MLB 2025 World Series

SPEEDY MCCREADY

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

Cubs wins this year?

Im going to go with 94

DewieCox

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

Cubs wins this year?

Im going to go with 94

 Pretty freaking stacked division. 3 maybe 4 teams have a decent shot at postseason.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

DewieCox said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

Cubs wins this year?

Im going to go with 94

 Pretty freaking stacked division. 3 maybe 4 teams have a decent shot at postseason.

Agree. And the Cubs really didn't do much in free agency. A couple of relievers, and that's about it. Obviously depending on Darvish to be healthy and contribute. Im looking forward to see what Lester brings this year. I am waiting for the inevitable decline. Age and amount of pitches just catches up with you. Im hoping for at least 1 more solid year from him.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

F Me In The Brain

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

I have a good friend who is down at spring training this week. Something I have always wanted to do, yet still haven't .

Im guessing being there is a fucking blast! Sun and Fun.

HesCalledDyer

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

DewieCox said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

Cubs wins this year?

Im going to go with 94

 Pretty freaking stacked division. 3 maybe 4 teams have a decent shot at postseason.

Agree. And the Cubs really didn't do much in free agency. A couple of relievers, and that's about it. Obviously depending on Darvish to be healthy and contribute. Im looking forward to see what Lester brings this year. I am waiting for the inevitable decline. Age and amount of pitches just catches up with you. Im hoping for at least 1 more solid year from him.

Agree on Lester. Hope he doesn't go all John Lackey on us and serve up batting practice all season.  Same with Hamels. Though they are still both under the age that Lackey was when we did get a good season out of him.  Darvish being both healthy and effective is going to be key.  Hendricks I'm never worried about.  Quintana is feast or famine but when he's on, you can usually count on him to get some innings in and save bullpen arms.

All that said, I'm still more worried about the offense than pitching.  We tied the Orioles - the FUCKING 47 WIN ORIOLES - for most games scoring 1 run or less last year.  These guys couldn't string 2 or 3 hits together for nothing last year.  Baez was awesome for 5 months then was nowhere to be found when it mattered most, while Christian Yelich single-handedly propelled the Brewers to the division title.  Always gonna get good consistent work from Rizzo, Bryant needs to stay healthy, and Joe needs to tone it down with the lineup fuckery every day.

We're definitely not finishing fucking last like all these dumbass polls are saying.  If everything comes together and they do what they're capable of, I see 94-96 wins.  If it's more like last year, 85-88 and miss the playoffs.

F Me In The Brain

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

I have a good friend who is down at spring training this week. Something I have always wanted to do, yet still haven't .

Im guessing being there is a fucking blast! Sun and Fun.

I went one time in AZ and it was fun.  I know some people who make a 'guy's trip' every year and they love it. 

SPEEDY MCCREADY

HesCalledDyer said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

DewieCox said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

Cubs wins this year?

Im going to go with 94

 Pretty freaking stacked division. 3 maybe 4 teams have a decent shot at postseason.

Agree. And the Cubs really didn't do much in free agency. A couple of relievers, and that's about it. Obviously depending on Darvish to be healthy and contribute. Im looking forward to see what Lester brings this year. I am waiting for the inevitable decline. Age and amount of pitches just catches up with you. Im hoping for at least 1 more solid year from him.

Agree on Lester. Hope he doesn't go all John Lackey on us and serve up batting practice all season.  Same with Hamels. Though they are still both under the age that Lackey was when we did get a good season out of him.  Darvish being both healthy and effective is going to be key.  Hendricks I'm never worried about.  Quintana is feast or famine but when he's on, you can usually count on him to get some innings in and save bullpen arms.

All that said, I'm still more worried about the offense than pitching.  We tied the Orioles - the FUCKING 47 WIN ORIOLES - for most games scoring 1 run or less last year.  These guys couldn't string 2 or 3 hits together for nothing last year.  Baez was awesome for 5 months then was nowhere to be found when it mattered most, while Christian Yelich single-handedly propelled the Brewers to the division title.  Always gonna get good consistent work from Rizzo, Bryant needs to stay healthy, and Joe needs to tone it down with the lineup fuckery every day.

We're definitely not finishing fucking last like all these dumbass polls are saying.  If everything comes together and they do what they're capable of, I see 94-96 wins.  If it's more like last year, 85-88 and miss the playoffs.

That whole 1 run or less stat was mind boggling, when I read that, after last season was over. The whole swing for the fences thing can work, but putting together 3-4 hits has been basic fundamental baseball for over 100 years. Common sense says you cant hit 5 or 6 dingers a game. We all remember 2016. The Cubs played good FUNDAMENTAL baseball all year, and actually won a championship. Hopefully they can get back to shooting for the gaps, moving baserunners over, hitting opposite field, bunting men over, blah blah.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

I have a good friend who is down at spring training this week. Something I have always wanted to do, yet still haven't .

Im guessing being there is a fucking blast! Sun and Fun.

I went one time in AZ and it was fun.  I know some people who make a 'guy's trip' every year and they love it. 

Spring Training and a Super Bowl.

My 2 bucket list items.

F Me In The Brain

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

I have a good friend who is down at spring training this week. Something I have always wanted to do, yet still haven't .

Im guessing being there is a fucking blast! Sun and Fun.

I went one time in AZ and it was fun.  I know some people who make a 'guy's trip' every year and they love it. 

Spring Training and a Super Bowl.

My 2 bucket list items.

Happy to have crossed them both off.  World Series game with my team in it....that is the big item left on my Sports List.

If the Reds make it to a World Series again while I am alive, I am there.  No care about costs, it will be worth it.

I have been to a WS game and it was amazing.  Can imagine what it would be like with my favorite team there and I want to experience that!

HesCalledDyer

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

F Me In The Brain said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

So I was looking forward to watching Cubs/Sox today at a good friends house, while enjoying a beverage or 20. Then I looked at the Cubs starting lineup. And yes I realize this is spring training, but still.

Bote

Happ

Carantini

Zagunis

Adduci

Adams

HUH???

Going to Spring Training games can be fun.

Watching them on TV?  Tough to do.

I have a good friend who is down at spring training this week. Something I have always wanted to do, yet still haven't .

Im guessing being there is a fucking blast! Sun and Fun.

I went one time in AZ and it was fun.  I know some people who make a 'guy's trip' every year and they love it. 

Spring Training and a Super Bowl.

My 2 bucket list items.

Spring Training is definitely on mine. I know a bunch of guys that went to Florida a couple years ago for Orioles Spring Training and they haven't stopped talking about it since.  They do a baseball destination trip every year, using a regular season series plus a couple extra days in whaetever city.  They switched it up and did ST one year and said it was probably the most fun baseball trip they've ever done.  Last year they did Minnesota, this year they're headed to Arlington.

Cliffy6745

I have done Tampa/Clearwater a couple times. Awesome time. You can’t beat it. Was supposed to go last weekend but been a crazy month or so and couldn’t pull it off. If I realized EV was doing that festival in Arizona I would have been there for sure. 

tempo_n_groove

Kris Bryant has had a bad last 2 years.  He was hurt last year but the year before he had some drops in production.

You guys that follow the cubbies closely have any idea why?

Hoping the Angels bring up some of their farm team this year.  Maitan I'm talking to you!

The Juggler

HesCalledDyer said:

Plus, starters pitched 6 innings minimum, and closers went the rest of the way.  One pitching change unlike today's 4-6 per game.

True. Hitters also rarely stepped out of box between pitches back then. Little stuff like that adds up .

Cliffy6745

I think baseball is trying too hard to get people who will never like baseball to like baseball.  

The Juggler

Cliffy6745 said:

I think baseball is trying too hard to get people who will never like baseball to like baseball.  

Well I think baseball is better when it moves it a brisker pace. The same game shouldn't take 20-30 minutes longer, on average, than it did when I was a kid.

You can trace baseball's loss of popularity to other sports to this timeframe. I think it matters and I think it matters going forward when trying to attract new, younger, fans/players. 

Cliffy6745

The Juggler said:

Cliffy6745 said:

I think baseball is trying too hard to get people who will never like baseball to like baseball.  

Well I think baseball is better when it moves it a brisker pace. The same game shouldn't take 20-30 minutes longer, on average, than it did when I was a kid.

You can trace baseball's loss of popularity to other sports to this timeframe. I think it matters and I think it matters going forward when trying to attract new, younger, fans/players. 

What is baseball's loss in popularity?  I don't really see it.

People, younger people, will like baseball if the team in their area is good.  They won't if it isn't. If baseball wants to worry about popularity, they should put more efforts into making sure more than a third of the league is actually trying to compete than trying to shave fractions of time off the game.

Sure, do things to speed it up, but they are hell bent on speeding up the game which won't do shit if teams aren't enjoyable to watch.  No one is going to watch the Diamondback whether the games are 3 hours or 2.5 hours if the team stinks. 

The problem with baseball popularity is that there were 3 teams interested in Bryce Harper, not the fact that a game may take over 3 hours.

Ledbetterman10

Cliffy6745 said:

I think baseball is trying too hard to get people who will never like baseball to like baseball.  

As well as trying to get people who used to like baseball to like it again. And it seems like a tall task to get people to follow the entire MLB like people do the NFL. I can only speak for myself, but I don't watch any baseball other than the Phillies and the postseason. 

Jearlpam0925

Right - baseball is completely regional. I actually cock my head when people say they like watching any baseball game. It's kinda weird.