Overreactions Cubs Fans Need to Shut Up About
Well, the offseason was filled with a few surprises and it was fun to talk about the potential of this 2026 Cubs team, but they lost their spring training opener 8-1 to the White Sox. So, it’s over. See ya next year.
I do wonder how many fans have that sort of thinking actually creep into their head as they watch (probably not watch) guys they’ve never heard of or even guys who don’t have names on the back of their jerseys play in these spring training games. As much joking as we do there are some fans who get riled up and politely, please chill out. I cannot emphasize that more on two specific things from Friday’s spring training opener. Although, there were a few things did that matter.
However, you know what didn’t matter and Cubs fans should shut up about?
Jameson Taillon Gets Crushed
The veteran starter threw a total of 34 pitches against the White Sox, who made pretty good contact off Jamson Taillon. The Cubs righty allowed four hits and four earned runs in 1.2 innings. Two of the hits included home runs by Austin Hays in the first inning and then a second-inning blast from rising White Sox prospect Sam Antonacci.
It was kind of similar to the reaction Taillon received during the first week of Cubs camp as fans torched the pitcher for giving up a home run to Alex Bregman because on Friday those trolls were back. More mid-season form tweets talking about Taillon’s performance in the first spring training game and even some questioning his standing in the rotation once the season gets underway.
Calm the fuck down. Holy shit, some of these fans cannot be serious. A reminder of what Jameson Taillon has done since July 7, 2023, the past 2.5 years with the Cubs: 66 starts, 385.2 IP, 3.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP. Yes, he’ll give up a handful of home runs, but most of those are solo shots because he attacks the zone and doesn’t give free passes via walks. He won’t dominate opponents with strikeouts, but there’s enough evidence by now that Taillon will at the very least give the Cubs a chance to win almost every time he starts.
At this point I do not understand the vitriol that some fans have for Taillon. You would have thought his playoff performance would have bought Taillon some slack, but I guess not.
Another thing, leave Seiya Suzuki alone.
Seiya Suzuki Loses Ball in Sun
I do feel bad for Seiya Suzuki because some fans will not let him live down that dropped fly ball against the Braves from the end of the 2023 season. He gets a bad as a defender in right fielder because of a few horrendous miscues, but overall Suzuki practically grades out as average to above average when you compare his defensive metrics to every other right fielder since making his MLB debut in 2022. Plus, he has a great arm.
But man, I can’t even make one little joke. Arizona is known for having a brutal sky to play under in spring training because of the sun. Suzuki was switched over to center field in Friday’s game and he lost a Munetaka Murakami fly ball that was hit to dead center and landed untouched on the warning track.
Suzuki was ducking for cover as he lost the ball in the sun.
But again, that doesn’t actually matter. The Cubs have Pete Crow-Armstrong, I know.
Honestly, the only team who should have any worry about the way Suzuki plays defense, which again isn’t all that bad, but may be an issue in center, is Japan. Right now, Suzuki is Japan’s projected starting center fielder for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
So, let’s chill out a bit here. It is not that serious. Absolutely loved this response from Suzuki after the game.