Chicago Cubs SLOW START to open second half

[@edwardwilliams3185]

Reminds me of a football team that routinely turns over the ball in the red zone. Seeing them strand runners on third over and over is driving me a little nuts.

[@Tgrirch]

They have so approach whatsoever. All strictly trying to pull the ball and getting wrecked by any pitcher in the league.

[@knleonhart]

I, for one, was just glad to see that Counsell has a pulse.

[@DarinJohnson-Cubbies]

Agree entirely - Like that he defended Morel. Just because someone isn’t screaming doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. His roster sucks & that’s Hoyers fault. What can Craig do?

[@knleonhart]

@@DarinJohnson-Cubbieseh, I was under the impression that the demeanor of the leadership of a ballclub does somewhat set a tenor of the drive of its players

[@garywright4106]

​@@knleonharttrue, but that worked in Milwaukee

[@rogerdodger723]

D'backs had 8 hitters in the line up having above average slug of .396. The Cubs had 4.

[@agarcia8190]

Please sell at the deadline, this team is cheeks

[@cooperhawke6207]

What does that mean? You stole someone else's words and used it here so tell me what it means. Let me hear someone else's thoughts other than your own words loser.

[@rwbteam7468]

Jed says buy because he thinks this team is unlucky

[@CubsRedux]

Jesse Rogers might have exaggerated Morel going "for the lake." But his point was valid. Morel just not getting it as a situational hitter.

[@Tgrirch]

I mean the guy walked into a glass door like a bird so that shows where his intelligence is

[@BigLar56321]

Derogatory way of phrasing the question which undermines the validity of the concern expressed.

[@Tgrirch]

@@BigLar56321 oh come on. Counsel understood the question. He just didnt have a good answer because this lineup sucks

[@BigLar56321]

@@TgrirchNot the point. He understood the question and he also understood the dig in the way it was phrased. If you want an answer don’t include an insult in your question.

[@dave-pm9bu]

@@CubsRedux It seems like sometimes he's not even thinking, when t here's men on 2nd and 3rd it's like he doesn't even realize that just about Anything hit to the right side on the ground will bring home the guy at 3rd.

[@thehoodedchicken]

Miles Mastrobouni, going to the hall of fame

[@jessl1014]

The Counsell bot kills me 😂

[@vincentwendt720]

Honestly, I'm happy they didn't get swept. I thought they were going to. This is one of the few times I'm happy about being wrong.

[@RodneyHennings]

The Bellinger update is that, "he looked at a bat!!"🤔🧐🤨

[@jann3443]

The break came at a horrible time for the Cubs. They had great momentum before it. Lost it after coming back. Very disappointing.

[@P2damian]

More so they timed their momentum plan bad

[@danwindsor770]

Yes, they went from 5 under 500, now they are 6 under.

[@rwbteam7468]

Good, they deserve to sell and suck

[@joanshortall7333]

They showed a graphic that since June 28 their bullpen has a 1.14 ERA, by far the best. So we cannot blame the bullpen

[@everetttauscher8377]

Thanks for the show guys! LET'S GO CUBS!!! ⚾️✌️💙 🐻

[@cmanayf4354]

The next series should show which way they might go.

[@PREZofUSSA]

No manager in the world could win with this lineup

[@ProgressivelyIndependent]

They threw Maddon and Ross under the bus, and they can't do it again. 2 different teams, so who is at fault here?

[@dennissvitak5475]

@@ProgressivelyIndependent - I am a Cardinal's fan. I would KILL to have a manager as good as Maddon. WTF were the Cubs thinking of? Who was ever going to do better than a World Series win?

[@bradscialabba1055]

If we can acquire a Busch like trade for a 3rd baseman , catcher. , young controllable BP arm. No sense in picking up redundant prospects

[@RodneyHennings]

Another thing about Counsell,🤔 in that 10th inning, since PCA hasn't figured out the Majors, offensively yet, with him being 1 of the fastest players in the league, shouldn't he bunt every chance he gets!!??🤔 I rewound the live shot in the 10th, an saw the defensive setup with him coming up!! There was a lot of room for him to drag bunt down the 1st base line!!🤔🧐🙄

[@TheLearningCatalystCoach]

Especially with a runner on 3rd...that's an EASY call for a good manager. It's a bunt with literally the 3rd fastest player in MLB, and a decent runner on 3rd.

[@kylecraig6789]

Good luck getting Counsell to call a bunt. His entire tenure in Milwaukee they might have bunted like 10x, and that was likely the batter deciding to lay it down.

[@scottemory72]

I can't remember a Cubs team I dislike more than this one, I don't just mean the players, I also dislike the manager and the front office. I have a bad feeling in my gut we are stuck with this group for another couple of years. Counsel is extremely unlikable, much like Matt Nagy was for the Bears. Of course, winning cures all, so let's hope 2025 is a true turning point and not the fools gold 2023 was for us fans.

[@youarethecreator1]

Well said, everything exactly. Really sucks with the SP being so good.

[@dave-pm9bu]

@@scottemory72 Cubs have a couple of bad contracts, it's not like the NFL where you can just cut guys, unless another team just eats one of these guys contracts we are stuck with them.

[@amihays7449]

U hit the nail on the head. I agree with you 100%👏👏👏💃💃

[@Tgrirch]

Its not a bad take craig. Its the truth. Morel is a fool on the field even when he hits homers. Jim edmonds had a point for sure

[@BigLar56321]

Good takes by you guys. I don’t feel an emotional connection to most of these guys so just about anyone can be traded and it would be okay with me. Just get better! This team is B-A-D. Calling this series and the epic offense failure a slow start out of the break is too charitable.

[@jasonlew8074]

Hopefully the boys can come out strong against Milwaukee

[@kanderko9449]

I was at today’s game. As usual great stating pitching and virtually no offense. Happ at cleanup? He’s back to being ice cold again. Morel not looking very good, not hitting and poor fielding. Playoffs? I’m having my doubts.

[@ront9395]

I’m a Brewer’s fan. I was upset when Counsell betrayed us, but I like Pat Murphy much more. I think the Cubs made a big mistake giving Counsell a 5 year/$40 million contract. That was a good take by that reporter. Adames is a much better clutch hitter since Counsell left. Counsell is thin skinned.

[@Tgrirch]

The narrative counsel won with less in milwaukee drives me nuts as a cubs fan. He had a top rotation and studs in the bullpen and the lineup is just better. Cubs dont have a yelich, adames, or anything even close to a big league catcher

[@joecasey1329]

@@Tgrirchyelich had been ass for @ half of Counsell’s time there. Counsell’s fault? Who knows? I think it was more health related for much of that time but maybe Counsell held him back in ways Murphy doesn’t? How? I don’t pretend to know.

[@Tgrirch]

@@joecasey1329 i agree he has his struggles but id rather have him than ian happ

[@Tgrirch]

Kills me how this team wont sign a superstar but they will nickel and dime themselves with sh*t and end up with higher payrolls than teams with stars

[@RodneyHennings]

It's funny you say that Sam!! I'm disconnected from them, as I'm watching the game!! I have to keep rewinding the broadcast, it seems every other inning!!🤔🧐😒

[@danwindsor770]

As a Brewer fan, I used to boo Counsell every game, not anymore. I reaize now that it all a part of the master plan. 1. Send Counsell to the Cubs, to undermine the organization. Make them even worse than they were last year. 2. Clear the path so everyone can see that Pat Murphy is a much better manager than Counsell.

[@tommycrowley8668]

Brewers are 16-16 in 1 run games. In past years, they've done very well but that's not the case this year. Their offense is very good/elite, hence their +84 run differential.

[@joanshortall7333]

I counted at least 15 pitchers on the IL at some point this year

[@rodneyelylesrealestate]

Sometimes I think different personalities are more or less successful with a particular group of players. Some teams may respond better to a fiery personality than others. However, my experience in business tends to support the idea that a business, in general, takes on the personality of the manager. I think that's my problem with this club. They seem to have no fire, or very little. The position players in particular have just looked flat most of the season. A star player would do more for the overall personality of this team, because they could be more influential than the manager and add some fire to the personalities. That would especially help a guy like PCA, who already shows more personality than most of the other players.

[@dave-pm9bu]

Didn't think we would get the YOU from Sam today, but I'll take it....Lets Go!

[@johnlenon8872]

Once again, if the Cubs can just learn to swing the bats at strikes instead of taking strikes, they have a better chance to win. We know this because striking out looking as Swanson, Suzuki, Busch, Happ (they all 4 do it all the time) and keep doing, then they have no shot. Suzuki swung at the first pitch in the ninth. Oh look a hit. He actually can hit, if he were to just quit being down 0-1 in the count and immediately swing at the 2nd pitch, regardless of where it is, then do his famous check swing on a called strike 3. He's done that like a million times. Watch Ohtani hit. If you throw him a strike, or anything close? Be it a little outside, or a little high, a little low? He swings. Why? He is paid to hit, not check swing. The entire team looks at strikes. Hence, they are last or next to last in batting avg, slugging, hitting w/RISP, OPS, etc. And that is because they simply watch strikes. Finally, get Morel OUT Of the line up. He hits 4th or 5th, has a batting avg of .202 and is literally the worst defending third baseman in the history of the world, and in 2024. That makes the cubs manager dim. As Jesse showed the world today by asking Craig the tough question of why Morel is swinging so hard and missing so much.

[@youarethecreator1]

Sam is back back back!

[@jsox1109]

Have Amaya bunt everytime

[@cbe5739]

LOB has to be #1 in baseball, Please check that out and maybe bring up on podcast, thanks.

[@DavidRoberg-v8b]

Why do trades always depend on the playoffs and NOT JUST GETTING BETTER?

[@TheLearningCatalystCoach]

And shedding big salaries(Taillon, Bellinger or Happ) to get better with trades and have money to spend for 2025.

[@joanshortall7333]

I think they walked Dansby to set up the double play with Amaya up. But I guess they should have expected the sac bunt

[@gildedguile9584]

This team is circling the drain...the sewer drain.

[@justinnoceda2115]

Unless a crazy thing happens i mean crazy occurs you can put this season to bed 🛏️ swanson is just collecting a check at this point hes just going through the motions he sucks at hitting. I never knew he was gonna be this bad man its very exhausting watching him hit hes always fooled on outside pitches i mean Everytime

[@AlbertDavis-r3y]

We did win a important baseball game today why all the negativity we have a wildcard run in us

[@gregthegroove]

Whichever Cubs show up for the Brewers at home will show you what makeup this team has. If it’s not important enough for you to go out and be aggressive and play ball, I don’t know what to tell you. Cubs just tried their hardest cause that’s what they do *to lose the game as usual* and squeaked out a W for as much as they tried for their favorite L. Still staring at strikes 1-2 way too much, taking way too many pitches. Go back last week and watch them. Swing. Swing. Swing. Swing on first pitch, swing on 2nd, aggressive, not waiting around for meatballs. Go FN make it happen and put that little white thing called a baseball ⚾️ in play in the green stuff guys…..

[@andystreepy3146]

After all this crap, we are still 3 and half out!

[@edwardhilgendorf9740]

Sam nailed it about the game announcers: Lester [open up], Girardi [general baseball - dull] . Boog is okay, but Deshaies is EXCELLENT; knows the game and is deeply involved. The Three girls announcing team sucked, but a lot of that was ignoring the game to promote girl's sports. I hope that's enough ego-feeding by the owner's wife.

[@godochaos]

Counsell seems like an analyst/strategist personality, its hard for me to see him being some sort of fiery passionate manager. I don't think thats his nature.

[@drummusicinc4027]

Ugh Was afraid this would happen. I’m back feeling like it’s over. They can’t pull out of this nosedive. Go cubs

[@johnfo3924]

I went to the game Saturday. This team is completely disinterested, unmotivated. Need trades to fix this disaster of a team.

[@mizer9510]

They actually ran onto the field to celebrate. A team that can't score runs and can't hit is celebrating being 5 games under 500. You can't make this stuff up.

[@stevetollaksen]

🥱I want to live in a world where Matt doesn't introduce Sam who proclaims the cubs are a poor offensive team.

[@RodneyHennings]

☝🏾 Also fellas!! The Cubs can't beat the teams from Wisconsin, or Missouri!!🙄🤨🤔

[@Heavymetalpunk]

Anyone notice that the cubs did better with Matt away on vacation? Hmm, lol

[@johnfo3924]

It’s sad that the Cubs can’t trade Bellinger. Taillon, Happ must be traded for MLB players…hopefully bullpen Morel is a disaster but don’t think they should trade at the bottom

[@mr.bohner6819]

The offense has cost us about 3 games this year. Defense has cost them 1 or 2. But the Bullpen has cost this team at least 5 games maybe 7... The BULLPEN is the worst part of this season not the offense. But since the bullpen has improved & you get Merryweather back soon & Brown eventually go get a big bat NOW to sure up the offense for nxt year. Bullpen & SP you can fill in the offseason

[@bradmoretz]

Not sure why most say this team is " better than this"? They suck and have since 2016.

[@williamvanlack4859]

What else is new!

[@Tgrirch]

Jed seems like hes afraid to try anything after this failure of a season

[@joegadberry2221]

👍

[@nogodsnomasters666]

I could do without Lester and Girardi

[@YeahitssteveTTV]

We stinks

[@justinnoceda2115]

I wish Jesse Rogers asked Craig why is morel and wisdom and Dansby on a major league roster they all suck no faith in them also Amaya and PCA look like little little Leaguers

[@RodneyHennings]

🙄🧐He doesn't have a personality!!

[@johnmaskovich561]

We need to stop tap dancing around it, CC is just a average manager making big $$ . Cubs hitting coach needs to get sent packing but nobody talks about it ?

[@thejazzman210]

Jed Hoyer is a rotten judge of talent. The Cubs have a 230 million dollar payroll, money spent on the most apathetic group of players I've ever seen. They have to be the most irritating team to watch in baseball, and that includes the White Sox, Rockies and A's. They are just a horrible baseball team, put together by Jed Hoyer. And for that he should be fired.

[@ncampbell315]

I’ve been posting comments on videos for a month saying the Cubs need to buy at the deadline… I give up. Time to wave the white flag. Sell at the deadline and maybe they can win in 3-4 years.

[@youarethecreator1]

For the love of God Sell. Not rentals.

[@cooperhawke6207]

This team sucks please get rid of happ hes more interested in his podcast and life after the game he is currently playing. Trash players=trash team. We spent 230 mil on nothint. This front office needs to be fired.

[@kevinloeffler7909]

"I wish it would have GONE better". Not "WENT" better.

[@cooperhawke6207]

Boooooooooooo

[@johnlenon8872]

all you have to do is tell the players to swing the bat. there is lots of talent on the roster. it is hard to show talent when all the dumb players stand there and take pitches. how do you score 4 runs sam? well, maybe swing the bat instead of standing there like a tar

[@cooperhawke6207]

The cubs suck they have for 5 years. Booooooo the team that spends alot but suck anyway booooooooo

[@cooperhawke6207]

Sure show up to the ballpark but boo the shit out of this crappy team that deserve it for wasting hours of our day.

[@Tgrirch]

Ian happ is not a star as much as the cubs wish he was. He has like one good month every season and the rest is just awful

[@planefixerguy5188]

What are you talking about Sam? The Cubs are perfectly consistent.....just not consistently good.

[@rwbteam7468]

Just say this team needs to sell and give up

[@RodneyHennings]

But, you have to realize Sam, the Cubs have been so unwatchable for most of this season, Joe's probably trying to pump himself up to get thru the broadcast, so he doesn't fall asleep!!🥱😴🤔