This year's clubhouse...

[Trail]

I could be completely wrong on this, but watching the dugout on TV, this year's clubhouse doesn't seem as tight/ together/ happy or whatever adjective you'd like to use. Anyone else seeing this?  Or is this just a team that, while young, has been around the block a bit and knows the job in front of them; doesn't clown around as much as previous years?  It came to mind again last night when there seemed to be some conflict going on between Drohan and Contreras...looked to me like Sanchez came over and settled things down.  

[owbc]

2 hours ago, Trail said:

I could be completely wrong on this, but watching the dugout on TV, this year's clubhouse doesn't seem as tight/ together/ happy or whatever adjective you'd like to use. Anyone else seeing this?  Or is this just a team that, while young, has been around the block a bit and knows the job in front of them; doesn't clown around as much as previous years?  It came to mind again last night when there seemed to be some conflict going on between Drohan and Contreras...looked to me like Sanchez came over and settled things down.  

I think at least two things are going on...

1) Team clearly feeling pressure -- can't have the underdog mentality this year

2) Something up with Contreras. Not sure if it's just him feeling the pressure also or something else. 

Just watching the player mannerisms in San Diego it seemed like Sanchez was easily the loosest of the bunch. He was chatting it up with everyone. I'm glad we have him around. 

[tmwiese55]

I'd toss out that this year I've gotten the vibe that its more about business and the postseason, that it isn't about the regular season anymore. Like they're not gonna get all fired up about winning regular season games anymore. The kind of act like you've been there before type thing and some of the criticism they heard about treating beating the cubs like it was the WS.

Generally speaking, I'd say that isn't a good thing in such a long season and can lead to being too tense or putting pressure on yourself. And enjoying the ride is better for staying loose.   Who knows though, we just watch on TV

[BCF]

A lot of players are struggling this year. Turang, Jackson, Yelich, Contreras all clearly struggling 

Last year the offense was on fire and a lot of players were playing well 

[sveumrules]

1 minute ago, BCF said:

A lot of players are struggling this year. Turang, Jackson, Yelich, Contreras all clearly struggling 

Last year the offense was on fire and a lot of players were playing well 

Turang had a 124 wRC+ last year, and has a matching 124 wRC+ so far this year.

Chourio is at a 120 wRC+ so far this year compared to a 111 wRC+ last year.

Brice & Jackson might not be firing on all cylinders at peak form, but also don't think it's really fair to lump them in with Contreras (132 to 113 to 95 wRC+ last three years) or Yelich (154 to 121 to 89 wRC+ last three years) who are both on multi season benders.

[wildcat2237]

Freddy Peralta is now gone. Willy Adames also now two years removed. I think those were both big clubhouse guys, so that has affected things a bit. Also doesnt help that the Cubs have gotten hot at the wrong time and the Brewers have been injured/struggled a bit at the wrong time. If the team is stacking wins it is much easier to look like a tight knit family. 

[jw5511986]

I really think we should pay Bauers, within reason, if for no other reason than at some point we have to keep a strong voice in the locker room.

[OppoTaco]

Agreed on Bauers. It is refreshing to see an outspoken leader who is also backing his talk with his walk right now. His growth has really been a marvel this year, and a big reason why the Crew is still near the top of the league.

[Frisbee Slider]

We are missing Sal Frelick 

[baseball101]

4 hours ago, BCF said:

A lot of players are struggling this year. Turang, Jackson, Yelich, Contreras all clearly struggling 

Last year the offense was on fire and a lot of players were playing well 

What are all these comments based on? Yelich and Bill yes. Everything else is not accurate.

[Trail]

This isn't something I've just recently noticed.  To me anyway, its been there for a while.  Again...I could be all wet and its just a different locker room this year rather than a less-happy one. Something just seems not-right.  Hope I'm way off here....

[da swedish german]

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[da swedish german]

3 hours ago, Trail said:

This isn't something I've just recently noticed.  To me anyway, its been there for a while.  Again...I could be all wet and its just a different locker room this year rather than a less-happy one. Something just seems not-right.  Hope I'm way off here....

I agree

a few weeks ago I gently provided my opinion that something is off about pat this year. and I think it could possibly be translating to the players.  he had his surgeries. he's old. had  recent health scares. has 7 year olds. he's tired.  I stopped sharing my opinions after the responses I received by the gatekeepers 

also, the ads on this site are a joke 

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

1 hour ago, da swedish german said:

I agree

a few weeks ago I gently provided my opinion that something is off about pat this year. and I think it could possibly be translating to the players.  he had his surgeries. he's old. had  recent health scares. has 7 year olds. he's tired.  I stopped sharing my opinions after the responses I received by the gatekeepers 

also, the ads on this site are a joke 

Managing professionals like college kids will only work for so long, and it wouldn't surprise me if they start to tune it out. 

[rickh150]

Losing West coast games…….. must be clubhouse problems.  cubs winnng too much….must be issues o

[biedergb]

22 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Contreras (132 to 113 to 95 wRC+ last three years)

Wow. Last year his thumb injury explained the struggles and I have been all on board the extend Contreras since we don’t have a viable starting C (Quero is fine, and Dinges is years away from being a mlb catcher), but man we can replace 90 wRC+ with any internal options, and keep that money to extend another player somewhere. Catcher is a tough position and we git 2-3 of the best years from wild bill, but I also don’t think his next contract will age well (see Adames, D. Williams), and this years contract already feels like an overpay.

Dont get me wrong, he plays a premium position and is still good, but the catcher void I was worried about doesn’t seem as deep now.

Yelich - I’m not sure. Age and injuries really make him a part time player. I was always hoping he would play that ryan Braun role in his twilight years, but Braunie was much more productive in 2017-2019.  Yeli also isn’t that rag rah dugout guy Braunie was. Yeli will always have a place in my heart, but right now it just sucks that he and Woody accounted for 1/3 of the payroll and close to no production (ineffectiveness for Yeli, and injuries for woody).

[Jim French Stepstool]

23 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

We are missing Sal Frelick 

It's actually an interesting scenario. When he is deemed ready to return, I suppose the popular choice to go down would be Lockridge. That leaves you pretty overloaded on the LHH side in the OF which is where they were before, except the switch hitter (Lara) is an improvement over Perkins. I imagine you would then see a heavy dose of Bauers in RF vs LHP with Vaughn at 1B & Sanchez DHing.

I know there was some speculation about Lara going back to AAA but IMO that would be a mistake.