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#Post#: 509996--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Reb
Date: April 4, 2025, 7:36 pm
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--- Quote from: Deeg link ---
>
>
> ….Pressly's struggles are obviously a huge concern anyway, but
all the more so given the Cubs' absolutely brutal April
schedule. You would think after the Neris debacle last season
Counsell wouldn't let the same thing play out again. But then
you would have said the same about Jed and bullpen construction,
and look what happened.
>
--- End Quote ---
2024 Cubs bullpen was #12 in MLB in bullpen ERA. About what
you’d expect from a 83 win team.
Pressly has not been sharp but he’s 3 for 3 in Save
opportunities. Not a debacle. Enjoy the wins (if you can).
Cubs move into First Place.
#Post#: 509998--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Tuffy
Date: April 4, 2025, 8:04 pm
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That was a really nice grab by Shaw on that short hop in the
ninth. Outstanding defense all around for us today.
#Post#: 509999--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Playtwo
Date: April 4, 2025, 8:09 pm
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Especially nice to see a game where pitching and defense
overcome the lack of key hits with men on base. I like their
offense, but there will be many games where the bats are quiet
and run prevention will be essential.
#Post#: 510000--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: bitterman
Date: April 4, 2025, 8:09 pm
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I sure hope Chicago learned their lesson and Neris II has a
short leash.
#Post#: 510004--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: craig
Date: April 4, 2025, 10:19 pm
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--- Quote from: Reb link ---
>
> ...Pressly was working Cronenworth mostly with off-speed, so a
94 FB in on him fooled him. Gotta outthink the hitter when
throwing 2/3 off-speed stuff in an inning. ...
>
> Pressly’s command today was off. Walking Bogaerts with a 2-run
lead was terrible. Can’t do that. Remains to be seen what kind
of year we get out of Pressly.
--- End Quote ---
We'll see, of course. Maybe his control will get better. It's
kinda seemed off every outing I've seen. The eye test hasn't
looked too hot. To me it seems like he's been throwing too many
non-competitive pitches, not close enough to tempt anybody. And
a surprising fraction of his fastballs have seemed way out of
the zone, completely non-competitive. Has been consistently
behind. Hard to throw lots of strikes if you're scared to throw
fastball for strikes, and you're mostly trying to throw chase
non-strike breaking pitches. He's seemed lucky to be working at
only one walk per inning. That hasn't been his history, of
course, he hasn't been a one-walk-per-inning guy in past. I
imagine everything gets tougher when your fastball is fading.
More scared to throw it; try to muscle up to maintain some
velocity, at the expense of location.
#Post#: 510005--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Deeg
Date: April 4, 2025, 11:06 pm
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--- Quote from: craig link ---
>
> We'll see, of course. Maybe his control will get better.
It's kinda seemed off every outing I've seen. The eye test
hasn't looked too hot. To me it seems like he's been throwing
too many non-competitive pitches, not close enough to tempt
anybody. And a surprising fraction of his fastballs have seemed
way out of the zone, completely non-competitive. Has been
consistently behind. Hard to throw lots of strikes if you're
scared to throw fastball for strikes, and you're mostly trying
to throw chase non-strike breaking pitches. He's seemed lucky
to be working at only one walk per inning. That hasn't been his
history, of course, he hasn't been a one-walk-per-inning guy in
past. I imagine everything gets tougher when your fastball is
fading. More scared to throw it; try to muscle up to maintain
some velocity, at the expense of location.
>
--- End Quote ---
5 walks and 8 hits in 5 IP (2 Ks). Pressly has been awful any
way you slice it, and it's only through sheer good luck (which
seems to be a common trait for Houston retread relievers) that
he didn't blow two of his three save chances.
His velocity isn't any worse than last year, when he was at
least an average MLB reliever. As you noted most of his
fastballs seems to be way off the plate, not likely to induce
any chase. If he gets his command sorted he can be a decent
pitcher, though he doesn't have closer stuff and hasn't for a
couple of years. I wonder if he'd be better off trimming his
repertoire a little. You don't see many short relievers use five
pitches, and there are many reasons for that.
#Post#: 510010--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: craig
Date: April 5, 2025, 9:00 am
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--- Quote from: Deeg link ---
> ...His velocity isn't any worse than last year, when he was at
least an average MLB reliever. As you noted most of his
fastballs seems to be way off the plate, not likely to induce
any chase. If he gets his command sorted he can be a decent
pitcher, though he doesn't have closer stuff and hasn't for a
couple of years. ...
--- End Quote ---
deeg, couple thoughts/speculations:
1. Small sample. Steele has 5 HR in 3 early-start 15IP. We may
not assume that's his new normal, perhaps that'd small-sample
fluke? Pressly has 5 walks in 5 early-IP. 3 walks in mid-March
game. Perhaps that's small-sample fluke as well? Maybe
Pressly, like Steele, will settle out?
2. Velocity: I wonder if velocity and command aren't
interconnected. Old guy doesn't want his velo numbers to drop,
so he maybe muscles up to sustain? i choose: do I let my velo
drop, and have everybody noticing and faulting and saying I'm
washed? Or do I muscle up to sustain velo, even if I compromise
command to do so? Obviously the optimum is to sustain both
velocity and command.
Time will tell, obviously. Cubs are going to ride with Pressly
for a while, so the "is-it-just-small-sample?" question will get
answered, for good or evil. And likewise time will show how his
fastball velocity and command play out over the longer sample.
Hopefully he can shake out as anti-awful.
#Post#: 510012--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Deeg
Date: April 5, 2025, 9:26 am
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Robertson is still out there. And he was way better than Pressly
last season.
#Post#: 510015--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: CurtOne
Date: April 5, 2025, 10:21 am
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Why mess with Robertson when Porter Hodge is already here. In
time, Hodge and Pressley will switch places, unless Counsell is
not as smart as everyone says he is.
#Post#: 510017--------------------------------------------------
Re: Today’s Game - 2025
DIR By: Deeg
Date: April 5, 2025, 10:57 am
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--- Quote from: CurtOne link ---
>
> Why mess with Robertson when Porter Hodge is already here. In
time, Hodge and Pressley will switch places, unless Counsell is
not as smart as everyone says he is.
>
--- End Quote ---
Do you want this Pressly pitching the 8th inning with a 1-run
lead?
Hodge can only go 70 innings or so even if he stays healthy.
He’s never closed meaningful games before. Robertson could help
this bullpen and our payroll is scandalously low.
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