This. Fucking. Bullpen.

[Quality Start Machine]

There were a number of fans questioning the move of pulling Lackey after six, and I really don't know how anyone could prefer a third time through the order of John Lackey to a well-rested Pedro Strop. Hell I'm not sure there's any Cubs starter right now I don't want Joe to pull after six if the game is close and Strop/Rondon/Chapman are rested.

And, if they're not rested, you still have Edwards, Nathan, and (hopefully good) Grimm.

I almost wish would start mixing and matching instead of always going to those three in a predictable manner. Sun in Edwards for Strop or Rondon once in a while, let Nathan pitch a 7th inning...whatever.

Man, this may be fun.

Today will be a mix & match day. Chapman won't be available, and I'm guessing no Rondon either.

[Oleg]

There were a number of fans questioning the move of pulling Lackey after six, and I really don't know how anyone could prefer a third time through the order of John Lackey to a well-rested Pedro Strop. Hell I'm not sure there's any Cubs starter right now I don't want Joe to pull after six if the game is close and Strop/Rondon/Chapman are rested.

And, if they're not rested, you still have Edwards, Nathan, and (hopefully good) Grimm.

I almost wish would start mixing and matching instead of always going to those three in a predictable manner. Sun in Edwards for Strop or Rondon once in a while, let Nathan pitch a 7th inning...whatever.

Man, this may be fun.

Today will be a mix & match day. Chapman won't be available, and I'm guessing no Rondon either.

I guess my point is that the second tier is still really good, too.

[D. Doluntap]

Tier 1A

[SKO]

There were a number of fans questioning the move of pulling Lackey after six, and I really don't know how anyone could prefer a third time through the order of John Lackey to a well-rested Pedro Strop. Hell I'm not sure there's any Cubs starter right now I don't want Joe to pull after six if the game is close and Strop/Rondon/Chapman are rested.

And, if they're not rested, you still have Edwards, Nathan, and (hopefully good) Grimm.

I almost wish would start mixing and matching instead of always going to those three in a predictable manner. Sun in Edwards for Strop or Rondon once in a while, let Nathan pitch a 7th inning...whatever.

Man, this may be fun.

Today will be a mix & match day. Chapman won't be available, and I'm guessing no Rondon either.

I guess my point is that the second tier is still really good, too.

The cascade effect of adding just one more good arm is huge. Montgomery is due to not suck at some point as well given how well he was doing in Seattle. Grimm has also looked like 2015 Grimm in his last 7 or 8 appearances. Chapman/Rondon/Strop/Edwards/Grimm/Montgomery should be as good of a late inning mix as there is in the game right now.

I just hope Joe starts to rely less on Travis Wood now that he's got more options because Wood's peripherals definitely indicate he should be a mop up guy. His success in high leverage spots so far this year owes to a ludicrously low sub .200 BABIP and a really high LOB%, because he's walked everyone while striking out hardly anyone and giving up plenty of dingers. Same with Cahill. They should be viewed as mop up and long guys, not middle relief/set up.

[Quality Start Machine]

Edwards is the guy who I find is the most fun to watch. That filthy breaking ball with 95 MPH heat is just not fair.

[Oleg]

I have totally forgotten about Mike Montgomery.

[CBStew]

Edwards is the guy who I find is the most fun to watch. That filthy breaking ball with 95 MPH heat is just not fair.

Am I the only one who thinks that he would like to buy Edwards a good meal every time I see him take the mound?

[Quality Start Machine]

Edwards is the guy who I find is the most fun to watch. That filthy breaking ball with 95 MPH heat is just not fair.

Am I the only one who thinks that he would like to buy Edwards a good meal every time I see him take the mound?

I keep thinking he's wearing a youth jersey.

[Saul Goodman]

Welp.

[WTB...A RING FFS!!]

There goes my joyful positive. Even when Arriota pitches a good game this team doesn'the help him...

[CubFaninHydePark]

There goes my joyful positive. Even when Arriota pitches a good game this team doesn'the help him...

Whatever "good game" he had going totally got erased by the inexcusable sin of walking the 7 and 8 hitters to open the 8th.  I hope it's good for Theo and company to have instant feedback showing that the Chapman trade was really, really dumb, but this one is on Jake.

[Canadouche]

There goes my joyful positive. Even when Arriota pitches a good game this team doesn'the help him...

Whatever "good game" he had going totally got erased by the inexcusable sin of walking the 7 and 8 hitters to open the 8th.  I hope it's good for Theo and company to have instant feedback showing that the Chapman trade was really, really dumb, but this one is on Jake.

The Cubs have a so-called three-headed monster in their bullpen, with the intent of them taking over games from the 7th inning. Why the fuck was Jake pitching in the 8th to begin with? Cubs had a lead, Jake was the winning pitcher, time to bring out the Hydra.

[CubFaninHydePark]

There goes my joyful positive. Even when Arriota pitches a good game this team doesn'the help him...

Whatever "good game" he had going totally got erased by the inexcusable sin of walking the 7 and 8 hitters to open the 8th.  I hope it's good for Theo and company to have instant feedback showing that the Chapman trade was really, really dumb, but this one is on Jake.

The Cubs have a so-called three-headed monster in their bullpen, with the intent of them taking over games from the 7th inning. Why the fuck was Jake pitching in the 8th to begin with? Cubs had a lead, Jake was the winning pitcher, time to bring out the Hydra.

There's also this spot-on perspective.

[WTB...A RING FFS!!]

Hey, yes Arrieta walked the 1st 2 batters, but did we have to bring in Chapman when we had Rondon(a VERY good pitcher) that had just gotten 2 outs with no runs scored? And Kudos to the guy catching up to the 100 mph fastball for a 2-run 2B for the lead. That's not going to happen very often looking at Chapman's #'s. It's not like we had Wood/Montgomery out there and Chapman was WAY better than them.

[SKO]

Pretty goddamn ridiculous that Theo traded for a shutdown closer and that he gave up a hit.

This trade was dumb because the Cubs already had a closer who sucks because he gives up runs at disproportionately wrong times