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Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
July 30, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Genre…..after today’s game my head hurts too much to answer that question. Can I get back to you later?
July 30, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Yes. I understand, chucky. Take your time…I’m always interested to know what you and the fellas are thinking.
My head hurts, too. Look…I didn’t see the game…but I understand that Arrieta pitched well through 7 innings, right? I’m starting to think that Arrieta may not be feeling as strong as he was last year at this point in the season.
I have a lot of respect for Maddon…but why not bring Rondon in for the ENTIRE 8th inning – unless he flames out – and then Chapman for the 9th. Maybe Maddon is making too many moves (?).
July 30, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Yesterday’s blow out win was fool’s gold as I expected. Today’s game was a better gauge of the Cubs strength – “ace” pitcher on the mound with top end closer to back him up – and, what happened? Another loss. They demonstrated to me that they aren’t ready to compete for a championship.
A guy with an ERA of 5 almost pitches a perfect game against them! What does that tell you? It tells me that this team can be had by any type of pitcher that knows what to throw against the Cubs lineup. I can just see the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Nationals, Pirates, and Cardinals scouts salivating over the glaring weaknesses their pitchers can take advantage of in a one game, or a seven game series.
I used to think, “if only they had a legit closer they could reach the promised land,” I now know their weaknesses are far greater than I ever imagined!
July 30, 2016 at 11:29 pm
So you can’t chalk it up to “just one game”?
July 31, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Well, it looks like Matusz is useless as tits on a fucking bull.
July 31, 2016 at 8:14 pm
Okay. I’m not calling for Joe Maddon’s head. However, I’m getting pissed off about some things.
Kyle Hendricks was supposed to start against Felix “K” Hernandez in the series finale. A good challenge for young Hendricks and a game that one could expect will be won via pitchers’ duel.
Instead, Maddon wants to run out Brian Matusz to see if he can be this coveted “6th starter.” Maddon claims in his pre-game conference that he’d be happy if he got five innings with him. Five innings from a starter in a game against the six-time All Star & former Cy Young…
Basically, Maddon is admitting to punting a winnable home game.
Looking at the schedule, the Cubs have a day off on the 4th and 8th. From July 27 through August 18, they have just THREE road games: a three-game series against the shitty Athletics Aug 5-7. Everything else is home.
Ever since Maddon won that extra-inning game where he was rotating pitchers and outfielders, I feel as though he’s gotten too smart for his own good. Way too much over-managing on his behalf.
As I’m about to post this, Matusz has allowed six runs in less than three innings. Three home runs.
If Maddon wants to run out some random dude who’ll almost certainly lose, then do it during a road game, a long stretch without a day off in sight, and/or against another teams crappy pitcher. Not against a former Cy Young & six-time All Star.
They need to watch out. Cardinals aren’t that far back and there’s a load of wild-card contenders in the NL. They can’t just start throwing winnable games like this.
July 31, 2016 at 8:27 pm
This entire No. 6 starter idea is bullshit. If Maddon wants a No. 6 starter, don’t slot him into the rotation as a regular starter. Just let him outright replace an Arrieta/Hendricks/Lester start. Consistently delaying our main pitchers’ starts by one day…don’t see that doing much. Could affect their rhythm when the postseason starts.
And yes Genre, I agree with what you said about Chapman/Rondon and Maddon making too many moves.
July 31, 2016 at 8:46 pm
In response to “Devil’s Advocate”: This is not about “one game.” This is a pattern. For your information, with tonight’s loss the Cubs will be 37-36 in their last 73 games. Does that scream playoff ready to you?
One hit … yes, one lousy hit after 4 innings. Toss in yesterday’s 1 hit debacle through 9, and I smell team’s scouting starting to figure out how to pitch Cub hitters.
Add into that the fact Cub starting pitchers can’t get out of the first inning without giving up 1 to 3 runs every game, and you’ve got a team in serious trouble.
I’m with the other guys on Maddon as well. I’m starting to smell the putrid stench of Lou Pinella in the way this guy manages.
And add to those the fact that this kind of crap has been going on with this team for the past 52 years that I’ve been watching them, then you now know why this is NOT about just “one game.”
July 31, 2016 at 8:51 pm
Chucky – “Well, it looks like Matusz is useless as tits on a fucking bull.”
LOL! My daddy used to say “tits on a boar’s belly,” but I like yours too!
Hey, Chucky; want to lay any money on the Cubs coming back from tonight’s 6-0 deficit? It’s only the fifth. Come on, I could use the money. Remember the hit song; “Hey, Chicago, wadda say, Cubs are gonna win today…”
July 31, 2016 at 9:07 pm
Ernie….sorry, I can’t make that bet. I need very dime I can get my hands on too. Guess that shows you have much faith I have in them. And regarding the song you mentioned, I think this one is far more accurate.
July 31, 2016 at 9:07 pm
Would’ve been nice to have Hendricks out there tonight. Hernandez throwing lame. Cubs probably win this with Hendricks. Now it’s unnecessarily difficult.
And looking at ESPN’s pitching projections, Matusz is expected to make at least two more starts. With days off on the 4th and 8th, Maddon could have easily skipped an Arrieta/Lester start without even using Matusz.
Whatever. They’re acting like they have a 20-game lead over the entire National League. Even if Cubs win NL Central, they could easily find themselves without home-field advantage in a NLDS matchup vs Washington/San Francisco.
July 31, 2016 at 9:10 pm
LOL! Chucky, you da man!
July 31, 2016 at 9:22 pm
Thought you’d like that Ernie. There are more songs on youtube. They’re pretty damn funny.
July 31, 2016 at 9:36 pm
Bases loaded and nobody out, partly due to Joe Nathan’s Matusz impersonation, but Woody gets them out of it with no runs scored. Gutsy! Something Cub players have lacked all year.
One more thing I want to get off my chest about Maddon. I hope he has gotten the, “Hey Dudes, I like keepin my guys loose. Say, I know, let’s wear pantyhose on the next road trip. Whadda say fellas?”, nonsense out of his system! One thing I remember about that 1988 Dodger World Series team was Kirk Gibson calling out the entire team during Spring Training over the practical joking and screwing around going on in the locker room. Someone put shoe polish in his helmet, and when he found out he demanded to know who did it. No one came forward. He was determined to beat the crap out of whoever did it, and then he said what stuck with that team all year long, “Look, I came from a winning team, a team that won a World Series title in 1984. If you guys aren’t focused on winning, then I would just as soon exercise my option now. So, if you aren’t interested in winning, then I’m not interested in staying!”
If I recall correctly, Dodger management found out who did it and traded him. The guy was a pretty decent player, but not committed to winning, so out he went. This rest is history; Gibson hit the game winner in the second game on one leg, and the Dodgers went on to win their last W.S. championship.
So, Maddon, listen to me carefully, the last thing the Cubs need is a “Jake the Cable Guy” for a manager! Stop the nonsense and get serious! Or, you will be just another in a long, long, long line of Cub managers who finally threw up their hands and said, “Hey, wadda want me to do?” – Sweet Lou
July 31, 2016 at 10:36 pm
Ernie……BRAVO MY FRIEND!!!!! Well said. And 1000% correct. Enough already with all of these stupid, childish, bullshit distractions. Time to focus on what the fuck you’re trying to accomplish, and leave the silly shit at home.
July 31, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Thanks, Chucky my friend.
July 31, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Anytime.
July 31, 2016 at 11:34 pm
LOL! Hey Chucky, you should’a bet me, you would have won five bucks! Cubs win 7-6!
In all seriousness, this is the kind of win that can turn a season around… if they can get some consistency. That’s been the problem with this team all year long, lack of consistency.
Let’s see what this does against Miami, another team that gives the Cubs fits.
But, let’s call it what it is, a gutsy win! Great Job!
July 31, 2016 at 11:35 pm
Don’t know why they had to make it that difficult. But they got a win. Happy to see the offense has established some late-game comeback efforts lately, even if the bullpen sometimes blows them at the end.
Just please don’t run Matusz or any other reject out there every six days. DON’T. There are betters ways to rest starters.
August 1, 2016 at 12:06 am
Damn, just pulled up the score. Well…I’m happy they one. Long ways to go…
August 1, 2016 at 8:56 am
Matusz obviously wasn’t ready. I hope they send him back to the farm. Let him pitch home run derby.
August 1, 2016 at 11:00 am
Matusz released. Thank goodness.
August 1, 2016 at 2:57 pm
*****
August 1, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Good riddance to that fucking useless bastard. Go fuck up some other team Matusz, you goddamn shitstain.