Author Topic: Cubs in '20  (Read 49127 times)

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2700 on: August 05, 2020, 07:48:26 pm »
Who cares if they shrug it off?

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2701 on: August 05, 2020, 07:54:07 pm »
P2, you have to be behind enemy lines.

Dave23

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2702 on: August 05, 2020, 08:17:06 pm »
People who don’t live in Cardinal country have no idea...

Reb

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2703 on: August 05, 2020, 08:21:27 pm »
People haven’t swung at curves that have been thrown for strikes.

Kimbrel today said he got into bad mechanical habits and he was showing too much of the ball. Guys knew it was coming.

You need to stop parsing quotes that you read and leaving out the parts that don’t fit your narrative.

Hottovy and Kimbrel:

"You have to get them to honor it," Hottovy said of Kimbrel's curve ball, "and to get them to honor it, you have to consistently be able to throw that pitch in the strike zone, and then be able to attack (with the) fastball."

Kimbrel has faced three different teams: The Reds, Pirates and Royals. None of them have swung at his curve ball.

"I think at times it's one of two things," Kimbrel said, "Either I'm showing it too early or it's not starting as a strike, or they've already had that game plan to eliminate the curve ball."

In the Reds' case, it was the latter. Cincinnati rookie Tyler Stephenson told reporters as much after the game. He laid off three curve balls in his at-bat against Kimbrel.”

So, Kimbrel is positing that opposing hitters are “eliminating” the curve ball, as at least one opposing hitter has said. The “showing” comment is one possibility he mentions and, naturally, the other points he makes you ignore.

Of course, that’s exactly what I suggested. Hitters seem to be sitting on one pitch. We know why. The 4-seamer has been ineffective, so they want to hit that.

Further, no one takes issue with the notion that poor command can be a mechanical issue—-the other thing that Kimbrel posits. That is not the same as “tipping” pitches or that hitters “know” what’s coming.




Reb

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2704 on: August 05, 2020, 08:24:26 pm »
Here’s piece about the Hottovy/Kimbrel comments. Lot of stuff there about improving Kimbrel command.

https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-bullpen-cubs-craig-kimbrel-231149646.html

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2705 on: August 06, 2020, 09:41:06 am »

Sahadev Sharma
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The Cubs have optioned lefties Rex Brothers and Justin Steele to their South Bend alternate site to reduce their roster to the required 28 men

CUBluejays

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2706 on: August 06, 2020, 10:31:51 am »
You need to stop parsing quotes that you read and leaving out the parts that don’t fit your narrative.

Hottovy and Kimbrel:

"You have to get them to honor it," Hottovy said of Kimbrel's curve ball, "and to get them to honor it, you have to consistently be able to throw that pitch in the strike zone, and then be able to attack (with the) fastball."

Kimbrel has faced three different teams: The Reds, Pirates and Royals. None of them have swung at his curve ball.

"I think at times it's one of two things," Kimbrel said, "Either I'm showing it too early or it's not starting as a strike, or they've already had that game plan to eliminate the curve ball."

In the Reds' case, it was the latter. Cincinnati rookie Tyler Stephenson told reporters as much after the game. He laid off three curve balls in his at-bat against Kimbrel.”

So, Kimbrel is positing that opposing hitters are “eliminating” the curve ball, as at least one opposing hitter has said. The “showing” comment is one possibility he mentions and, naturally, the other points he makes you ignore.

Of course, that’s exactly what I suggested. Hitters seem to be sitting on one pitch. We know why. The 4-seamer has been ineffective, so they want to hit that.

Further, no one takes issue with the notion that poor command can be a mechanical issue—-the other thing that Kimbrel posits. That is not the same as “tipping” pitches or that hitters “know” what’s coming.





Jackass, I saw the quote on twitter, take it up with the author and at the time it wasn't linked to a story.

And to eliminate the curve they have to know it is coming.  If it is effectively tunneled you wouldn't know it is coming.

Jesse Rogers
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Craig Kimbrel on his struggles: "I got myself into some bad habits mechanically. I wasn't finishing the way I should, showing the ball more than I should...You leave a fastball over the middle, it's going to get hit."

« Last Edit: August 06, 2020, 10:35:51 am by CUBluejays »

wmljohn

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2707 on: August 06, 2020, 11:53:29 am »
So...  10-2????

Just a tad bit higher % then my predicted 40-20 finish.

Reb

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2708 on: August 06, 2020, 12:32:42 pm »
Jackass, I saw the quote on twitter, take it up with the author and at the time it wasn't linked to a story.

And to eliminate the curve they have to know it is coming.  If it is effectively tunneled you wouldn't know it is coming.

Jesse Rogers
@JesseRogersESPN
Craig Kimbrel on his struggles: "I got myself into some bad habits mechanically. I wasn't finishing the way I should, showing the ball more than I should...You leave a fastball over the middle, it's going to get hit."

The Osteopath getting a bit testy, no?  Calling me a “jackass.” Calm down and behave yourself.

I’m sure you understand that hitters often come to the plate with a plan. Kimbrel said as much about the current situation. It doesn’t mean tipping pitches or that hitters “know” what’s coming. In his case, their plan is to sit on a pitch (i.e. fastball) and he’s been giving them “a fastball over the middle” and that mostly explains what’s happening. Baseball 101. Tunnel yourself out of that.

Also, “showing the ball” doesn’t mean tipping the type of pitch coming. It means a mechanical issue making it easier for hitters to follow path of the pitched ball earlier than the pitcher might want. Obviously, some pitchers are exceptionally good at that. Kimbrel isn’t one of those. Perhaps he can improve. Not sure can say the same about your name-calling.

Dave23

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2709 on: August 06, 2020, 03:41:34 pm »
The Cubs have signed Kelvim Herrera to a minor league deal.

Dave23

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2710 on: August 06, 2020, 03:47:04 pm »
Also getting a minor league deal is a 30-year old pitcher named Matt Dermody, who supposedly pitched for the Blue Jays in parts of '16 and '17...never heard of him...

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2711 on: August 06, 2020, 04:00:55 pm »
Called it.

They're building a great bullpen from 5 years ago. Kimbrel, Allen, Jeffress...that's dominant in 2015-16.

Based on this pattern, I've got to think recently DFA'd Kelvin Herrera will be a Cub any day too.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2712 on: August 06, 2020, 04:49:34 pm »
The Cubs have signed Kelvim Herrera to a minor league deal.

Wow, would getting him have been nice 4-6 years ago. 

What's happened to him?  He's still thrown 50 games a year for the last couple, just lousy ones.  Usually I assume when a guy gets washed up, he's had surgery or something. 

CurtOne

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2713 on: August 06, 2020, 04:49:35 pm »
LOL. Who called that? 

craig

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Re: Cubs in '20
« Reply #2714 on: August 06, 2020, 04:56:04 pm »
Sahadev Sharma
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The Cubs have optioned lefties Rex Brothers and Justin Steele to their South Bend alternate site to reduce their roster to the required 28 men

So, does that just leave Ryan as a lefty? 

Is Hultzen hanging out down in south Bend?  Or does he have an injury of some sort, or headed out to medical school or something more cerebral? 

I admit to some degree, given our weird bullpen, I don't fully mind just running with a Ryan + righties pen.  Simplifies things.  Let the righties pitch, and take what they give you versus lefties.  Less mid-inning switches is fine with me. 

Not sure he'd be any good in the pen, but maybe Quintana can return as a lefty relief specialist?  :):)