2025 Cubs season

https://www.mlb.com/news/reasons-cubs-lo...-lock-2025

[1060Ivy]

Nice write up in Athletic regarding changes that Kelly has made to his swing including before and after videos. He’s not going to sustain the current MVP pace but it’s a great run that is delivering from an offensive black hole for good portions of 2024 season

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6321031...potential/

[Butcher]

The Athletic is pretty much the only sports website I read at this point. The offense we've gotten out of the C position this season so far has been huge. If they can both continue to be average to above average hitters, that would be huge. Of course...I'll take Kelly's current pace if he's able to sustain it. LOL

[Butcher]

I was at the game last night. 53 degrees at the start but it was actually quite pleasant. Very little wind, which makes a huge difference. Nice outcome for my first Wrigley outing of the season...

[1060Ivy]

Have an idea to improve the bullpen next season - stop signing declining ex-Astros closers!

No clue if he’s tipping his pitches but that was horse shit.

Batters facing Pressley have a 327 batting average and an .869 OPS so it seems that any batter facing the Cubs closer immediately produces like an all star

[Butcher]

Pressly is cooked. His strikeout rate is way too low to be anything but a mop up guy at this point. His ERA before that disaster was 2-something, but it wasn't sustainable. He was getting lucky with line drives finding gloves and his defense bailing him out.