The 2016 Cubs: SPLOOGE SPLOOGE SPLOOGE

[Oleg]

The 9th inning defensive alignment of Ross/Rizzo/Baez/Russell/Bryant with Almora/Fowler/Heyward in the OF is probably the single best defense the Cubs have fielded in my lifetime.

You're stealing my bit.  Sort of.

[Saul Goodman]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Fuck the Nationals.

[Saul Goodman]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Fuck the Nationals.

Also fuck not being able to finish off the Nationals.

[SKO]

Adam Warren can get fucked.

[SKO]

And Rondon struck out Harper. Twice.

[Saul Goodman]

And Rondon struck out Harper. Twice.

Davidson was brutal. That game should've been over; however, at the same time, the Cubs had multiple chances to win after that but couldn't stop fucking up. Miller and Betances, please.

[R-V]

I guess I didn't realize how below average the Cubs bullpen has been overall - I guess it's been masked so far by the starters pitching out of their mind, and Rondon in particular being really good.

20th in FIP
27th in BB/9
20th in HR/9
2nd in BABIP

The BABIP one gives me heartburn. I know this may be due in part to great defense/inducing weak contact, but given the other numbers they could be in for some regression even from their not-good performance so far.

This has to be the top priority at the deadline.

[SKO]

I guess I didn't realize how below average the Cubs bullpen has been overall - I guess it's been masked so far by the starters pitching out of their mind, and Rondon in particular being really good.

20th in FIP
27th in BB/9
20th in HR/9
2nd in BABIP

The BABIP one gives me heartburn. I know this may be due in part to great defense/inducing weak contact, but given the other numbers they could be in for some regression even from their not-good performance so far.

This has to be the top priority at the deadline.

Rondon and Strop are the only two who have actually been good. Warren has walked everybody and struck out no one all year long and got away with it for a little bit because he's still running a BABIP under .200 somehow, but he's been downright ass (4.18 ERA/5.67 FIP/5.48 xFIP, 5.32 BB/9). Cahill and Wood have both walked 4 or 5+ guys per 9 and while Cahill is striking out over 10 guys per 9 and can probably get away with it with his sinker, Wood isn't striking out anyone and he's clearly just smoke and mirrors so far.

Grimm is stuck in one of his spells where he can't throw strikes. They could definitely use another quality arm in the middle.

[SKO]

DPD, but yeah, while RV might be right about the low BABIP meaning some regression is probably coming, one would hope that would be off-set by Warren and Grimm eventually progressing back to the mean, velocity seems fine on both so I really don't see any reason why they can't get their shit together at some point. Wood is probably not very useful if his fastball is down from where it was as a reliever last year and he can't avoid walking guys. Cahill is a fine enough long reliever but they need to get back to not having to use him in high leverage situations.

[Quality Start Machine]

I guess I didn't realize how below average the Cubs bullpen has been overall - I guess it's been masked so far by the starters pitching out of their mind, and Rondon in particular being really good.

20th in FIP
27th in BB/9
20th in HR/9
2nd in BABIP

The BABIP one gives me heartburn. I know this may be due in part to great defense/inducing weak contact, but given the other numbers they could be in for some regression even from their not-good performance so far.

This has to be the top priority at the deadline.

Rondon and Strop are the only two who have actually been good. Warren has walked everybody and struck out no one all year long and got away with it for a little bit because he's still running a BABIP under .200 somehow, but he's been downright ass (4.18 ERA/5.67 FIP/5.48 xFIP, 5.32 BB/9). Cahill and Wood have both walked 4 or 5+ guys per 9 and while Cahill is striking out over 10 guys per 9 and can probably get away with it with his sinker, Wood isn't striking out anyone and he's clearly just smoke and mirrors so far.

Grimm is stuck in one of his spells where he can't throw strikes. They could definitely use another quality arm in the middle.

so the answer isn't Clayton Richard?

[Oleg]

I guess I didn't realize how below average the Cubs bullpen has been overall - I guess it's been masked so far by the starters pitching out of their mind, and Rondon in particular being really good.

20th in FIP
27th in BB/9
20th in HR/9
2nd in BABIP

The BABIP one gives me heartburn. I know this may be due in part to great defense/inducing weak contact, but given the other numbers they could be in for some regression even from their not-good performance so far.

This has to be the top priority at the deadline.

The other masking is that they've pitched the fewest innings in the majors (I assume that's still true).

But, yeah...bring me all the Millers and Chapmans!

[CBStew]

I guess I didn't realize how below average the Cubs bullpen has been overall - I guess it's been masked so far by the starters pitching out of their mind, and Rondon in particular being really good.

20th in FIP
27th in BB/9
20th in HR/9
2nd in BABIP

The BABIP one gives me heartburn. I know this may be due in part to great defense/inducing weak contact, but given the other numbers they could be in for some regression even from their not-good performance so far.

This has to be the top priority at the deadline.

The other masking is that they've pitched the fewest innings in the majors (I assume that's still true).

But, yeah...bring me all the Millers and Chapmans!

Maybe Calvin Schiraldi is available.

[PenFoe]

Contreras, bitches.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/743481087196815360

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Contreras, bitches.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/743481087196815360

Quick--what's your favorite memory of the Tim Federowicz Era?

[ChuckD]

Contreras, bitches.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/743481087196815360

Quick--what's your favorite memory of the Tim Federowicz Era?

I liked it when Contreras was called up. #2 is that one game where he had a net positive WPA.