Please use this thread for any questions, non-Chicago Cubs content, or anything else that might not warrant a new post.

Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!

Cubs.com makes it seem like there will be fireworks at Wrigley on the 4th of July, but it is a day game with a 1:20 start time. Seems like fireworks post game would be before it gets dark. Do any of you have solid details on their plan? Or if no fireworks at Wrigley, suggestions on where to see some? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide us for our visit!

These are dark times for my fellow Cubs fans but the good news is that there have been dysfunctional teams in MLB history to get through and win it all. Just not in this era. We won today's game but the outburst from Justin in the dugout possibly reveals a hint of what may be boiling under behind the scenes.

• Jed Hoyer. a first time GM/Pres of baseball operations who seems genuinely clueless about what it takes to win MLB games , only just simply acquiring young talent. His lack of big FA signings and his favoritism toward some vets (Mastrobuoni, Descalso, Kipnis) shows how middling to poor his judgment is.
• Happ and Dansby don't like each other. Happ is the longest tenured veteran next to Hendricks and you could tell he resented Dansby being signed to be the "face of the team" long term last season (many cold shoulders). This friction may have played a part in the poor performance of both so far this year.
• PCA - an upstart rookie who came up with a lot of hype but has not delivered at the plate yet. The outfielders now give him free reign on 50/50 flys but you could tell his style (flair?) rubs some of them wrong. He gets along well enough with the young guys (Morel, Amaya) but I don't see him being taken under anyone's wing anytime soon.
• Rookie vs. veteran rift. A lot of the young players (Morel, PCA, Amaya) are happy go lucky types who are glad to be here. The vets (Happ, Hendricks, Dansby, Steele) are stoic types who try to lead by example when playing well. When everyone is playing poorly the chemistry falls apart because there is no accountability from leaders and no guidance for the young players.
• Belli- he's essentially out for himself because he wants that big contract. He can't be blamed for this after last season but it has not made him popular with teammates or coaches either. He is a possible trade candidate and he may opt out at end of season anyway.
• Craig Counsell - the highest paid MLB manager has not been the godsend missing piece the FO wanted him to be. He's a hands off manager that works well with low expectation talent and veterans. He has not "gone to bat" for this team in arguments, close calls or challenges/disputes. Good leadership commands respect but he's shown nothing in the way of showing a strong managerial presence with a proactive coaching staff. I suspect a lot of players are expecting him to do much more to earn his pay. His past winning record means nothing to a team if they are under-performing and defer to moves and decisions to make a difference.

Not to be that "boomer guy" (not a boomer, I'm a Gen-Xer) to say back in the day but there have been teams who notoriously did not get along and still win it all. They were all in a different era (1970s As, Yanks 1980s Dodgers). The modern game is more laissez faire/ hands off. Those old teams would have full blown fights in the clubhouse to settle disputes. They also all had loud , brash managers who knew how to reign them in. The outburst from Justin was absolutely warranted with the poor performance of this team. His status as a veteran pitcher should be enough to merit respect for it. If there was ever a need for more motivation to make this a turning point this is it. If it is not, maybe there is enough contempt, hatred or malcontent around to keep everyone angry enough to do something about it.

Lupe Fiasco released a great album yesterday, Samurai. He's Chicago. Can anyone take a shot at interpreting this Dawson reference? From the song Bigfoot.

"What does a break take? When does it take place? Often in space and time, important to have a portion Is it a safe space to make mates all at once or in installments? Is it a base rate? Devalue their involvement, is it evolving? Is there a standard to differentiate between the offerings? Or am I just church steps to an orphan and I take whatever they tossin'? Or be more like Andre Dawson when they obfuscate the losses?"

Link to the song on Spotify: Lupe Fiasco - Bigfoot

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Game ended at 5:46 PM.

The impetus for this post was a comparison between the tenure of Jed Hoyer and teams with a similar payroll like the Astros. Between 2017-2023, both teams averaged close to $180M in payroll per year. The Cubs have had a 0.516 winning percentage in that span, while the Astros have had far greater success with a 0.611 mark. Additionally, the Astros have made the playoffs seven times, including two championships, while the Cubs have only made three playoffs, two of which were losses in the Wild Card.

When comparing how the Astros managed to perform so well with a similar payroll a few key areas stand out:

• International scouting/development- The organization's investment in closely evaluating international players has provided countless names like Yuli Gurriel, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy. In the same span, the Cubs essentially have Adbert Alzolay and maybe Christopher Morel as their international hits.
• Analytics- The Astros are known for their heavy investment into pitching development and have used it to find improvements in various projects, a notable example being Gerrit Cole in 2018. Although their analytics may have gotten a little *too* advanced for their own good (2017), they have far and away outpaced the Cubs in comparison.

The Gerrit Cole example leads me to the crux of this post: The Astros have had consistent postseason success because of their aggressiveness in acquiring starting pitching that helps to carry their team through the season and into the playoffs. When you look at the years between 17 and 22, you see a laundry list of names that are studs in the rotation:

2017- Justin Verlander

2018- Gerrit Cole

2019- Zack Greinke

2022- Verlander (again)

In the years that don't have a big SP trade/acquisition, we do see important contributions from the international guys previously mentioned, that made it so the Astros did not have to depend fully on outside additions during the competitive window.

The interesting thing is that looking at when the Cubs went aggressive on trading or acquiring starting pitching, they too found success in reaching the postseason, with both Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish/Cole Hamels being key acquisitions in 2017 and 2018 respectively that helped the team make the playoffs. Yet shockingly, the Cubs seemed to abandon this strategy in the following years, trading away Darvish and instead opting for guys like Jake Arrieta, Trevor Williams and Jameson Taillon. Arrieta and Taillon had seen successful seasons in the past, but were basically coming in as projects. Stroman was probably the highest-caliber starter they signed, being a consistent 3.5 WAR guy, but still falling short of the 4+ WAR guys they had acquired in the past.

You might be thinking at this point, "well duh, of course acquiring established top-tier starters is the key to making it to the postseason." Then the question remains, why hasn't Jed done that in five years? I think it's very difficult to look at the two rebuilds between Houston and Chicago and find many things Jed has done well comparatively in that span, compared to Jeff Luhnow and James Click. The Cubs seem to mainly be in cruise control, waiting for the development of a bunch of prospects they have traded for over the years. I think 2025 is a defining year for Jed given that his contract is expiring, and he has to make some type of moves this offseason that are going to decide his fate with the team.

Based on this analysis, it would seem that the Cubs should be ready to acquire Corbin Burnes at all costs, presuming Gerrit Cole returns to the Yankees. It’s time for the front office to look back at what actually went right in their contending years and develop a team that will push for the postseason at the outset of the year, not another run it back and cross your fingers type of year. This team has pissed away time for far too long to be at the bottom of the standings again, and the following few months will be critical to defining who this team is for the foreseeable future.

Cubs (38-45) @ Brewers (49-33)

First Pitch: 3:10 PM at American Family Field

Line Score - Game Over

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Game ended at 5:48 PM.

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Please use this thread for any questions, non-Chicago Cubs content, or anything else that might not warrant a new post.

Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/cubs-select-jorge-lopez.html

So Jorge Lopez can try his hand at a redemption tour and Roberts returns to the Bigs. Thompson to IL with rib fracture and Vinny DFA the day after he is signed.

My post, you guys will remember the game:

“Anyone just checking the box score for tonight's Cub game will think it was a pretty standard game. The crazy highlights:

Cubs were no hit for nearly nine innings, the 6th-15th.

Cubs used three different relief pitchers...in left field.

Maddon juggled two pitchers in the 15th, moving them from the mound to left and back again.

Baez grand slam in the 15th put them up 7-2.

Awesome game.”

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Game ended at 9:38 PM.

Cubs (38-44) @ Brewers (48-33)

First Pitch: 7:10 PM at American Family Field

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Game ended at 9:40 PM.

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I’m going to my first game at American Family Field and taking my nephew for his birthday. Didn’t want to post in a Brewers thread as I know us Cubs fans love to head up to Wrigley North. I was curious if any of you guys knew what time gates open on Saturdays. We’re trying to be there as early as possible to explore the ballpark a little. I’m just confused on what I’m finding online. Some things are showing 90 minutes prior to first pitch, some say 2 hours, and thought I even saw something say 3 hours prior. Also if you guys have any suggestions, please provide some! We are sitting in right field 6th row. Thanks!

Please use this thread for any questions, non-Chicago Cubs content, or anything else that might not warrant a new post.

Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes!

I just tuned into today's game and remembered that in the 80s-90s Cubs fans would tell me the Giants were their rivals. Has that held up? I know geographically St Louis is one, but who else do you guys love to hate? Who's the primary rival these days?

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Game ended at 5:39 PM.

Serious replies with realistic trade proposals are preferred but joke replies with exceptional creativity are welcome. We are almost universally in agreement that Jed failed , so play GM for a day.

• Mastrobuoni to AAA, call up Canario- this teams needs slug desperately.
• trade for Brent Rooker, a DH to modestly address the need for slug in the short term. It may take a weird combo of Mervis + pitching prospects but the A's may be willing partners.
• rotate out 1 position player or DH depending on who is not hitting. Start Canario or Rooker in their place and instill a sense of urgency for production.
• Have scouts find the best upside High AA pitching prospects who have plus fastballs or good control, trade for them (Belli, Tauch?) and put them in the bullpen immediately. The league will take some time to adjust and learn before they get hit regularly but the limited usage out of the pen may extend their effectiveness. Certainly better than what we have now.
• Get Counsell to wear a disguise as a vendor at Chicago Dogs games and have him recruit more bullpen arms for us.

Cubs (37-44) @ Giants (39-42)

First Pitch: 2:45 PM at Oracle Park

Line Score - Game Over

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Game ended at 5:40 PM.

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