Author Topic: Today's Game 4/18/13-9/30/13  (Read 47619 times)

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #15 on: April 18, 2013, 02:42:06 pm »
Just as a reminder about how quick things can change this early in the season...less than a week ago, DeJesus hadn't done anything yet on the season.  After that AB, he's hitting .286/.348/.548, which are All Star numbers.

craig

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2013, 03:01:47 pm »
Castillo has sure had a nice start, offensively. 

AFter a couple of weeks of regular play, what's the current assessment of his defense?  Would be pretty fun if he's really a perfectly legit starting catcher. 

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2013, 03:10:05 pm »
I wonder how certain it is that Stewart takes the third base job back when he joins the team.  Valbuena really hasn't done a bad job...after his double, he's hitting .229/.372/.371.  He also has a lot of patience at the plate, which is something the Cubs could use a lot more of.

Villanueva has been really good so far.  He really seems to know how to pitch, and it's so enjoyable to watch a guy who just throws strikes (though it doesn't look like he's always been that way). 

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2013, 03:14:18 pm »
Playing defense like that will help keep Valbuena in the lineup too.  Nice diving play.

craig

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #19 on: April 18, 2013, 03:32:15 pm »
I think Valbuena/Stewart will both be allowed to start at least once in a while, and that their relative performance will impact how that goes over time. 

If Stewart can hit, and does so better than Valbuena while Valbu continues to hang out in the .220's, then I think Stewart might in time take over as the primary guy.  But I think Valbuena will remain the primary guy until/unless Stewart shows that he can contribute offensively.  Obviously if Valbuena could boost his average over .260, while continuing to walk and OBP, there'd be less reason to give much look to Stewart. 

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #20 on: April 18, 2013, 03:33:08 pm »
Looks like Russell is coming in for the 8th, leaving the opportunity open for the Rangers to steal this one in the 9th.

DelMarFan

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #21 on: April 18, 2013, 03:40:44 pm »
1-2-3 in the 8th.  I hope they leave Russell out there for the ninth.

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #22 on: April 18, 2013, 03:40:59 pm »
Two weak grounders and a K for Russell in the 8th. 

The Cubs bullpen has been a mess overall, but Russell has been lights out.  He's even missing bats this year.  If they had another competent lefty, he'd have to be the closer at this point.

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #23 on: April 18, 2013, 03:43:57 pm »
Cubs pinch hit for Russell, so it'll be someone else in the 9th.  Hopefully they add a couple on here so Sveum feels comfortable going to Rondon.

JR

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #24 on: April 18, 2013, 03:45:26 pm »
Who's warming up in the pen?

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #25 on: April 18, 2013, 03:45:53 pm »
Marmol warming.

brjones

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #26 on: April 18, 2013, 03:49:06 pm »
Now Gregg is up.

CurtOne

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #27 on: April 18, 2013, 03:54:07 pm »
This could be hilarious if I wasn't a Cub fan.

DelMarFan

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #28 on: April 18, 2013, 03:56:11 pm »
Marmol in.  Here we go!

DelMarFan

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Re: Today's Game
« Reply #29 on: April 18, 2013, 03:58:11 pm »
Marmol looks pretty strong for the first two outs.