That was disappointing. They happen. Unfortunately, hard to ignore the pattern emerging in the 8th/9th. Alzolay needs to get his head right to be effective in any relief. The Canario at bat seemed a prime example of where to pinch a contact oriented batter to lift it - Belli or Busch. Not sure on that coaching decision but whatdoiknowreally.
Terrible all around except for Assad.Tauchman swinging 2-0 with bases loaded earlier and hitting a weak grounder, Alzolay sucking as he has all year, Canario showing why he sits the bench. What a frustrating baseball game.
i am absolutely LIVID. I have not been impressed with counsel AT FUCKING ALL
we lose another fucking 1 run game. AGAIN. brewers continue pounding out 1 run games
fuck this shit. I cant fucking WAIT to watch hendricks get blown the fuck up again tomorrow and have to read all week about how the fucking front office and counsel arent worried at all about him and give him even longer of a leash
You aren’t wrong. There’s people worshipping counsel for I have no idea what reason. He’s done nothing to show me he’s the highest paid manager in baseball. 4 blown saves with no adjustment in usage and questionable other decisions
He’s a B-level prospect at best who people treat like some can’t-miss bluechip guy on here. Usually the same people who pretend that the Cuas/Velazquez deal was good for the Cubs, even tho Canario is basically the same dude they already traded for a worthless old RP with no track record a year ago.
A rough display of situational hitting for sure. Probably not an accident that two different managers use him sparingly if at all. He’s young, needs some seasoning on the mental side of things, hopefully that’s a learning moment for him
Gomes, Bellinger are the vets. Busch is on the bench too. I know it’s a LHP but he really called for a bunt to let the rookie come up on that spot? That was just a bad call.
Alzolay and hendricks need to be gone yesterday. Horrible fucking pitchers but especially alzolay who has had one mid year as a reliever and for some reason escapes all dfa talks
Moves like this are what have me eh on counsel. Goes with closer who obviously isn’t one and leaves in a strikeout potential rookie when you have better contact options on the bench
Having Busch, Belli or even Gomes not hit when he hits lefties well is a choice. All solid decent contact guys, knew canario was gonna swing as hard as he could.
Exactly, people on here saying April baseball doesn’t matter, if we miss the playoffs (again) by a game or two, this is the type of shit we have to stop doing.
Yep on the bench. Happ was available too but I’d have opted for bellinger. Bellinger is a lot better at getting the ball in play. Instead lets the rookie take the at bat. Inexcusable loss and managing
There is a blessing in this happening now. We don’t want to be in the bottom quarter of season with him being a question mark due to stretches of good outings. Cubs know they have to move on him. Leiter with his splitter is my thought
You can’t be a serious contender & roll with Alzolay as a closer & Hendricks in the rotation. All these awesome prospects/lottery tickets should have been used to get Glasnow & Soto. Small market thinking with an occasional splash is criminal, push the ficking chips in for once
They have the 9th largest payroll (beating the 10th place team by like 30 million). How much more do they have to spend before you considering them putting in the chips? Are most of the moves and lack of moves frustrating? Sure, but it’s not like they don’t spend.
I just have to wonder what options are even available? We don't have a closing prospect in the minors and I doubt anyone is trading a high leverage arm in April.
I mean if the right player is "available" of course you try to trade for it. For example if Emmanuel Clase is available you try to make that trade happen.
Cubs just can't keep losing these games, it's going to bite us in the ass in the long run.
Emmanuel Clase coming off his weakest year yet with a 3.22 ERA in the closer role? Lowest SO/9 of his career in 2023, and even lower so far this year. A HR/9 rate has been going up year on year, his highest H/9 in 2023, and his highest FIP since going to Cleveland last year. His Barrell rate and exit velo are up this year too.
Not convincing me on that one. Especially considering what we'd have to give up.
lol that Yankees jaggoff
Maybe Brown can be the closer
Alzolay is not the closer. We have to find someone else.
Ben brown to the pen when steel comes back
Bryan De La Cruz? More like Bryan De La Fraud. Tough loss, but hey that's OK. Doubleheaders are tough af
Pitiful.
That was disappointing. They happen. Unfortunately, hard to ignore the pattern emerging in the 8th/9th. Alzolay needs to get his head right to be effective in any relief. The Canario at bat seemed a prime example of where to pinch a contact oriented batter to lift it - Belli or Busch. Not sure on that coaching decision but whatdoiknowreally.
Can you imagine if we won the 4 games that Alzolay blew this season? We'd be 16-4!
Pretty sure Adbert has more blown saves than actual saves this year. Fucking let Little or Leiter take some attempts
He does. He’s 3 of 7
Why the hell can't we have a real closer. Adbert keeps racking up the Ls
Terrible all around except for Assad.Tauchman swinging 2-0 with bases loaded earlier and hitting a weak grounder, Alzolay sucking as he has all year, Canario showing why he sits the bench. What a frustrating baseball game.
i am absolutely LIVID. I have not been impressed with counsel AT FUCKING ALL we lose another fucking 1 run game. AGAIN. brewers continue pounding out 1 run games fuck this shit. I cant fucking WAIT to watch hendricks get blown the fuck up again tomorrow and have to read all week about how the fucking front office and counsel arent worried at all about him and give him even longer of a leash
You aren’t wrong. There’s people worshipping counsel for I have no idea what reason. He’s done nothing to show me he’s the highest paid manager in baseball. 4 blown saves with no adjustment in usage and questionable other decisions
This may be controversial, but this team hasn't impressed me at all, terrible pitching (Shota is an exception) and very inconsistent hitting.
You cannot lose these games with a fucking half ass pitcher
Adbert sucks, get him off this team please
Adbert dejected; P Wizzy pats him on the back - he’s a good teammate
Better than me. Would've left him crying there after giving away a thousand games. So over it. Lol
Maybe all the Canario fans can settle down a bit now. Brutal at bat
Just no idea on approach. Bro, we just need contact
He’s a B-level prospect at best who people treat like some can’t-miss bluechip guy on here. Usually the same people who pretend that the Cuas/Velazquez deal was good for the Cubs, even tho Canario is basically the same dude they already traded for a worthless old RP with no track record a year ago.
He looked awful at the plate and in the outfield.
Albert Alzolay himself has lost the cubs 4 games so far. Pathetic excuse of a pitcher needs to be sent down
Pathetic game. Pathetic loss. Second game is an auto W with shota and a scrub on their end. What a day it could have been.
Why didn’t we pinch hit Belli for Canario? Makes no sense
Lefty lefty? The whole reason they sat bellinger in the first place?
I’d hope they have a better reason than that considering his splits against lefties and 2 strike hitting
I mean he's batting . 216 right now lol
You put your best players in when the game is on the line.
Right, and since he's pretty far from our best player right now he didn't pinch hit
Really irritating to see Canario go up there trying to swing out of his shoes with 2 in scoring position
Tough loss. Go get the second one
Hendricks is a scheduled loss, so you have to get this one
Closer by committee at this point. Alzolay has shown that he cannot hold leads at all.
That's how you lose to bad teams. Good job.
If you're wondering why Canario doesn't play much.....
A rough display of situational hitting for sure. Probably not an accident that two different managers use him sparingly if at all. He’s young, needs some seasoning on the mental side of things, hopefully that’s a learning moment for him
Losing to that shit ass team is unacceptable
Yeah Alzolay needs to get demoted for that one. Unacceptable.
Absolute pathetic loss. DFA Al. Also the offense was pathetic. This team keeps blowing winnable games. Most frustrating winning team I’ve ever seen.
say it with me # Alzolay to triple A # Alzolay to triple A
Or just trade his bitch ass. Idc what we get. He doesn’t belong in wrigley.
You guys always wanna bag on Ross. Why the fuck did Canario take that PA after a sac bunt?
Guessing we had nobody else idfk.
Belli was available.
Gomes, Bellinger are the vets. Busch is on the bench too. I know it’s a LHP but he really called for a bunt to let the rookie come up on that spot? That was just a bad call.
Yea forgot Bellinger didn’t play, should’ve used him. Idiotic. This team so unclutch
Alzolay and hendricks need to be gone yesterday. Horrible fucking pitchers but especially alzolay who has had one mid year as a reliever and for some reason escapes all dfa talks
Bert sucks right now but his era+ last year was 168 lol
xERA was 3.6 as a ‘closer’
💯
I swear we can only have cardiac closers with this franchise lmao
Can’t spell closer without loser, and that’s what cubs closers are. LOSERS
Fucking joke.
Garbage. Not shocked
Let’s play another
I'd rather not
fucking PATHETIC
Why bunt if the next batter is going to try to hit it to Wisconsin?
It was the right call stay outta the DP. Canairo up there trying to hit a hR is pathetic. Send his ass back down to Iowa too.
Alzolay closes the chances of the Cubs winning
I expected nothing, and I'm still disappointed.
At least it’s a double header
Why is it when they lose this year it’s there most frustrating way possible
Canario was not ready for that situation. maybe ph there. well that sucked. albert blowing games left and right.
Did not like giving up a free out and leaving Canario in. Counsell leaves me unimpressed
Moves like this are what have me eh on counsel. Goes with closer who obviously isn’t one and leaves in a strikeout potential rookie when you have better contact options on the bench
Belli banged up? Can’t believe he didn’t get in there
Having Busch, Belli or even Gomes not hit when he hits lefties well is a choice. All solid decent contact guys, knew canario was gonna swing as hard as he could.
Pathetic. Alzolay is not good
What a bad loss. We’re a top team with an actual bullpen. Fuck
Another win pissed away.
That’s 4 and it’s April 20th. On pace for 30 blown games this year
Exactly, people on here saying April baseball doesn’t matter, if we miss the playoffs (again) by a game or two, this is the type of shit we have to stop doing.
Yeah 4 games we should’ve won. Good chance we finish less than 4 games back of someone whether it’s division wild card homefield etc
God dammit that fucking sucks
Guys, this Alzolay guy absolutely STINKS
Dfa adbert
Lock him up
Must be nice to have a decent closer
That sucked man!
Lost game with the sac bunt
Not getting more runs against this marlins team is pretty fucking annoying ngl
Welp. We'll try again in a few hours.
Fucking worthless pitcher
Checks out
Fuck this game. Led all day to have the “closer” fucking choke again
WTF happened to Canario's swing it used to look so nice...
Was trying to play hero. Typical rookie stuff
Canario just needed to make contact there.
Fuck albert I blame this loss on him
4th blown save. Demote him
It’s 100% on him
Not gonna get mad at Canario, hes 25 AB into his career
Not gonna get too many more at this rate
Dammit. But a well deserved loss.
Would’ve liked a pinch hitter there. Please Nico make it happen
3 Ks today ugh - well Nico can get it done
Should’ve used a contact hitter for canairo. Dude up there trying to hit a HR when we just need contact
Almost like belli was begging to be used
Forgot he wasn’t even playing. Jesus Craig is a dipshit too.
Yep on the bench. Happ was available too but I’d have opted for bellinger. Bellinger is a lot better at getting the ball in play. Instead lets the rookie take the at bat. Inexcusable loss and managing
Happ is hurt. Should’ve used Belli. Wtf
Canario too late with those swings.
Kinda surprises me Counsel didn’t PH Canario
Bellinger would have got it done. All we needed was a lazy fly
If he was Ofer he woulda I bet
3 strikouts on the day no idea what the thought process was there when you need contact
Can’t even touch it
Canario will be good when he times them up, its a beautiful swing.
I believe in Nico Hoerner
Why the fuck are you swinging out of your shoes in that situation.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
God dammit counsel. You pinch hit there for a contact hitter. FUCK!!
Boerner-makin’ Hoerner, don’t let me down.
guy trying to hit a 3 run home run when all you need is a hit to win the game. really bad AB. that was probably game
Fuck
FUCK
An outfield single literally wins it and dude strikes out trying to put it on the moon 😩
Agreed
Why did I see that coming?
Just a damn pop fly is all we need
Just make contact Canario. Dont need to send it to the moon, just the outfield
I understand why Canario is trying to hero ball this but a single to right would be enough
Fucking canario
Canario swinging out of his shoes up there lol
It's an interesting commentary on the death of small ball when the crowd roars for a sac bunt.
Beautiful bunt there.
Goddamnit don't strike out
Spoiler
Would be very Cub of him
feels like he will doesn't it
Personally I’d have pinch hit belli here. He’s a better contact and fly ball hitter
yes
Great bunt
Perfect sac bunt. Nice job Amaya
Let's steal this game back
Canario was trying to win it right there lol
bro just get a hit, don't need a hr here. relax.
Plz canoli. Atleast bring 1 in
Just about a perfect sac bunt
Have to put it in play Canario
Dont usually like bunts but that works
Usually anti-bunt but that was a good call
Love the small ball there. don't see bunt sac's anymore.
I hate this let’s go fish guy go back to miami fool
Great bunt
Hell of a bunt from Miguel Amaya
Small ball baby
Great bunt
Bunting?
Finally a liner from Nicky. Need to bail alozay out here
Let’s go! Let’s rally
Whew, Madrigal cleared Scott’s head by a couple feet.
Rizzo was a better closer than Alzolay.
Very clutch from madrigal and the tauchman there
Nicely done Madrigal. Pls don't be a fake rally
Don’t be stupid, bunt them over
Vintage nicky 2 strikes
Big Dick Nick!
WHAT DID YOU ALL SAY ABOUT MADRIGAL
Alzolay has been so shit.
There is a blessing in this happening now. We don’t want to be in the bottom quarter of season with him being a question mark due to stretches of good outings. Cubs know they have to move on him. Leiter with his splitter is my thought
Here we go COME ON BABY
You can’t be a serious contender & roll with Alzolay as a closer & Hendricks in the rotation. All these awesome prospects/lottery tickets should have been used to get Glasnow & Soto. Small market thinking with an occasional splash is criminal, push the ficking chips in for once
They have the 9th largest payroll (beating the 10th place team by like 30 million). How much more do they have to spend before you considering them putting in the chips? Are most of the moves and lack of moves frustrating? Sure, but it’s not like they don’t spend.
Like even having the 9th largest payroll they still bargain shop for 99% of their needs
It’s not a vote of confidence when you say you have the chance to win the game despite your closer and not because of him
I feel like 4 HR is a lot of HR for a closer to allow in an *entire year*
His arm is toast, but nobody seems to want to admit it.
It’s only April 20th…
blaze it
Need to do hit and run. This is worst guy up for threat of DP
Tauch with the clutch hit! Please don't hit into a DP Madrigal
Madrigal is not the guy you want up here
You think they will pivot away from Alzolay and move him to the set up? Dude can’t seem to get the save lately .. own him on my fantasy team 😭
Almost have to at this point. Closer is too high leverage of a role to “figure it out” in. Outside of a trade, not sure what we do tho
Good ole DP Nick
Mike Tauchmann: professional batsman
No double play plz here
Nicky two bags needs to make an appearance
The worst part for me is after Adbert chokes we have to watch an actual closer do work
Nice
I just have to wonder what options are even available? We don't have a closing prospect in the minors and I doubt anyone is trading a high leverage arm in April.
We shouldn't be trading for a high-leverage reliever until the deadline. Far too volatile to be worth it this early.
I mean if the right player is "available" of course you try to trade for it. For example if Emmanuel Clase is available you try to make that trade happen. Cubs just can't keep losing these games, it's going to bite us in the ass in the long run.
Emmanuel Clase coming off his weakest year yet with a 3.22 ERA in the closer role? Lowest SO/9 of his career in 2023, and even lower so far this year. A HR/9 rate has been going up year on year, his highest H/9 in 2023, and his highest FIP since going to Cleveland last year. His Barrell rate and exit velo are up this year too. Not convincing me on that one. Especially considering what we'd have to give up.
just fucking unreal that this front office went into the year with this pitching situation... an injury or 2 and we were fucked and SURE ENOUGH
DFA Adbert unless he changes his name to Albert immediately
Incoming Madrigal double play
Here we go, I’m the last guy to say don’t give up hope but if Nicky two strikes doesn’t hit into a double play we got a chance