Author Topic: Today's Game 2020  (Read 29557 times)

craig

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2295 on: September 22, 2020, 09:25:00 am »
Speculation is that Kimbrel is now the closer and last night's game didn't provide an opportunity for him to close.

Yes, that's certainly my take from yesterday, as I'd posted earlier.  For weeks Jeffress has been 9th inning, with Kimbrel pitching 8th with modest leads.  To my recall the only other guy who's been used in those situations has been now-gone Wick.  But yesterday with 2-run 8th-inning lead, in what has been a Kimbrel inning, Ross instead went to Jeffress.  Pretty obvious that Kimbrel was going to pitch the 9th, prior to the Cubs padding 3 extra runs on. 

deeg is right, Wednesday's outing is Kimbrel's only appearance in ten days.  Since Wednesday, opportunity hasn't matched Ross's usage plan.  Thursday off; Hendricks went 8 on Friday, and Ross hadn't reversed the Kimbrel/Jeffress roles yet then, so Jeffress still got the 9th on friday.  Then Sat and Sun were losses.  I'm guessing it was after Friday night's game that Ross made the decision to flip the roles.  I kind of resonate with deeg's thought, that sitting Kimbrel too long is iffy.  Wildman is his risk, so when he comes into a tight save situation, with all the adrenalin rushing, and without having pitched since Wednesday, that almost heightens the risk that he'll be so over-amped that he'll overthrow and revert to wildman and make everybody nervous again.  Hopefully the Cubs are positioned with a save situation tonight, and he's able to locate and make it non-stressful. 

To some degree I think Ross's overall handling of this has been reasonable.  he didn't lock into Kimbrell and force him to keep pitching save situations even when his mechanics and confidence were unready.  He never announced Jeffress as closer.  I think in retrospect it was wise to take it slow with Kimbrell and let him stack some successful innings.  And I think it's wise, too, that he's not locking onto Jeffress as closer, and isnt waiting for some dramatic blown save to make the switch.  With playoffs approaching, Kimbrel will maybe get a couple of save opportunities first, and might then be positioned to be effective in playoffs. 

Bennett

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2296 on: September 22, 2020, 02:41:26 pm »



dogstoothe

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2297 on: September 22, 2020, 04:06:24 pm »
Lineup against lineup, that’s a great addition, thanks.

Reb

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2298 on: September 22, 2020, 04:26:45 pm »
Brault going tonight for Bucs. I watched part of his most recent outing in which he pitched a 2-hit complete game against Cards. After the last out, his teammates were all over him. You’d think he pitched a no-hitter or the like. Obviously, a very popular guy in their clubhouse.

Afterward, Brault did one of those on-field interviews and was asked if he wanted to say anything to family and friends about his complete game feat. He shrugged and laughed and said, hey, did I win an Oscar or something? Seems like he’s a cool guy.

Hope Cubs can bomb him tonight.  ;D

dogstoothe

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2299 on: September 22, 2020, 07:09:44 pm »
Runners on first and second nobody out for Cubs and Baez hits into a double play.

Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2300 on: September 22, 2020, 07:10:00 pm »
Contreras and Rizzo get hit by pitches to start the 4th, then Baez promptly GIDP and Schwarber K's. No hits against Brault yet.

dogstoothe

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2301 on: September 22, 2020, 07:29:44 pm »
Martinez flies out instead of grounding out.

Playtwo

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2302 on: September 22, 2020, 07:39:37 pm »
Baby steps.

Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2303 on: September 22, 2020, 07:48:27 pm »
Martinez now 0-19.

Cubs with two singles in 6 innings.

Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2304 on: September 22, 2020, 08:00:17 pm »
At least Alzolay pitched well. It's the Pirates, but still.

Deeg

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2305 on: September 22, 2020, 08:31:54 pm »
Does Kimbrel's supposed closer status allow him to pitch in a tie game?  Is there some sort of "emergency break glass" hammer involved?

dogstoothe

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2306 on: September 22, 2020, 08:33:42 pm »
Rizzo with a two run home run to tie the game, if you can believe that.

Dave23

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2307 on: September 22, 2020, 08:38:15 pm »
Rizzo’s first HR this season with a runner on base...

Deeg

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2308 on: September 22, 2020, 08:51:15 pm »
I haven't bought milk lately - anyone seen Kimbrel?

Chris27

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Re: Today's Game 2020
« Reply #2309 on: September 22, 2020, 08:54:42 pm »
Chafin did his Kimbrel impression if that counts.