Bleacher Bums Forum
General Category => Bleacher Bums Forum => Topic started by: Dave23 on February 26, 2023, 02:32:40 pm
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Since no one else has started one yet…
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Tauchman wearing #40
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Pretty cool to see my guy Jarod Wright get in a game…even if it was just one pitch…lol!
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Cubs throwing a no hitter in the 8th.
Edwin Rios went yard.
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Spring training performance can be very misleading, but Assad not only looks good, but looks like a substantially different pitcher. The same goes for a finally healthy Madrigal. Both may end up starting out at Iowa, but I think that won't be for long.
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I skimmed through the last several innings pitched. Estrada, Sanders, Burdi. Yykstra dykstra, those guys really have both velocity and nastry offspeed stuff. Burdi's sweeper had huge sweep.
Sanders had some big offspeed movement. Had some pitches that missed badly.
Burdi's only pitched ~20 pro innings over the past five seasons, so perhaps it's possible that after a few months at Iowa, perhaps he'll get a little more comfortable and perhaps the control will improve some?
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Yyksta dykstra? I thought I was the only one who said that.
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Game time:
2:14
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Wow; the Cubs pitcher a no-hitter!
I watched about an inning and a half; saw Assas pitch, saw Mervis bat, saw Rios hit a homer. Then went shopping despite being fully aware that the Padres had not yet had a hit.
Did the team celebrate at all after the ninth inning? Were the announcers excited? Or was it just, "this is Spring Training and nothing counts"?
(Back around 1988 or so I was there when the Phillies took a no-hitter into the ninth against the Cardinals in Spring Training. Todd Frohwirth came in to get the last three outs and Rod Booker ruined *everyone's* day by hitting a single. It was the closest I had ever come to seeing a no-hitter.)
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Found the game-ending double play:
https://streamable.com/jn0ape
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Cubs game today lasted 2:14.
I cant imagine anybody complaining about that.
I watched last nights game and didnt notice anything but positives.
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Someone asked about why Brandon Hughes had not yet had an appearance this spring. This article discusses the Cubs' approach for Hughes and Keegan Thompson this spring.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-chicago-cubs-brandon-hughes-keegan-thompson-20230304-k3ma2f6wifferbocmimtzqpqha-story.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Don%27t%20miss%3A%20News%20%2B%20Sports&utm_content=5721677979766&lctg=3413204
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Cubs game today lasted 2:14.
I cant imagine anybody complaining about that.
I watched last nights game and didnt notice anything but positives.
The improvements we're getting from speeding up the time between pitches are so great that it's only further evidence that we don't need the zombie runner anymore (not that we ever did).
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Cubs with another shutout win, 2-0. Correa's 9th-inning stuff looked, excellent, but his fastball was way off. His change/breaker was actually more strikes-oriented.
Leeper pitched the 8th, gave up a hit and some contact, and got behind in several counts. Didn't look as fast or electric as Correa, although his fastball seemed to have good carry. Seemed his misses were by an inch or two, not by a foot or three. Had a little pitch that sunk just a little, threw a couple that looked pretty good and I thought could be called strikes, but were called balls. Looked like it could be a useful pitch, though.
Sutcliffe made some reference to Cody Heuer, I wasn't entirely clear but it was coaches watching film, in which context he alluded to Codi Heuer throwing 96 with great command. I'm kinda assuming he was referring to 2023, and that Heuer is doing some mound work and side-sessions, and is looking sharp?
Would be fun if he comes back strong and effective.
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The improvements we're getting from speeding up the time between pitches are so great that it's only further evidence that we don't need the zombie runner anymore (not that we ever did).
Again, the inherited runner is not primarily about time of game but about taxing bullpens with many innings of extra inning play, using up all or the bulk of a club’s bullpen. It is undeniable that it is achieving the desired result.
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Watched Jensen's inning from yesterday. Wasn't watching the gun carefully, but had at least a couple of 98's and 97. Do the metrics like his fastball? It was fast, but seemed kinda hittable just from amateur one-inning TV view. There's been lots of talk about how he's been constantly changing and shortening his delivery; I don't know what that necessarily means, because there are a lot of pre-throw aspects involved, too. So maybe the actual firing part is shortened but the load isn't? But it looked like overall he's got a super long, slow delivery. Huge leg-kick and weight-back delivery, after first batter singled he stole 2nd easily, all Jensen not the catcher's fault at all. Looked like a pretty out-of-balance delivery, maybe overthrowing or whatever? Jensen walked three guys, and walked in the tie-breaking run. Some of the balls were close, but a lot of them weren't close. Bounced one pitch well in front of the plate.
It was one inning, and I'm sure he's nervous in his second outing after doing poorly in his first. Hopefully he'll settle in and by April-May-June he'll be locked in and good. But for yesterday, his was the wildest and most out-of-control-looking inning I've watched this spring. Some guys have inconsistent command of breaking pitches, but can still kinda get their fastball over. Jensen didn't have that, for that inning his fastball seemed kinda random.
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Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
Scheduled to pitch today for Cubs at Mariners: Wesneski, Borucki, Boxberger, Brown, Duffey and Wick.
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Two observations from the highlights…. Brown is nasty. His command and third pitch(es) may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops.
Also, Alcantara is pretty fast.
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Looks like Sampson is a big Wesneski fan.
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Two observations from the highlights…. Brown is nasty. His command and third pitch(es) may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops.
...
He has such a nice, comfortable-looking delivery. Seems well-balanced and like it shouldn't be super high-maintenance.
But yeah, the question of command will dictate. *IF* he has good command, he can be really good, his stuff is good enough. Not sure his stuff is extraordinary enough to get by without the command, though? Locating 95-96 is nice when it's placed well, but in a world where every RHP throws 95, I'm not sure that sets him apart.
Will be interesting to see how well he can locate his fastball; and how much he'll trust it within the strike zone. I'm thinking that he'll do really well when he gets two strikes on people. His curve and his high riding fastball can get him a lot of K's. But getting to K-counts requires getting a couple of strikes first. Can he locate and trust his fastball enough to throw it in the zone?
Fun prospect to watch, that's for sure.
I feel like "command ... may hold him back, but his stuff overall really pops" might be true for a lot of guys in our system. It's fun. Hopefully he pitch lab can get some strike-throwing going.
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Cubs win 9-6. Rios another HR. Sampson gave up 3HR and 6 runs in his 2.2, relievers allowed 2 singles the rest of the way.
Alzolay, Kay, and Sanders all pitched effectively, I'll maybe want to watch some of their innings tonight.
it's kinda weird being on the other side pitching-wise... I used to wonder how in spring training games other teams just kept rolling out young prospects with big arms and big stuff. Now it's us.
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I’m not sure why the Cubs seem obsessed with Sampson winning the 5th starter role when they have so many more interesting options. Peripherals indicate he was really lucky last year and the raw stuff backs that up. I expect him to open in the rotation but I hope he’s on a short leash.
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Box score had Kay with two innings, but actually Burdi pitched the 6th. He looked WAY better and more in control, in-balance, today than when I watched him last Friday, maybe? Super simple short delivery. He's got a really nasty curve, which probably is further helped by his velocity. Fastball seems fast but has some run, too. We'll see how wild he'll be during the season, and if he can stay healthy. But that breaking ball could be pretty deadly if can throw enough strikes. Would have been a lot of seasons in which I'd have thought he might win a job. Iowa could be loaded.
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I don't think that the Cubs are obsessed with Sampson winning the fifth starter spot. I think it is more than they think that Wesneski should start out at Iowa to start the season. I would rather that Wesneski made the opening day roster, but I don't have access to the scouting or pitching lab information that they have.
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There’s also Killian and Assad, both of whom have more upside than Sampson.
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As I said, I am not a Sampson fan. However, the fact remains that he was quite successful last year, and may well perform very well as a placeholder, if the Cubs feel that others need more time in the minors.
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PCA made a tremendous running catch in the gap near the wall in today’s game. Looking forward to that kind of CF defense whenever he’s ready.
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Wont be long.
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PCA made a tremendous running catch in the gap near the wall in today’s game. Looking forward to that kind of CF defense whenever he’s ready.
Just so he remembers that the walls are shorter in Wrigley, and are made out of rather hard bricks. We have lost more than one outfielder to those walls.
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It’s a shame Luis Torrens isn’t more highly regarded defensively; the ball really jumps off his bat…
For those who don’t know, he hit two bombs to CF yesterday…close to 900 feet worth of HRs…
As I type this, Barnhart hits one out to RF, and we are tied 2-2 with Canada…
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The numbers aren’t reflecting it but Bellinger’s swing looks pretty sound so far - better than when I’ve seen him the past two seasons. Seems to have better range of motion and a little quicker through the zone. I could easily see him hitting .240 with 25 HR, something like that.
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Cubs win again. Merriweather's fastball was consistently 97, then 98 on the last K pitch. Threw a LOT of sliders, some very good, some pretty wild. Thus far, I'd think the default is that he makes the team.
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Wesneski with four perfect innings today against Dodgers.
His breaking stuff was fantastic this game.
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He's gonna be useful.
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Didn't watch, but Sanders K's 3 or 4 guys.
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About the only argument you can make for Wesneski not being in the rotation from the beginning is trying to limit his innings. He was great (if a little lucky) last season, great this spring. There's no developmental reason for him to be at Iowa.
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He threw 130 in ‘21, and 143 last season.
150-160 shouldn’t be a stretch.
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Guys, thanks for the updates re Bellinger and Wesneski, among others, so far this spring!
Sure hope Wesneski can earn a rotation spot and keep it! That would be HUGE!
15-20 years ago, Cubs had a quality starter named Jon Lieber (obtained from Pirates), who was great a couple years before getting hurt.
Lieber didn't throw super hard, but he had a wicked slider with late horizontal movement!
Lieber used to buckle knees with his slider. Is Wesneski's slider that kind of a pitch when he's throwing well?
So far in his young MLB career, Wesneski has really been effective vs major league hitters!
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Jon Lieber was good.
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Sanders looked very good against Dodgers scrubs. Hit 97 and his final pitch K was a hellacious sinker with a ton of movement.
Going to be some bullpen talent at Iowa when Cubs need to make some pitching call-ups.
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Happ just went yard.
Sampson didnt look great.
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Hughes struggling.
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Burdi prett dominant 1-2-3 inning, got ahead of everybody, a soft groundout and a couple of K's. Fastball didn't seem as fast as earlier, 96 was the only one I recall with a velocity. But cutter, sinker, and slider all looked really good. Sometimes chase breaking balls look better in camp when guys are chasing, than perhaps will be true against good hitters in the majors, obviously.
Burdi looks to have plenty of stuff for when he gets called up.
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Be nice if Swanson would get a hit occasionally. It's hard to be a leader when you're batting under .100.
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Ive noticed that as well...
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Swanson is at .042 for the spring. I admit I worry about a guy's psyche when he's with a new team and not getting any hits. Even the most confident of personalities, hard for that not to get into your head after a few weeks.
Matt Mervis is back with the Cubs. Gets a hit in his first AB today.
Wesneski 5K/1BB 1 hit through 3. He's not really making the first-starter decision for complex for Ross, I don't think.
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As we speak, Swanson K's with 2 men on.
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And Wesneski getting torched in the 4th.
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I wouldn't count Sampson out yet.
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Swanson hit a double.
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Swanson hit a double.
Looks like Playtwo finally got Dansby motivated!
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Be nice if Swanson would get a hit occasionally. It's hard to be a leader when you're batting under .100.
Kevin Kiermaier and Franchy Cordero are batting .545 and .538 this Spring. They are with new clubs too this Spring, so under that reasoning, Kiermaier and Cordero must be team leaders based on their spring training performance.
It’s spring training. For veterans, it hardly matters, if at all.
Eric Hosmer was “amazing” in April last season——and that was in regular season. Then, it came apart. It’s a long season, much less meaningless spring training games.
Get your work in and don’t get hurt. That’s what matters.
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Was Swanson’s double on a fastball or breaking ball?
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Franmil Reyes is tearing it up for KC this spring…
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Baby steps.
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Be nice if Swanson would get a hit occasionally. It's hard to be a leader when you're batting under .100.
Such a shame spring numbers carry over into the regular season.
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I like Wesneski, but he does rely an awful lot on one pitch for a SP. Teams basically got one look at him last September, and opponents got one trip through the order this March. I still think it's an open question how effective he'll be when the league knows him and he's expected to go through the order 2-3 times.
Bellinger's swing looks really good. The numbers aren't good but that could be sample size.
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Strikeout rates are about the only springing training stat that stabilizes quickly enough to matter.
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Whatever suits the narrative.
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Such a deep insight. Try reading about things, you might learn something.
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K rates tend to stabilize at just over 100 PAs in a season. But, that’s regular season baseball. Spring training Ks at a FULL spring is about 50 PAs and generally against different sorts of pitching than regular season pitching. So, have to be VERY careful in inferring much.
I would call spring training Ks as more of “something to be aware of”——if something out of ordinary or continues/contradicts a trend from the previous season, especially late the previous season.
For example, last spring Bellinger had 17 Ks in his first 27 spring ABs. This year he has 5 Ks. Interesting. But, even in regular season have to careful about any 27 PA increment. Willie Mays famously started his career going 1-26 and did okay thereafter.
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I'll never forget Garciaparra having an unbelievable spring the first full season with the Cubs. Looked like his 25 year-old MVP self. Season started, and he was basically washed.
Spring training stats for established hitters are meaningless. Unless you're looking for bogus reasons to pimp a tired argument.
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Stanalizes just means less likely to be due to chance. A guy that has his K% drop is something to take notice of. It doesn’t mean that it is going to hold up for a whole year.
Swanson’s K% of 32% is a big nothing burger. It is well within the error bars of his 26% last year. I’d be more interested in Swanson doing damage on non-fastballs than anything else he does this spring. Bellinger dropping his K% is encouraging and something to keep an eye on. It doesn’t mean it is going to hold up over a whole year.
See Reb read something, it was a good discussion.
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Nick Madrigal has answered all questions about if he could play 3rd this Spring.
Im sure someone here will come up with some bullshit about his footwork or something though.
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Cubs are 28th of 30 teams in Spring Training OPS.
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Madrigal has played—what?—8 or 9 partial games at 3B with maybe 15 fielding chances?
Takes WAY more than that to answer whether he’ll be credible at 3B.
So far, so good, but it’s tiny amount that “proves” nothing.
Good enough to go forward, but that’s it.
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Madrigal does look fine at 3B FWIW, but his OPS is way under .600. If he doesn't hit .300 minimum his offensive value is so negligible you wouldn't want him occupying any position anyway.
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Look, Madrigal is getting a shot at 3B in part because Cubs alternatives at 3B are putrid.
Wisdom is a .210 hitter with a 35% K rate and coming off a season with bad 3B defense.
Morel is a 34% K guy with poor 3B defense and who obviously needs at least 300-400 PAs at AAA.
Rios has a .892 career fielding % in minors as a 3B and is basically a DH.
McKinstry hit under the Mendoza line last season and is highly questionable whether makes the club in ANY role.
That leaves Madrigal. The alternatives are so unattractive that playing a dozen partial games at 3B in spring training has some folks convinced he’s answered successfully that he can play a position he’s never before played in his life.
Maybe he can. This is Baseball, so stuff happens. But, still a major question mark on defense accompanied by a second major question mark as to whether he can hit enough singles to make up for his almost total lack of power.
That is our 3B position. This is not the days of Kris Bryant or Aramis Ramirez or Ron Santo or Stan Hack.
Maybe Vance Law (if we get lucky).
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You forgot Ron Cey and Bill Madlock.
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And Kevin Orie
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And Tyler Houston.
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Luis Salazar
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1876-2022. Every friggin starting 3B.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/pos.shtml
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Luis Salazar
Smiley!
First time at Wrigley, 1990 or so…Cubs vs. Phillies, and Smiley hit a 3 run bomb as part of a 6 run 1st inning…
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1991, actually…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199108160.shtml
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Salazar hit the bomb, and the guy sitting in front of me was screaming “Smiley!” at the top of his lungs…and it occurred to me that every time Salazar was in the box facing the mound, his teeth were showing, as if he was smiling at the pitcher…
He’s been Smiley to me ever since…
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I remember Luis Salazar getting a hit to bring Andre Dawson home with the winning run in extra innings right after we got him for the stretch run in 1989:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198909090.shtml
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I remember Luis Salazar getting a hit to bring Andre Dawson home with the winning run in extra innings right after we got him for the stretch run in 1989:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198909090.shtml
Heh, I very distinctly remember that game as well.
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Nelson Velasquez hit a 3 run walk off HR today.
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can't forget Gary Scott
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The can't miss
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Leo Gomez.
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David Bote. Does anyone have that clip of Bote reacting to a play by Russell?
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Burdi 1-2-3 inning facing 3 lefties. Seems like he might be a groundball guy on BIP.
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I don't know if the gun at Sloan is hot, but Wesneski was just clocked at 97 here in the second. He's looking good in general yet again. Three Ks, one hit, no walks through two frames.
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Took a good play, but somehow they got Mastrobuoni out.
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Assad struggling today. Too much talk about his making the ML roster?
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GOT THE SHOW 23 BABAY!!!
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Assad struggling today. Too much talk about his making the ML roster?
Occam's Razor. He's a pitcher.
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Assad struggling today. Too much talk about his making the ML roster?
Assad got 10 swing and misses today on 54 pitches. Topped out at 96 on a pitch. Of 5 hits he allowed, two were bunt singles.
If that is considered “struggling,” then we’re in pretty good shape on the pitching side.
Will be interesting to see if Cubs send Assad to Iowa to work as a starter or stays opening day as a reliever.
Seems like Leiter Jr. has very good chance to make the club. Leiter’s hard sinker lately looks like it did 2nd half of last season, that is, really good. If Assad AND Leiter make the club, two guys from from Wick, Thompson, Rucker, Hughes won’t—because Fullmer, Boxberger, Alzolay, Merryweather all seem like locks.
Maybe Canario goes to 60-day to make room for Leiter?
Or, maybe Cubs do some other thing(s). Will be interesting.
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Maybe Canario goes to 60-day to make room for Leiter?
Seems unlikely because he'd get major league service time.
But, as you say, it will be interesting.
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Showing off that weak arm.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1639359493933785097
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Deeg, yeah, that looks fine. What is the statistical basis of the question about his velocity? Average, or peak? Everybody takes something off on easy throws, but he seems to do that to greater extreme, which might depress his average velocity?
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His max and average velocity on his arm is similar to Nick Madrigal. 87 max/78 average. Hoerner was 90/85. Baez was 92/87 with the Cubs.
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Thanks, Blue. Good to know.
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Seems unlikely because he'd [Canario] get major league service time.
But, as you say, it will be interesting.
Assuming no Canario move, what’s your best guess is the 40-man move to make room for a NRI reliever?
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Assuming no Canario move, what’s your best guess is the 40-man move to make room for a NRI reliever?
Tough call, but maybe McKinstry out and Craig's boy or Morel in?
DFA of Wick or Sampson? They're probably not in danger of being lost with their contracts.
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Thanks Jeff. Those are thoughtful options. It seems like Wick's window of opportunity may be closing.
With Canario: How much do you think the service time would matter?
Unlikely, but I can imagine a scenario where he's back playing baseball by late June; finishes the summer well; and then some injury early next season enables him to get a very early callup. He finishes in top-3 of ROY and earns the Cubs an extra draft pick. I'd hate to lose the draft pick for a couple dozen Tauchman AB's this spring.
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Tauchman isnt worth worrying about.
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Swanson with his first Cubs camp HR. Steele shutout through 6.
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Swanson with his first Cubs camp HR. Steele shutout through 6.
Someone check on CBJ and make sure he's OK.
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Swanson with his first Cubs camp HR. Steele shutout through 6.
Time of game today: 1:57
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Apropos of nothing, Bellinger’s HRs sure are pretty to watch.
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On that Dansby play, why didn't the 3B make an effort?
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Another HR for Swanson.
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Fulmer gave up 5 runs in the 9th, Sox tie the Cubs 6-6.
Taillon finishes his first Cubs camp with zero walks.
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Fulmer is ready!
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No excuses, but Fulmer was looking down at the mound after every pitch the entire half inning. It appeared the landing area was not to his liking.
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Has Ross named the closer?
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Outside of the bomb, he gave up three seeing-eye grounders.
No worries.
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Watched part of today's game. Smiley got blasted by White Sox minor leaguers. But fun seeing a bunch of the Cubs farm guys.
Bailey Horn pitched two shutout innings. He's kind of wild delivery, couldn't locate his fastball very well. But man, did he have a nice curve. Big curve, used against both righties and lefties, and has a big sweeper. For his two innings, he almost seemed to locate his big curve better than his fastball. "If he could someday learn to command his fastball...." applies to a million prospects. But if he was a little better with his, he could for sure be a big-league lefty. His stuff looks like it would be pretty deadly against lefties.
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What is the weather going to be in Wrigley today. Any problems on getting the game in?
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40s and cloudy according to weather.com
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Stroman carving up the Brew Crew early, with 4K's through 2, and a nifty defensive play to save a hit. Basically a one-man defensive show so far today.
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As Gomes chases the ball after his 2nd passed ball of the game, I imagine Willson is somewhere lighting a cigar and saying “good thing they prioritized defense”…
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Nice 4-6-3 to get out of a bases loaded 1 out jam…
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Funny inning. Bad play and error by Hoerner. Pitch-clock violation. Gomes 2nd passed ball and almost had another one. Two walks. But Stroman gets out, nice DP by Hoerner/Swanson.
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Gomes 2nd passed ball and almost had another one.
#FreeTorrens
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Lots of hits the other way!
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Wow, what a fun 3rd inning!
Someday I'm going to look back at the long and storied career of Miles Mastrobuoni, and remember this inning for him scoring his first run as a Cub. Swanson and Mancini each with their first hits and RBI's of their Cub careers.
Fun fun.
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Cubs put up a 4 spot against Burnes in the 3rd! Cubs showed some really nice situational hitting and base running, and did well to capitalize on Brewer mistakes.
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Ump has a pretty generous strike zone.
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Stroman outdueling Burnes is a nice way to start the season.
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Funny play, I'm not sure I've ever seen one quite like it. Urias hit a high pop foul near the 1st-base-side wall, Stroman took a bit to recognize, went into a dead sprint to get over there, camera on him all the way, then all of a sudden Hosmer appears in the picture and Stroman runs right into him as Hosmer makes the catch. Don't think I've ever seen that. Most Cub pitchers wouldn't have the speed to even consider making a play on a ball that far away.
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Gomes misses another pitch but Stroman gets the 3rd our anyway.
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Dansby's trying to prove the doubters wrong right away today.
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Stroman!
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Let's not trade him at the deadline even if we're not looking great for one of the wild card spots.
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Why do you have to set up a Stroman?
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Why do you have to set up a Stroman?
Ha! Spring training is definitely over for Playtwo.
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Dansby's still trying to prove the doubters wrong today.
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Funny play in the 6th, Telez checked his swing, Gomes couldn't contain it and it bounced well away in the 3rd-base side foul territory. Telez thought it was a ball so didn't run. By the time the umps checked with the 3B ump and decided it was a swing and a strike, Telez was was still standing in the box, and Gomes had plenty of time to run the 15 feet to where the ball was and throw him out.
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CUBS WIN!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9XtDyDUjIU
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Cubs on pace for 162 wins…
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Along with an MVP award for Dansby and a Cy Young for Stroman.
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In a snappy 2 hours and 21 minutes.
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Stroman was first MLB player in history to be called for pitch clock violation.
Congratulations!
No extra-base hits by either club today. Small ball game with Cubs hitting ball to opposite field in some crucial spots. What, Cubs did that?
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Nice way to start the season! Fun first game for Swanson.
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That's how they're going to have to win most of the time.
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I didn't track closely, but I think I saw Keegan with 92, 93, and 95 fo some fastballs.
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Hosmer with a nice pick in the 9th.
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Today was one of those cold weather early season games in Wrigley that is unlikely to be a power hitting game. So, not a surprise was a small ball game for both clubs.
Cubs turned a very nice 4-6-3 DP with bases loaded and Swanson made a very nice play today but defense is going to be better than they were today.
Hoerner with throwing error after an infield single, Happ misplayed a flyball into a single in the 9th, and Gomes really struggled catching the ball today----and as P2 noted, Hosmer bailed Gomes out on a poor throw to end the game after a K.
Not going to play flawless defense every game of course but think defense will be better than today most of the time.
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I assumed P2’s remark was in reference to picking Fulmer’s throw on the comebacker…
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Quite so, Dave.
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Yeah, that was the better play.
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Definitely not a good-defense game for the Cubs. But, it's a cold March day, everything is different than in summer or in Mesa.
Brewers and Cardinals both lose, Cubs leap out to the division lead! :):)
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I didn't track closely, but I think I saw Keegan with 92, 93, and 95 fo some fastballs.
@sahadevsharma
Keegan Thompson Ks Garrett Mitchell with 94.6 mph four-seamer after a called strike at 93.4. Doing this in the cold at Wrigley after there was so much concern over his velo in the spring. Looks like he's got it back now.
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Nice to see Rios get in the lineup pretty quickly. Madrigal at 3B and Barnhart behind the plate today.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-cubs/2023/04/01/718758
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Cubs starting pitchers are now 2 for 2 in having clock violations.
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Dansby's still trying to prove the doubters wrong.
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And Swanson with a leadoff double after a great defensive play in the top of the 4th. So far, he's looking like the player we were hoping we'd be getting.
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Think that folks unenthusiastic about Swanson signing are talking about some years down the road. So, not going to be impressed by first weekend of year one.
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Steele matching scoreless frames with Woodruff going to the bottom of the 6th.
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Steele looking like the best version of himself today.
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Through 6 (18 outs), Steele has 8K's and 7 ground outs
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Happ!!!! 1-0 Cubs!
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That was a great at bat from Happ too, fouling off a bunch of pitches before homering on a full count.
One other observation from seeing the replay of the at bat and some general watching of the game today, home plate umpire Cory Blaser is a sucker for well done catcher framing.
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Assad is brought out for a second inning, and he can't find the strike zone.
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Winker ties the game on a grounder to the right side that probably would have been hit into a shift and a double play last season. Bring back the shift!
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Wow, when Winkler hit it, I thought DP ball. Replay looked Hoerner had positioned closer to 1st than to 2nd.
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ASSad struggled.
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Sadly we are not getting the Cody Bellinger we were hoping to get. Soul killer double play after getting the first two on in the 9th to go with 2 K's and a popout.
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Brewers win. Not in first place anymore. :(
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I wouldn't get too down on Bellinger yet. Tough conditions in which to hit and he hit that DP ball fairly hard. He didn't look great against Woodruff's fastballs though.
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A better RFer catches Contreras’ bloop single…
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Yeah, Woodruff seemed to throw a lot of almost-down-the-middle fastballs that Bellinger missed on. I always worry about a guy who hasn't hit for a few years, then going hitless in April Wrigley. How can you have any confidence that you'll ever hit again? I'd think it could be a psychological sinkhole. Hope he gets some hits soon and it doesn't become a mental tornado for him.
Agree, Mastrobuoni didn't get a good jump on the flare to right. And the hit that tied it, last year that would have been an easy out with the shift on. No-shift changed this game.
Steele was very good. Great to see. He's an important piece of the rebuild and the future. Fun to have him start the season with style.
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A better RFer catches Contreras’ bloop single…
Heyward would have gotten it.
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ASSad struggled.
two innings was one too many
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Obviously those Arizona numbers for Swanson were super important.
The ones trashing the signing weren't focusing on the end of the contract - every FA is an overpay by the final couple of years, pretty much. They're trashing it on the grounds that Swanson isn't that good to begin with. We'll see - he's not going to hit .750, but he is going to be a great defender as he's already shown. He is going to be a better than league-average bat at a super-premium position. He is going to be a leader in the clubhouse, and he is at least an attempt to convince the world that the Cubs aren't completely indifferent to winning (as even PTR has acknowledged).
As for the team as a whole, it's remarkable how closely the first two games have followed the script. This offense is likely to be really bad, and the pitching is going to have to be great for us to stick close to .500.
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As for the team as a whole, it's remarkable how closely the first two games have followed the script. This offense is likely to be really bad, and the pitching is going to have to be great for us to stick close to .500.
Just maybe that is why some of us didn't like the Swanson signing?
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A better RFer catches Contreras’ bloop single…
Aside from the jump, it was just a lame effort. Can’t just stop and watch the ball land a few feet in front of you in that situation without going all out. JD sort of alluded to that in passing but broadcasters owe it to fans to be more critical of the tentative effort there. Mets broadcasters, Gary Thorne and Hernandez/Darling, do that when appropriate—as do some others.
Mancini and Mastrobuoni are really IFers filling in in the OF. So, can expect a tentative effort on a tough play. This can happen when carrying a 3rd catcher instead of a legit OFer.
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Sadly we are not getting the Cody Bellinger we were hoping to get. Soul killer double play after getting the first two on in the 9th to go with 2 K's and a popout.
Good Lord, JR, it's been a whole two games. All he needs is for the fans to get down on him to make his fate complete.
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As for the team as a whole, it's remarkable how closely the first two games have followed the script. This offense is likely to be really bad, and the pitching is going to have to be great for us to stick close to .500.
Just maybe that is why some of us didn't like the Swanson signing?
I can sympathize with that a little bit actually. Still at some point we need to get some real major league players, start moving away from being in constant rebuild mode, and get something resembling a culture of winning back. Even if .500 is our ceiling with Swanson in the next year or two, to me that's fine. It's more fun watching an actual productive major league player on both sides of the field than trotting out some Andrelton Simmons roster fill type guy. At some point, watching the likes of Frank Schwindel, Rafael Ortega, Alfonso Rivas, etc. just wears on your fandom and gets plain old.
The first two games of the season might be indicative of the kind of .500 team we might field this year, but Swanson has definitely been our best position player in both of those games on both sides of the field and has been fun to watch, even if that .750 batting average might go down a couple of points in the not to distant future.
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The Cubs need impact bats, not good players. Happ is probably the Cubs best hitter, where would he rank on the Astros?
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Yes, we certainly don’t need good players.
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We'd be better off without Swanson, maybe. We would be better off for sure without Merryweather and maybe Tellion.
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I hate losing as much as anyone, but perhaps it's a bit early to be making proclamations about the 2023 Cubs?
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I can sympathize with that a little bit actually. Still at some point we need to get some real major league players, start moving away from being in constant rebuild mode, and get something resembling a culture of winning back. Even if .500 is our ceiling with Swanson in the next year or two, to me that's fine. It's more fun watching an actual productive major league player on both sides of the field than trotting out some Andrelton Simmons roster fill type guy. At some point, watching the likes of Frank Schwindel, Rafael Ortega, Alfonso Rivas, etc. just wears on your fandom and gets plain old.
The first two games of the season might be indicative of the kind of .500 team we might field this year, but Swanson has definitely been our best position player in both of those games on both sides of the field and has been fun to watch, even if that .750 batting average might go down a couple of points in the not to distant future.
Swanson is a good player and yes the the Cubs are going to need good players. That said I feel pretty comfortable that the Cubs can draft and develop good players at any point in the draft. To be anything more than a rehash of the Hendry tenure post Prior and Wood the Cubs are going to have to get great players. I don’t feel comfortable that the Cubs can do that outside of the first round picks. Maybe Alacantara will be one in a few years, maybe the Cruz kid will be one. Outside of that the Cubs are back to Soto/Ohtani as a free agent.
Dansby is a fine player, but he is more the finishing piece to a team than the guy to build around.
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He's our best player hands down.
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That says more about the Cubs than Swanson.
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…..To be anything more than a rehash of the Hendry tenure post Prior and Wood the Cubs are going to have to get great players. I don’t feel comfortable that the Cubs can do that outside of the first round picks. Maybe Alacantara will be one in a few years, maybe the Cruz kid will be one. Outside of that the Cubs are back to Soto/Ohtani as a free agent. Dansby is a fine player, but he is more the finishing piece to a team than the guy to build around.
It’s a lot better to have a couple of great players than fine players but it’s not a prerequisite to get to WS.
Rays have shown, as have other clubs. Rays best position player when they got to WS was probably Brandon Lowe.
2015 WS——neither club had a great player. Mets best regular season performer was Lucas Duda. Daniel Murphy got hot in post-season. KC best position players were, who? Hosmer?
When Cubs played Indians in 2016, lindor and Ramirez were early in their careers and 5 WAR guys——kind of like Swanson was last season.
Other thing is can’t always tell who is going to become special. Speaking of Ramirez, he was never a Top 100 prospect.
So, you don’t have to have Soto or a Ohtani. Nice if you do, but not mandatory. I first learned this in 1959–my 2nd year as a baseball fan—when Dodgers beat out Braves for NL pennant. Dodgers had an aging Hodges and Snider, now part-time good regulars and best position player that year probably was Wally Moon. Maybe Jim Gilliam. This was before Koufax was Koufax. Braves had prime years Aaron and Mathews and had won two previous NL pennants. Dodgers won World Series.
If you think you have a hard-and-fast formula for winning in baseball, you don’t. History says otherwise, sorry.
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You could probably hang the moon off of Wally Moon's unibrow. This is pretty spectacular.
(https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Wally_Moon2_f.jpg)
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I have that card
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Curt, do you have the 1960 Topps Art Schult? My grandfather went to high school with him; that card, with his autograph on it, is the only one from that set that I have. They ended up living a few blocks apart again in retirement; Art died a few years ago.
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Swanson is a hell of a baseball player. Being more upset by signing a hell of a baseball player than by not signing more of them is bizarro world logic.
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Curt, do you have the 1960 Topps Art Schult? My grandfather went to high school with him; that card, with his autograph on it, is the only one from that set that I have. They ended up living a few blocks apart again in retirement; Art died a few years ago.
I don't think so but I will check.
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Why not Madrigal instead of Gomes for Barnhart with the bases loaded and 2 outs, with Torrens staying in to catch?
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And Gomes predictably Ks on 3 pitches.
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Saving Madrigal for a key spot in the game.
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Smiley was struggling from the first pitch, but Ross is doing his normal shtick of not pulling a pitcher soon enough.
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Saving Madrigal for a key spot in the game.
I just don't think Ross has what it takes. Nice guy, in way over his head.
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Of course there's the matter of losing the DH to consider, but you can still bring Gomes in to catch. It's based loaded, two outs, you're down one run. Madrigal has extremely limited usefulness as a hitter but if there was ever a situation tailor-made for him, that would be it.
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And with another opportunity Ross gives Deeg the finger and doesn't use Madrigal.
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Derek Law, who helped us with our miracle comeback in the 2016 NLDS, shuts the Cubs down to end the game.
Nice to see us get through a seven-runs-allowed loss with only two pitchers, though. A redeeming feature of the DH.
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I still think he ends up having an OK season, but the Cubs using Bellinger as a cleanup man tells you a lot about this roster.
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I think that Reds homer could have been caught if we had a full grown outfielder out there.
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With so few posts today I assumed the Cubs were losing big, but it's the opposite. About the only disappointment so far is that Wesneski couldn't get through five innings.
Yahoo just took the Cubs' 12th run off the board somehow. Was it a mistake, or did a play get overturned?
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Cubs add one in the ninth as Nico scores on a single from Bellinger.
Merryweather (they couldn't find a real number for him?) shuts the Reds down in the ninth, and the Cubs win 12-5.
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Fun to be wracking up lots of hits. Having a warm-weather game, and against some bad pitching, must be fun for the hitters. I didn't watch all of it, but seemed like there were solid-contact line drives all over the place.
-Mastrobuoni only one hit, but he hit the ball solid a bunch of times. Last night off his bat in the 9th he hit a liner that I thought for sure was going to be a 2-run double, but the 1B was positioned perfectly.
-I didn't see Bellinger's first hit, but his second two hits were both solid line drives, not fluky ducks or seeing-eye grounders. His second hit, ball was on outside third but he still got around and pulled it into right field. He seems to stand pretty close to the plate, for such a long-levered guy.
They said Suzuki had a couple of DH AB's today.
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I remember we all noted how close to the plate that Rizzo stood. Bellinger is pretty close too.
One promising thing about Bellinger's AB's lately is that there are fewer swings and misses. 3 hits tonight, a 3 run dinger last night, and most of the rest were shallow flies (pop-ups) to CF. Like fouls straight back to the screen, those Texas league pop-ups that don't drop are indicators that he's just getting the bottom of the ball. Sooner or later...
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Today's game cancelled.
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So the only way to watch today is Apple TV?
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yeah. Love paying for MLB, and having them shuffle games to other services.
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TMobile gave me a year for free and then my Vizio TV gave me another 6 months for free.
Stroman becoming a K machine is one of the more interesting things this year so far.
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Streaming is reaching the point where it's no cheaper and way more inconvenient than the crappy cable and satellite companies it's supposed to be making obsolete.
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YouTube TV is close to basic cable already. It won’t get any better until you can buy only the channels you want and not have to take all the crappy channels with them.
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YouTube TV is close to basic cable already. It won’t get any better until you can buy only the channels you want and not have to take all the crappy channels with them.
that's why I dropped them
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Cubs win 2-0!! 👍👍. Fulmer 4 k in two good innings, nice save. Bellinger and happ two nice solid hits. Did Swanson steal 2nd to set up the first run? .500, got a shot for 80 wins!!
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Cubs win 2-0!! 👍👍. Fulmer 4 k in two good innings, nice save. Bellinger and happ two nice solid hits. Did Swanson steal 2nd to set up the first run? .500, got a shot for 80 wins!!
Yes, 2-out SB for Swanson to set up first run.
Really interesting that Ross used Fulmer for a 2-inning save after two off-days and most of the bullpen rested. Fulmer has quite a repertoire for a short reliever. According to Statcast, today Fulmer threw 10 cutters, 6 change-ups, five 4-seamers, 4 sinkers, 3 sweepers.
Time of game: 2:17.
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Big supporter of the two-inning save. Have a tight game today, win today while you can.
Tomorrow you might be getting waxed, or hopefully are winning easily. If not, there are other guys to save another closer one, if we are lucky enough to have another close lead to save.
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Alzolay could handle it.
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Yeah, Alzolay, Boxberger, Keenan, I'd like to think we've got a volume of guys with a reasonable chance to pitch a shutout inning or two as needed.
Lets just score some runs so that we have leads to save, and worry about who pitches the 9th inning after that.
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1-1 bottom 3.
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2-1 Cubs on a Swanson single.
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Wisdom goes yard.
3-1 Cubs.
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5-1 on a 2 run single by Hosmer.
Steele strong through 6.
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Keegan Thompson gave up a run in the 7th.
RBI single for Mancini.
6-2 Cubs.
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Yan Gomes with a cowhide joyride.
7-2 Cubs.
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Boxberger with a clean 8th.
Happ with a 3 run single.
10-2 Cubs.
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Rucker gave up a run in the 9th.
Cubs win 10-3.
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Cubs win, Cubs win! Fun to be getting lots of hits, and hits in RBI situations. Fun to be over .500. Fun to be scoring some runs. And fun to be scoring some runs in some different ways. Also fun to keep adding on.
Nice to have Steele stacking effective outings.
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Nice to see Cubs stack grinding ABs today (and other games this season).
Perez looked pretty good early for Texas, but his pitch count mounted up like crazy and it became clear by the 4th he wouldn't get past 5.
Good starting pitching 1 - 5, solid pen, strong defense (better than today), grinding ABs and a productive bench is a solid formula to build on, IF that proves to become the Cub success formula.
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Kind of halfway watching the replay of the Cubs game tonight, and just seeing the guys interview Bob Odenkirk during the 7th inning, it just kind of hit me it may as well be Saul Goodman in the booth because they're just almost the same guy.
The Cubs absolutely have the best roster of celebrity fans in all of baseball.
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Bob Odenkirk also can't sing worth a damn.
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Justin Steele has allowed only 2 ER over his last 29.1 IP.
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Bob Odenkirk also can't sing worth a damn.
Well, he is no Denise Richards.
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I continue to be unimpressed by Taillon
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I continue to be unimpressed by ASSad.
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Assad was a nice story this spring, but he was clearly performing at opportunity-of-a-lifetime levels during the WBC. Glad he had his moment in the light, but he was never really a prospect, he was bad last year from a metrics perspective, and he’s been terrible this year.
Cubs have too many good/interesting bullpen arms to be giving him major league innings, IMO.
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I think that's overstating it. Assad was lucky last year but "bad" is too strong. I still think there's a potential major league arm there, either as a low-end starter or middle reliever. Throws five pitches, velocity is up this season out of the pen. I think he's in the mix long-term, though certainly not an elite prospect.
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I think they kept him because Sampson was bad enough to send down, and they needed another multi inning reliever besides Thompson. They seem to want to keep Alzolay to two innings if that. When they have someone in Iowa that fills that bill, they will send Assad down if he is still struggling.
I would think that Riley Thompson or Brenden Little may take the role eventually, but neither seem to be ready right now, especially thompson.
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It's only 2 starts in, but it would be nice to see Taillon fit better with our run prevention strategy.
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That was a hell of a stab by Leiter.
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Swanson is really elite at SS. Looks so natural and calm out there.
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CUBS WIN!!!!
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Is that lightshow a new thing this year?
Weird 10th. Madrigal steals on a pickoff, then right after JD calls out the RF for playing too deep and the potential for a "little dump shot into right field" that's what Nico predictably delivers.
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One of the biggest surprises for me this year is Madrigal. He certainly has proven that he has the arm for third base, and has looked quite decent in the field. In addition, his speed on the bases is much better than I had expected. And he looks like he will be more than adequate as a contact hitter.
He has no power. But remember, when they got him, everyone was claiming that he was just what the Cubs needed. The conventional wisdom was that the Cubs had all the same kind of hitters - three true outcome hitters that had no contact skills. We needed someone to be on base when the power hitters come up to bat. Of course, our true outcome batters are mostly gone, but they may well be replaced by others of the same stripe. In the meantime, with Madrigal showing that he can be an adequate third baseman, there may well be enough at bats for him between third, DH, PH, and a little rest for Hoerner for him to be a useful player on this team.
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I just saw highlights and watched some retroactive fast-fast-fast action. fun win.
Fun to have Smiley have a really good game. Fun to have Bellinger get an RBI hit, and Hosmer too. Having them able to contribute offensively to varying degree would help.
Like deeg said, earlier in Hoerner ABs, JD (rightly) called out why the RF was playing stupidly deep. Not sure why on earth he'd have been playing as deep as he was. Lucky for Cubs.
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I'm fine with Madrigal being a roster guy. He never Ks, runs the bases decently, and seems to be adequate at both 2B and 3B. He has use as a situational player and part-time starter.
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I'm fine with Madrigal being a roster guy. He never Ks, runs the bases decently, and seems to be adequate at both 2B and 3B. He has use as a situational player and part-time starter.
Yeah, agree. As a depth guy, he's fine.
This relates to one of the points I'd made during the offseason, when we weren't making big improvements to the offense. Add Swanson and Bellinger, replace Willson. Where's the gain?
But part of my argument/hope was that the depth/bench might be where a LOT of gain would be made? Madrigal/Mastrobuoni/Rios might not be anything special. But we had >2000 PA's given to bench guys with <.660 OPS, to guys in the Heyward/Frazier/Hermosillo/Simmons/McKinstry auto-outs last year. 1500 PA to bench guys with sub-.300 OBP.
A lot of depth horror to be upgraded. Watching a Madrigal or Mastrobuoni AB doesn't look so outclassed.
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Wesneski got rocked. Ump squeezed him on quite a few pitches, but too many in bad spots.
His average exit velo was probably pretty high…
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Tough night for Cubs rookie Hayden Wesneski: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 64 pitches (37 strikes).
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Boog just said that there have been 6 balls in play so far that were over 100mph off the bat.
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It's difficult to tell from the camera angle, but most of Wesnewsky s pitches have velocity but don't move. His curve on the other hand is awesome. He needs to use it as his kill pitch.
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Who has Wesnewski in fantasy? Oh. Yeah. Sorry Dave.
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CBS now has Wesneski with only 2 ER given up…looks like they gave Mancini an error on La Stella’s liner…
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7-3 M’s now as Mancini hit a 2 run bomb just right of straightaway CF…
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And now 7-4 as Hosmer hits a grounder to 2nd that was an easy out last year, but thru the 3.5 hole this year…
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Gomes with another infield hit, and we have bases loaded with only 1 out and Velazquez up.
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LOL! Nelson wants to stay in Chicago!
8-7 Cubs!
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VELAZQUEZ!!!!
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Woooow. I don't think we've lost to Seattle since that epic Lester bunt game in 2016. We won the rest of that series, and swept them in 2019.
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I like Nelson Velasquez.
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Nico comes in to score on Swanson's third hit in three innings; 9-7.
Now Happ has a ground rule double, sending Swanson to third. Mancini, who has already homered in this inning, is up again.
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This feels like it's going to be one of those 17-15 games or something like that.
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Seattle gets one back on a Kelenic homer, making it 9-8, and the Cubs go quietly in the bottom half.
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Alzolay, whose WHIP is 0.33 this year, is in to pitch against our old pal Tommy La Stella.
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This team is kind of becoming fun to watch. 4th hit for Swanson drives in Velazquez, and it's 10-8 Cubs.
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Swanson's good.
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Mancini drives in another, and it's 11-8.
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Swanson may be the best singles hitter in baseball.
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Swanson just got pulled from the game. Hopefully nothing serious is going on there.
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One of these days, someone is going to hit a bomb after a pitch is delivered just past triple zero, and the umpire is going to wave off the HR, and it’s going to be chaos…
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Dansby is coming out of the game while being 4 for 4?
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Swanson may be the best singles hitter in baseball.
CBJ, is that you?
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One of these days, someone is going to hit a bomb after a pitch is delivered just past triple zero, and the umpire is going to wave off the HR, and it’s going to be chaos…
I wonder if a rule will be put in place where the batting team can "decline the penalty" and take the home run instead.
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CBJ, is that you?
Swanson is 16-40 with 14 singles and 2 doubles.
Can be pointed out.
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14-8 now as Nico doubles in two more and then comes in to score on another hit.
Save some for tomorrow!
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Lower left side tightness for Swanson.
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That sounds disturbingly like an oblique problem for Dansby.
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Cubs Win!!!!
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What a crazy game. Must have been a fun one to be in attendance for...
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BORIS SIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Losing Dansby for any length of time would really suck - already probably the most indispensable player on the roster. Hopefully it’s not an oblique strain (Seiya is coming back unusually quickly for his, and it’s basically a month) but just a tweak.
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Swanson says he’s basically on no sleep and not enough food and water because his wife just had surgery, and cramped up. Maybe we dodged a bad situation.
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Relief pitched 7.2 IP. 8K/0BB, 2 runs. That's really good work by the depth guys. We've had a lot of wildmen in the bullpen over the years, I think 8 innings with no walks is very nice.
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Hoerner at SS for afternoon game today.
Mastrobuoni in RF.
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Hoerner at SS for afternoon game today.
Mastrobuoni in RF.
Looks like Dansby could be in danger of not playing in all 162 games after all.
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Mark Gonzales
@MDGonzales
Swanson believes he’ll return Friday against the LA Dodgers
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It’s helpful that the backup SS is your starting 2B.
Don’t have to keep a utility SS on the bench and on 26-man.
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Interesting that after his big game, that Ross isn't giving Velasquez another start. I wonder what the thinking is: a particular pitcher profile that Nelson might struggle with? A pre-plan to make sure Mastrobuoni doesn't get rusty? Or perhaps Ross's instinct that after Nelson having such a big game, that his adrenaline has been racing and he's gotten texts and calls all night and maybe hasn't slept much? I'm partly of the when-he's-hot-he's-hot mentality, so might like to ride it for another game. Might also be that having had a big game, sit today and travel tomorrow, his mindset might stay in a happy place for a couple of days. Whereas K'ing his first two AB today and the confident feeling might vanish in no time?
But yeah, a lineup with Hoerner, Madrigal, Mastrobuoni, Hosmer, and Barnhart, that's a crowd of single-hitting contact boys. Stroman probably better be very sharp again.
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Gotta get Mastrobuoni going.
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M’s SP Logan Gilbert is a reverse splits pitcher, so yes kind of a head scratcher opting for Mastrobuoni.
When Suzuki returns, Cubs figure to send down two position players as bullpen currently with 7 guys (Velazquez for Assad move).
Rios not getting much playing time, so that figures to be one move. Other move figures to be either Velazquez or Mastrobuoni. Seems like Cubs committed to keeping Torrens.
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You'd rather have Velazquez' glove in RF (although OF defense might not be crucial with Stroman on the mound). Not sure what Ross' reasoning is.
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Cubs score in the first. Two singles for Hoerner and Madrigal, Happ beats out a dp throw, Bellinger gets to two strikes but gets a solidly-deep sac to drive in the run, LF/CF ran into each other on the catch.
Bellinger really cut back on his swing to make the contact, nice piece of situational hitting by him.
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Looks like Dansby could be in danger of not playing in all 162 games after all.
Good. That’s a dumb thing to obsess over. With the notion off the table maybe there’ll be less resistance to resting him occasionally during the season.
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It just occurred to me that no one has said anything about Kelenic’s HR today.
I’ve been watching the Cubs on TV for 40+ years, and I’ve never seen a ball hit up there.
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I was gonna post that it almost hit the scoreboard.
They said it was the longest homer at Wrigley in 7 years.
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It just occurred to me that no one has said anything about Kelenic’s HR today.
I’ve been watching the Cubs on TV for 40+ years, and I’ve never seen a ball hit up there.
Has Kelenic figured it out or have we just made him look good? Still under 23, amazingly enough.
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Kelenic’s homer today was 111.7 EV and 482 feet. His single in 2nd inning was third hardest hit of the day at 108.4.
Have to be patient with talented, very young hitters. Took Kelenic about 560 career PAs hitting .178 to get where he is now.
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Call me when he hits a rooftop.....
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Cubs blasting away with HR. Gomes-Happ-Seiya-Wisdom-Gomes. Fun. Steele with another in-control game. Go Cubs. Swanson with 5K's.
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Steele with 17 swing-and-misses tonight.
Yan Gomes now slugging .533.
Golden Sombrero Plus One for Swanson.
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Cubs with 30 total bases tonight.
Time of Game: 2:20
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Jason Heyward starting in CF tonight…..for the Dodgers.
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Bellinger steals a HR away from Jason Heyward.
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Cubs clinging to a 1-0 lead, getting strikeouts with some great pitch location from Taillon and Leiter.
Top of the 7th; Seiya gets on but is caught stealing. Bellinger works a walk and steals third after a reliever is brought in and Rios pinch hits. No one was covering the bag; the third baseman was shaded way over into the gap.
But Rios strikes out to end the threat. We need some insurance.
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Keegan with some beautiful black-painting to strike Barnes out looking. A few millimeters of the ball got over the very outside edge of the plate; ump called it correctly.
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Martinez, Outman, and Vargas to hit against Fulmer in the bottom of the ninth.
Dodgers only have two hits today; let's keep it that way.
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Tough loss. Fulmer gave up some solid contact. Hoerner didn't miss the game-winner by much. Bummer.
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Heyward's strikeout was weird. A ball called when he seemed to have gone around, then a strike called on a pitch a few inches outside the strike zone. It evened out and Fulmer struck him out eventually, but not good umpiring there.
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Just curious, how many blown saves does Fulmer get ?
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EV on Dodgers three hits in 9th were 81.7, 74.1 (the double), 92.7 (game winner).
Hit em where they ain’t.
That’s Baseball.
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Cubs had their outfields super deep, almost to the warning track. The single that fell well in front of Suzuki, I wonder whether he'd have caught that playing normal defense.
Key missed opportunity was bases loaded 1 out with Happ up. He K'd without the pitcher throwing a single pitch in the strike zone. Pitch one was a full baseball out of the zone, but the ump called it a strike. Pitches 2 and 3 were balls. Should have been 3-0, but on 2-1 Happ chased a fastball that was one or two baseballs outside and missed. With two strikes, the pitcher bounced something in the dirt but Happ chased. So a badly bad strike call and two pretty egregious chases. Sutcliffe righty noted that had the first pitch been called correctly, the subsequent flow would have been different. 2-strikes forces chase swings that don't happen otherwise, obviously. But the pitcher might have thrown something hittable, too, had the count begun with a ball instead of a strike. Missed opportunity changed the game. I imagine had they gotten that 2nd run in, then Suzuki wouldn't have been playing so deep in the 9th, either, so maybe the hit that started things would have been an out.
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xBA on the Outman single to open the 9th was .630. So, generally, that batted ball is a hit.
The Bellinger catch kind of kept the Cubs in the game. So, maybe kind of played this game on house money.
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I was kinda surprised we weren’t guarding the lines on the double in the 9th. I thought Wisdom was going to be in perfect position to catch that one.
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I think Dodger fans are booing because they see some of the old Bellinger resurfacing.
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You could see in the swing even in Arizona that Bellinger seemed a little freer and move fluid, even if the results weren't there yet. That HR today was a moon shot.
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Susuki misses a high fly in the sun to allow a run. Swanson muffs a grounder to short to load the bases. Leiter pitches around it and leaves them loaded. 3-2 entering the 9th.
Would be nice to add one or two runs to the lead.
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Craig, I have top of 8. Am I behind?
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Interesting to see Fulmer pitch the 8th. 2 inning save chance after blowing it yesterday, or does somebody else close it?
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Hughes? But righties coming up.
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Very curious managing by Ross here. Hope it works out.
In other words very much in character.
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Gomes fools this umpire a lot
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Cubs win.
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We don't get to say this very often, but we owe that game to the umpire.
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Yeah, Gomes with a clinic on pitch framing in 9th inning.
Not sure that I’ve ever seen a catcher influence balls/strikes as much as Gomes today.
Dave Roberts looked out of his mind at final punch out.
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UT boy.
When he played at UT his walk up song was Carry On My Wayward Son.
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That was some crazy bad umpiring.
But great win. Nice work by Fullmer in the 8th. The HR's were sure nice.
Fun to pull out a tight one, and to win a road series. Man, still kinda disappointed that they didn't win yesterday, and enable this to have been a sweep.
Fun to have Smyly stack two excellent starts, and Taillon having been good yesterday. Getting really good pitching sure is nice.
It's early, but Bellinger is hitting .245 with .770 OPS and .317 OBP. Going hitless for the next couple of days could make that look ugly again, obviously. But he hasn't been looking ugly or outclassed recently. Whether he's awful or decent is a huge swing factor for whether the team can sustain a winning record. Recently he's looked pretty decent.
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Left-handed hitters are now 2 for 18 with 10 strikeouts this season vs. Leiter
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Yeah, it's freakish how confident he is throwing his stuff to lefties.
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Watching Gomes in the 9th brought home how much Willson's lack of skill in pitch framing hurt the Cubs.
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Man, do they need robo-umps.
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I agree. We have the technology to make sure that the call is proper. We should implement it immediately. No team should have an advantage because they have a catcher that takes advantage of or compensates for an umpire's poor ball and strike decisions.
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…or penalize a pitcher when he throws a strike, but doesn’t get the call because he missed the target by over a foot…
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Barnhart seems to set up really far outside sometimes. I don't see the advantage. If Stroman throws a breaking ball to Barnhart's glove, who'd swing at a pitch so far outside? What is the logic that I'm missing?
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The strike zone is even worse tonight.
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Does anyone else think that Madrigal is a better defender at 3B than he was at 2B?
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Belli's last 4 hits have been against lefties.
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What the heck has gotten into Patrick Wisdom to start the season? He's now T2 in the majors in homers with his 7th tonight.
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What the heck has gotten into Patrick Wisdom to start the season? He's now T2 in the majors in homers with his 7th tonight.
He’s always been a very streaky hitter. As long as he’s on a tear ride it as hard as you can. Maybe he’s figured something out and can level up over a full season, who knows.
Nice to see Weseneski have a good start after two stinkers. He’s probably on the bubble when Hendricks comes back at this point.
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7 HR's, what are you guys talking about! 8 of them. He's locked in for now.
This will pass. Of course, perhaps at some later time Mancini will go on a hot streak, that's possible too.
On Wisdom, there was talk that he was playing with a bad back for quite a bit of last year. Trying to respond to moving pitches with a stiff back wouldn't seem like a lot of fun....
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Oakland looks really bad.
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Oakland looks really bad.
Yeah and the team sucks too
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Paid attendance tonight in Oakland was 4,714.
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Rios came into the game in 9th inning to play 3B.
Notable because his first game action this season in the field.
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Paid attendance tonight in Oakland was 4,714.
see you in Vegas!
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Hope I can find a seat tonight.
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Does anyone else think that Madrigal is a better defender at 3B than he was at 2B?
I never saw him when he played second base for the White Sox, but he has definately been better at third than at second while with the Cubs. I have no idea if his injury was still bothering him in the field last year with the Cubs. I have heard that he was considered to be a good defensive player prior to his draft, so perhaps it was. Regardless, he is a much better third baseman than I expected, and his arm is far, far better than I had been led to believe.
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Is Madrigal better defensively than Wisdom? If so, then it might be sensible to give Madrigal more starts at 3B than he is currently getting with Wisdom DHing in those games.
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Dave, he seems to "cheat" in a bit which shortens the throw to first and makes his arm look better than it is. Not a knock, just an observation.
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Madrigal just looks quicker and more mobile and agile. Both in the field and on the bases.
Last night they won 10-1, so it didn't matter. But he totally ran right through a stop sign at 3B, trying to score on a single to left with only one out, and the throw beat him by 10 feet. Had that impacted the game outcome, that would have been a pretty fault-worthy decision.
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Last night they won 10-1, so it didn't matter. But he totally ran right through a stop sign at 3B, trying to score on a single to left with only one out, and the throw beat him by 10 feet. Had that impacted the game outcome, that would have been a pretty fault-worthy decision.
Yeah, that was pretty egregious. The play is totally behind his back so he has zero basis to ignore the 3B coach. As you said, out by 10 feet. Hope he was lectured by Ross about that post-game.
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Madrigal has some Theriot-level baserunning decision making at times.
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Earlier in the game, the A's announcers had talked about the need for a runner approaching third to heed the third base coach if the play isn't in front of him. Actually, I thought that Madrigal had a good look at the play in LF and might have made the erroneous decision that he had a very good chance to beat the throw. But even in that circumstance, as a baserunner you should heed the stop sign by the coach.
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Madrigal is in a fight for his career right now, and he has to know it. Without enough to impress people with his OPS numbers, he pretty much has to rely on the lesser stats such as stolen bases, runs scored, etc. Desperate people (granted, desperate is probably too strong a word) often make poor choices, and this was certainly one of them. I haven't seen enough of his play to know if it is typical of his judgement, or just a "one and out" mistake.
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He made kind of a bad/reckless baserunning thing last week that helped win the extra-inning game. Not sure what he was thinking, but had big lead off second, pitcher whirled and threw pickoff to 2nd, and Madrigal just lit out for 3rd and set up the game-winning run. I wasn't sure whether he'd had in mind to steal, and was going to go on first movement whether to the plate or in pickoff, and it was a clever move. Or if he got lucky. That was a fun play, though, at the time.
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Definitely questionable to risk getting thrown out at third with nobody out.
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Hope I can find a seat tonight.
I'm thinking about going to Miami at the end of the month to see them....hope there will still be seats left there too!
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Last time I saw them in Miami was in '03. Games 4 and 5.
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Definitely questionable to risk getting thrown out at third with nobody out.
.
Yeah, I never knew what was going through his head on that "steal" or 3B.
1. Was it an unintended accidental success? He took too large a lead, the pitcher surprised him and picked him off, not at all what he expected or planned? But once the pitcher surprised him, he had the quick wit to realize he had no chance to get back, so he improvised and broke for 3rd? Never his plan, it just happened to work out?
2. Or had it always been his plan to break for 3rd? He took a big lead with that intention, knowing the 3B was way off the bag; and he was planning to break for 3rd whether the pitcher delivered to the plate, or spun and threw to 2nd?
He made it by a mile. So *IF* it was a clear plan, I think it was kinda brilliant. But I suspect it wasn't a brilliant plan, and he just got lucky.
I'm guessing he just lucked out, he took an unsafe exaggerated lead, but he got away with it.
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Just thinking about the history of the Cubs vs. A's, anybody remember this music video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRxzRREw8Dk
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Scoreless after 6. I assume Stroman is done.
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Leiter walks the first guy, gets a DP grounder from Kemp but the runner had been going, so they just get the guy on first. He's stuck facing a RH hitter, but gets him to chase on a full-count pitcher way inside. Then easily K's the lefty for the 3rd out.
Time for the Cubs to get something going and score a run somehow.
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Wisdom so locked in he’s like Pujols out there.
And Belli playing like peak Belli sure is niiiiiiice.
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Trevor May was good for a while with the Twins, but he was bad that inning. He hung a curve to Wisdom earlier, and threw a fat fastball down the middle that Wisdom fouled, before eventually hanging the curveball that Wisdom ripped.
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Madrigal! Nice 2-out single, 3-1.
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I haven't watched that much, and I know Madrigal gets faulted for not walking much. But it doesn't seem he chases that much? Worked the count to full, pitcher threw a strike, he hit the strike.
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RFer drops a line drive from Hoerner, lost in lights? Unlike last night Harris is waiving Madrigal all the way, strong throw beat him like last night, but unlike last night this time the throw is a little bit off and he gets around it for the score. 4-0, getting hits is really fun.
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Happ and Bellinger collide on a fly ball. Happ seemed to be calling it and well set up to grab it, arm up in catching position, but Bellinger ran him over, and Happ was kinda rubbing his left shoulder after. Probably nothing, hope he's fine. Fulmer got up 0-2 on a hitter, then threw four chase pitches to walk him. Swanson really nice play on a sharp grounder in the hole to end the 8th.
Swanson seems to have patented a nice, very intentional process on balls deep in the hole where he intentionally slides ahead of the catch. Doesn't give great throwing position, but it enables him to get off throws very quickly. In this case he got a very quick throw to 2nd. Obviously when he throws to first on those, he intentionally bounces it, rather than trying to air it all the way to first.
I don't recall Cub shortstops sliding on those so often in the past. I kinda love it, seems a good strategy. Not sure if the start-on-the-dirt factors in that? Or if he's done that for a while, even if he was allowed to start deeper?
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Seiya on base all five times tonight? Plus a run? Great game for him.
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Tony Kemp is very helpful in an opposing lineup.
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Cubs Win!
A nice easy ninth with a double play to erase the baserunner.
Also nice to see Fulmer get a second easy inning in a row after the Dodgers disaster.
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I enjoyed the game. Hurrah for run prevention. Stroman didn't have his best stuff but was good enough. I would have walked Bellinger to load the bases in the 8th with the bottom of the order to follow. Glad they didn't. Hosmer is awful.
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I haven't watched that much, and I know Madrigal gets faulted for not walking much. But it doesn't seem he chases that much? Worked the count to full, pitcher threw a strike, he hit the strike.
I don’t think he chases that much, it’s more that because he has almost no extra-base power he gets challenged from the first pitch. May as well swing at the first one you like. Also, because he rarely swings and misses he doesn’t go into many deep counts.
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Boy, the A's are bad. Still nice to pad the numbers against a team like that, of course.
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Cubs up 6-2 after 7. Bellinger drove in the tie-breaking run (on a grounder to the 1B). MVP Wisdom then got a 2-run triple to break it open.
Swanson scored the tie-breaking run after leading off the 6th with a walk. He's got 3 on the day, 11 on the season already.
Blue has noted that Swanson doesn't hit breaking balls well; might pitchers kill him by just throwing breaking balls? That is a risk, with GOOD pitchers. But a lot of bad pitchers (Oakland) can't locate breaking stuff consistently. Pitchers are throwing him mostly breaking balls, but not always for strikes, and that's why he's walking so much, I think?
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Hosmer with a HR! Man, he's a big guy. You'd not expect such a big guy would be such a low-HR guy.
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Oakland makes some of the recent Tigers teams look like world beaters.
Still good to see the Cubs win comfortably. I forgot what that looked like.
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Yeah, getting easy wins, those haven't been many. Madrigal now has OPS up over .800. :). Getting lots of runs is fun.
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Hosmer with a HR! Man, he's a big guy. You'd not expect such a big guy would be such a low-HR guy.
I mean, back when he was good he hit 108 in 5 seasons, so it’s not like he’s always been what he is now.
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Wisdom on pace for 76 homers, 143 RBI, 200 K
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Cubs lead the NL in run differential :o
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Oakland makes some of the recent Tigers teams look like world beaters.
Yeah the A's definitely have some "one of the worst teams in baseball history" vibes and potential to them I think. What a crappy organization they've turned into. Billy Beane must be completely mailing it in with his EVP role.
But yeah, it's definitely nice to see us taking care of business against a really bad team.
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The saying goes back, in one form or another for more than one hundred years. Play .500 against the top cteams, and beat the crap out of the bad teams.
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Blue has noted that Swanson doesn't hit breaking balls well; might pitchers kill him by just throwing breaking balls? That is a risk, with GOOD pitchers. But a lot of bad pitchers (Oakland) can't locate breaking stuff consistently. Pitchers are throwing him mostly breaking balls, but not always for strikes, and that's why he's walking so much, I think?
He's about at where he was last year in pitch types. 53.8% fastballs. The Dodgers were significantly less on the fastballs.
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Gonna be a rough night...
Cubs Jameson Taillon with groin strain on IL Javier Assad recalled to start tonight.
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Yikes. That's a bummer. Kinda weird. Taillon was sharp last outing, and on TV Sutcliffe was commenting on watching Taillon throw a between-starts side-session the other day, and that he was looking really sharp.
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I hope this is minor. One of the selling points for Taillon, I believe, was his durability.
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Is there any way with MLB.TV to start the game live instead of from the beginning? That's terribly annoying that when you set your favorite team, it just starts the broadcast right from the beginning. Every other game except for your favorite team, you have the option of going straight to live.
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Well, yes, little cricket. Listen carefully, there is a little red "Live" button on the progress line on the bottom of your screen. On my tv, I have to keep hitting advance to get to it, but once there, I am live. On my computer, it allows me to click on "Live" immediately. Now go and see.
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I have no confidence in Fulmer.
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Well, yes, little cricket. Listen carefully, there is a little red "Live" button on the progress line on the bottom of your screen. On my tv, I have to keep hitting advance to get to it, but once there, I am live. On my computer, it allows me to click on "Live" immediately. Now go and see.
Well I know about the fast forwarding thing on my TV, but (forgive my whining per usual) that's annoying as hell to have to do. Especially when for every other game I might want to watch, I can just click on the button that says "Go to Live".
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I have no confidence in Fulmer.
Yeah he's been pretty far from being a late inning shut down reliever. I kind of had high hopes for him when we signed him.
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It seems to me I could move my cursor right to "Live" but can't do it this year. Maybe it is me that's missing something.
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DFA this clown.
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Grand slam, and it's 6-2 Dodgers.
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DFA this clown.
Yeah he needs to be demoted to low leverage middle relief for a little while. He's been one of the few weak links of the team in the early going.
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Stormyweather is now in for the Cubs.
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Yeah he needs to be demoted to low leverage middle relief for a little while. He's been one of the few weak links of the team in the early going.
Yes. Time to bring up Estrada and see if he is ready for the closing job. Perhaps not, but I doubt if the experience will hurt him any.
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They must have heard us. Estrada called up.
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They must have heard us. Estrada called up.
Or they saw Fulmer last night.
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Somebody better get the checkbook out for Bellinger.
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Cubs lead 9-0 bottom of the 5th.
Bellinger and Wisdom have went yard.
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They have went yard real well.
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Madrigal's OBP is .361 right now. I don't imagine it's going to stay anywhere near that. But if he can stay north of .330, I think that's not bad for a utility guy. Only 9 teams have team OBP above .332.
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Six innings without a baserunner for LA.
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Kind of fun to look at the lineup. First six and 9th guy all have OPS north of .800.
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After 5 innings of offense, every Cub hitter had at least one hit and at least one run scored.
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This is kinda surreal.
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As of this moment the Cubs have moved past Texas into second in baseball in run differential.
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93 pitches for Smyly.
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Friggin Peralta again.
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Beats the Cubs with a grounder everyone but Ross saw coming, now breaks up the perfect game with one of the cheapest, cueball shots that went about 20 feet.
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Rios in at 3B and Torrens in at LF.
Going out on a limb, Ross would not have made these defensive moves if the perfecto was still in play.
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Rossy, when asked if he was going to let Smyly try to complete the game…
“Oh yeah…I was gonna ride him harder than Yan did!”
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Madrigal's OBP is .361 right now. I don't imagine it's going to stay anywhere near that. But if he can stay north of .330, I think that's not bad for a utility guy. Only 9 teams have team OBP above .332.
If Madrigal is the guy the Cubs believed he was when they traded for him - a clear .300-plus hitter - that OBP isn't much of a stretch. Whether he is that guy is obviously TBD.
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This is the 6th time the #Cubs have scored 10+ runs this season.
Last year they did it 6 times overall.
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Wesneski and the Dodgers' Alex Vesia look like they were separated at birth.
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2-2 top of the 4th.
Bellinger and Suzuki have RBIs.
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5-3 Dodgers bottom of the 8th.
Yan Gomes has a HR.
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Just bought tickets to the Cubs and Braves Sept. 28th in Atlanta.
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Steele is a good pitcher and Gomes a good receiver, but why would you throw a 3-2 breaking ball to a guy who struggles to hit .200?
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Shoulda challenged that Suzuki play, clearly safe.
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Justin Steele's a bad ass.
2-0 Cubs bottom of the 8th.
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What the heck has gotten into Yan Gomes? He has 5 HR in 54 AB, and an OPS of .878 at this point. He'd out hitting Willson by a significant amount. That obviously will not last, but still...
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Cubs lefty Justin Steele is making a name for himself. He held the Padres scoreless over 5.1 tonight, lowering his NL leading ERA to 1.19 among qualified starters.
Going back to the all-star break last year, he's made 12 starts, compiling a 1.07 ERA.
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What a night for Gomes!
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Damb near every game I see, Hoerner reminds me of a young Ryne Sandberg. I hope he develops the power of an older Ryne Sandberg.
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Why is Hughes allowed to pitch to Tatis there?
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This has not been a banner game for Ross.
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Swanson sitting on 3 doubles and no homers through 22 games.
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His statcast numbers are a mess. His launch angle has dropped, his barrel rate has dropped. Hopefully it is just slump.
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Hoerner's bat-to-ball skills are off the charts. Cannot recall the last time the Cubs had a *hitter* like this. He wasn't the hero tonight, but he's absolutely the guy you want up in that situation.
Also, hell of an AB by Nelson right before.
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Swanson sitting on 3 doubles and no homers through 22 games.
He'll have a stretch soon where he hits 6 homers in two weeks. He has always been very streaky.
Too bad the Cubs settled for the 4th best shortstop on the market in the offseason. Their good start would be more exciting if they had paid for a star shortstop.
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He'll have a stretch soon where he hits 6 homers in two weeks. He has always been very streaky.
Too bad the Cubs settled for the 4th best shortstop on the market in the offseason. Their good start would be more exciting if they had paid for a star shortstop.
Only Bogaerts (.941 OPS) is doing significantly better than Swanson at this point in the season. Correa has an OPS of .607 and Turner has an OPS of .736, compared to Swanson's .706. Pretty sure that those numbers are going to change a fair amount as the season goes on.
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Only Bogaerts (.941 OPS) is doing significantly better than Swanson at this point in the season. Correa has an OPS of .607 and Turner has an OPS of .736, compared to Swanson's .706. Pretty sure that those numbers are going to change a fair amount as the season goes on.
Ron, I think br was being sarcastic.
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Well, BR said the other day that Swanson signing wasn't risky. So there you go.
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Hosmer and Velazquez go back to back in the bottom of the 2nd, and it's 2-1 Cubs...
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Velasquez with a home run, just to make sending him back to Iowa a little more difficult.
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He'll have a stretch soon where he hits 6 homers in two weeks. He has always been very streaky.
Too bad the Cubs settled for the 4th best shortstop on the market in the offseason. Their good start would be more exciting if they had paid for a star shortstop.
Swanson is 2nd among the 4 FA shortstops in WAR and OPS, behind only Bogaerts. If we're talking about sample sizes.
And he homered today.
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Never heard of paternity leave before. Bellinger didn’t look pregnant to me, maybe a little bloated is all.
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Nelson Velasquez goes yard.
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Gravity may be asserting itself with Wisdom. 3 for his last 23 with 11 Ks.
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Bellinger triples and then comes in to score the go-ahead run. 2-1, Cubs, in the 7th.
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Nelson Velasquez goes yard.
It was on a 98 mph heater that he pulled. Not sure if he was starting early, or his bat speed is just that good, but the stroke looks simple enough. He's really earned his spot on the roster - glad the Cubs kept him up!
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Happ has been pretty bad against lefties (indeed, has been for most of his career apart from last season). One thing about having Morel on the roster is he's another option for LF against southpaws.
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I'm starting to be concerned about Sizuki batting 4th
He simply not delivering enough there. Of course we are kind of shy other choices.
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Right now the bullpen just isn't good enough.
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I'm starting to be concerned about Sizuki batting 4th
He simply not delivering enough there. Of course we are kind of shy other choices.
You better be careful Curt.
You'll join me in the Ku Klux Klan.
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I'd give Seiya a bit of a leash given his late start to the season.
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I'd give Seiya a bit of a leash given his late start to the season.
He's only had 50 ABs as well, and it's not like his numbers are terrible. He's not a true cleanup hitter anyway, and he's only doing it because he have no else who is either.
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You always feel like you've lost to the Toledo Mudhens when you lose to the Marlins.
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I'm starting to be concerned about Sizuki batting 4th
He simply not delivering enough there. Of course we are kind of shy other choices.
Interesting that nobody said that a week ago when Suzuki went 8-14. At that point, his slash line for the season was 370-485-519.
Since then, he’s played six games and he’s in a 3-23 slump. It happens.
So, based on these six games, time to be concerned that he’s batting 4th and not delivering enough, or maybe it’s the one game tonight when he killed rallies last two PAs hitting into DPs with two runners on.
Or, maybe it’s a long season, or at least let’s see how he does next week, or maybe at least see what happens tomorrow?
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If Killian is the answer, it was a stupid question.
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Cubs load the bases with nobody out in the third but fail to score. Can't have that.
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Ump took the bat out of Rios' hands, which was REALLY frustrating, given that he has making solid - foul - contact against the Marlins' reliever.
Nico put a good charge into the ball, can't complain about his AB.
But, Hosmer, what the hell was that?! Ran into a *completely* unnecessary, inning-ending DP. He's a marginal enough player that we cannot afford him actively creating negative value like that. His bat has sucked. His defense has been average. I know he's a positive clubhouse guy and all that, but this team has looked too good at the start of the year to carry a sub-.700 OPS 1Bman while both Mervis and Morel are absolutely destroying AAA.
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Really frustrating loss. Cubs squandered a lot of opportunities.
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The Cubs leaving the bases loaded is becoming a theme.
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The Toledo Mudhens have made us look bad this weekend.
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It's possible that we might not be the juggernaut that we were threatening to become.
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Bellinger goes deep.
3-3.
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Fullmer in a tie game. His WAR is -0.5 at the moment.
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Cubs lose.
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Cubs were 4-25 with runners in scoring position in Marlins series.
Marlins were 10-28 with runners in scoring position.
Result: three one-run wins for Marlins.
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Happ sits tonight against the lefty; Velazquez starts in LF.
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Seems like the Marlins always beat the Cubs. It's just the way it is.
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Seems like the Marlins always beat the Cubs. It's just the way it is.
Cubs are 116-114 against Marlins in their history.
3-6 post-season.
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"Seems like" must mean something else in DC.
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Dansby 2-run homer; Cubs lead 4-1 in the fifth.
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Interesting to see that Happ’s fielding metrics have cratered this season, in a small but not irrelevantly so (almost 20% of the season) sample size. Does that pass the eye test or is it a statistical blip?
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I think that last year was a defensive career year for Happ, but as long as they leave him to play the one position, he will always be better than average over the long term.
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20% of the season is way to small of a sample size for defensive metrics. It usually takes 2 years to stabilize and Happ has only had 42 chances this year. Swanson has gone from the 99th percentile last year to 78th this year. Is Swanson no longer an elite defensive SS then too?
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Reb, a year or so ago, both Ron and I tried to tell you that it wasn't necessarily what you say but how you say it, the tone you set, than rankles other posters. It's a passive aggressive approach that ticks people off. You like to think of yourself as above the rest of us here, that your role is to correct us poor ignorant minions instead of being one of the group. There's a better way.
Let's just take this latest instance. Not a great example, but a tiny sample of your approach. Robb posts, "Seems like the Marlins always beat us" or similar, your immediate response if to post the Cubs--Marlins overall record of wins and losses, as if to say, "Robb, you dumbass. Look here, to me, the wonderful Oz." It's typical of your approach, just subtle jabs to tell all of us that you're gawd of the board. What would be better? "Yeah, Robb. it sure seems that way, but I checked and here's our record vs those guys." To which Robb or I could have said, "What's it been since that collapse in 2003," and you would have said, because you really are good with stats, "Oh, we're so and so." A friendly chat among Cub fans instead of playing board fact-checker.
That's just how I see it. A showing of respect to your fellow posters. I'm sure my removal of some of this silliness irked you. If it got a point across, I'll live with it.
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Reb can be annoying, but I don't think that post was disrespectful. He was providing facts that related to another post, implying that impressions are not always representative of reality. I doubt that Robb took offense.
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I respect your opinion, P2, but I've been observing his posts for some time, and I disagree. And from the mail I'm getting, I'll stick with my opinion.
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I wonder if tonight is Rios' swan song. One last chance?
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I'd drop Hosmer before Rios.
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Two really good plays on the first two Nationals hitters. I kind love Dansby's slide approach on balls in the hole. I'd have to guess that a lot of other prospect SS's would copy that, especially those with stronger arms who can get even more on their throws.
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That Dansby play was unbelievable. Very 78th percentile.
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I didn't take offense at all but I appreciate Curt's response as a general reminder. I was actually surprised by the stat from Reb. Perhaps due to the playoff losses I have ptsd against the Marlins.
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Well, that was awful…
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Hosmer hits a viscous pop up to the SS with bases loaded and 2 outs. Shame the Cubs don’t have have another left handed 1B in AAA that is performing well.
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Hosmer hits a viscous pop up to the SS with bases loaded and 2 outs. Shame the Cubs don’t have have another left handed 1B in AAA that is performing well.
I mean, he does have two hits.
Another good start from Wesneski, albeit against AAAA opposition. Gonna be a tough sell to send him down, especially with Morel and Mervis stuck there.
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With those two hits that wRC+ of 91 is so amazing.
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With those two hits that wRC+ of 91 is so amazing.
1B/DH has been a problem, obviously.
Hosmer, Mancini, Rios——all playing at replacement level or worse. When Wisdom is DH, Madrigal plays 3B and Madrigal performing at replacement level or worse.
Any way Ross plays it, he’s got two of nine spots performing badly.
And, when Barnhart starts, well, another spot replacement level or worse. That’s three. 1/3 of the lineup.
Mervis will be up before too long, probably this month. I don’t care if he’s mostly 1B or mostly DH, but confident he won’t perform at replacement level or worse like above guys.
That’s a likely fix at one of the two kind-of-interrelated lineup spots.
Tuesday game Cubs had bases loaded in sixth with one out and Rios due up against righty pitcher (Edwards). So, Ross pinch hits Mancini for Rios. Guessing that was because Ross wanted a ball put in play and felt Rios is more likely to K.
Beats me what Rios’ role is on this team if he gets pinched in this spot against a righty pitcher? In any case, Mancini Ks. Not a shock as neither guy is hitting much of anything. But, seriously, why is Rios here when he gets pinched in that situation?
Hosmer situation complicated by very likely promises/representations certainly made to him off-season, promises that he’ll get a real opportunity. When that time elapses, who knows. It’s between Hosmer and the front office. Ross likely has nothing to do with it.
Mancini has guaranteed deal for 2024, if he wants it. So, he’s going to stay and cross your fingers that he hits. Remains to be seen.
Barnhart, guess that pitchers like working with him but, man, he has a lot of non-competitive ABs. He’s just not going to hit.
Not sure how Morel eventually fits into all this. But, if a guy hits, the club will figure out how he gets plenty of ABs. That’s how baseball works. You hit; you play.
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Another good start from Wesneski, albeit against AAAA opposition. Gonna be a tough sell to send him down, especially with Morel and Mervis stuck there.
Was at game tonight, a few rows behind Cubs dugout. (Swanson likes to toss balls into stands after the inning but didn’t get one).
Wesneski didn’t have particularly good stuff tonight—only 6 swings-and-misses in 6 innings but love his demeanor and how he battles. Definitely felt like Barnhart coaxed him thru this outing, as Wesneski threw almost equal # of 4-seamers, sinkers, slider/sweepers. Had Nats hitters off balance quite a bit, except bottom of their lineup. And, of course, helped immensely by Swanson/Hoerner defense, hey, that's what they’re there for. Very intense guy and superstitious about not stepping on foul line going back to dugout. Think would be a very bad idea to option him to Iowa when Hendricks ready, in terms of his competitive spirit. Better to work him out of bullpen, I think, if necessary, or spot starts or whatever.
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reb, The TV guys suggested that Rios is a low-ball hitter, so Ross liked him against sinker-baller Williams. Edwards is very different, with the high riding fastball. They also noted that Edwards is really good against lefties, although a later stat showed that while that's true, that he's as tough and even tougher versus righties. But anyway, typical righty-lefty splits perhaps don't really seem true for either Edwards or Mancini. I'm guessing that was the logic? Williams is a classic gopher-guy, and Rios seemed to be a matchup to maybe get one, so that's why he got the start; he obviously didn't get any.
I agree with your moe practical point, though. If Rios is only on the team for his bat; if his bat can only be used against a selective subset of RHP who don't use high-fastball well; and if he's still hitting only .100 while being used protectively, what's the point?
This winter, when discussing how perhaps the offense could get meaningfully better, up to league average, even without buying a superstar bat, I suggested a possible argument in which replacing all of the terrible hitting depth guys might perhaps be a way. Herrmosillo, Heyward, etc. had >1500 AB. But now we're still rolling with Rios and Barnhart as super-outs.
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Get the point that Rios better against a sinkerballer and that’s why in starting lineup, but lots of pitchers these days work up in the zone (like Edwards) and Rios a strikeout waiting to happen against those guys—and particularly don’t want that with bases juiced and less than two outs. In any case, kind of an embarrassment to pinch for your DH that early in game for that kind of reason.
And, of course, Ross doesn’t use Rios on defense. And, Rios has an option.
Maybe I’m wrong, but guessing that if it was up to Ross, Rios would be at Iowa and Mervis up right now to DH. But, Hoyer seems to have a different point of view and he gets to decide the roster.
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Rios has potential.
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Hosmer must go.
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Hosmer must go.
Let's be honest, this probably isn't a contender even with Morel and Mervis. But the games all count, and if you're serious about making the effort how long are you going to resist putting your best roster together and going for it?
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Not scoring runs blows.
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Cubs continue to be atrocious with RISP.
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Hosmer almost sacrafice hunts into a double play
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ROFL, your big-hitting 1B bunting and can't even get that right.
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Put the fiddle down, Nero.
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In fairness that bunt might be one of Hosmer’s hardest hit balls this season.
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I know Jed is incredibly tone-deaf by nature, but this is not a good look even for him.
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"I know Jed is incredibly tone-deaf by nature, but this is not a good look even for him."
Well said.
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Do you remember Theo warning at the end of '17, '18 that changes were coming and then nothing happening? Couldn't pull the trigger on any of the '16 fan faves and heroes. Jed's allegiance to old stars is verse two. I think the fear is that if you convince a guy to commit to you and then dump him, it will impact negatively on your next FA negotiation. The solution is not to sign him in the first place. None of this is Hosmer's fault; it's all on Jed.
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Do you remember Theo warning at the end of '17, '18 that changes were coming and then nothing happening? Couldn't pull the trigger on any of the '16 fan faves and heroes. Jed's allegiance to old stars is verse two. I think the fear is that if you convince a guy to commit to you and then dump him, it will impact negatively on your next FA negotiation. The solution is not to sign him in the first place. None of this is Hosmer's fault; it's all on Jed.
You don't necessarily have to cut Hosmer immediately, even if you call up Mervis (though it likely makes the most sense).
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So just to reiterate, in the past two days the Cubs have had their lefty DH/1B come up in the most crucial AB of the game. The results? Pinch-hit with a RH batter (who struck out), and a failed sacrifice bunt. And of course two losses.
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Possible this will force Hoyer's hand.
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Also, Ross sucks. But that's definitely compounded by tying one hand behind his back. A tactically bad manager not even having his best options to choose from is a recipe for disaster.
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Interesting that nobody else is questioning the bunt in the first place. Away, three shots at driving in the run already in scoring position, a hard thrower, occasionally wild...
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If Ross thinking of bunting in 9th, seems like the move is to pinch hit Madrigal for Hosmer and have Madrigal put down the bunt.
Hosmer has three career sacrifice bunts, one since 2016. Ross had his complete bench available at the time. Since Hosmer is the DH, anybody can replace him if game continues past top of 9th. As it was, Velazquez replaced Hosmer at DH by pinch-running—which would have unnecessary with Madrigal running.
Of course, it’s a sad state affairs when the best game strategy is not letting your DH swing away in that situation, as Hosmer is a DP waiting to happen, which Ross certainly feared. But, don’t get the thinking behind essentially picking Hosmer to get down the bunt.
Presumably, had game continued past Wisdom, Ross pinch hits Rios for Barnhart. So, not really holding back Madrigal for anything.
Maybe Madrigal had a bad cold and was unavailable (maybe not).
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I like Ross personally. Obviously a good guy. If you're of the school that believes a manager's tactical sense doesn't matter much, then Ross can be an OK manager in a Ted Lasso sort of way. But he's shown absolutely nothing in his tenure to indicate that he's not a disaster as a tactician. And with a roster that's pretty fringy in a lot of ways, that's a big problem. If you want to win with a manager like that you need a team that takes as many decisions out of his hands as possible.
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Jed built a .500ish team and that is what the Cubs are. A perfect manager isn’t going to change this team into a playoff contender. You give a manager bad options and you are going to get bad decisions.
Ross’s in game decisions are going to be heavily influenced by the analytics department. He going to have basically aomething that says in case of X due Y. That isn’t going to change with a new manager.
Letting Hosmer hit? High risk of a double play. Madrigal has been slumping and he’s a high risk of a double play. Rios can’t put the ball in play. Amaya is your back up catcher. They was not a good option. Hosmer got the bunt and then Wisdom hit into a better play. The only better option is not having Hosmer on the team, but that is a Jed call.
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Like I said, Ross is a manager that needs to have as many decisions taken out of his hands as possible. That's Jed's department. But it would be nice to have a manager where that wasn't the case.
Letting Hosmer hit? High risk of a double play. Madrigal has been slumping and he’s a high risk of a double play. Rios can’t put the ball in play. Amaya is your back up catcher. They was not a good option. Hosmer got the bunt and then Wisdom hit into a better play. The only better option is not having Hosmer on the team, but that is a Jed call.
If you're going to bunt there, Hosmer is not the guy to bunt. That's a Ross call.
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"Rios can’t put the ball in play." Then why is he here?
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Like I said, Ross is a manager that needs to have as many decisions taken out of his hands as possible. That's Jed's department. But it would be nice to have a manager where that wasn't the case.
If you're going to bunt there, Hosmer is not the guy to bunt. That's a Ross call.
He did get the sacrifice down, as bad as it looked. If you put in Madrigal, Wisdom still ends the game on a double play.
"Rios can’t put the ball in play." Then why is he here?
Ask Jed, but I've have that question about a lot of the Cubs players.
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That makes no sense. It was a terrible bunt, almost a double play. A decent bunt puts both runners in scoring position, they can’t pull in the infield, and Wisdom’s grounder ties the game.
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Madriagal has 4 sacrifice bunts in almost 2300 professional plate appearances. What makes you think he's any better at bunting? With Madrigal up the 3B might have been in more and the guy at second is still out or maybe they get the guy at third. You're just assuming things play out differently.
Neither guy bunts much. Madrigal has 6 bunts attempts in majors and Hosmer is at 3 in the same time frame.
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Sorry, but I have the tying run already in scoring position. Why give up an out instead of taking 3 shots at getting it in? Yes, still can hit into doubleplay, but the chance for a hit outweighs giving up an out.
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Lack of trust in the hitter. Says about all you need to know about Hosmer.
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On the broadcast, they announced Mervis coming up.
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Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
The Chicago Cubs are calling up top first base prospect Matt Mervis, sources tell ESPN. He's expected to join the team tomorrow as it returns home to start a series against Miami. Mervis, 25, was hitting .286/.402/.560 with six HR in 24 games at Triple-A Iowa. Big power prospect.
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Getaway day. Cubs happy to leave DC as quickly as possible.
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I find myself holding my breath during these MLB mascot races. Nerve wracking.
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I usually find myself in a beer line during such moments…
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How good was Assad today?
5 scoreless, only 2 hits, no walks…45 or so pitches…on a day where it was needed badly!
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This has the feel of another 1-run loss. Cubs squandering chances to win again.
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welp....
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Cubs now a game under with a +42 run differential.
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What is our record in 1-run games?
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With the limitations the Cubs have offensively, the run prevention strategy requires an outstanding bullpen. Seems to me our bullpen has been pretty good but not outstanding.
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Mervis is from DC——so he gets called up at conclusion of Nats series.
Not much sentimentality in baseball. Let his family fly to Chicago tonight and enjoy Wrigley.
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How good was Assad today?
5 scoreless, only 2 hits, no walks…45 or so pitches…on a day where it was needed badly!
Assad faced the minimum 15 batters in 5 innings of work.
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5 1-run losses in the past week…
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By my count, we're 2-7 in 1-run games so far this season. They must improve there.
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I think we should have bunted.
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With the limitations the Cubs have offensively, the run prevention strategy requires an outstanding bullpen. Seems to me our bullpen has been pretty good but not outstanding.
19th in MLB in bullpen ERA.
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Wow, not only Mervis but Amaya behind the plate again.
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Mash's 1st ML hit is an RBI single off a lefty reliever...111mph off the bat...extending the Cubs lead to 4-1...
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Is Justin Steele a legit #1?
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Miguel Amaya has had 5 batted ball events in his first two big-league games — all 5 have had exit velocities above 100 mph, but has 0 hits so far.
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With Mervis up what was the corresponding roster move.
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Rios to Iowa
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Interesting that Leiter got the nod for the save in the 9th...
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I'm super impressed with Amaya. Both at the plate and behind the dish. He looks ready to take over behind Gomes.
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Interesting that Leiter got the nod for the save in the 9th...
I was wondering if that was the next guy to get to do that. Boxie and Fully have semi-failed. Rucker has been so-so. It was either Leiter or Thompson's shot.
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Time of game of Cubs last two games:
1:55
2:09
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I'm super impressed with Amaya. Both at the plate and behind the dish. He looks ready to take over behind Gomes.
You wonder if there's any chance the Cubs would keep him around and cut bait with Bucker Tarnhart. We know he sucks, and Amaya might benefit more from being around Gomes every day and being a part-time starter.
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Rios to Iowa
Noooo. He's so vital to the team!
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It would be nice if Amaya could hit well enough to be the DH and 3rd catcher.
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Cubs knew that Barnhart would not hit much. And, he has a player option for 2024. So, some kind of early season release not going to happen.
Amaya is not a DH candidate. That's going to some combination of Mancini, Mervis, Hosmer. Other day even Suzuki DHed with Velazquez in RF. Wisdom has DHed some when Madrigal plays 3B. Amaya will be here until Gomes comes back and, hopefully, he gets optioned to Iowa instead of AA. Like the way he's looked so far. The Sac Fly in 8th inning of last Nats game was an impressive AB. I was sitting very close to the batters box that game and was impressed with how he worked with Assad and moved around the plate generally. Seems very comfortable with defensive responsibilities.
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Sam Dykstra
@SamDykstraMiLB
Matt Mervis' first MLB hit
Exit velocity: 111.2 mph. That's already the fifth-hardest-hit ball of the season for the #Cubs. Only Ian Happ and Nelson Velázquez have produced higher exit velos in 2023.
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First base was open. Why didn't Suzuki run on either of his strike outs? Has that rule changed?
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0-5 w/ RISP already.
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Same rule. Same custom on most Ks. Most guys don’t run.
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Suzuki has been a major disappointment so far.
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Do they practice striking out with multiple runners on?
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Do they practice striking out with multiple runners on?
Four or five times a game.
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Suzuki has been a major disappointment so far.
Better be careful.
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Madrigalncomes through with RISL. Did Smyly get hurt or was he just pulled?
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It all worked out, but why pinch run Velazquez there, forcing the kid, Mervis, to hit a lefty? They could have had Hosmer bunt, you know.
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Bottom of the eighth inning takeaway - defense matters.
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Mervis with a single,RBI,and 3 Ks today.
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Watching this game I'm left stupified at how the Cubs got swept by these chumps.
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If Cubs win today and tomorrow, Marlin fans will be stupified too.
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This game was a good illustration of the value of putting the ball in play.
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Nice diving stop by Madrigal for the final out.
Fun to see how happy Amaya's mom was after his first hit.
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Do we have a new closer? I think we do and I think Alzolay will make a good one.
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Do we have a new closer? I think we do and I think Alzolay will make a good one.
Guessing that closer for now is Leiter, who got save opportunity on Friday.
Leiter probably was unavailable today, as he has pitched two of the previous three days. Alzolay has not pitched since Wednesday.
Think closer role is now fluid. Alzolay could factor and Fulmer throwing well later and perhaps Boxberger in closer situation too.
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Smyly not injured, just high pitch count and laboring…
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Amaya is a good prospect, but if he invites you to karaoke run far and fast.
https://twitter.com/moralesupplyco/status/1654960330693308425?s=20
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Do we have a new closer? I think we do and I think Alzolay will make a good one.
Most likely it is going to be Rays situation that is match up based. Alzolay struggles against lefties.
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This feels like the first 9th-inning rally of season.
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Teams a combined 5-34 w/ RISP.
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Marlins take the lead on a balk.
Cubs have retired 12 straight in extra innings, and the Marlins have scored twice in that span.
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Madrigal with the 3-0 green light in the 14th, and now I’ve seen everything…
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Cubs lose their sixth straight one-run decision.
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Swanson and Suzuki are going to have to pick it up as Wisdom settles back to his career norms, or the offense has a serious problem.
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The Morel of the story is ...................
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I'm sorry, have I ever mentioned how much I hate bunting with the runner already in scoring position?
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Wisdom laid down a nice one though.
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Bunting is stupid
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I'll bet Marlins' fans liked it.
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The Morel of the story is ...................
The Cubs can’t keep getting Slaughtered like this…
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You have a runner on second with nobody out there is absolutely no excuse for not getting that runner in.
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It’s a dumb rule to begin with.
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I'm sorry, have I ever mentioned how much I hate bunting with the runner already in scoring position?
When one run wins the game, as this situation in bottom of 13th, bunting the runner to 3B is statistically more likely to score the winning run.
Likelihood of scoring 1 run with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out is 67.6%, whereas likelihood at 1st and 2nd and 0 outs is 61%. Yes, anything can happen trying to bunt: it might be unsuccessful or might result in an error or something else.
It’s a 1-run strategy and when 1 run is going to win the game, it’s generally a good play.
Also, the batter was Wisdom—who is in a slump and was benched for second game in a row and is a K waiting to happen. Not really a guy, in these circumstances, you love up there today.
Ross bunted Amaya in 3rd inning in same situation and stats generally don’t support that one because not a 1-run situation as was 13th inning.
But, there in 3rd inning, Cubs facing the CY winner and can argue getting a run to take a lead—in a game when runs might be scarce—is defensible, especially bunting the #9 hitter to get top of order up with two RISP.
In any case, you can frown on bunting generally but still support a bunt when 1 run wins the game. Stats will support you unless you love the hitter at the plate.
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…or hate the hitters who follow the bunter…
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…or hate the hitters who follow the bunter…
Well, Mancini and Mervis were those hitters—with Mervis facing a righty. So, why hate in that scenario?
Compare this inning to the 12th. Inherited runner at 2B and Madrigal and Barnhart to follow. Ross did NOT bunt with Madrigal because Barnhart to follow is a hitter to “hate.”
So, strategy depends on the precise situation.
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When one run wins the game, as this situation in bottom of 13th, bunting the runner to 3B is statistically more likely to score the winning run.
Likelihood of scoring 1 run with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out is 67.6%, whereas likelihood at 1st and 2nd and 0 outs is 61%. Yes, anything can happen trying to bunt: it might be unsuccessful or might result in an error or something else.
It’s a 1-run strategy and when 1 run is going to win the game, it’s generally a good play.
Also, the batter was Wisdom—who is in a slump and was benched for second game in a row and is a K waiting to happen. Not really a guy, in these circumstances, you love up there today.
Ross bunted Amaya in 3rd inning in same situation and stats generally don’t support that one because not a 1-run situation as was 13th inning.
But, there in 3rd inning, Cubs facing the CY winner and can argue getting a run to take a lead—in a game when runs might be scarce—is defensible, especially bunting the #9 hitter to get top of order up with two RISP.
In any case, you can frown on bunting generally but still support a bunt when 1 run wins the game. Stats will support you unless you love the hitter at the plate.
I realize you are correct with your stats, but I still feel that giving up an unnecessary out will eventually bite you in the ass. BTW: if these were high school games, I'd have my guys bunting all the time. Ghost runner on second, bunt him to third and if the defense doesn't throw the ball away, squeeze him in. I'm not in the scene anymore...have the high schools adopted any of the new rules?
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Too many strikeouts with Cubs, what’s up with that?
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Too many strikeouts with Cubs, what’s up with that?
Cubs have 6th lowest K% in NL.
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Well, they still seem to be striking out too much. A little contact with a free runner on second would seem to be in order. Like Curt said - bunt him over to third then squeeze him home! Score him, for crying out loud!
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Willson, DH-ing and hitting cleanup, singles and scores to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Cubs threaten in the bottom half with a Mervis walk and a Wisdom single, but Barnhart whiffs and Nico flies out to end the inning.
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Interesting. The Cardinal catcher looks over into the bench before every pitch for the signal. Yet, somehow, Contreras is the reason for the Cardinal bad start.
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Suzuki needs to step it up. He's hurting the team.
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Hoerner with a hamstring strain.
Tied game, men on second and third (Hoerner). They pinch run Madrigal.
Why not Morel? Fastest man on the team. Plays an acceptable second base. Why not make him the pinch hitter/substitute second baseman?
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Morel had a better chance to score on that play than Madrigal did.
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Bases loaded, one out, one run in. Now would be a fine time to break the game open against this 11-24 opponent of ours.
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Bellinger catches that ball if he runs to the wall instead of watching it…
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Contreras probably starting an MVP run tonight.
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C'mon, guys. Gotta beat these a-holes.
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I fear this lineup just crumbles without Hoerner at the top. If he's out for any length of time, we could be looking at a long dry spell.
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I smell a losing streak.
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Joe Girardi sucks
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Let's hope a series with the Cubs doesn't turn out to be just what the Cards needed to turn their season around.
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Cubs struck out ten times, Cardinals nine.
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The Cubs tend to get swept in must-win series against the Cards.
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On the plus side, Merryweather has actually been pretty good after that disastrous first appearance.
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Last night was miserable in a number of ways. Because I am registered as a Cub fan, one of the "perks" of living near St. Louis is that I am blacked out of Cub games on MLB. So I have to watch the Cardinal station our of St. Louiee. Chip Caray. Enough said? So I go to the Score for audio, and end up with Pat Hughes, who I think is great, insisting for 3 innings that it was Swanson who got nailed at the plate on the fly ball. Coomer tried correcting him by mentioning that Madrigal ran for Hoerner, but ol' Pat never picked up on it.
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Pat Hughes is nothing special.
His call when we won the World Series was awkward.
He said they we're jumping up and down like a bunch of hilarious school children.
WTF?
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https://youtu.be/OqsTb5eWSQA
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Pat Hughes is nothing special.
His call when we won the World Series was awkward.
He said they we're jumping up and down like a bunch of hilarious school children.
WTF?
The word is "delirious", NumbNuts.
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Pat Hughes is the best Cubs broadcaster that I have ever heard. The only one that comes close was jack Quinlan.
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I like Lou Boudreau in the day
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Cubs waste a bases loaded opp yet again thanks to another Hosmer DP, then allow Cubs killer Nootbar to hit another homer.
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Morel makes that play at 2B if he puts the correct foot on the bag. That was not good.
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Cubs have walked in two runs this inning.
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Morel should have caught the ball. But the runner was safe either way.
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Suzuki is really slumping. After adding so much weight this winter, I wonder if that's hurt his flexibility or balance or something? Bellinger on 1st, 1 out, Suzuki swung through one or two fat pitches. Then he was confused and started taking off his shin guards on ball 3. Then on full-count hit-and-run, he whiffed into a K-and-throw DP on a chase pitch well out of the zone. He's in a bad place right now, it seems.
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Morel with a couple of good plays at second today.
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Cubs trying to threaten the record for double plays in a game.
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swanson hammers a double, they walks Happ and Belliner, Suzuki gets a nice hanging slider and hits it deep, but warning track out. Thought it might have a chance on first contact, bummer.
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Morel with a bomb.
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Morel ties it up with a homer. Would be great to win this game; it has felt like a dispiriting loss since it started.
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Huge DP in the Cubs' favor. Might just get out of this mess.
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Morel has a rocket arm at 2B. Hoerner's got a good arm, and maybe he doesn't throw it harder than he needs to. But Morel really has a gun. Kind of fun.
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Assad has pitched four solid innings of scoreless relief. One thing I love about the DH is how we can use relief pitchers like this.
Headed for the bottom of the seventh, tied 4-4.
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Madrigal is hit by a pitch to start the inning. Let's get him in, take the lead, and hold it.
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If you’re someone who believes such things matter, Morel’s energy level can’t hurt. He’s a seriously intense and upbeat guy.
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This Cardinal pitcher really has an exaggerated motion when his arm comes back. To a hitter it must look like the legs, body, and arm are all coming at different times.
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At some point they have to get some hits with runners on, one would think. This can not go on forever.
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At some point they have to get some hits with runners on, one would think. This can not go on forever.
What's the under and over on that?
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When you blow chance after chance you tend to pay the price.
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De Jong hits a homer off Assad in his sixth inning of work. Cards lead.
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Why was Assad left out there in the 9th?
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good question
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Why was Assad left out there in the 9th?
Ask Lasso, he made the call.
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Grampa has to go!
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This may be a long, long losing streak.
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Cubs struck out six times, Cardinals seven
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good question
Yes, and would have been even a better question if it was asked BEFORE the 9th inning.
Afterward, well, not as much.
It’s a legit question to ask the manager but Assad had faced one batter over the minimum over the previous five innings——similar to his terrific multi-inning relief outing in D.C. last Thursday. And, he had 4 days rest and was stretched out as a starter to work multi innings. At what point one more inning is too much? Hard to say.
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Amaya looks good as a catcher. He looks good and balanced as a hitter, too. But man, yesterday he seemed to not hit what seemed to be a whole bunch of whackable pitches. Nobody can hit the best pitches big-leaguers throw, but you've got to punish some of the mistakes. At least yesterday, he got dealt a whole bunch of mistakes, and just fouled the mistakes.
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Barnhart wouldnt have done any better.
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Heh heh, Barnhart is a pretty low comparison bar! Amaya looking a million times better than Barnhart, that's a given.
He looks like he might become a very good hitter. Having a catcher who's smart, calm, and works well with pitchers, that would be huge. Early impressions are great for that.
But scoring runs is the hardest part of baseball. It would be nice to have a long-terrm catcher who wasn't a liability as a hitter. To actually have a good-hitting catcher would be very useful.
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Amaya reminds me of Jose Molina, the oldest brother, who came up with the Cubs. He never hit like his brothers, but his catching abilities kept him in the majors for decades. If he can escape the injury bug, I think the Cubs will have a good one.
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Sending Amaya down is a tough sell. If you're already pinch-hitting for Barnhart with Amaya in the 5th inning, what's the point of keeping Barnhart around?
If there's a case, it's that it's best for Amaya to start every day. Since the Cubs almost certainly aren't a contender, his development takes priority. But if Gomes is the baseball savant he's made out to be, wouldn't you want Amaya learning from that guy? And it's not as though Gomes is a six day a week catcher anyway.
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Cubs load the bases again and leave em loaded when Morel is called out on a ball inside.
Cubs lead the majors in runners LOB and are hitting .189 w/ RISP their last 17 games.
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Contreras can get a hit w/RISP though.
2-0
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So can Suzuki. And Wisdom.
3-2
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A timely double play ends the Cards' threat in the sixth; Cubs still up 6-3. Steele, in line for the win if the Cubs can hang on, has an ERA of 1.82 for the year.
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Dansby with another RBI double…
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Dansby with another RBI double…
He’s the least of our problems and always was.
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Cubs up 10-3 now. Every man in the lineup has scored except Bellinger.
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Fielder's indifference all over the place in the 9th as the Cards can't mount a rally. Cubs win it 10-4. Glad we won this.
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Cubs could be in first had they not been so awful at getting runners in and losing close games. The Central has been a mess for weeks.
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Gomes has been amazing. Hope it continues.
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Fuller hasn’t allowed a run in 6 of 7 appearances, and no hits in 5 of those. Might be time to start trusting him in high-leverage situations again.
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Morel just *murders* baseballs.
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112.1 MPH to the opposite field. That is true power.
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Cubs struck out three times, Cardinals struck out five.
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Through 3 innings, everyone in the lineup except Swanson and Happ have K'd.
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Apple TV is the Dusty of broadcast platforms.
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2nd and 3rd, nobody out for the Cubs in the 4th. Clutch situation.
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Bellinger grounds out 1-3. Runners hold. Our clutch numbers sink further.
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Suzuki with a sac fly. I assume that's a positive in clutch stat.
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Wisdom with in infield hit. Presumably a positive with respect to clutch even though it only moved the baserunner to third. Mervis ends the inning on a ground out. 2-1 Twins after 3 1/2.
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Suzuki with a sac fly. I assume that's a positive in clutch stat.
I mean, 112.2 EV sac fly. He’s been hitting the ball harder lately, hopefully the results will start to catch up.
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Mervis hits one 408 feet off the wall for a tying double, Gomes knocks him in, Cubs take a 3-2 lead in the 7th.
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Gomes hitting like prime Johnny Bench.
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Mervis K's with 2 on in the 8th. Now he's catching on.
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Morel hits one into the ethos.
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Stallion.
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Morel might end being what Baez looked like he was going to be.
https://twitter.com/CDrottar19/status/1657214490658652160
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Cubs with twelve strike outs, Twins with five.
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Morel might end being what Baez looked like he was going to be.
https://twitter.com/CDrottar19/status/1657214490658652160
Except that Javy can play Gold Glove caliber defense at like 5 positions and Morel doesn’t seem to be average anywhere. If he hits enough, that won’t matter as much, but it’s early days yet to be comparing him to a multiple all-star, GG winner and MVP runner-up.
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Sure, but Baez's success was fleeting. He had two excellent seasons, but was beyond hit and miss otherwise, certainly offensively.
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And moving Morel all over the field doesn't give him a chance to settle in, develop skills, learn the depth of one position and use his incredible talent to become better defensively, which typically happens at ONE position.
If Morel likes moving around, great. He will become more than adequate moving around defensively with his talent.
He's still only 23.
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Sure, but Baez's success was fleeting. He had two excellent seasons, but was beyond hit and miss otherwise, certainly offensively.
From 2017-2021 Baez' OPS was .796-881-847-599-813. 2020 was awful (as it was for a lot of players) but those other four for a guy playing GG-caliber defense at SS are outstanding. I would be very happy to get those kind of hit and miss numbers from any middle infielder, much less one with Baez' glove.
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That was the longest home run hit by any Cub this year. And it was to right center field.
It is possible to praise Morel without implying that Baez stunk. But given their respective ages and contract situations, I certainly wouldn't trade Morel for Baez right now.
And I agree with Ben. I believe that Morel's defense would probably greatly improve if he were just put in one position for good. Of course, there is also value for a team in a player that can play multiple positions. I will let Hoyer and Ross decide what is best for the team.
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If Morel's defensive ceiling is no higher than average at any position but he is able to be average at multiple positions, then using him like Zobrist would maximize his value (assuming this approach doesn't negatively impact him offensively).
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Cubs haven't been handled in many games this year, but today is one of them. 1-11 w/ RISP, 14 K's, and 5 home runs allowed.
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It is possible to praise Morel without implying that Baez stunk.
If this is about my post, it's an odd interpretation.
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Cubs struck out fourteen times, Twins nine times.
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If this is about my post, it's an odd interpretation.
No. It was about the reaction to yours and a couple of other posts.
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Some days it's hard being a Cub fan.
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"Some"?
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One positive is Morel hit another titanic homer.
And Seiya finally hit one.
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https://twitter.com/chrisantonacci/status/1657841032074018820
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Morel's 3rd deck blast:
https://twitter.com/MLBHRVideos/status/1657826929657913344
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Marquee watchers didn’t get to see it live full screen (or with any real-time audio) because we were being treated to Rossy talking about his mom…again…
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This feels like an appropriate time for Mervis to get his first homer.
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So it doesn’t matter worth a darn how many strikeouts are involved . . . Seems that runs scored rule the roost.
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One positive is Morel hit another titanic homer.
And Seiya finally hit one.
Suzuki has a .759 OPS, which is higher than most of the guys getting regular starts (including Hoerner). You'd sure like to see him hit for more power but it's odd that he's being scapegoated the way he is when we have a lot bigger problems.
Given that he missed almost all of spring training, it's not far-fetched to think Suzuki will get it going. I'm not crazy about guys bulking up as much as he did, and I said so at the time he turned up looking the way he did, but it's way early to assume this is as good as it gets for him this season.
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I hope Craig didn't go to the Cities for this series.
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Cubs fixing their Pythagorean numbers.
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After Taillon allows four runs in the first, Morel hits a three-run homer to put the Cubs right back in it.
Dansby steals second as Happ bats with two outs. Would be great to take the lead here... but Framber strikes Happ out to end the threat.
Fours are wild as we are tied 4-4, going to the bottom of the 4th.
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Taillon in trouble in the fifth. Mauricio Dubon, who had singled, took third on a single from Alex Bregman; first and third with nobody out.
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Taillon ERA now a beastly 6.66 for the year, pending Hughes and the inherited runner.
Morel slugging .917. Sustainable?
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Yordan Alvarez hits into some kind of double play in which they get Dubon at home. Yahoo's new PBP is really frustrating; they no longer describe which fielders touch the ball when outs are made; it's just "grounded out" or "popped out" or "hit into double play" whereas for hits they still do ("singled to center"). Really frustrating when you want to follow a game as it happens.
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He hit the ball to Mancini at first who stepped on the bag and then threw to Swanson, Swanson threw back to Mancini when the runner from first was in a run down, the runner from third broke for home and Mancini to Gomes cut him down.
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I guess we can say Taillon did a good job of damage control after the first inning.
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Hughes relieves Taillon and the Cubs are out of the inning. But the Cubs go down quickly in the top of the sixth.
Alzolay coming in to replace Hughes, who only faced a single batter. And the Astros are already in business; Jose Abreu leads off with a single.
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Stros get a double play of their own to erase a baserunner in the top of the 7th. Going to the bottom half with both teams tied at 4 runs, 8 hits, and 0 errrors.
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The staff has officially imploded.
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Fulmer gives up a two-out, two-run homer to Bregman. Astros lead, 6-4.
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When do they pull the plug on Fullmer?
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Following the game on the MLB app...why did Mastrobuoni just hit for Bellinger?
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Bellinger tweaked an ankle on that Homer robbing catch
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Last chance for the Cubs; Hector Neris is in to try to save it for Houston.
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Cubs lose, and don't even threaten in the ninth.
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We just aren’t good enough to compete with a mediocre bullpen. At our level the pen has to be elite for us to be competitive.
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Mervis's first homer was a laser:
https://twitter.com/CHGO_Cubs/status/1658632128538595329
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I’m thinking down and in isn’t a good strategy attacking Mervis.
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Morel against Astros pitching the last two days: 1 for 7 with a homer and 6 strikeouts. He has a lot of talent and tools, but his now 43% strikeout rate shows why he was still in the minors until a week ago.
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Morel swings so damb hard, it's either going to be a K or a HR
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The pitching has imploded and it's not just the pen.
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Highlight catch that wasn't a catch but Rodd doesn't challenge it. Swonson robbed of a double.
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13 Ks in 29 ABs now for Morel. You’d be kidding yourself if you weren’t at least a bit concerned about that as a long-term problem.
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I'd be more concerned about Morel if he wasn't mashing when he made contact. A double in the 9th after the 3 K's. Same pattern at Iowa.
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Three ding dongs in three plate appearances for Seiya.
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Three ding dongs in three plate appearances for Seiya.
Slash line for season now at 279-357-486.
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Great to see Seiya crushing it.
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The magic of sample sizes.
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Morel's walked, singled, and homered so far.
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https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1659005658090315778
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I'd be more concerned about Morel if he was older than he is, more experienced than he is and couldn't go the other way and hit it out of any park anywhere.
He's a unicorn who may always have a high strikeout rate, but now is not the time to panic OR even consider trading him or sending him back down!
I'd much rather he bat 6th or 7th (and, perhaps, he will when Hoerner returns), but a young guy with that kind of electric power needs to play regularly...in MLB.
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Out-hitting them 10-2 and the game is only half done. Great outing for Smyly so far.
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Morel is playing center?
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Wisdom on a 162-game pace for 226 K's.
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Wisdom on a 162-game pace for 226 K's.
And Morel for 265. If he keeps slugging .900 I’ll overlook it.
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Man, all three of those homers were jacks. Suzuki is a strong dude - he almost hit 40 in his last year in Japan. If he can be a consistent 25 HR guy his value skyrockets, because he’s always going to hit for a decent average and draw some walks. He definitely has the ability to do that.
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I don't understand why they don't use Estrada in high leverage situations. He has done well every time used and yet he is the first to be returned to the minors, and the last to be used when needed.
By the way, the Cubs managed to lose.
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Ross is a master of finding the one that sucks.
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Brutal loss.
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Estrada needs to close or Alzolay. Thompson needs to go to Iowa to get straightened out.
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They had a couple of good weeks to start the season, but this is still a bad team. They really need a better GM.
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May need a '24 draft thread soon.
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They had a couple of good weeks to start the season, but this is still a bad team. They really need a better GM.
Among other things. A better manager too.
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Among other things. A better manager too.
Yeah, that would help too. But they should start at the top, and Jed just isn't very good at building a team.
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Estrada needs to close or Alzolay. Thompson needs to go to Iowa to get straightened out.
Thompson came into tonight’s game having given up one run in previous 6 IP, season Oppo BA of .164, Oppo OPS of .476, zero homers allowed, and ERA of 2.95.
He was bad tonight and, yes, has been a bit lucky (.203 BABIP) but, if he’s healthy, it’s one very bad game by a guy who’s been reliable of late.
Obviously, bullpen overall has been shaky lately and has cost Cubs some potential wins, tonight being the worst example.
Tyler Duffey has allowed one run in his last 15.1 IP at Iowa and Heuer is in the way back to majors soon. Maybe they can help.
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I'm not down on Jed yet. I like the run prevention idea and with upgrades in personnel, stronger performances (particularly by the pen), and better luck I see this team improving a lot.
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As others have said, this is not a very good team, but without Hoerner and Bellinger, it is even worse. I think Jed has gotten a rep, and in spite of the Swanson and Bellinger signings, we aren't getting serious interest from good FA's. We signed Boxberger and Fullmer because it was the best he could do. Decent relievers don't trust Jed not to flip them at the deadline, if they would like to put down some roots.
But my complaints about Ross is that I HATE this MLB strategy of bring in a reliever for one inning to throw as hard as he can and then go to the next guy. I long for the days of Sparky Anderson, Al Dark, Leo Durocher, Tommy LaSorda, Walter Alston...if the guy's getting guys out, ride him. Worry about tomorrow's game, tomorrow.
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I agree that I wish they would use relievers for more than one inning. But It seems silly to blame Ross, since, as you say, managers that use multi inning relievers all died before the turn of the century. So your comment about Ross are really comments about every manager in the majors today.
Last year, Ross was very successful in his handling of the relievers, while this year he has been very Unsuccessful. The problem probably not in Ross, but in the relievers he can choose from. I think that that is why the Cubs have recently moved several minor league starting pitchers into relief, such as Luke Little. While they have had excellent success with mid-level veteran free agent relievers in the last couple of years, this year so far, they have all sucked.
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My take at the time was that rather than paying a premium to acquire two relievers for the pennant stretch they wanted to see if they had anyone in their system who could help this year - thus Luke Little and Ryan Jensen headed to the bullpen. Now ... that seems silly ... I guess they want to find out if they need to be protected in the Rule 5 draft this year.
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Dave, I agree with you. My whine is that all of MLB has chosen this approach. I wish one manager would have the courage to say, know what? I'm not doin' it.
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25 years on the various boards, and this is the first time you agree with me? Now I have no choice but to assume that I am wrong.
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It's another sign of the Apocalypse. JR in the fantasy topic was the first.
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My take at the time was that rather than paying a premium to acquire two relievers for the pennant stretch they wanted to see if they had anyone in their system who could help this year - thus Luke Little and Ryan Jensen headed to the bullpen. Now ... that seems silly ... I guess they want to find out if they need to be protected in the Rule 5 draft this year.
Jensen has already been protected.
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Jensen was both protected, and Jensen was given yet another shot as a starter. Jensen got moved to relief because they finally gave up on him as a starter. But as we're kinda seeing thus far, if you have no idea where your fastball is going, you fail in either role.
Rotation-to-relief works in two circumstances. But both require some fastball control. Whether it's a guy who's better in relief because he throws harder, he still needs some fastball control for that to help. And if it's a guy who gets better in relief because he reduces usage of ineffective breaking balls, he still needs some fastball control.
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Tyler Duffey has allowed one run in his last 15.1 IP at Iowa and Heuer is in the way back to majors soon. Maybe they can help.
Heuer's ERA is over 17 at Iowa after another rough outing today.
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Heuer's ERA is over 17 at Iowa after another rough outing today.
And Duffey gave up 3 ER in two-thirds of an inning.
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Jensen was both protected, and Jensen was given yet another shot as a starter. Jensen got moved to relief because they finally gave up on him as a starter. But as we're kinda seeing thus far, if you have no idea where your fastball is going, you fail in either role.
Rotation-to-relief works in two circumstances. But both require some fastball control. Whether it's a guy who's better in relief because he throws harder, he still needs some fastball control for that to help. And if it's a guy who gets better in relief because he reduces usage of ineffective breaking balls, he still needs some fastball control.
It's fun to read Arizona Phil's write-ups of the XST games. It's also alarming to see how few strikes most of our pitchers throw.
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Seiya now slugging .500,
Stroman at 62 pitches thru 5. Hopefully he's got a few more innings in him, because a 7-run lead is not safe with this bullpen.
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Merryweather for another inning? Is that legal?
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Stroman with run support, that must have felt nice.
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Another homer for Morel.
Don't think they can blow this one. Maybe.
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Depends on how many pitchers Ross uses in the 9th.
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Merryweather for another inning? Is that legal?
He's basically been pretty good since that disastrous first appearance. Options being as unappealing as they are, time to try him in higher-leverage situations.
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I agree. Just astounded that Ross would use a guy a second inning.
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Certainly nothing wrong with Burdi's fastball, but we knew that.
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Another day at the slaughterhouse, but at least Morel continues to rake--another homer and double.
-
Morel slugging .952. Pretty remarkable.
-
Morel's combined stats this year in 39 games:
.342, 18 HR, 44 RBI, 45 Runs, 32 EBH
-
7 HRs in 10 games at the major league level.
Yeah, it's a hot streak, but holy crap.
-
Morel's combined stats this year in 39 games:
.342, 18 HR, 44 RBI, 45 Runs, 32 EBH
Make you keep him hitting 9th in the order, Numbnuts.
-
Cubs and Reds will have an epic battle for last place in the division this week.
-
Steele was really good.
-
It's not that Wisdom strikes out so much, but how bad he looks doing it at times, swinging at stuff totally out of reach.
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Mervis goes oppo for his first homer at Wrigley.
Sukuzi hit a bomb too.
-
With the Cubs adding some insurance runs and then loading the bases with two out, Suzuki grounds out to end the inning. Hope those LOBs don't come back to haunt us.
-
Nice to have Mervis with RBI in both AB.
-
Bases loaded no out. Estrada comes in and gets the next three guys. One run scores. Vogelbach just missed one deep to center. But Estrada threw a bunch of strikes.
-
At least Estrada saw some high level usage.
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Didn’t Estrada used to throw harder than he seems to be throwing now?
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Morel homer. Must be a day ending in Y.
-
https://twitter.com/MLBNews1234/status/1661190577197662208
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Cubs win easily. Yet another homer for Morel!
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Didn’t Estrada used to throw harder than he seems to be throwing now?
Yes.
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95.4 average velocity vs 96.7 last year in his brief time up.
It could be just ramping up still, being in low leverage situations this year. He has a 25% whiff percentage on his fastball and the RPM and active spin haven't changed from last. It is still an above average fastball.
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And if Estrada is getting more movement and better location at 95+ vs 96+, the lower speed will certainly play better.
MLB hitters can handle 100 if straight and poorly located, though it's hard for me to believe any human could hit a ball moving that fast!
I've stood next to the box with the pitcher throwing just under 90 and the ball looked like a speeding bullet to me.
When once asked how he still gets it done throwing 88-90, Greg Maddux said, "Well, 90 is pretty fast." His FB moved a lot, but he's right.
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And if Estrada is getting more movement and better location at 95+ vs 96+, the lower speed will certainly play better.
MLB hitters can handle 100 if straight and poorly located, though it's hard for me to believe any human could hit a ball moving that fast!
I've stood next to the box with the pitcher throwing just under 90 and the ball looked like a speeding bullet to me.
When once asked how he still gets it done throwing 88-90, Greg Maddux said, "Well, 90 is pretty fast." His FB moved a lot, but he's right.
Boy, you ain’t lying, it is impossible for a normal human being to hit a baseball with a bat when the ball is traveling 90 mph, let alone when it curves or sinks or slurves or sweeps, or seems to be coming straight for your head. It’s incredible really that hitters can actually DO that, hit it.
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If Estrada is getting people out that's the main point, obviously. But often when guys have a significant dip in velocity there's an injury behind it (like Heuer).
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Yesterday Estrada has a 1-2-3 out-of-jam on about 10 pitches, it seems really great. But Vogelbach just missed a HR on his deep fly ball, center field warning track. Wind blowing out a little, or had he squared it up by a millimeter, that's a 3-run HR. There's a narrow margin in the game.
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Cubs get runners to second and third with nobody out in the 4th and fail to score. Hard to win that way.
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Cubs get runners to second and third with nobody out in the 4th and fail to score. Hard to win that way.
Terrible.
And was #8 and #9 hitters who got on and guy with 89% contact rate then Ks for the key first out.
Can’t give away an inning like that.
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Cubs strand 2 more runners in the 5th. Asking for trouble.
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Hoerner lined a homer for a bit of breathing room. More baserunners for Suzuki.
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Cubs have left 10 in 6 innings, Mets 0.
Cubs lead 4-2.
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Cubs win 4-2 as Stroman goes 8 and Leiter closes it out.
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Cubs win, Cubs win, Cubs win.
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Trivia from Yahoo:
The Chicago Cubs are 24-11 (68.6%) vs. the New York Mets over their last 35 games
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Yesterday Estrada has a 1-2-3 out-of-jam on about 10 pitches, it seems really great. But Vogelbach just missed a HR on his deep fly ball, center field warning track. Wind blowing out a little, or had he squared it up by a millimeter, that's a 3-run HR. There's a narrow margin in the game.
It was a 96 mph exit velocity, that isn’t a HR very often.
Most of Estrada’s velocity drop was from a few outings where he averaged 93 mph. My gues is those where some lower leverage outings. He has mostly been 95-96 in the other outings. When you see an injury there is a velocity drop, but they are aren’t as effective.
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Game 3 of Mets series and Cubs starting Morel at DH and Tauchmam in CF again.
This is 4th game in a row with the above arrangement. Morel DH; Tauchman CF.
Sometimes, Cubs put someone at DH who can be pinch hit for later in game by a guy who plays a different position and that explains the DH choice. More flexibility.
But, here, Cubs won’t be pinch hitting for Morel, so seems fair to conclude just prefer Tauchman defensively in CF—even over any desire to “develop” Morel as a CFer going forward, at least lately.
Cubs stopped playing Morel at 3B after couple weeks of AAA season, not sure why. Not playing 3B since the call-up. No opening for Morel middle IF for several seasons to come. Ditto corner OF. Maybe to rest Happ against a lefty.
Maybe he’s a DH going forward, period, with very occasional forays playing a position? He’s hitting enough, obviously, to be a DH.
Consider him basically career DH/utility?
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...4th game in a row with the above arrangement. Morel DH; Tauchman CF.
....Cubs stopped playing Morel at 3B after couple weeks of AAA season... Not playing 3B since the call-up. No opening for Morel middle IF for several seasons to come. Ditto corner OF. Maybe to rest Happ against a lefty.
Maybe he’s a DH going forward, period, with very occasional forays playing a position? He’s hitting enough, obviously, to be a DH. Consider him basically career DH/utility?
He's blazing hot, but we know that can't last. Career DH seems a challenging career path. For a guy who simplistically looks to be the most athletic, toolsy guy on the team, it's frustrating that he's never developed decent defense anywhere.
I've thought he's flashed at both 2b and 3B. But Morel always looks kinda hyper and out-of-control. Can consistency and reliability ever come? I hope so, but maybe never?
I used to figure 3B was his most ideal position, with his quickness and arm. Pulling him off 3B at Iowa, that's not encouraging.
Management prioritizes versatility and the utility pathway for prospects. *IF* they'd imagined he'd have 20 HR by Memorial Day, I wonder if they'd have instead told him to practice 3B only all winter, and for the previous two seasons? I wonder *IF* they hypothetically committed him 100% to 3B, whether he'd ever have a chance to become good there?
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There goes craig again, dissing somebody. "He's blazing hot, but we know that can't last."
The other day someone asked if with all the strike outs was the HR pace was sustainable. Yes, the strike out pace is sustainable.
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Don’t know why Morel “pulled off” 3B at Iowa.
When that happened, Cubs gave playing time at 3B/2B to Slaughter and Mastrobuoni, so could be wanted to give ABs to those guys and Morel fit better into Iowa lineup in CF. Maybe kind of a “we know what he can do at 3B” kind of thing—good or bad, who knows.
So, where he plays in the field—if much at all—seems like an interesting question mark. Not ruling anything out. Just asking.
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Hendricks not throwing strikes, doesn't seem right.
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Hendricks is back.
Mets jump out to a 1-0 lead with Nimmo scoring on a sac fly, but the Cubs come right back with a Dansby homer to tie it.
Going to the second, tied at 1.
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One of those tough luck innings for Hendricks in 3rd.
Four singles——at EV of 90.4, 74.7, 83.5, 93.1——around a throwing error from Suzuki lead to 3 runs, 2 earned. Mets hitting them where they ain’t this inning.
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Watch the video, those Met hits were flat-footed. No stride, waiting for the change up and punching it.
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Watch the video, those Met hits were flat-footed. No stride, waiting for the change up and punching it.
That was smart hitting by the Mets.
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I also thought there was a groundball that off the bat, I assumed Mervis would get, but he didn't. Did he not have a chance, maybe holding a runner? Or was that a ball a 1B with average or above-average range would have gotten?
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I also thought there was a groundball that off the bat, I assumed Mervis would get, but he didn't. Did he not have a chance, maybe holding a runner? Or was that a ball a 1B with average or above-average range would have gotten?
True. Should have been Mervis' ball.
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I think that it is quite possible that Tauchman had an opt out date nearing, and they brought him up to give him a decent trial at the MLB before letting him loose. It isn't as though Morel was going to play much CF once Bellinger returns, anyway. I wish that the Cubs would just let him play one position, but it looks as if they are still in love with the concept of a super utility man.
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I think there is a major league role for Tauchman on Cubs, so will be surprised if he’s let go. Not saying no-way but seems unlikely.
Guessing that the move—when Bellinger returns—is with Edwin Rios, who has an option and seems to have almost no role.
Also, Cubs will need to open up a 40-man spot for Cody Heuer soon. That might be Rios too. Or, perhaps Burdi goes to 60-day IL.
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Let’s not try this particular defensive alignment again…
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Cubs looked shell-shocked today.
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Cubs were out-total-based 28-2 today.
Ouch.
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Is there any rhyme or reason to Ross' batting order choices or is he just drawing the names out of a hat?
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Is there another song out there with a telephone number in it?
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Fulmer's bad no matter what inning he pitches in.
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Buck Farmer. Another name you don't want to Spoonerize.
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This is why I never wanted Ryno to be our manager.
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Have I mentioned Cubs pitching has gone over a cliff?
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Morel is a moron. Jk, I like him
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ESPN Stats & Info
@ESPNStatsInfo
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1h
The Cubs have lost the first 8 games that Jameson Taillon has started this season.
That is tied for the 3rd-most consecutive losses when a pitcher starts to begin a season in Cubs history.
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The Cubs have lost the first 8 games that Jameson Taillon has started this season.
That is tied for the 3rd-most consecutive losses when a pitcher starts to begin a season in Cubs history.
Think about that for a minute in relation to the “anti-awful” comments that I just posted in other thread.
Taillon is just one guy. But, he has a ERA OF 8.00 and Cubs 0-8 in his starts and he’s actually a pretty good pitcher going into 2023.
If Cubs were 4-4 in Taillon’s starts or 5-3, Cubs would be in first place right now. That’s what ONE awful performance can do.
Of course, you can’t really play that game because have to take the bad with the good—we all know that—but anti-awful is really, really important so can get fuller benefit from the guys performing well, such as Swanson and others.
Taillon is a good example so far.
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Did we just have the bad fortune of running into a hot Reds team or are we really this bad?
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Yes
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Stroman only a hit batter through 6.
Cubs clinging to a 1-0 lead against the Rays.
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No-hitter broken up, but still 1-0 in the 7th.
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1-0 in the 9th. 1-hitter so far.
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Stroman completes the 1-hit shutout. 105 pitches
Just 4 hits in the game.
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Wow.
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Cubs win on infield single (charitable scoring ruling), error, fly ball, fly ball.
Fantastic performance by Stroman.
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Game time: 2:05
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First complete game in more than a year for a Cub pitcher.
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How many total in the majors so far?
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Assuming another sell-off, Stroman is probably the guy with the most value unless Bellinger comes back like the guy he was in April.
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Assuming another sell-off, Stroman is probably the guy with the most value unless Bellinger comes back like the guy he was in April.
With his recent comments, you have to try to extend Stro, no?
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With his recent comments, you have to try to extend Stro, no?
I'll believe it when I see it.
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Stroman is a valuable guy and seems to steady and reliable. The Cubs don't have much of that among their current starters. Hopefully Hoyer recognizes that and he'll be willing to pay him what it will take to extend him.
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I no longer trust Hoyer's judgement.
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I don't feel that I have enough data to judge Hoyer. The next couple of months will be telling.
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Posted before. MY data:
We don't need a better shortstop. We need a better Hoyer. Boxleiter, Fullmer, Tallon, Hosmer, Barnhardt, Rios. Jury still out on Merriweather, Mancini, Tuchman. And Bellinger probably won't stick around. Nice off-season, Jedd. But let's keep whining about Swanson. And the future? ESPN did an article on the next stars of the game and the Cubs have two in the top 100, and they aren't in the top 30. Jedd's a dumpster fire. How many big market teams would tolerate this mediocrity?
Added later: the breakdown of ESPN's future stars:
Teams with 5 future stars: Reds, Orioles, Rays, Dodgers
4 future stars: Cardinals and Mariners
3 future stars: DBacks, Yankees, Pirates
2 future stars: Like the Cubs but ranked higher: Marlins, Red Sox, Nationals, Mets, White Sox, Phillies, Athletics, Guardians, Angels.
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I would love to see them extend Stroman, hopefully immediately. But if they can not do it before the trade deadline, I hope they trade him. He, like Bellenger, is too great an asset to let loose without compensation during a rebuilding stage. I don't know if either can be given a QA, but I would do so with both if possible.
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I don’t think we can get compensation even if we do make him a QO.
If we can’t get a deal done, we have to trade him…unless we are contenders, of course…
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Nico homers to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Hendricks is making his second start and looking for his first win of the year.
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After the Rays tie it up, Happ doubles and scores on a hit to give the Cubs the lead again!
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McClanahan is being lifted for a reliever after 5 2/3 innings. He is 8-0 this year and will be in line for his first loss if the Cubs can hang on.
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I like this Alzolay. That was a good move by Ross to leave him in. Cubs Win!
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Alzolay throws two hitless innings to save it; Cubs win!
According to Yahoo, 99% of the money gambled on this game was put on the Rays. With Hendricks pitching, that's a surprise.
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Alzolay throws two hitless innings to save it; Cubs win!
According to Yahoo, 99% of the money gambled on this game was put on the Rays. With Hendricks pitching, that's a surprise.
It is??
Typical that the Cubs would be completely comatose and then find a groove (pitching, at least) against the best team in the league.
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Alzolay throws two hitless innings to save it; Cubs win!
According to Yahoo, 99% of the money gambled on this game was put on the Rays. With Hendricks pitching, that's a surprise.
With McClanahan pitching, it’s not a surprise at all.
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What took them so long to think of using Alzolay as the closer? And two innings at that. Bless them.
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Pretty efficient use of 3 runs.
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Was Ross kicked out in the eighth inning? Did an alien pod manage the 9th that Alzolay went two innings? Doesn't Ross know that will ruin a pitcher? Doesn't he know you just don't do that anymore. Betcha Hoyer told him to do it.
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Alzolay got thru the 8th inning on 9 pitches.
So, not a difficult call to bring him out for the 9th.
Ended up at 20 pitches total.
Cubs bullpen tonight pitched to one batter over the minimum (4 IP).
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With McClanahan pitching, it’s not a surprise at all.
Aren't odds calculated so that 50% of the money goes on each side, with bookmakers profiting on the spread? I thought the bets shouldn't ever get this lopsided. Yahoo has +145 for the Cubs and -175 for the Rays so I can see people favoring the Rays' chances, but still, 99% of the money, against a pitcher who just a few years ago led his team to the World Series.
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Morel now 2-21 with 9 Ks. Might be OK to give him a day off here for a little reset.
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Wesneski takes the bump to start the 4th. No reasoning as of yet…
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“Left forearm tightness” for Steele…
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Why?
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GTFTOTS
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way to go Ross
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I mean, Wesneski was cruising…wtf?
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Bases loaded, one out. My guys Mastrobuoni whiffs on a full count, two of the three strikes were above the zone.
Gomes gets to 3-0 and takes a pitch that just nicked the zone. Then he chased another pitch above the zone. Eventually hammers a drive that gets caught, game over.
Earlier, Cubs had a couple of runners on, and Happ took a full-count pitch that was definitely outside but called for a strike. Some bummer decisions by Cubs and ump.
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Rossy’s “mapped out game plans” need to be written in pencil.
I think the ball Gomes hammered for the final out was ball 4 as well. JD had just commented that Gomes doesn’t walk much…
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Forearm was “tightening up on me, and throbbing a little bit” — Steele
Precautionary MRI tomorrow…
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Ugh.
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Wacha lifted at 102 pitches in 5th. Taillon is at 47.
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I wish they had left Alzolay in.
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Why pull Alzolay, ROFL
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I'm glad he didn't leave Alzolay in.
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Well, credit where it's due, Leiter was Leiters out.
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Leiter strikes out the side to seal the Cubs' victory. Good game.
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The Cubs are a different team when they get good pitching.
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Seems like Cubs give up fewer runs when get good pitching.
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And the runs they do score seem to go further.
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Am I the only one who thinks Mancini is awful?
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I would rather that they got rid of him. But I AM concerned that Mervis needs more time in the minors, and I don't see a replacement at first unless they move Bellenger there. Or perhaps Morel at third and Wisdom at first.
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As a temporary measure, having Bellinger play 1B while he is fully recovering might make some sense.
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Wisdom has been very good at 3B defensively. I’d hate to disturb that.
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Seems like Cubs give up fewer runs when get good pitching.
I can document that the Cubs win more games when they score more runs than their opponent.
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Wisdom has been very good at 3B defensively. I’d hate to disturb that.
Not if you believe at all in advanced defensive metrics. Wisdom is dead last in DRS among 3B with at least 200 innings and 33rd of 39 among qualified 3B in OAA.
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Whenever I'm watching he seems to make a great play. Weird.
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Whenever I'm watching he seems to make a great play. Weird.
I haven't seen enough this year to have a strongly held opinion on Wisdom's current defense, but I mean, these stats are designed to bypass "eye test" bias and take an empirical approach to fielding. We're certainly at a large enough sample size that if you believe in them at all they should be relevant, especially since they agree and since advanced stats hated his defense last season too.
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Against Darvish tonight——Rios gets a start at DH, Mervis at 1B, Mastrobuoni at 3B, Barnhart C.
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Darvish versus Rios makes me think of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer is beating up little kids at the dojo.
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Gary Sanchez is really bouncing around, isn't he?
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Boy, this offense is just real bad right now. If you don’t pitch a shutout or close you’re getting an L.
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To the naked eye, the difference between Wisdom at 3B last year vs. this year has been night and day.
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Cubs had three guys in the lineup today whose OPS is currently under .500 and a fourth below .600.
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Am I the only one who thinks Mancini is awful?
I'm certainly done with him. Unless Cub brass thinks Morel and Mervis would be better suited to develop in AAA, they need to kick Trey to the curb and rotate Wisdom, Morel, and Mervis through the corner IF spots as pitching matchups dictate.
Alternatively, send Morel back to AAA and just lock him in at 3B so he can find the right arm stroke over there. For all his athleticism, it doesn't seem like it easily translates to quality defensive positional versatility. And he's not going to displace any of Happ, Suzuki, Swanson, or Hoerner. Meanwhile, 3B is a thin position across all levels of the org.
Trey is then weak-side platoon at 1B until Morel finds his defensive groove at 3B.
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They have given him 150+ ABs. Most of his numbers aren't too far from his career averages EXCEPT his Slg% is about 100 points below his career average (even worse than last season where he was horrible). At some point, you can no longer hope that things will change drastically and the good of the team needs to be front and center.
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Mancini is a solid bench piece, nothing more. He plays too much. Either play Wisdom or DFA him. Live with his K's, try to help him cut back, but we need his power in the lineup. He's streaky. Live with it. Sitting on the bench does NOT help him or the team, actually hurts both worse. Morel is 5'11", not big for 1B, but that's one position he hasn't tried.
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They have given him 150+ ABs. Most of his numbers aren't too far from his career averages EXCEPT his Slg% is about 100 points below his career average (even worse than last season where he was horrible). At some point, you can no longer hope that things will change drastically and the good of the team needs to be front and center.
He's actually pretty lucky to be near his career averages on BA and OBP: his BABIP is unsustainably high, his GB rate is way up, his hard-contact rate down significantly, and his K rate is through the roof, all coinciding with the decrease in power. He's *lucked* his way into a *negative* WAR performance.
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He's hurting the team and you aren't learning anything useful by playing him. Use him as an occasional starter and pinch hitter if it's untenable to release him.
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Of course the question is not whether we've learned anything, but has Hoyer?
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Mancini is hitting 314–392-465 playing 1B this season.
The problem with Mancini might be trying too hard on weekends when he’s the DH.
Doesn’t seem like he’s the type for late night carousing but the facts are the facts.
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Now you're catching on.
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Yeah, sometimes the issue—here, the massive disparity of Mancini as a 1B and Mancini as a DH—seems a head-scratcher at first glance, but then the matter is solved by a simple explanation!
Thanks again to Curt for Doing Simple Better.
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Here's a deeper mystery, Reb. Why whenever we badmouth someone on here they explode.
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What matters is that there is an obvious cause and effect.
We criticize and the player thrives as a direct result.
Probably because he stops trying to do too much.
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Mancini homered today.
Amaya also with his first.
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I’ve been an Amaya guy for years, but I’m surprised he looks as ready as he does after all the injury issues he’s dealt with the past few seasons. This has been a very impressive big league arrival for him.
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Agreed, Deeg. I feel like, even when Amaya was at peak prospect hype, no one expected him to look this good.
Given what we've observed from Morel, obviously important to keep things in context.
But the mechanics of the swing are both powerful and seem geared towards lots of contact. The swing and strike zone decisions look good. He certainly seems to be able to handle himself behind the plate. And the pitching and coaching staff have raved about his game calling aptitude, within what is likely a much more demanding catching function than it was a few years ago within the Cub org.
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Amaya was interviewed after the game, and he indicated that when he came up to bat today, all he told himself was to be careful not to do too much.
He probably hasn't read Reb's posts, so doesn't realize that he is wasting his time.
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Amaya should get every opportunity to show whether or not he’s ready to assume a primary catching role next season, and Barnhart should have no impact on that.
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Amaya was interviewed after the game, and he indicated that when he came up to bat today, all he told himself was to be careful not to do too much.
He probably hasn't read Reb's posts, so doesn't realize that he is wasting his time.
Of course he said that. My original post on this subject noted that players, managers, broadcasters all say that. They love to say that, along with other baseball cliches of your choice. It’s one of those meaningless sports sayings that give comfort….and explains nothing.
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Amaya also ranks well in framing, though the sample size is obviously too small to put any real stock in.
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Of course he said that. My original post on this subject noted that players, managers, broadcasters all say that. They love to say that, along with other baseball cliches of your choice. It’s one of those meaningless sports sayings that give comfort….and explains nothing.
So, it's been fun following this exchange. Just one question: you aren't actually suggesting that a player's mental state at the plate doesn't matter or that it doesn't vary depending on circumstances (such as the player or the team being in a slump) are you?
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So, it's been fun following this exchange. Just one question: you aren't actually suggesting that a player's mental state at the plate doesn't matter or that it doesn't vary depending on circumstances (such as the player or the team being in a slump) are you?
Consider how the thread on this subject began. It was how to explain Cubs awful clutch hitting performance (and actually on weekend games because Cubs are winning weekday games) compared to hitting okay rest of the time in “non-clutch.”
So, Sutcliffe on broadcast and Curt here, posited it’s hitters “trying to do too much” in clutch. Let’s call it TTDTM syndrome. That’s the explanation.
Then, Dave posted Amaya’s remarks about TTDTM syndrome pertinent to his hits yesterday in NON-clutch situations (bases empty and runner on 1B) as perhaps supporting the notion—a huge leap from clutch to non-clutch, the latter being not-a-problem for Cubs.
Then, Ron asks if I’m saying that hitters “mental state at the plate doesn’t matter.” Another massive leap beyond the hitting clutch/non-clutch discussion that began the thread and lumping TTDTM into the far broader matter of “mental state,” the latter presumably including confidence, acuity regarding how being pitched, etc.
No. No. No.
Only talking about the notion that TTDTM is the explanation for Cubs not hitting in the clutch (on weekends).
Good for Amaya that it helps him do well by thinking about not TTDTM as he comes up with bases empty or with a runner on 1B and of course mental state is important in baseball (and most everything else in life!), as we recently discussed regarding Mervis confidence level/possible demotion.
Put another way, it’s helpful to stay on point.
If somebody can explain how and why TTDTM seems to affect Cubs clutch only on weekends and how and why 29 other clubs comparatively avoid TTDTM syndrome to far lesser extent than Cubs, I’m keenly interested.
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I haven't seen enough this year to have a strongly held opinion on Wisdom's current defense, but I mean, these stats are designed to bypass "eye test" bias and take an empirical approach to fielding. We're certainly at a large enough sample size that if you believe in them at all they should be relevant, especially since they agree and since advanced stats hated his defense last season too.
Aren't the metrics a bit fallible because a human has to make judgements on catchability, fieldability, range, throwing speed and balance, etc.?
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Aren't the metrics a bit fallible because a human has to make judgements on catchability, fieldability, range, throwing speed and balance, etc.?
To a certain extent this is true.
However, where these metrics rely on input from many more individuals, that diversity certainly helps mitigate a lot of the error that will creep in from just a single observer's point of view.
I'd also suspect that at least some of these metrics are incorporating more objective, data-driven methodologies. For example, Statcast metrics can rate a defender's reaction time, acceleration, route quality, etc.; and measure that against batted ball data like launch angle, exit velo, etc. I'm not a data scientist, so I couldn't tell you how best to compile all these measurements into a meaningful statistic, but you can be sure that's happening at least at the club level.
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All I know is…if the metrics are suggesting that Wisdom ‘22 and Wisdom ‘23 are identical defensively, then the metrics are flawed somewhere…and I watch every game.
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Not if you believe at all in advanced defensive metrics. Wisdom is dead last in DRS among 3B with at least 200 innings and 33rd of 39 among qualified 3B in OAA.
.... but you can be sure that's happening at least at the club level.
I assume that the imprecision resulting from human judgment is relatively modest.
I wish we had access to club-level defensive metrics. Re Wisdom, deeg lists DRS and OAA, both of which agree that Wisdom is bad: but one has him #1 versus #7 in badness.
I wonder what club metrics show, and Cubs' in particular? How much scatter there is among different clubs? To public ones like DRS and OAA fall well within the range of predominant club evals, or do they fall variably outside? How divergent is Cub calculations from those of other teams? We can't answer questions like that, but I wish I could.
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All statistics are flawed, if used as THE reason for something - anything. There is too much randomness in baseball for such finite definition. A pebble that causes a groundball to bounce less than true. The wind that blows the ball towards the fielder rather than away. The length of the grass or dampness of the infield that varies day by day. or even the fact that the player is "trying to do to much" on a particular day.
Over the course of a career, the randomness perhaps evens out, compared to equal careers of others, but so many factors enter into any baseball play that ONE stat is usually not very helpful.
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All I know is…if the metrics are suggesting that Wisdom ‘22 and Wisdom ‘23 are identical defensively, then the metrics are flawed somewhere…and I watch every game.
Watching on TV has its limitations assessing defense, seems to me.
Camera view starts with the shot from CF camera and then cuts to ball in play….and we miss a lot in terms of what defender is doing or not doing in the interim.
Much of the time, we can’t really see a first step in relation to where and how hard a ball is hit.
Sometimes, watching a replay helps but is limited too often. For OFers, can’t see much of anything until WAY after ball already is in play. IF we’re lucky, replay will be a long shot of the field and then can get a better picture of the OF jump and route to the ball. Seeing more of that on broadcasts in recent times but not nearly enough.
Sitting in the ballpark—if we’re paying attention—and in a good seat, is dramatically superior to judging defensive performance than watching TV, seems to me. Sure, teams use video to make assessments but certainly have more sophisticated and multiple views than we see on a typical TV broadcast.
Strikes me as fine to mix our TV observations with the less-than-perfect defensive metrics, but if the metrics are out of whack with our observations, my inclination is to revisit the personal observations as maybe not seeing everything that the metrics are picking up.
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Sutcliffe just commented on how Wisdom has been “outstanding defensively” this season. He’s in the park.
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Phil Cuzzi’s strike zone tonight is horrible. He’s missed at least 6 pitches away to RHH, and Snell is taking full advantage of it.
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Sutcliffe just commented on how Wisdom has been “outstanding defensively” this season. He’s in the park.
Guess that pretty much confirms the advanced stats, then…
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Ross just got tossed.
Cuzzi is awful.
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E-5
Never mind…
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OAA is consistent with the notion that Wisdom better defensively this season than last season.
Was -11 in 2022 (worst in majors at 3B) and -1 this season. Much better.
Whether he’s “outstanding”——don’t know about that. He was +6 in 2021.
So, every season seems to be different.
Maybe we can call him average.
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Well, SD scorers just took away his error, even though it was an error any day, in any league.
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Whatever you think of his defense, he’s flirting with the Mendoza Line now. The HRs are great but that’s really about all you’re going to get.
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The home runs are great, but they do NOT compensate for the strikeout rate. If he has any trade value whatsoever, they should take advantage of it. Or, if they think that he is not even useful as a pinch hitter, it is time to cut him loose.
I wouldn't mind moving Morel to third more or less perminantly, and bringing up Velasquez to DH, if they don't think it would detract from his development.
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Ross sucks
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Found the one that sucked…again…
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The search for the one that sucks may have been found when the game started tonight
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Madrigal is back from Iowa and leading off tonight (playing 2B), with Hoerner getting a rest. Tauchman in #2 slot.
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Boy, this team is just really bad right now. Fire sale around the corner, without a lot of merchandise in stock. At some point doesn't someone in the organization have to take responsibility for this extended run of failure? We've basically been tanking for four years and we still don't even have a top 10 farm system.
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Hendricks is through four innings with no blemishes other than a walk to Conforto early on.
Morel and Mervis have homers and the Cubs lead, 2-0. We came back and won yesterday; let's keep it rolling tonight.
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Madrigal walks, Tauchman doubles, and Morel singles to score them both. Cubs lead 4-0.
Heading to the sixth inning; Giants still don't have a hit.
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The Professor mows them down again; 68 pitches through 6.
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A terrible call on a pitch low and outside the strike zone is called strike three on Thairo Estrada to keep the no-hitter alive.
And Hendricks gets a comebacker to end the inning. Seven innings in the books.
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Hendricks is at 82 pitches to start the eighth. He could finish this no matter how the no-hitter turns out.
Conforto and Yastrzemski both hit grounders to second. Two outs now.
And Haniger hits a double to deep left-center field. No-hitter over. Cubs still lead 4-0 and Hendricks is still working on a shutout.
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Sabol flies out to end the mini-threat. Through 8 innings, 94 pitches for Hendricks and the one-hit shutout still going. Let's see him finish this.
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Reliever Manaea completes five no-hit innings of his own to prevent the Cubs from gaining any insurance runs.
On to the bottom of the ninth with the Cubs leading 4-0.
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Julian Merryweather has come in; the Professor's day is done.
And Merryweather shuts them down; Cubs win a combined shutout, 4-0. Great game for Hendricks!
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Wow. Who would have expected this from Hendricks after the last couple of years?
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The same people who expected to see one by Alec Mills…
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Where is Mills now?
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Awesome job by Hendricks! Like old times, working fast, mixing pitches, throwing strikes, letting hitters pound it into the ground!
Nice Bay shot by Mervis and the oppo bomb by Morel was tremendous, too! Both were on hangers, but from a MLB starter whose been good this year!
It would be so great if Hendricks could continue pitching as he has in the past and Morel / Mervis take the next step!!
Whatever the circumstances, Morel and Mervis should play about every day...help them develop! Find a position for Morel!
There has to be someone among the Cub coaches who can take the fast twitch athleticism and arm strength Morel has and turn him into a solid 3B!
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I get the comparison between Mills and Kyle H, but there's really no comparison.
Mills did a really nice job for a year plus, but Hendricks did his thing INCREDIBLY well and was a BIG-game pitcher for several years pre injury!
Mills couldn't have thoroughly out-pitched Kershaw to give Cubs 1st NL pennant in decades and done a GREAT job vs Cleveland in Game 7!
Kyle Hendricks has EARNED the accolades as one of the greatest Cub pitchers in franchise history!
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Part of the reason it's important that Kyle H. get an opportunity to re-create what he was is that, although it's a long shot, a few true pitchers have been able to overcome a couple of sub-par, injury-riddled seasons and come back to the same pre-injury level.
One such pitcher who comes to mind is Tommy John, whose name will forever be known mostly for the surgery that bears his name.
TJ was a terrific pitcher who came up throwing hard, but learned how change speeds and was outstanding - from 1963 (age 20) to 1974, he had a sub-4.0 ERA every year and his ERA was below 3.0 several of those years.
Then, Dr. Frank Jobe performed the 1st TJ surgery on him, so he missed 1975...most "experts" thought he was done, but he came back in 1976 and pitched at the MLB level until 1989 - several more seasons with sub 3.0 ERA, won 20+ games (for Dodgers/Yankees) 3 or 4 years in his mid-30s. He didn't throw real hard, but he had the BEST sinker in baseball (Hendricks may have the best change up).
TJ finished with 288 wins over 26 years and a cumulative 3.34 ERA...should be in the Hall of Fame!
NOT saying Kyle is gonna do anything close to what TJ did, but sure hope Cubs figure out a good way to extend him.
Kyle Hendricks has been a unique, uber-smart, throwback pitcher who has gotten it done in many BIG games! Maybe he's an outlier and can keep doing it!
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With Hendricks great performance today (and terrific Cubs win), kind of went unnoticed that Giants first and last pitchers today pitched 6 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings with zero walks (and only one HBP). Some great pitching all-around.
By end of game, only Cubs player in lineup today slugging .400 or better was Morel——and he has fewer than 100 PAs.
Can dream that Cubs can win some games going forward with Mervis and Morel leading the way, like today.
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Where is Mills now?
He became a free agent during the offseason and is now in the Cincinnati organization. I wish we had kept him.
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If Kyle had gotten his no-no last night, he'd be buying an Escalade for Tauchman today.
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Cubs facing same starting pitcher two games in a row.
When last time that happened?
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Wesneski's now allowed 12 homers in 48 innings.
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Cubs facing same starting pitcher two games in a row.
When last time that happened?
They just mentioned on air that it was against Jack Sanford in 1963. I remember those games. Sanford got bombed in the first inning. Didn't get out of the first. So the Giant manager turned around and started him the next day. Rumor was that he had started the first game "a little under the weather, alcoholically."
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0-6 w/ RISP through 2.
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Questions: How long will Happ be in the heart of the order when he's clearly struggling? He is a foul ball machine at the moment. Eyesight? Regardless of reason, with all the foul balls, the lack of hitting in crucial situation, the lack of power...how long can our hitting coaches remain employed. Why are certain hitters put in the batting order in poor chances of success?
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Questions: How long will Happ be in the heart of the order when he's clearly struggling? He is a foul ball machine at the moment. Eyesight? Regardless of reason, with all the foul balls, the lack of hitting in crucial situation, the lack of power...how long can our hitting coaches remain employed. Why are certain hitters put in the batting order in poor chances of success?
Firing hitting coaches every year suggests one of two possibilities - either we’re very bad at hiring hitting coaches, or the hitting coaches are not the problem.
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Pretty bad when the winning team can put a position player on the mound.
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I attended today's game. At least 6 innings of it. A total waste of time and money.
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Cubs go 0-15 w/ RISP.
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Firing hitting coaches every year suggests one of two possibilities - either we’re very bad at hiring hitting coaches, or the hitting coaches are not the problem.
I agree Deeg, but the old adage is that you can't fire the whole team. Somebody's got to be the scapegoat sometime.
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Starting catchers tonight have OPS of .455 and .432.
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Cubs get three in the first and are up 3-2 in the fourth.
According to Yahoo, supposedly the Chicago Cubs are 33-17 (.660) against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home over their last 50 games. Wouldn't have guessed that.
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Some clutch hits in the seventh, including one from Yan Gomes with two outs, give the Cubs an 8-3 lead, and now Morel hits a homer to extend it to 11-3. About time we were on the good side of a laugher.
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Anthony Kay is making his Cubs debut, coming on in the ninth to try to hold a big lead.
Yahoo has a blank spot for his jersey number so hopefully it is not something ridiculous.
And Kay gets three easy outs in order. Cubs win!
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Looks like Rossy read my post #858.
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Thanks for nudging Ross up, P2!
Yes, Belli at 1B at least some makes sense for everyone (including Mervis, who needs good match ups while he's learning)!
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I know Mervis is mostly about his bat, and I dearly hope he works through things and becomes a success. And while I haven't seen tons of his games, in those I have he's looked pretty good in terms of receiving throws and scooping bad throws.
But I'm nervous that his ground-ball range may be pretty limited? I saw part of last night's game, and somebody shot a pretty sharp ground ball between him and Nico. I thought Mervis might/should/could have had it, or at least given it a dive to try. But he kind of gave one step, kinda slow and without a very good read off the bat, and let it go. Obviously Rizzo and Goldbach and guys like that are really good, but this was an example of one where guys like that would have read it much quicker and at least given it a dive even if they couldn't quite get it.
He's a big top-thick guy, so it may just be that quick feet or diving isn't really in his build. For every edge-of-range grounder, I think a 1B is handling a dozen challenging throws in the dirt. So his 1B-defense may end up being long-term excellent, even if he's always limited-range on grounders. But I am thinking that range on grounders, that small component of his defensive game may perhaps always be variably sub-average?
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I’ve seen that tentativeness a couple of times…I wonder if he’s aware of where Nico is for each batter?
If he knows Nico is cheating up the middle on any given hitter, he might be more aware of the need to be rangy on balls in the 3.5 hole…
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I don't think that a first baseman's range to his right is that critical. Too often, first basemen move to their right to cut off grounders better left to the second basemen. Field well what you can get to and scoop the throws in the dirt.
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P2, I guess I thought that one last night should have been one that most 1B could get to, and certainly the good ones? So the fact that he couldn't, and didn't even really try, perhaps reflects an unusual lack of range? And that he's so used to having none that he knows he's got none and doesn't even try? And I assume if he's got no range to the right, he'll probably have no range to his left either?
If that's the deal, he's just got no range in either direction, that's different than if he thought Nico would get it. What are the odds that I grab it via dive, but pitcher doesn't cover? Versus that Nico can't get it? If he's just kinda learning what Nico can or can't get, that's something he can learn and will improve upon with time. No problem, that's just experience.
But *if* he's both just kinda stiff and slow, *and* his first-step reads on ground balls are just slow, I'm not sure that big guys improve on those issues with time. If that's the issue, it's probably not going to diminish with experience.
Again, the predominance of difficult plays for 1B are catching bad throws, and Mervis seems good at that, to my amateur eye. So if his left-and-right range are hypothetically irredeemably poor, maybe that's an insignificant flaw.
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If he's just kinda learning what Nico can or can't get, that's something he can learn and will improve upon with time. No problem, that's just experience.
I’m hoping this is the case.
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I'm lost. Did Bellinger play at first last night?
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Today, for Iowa…
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Thank you
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Hard to overstate how irritating it is that the Central sucks and was absolutely there for the taking, and we futzed around as usual and didn’t take it.
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Trailing 5-1, the Cubs are putting a single-and-walk-filled rally together against Roansy Contreras. Two runs in; 5-3, and another reliever is coming in to pitch to Nico.
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A walk to Suzuki to re-load the bases, and now Happ singles to give the Cubs the lead as Tauchman and Madrigal score; now another hit from Swanson to score Suzuki and the Cubs lead 7-5. Six unanswered runs on nothing but singles and walks!
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Morel strikes out to finally end the inning. Moving to the seventh with a two-run lead to protect. Fulmer in to replace Smyly, who is in line for the win if we can hold on.
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Bryan Reynolds pulls the Pirates to within one as he scores on a sacrifice fly. 7-6.
It feels like Fulmer gives up a run every time he pitches. Mark Leiter is in to replace him for the eighth. Let's get some insurance in the bottom half. Assad to close?
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Finally a non-single hit -- this time from Suzuki -- and Hoerner and Tauchman score to put the Cubs up by three.
Let's break it open, take away the save situation, and let Leiter close it out.
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Mancini singles Suzuki in with the Cubs' tenth run.
Alzolay is coming in to hold a four-run lead. Let's win this with no commotion.
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MLB Central had a graphic the other day…Mancini is 2nd in MLB in BABIP when hitting oppo…with a .485 average…
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A couple of baserunners but Alzolay holds them; Cubs win. Not often that your starter is trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning but gets the win.
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Alzolay's stuff looks good. Gives up a bloop single, a walk where several of the balls were close. But wraps it up. Nice win.
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6-run inning was funny. Lots of walks and singles, not super hard-hit singles either. The two really hard-hit deep drives were the first two outs. Mervis whacked one to the wall in left, and Hoerner pulled one pretty deep in the LF gap for the outs.
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5-1 Pirates lead, one out, bases loaded. Pitcher is struggling some with his control, goes to a 3-1 count on Madrigal, pitcher is trying to get his composure. Tick-tick-tick-tick..., all of a sudden the umpire is waving his arms. What's going on? Pitch clock Ball 4! Run scores, tying run goes to first base on the pitch-clock walk!
I've loved the pitch clock. I only see some games and parts of games, so maybe I've missed some. But today was the first time I've seen a pitch-clock violation really matter. Very fun.
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Knee doesn’t hurt as bad when your hustle double drives in the go ahead run in the 5th…
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Marvin Hudson is having a bad night behind the plate…
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Cubs once again putting together a big inning to take the lead from behind. Great to see.
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Happ hits a triple and comes in to score on a sacrifice fly from Morel to make it 7-2.
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Rob Zastryzny, forgotten man from the World Champion team (he never got into a World Series game) is in to pitch for the Pirates and he gets a scoreless inning. Good for him.
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Rucker pitches the ninth and holds them easily; Cubs win again!
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Nice having Bellinger back. A guy the opposition fears.
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With today's win, the Cubs are only 3 1/2 games out of first place!
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Cubs with 32 singles in the sweep of the Bucs——quite a few of them timely with baserunners.
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Let’s go Kyle!
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Wow, scoring lots of runs is really fun. 9-2 after 6. Lots of hard-hit balls in the 6-run 6th. Morel just hammered his double in the 6th. (Watching the replay, he also really hammered his HR in the 3rd.).
In the 6th, it was 3-2 game. Fulmer pitched a nice inning. Gave up a weak bloop that Wisdom charged in left and misplayed into a double. K'd guy; then with 1 out he sailed a high pitch, Amaya could have easily reached it, but he just misjudged the flight of the ball, and tipped it to the wall, tying runner on 3rd one out. Fulmer K'd that guy too to keep the lead, then got the 3rd out. Now that it's 9-2, Fulmer's work doesn't seem that significant. But preventing that run could have been critical. (Plus maybe O's wouldn't have pitched their we're-losing relievers in the 6th if they weren't losing?) Fulmer's
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So do you get anything for 3 out of 4, Dave?
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lol, no…
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Should have known better on the Hendricks Ks…
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Nice W today. Steele looked good and the pen did their job.
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Cubs win!
*Adbert with a nice close. Ross kept Leiter in for two innings, kind of laborious two innings but he survived. Merriweather had a couple of baserunners but got out of his inning. 4 shutout for the pen.
*Steele had shutout through 2-outs-nobody-on in the 5th, but gave up a groundball hit and a HR. Good to have him back. *IF* he's back and fine and stays fine, their chances are a lot better.
*Kind of an anti-Cub game. For the awful-RISP Cubs, the Orioles had gobs of traffic but wasted them all; Cubs converted both times. Cubs had only 3 singles, one double, and two walks. Orioles lots more traffic.
*Board usually complains about bunting, and I usually agree when guys who can't bunt are asked to try. But the game-winning run used Mastro bunting Gomes from 2nd to 3rd, and Tauchman sac-flying him home. Kinda fun when it works.
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It's a commentary on Ross' view of Mastrobuoni's ability at the plate. Well justified.
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I was actually OK with the Mastrobuoni bunt. First, he's good at it. Second, he's not getting many hits so not that much opportunity wasted. Third, Gibson's stuff isn't that hard to bunt, so good chance of success.
Cubs didn't get any subsequent runs off Oriole relievers. But I kinda like to prioritize getting a lead. Managers use their bullpen differently when they're behind, than when winning or tie. So I really prefer bullpen usage when you've got a lead, both for us and for them.
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It's a commentary on Ross' view of Mastrobuoni's ability at the plate. Well justified.
More goes into that decision than just Mastrobuoni's hitting ability.
1. It’s a one-run strategy and a successful bunt generically increases chance of scoring a run by about 6%.
2. Here, top of order coming up, after Mastrobuoni, with contact-type hitter likely to put ball in play with runner on 3B and one out. So, probably increases probability of scoring one run a bit higher than the generic situation.
3. End-game bullpen guys well rested and pitching well lately (1 ER in 20 IP for bullpen overall during winning streak). This is key to the decision—how much confidence in Merryweather, Leiter, Alzolay to hold a slim lead?
Bunt is a reasonable decision here if have a lot of confidence in the slated-to-pitch relievers. Reasonable argument other way too——too early for a 1-run strategy.
It worked. Scored the winning run on a batted ball out. Sure, with a much better hitter than Mastrobuoni you are more likely to play a multi-run strategy, but depends too on batters to follow, game score and inning, bullpen situation, and the like.
As Craig notes, today is exactly type of game Cubs tend to LOSE but today manufactured one run and got a two-out hit to score other runs and bullpen was outstanding again (lately).
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Today's primary headline: Cubs win!
Today's secondary headline: C.B. Bucknor is one of the worst umpires in MLB history.
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...Today's secondary headline: C.B. Bucknor is one of the worst umpires in MLB history.
Man, he sure helped the Cubs out a lot! All the relievers were getting some free strikes, Leiter especially.
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Reb, if a successful bunt increases the odds of scoring a run by 6% and there is some chance that the bunt won't be successful (i.e., pop out or put out at third), it's hard to imagine that being a statistically winning strategy unless the hitter is awful.
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Reb, if a successful bunt increases the odds of scoring a run by 6% and there is some chance that the bunt won't be successful (i.e., pop out or put out at third), it's hard to imagine that being a statistically winning strategy unless the hitter is awful.
Good point. Non-success goes well beyond pop-outs or outs-at-3rd. Many *attempts* to bunt involve misses or fouls, often leading to 2-strike counts where even good hitters rarely get hits.
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Maury Wills used to justify stealing third with "all the ways to score from third, compared to second."
Gomes is not Maury Wills. A better throw may have gotten him at home.
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Maury Wills used to justify stealing third with "all the ways to score from third, compared to second."
Gomes is not Maury Wills. A better throw may have gotten him at home.
"Scoring position", 2B, and Gomes also don't go together.
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Reb, if a successful bunt increases the odds of scoring a run by 6% and there is some chance that the bunt won't be successful (i.e., pop out or put out at third), it's hard to imagine that being a statistically winning strategy unless the hitter is awful.
No, you’re misunderstanding the odds or maybe I described it poorly.
The 6% better chance assumes a runner on 3B and one out compared to assuming a runner on 2B and 0 outs, period. Odds are better of scoring a run in the former (not total runs).
Lots of poor (or good) things can happen in either scenario before you get there (or after).
In a bunt attempt, it may turn into a hit. It may turn into a defensive misplay. Lots of things can happen, good or bad. You can take off the bunt after a foul and the batter homers. A few dozen scenarios, probably.
All that is irrelevant to the odds.
Only comparing runner on 3B and 1 out to runner on 2B and 0 outs.
Obviously, manager has to weigh likelihood of success in these scenarios, including likely giving away an out to get the runner to 3B and and weigh ALL the possible outcomes to get there. Of course less likely to bunt with a really good hitter. That’s why it’s a 1-run strategy and only an option when one run likely to win the game.
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"Scoring position", 2B, and Gomes also don't go together.
LOL Very true, that's why I didn't post my normal disdain of the move today. I applaud Ross for trying to do something, anything to end the RISP drought. I liked the safety squeezes the other day, too.
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Cubs in 4th place with a +12 run differential. The next best in the division is St. Louis at -16.
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I don't get it, Reb. If bunting successfully makes it slightly more likely that you will score a run but there is a risk that you won't bunt successfully, it's a lousy strategy unless the hitter is terrible. Of course, you need to factor in the unlikely possibility that the bunter will beat the throw (or the opposing team will misplay the bunt). Still, it only makes sense for a Mastrobuoni-type hitter IMO.
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In the good ol' days, only the pitcher bunted in sacrifice situations. Position players bunted for hits. Of course, there were exceptions.
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So Morel is really hot in the #3 slot, so let's drop him to the bottom of the order so he cools off, like we did Wisdom. Sure fire strategy.
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We have to beware of comparing apples to oranges in the discussion.
As I understand it, in the situation of a man on second and zero outs, a successful sacrifice increases the chances of scoring at least one run is increased by 6 percent. Mathimatical fact. But in this era of concern for making unnecessary outs, I suspect that the above successful sacrifice, while increasing the chances of scoring ONE run, decreased the chances of scoring MULTIPLE runs, since there is one less out to work with. So the manager has to weigh a number of possibilities:
What are the odds of scoring only one run being sufficient to win?
Will our relievers be good enough to shut down the opposition?
Is our offense good enough to score multiple runs at some point, thus giving a greater safety margin?
Is the hitter being asked to sacrifice good enough that he is likely to perform better (hit, walk, etc.) than the 6 percent advantage that a successful sacrifice creates?
No matter what the manager decides, he is left with substantial room to argue that it was the wrong decision.
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Morel hasn't cooled off yet, Curt. Another 415-ft missile.
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I don't get it, Reb. If bunting successfully makes it slightly more likely that you will score a run but there is a risk that you won't bunt successfully, it's a lousy strategy unless the hitter is terrible. Of course, you need to factor in the unlikely possibility that the bunter will beat the throw (or the opposing team will misplay the bunt). Still, it only makes sense for a Mastrobuoni-type hitter IMO.
P2- my original point was that more goes into the decision to bunt than just Mastrobuoni’s hitting ability. Really have no disagreement that these days bunt with a lesser-type hitter, not a good hitter. That’s the biggest factor, agreed, but other factors weigh in too. And Mastrobuoni fits that category. Cubs have had Madrigal bunt a couple times. You’re not going to bunt with Suzuki or Swanson and others. Agreed. Indeed, some clubs don’t sacrifice bunt at all. Braves and Dodgers—top two NL scoring clubs—each have zero sacrifice bunts.
My other point was that other considerations are relevant when deciding to bunt—who’s coming up, confidence in the bullpen, can this guy actually bunt. More. As to how potential bad outcomes factor in—it’s there but the reason sacrifice bunt is kind of a relic is not potential for bad outcomes but that clubs don’t want to give away an out on purpose.
You can always take the bunt off if get to two strikes on fouls (yes, disadvantage now trying to hit with two strikes) but a proper bunt toward the 3B is basically always successful (when 3B has to field the ball). Defensive misplays; a bunt so good that turns into a hit—not sure how to weigh potential surprise good outcomes with potential bad outcomes, including having to hit with two strikes. A zillion things can happen, some surprisingly good, some surprisingly bad.
But, the math is: better chance to score a run with 3B, 1 out than 2B, 0 outs. That’s why Ross bunted, once you decide to go for a 1-run strategy (with a lesser hitter). And, yes, giving up the out slightly reduces chances of a multi-run inning. That’s why it’s a 1-run strategy.
Ross showed a ton of confidence in his bullpen using a one-run strategy in 5th inning of a tie game. That was my biggest takeaway about his decision.
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One (or two) more comment on the bunt discussion.
Regarding ending up in a 2-strike count from bunt attempts——not too sure whether or not it is more likely to get into a 2-strike count from bunt attempts OR just letting the batter hit from the get-go. By definition, talking about a below-average hitter who is a capable bunter. Maybe trying to bunt reduces chance of a 2-strike count compared to having the below-average batter hit away?
Putting aside the 2-strike matter and assuming the bunt is put down, is it more likely that the runner trying to advance to 3B is tagged out compared to the bunt turning into a hit or a defensive error/ misplay? Not too sure about that if talking about a capable bunter.
Of course, most likely bad outcome if bunt is put in play is an easy popout to a fielder. But, that’s kind of like hitting away with a below-average hitter—nothing good happened.
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Suzuki at DH and Morel in RF tonight.
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https://blogs.fangraphs.com/so-you-want-to-bunt-in-extra-innings/
Bunting in extra innings for the home team increases scoring chances from 60% to 64.8%.
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Does that dynamic change at all if it's the top or bottom of the inning? Seems like a lot more pressure on the defense if it's the bottom. I the top, you always know you will have a chance to tie or go ahead in the bottom. If the bottom, it's sudden death, meaning more pressure on handling the bunt properly and so forth.
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https://blogs.fangraphs.com/so-you-want-to-bunt-in-extra-innings/
Bunting in extra innings for the home team increases scoring chances from 60% to 64.8%.
Thanks Blue, that was a helpful read and study.
The 64.8% in the study refers to the result successful "sacrifice bunting": in which the runner advances but the bunter is actually sacrificed. But the author ends up concluding the win rate jumps to 63.5%, given other good and bad outcomes that can occur with a bunt.
The chart in the table showed that 14.3% of bunts don't sacrifice an out, instead resulting in a hit or an error, after which the chance of scoring jumps. But another 14.8% of bunts fail, either with runner out at 3rd, or simply not advancing, both of which obviously reduce the chance of scoring.
The author concludes, "After netting everything out, the result is clear. Given the first plate appearance being a bunt, and using the overall success rate for bunts with a runner on second, the home team will win 63.5% of the time it enters the bottom of the inning tied. That beats the 60.8% naive probability of scoring a run. A bunt is the way to go!"
Odds of Scoring After a Bunt
After Odds of Scenario Odds of Scoring
Lead Runner Out 4.1% 27.7%
Bunter Out, No Advance 10.7% 40.8%
Hit/Error 14.3% 84.3%
Sac Bunt 70.8% 64.8%
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Here’s a piece linked below from 2023 that reaches similar conclusions as the 2020 piece that CBJ posted.
As to non-extra innings situations, the 2023 piece finds that “The percentage of runners who have scored from second after a plate appearance with nobody out in innings one through nine is 64.3% when the team attempts to bunt and 58.8% when teams have chosen to cut it loose.”
But, teams bunt in that situation only about 5% of the time because teams play for multi-run innings and don’t want to give away and out on purpose.
Obviously, with the inherited runner in extras, hardly anybody bunts top of the inning. It’s a multi-run strategy situation.
Bottom of the extra inning is wholly different situation when game is tied (visitors failed to score top of inning) or even one run deficit (according to 2023 piece). Bunt is a good play, generally, as both pieces say.
But, seems to me that clubs—more often than not—swing away in tie game bottom of extras (and definitely one run behind), but haven’t seen any data on that. Most clubs just don’t like to bunt.
https://theanalyst.com/2023/03/should-mlb-teams-be-bunting-the-ghost-runner-to-third/
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Because the bunt is more likely to result in a run, the 2023 piece notes: “That might lead fans to think that bunting is the better strategy. And it may be if a team wants to play for one run because the game situation dictates it or if the team believes it only needs a couple of runs to win because it has a dominant pitching staff.”
Think that notion partially explains Ross’ bunt decision in 5th inning of the Saturday game—he now has a lot of confidence in his bullpen to hold a 1-run lead over the last 4 innings. Maybe that’s misplaced, I don’t know. And, if course, the batter was Mastrobuoni.
Maybe Ross also felt Orioles bullpen is so good that 5th inning was Cubs best chance to score for remainder of the game. Definitely an unorthodox decision…..and it worked (this time).
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I still feel like what's missing from that kind of a bunt study, though, is the wasted effort to bunt.
*yes, an *actual* bunt increased win from 60.8% to 63.5% probability. Good for the bunt.
But the study's chart, with the four possible outcomes of an actual bunt, overlooks the 5th outcome, where the bunter fails to get the bunt down, and puts himself into a two-strike count. The author mentions the native 60.8% win probability without the bunt, but that already includes (and depressed by) guys who swung-and-missed their way into 2-strike counts. By including the 2-swinger-strike guys in the 60.8% pool, but excluding the 2-bunt-strike guy in the 63.5% pool, I think that is a logic flaw.
reb, you mentioned that guys can get to 2-strike counts swinging, too, and probably swing-and-miss bunting is less probable. That's true. But, a lot of hits happen on 0- or 1-strike counts. Giving away two strikes, without the chance to use them for hits, is disadvantageous, and excluding that unfavorable outcome from the study compromises the conclusion.
It's such a hard Saber thing. How does Saber quantify the impact of guys trying to bunt but not laying it down? I don't know how to study that, or if the data is there to do that. Most box scores don't have record of whether a guy tried to bunt on strike one, or two, but didn't succeed. (Missed; fouled; or pulled back and took a strike, for example because top-end-of-strike-zone pitches are hard to bunt.). And sometimes after missing on strike one, they change the call, but it's still one strike squandered, even if two strikes aren't squandered. That just seems like that kind of nuance isn't nearly as Saber-accessible as studying when actual bunts were laid down, which are designated as such in box scores.
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Reb, my last post came from Blue's article, but before I saw yours.
Yours has the wording "The percentage of runners who have scored from second after a plate appearance with nobody out in innings one through nine is 64.3% when the team attempts to bunt and 58.8% when teams have chosen to cut it loose."
That's a pretty dramatic difference.
I'm still guessing the "attempts to bunt" wording probably actually draws from *actual* bunts laid down, but still doesn't include the cases where an attempting bunter failed-bunts himself into the disadvantageous 2-strike count that I mentioned in my previous post? *IF* their "64.3% to 58.8% actually does include my attempted-but-failed-to-actually-get-it-down attempts, then that seems pretty decisive.
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Craig-on the 2-strike issue, think we agree that it is more likely that the hitting-away guy gets into the bad 2-strike situation than the attempted bunter does, right? At that point, bunt is off and batter is hitting with 2 strikes either way.
And, perhaps wouldn’t you also agree that on 0-strike and 1-strike counts bunter is also more likely to get bunt down successfully than the below-average hitter has to move up the runner or reach base successfully on a batted ball during the AB?
So, haven’t we taken care of the counts? Advantage to the bunter?
Put another way, can’t fairly focus on potential failure to get bunt down on certain counts without also taking into account potential failure to do anything good hitting away on those counts.
On another point, I believe that 2020 piece also said likelihood of getting a bunt hit/ defensive miscue is about the same as the bunt ending up in a worse situation (lead runner out, etc).
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Are these stats from the modern era or from all of baseball history, because there was a time that if the pitcher was up, nobody out, runner on first, the pitcher would bunt, even with two strikes often. If there were runners on, it was rare that the pitcher wouldn't bunt. That could influence these stats. Of course since the AL went to the DH, their bunting stats would be different from the NL, too.
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It’s likely as simple as…Ross had a feeling it was going to be a low scoring game…one in which every run is valuable, and he wanted to play for 1.
Same situation in the following inning, and he likely would have done the same.
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Average MLB team has 6 sacrifices this season in an average of 72 games played.
So, a sacrifice every 12 games per team, on average.
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Craig-on the 2-strike issue, think we agree that it is more likely that the hitting-away guy gets into the bad 2-strike situation than the attempted bunter does, right? At that point, bunt is off and batter is hitting with 2 strikes either way.
. Agree.
And, perhaps wouldn’t you also agree that on 0-strike and 1-strike counts bunter is also more likely to get bunt down successfully than the below-average hitter has to move up the runner or reach base successfully on a batted ball during the AB?
I agree to that statement: yes, the bunter is more likely to put a bunt in play than a swinger. But that statement is not relevant to the discussion.
Reb, swingers-who-don't-make-contact ARE being included in the swinger calculation. The swinger calculation includes swingers who both do and don't make contact on strikes one and two. Counting the swingers-who-don't-make-contact against the swinger composite is appropriate.
Attempted-bunters-who-don't-get-the-bunt down are not succeeding in bunting. Their failure should be included in the bunting-assessment. Doing so would impact the resulting calculation of effectiveness for attempt-to-bunt. But those bunting-failures are omitted from the bunting-assessment calculations. Having a calculation that ignores one of the significant failure-components is an imperfect calculation.
Swingers-who-don't-hit are included in the swinger calculation. To compare swinging to bunting, including the bunters-who-don't-bunt should likewise somehow be factored into the bunting calculation.
So, haven’t we taken care of the counts? Advantage to the bunter? Put another way, can’t fairly focus on potential failure to get bunt down on certain counts without also taking into account potential failure to do anything good hitting away on those counts.
As just discussed, we can't fairly include the failure of swingers to hit, which we do include; while ignoring the failure of bunters to bunt. Ignoring the failure of bunters to bunt is a methodology flaw in these calculations.
It is an understandably difficult factor to include in SABER calculations, since box-scores keep no record of failed attempts to bunts. [Those AB's just get counted against the swingers!]
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Cubs win an easy one, 8-0; Fulmer gets a scoreless inning in and Rucker closes it out with two more scoreless.
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That’s 11 straight scoreless appearances for Merryweather.
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Relievers can go hot and cold like anybody else. But for the moment, having Merryweather, Fulmer, Leiter, and Alzolay all in a groove is pretty nice.
Lots of games left. A month from now they might be 12 games under .500 and in obvious sell-mode. If so, it could be nice if some among the Fulmer/Merryweather/Leiter group would still be doing well and have some trade value. Conversely, a month from now they might be up to .500, within a game of first, and Hoyer might be in buy mode. If so, I could well imagine that adding a trustwothy reliever, or two, could be very appealing.
I admit before the season, I had hoped that at this point Keegan would be a rock, and that guys like Manny Rodriguez and Estrada would have improved and looked really useful. The extreme regression for Estrada is especially disappointing.
I'm guessing Boxberger could be back within the next few weeks, although whether you'll want him pitching in close games remains to be seen. I'd hoped Heuer might rehab and become useful, but he's been pretty consistently rotten for Iowa. (WHIP > 2 on the year, but in June it's nearer 3.)
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I doubt many people had Tucker Barnhart home run on their bingo card.
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Madrigal just misses a HR, Pirates have a deep LF wall. Barely got to the wall, but LF was so shallow that he had no chance.
Reb, did you see Barnhart try to bunt? He attempts two bunts and fails! But it won't count as anything failed bunt or anything. He'll go into the swinger pool! Even with two strikes Babe Barnhart blasts one to the wall, and advances Madrigal anyway.
But Tauchman and Hoerner don't get him in, bummer to waste a Madrigal XBH.
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Happ hits one 414 feet to center field, but it's caught.
Stroman has only thrown 62 pitches through five innings, compared to Oviedo who is about to throw his 100th. Let's get Suzuki in here so we can have some insurance; it's 2-0.
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With two men on and two out in the sixth, Stroman gets a huge strikeout of pinch hitter Cal Mitchell to end the inning.
Stroman at 97 pitches. I wonder if his day is done. I love complete games, but our bullpen certainly has been up to the task lately and I can't see Stro going two more.
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Homer for Tauchman, triple for Nico, and a sac fly from Suzuki make it a 4-0 game.
If the Cubs can hang on, they will be half a game ahead of the Pirates. Quite a surprise given Pittsburgh's hot start and how badly our team had been playing until recently.
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This team is so damn streaky. They’ve gone from playing like one of the worst teams in baseball to one of the best.
Really wish they’d just pick a lane, because this is a pivotal trade deadline for the Cubs. If they’re in contention, great.
But if they’re not, they have some *really* valuable pieces to offer. Stroman is a legit #1, and assuming Belli’s knee injury is of no impact, he’ll be the best hitter on the market.
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This team is so damn streaky.
They’ve gone from playing like one of the worst teams in baseball to one of the best. Really wish they’d just pick a lane, because this is a really important trade deadline for the Cubs. If they’re in contention and should be buyers, great. But if they’re not, they have some *really* valuable pieces to offer, including the guy that just gave us 7 scoreless.
Stroman has said he wants to stay in Chicago so I'm happy to keep building around him. With these new hyper-expanded playoffs, a team like the Cubs with the money to put together an 84-win team every year probably doesn't really *need* to ever have a big sell-off. As much as I hate these extra playoff rounds, I often wonder what the Cubs' history would have been like if they had come in earlier. All those 78-win team we sent out in the '80s and '90s would have bought and not sold at the deadline, and could have gotten hot enough to win something in the playoffs.
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Leiter throws a scoreless inning and now Alzolay is in to close it out. Very happy with both of these two in the late innings this year.
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24 consecutive scoreless innings for the Pirates…
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Cubs win again!
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…..Attempted-bunters-who-don't-get-the-bunt down are not succeeding in bunting. Their failure should be included in the bunting-assessment. Doing so would impact the resulting calculation of effectiveness for attempt-to-bunt. But those bunting-failures are omitted from the bunting-assessment calculations. Having a calculation that ignores one of the significant failure-components is an imperfect calculation.
Swingers-who-don't-hit are included in the swinger calculation. To compare swinging to bunting, including the bunters-who-don't-bunt should likewise somehow be factored into the bunting calculation. As just discussed, we can't fairly include the failure of swingers to hit, which we do include; while ignoring the failure of bunters to bunt. Ignoring the failure of bunters to bunt is a methodology flaw in these calculations.
It is an understandably difficult factor to include in SABER calculations, since box-scores keep no record of failed attempts to bunts. [Those AB's just get counted against the swingers!]
Craig- The run expectancy matrix does not purport to assess the effectiveness of the attempt-to-bunt. Think you are focusing on something that is a different than what the matrix is about.
The matrix says this is the expectancy of scoring a run at 2B, 0 outs, period. The calculation includes the entire universe of happenings in that situation: successful bunt, unsuccessful bunt, flyball that advances 2B to 3B (Barnhart fly tonight), homer, K, etc. it’s not ignoring anything. The manager’s decision to bunt is no different in the calculation than the manager’s decision to order a SB attempt to advance 2B to 3B. Those kind of managerial decisions are, of course, specific to the situation. Not going to bunt if the hitter lacks basic skill to bunt to save his life or attempt a SB with a guy slower than molasses. But, as to the matrix, it’s irrelevant. Irrelevant because the universe in the calculation includes EVERYTHING, failure, success, whatever.
So, with the 3B, 1 out situation with the batter to follow (let’s assume), it’s a different calculation……and it’s totally irrelevant that the runner got to 3B via a Barnhart flyball or a Barnhart bunt. Doesn’t matter. The matrix just says this is the run expectancy at 3B, 1 out, period. If instead it was a bunt attempt that failed via K (let’s say), the matrix moves on to tell us the expectancy at 2B, 1 out. Period. And, yet again, it includes the entire universe of possible outcomes, successful, unsuccessful, whatever, at 2B, 1 out.
So, bottom line, run expectancy matrix is telling Ross—with 2B, 0 outs—this is the expectancy if you get that runner to 3B, 1 out. How you do it or if you do it this way or that way, don’t bother with the matrix. Not our job. We’re only here to tell you expectancy after whatever happens. If you got runner to 3B, 1 out—-here it is. If you bunted into an out at 3B and now 1B, 1 out, here that is.
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On the other matter of Ross bunting yet again tonight in 5th inning—and this time in TOP of the 5th, at least he did it with right guy, notwithstanding Barnhart homer earlier,
Then, with bunt taken off at 2 strikes, Barnhart kinda comes close to hitting yet another homer. Naturally, that’s baseball.
Good grief. Just think if Barnhart could have swung the bat with 0 strikes!
As with the Saturday game, Ross showing a lot of confidence in Stroman (why not?) going with a 1-run strategy and a rested Alzolay available. Think we’re seeing a Ross pattern with the #9 hitter mid-game.
Anybody upset about this or are we learning to stop worrying and love the 5th inning bunt?
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Craig- The run expectancy matrix does not purport to assess the effectiveness of the attempt-to-bunt. Think you are focusing on something that is a different than what the matrix is about.
Obviously. The question of whether attempting to bunt enhances 1-run expectancy is my focus. That is the strategic question that managers face when deciding whether or not to call for a bunt attempt, as they balance reward and risk.
SABER answers what it can: when bunter gets the bunt down, single-run-expectancy improves. Yours and Blue's linked studies both say so. SABER is currently unable to provide data on whether **attempting** to bunt improved run-expectancy. That is beyond the scope of what published data has been able to address. Someday somebody will collect that data and publish.
Strategic decisions consider risk and reward. Data supports the reward for getting the bunt down, but risk data is unavailable. In absence of which risk-reward analysis and strategic choice is somewhat uninformed.
My presumption is that risk is not insignificant, but I have no numbers.
*I'd guess guys get it down ~80% and fail to get it down ~20%, but I might be wildly off. "Guess" is the word.
*reb, what would be your guess for that? Would you guess over or under 80% get-it-down?
*I'll kinda watch for that moving forward! Mastro got it down, Barnhart didn't, so for my 2-sample set it's 1/2 thus far! :)
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Even if risk-data hypothetically became available, I wonder what value it would have? Analytics on relative probabilities of bunt-versus-swing for the league is one thing. But that will differ for bad hitters like Mastro, Madrigal, and Barnhart, the three guys that Ross asks to bunt. This was P2's original point, after Ross had Mastro bunt on Saturday: "It's a commentary on Ross' view of Mastrobuoni's ability at the plate. Well justified." And "it's hard to imagine that being a statistically winning strategy unless the hitter is awful."
I was fine with Ross having Mastro attempt to bunt on Saturday, and Barnhart last night. They are both bad enough to justify the risk-reward strategy.
It may be that teams like the Dodgers, Braves and Rays don't bunt, not because their analytics analysis is any different, but just because they don't have Barnhart-Mastro-Madrigal type players. Maybe someday.
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Craig- I believe that getting the bunt down is in the 70%-80% range. Think there is data on that.
Obviously, not a secret that bunt exclusively with below average hitters and not with really good hitters. Used to be part of the job description for pitchers, before the DH. But, of course, circumstance-dependent as to position players.
Dodgers had first SH of season on Saturday. Miguel Vargas.
As I write, Ross just sacrifice bunted in 3rd inning with Madrigal. Works! With good situational hitting. Cubs score three.
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Cubs win Cubs win. 8-3. Bunch of RISP hits today. Hoerner hit a HR over the RF wall. Two of the Pirates runs came on a funky error by Mancini. Caught a sharp grounder, fumbled it while getting the ball out and make a weird wild desperate glove-toss toward Leiter, who ended up way off balance and fell on his left arm in a twisted behind-his-back way. At first glance, it could have been something serious, but he was able to get back and pitch the 3rd out. Hopefully after a day or three it will still be fine.
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Go Flipeen Cubs Cuppa Tea Fish n' chips have a pint o' lager Go Guvna
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All this is Contreras' fault.
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Boris sighting. Been a while.
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When Wainwright gets squeezed a bit, he's toast.
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Well, if they lose this one with an 8 run lead, there is no help for them.
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Nice win. 3 homers. Steele effective. Scoring helps.
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Man that ump was bad. Cubs were good though.
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Ross lined up Steele and Stroman for this series. Is Wainwright the best they've got or is their whole rotation gone to hell?
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Cubs gained on everybody in NL Central on Saturday.
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This is a great time for a ballgame! 11.30 pm in Australia! Woop!!! Go the STRO show!
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What the actual F*** is Mancini doing? Just gave three runs away with an absolutely brutal play.
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Cubs trying to jumpstart the Cardinals' season. Again.
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I didn't see the play. What did Mancini do?
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Pinch hitting early in the game didn't work out for Rossy. I can understand wanting to get Mancini replaced but I would have liked to see Amaya given a chance to add on. Particularly after what he did in his first AB.
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I didn't see the play. What did Mancini do?
A groundball between first and second that Mancini should have known that Hoerner would catch. Instead he broke to his right and then towards the base, and Hoerner had to hesitate on his throw, and when it finally came, he seemed to try to catch it bare handed, dropping the ball. Should have ended the inning. Three runs eventually scored.
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Mancini should never play 1B. That said, what are Ross’ options? The guy who should be in CF. A catcher. Rios(for two days). It’s not exactly an embarrassment of riches.
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It would help a lot if Suzuki and Mancini picked things up offensively.
Suzuki is down to .404 slugging and is at 0.2 bWAR for the season—not much better than replacement level overall. I know his health set him back somewhat but come on.
Mancini got a big hit early today but his defense is just brutal. Still, too many poor ABs mixed with the occasional good AB.
Even Swanson and Bellinger are down to .410 and .450. They can do better with slug.
Madrigal hitting a couple balls to the wall lately and his offense picking up considerably. So, there’s that. And Morel.
Club doing better lately with 2 outs/RISP, so there’s that too.
Get the feeling there’s some team offensive upside to come going forward.
Hypothetically, assuming Cubs add as trade deadline approaches, I suppose bringing in a corner guy offensively would be a possible move. With so few clubs out of the race, not sure who a clear upgrade could be.
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Candelario.
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Candelario.
Yeah, I could see that.
Candelario is third in majors in doubles and has 10 homers. And has dramatically improved his 3B defense compared to early career.
Is a pending FA, so could be in play this off-season in any case.
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A groundball between first and second that Mancini should have known that Hoerner would catch. Instead he broke to his right and then towards the base, and Hoerner had to hesitate on his throw, and when it finally came, he seemed to try to catch it bare handed, dropping the ball. Should have ended the inning. Three runs eventually scored.
Official scorer originally ruled Hit but later appropriately changed scoring to Error on Mancini.
FWIW this saved Stroman ERA three earned runs.
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Candelario can also play 1B quite adequately if needed.
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Mancini should never play 1B. That said, what are Ross’ options? The guy who should be in CF. A catcher. Rios(for two days). It’s not exactly an embarrassment of riches.
The guy who should be in centerfield. Tauchman's doing a decent job, it's not that much of a drop off from Bellinger. Bellinger is the superior 1B. Why didn't Ross play him? Some kind of idiotic allegiance to Mancini? Fear of the lefty-lefty matchup with Libertore? Not exactly Koufax, Randy Johnson, or ever Drew Smiley caliber. I'd matchup Bellinger with him any day. But, hey, it only cost us a ballgame. Big deal, right?
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According to BN, Young is at Wrigley right now, and has probably been promoted. If so, someone is off the 40 man roster.
Probably to much to hope for to be Mancini.
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According to BN, Young is at Wrigley right now, and has probably been promoted. If so, someone is off the 40 man roster.
As noted at the end of the BN piece, 40-man spot can be opened by placing Hughes on the 60-day.
Mastrobuoni optioned.
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…….Probably to much to hope for to be Mancini.
Mancini starting at DH tonight against Phils.
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Phils lead 5-0 in the fifth, and Jameson Taillon's ERA is up to 6.90. Not what we were expecting when we signed him.
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Taillon has been a little unlucky according to the peripherals, but the topline is so awful that still leaves plenty of room for him to have sucked. And he has.
There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that his arm isn’t right, so I think you just have to ride it out and hope for the best. I thought it was a good signing at the time, given the options that were out there.
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He was a HR factory for the Yankees, but i thought maybe that was partly Yankee stadium and the short RF porch. That has no explanatory power now.
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The only real change has been largely abandoning his old slider for a sweeper. Maybe a one size fits all approach doesn’t work with pitch development?
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Suzuki sits again tonight, Young gets a start at 1B, Bellinger back in CF, Amaya catching.
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Cubs un-clutchness on full display tonight.
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Sweep.
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Nicky hit one out!
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Hope all these NASCAR guys can drive better than they sing
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Kay needs to start a jewelry store.
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Nicky hit one out!
Hit one deep in Pittsburgh that almost went out, too.
*He's got his OPS up over .700, and OBP at .340.
*MLB average is .319, so Madrigal's .340 is pretty decent.
*MLB Average OPS is .729, big jump over last year's .706. Madrigal's .703 is below that, obviously. But it would be fun if he kept hitting and got up nearer the average.
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Gotta play Madrigal every day until he gives you a reason not to. The defense is better than Wisdom and he's looking useful at the plate. Young too, for that matter - every day against righties until he turns back into a pumpkin.
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Agree deeg. No reason not to give him an extended opportunity and see how he can sustain. May as well make sure we know what we’ve got
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Wasn't it method who was so down on Madrigal? I wonder what he thinks of the way Madrigal has performed.
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Wasn't it method who was so down on Madrigal? I wonder what he thinks of the way Madrigal has performed.
I think the realistic upside for Madrigal when we got him was a .300 hitter with about a .700 OPS, and that's what this guy looks like. That's no foundational piece but it's serviceable (though it would play better at 2B). Being above-average defensively at 3B is definitely unexpected, and it makes it easier to justify keeping him around as a non-regular, but I still don't think Madrigal is your ideal everyday third baseman.
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No doubt. But I recall method categorizing Madrigal as basically useless.
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I think the realistic upside for Madrigal when we got him was a .300 hitter with about a .700 OPS, and that's what this guy looks like…..
If we assume for discussion purposes that Madrigal hits .300, his OPS very likely will be considerably better than “about .700.”
If he hits .300, his OBP will be at least .340. At .700 OPS, his Iso would then be 0.60 (.360 slug + .340 OBP).
But, we know that when Madrigal hits .300, his Iso tends to be a lot better than 0.60.
This June (just completed), his Iso was .132. When Madrigal hit .305 for WSox in 2021 in over 200 PAs, his Iso was .120.
The floundering Madrigal—that we’ve seen much of his Cubs career—is a remarkably soft hitter who just doesn’t drive the ball in the gaps or hits a ball over OF’s head. The Madrigal who hits .300 does that here and there and even gets a few more singles because OF isn’t playing as shallow.
So, the “realistic upside” of a Madrigal hitting .300 is probably in the .750+ OPS range.
Who knows if he’ll keep up something approximating the current offensive pace. He could very well fall back.
And, think we still need more games at 3B to get a gauge on his 3B defense. So far so good on that front.
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Don't think .300/.700 needed to be super precise. Agree that *IF* he hit .300, that would only be real if he was hitting the ball harder, driving some balls through the gaps and down the lines, and commanding a little deeper outfield play. So yeah, *IF* he were to actually hit .300, I think he'd hit variably well north of .700. But the hitting .300 is kinda hard to do. His current numbers are ~.280-.340-.700. That may kinda be what his peak may be, and it will be harder to have much higher average than that. But yeah, *IF* somehow he could be hitting enough line drives to hit .300, then his OBP could get ≥.350, and his OPS could rise above league normal.
But, even contacts hitters have plenty of highs and lows. He's gotten up to .340/.700 for one day in two seasons. Lets see how that holds, or if in a week or three he's back at .320/.660. I don't know.
reb, per the 3B defense, I think deeg's point is probably fair that it looks like Madrigal's 3B defense is better than Wisdom's. How much better, maybe give it more time. But both the eye test and the metrics thus far support that, yes?
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Yes, they certainly do.
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Meanwhile, wisdom‘s glove plays really well at first base
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Madrigal has played a good 3B. But, it’s 35 games there. It may not be the whole story. Hope it is.
I suppose it’s not a problem but on a routine grounder Madrigal takes more steps toward 1B before throwing to the bag than maybe anybody I’ve ever seen. Unorthodox.
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Meanwhile, wisdom‘s glove plays really well at first base
Wisdom has only started 26 games at first in his career, but the metrics don’t like his defense there at all. Small sample size but that more or less tracks.
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If his defense doesn’t work at first, then it’s really fallen off a cliff, and he probably shouldn’t be rostered. I’d be surprised if it were that bad - he was quite good at 3B not too long ago, and requirements at 1B are certainly an easier hurdle to clear.
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Guys like Wisdom are a pain. You could use his power, but his streakiness and K's really hurt when he has a power-outage. And if you sit him it gets worse, because sitting doesn't help. Like Robb Deer, you either have to live with the true outcomes or not. He's pretty worthless as a pinch hitter, because you can't begin a streak on the bench. He might bring something at the deadline because some team that can afford the streakiness needs the power.
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He just isn't consistent enough at the plate (or super valuable defensively) to expect him to be a useful starter over the course of a long season.
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Cubs in Rain Delay against Cleveland.
Zoom call to Cubs clubhouse from Jason Heyward encouraging Cubs not to get discouraged.
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Among players with 200 or more PAs, the Cubs have zero players in the top 60 in MLB in OPS (Happ 61st). That's a problem.
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Among players with 200 or more PAs, the Cubs have zero players in the top 60 in MLB (Happ 61st). That's a problem.
Agree. I wonder if Bellinger hadn't gotten hurt, where he'd be. Where is Hoerner?
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Cubs in Rain Delay against Cleveland.
Zoom call to Cubs clubhouse from Jason Heyward encouraging Cubs not to get discouraged.
What a guy!
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"I just told them who they were."
"...a collection of underperforming mooks who can't hit in the clutch like the 2016 team could? How is that going to help us win tonight?"
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Agree. I wonder if Bellinger hadn't gotten hurt, where he'd be. Where is Hoerner?
Hoerner is 121st, Bellinger (207 PAs) is 89th.
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Hoerner 121? Wow. Seems like any time I watch he's hitting.
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Among players with 200 or more PAs, the Cubs have zero players in the top 60 in MLB (Happ 61st). That's a problem.
Top 60 in what?
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OPS
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Morel getting a start at 3B today.
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Morel getting a start at 3B today.
What the hell. Might as well find out whether he can make that work I guess. That is the one position that seems pretty open for the future. Fingers crossed.
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Two-run homer for Andres Gimenez and Taillon is once again pitching from behind. Two earned runs in three innings actually brings his ERA slightly down from its current 6.86.
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Lefties are killing Taillon so badly it looks like a typo.
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Has Bellinger hit a home run since returning? Whether we keep him or not, he needs to get the power going again.
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If you’d been offered a guaranteed .793 OPS for Bellinger when we signed him, would anyone have turned it down?
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A four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, only to lose in the tenth with the zombie runner scoring the go-ahead run.
At least Morel had a big game.
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Morel is the only guy we have who’s remotely resembled a middle of the order hitter.
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Before the injury, Bellinger was too. This will upset you, but something's not right with Suzuki and I think batting third or fourth all year has been too much pressure.
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Two of Jed's big free-agent signings - Taillon and Suzuki - have killed the Cubs for the past several weeks!
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Before the injury, Bellinger was too. This will upset you, but something's not right with Suzuki and I think batting third or fourth all year has been too much pressure.
I suspect there is something more physically wrong with Suzuki than the club is letting on (and their behavior supports that notion). That’s much more likely than pressure to be causing his weak production.
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Why is Fulmer hitting?
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I think Morel had been DHing but had to move to 3B when Madrigal got hurt. I guess you lose the DH in that scenario.
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Morel is basically the only backup IFer on current roster. So, if he’s at DH, few options.
Cubs have odd bench (including DH): two backup catchers, a backup 1B, Morel, and one OFer.
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Like the Cubs yesterday, the Brewers have come back from down 6-0 to tie the game. Have the Cubs ever won a game that has gone this way?
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Pretty wild work by the relieves today, unfortunately. Cubs were at 8 walks and a HBP by the end of the 7th inning.
The 3-run double by Kay was grooved down the middle. Then he had 4-pitch walk and HBP with nothing close.
Merryweathed had gotten to two strikes on yelich, but missed badly on some chase pitches, and then grooved a fat fastball that Yelich ripped. Merryweather then walked two guys on 8 pitches, only a couple that were close.
9th inning was kind of a bummer. Tauchman's and Young's outs were both hammered line drives, really smacked hard. Then with tying runs on, Swanson was leaning heavily low-and-away and fouled off a semi-inside fastball that was a couple inches out over the plate and not problematically near the top of the zone either. Then he got called out on 2-2 pitch that was a little off the outside corner.
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I will never understand how a home plate umpire can blow a call on whether or not a base runner is inside the baseline when running to first.
It’s probably the easiest call they have to make.
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This team needs therapy.
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and a new manager
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After losing this way to Cleveland, this time it's the Cubs who survive a ninth-inning rally to push home the zombie runner and win in extras. A much-needed win!
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Unbelievable game.
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Why were Napoli and Ross ejected?
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How’d Palencia look? Sounds like he got a little lucky.
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Why were Napoli and Ross ejected?
They dared to point out the umpire's shortcomings.
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Bad strike zone all day…just a culmination of bad calls…
Palencia had good mound presence today. Had a few 99s and 100s right at the knees. Was fun to watch.
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How’d Palencia look? Sounds like he got a little lucky.
Yeah, for his two innings he got three guys out and three others were thrown out on the bases, two by Happ at the plate.
He threw mostly fast fastballs, and a couple of sliders. To my amateur eye the fastballs looked kinda straight? Other than one or two pitches, he didn't miss badly when he missed. A couple of the sliders looked effective, given the expectation for fastball. But didn't look to have much for a put-away pitch. Couldn't tell if he was locating his fastball where he intended. The hit he allowed, which was hit hard, didn't seem located well. The fastballs were mostly bottom of zone or inside-outside; lot of fastball guys like to ride the top of the zone, but I'm not sure any of his fastballs landed anywhere near the top edge.
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A lot of the buzz on him seems to come from the fact that’s he’s relatively short and throws 100, so his fastball appears to have a lot of rise to it.
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The last Brewers pitcher was reported as 5’6 and was hitting 96…
Palencia has tree trunks for legs.
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Is Palencia the first-ever Cub born in the 2000s?
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Why were Napoli and Ross ejected?
After his IF single scored Bellinger top of 11th, Hoerner—as 1B baserunner—barked at HP umpire on a strike call with Swanson batting. Kind of unusual to see runner at 1B barking at HP ump from 90 feet away. So, 1B umpire then walks over to Hoerner and scolds him for barking at HP umpire. Then, 1B coach Napoli steps in to bark at 1B ump (and maybe save Hoerner from ejection) and Napoli gets tossed. At that point, Ross calmly walks to HP umpire, says the “magic words,” and gets ejected too…. And then Ross continues to calmly speak to HP ump, presumably mentioning litany of poor ball/strike calls during the 11 innings of play. Umpire shakes head a few times in apparent disagreement. All very civilized….and proper approach by both Napoli and Ross to protect and support their players. I kept thinking that if this was Lou Pinella, he might have kicked some dirt on home plate and gotten more agitated than the calm and collected Ross.
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How about Ian Happ? What a performance from him today.
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Who coached first in Napoli's absence?
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I believe it was Craig Driver who took Napoli’s spot at 1B…
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MLB umpiring is approaching the point where it is substantially damaging the game.
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What the actual f*&# is up with the umps behind the plate in this series? Is there an ump strike I missed, and they called all the indy league guys in?!
Absolute garbage fire job by the home plate ump tonight. Jeebus.
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These bad ball/strike calls aren't even close
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MLB umpiring is approaching the point where it is substantially damaging the game.
I would only change one word of that sentence. I bet you can guess which one.
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"Approaching" → "beyond"
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With two outs in the ninth and Young and Bellinger on the bases, Tauchman doubles to bring them both in and tie the game!
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Third baseman Brian Anderson makes a throwing error and Tauchman comes in to score the go-ahead run!
Somehow the Brewers got the third out on this play; I'm just following on Yahoo. Hoerner trying to take an extra base, maybe?
In any case we're going to the bottom of the ninth with the Cubs leading by a run. In the Cardinals-Marlins game the ninth inning featured a two-run comeback in the ninth for the visiting team plus a throwing error, but over there it was the Cards throwing their own lead away. This time it's the Brewers giving us a run.
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Alzolay comes in and shuts Milwaukee down 1-2-3. Cubs win!
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Third baseman Brian Anderson makes a throwing error and Tauchman comes in to score the go-ahead run!
Somehow the Brewers got the third out on this play; I'm just following on Yahoo. Hoerner trying to take an extra base, maybe?
In any case we're going to the bottom of the ninth with the Cubs leading by a run. In the Cardinals-Marlins game the ninth inning featured a two-run comeback in the ninth for the visiting team plus a throwing error, but over there it was the Cards throwing their own lead away. This time it's the Brewers giving us a run.
Hoerner got caught in a run down.
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swanson got pulled after hitting into his second double play. it was tie game, runners 1st and 3rd in the 5th I think. Hit a sharp ball in the hole, the 3B who's 9th inning error allowed the game-winning run made a very quick rangy nice snag and a quick snappy throw to 2nd; Swanson was busting it full out trying to beat the relay, with one of those long stretch steps at the end. He's pretty resilient. But when guys get injured running to first, doesn't that usually involve pulling something or other? I won't be surprised if he misses some games.
I didn't watch much of the game. But I did catch one play where Morel snagged a sharp rocket down the 3B line, and wheeled and made a strong throw to 1st. Very nice play.
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I believe Ross mentioned a heel issue for Swanson in the postgame…
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Stroman's allowed 15 runs over his last 3 starts and 14 innings. Last summer he had injury and got a nice long rest. I wonder if he could use some rest for a while. Hard enough for the Cubs when Stroman's been good, but if he's giving up bundles, it could be tough.
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Do any of you Saber guys have the stats on how often Ross succeeds at finding the one that sucks?
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I suppose many Cubs folks know that Cubs have never won a game at Yankee Stadium.
0-12.
Cubs played Yankees in 1932 and 1938 World Series and were swept both times. Not any better in inter-league games so far.
This history is so bad that the New York Times is reporting that Friday night Anthony Rizzo plans to boot the first grounder that comes his way—just to help break another Cubs curse (and will put the ball in his pocket).
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Bellinger hits some coffee table book home runs.
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Not watching the game, but Taillon's line looks great so far... can anyone comment on his stuff?
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He's pitching contrary to his norm
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Should have an extremely quick hook with Taillon. He desperately needs a positive outing mentally.
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Taillon through 7, Cubs up 3-0. reb, could this be the night the Cubs win in Yankee Stadium?
Very snappy DP turned by Morel. Been a couple of plays this week where his arm really helps. A throw from 3rd on a ball down the line the other day, and this one where they just got Bader. Fun to watch.
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Get him out now, Rossy, ffs.
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Taillon effective with 4-seamer tonight and his mix of pitches/sequencing really good tonight. Seems very comfortable pitching in his former home park (31 previous GS). Maybe needed change of scenery where’s he’s had success.
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Taillon has pitched to two over the minimum thru 7. 90 pitches.
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Wow, Ross brings him back for the 8th, I didn't expect that. But he has a snappy 1-2-3 inning. 102 pitches.
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Get him out now, Rossy, ffs.
Nice to see somebody first- guessing in real time for a change. Easy to second- guess. You were wrong but doesn’t matter.
As to the 9th, I have no opinion and will be second-guessing.
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Taillon was fine in the 8th but that doesn’t mean I was wrong, it means Ross was lucky.
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Right. 1-2-3 inning on 12 pitches and three easy groundball outs. But, Ross was wrong and you were right. Naturally.
LOL.
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Snappy game. 2:15.
Kinda fun to have Morel getting some infield opportunity. His arm is pretty fun. Some DP's sure help.
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..reb, could this be the night the Cubs win in Yankee Stadium?
Hallelujah.
Of course, for Curt’s sake, would have been nice to get that first win in 1932 World Series when Curt was a mere lad in the 6th grade.
Better late than never.
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3 times was the charm for me in the 6th grade.
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Right. 1-2-3 inning on 12 pitches and three easy groundball outs. But, Ross was wrong and you were right. Naturally.
LOL.
Just curious, if the Yankees had gone single, single, tying home run, would you admit Deeg was right. Just curious.
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Hallelujah.
Of course, for Curt’s sake, would have been nice to get that first win in 1932 World Series when Curt was a mere lad in the 6th grade.
Better late than never.
You were close, but made a minor error. He was the teacher in the 6th grade that year.
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Right. 1-2-3 inning on 12 pitches and three easy groundball outs. But, Ross was wrong and you were right. Naturally.
LOL.
I realize you can't approach any topic without being the dribbling a*shole you are, but this is weak logic even by your impressive standard.
If a guy on minimum wage spends his entire paycheck on lotto tickets and one of them pays off, does that mean he was smart to do it?
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Seriously, you think a manager making a reasonable pitching decision, one way or the other, is akin to a guy playing a completely random game of chance?
If you think that, you should NEVER criticize a manager’s strategy EVER because it’s all random chance.
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Morel had a nice day at 2N, and that’s the position he’s most comfortable at, it seems.
Do you ever try Hoerner at 3B when Swanson returns?
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Ross noted after the game that he had a short bullpen tonight, by the way.
Of course, that’s the kind of thing that some fans, such as Deeg, never consider when deciding the manager is wrong.
If Ross had made a move after 7 th inning, guy he goes to typically is Leiter. But Leiter was unavailable because threw 29 pitches yesterday AND worked two of the previous three days including a 25 pitching outing in one of them.
Meanwhile, Taillon had a 1-hitter going, pitching to only two batters over the minimum. Had ZERO innings with more than one baserunner, that is, no real stressful innings by major league standards. Threw only 90 pitches thru seven and finished at 102, with another easy inning in the eighth.
So, a perfectly reasonable decision to have Taillon pitch the eighth in these circumstances. And, it worked. Obviously.
In these circumstances, Deeg thinks Ross is acting like a minimum wage worker betting his entire paycheck on the lotto by having Taillon pitch the eighth? No, don’t think so.
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Morel had a nice day at 2N, and that’s the position he’s most comfortable at, it seems.
Do you ever try Hoerner at 3B when Swanson returns?
I would be disinclined to move Hoerner again. He was very good as SS and uncomplainingly accepted a move to 2B, where he's elite. Leave him where he is.
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Ross noted after the game that he had a short bullpen tonight, by the way.
Of course, that’s the kind of thing that some fans, such as Deeg, never consider when deciding the manager is wrong.
If Ross had made a move after 7 th inning, guy he goes to typically is Leiter. But Leiter was unavailable because threw 29 pitches yesterday AND worked two of the previous three days including a 25 pitching outing in one of them.
Meanwhile, Taillon had a 1-hitter going, pitching to only two batters over the minimum. Had ZERO innings with more than one baserunner, that is, no real stressful innings by major league standards. Threw only 90 pitches thru seven and finished at 102, with another easy inning in the eighth.
So, a perfectly reasonable decision to have Taillon pitch the eighth in these circumstances. And, it worked. Obviously.
In these circumstances, Deeg thinks Ross is acting like a minimum wage worker betting his entire paycheck on the lotto by having Taillon pitch the eighth? No, don’t think so.
ROFL, whatever makes you feel safe in that echo chamber.
Sometimes managers do dumb things and get lucky. Sometimes they do smart things and get shat on by fortune. As some blowhard once (or a hundred times) said, that's baseball.
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ROFL, whatever makes you feel safe in that echo chamber.
Sometimes managers do dumb things and get lucky. Sometimes they do smart things and get shat on by fortune. As some blowhard once (or a hundred times) said, that's baseball.
Let me suggest that instead of your one-liners and glittering generalities on this matter, how about taking a stab at rationally explaining WHY Ross using Taillon in the eighth was “dumb” [your word] rather than reasonable. I explained my point of view in detail. Your turn.
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It's a simple matter of risk vs. reward. There was much more to lose than to gain by leaving him in. He's been terrible all season, mostly due to having a blowout inning. He was desperately in need of a positive result, and 7 shutout innings against his former team is certainly that. You know you have Alzolay ready for the ninth, and he can even pitch from the 8th if necessary (which it mostly likely isn't going to be). Your bullpen ought to be able to protect that lead for two innings. And even if they can't, that's still better than Taillon's chance at finally having a reason to believe he's turned a corner being blown out by yet another bad inning.
Ross did a dumb thing, he got lucky. Happens in baseball all the time. If you take your approach that results are the only determinant for the wisdom of managerial decisions, you're going to come up with some pretty preposterous arguments. Which explains a lot, as it happens.
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Did you actually watch this game? Taillon was dominant (1 hitter) and in no trouble at any time with a reasonable pitch count.
It’s a bilateral choice: a dominant Taillon or somebody else and the ideal alternative guy is unavailable. As noted earlier, Leiter was unavailable. And Merryweather has been a bit shaky his last two outings with 3 walks, 3 earned runs in 1.2 IP. Alzolay worked 2 of the previous 3 days including a 28 pitch outing on Tuesday, so NO WAY Alzolay is available for a 2-inning save. Those are the realities and the alternatives.
It’s a bilateral choice. Ross saw that Taillon is throwing great and is a better alternative than his other available choices. That Ross was 100% correct, as it turned out, is not irrelevant. It confirms what he was thinking in making the choice he made.
True enough, Taillon needed a plus, plus game. You seem to be assuming that going out there for the eighth means that Ross is going to let the game get away from Taillon. Managers sometimes make moves during an inning too. It was reasonable to put Taillon out there in the eighth and would have been reasonable—if he got into trouble for the first time in the game— to pull him if, say, the tying run came to the plate. Merryweather was up in the pen and ready. At that point, Taillon would be near 100 pitches. He’s out. If he breezes, he stays. Managing 101.
The notion that some trouble in the eighth and getting pulled somehow undermines Taillon’s excellent work in his mind and confidence—that’s really naive. He’s a pro and this game is a lift for him either way. He knows he threw the ball great and got excellent results.
Indeed, under your reasoning, now he has even MORE of a positive lift because he had a great eighth inning.
What’s really sad and unfortunate is that a fan unaware of the complete circumstances so easily throws around the term “dumb” at the manager for a very reasonable decision here. You had a different point of view, fine, but your point of view doesn’t come remotely close to showing Ross’ different point of view was “dumb.”
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Morel may be fine at 2B but Hoerner is elite there. Even if Hoerner could be excellent at 3B, elite defense up the middle is so much more valuable. Leave Hoerner where he is.
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Josh Donaldson (.146 BA) has a fascinating stat line for the season - 10 HRs. 15 RBIs. Can't be many historical cases of players with double-digit home runs and 15 or fewer RBIs.
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Another fascinating Donaldson stat: he had 10 HRs and 14 hits on the season.
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Nice comeback W today.
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Bellinger grand slam, 6-0. Off a lefty. Before the season, I'd wanted the Cubs to have somebody to potentially platoon with Bellinger. But he's been hitting lefties well. Crazy inning. Hoerner hit a DP-ball to SS; SS made a terrible read on the ball, his first jump was towards second, so when Hoerner pulled it in the hole, SS needed to reverse and dive. Still grabbed it and had one out, but then fumbled ball transfering it. Based loaded, Suzuki hit a DP ball to 3B, he chose to get the force at 3rd and throw home, throw beat Amaya by 20 feet, but Devers didn't get himself a decent angle and made a wild throw. Hoerner tried to steal third, would have taken a perfect throw to get him, but throw was poor, and popped up into the air. I'm so used to the Cubs good defense that it's kinda surprising to see such lousy defense.
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I know there was probably no way he locked himself down for more than 1 season, but it's a shame we didn't get a 2nd year that wasn't a player option in that Bellinger deal.
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Bellinger has a 25M mutual option in his contract. Cubs will want it, but not Belli, probably. But it could open some discussion.
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Bellinger has a 25M mutual option in his contract. Cubs will want it, but not Belli, probably. But it could open some discussion.
I’m aware, but that option is meaningless because there’s no way Bellinger take it unless he totally tanks in the second half.
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It could open some discussion. The only point being made. But when you think about it, it's an odd option. If he stinks, the Cubs won't do it, and if he excels the player won't do it. Mutual options are rather dopey.
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I think Smyly has turned back into a pumpkin.
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Our old pal Jeimer Candelario has just earned the distinction of being the first person to score a run against a Cub pitcher born in the 2000s, as Palencia is scored upon for the first time.
The first of many such runs, I suppose. We'll be allowing them until the 2140s, or maybe longer, depending on what advancements we can make in human longevity.
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Well, Wisdom will be benched for a week.
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What happened? I'm following on Yahoo and can't see the action. A double steal, and...?
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Tauchman smoked a line drive right at the CFer.
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Thanks, Dave.
Another disappointing loss.
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Looks like Morel a late scratch from Cubs lineup tonight.
Mastrobuoni at 2B. Morel was in original posted lineup.
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Stiff neck.
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Trailing 3-1, Seiya hits a homer to pull the Cubs to within a run.
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Belli singles Happ in with the tying run!
And in the next inning, the Cubs put up a six-spot with a flurry of hits culminating in Amaya getting thrown out advancing after driving two runners in. 9-3, Cubs, going to the eighth and Alzolay coming in.
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No point watching tomorrow's game. The Cubs are sure to be shut out.
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Who are these guys?!
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12 hits with 2 strikes tonight…most in a game since 2003…
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Cubs are pouring it on in the eighth with another barrage of hits. As I've been typing this the score has gone from 12-3 to 15-3. Still only one out!
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Decent night for batting average with RISP…
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One more hit from Hoerner, the team's 20th of the day, brings in two and 17-3 is the final.
Three of the five Washington pitchers today have double-digit season ERAs; we certainly helped keep them there.
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Nice job tonight padding Cubs Run Differential lead in NL Central.
Pythagorean division title well in reach.
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One more hit from Hoerner, the team's 20th of the day, brings in two and 17-3 is the final.
20 hits. 17 singles.
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When you get 20 hits, slugging is a lot less crucial.
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Michael Fulmer picked up his first win as a Cub today; he's got to be happy about that after all his struggles.
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When you get 20 hits, slugging is a lot less crucial.
12 of the singles were bunched in the 7th and 8th innings.
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With Hendricks in line for the win, Merryweather blows the lead in the eighth, starting with a homer from Candelario.
He gets out of the inning with the go-ahead runs on the bases. Headed for the bottom half.
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Bases loaded with nobody out for Yan Gomes. A bases-clearing hit would be great here.
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Yan hits a sacrifice fly to left and Suzuki comes in with the go-ahead run. 4-3, Cubs.
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NICO!!!!
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Calling Yan’s last AB a sac fly isn’t really doing it justice…it was a rocket laser shot that almost got over the LFer’s head…if he had gotten some lift on it, it would have been a birthday grand slam!
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Calling Yan’s last AB a sac fly isn’t really doing it justice…it was a rocket laser shot that almost got over the LFer’s head…if he had gotten some lift on it, it would have been a birthday grand slam!
On Yahoo all 350-foot flies to left look like routine fly outs :)
A Nico-Slam puts the game away for us. Cubs are a pretty good eighth-inning team these days.
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Cubs getting killed, but the Cardinals can’t catch a pop ups.
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Stroman got massacred by the cardinals in London, too.
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Sell, sell, sell
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As bad as we're playing, I'm still angry that Yahoo has continued to give the Cardinals better odds that the Cubs of winning the World Series no matter how many games behind us they are.
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Mastrobuoni has been hot lately, 7/11 over last three starts. His first Cubs HR, made it easily.
Heh heh, pretty unimpressive thresholds to cross. but he's finally gotten over .200/.600 for BA and OPS.
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I didn't see game, other than some highlights. 2 questions for people who did:
1. What was Burleson mad about after he he hit into bases-loading DP in the 8th. Per replay he was out by a step or more, so it couldn't have been the call at first? Some ball-strike call earlier in the AB? (On the DP, he reached for a ball 6 inches off the plate, after the Cubs had walked the based loaded.).
2. In the 6th, gamecast had a play where Morel advanced from 2nd to 3rd on a lineout to left by Mastrobuoni. What happened? Did he get too far off 2nd thinking it might be a hit, and they tried to pick him off or something and a throw got away? Or did the left fielder make some catch that left him in no position to throw to 3rd? Not often a guy tags from 2nd base on a ball to left.
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On the Burleson AB, he went up 3-0 with bases loaded.
3-0 pitch looked a little outside but ump called it a strike.
On 3-1, Burleson got a pitch considerably outside—an egregiously bad strike call on what should have been a bases loaded RBI walk.
Next pitch was the DP grounder and Burleson must have barking about the strike call(s).
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It is jarring to have to listen to Chip. My ears are bleeding.
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Daniel Palencia worked one third of an inning today, two walks, two wild pitches, and he gets the W.
LOL
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Sign him!
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From the time stamp, I assume Bellinger? When they trade him the one worth watching will be gone.
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Taillon finally gets what looks like an easy win.
And it's always nice to beat up on the Cardinals. (...who somehow still have better championship odds than we do...) It's been a long time since they finished last; hopefully the Pirates can catch them and put them in the basement.
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4 ER in 19.1 IP in his last 3 starts. Baby steps.
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Nice win tonight. Hendricks was very sharp. Nice to have Swanson have a big night.
I didn't see a ton of it, but the 5th run was kinda great. Hoerner with a single. Kopech threw over early, so Hoerner had him. Hoerner was then able to take a humungous lead, and stole second despite a perfect throw. Not sure I've ever seen that big of a lead. Advanced to third on a fly. Bellinger hit a semi-shallow fly to right, and Hoerner aggressively tagged. Throw had him beat, but a great slide got in under the tag. Grandal actually took the ball out of the mitt and tried to tag with his right hand, weird. A fun small-ball create-a-run blended in with the 4 home runs the Cubs hit.
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I was amazed that Grandal made the play at 2B on the Hoerner steal somewhat close. Nico had a huge lead…one that usually warrants no throw on the attempt.
I also wonder why the Sox didn’t bother to challenge the Mastrobuoni stolen base. I thought it was pretty obvious he came off the bag mid-slide, and Anderson kept the glove on him the whole time.
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I was amazed that Grandal made the play at 2B on the Hoerner steal somewhat close. Nico had a huge lead…one that usually warrants no throw on the attempt....
Yeah, not sure I recall a guy having as massive of a lead as Nico had on that one since the Jon Lester days. With the lead and Nico's jump, kind of a running start, I didn't expect any throw. Amazing that Grandal was able to make it even semi-close.
Nico's really smart on some of that stuff. He intentionally took a pretty big lead early in the count, but with the leaning and the footwork-balance totally planned to dive back to first. Definitely seemed like he was trying to induce Kopech to burn his throw. Once Kopech had used his throw, then Nico was free to take the massive lead and steal it easily.
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Not sure how many people were watching, but Suzuki caught a grand slam last night. He didn't jump very high, his vertical was only a couple of inches. But his snow-cone grab was a couple of inches above/over the wall. Would have been grand slam if he hadn't gotten a glove on it, or if it had popped out of his glove.
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Not sure how many people were watching, but Suzuki caught a grand slam last night. He didn't jump very high, his vertical was only a couple of inches. But his snow-cone grab was a couple of inches above/over the wall. Would have been grand slam if he hadn't gotten a glove on it, or if it had popped out of his glove.
I was looking forward to seeing this catch on Japanese TV and they completely ignored it in favor of showing Ohtani go 0 for 2 and Yoshida wrap a homer around the short pole in Fenway. It basically saved the game; it should have gotten more focus!
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Prediction: Stroman gets destroyed tonight, ruining his trade value.
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Prediction: Stroman gets destroyed tonight, ruining his trade value.
He’s been pretty bad for a few weeks.
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Stroman had lots of runs to give up anyway.
But the 3rd run followed an interesting blunder by Bellinger that I've never seen before. With two outs, Stroman pitched around mighty Benintendi to walk him. Got to 2-2 count on Anderson, and threw a ball well outside. Benintendi took off, then stopped for some reason ~40% of the way. Barnhart gunned the pickoff thow to Bellinger, Benintendi hung out to dry. But Bellinger thought it was ball four. So he just caught Banhard's throw and waited for Benintendi to go to 2nd, assuming he was forced to 2nd by a walk. Oops! With Benintendi at 2nd, Anderson got a tie-breaking single.
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The White Sox have just walked in the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs, with a hit batsman and wild pitch strikeout preceding that. They're literally throwing the game away; our bats are unnecessary.
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Happ files out to end the rally. Would have been nice to get a few more; I'd hate to lose this game after an inning like that one.
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Happ and Bellinger hit homers to give the Cubs a 10-7 lead in the eighth.
Leiter in for Merryweather to try to hold them.
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A sweep of St. Louis will end all thoughts of trades. And then they can get back to their losing ways.
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Stroman was bad, but the bullpen was great. Alzolay has really settled in. Assad has had a bunch of effective outings lately, too. And tonight, Merryweather was good. He wasn't trying to paint too much. he threw a couple of fast fastballs 5 inches into the strikezone, but got takes or swing-and-miss.
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A sweep of St. Louis will end all thoughts of trades. And then they can get back to their losing ways.
Heh heh, I was kinda thinking that thought: that they might have a good week against these bad-pitching teams. Then next week play the Reds and Braves and maybe lose 6 games or something? Who knows?
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Just our luck to play awful teams at the perfect time to convince Jed not to sell. The definition of a mirage.
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I have no idea what will happen going forward with Cubs winning or losing but maybe it helps to be respectful of baseball history.
That is, things change….and sometimes quickly. Man, I’ve seen that happen so many times in my many decades as a baseball fan.
One, Cubs night have a bad series this weekend in St. Louis and it will be obvious Cubs should sell. End of story.
Or, Cubs get over .500 by end of that series and are, say, 5 games behind a club with a negative run differential for the season and there are 57 games to play to make up five games.
Maybe, if the latter, you trade for Candelario to play 3B and add a late- inning reliever to bolster bullpen (as AZ Phil recently posted at his site). And move up from #5 in NL in runs scored per game (#10 in majors), where Cubs are at the moment.
Actually, right now, Cubs are fairly close to #3 in NL in runs scored per game. Not that hard to see Cubs ending up behind only Dodgers and Braves in runs scored if added a 3B bat——not to mention the stellar infield defense Cubs would have with Bellinger and Candelario on the IF corners.
Not predicting any of the latter. Probably just as likely that Cubs have a poor series in St. Louis.
But, nobody knows the future. Maybe Cubs can be a really good offensive team, as in, RIGHT NOW with one key addition. Look at the numbers.
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Again, maybe Cubs will be nowhere by mid-August. Have no idea, one way or the other.
But, starting August 15, Cubs have 12 straight games against WSox, Royals, Tigers, Pirates.
Could see a push there if we assume Cubs are playing good baseball beyond the current 5-game winning streak.
I know many here assume the opposite. Maybe you’re right about that. I remain clueless trying to predict what may happen in baseball.
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I guess "tanking" worked for us in the past, but it's really a symptom of what is wrong with modern sports. Only championships are acceptable. You'd think long time Cub fans would appreciate a team that is fun to watch and pretty good to boot.
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I guess "tanking" worked for us in the past, but it's really a symptom of what is wrong with modern sports. Only championships are acceptable. You'd think long time Cub fans would appreciate a team that is fun to watch and pretty good to boot.
The only way to get rid of tanking is a radical change of the draft.
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I don’t understand these dingus analysts who think that a batter should control or adapt his swing to prevent themselves from hitting catchers on their backswing.
As long as they are in the batters box, they are legal, and can take as big a swing as they want. If the catcher is afraid of getting popped on a long backswing, move back a bit. That’s why there’s a batters box, with a line showing the back limits.
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If Chip Caray says “Happ knew he made a mistake” one more time…
He’s such a buffoon.
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Catchers are taught to sit "under the hitter" because you have a better shot at getting the low strike and frame the pitches.
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If Chip Caray says “Happ knew he made a mistake” one more time…
He’s such a buffoon.
If there is a Buffoon Hall of Fame, Chip is a first-ballot, inner-circle guy.
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Deshaies is **** hilarious. I want to hang out with that dude.
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Cardinal announcers still trying to justify hitting Happ. Idiots.
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Cubs are back to .500. Who would have guessed?
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Not sure who it was, but one Card official said in an interview after the game, it was dumb for the umpire to throw out Mikolas, but it was dumber to retaliate for what clearly was an accident.
I remember, though, when we've had some Cardinal pitchers come to the Cubs they've said that they are taught throughout the Cardinal system that someone hurts one of theirs, there has to be retaliation. I think the Brewers believe the same thing. Remember a number of years back when the Brewers hit Pujols in one of the last games of the season, because a Brewer had gotten hit shortly before, the Cardinals rallied and beat the Brewers and it cost them a playoff spot.
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The Cubs had some fabulous plays in the game. Hoerner made a fabulous diving step on a rocket. RH hitter, so Hoerner was all behind the bag, the ball was hit towards right. He showed great range and totally stretched out to snag it, then popped up fast and got the throw to first.
Bellinger made a beautiful diving stop on a hot shot towards right, from his knees made a good throw to Dansby for a force. The path of the runner and the angle and height of the throw were a little awkward for Swanson, who got off a really quick throw from an awkward stance, without any legs or step, to complete the DP. Really nice play. He had another play pretty deep on the grass, he got off a very strong throw that he gets off so super quickly, really nice play on a close play at 1st. He is just really good, so crafty and situational in everything he does defensively.
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Bellinger is most valuable as a CF, but he could win a Gold Glove at 1B.
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Bellinger is most valuable as a CF, but he could win a Gold Glove at 1B.
I know it's standard to view up-the-middle as more important. But I wonder if for him, whether paying 1st wouldn't actually be more fun? You touch way more balls, and there are lots more complex and interesting plays. A CF can make some impactful plays, but he can also go a lot of days with one or two catches, all routine. Probably more sharp grounders to first, and all of the various throws and pickoff throws and such.
Swanson is great, but today he threw one really high. Did Bellinger jump to get it? He just gets to do a lot of creative stuff there.
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I know it's standard to view up-the-middle as more important. But I wonder if for him, whether paying 1st wouldn't actually be more fun? You touch way more balls, and there are lots more complex and interesting plays. A CF can make some impactful plays, but he can also go a lot of days with one or two catches, all routine. Probably more sharp grounders to first, and all of the various throws and pickoff throws and such.
I split time between 2B and CF, and even though I was probably better as a CF I sure enjoyed playing 2B more. I just didn't feel as involved in the game out there.
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Tauchman isn't Bellinger in CF, but he ain't that half dozen ham-n-eggers they threw out there before Belli either.
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I guess "tanking" worked for us in the past, but it's really a symptom of what is wrong with modern sports. Only championships are acceptable. You'd think long time Cub fans would appreciate a team that is fun to watch and pretty good to boot.
Well 2016 changed what I consider to be a good team. Having a .500ish team for me isn’t fun, it just just reminds me of what we had previously.
I didn’t want the team to tank. I would have preferred the Cubs continued to build around Rizzo and Bryant. Once the team decided to get rid of Star talents, then tanking became the best course to rebuilding a winning team.
If other fans want to have a .500 team and enjoy competing in a crappy division I’m not going to tell somebody else how to fan and enjoy the team. The Cubs have the finachial capacity to dominate the NL Central, they have chosen to do that. I don’t expect the Cubs to win the World Series every year, but I’d like a team that has a legitimate shot at winning it every year and easily the class of this division. I’d the Cubs are going to try and model an orginazation that isn’t the Dodgers, at least try and be the Braves instead of the Giants and Rays.
I want a farm system that develops stars and provides depth. I want a major league team that will pay its young stars to stay. A team that when Mookie Betts hits the trade market the Cubs go get him and sign him long term. An owner that will stay above the luxury tax line. A team that will trade spare parts to Oakland for stud players and signs them. I want better than we lucked into Cody Bellinger and are going to let him walk for a comp round #2 pick, because paying him wouldn’t be intelligent spending.
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……If other fans want to have a .500 team and enjoy competing in a crappy division I’m not going to tell somebody else how to fan and enjoy the team. The Cubs have the finachial capacity to dominate the NL Central, they have chosen to do that. I don’t expect the Cubs to win the World Series every year, but I’d like a team that has a legitimate shot at winning it every year and easily the class of this division. I’d the Cubs are going to try and model an orginazation that isn’t the Dodgers, at least try and be the Braves instead of the Giants and Rays….
I don’t think anybody here wants to have a .500 team. Let me respectfully suggest that perhaps you’re not fully aware of what’s happening in the NL.
Yes, everybody knows that Dodgers and Braves are the dominant teams. But, the third best team by record—Brewers—are on a pace to win just 89.6 games. That’s third best out of 15 teams. And Brewers have been outscored by their opponents. Not too scary.
Cubs are currently 4 1/2 games out of the wild card. That’s the first wild card, not just the third wild card. 4 1/2 out of the third. And, of course, 5 1/2 out of NL Central behind those Brewers.
Cubs are now #4 in NL in runs scored per game and literally 2/100 of a run per game from moving into #3 in runs per game.
Maybe the difference between your modest interest (or even disinterest) in this Cubs season and some of the rest of us who are more interested is that you seem more sure about what’s going to happen going forward. For me, I have no clue about the future. I know Dodgers and Braves are and will be better than Cubs but I also know that 87-win Phillies ended up in WS in 2022.
So, it’s interesting watching the Cubs. There’s uncertainty. I’m sorry for anybody not having fun watching their favorite team. Baseball is frustrating too, so there’s always that too. That’s life. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.
As far as 2024 and beyond and building a team that looks like Braves and Dodgers, well, the Orioles lost 110 games TWO years ago and now they have best record in AL. Baseball history will humble us if we take the time for a close look, including recent history.
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Reb respectfully quit telling me what I should enjoy or want. Yeah the Cubs can be the 5th best team in the NL and be cannon fodder for the better teams in the playoffs. We've come so far. The Phillies where an 89 win team in a much better division and legitimate stars. If they played in the NL Central they would have had a much better record.
As far as 2024 and beyond and building a team that looks like Braves and Dodgers, well, the Orioles lost 110 games TWO years ago and now they have best record in AL. Baseball history will humble us if we take the time for a close look, including recent history.
Well if the Cubs can pull off a draft where they get Adley Rutschman and Gunner Henderson in 1 year and have then get the #1 pick again and get Jackson Holliday in the minor leagues still I'd be a lot more positive about the Cubs. Imagine having 3 #1 or 2 prospects in MLB back to back to back years. It is almost like something I would like the Cubs to do.
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Reb respectfully quit telling me what I should enjoy or want. Yeah the Cubs can be the 5th best team in the NL and be cannon fodder for the better teams in the playoffs. We've come so far. The Phillies where an 89 win team in a much better division and legitimate stars. If they played in the NL Central they would have had a much better record.
Well if the Cubs can pull off a draft where they get Adley Rutschman and Gunner Henderson in 1 year and have then get the #1 pick again and get Jackson Holliday in the minor leagues still I'd be a lot more positive about the Cubs. Imagine having 3 #1 or 2 prospects in MLB back to back to back years. It is almost like something I would like the Cubs to do.
Oh, I don’t really care what you enjoy or don’t enjoy about the Cubs. That’s your business. But, can’t I just be a little sad about it?
Phillies won 87, not 89, last season. Maybe you’re thinking of the Braves from the year before——who won the World Series with 88 wins.
Orioles are best team at the moment not just because of Rutschman and Henderson. If two players accounted for having the best record, I can think of another team in AL that has two great players but haven’t won much lately.
Maybe Cubs will be bad this weekend and end up sellers. Maybe the opposite happens. Maybe the season plays out well, or badly. Seems kind of boring to know ahead of time what’s going to happen.
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Why did Wesneski get pulled after two innings?
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Because the plan was to have him as opener and then bring in Smiley.
Stupid plan, but there you are.
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Today the debate on St. Louis radio was the hitting of Happ. 50% thought Mikolas was defending his injured catcher. 50% thought it was stupid to retaliate for an accident. Surprised me. I didn't think there were that many intelligent fans in St. Louis.
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After 6, Smyly has only allowed one HR.
Bottom of 6th, Gorman hit a high fly ball into the corner. Happ had plenty of time, but didn't know where he was, and pulled up about 8 feet from the wall. Should have been caught, poor play on that one by a normally good LF. With two outs, Gorman stole 3rd, unusual, but Smyly wasn't even looking.
Swanson made a great play to end the inning, Contreras hit a slow roller, I thought a hit for sure. But Swanson charged really fast and got a very strong throw off in no time. His capacity to get throws off so quickly, without compromising fielding the ball fast, is really fantastic. Cubs have had great defensive SS, but Swanson's catch-and-throw quickness from all kinds of angles and all kinds of situations is really beautiful.
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craig, I get nervous on those throws when it's Mancini and not Bellinger at first.
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That’s one of the dumbest things I have ever seen, and I’ve been a Cubs fan for almost 50 years now.
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damn what an ending
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Tauchman does his Bellinger impersonation.
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Oh my! Tauchman! That was fun.
Hope everybody enjoyed this one.
And Brewers lose. Cubs now 4 1/2 out with 59 games remaining.
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Well said, Dave, of course a key part of the reason that was "one of the damnedest things" you've ever seen was because you've been a Cub fan for almost 50 years!
In those 50 years (and many more for some of us), that ball goes over the wall for a game-ending HR. Roughly 100% of the time.
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Adbert was a bit unlucky to not have strike 3 a pitch before the Tauchmann catch. Double play was huge. Inject that defense into my veins!!!
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Today the debate on St. Louis radio was the hitting of Happ. 50% thought Mikolas was defending his injured catcher. 50% thought it was stupid to retaliate for an accident. Surprised me. I didn't think there were that many intelligent fans in St. Louis.
As Boog and JD noted on the broadcast tonight, Mikolas ejection ended up costing a journeyman pitcher his job in the big leagues.
Because Mikolas was gone in first inning, Cards had to use Andrew Suarez for a second game in a row—after he threw 45 pitches the day before. Suarez ended up throwing another 45 pitches on Thursday, making him unavailable remainder of the weekend. As often happens with the last guy(s) on the staff, that’s a ticket to AAA so a fresher pitcher can get called up. Suarez is 30 and has only a year’s service time in majors. So, no major league salary for him at AAA. Thanks to Mikolas.
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By the way, did not seem like a terrible pitch on final out.
97 on the upper outside corner of the zone, although seems like Amaya might have called for a pitch down in the zone.
Yeah, dodged a bullet tonight, especially in view of blown opportunities to add on in 8th and 9th.
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I wonder if the very prideful about how 'classy' they are St. Louis organization will make sure he gets back to the bigs as soon as they can get him there. I remember the Cubs going out of their way to keep Adam Greenberg on the major league disabled list, with major league pay, after he suffered what turned out to be an effectively career-ending hit batsman on his first-ever ML plate appearance, even after he was expected to have been sent down.
Also, what a pleasant surprise to see the Cubs one game over .500 after how they had been playing just a few weeks ago. I wouldn't have been surprised if at the beginning of the season, or even around the time of the London games, you said they'd be 52-51 at this point. But I thought the tailspin after that would be the end of them.
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Wow, that was one of the funnest Cubs games in years. The Tauchman catch, the Hoerner/Swanson double play was awesome, and the Swanson play on Contreras with Merryweather pitching, that was some wow good defense.
The Cardinals also had a really nice play on the double-play bunt. I didn't expect the pitcher to throw to third, that was really gutsy and super close, and then the turn to gun Amaya at first, that was really snappy play.
O'Neil's throw-out of Bellinger at the plate was also a great play, charged it hard and got the throw off super quick.
Really nice to have Mancini get a tie-breaking hit. Must feel great for him to contribute.
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Tauchman isn't Bellinger in CF, but he ain't that half dozen ham-n-eggers they threw out there before Belli either.
Tauchman having none of Curt’s shade.
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Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
In the 9th inning, with the Cubs clinging to a one-run lead, here's the expected batting average on the four balls the Cardinals put in play: .630, .430, .490 and a barreled .490
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Wonder if the Cubs would consider calling up Canario (2-4 with a double today) if he strings together a good couple of weeks. They don't seem too cautious about his health - he's rarely DHing and in CF a good chunk of the time. Already on the 40-man too.
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Heading to bed. Just thinking how miserable we'd all be if that last ball had been hit 3 inches farther.
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I just hope this run is sustainable. I think it can be.
This team has a strong rotation, a number of very reliable bullpen arms, 4 or 5 GG-level defenders, and a lineup that - when you play Belli at 1B and Tauchman in CF - is average or better 1 through 9.
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This team has……….a lineup that - when you play Belli at 1B and Tauchman in CF - is average or better 1 through 9.
Cubs have now moved into #3 in NL in runs scored per game.
Some of this is Morel boosting DH production and, yes, Bellinger boosting 1B production (with Tauchman outperforming the former 1B guys bumped by Bellinger).
Looks like maybe Madrigal will be back soon at 3B? (he was in Cubs dugout in uniform Friday game).
Assuming Cubs are not sellers (I suppose that could still change), will be interesting to see if Cubs add any offense before deadline.
Candelario has been mentioned of course. He’s going to be traded and guessing that Cubs looking into him, but maybe trade price too high? Maybe just go with Madrigal for rest of the year? Cubs could sure use the extra-base punch Candelario would furnish to middle of lineup.
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We could have used Carlos Santana. I’d be surprised if we acquire better.
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Candelario left the game with a shoulder injury today,
No rentals...
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Candelario left the game with a shoulder injury today,
No rentals...
Nats beat writer:
Mark Zuckerman
@MarkZuckerman
Jeimer Candelario says he’s fine. Was briefly worried when he felt something in his left shoulder, but was able to swing in the cage after and would’ve been able to hit if his spot somehow came up again.
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Why did Wesneski get pulled after two innings?
Because the plan was to have him as opener and then bring in Smiley. Stupid plan, but there you are.
I think it's smart.
1. Smyly LHP: opposing managers stack lineup with RH hitters.
2. Fulmer and Wesneski have struggled against LH bats. Giving them a run through a lineup stacked with righties is good.
For an opposing manager, when Smyly starts they can stack their RH bats. Once Smyly comes out, they can switch in their LH hitters. I'd rather have Wesneski facing a bunch of RH guys in innings 1 and 2 than facing a bunch of lefties in innings 6 and 7.
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I think it's smart.
1. Smyly LHP: opposing managers stack lineup with RH hitters.
2. Fulmer and Wesneski have struggled against LH bats. Giving them a run through a lineup stacked with righties is good.
For an opposing manager, when Smyly starts they can stack their RH bats. Once Smyly comes out, they can switch in their LH hitters. I'd rather have Wesneski facing a bunch of RH guys in innings 1 and 2 than facing a bunch of lefties in innings 6 and 7.
I think it is smart to have Wesneski open the game in order to prevent Smiley from having to face a largely right handed lineup.
What does not seem so smart to me is, why take Wesneski out after the second inning, when he has been doing well, and the lineup is still predominately right handed hitters. Leave him in until the Cards replace their right handed hitters with the lefties.
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Are they going to get a game in today?
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is the storm moving west to east or east to west. We just had a dumhinger go through Southern Illinois.
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Start time 8pm
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Yeah, found it went west to east, so it should have cleared there.
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I hate Fulmer.
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My view of yesterday’s game…
[attachimg=1]
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Darn good view, Dave.
50+ years ago, from a very similar location, I saw The Hammer hook one around the foul pole! Loved it, particularly vs that team!
Hammer's bomb left the field SO fast! Man, that guy could hit!
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**** Stroman.
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Several "experts" expressed that Stroman's value was way down.
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Several "experts" expressed that Stroman's value was way down.
He doesn't miss bats at an elite level, isn't a hard-thrower, and it would be hard to make the case his two months looking like a TORP weren't a fluke. I think he'd be valued like a mid-rotation rental, because that's basically what he is.
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He doesn't miss bats at an elite level, isn't a hard-thrower, and it would be hard to make the case his two months looking like a TORP weren't a fluke. I think he'd be valued like a mid-rotation rental, because that's basically what he is.
Stroman has career ERA+ of 118. Actually has been better than that in recent years.
Here are some pitchers career ERA+ of 118:
Darvish-Blyleven-Glavine-Cliff Lee-Ted Lyons.
Just below Stroman at 117:
Lester-King Felix-Buehrle-Higuera.
Don’t know what’s wrong with Stroman right now, but maybe not the time to make grand pronouncements when the player is at a low point coming just after a high point.
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I'd be pretty hesitant to commit long-term pricey extension to Stroman. Jon Lester had 7 seasons after age 32, only 1 of them with an ERA below 4.3. Guys like Lester and Quintana, those innings pile up, and the arm wears down. Nervous that Stroman might go like that. Not sure he's going to have many season left where the juice last for 30 starts.
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I'd be pretty hesitant to commit long-term pricey extension to Stroman. Jon Lester had 7 seasons after age 32, only 1 of them with an ERA below 4.3. Guys like Lester and Quintana, those innings pile up, and the arm wears down. Nervous that Stroman might go like that. Not sure he's going to have many season left where the juice last for 30 starts.
I agree. No guarantees Stroman will age well (Lester might not be a bad comparison) and his best years are likely in the rear-view. A good pitcher and clubhouse guy but any extension has to be commensurate with what you're likely to get in the future.
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I'd be pretty hesitant to commit long-term pricey extension to Stroman. Jon Lester had 7 seasons after age 32, only 1 of them with an ERA below 4.3. Guys like Lester and Quintana, those innings pile up, and the arm wears down. Nervous that Stroman might go like that. Not sure he's going to have many season left where the juice last for 30 starts.
Not sure what “long-term” means exactly.
There is some precedent for a Stroman-type pitcher: two years plus a player option if incentives are reached. And the guy I’m thinking of was two years younger than Stroman is now and coming off a good season making 33 starts.
Pricey? Yes, but the duration seems reasonable.
Of course, have to figure out what the heck is going on lately. At this rate, could be a moot point because Stroman may well exercise his 2024 option.
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The difference between the pre-AS break Stroman and the post-AS break guy is really striking. He went from a #1 type ace to a batting practice pitcher like tonight. Injury? Total bad luck? Did his feelings get hurt that he couldn't get extended? Right now I'd rather see Wiesneski or Asad get the starts.
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For some reason, Cub hitters became passive after getting two men on and nobody out in the 7th. You just can't take hittable strikes in that spot (unless you resemble Bellinger in a 2-strike count).
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For some reason, Cub hitters became passive after getting two men on and nobody out in the 7th. You just can't take hittable strikes in that spot (unless you resemble Bellinger in a 2-strike count).
When Tauchman struck out on that checked swing, I was more pissed that he had taken two down the gut prior to that. Don't leave it up to the ump. That was in the 8th, but same point.
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Cubs lose. Diaz zipped through the top of the order without throwing a ball (although ump called one bogus-strike on hoerner). Diaz looks kinda fun. Maybe one pitch was a fastball. But kinda looked like he just aimed the same pitch at the same spot all 8-9 pitches, and neither RH nor LH could hit them. Good pitcher.
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The Cubs need starting pitchers who can strike people out. Steele is the best at this and he is just a fraction of a percent above league average. Everyone else is below average to significantly below average.
Stroman is more Hendricks than Lester. He’ll be perfectly fine until his velocity drops. Lester could actually strike people out at an above average pace his first three seasons.
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If only Casey had gotten up to bat...
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On a cheerier note, Palencia has looked pretty good in some of his recent outings. Suzuki seemed to get a slow jump, failed to make a diving catch, and failed to knock it down. 1-out triple. Palencia with back-to-back K's. Hasn't seemed to have quite as many horribly wild pitches with zero chance to tempt a hitter to swing in my last couple of views. Has maybe seemed a little more willing to throw fastballs in the strike zone, less nibbling? He's got enough velocity and unpredictability on his fastball that I think he might be wise to challenge on strike one, rather than nibbling and getting behind.
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The Cubs need starting pitchers who can strike people out. Steele is the best at this and he is just a fraction of a percent above league average. Everyone else is below average to significantly below average.
Stroman is more Hendricks than Lester. He’ll be perfectly fine until his velocity drops. Lester could actually strike people out at an above average pace his first three seasons.
Doing what he does, Stroman had a 2.28 ERA on June 24. Part of that is that Cubs have a good defense. Ks are great but a non-K guy can be terrific when has a good defense making plays and, of course, when he’s making good pitches.
Can say same for Hendricks. If don’t have a K rotation, defense can make up for a lot. Defense even helps K pitchers too.
If Brown and Horton develop as hoped, they both figure to be K guys.
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Taillon last 4 starts: 4-0, 25.1 IP, 5 ER, 1.78 ERA
Stroman last 6 starts: 1-3, 26.2 IP, 27 ER, 9.11 ERA
It's a long season.
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And one of those six Stroman starts actually was a good outing too: the mid July start against RSox at Wrigley—6 IP and 1 run.
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Doing what he does, Stroman had a 2.28 ERA on June 24. Part of that is that Cubs have a good defense. Ks are great but a non-K guy can be terrific when has a good defense making plays and, of course, when he’s making good pitches.
Can say same for Hendricks. If don’t have a K rotation, defense can make up for a lot. Defense even helps K pitchers too.
If Brown and Horton develop as hoped, they both figure to be K guys.
The problem is when the whole rotation is pitch to contact. No matter how good your defense is balls will eventually fine holes and if they are just a little off like Stroman is it just doesn't work. Going into the playoffs, when you are going against better offenses, putting more balls in play is a bad idea. They have been drafting against this type which is great and I think this has more to do with Hoyer thinking he can get production cheaper with pitch to contact guys. If the Cubs are serious about contending it is just another thing that needs to get fixed.
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Actually, Candelario starting at 1B tonight against righty.
Suzuki out; Tauchman in RF. Madrigal at 3B.
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Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
…Justin Steele enters tonight’s start with the lowest ERA in MLB.
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The Cardinal announcers were making excuses last weekend for the team's lousy season by blaming the new rules. Argued that the Cardinal pitching staff was geared to soft contact and the no-shift rules screwed over the poor widdle wed birdies.
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"Defense matters." That's a quote.
1-0 Cubs.
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"Bellinger is good." Another quote.
2-0 Cubs.
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"Dansby hits." Yes, you guessed it.
5-0 Cubs.
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So far, the trades seem to be successful.
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We've discovered Candelario's weakness. He's a horrible defender.
Or, maybe, the horseshit Cubs organization is playing him at the wrong position.
Don't be a **** ****!
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Steele three wild pitches, and Candelario whiffs on a grounder. Reds get 2 back in the 2nd.
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SAVE SOME OF THESE RUNS
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Bittersweet…I have Lively in my money league…
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Bittersweet…I have Lively in my money league…
Lively ERA has gone from 3.76 to 5.20.
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46 total bases for Cubs tonight.
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Wisdom starting at 1B tonight against the lefty.
Madrigal sits.
More power potential than usual for Cubs at bottom of order #7,8,9 tonight.
Suzuki-Candelario-Wisdom
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Adding Jeimer and dropping Mancini gives our roster so much more flexibility. Love it.
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Candelario 8th?
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I'm interested in how the Reds respond to the thrashing they got last night. Do they play like in fear of domination or do they come out spittin' mad.
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I'm interested in how the Reds respond to the thrashing they got last night. Do they play like in fear of domination or do they come out spittin' mad.
I don’t think teams generally care about getting blown out. Mental impact is less than blowing a close game they should have won.
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Candelario 8th?
Splits this year vs. lefties/righties are wide this season.
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No opener tonight?
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I don’t think teams generally care about getting blown out. Mental impact is less than blowing a close game they should have won.
I think they care, but I agree with you that losing close ones hurt more.
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Smiley putting the Cubs in a hole again.
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Good grief. Lane had his hand come off the bat and it still went out.
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Ross in his office: Let's see, last night's line-up scored 20. Let's mix things up a bit.
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Didn't Senzel get sent to the outfield in the past because of errors in the infield?
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Cubs dominating again to the point where position player Luke Maile is brought in to pitch again and he gives up a homer again. 16-6 with two outs to go; we've got an outside shot at 20 again.
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Jose Cuas making his Cubs debut as he tries to get the last three outs. And he gets it done, allowing two baserunners but stranding both.
16-6 win for the Cubs. Wow!
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Such a great couple games from this team.
Would be awesome to beat up on the Reds again tomorrow - for as much damage as we've done, have to imagine if we get into their pen early again tomorrow, it makes their subsequent series against the Nats and the Marlins (without any off days) much more difficult...
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Tomorrow starter is Luke Weaver, former Cardinal. 22HR in 86 IP.
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Closing in on clinching the Pythagorean division title.
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Tomorrow starter is Luke Weaver, former Cardinal. 22HR in 86 IP.
Weaver’s most recent start was on the road against the Dodgers.
6 IP 2 hits 1 earned run
So, you never know.
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Cincy’s defense this series is hot garbage.
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Morel’s potential is really really exciting.
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Weaver was drafted in 2017 but he still looks like a high school junior.
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That wasn't the first time Madrigal was cut down at the plate. Willie, he's not that fast.
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Cubs win again. This is fun!
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Alzolay has been good
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Bad mistake to get thrown out at home by a mile with nobody out.
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I just saw the video of Bell's ejection after a bases-loaded ball-four call which was clearly inside. He has the look of a manager whose team is cooked.
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Bell was clearly frustrated with the free passes. And he evidently felt that his pitcher deserved to get some strike calls on pitches that were close but outside the zone.
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You could see him calmly say something to his bench coach before leaving the dugout. It was something like, hold my beer and watch this.
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I'm always blacked out of Cubs broadcasts against the Braves since I live in the Atlanta area, so I have the Braves broadcast on. It's so nice having Brandon Gaudin calling the game instead of Chip.
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Atlanta has just put up a 7-spot against Hendricks in the fourth. Hopefully that offense of ours can step up.
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This game fell apart for Hendricks in a hurry.
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I wish we has picked up another SP at the deadline
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Alzolay survives a ninth inning rally and the Cubs hold on to win 8-6. Nice to beat the best team in the league.
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Gosh is Atlanta a fantastic team. Tampa & Atlanta are just so well run.
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Nice to win a bullpen day. With Steele going on the finale Cubs have a fighting chance to win the series.
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Cubs are the Free Game of the Day on mlb.com. Dansby works a two-out bases-loaded walk to tie it at 2, but Jeimer flies out and ends the rally.
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Cubs leading 5-3 but the Braves have loaded the bases with one out. Fulmer coming in; now would be a very fine time for him to make up for his previous failures and get the Cubs out of a very dangerous situation. Steele throws about 110 pitches in 5 1/3 innings, as many as he's ever thrown.
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Fulmer hits Acuña to force in a run, making the score 5-4. Let's get these two outs somehow. Steele deserves a win.
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Fulmer gets out with no further damage. Amaya to start the sixth for the Cubs. We need some insurance.
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Cuas has a wicked delivery. Somewhere between sidearm and submarine. Does a nice job of keeping ball down.
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Alzolay is in to try to hold a 6-4 lead in the ninth. Albies leads it off with a double to the right-field corner. And he gets Riley looking with a nice pitch on the outside part of the plate. Now Swanson ranges out to get a fly from Olson. One out to go, and it's d'Arnaud, who is 0 for 4 with two Ks today. Weak grounder to Swanson! He throws it to first and the Cubs win again!
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Cubs win 2 out of 3 from the team with the best record in baseball. Wow. Are they really as good as they've been playing for the last month or so?
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Cubs win cubs win. Again. Scoring runs again and again is fun.
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To win 2 of 3 against a stacked Atlanta team feels great. I still think they should have dealt Bellinger & Stroman but for today … who cares!
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Cubs win 2 out of 3 from the team with the best record in baseball. Wow. Are they really as good as they've been playing for the last month or so?
They're 18-9 over the last month. That's a 108-win pace, so probably not. They've rounded into a very good ballclub, though.
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It is foolish to place all the credit on one person, since several areas of the team have shown improvement as the season wore on, but the performance of Alzolay has made a major difference on the team's success. He has probably saved three or four games that would have been lost with the previous closers. But there have been other contributors to the reversal. Madrigal has gone from a severe underperformer (along with other third basemen) to a substantial asset both offensively and defensively. And the move of Bellinger to first base (until the arrival of Candelario) also upgraded the offense, providing opportunities for Alzolay that would not have otherwise been available.
The Cubs are nowhere near a top tier team in the MLB. But they have reduced their gaping holes to a manageable number, and there are several things that have to happen before they are truly competitive.
Suzuki has to come up to his potiential both offensively and defensively. Tauchman has been doing an outstanding job, but he does not have the superstar potential that still may exist within Suzuki. PCA may be a great help next year if they don't sign Bellinger, but I would still prefer Tauchman as a great fourth-outfielder, rather than a decent starter.
The same goes for Madrigal. Having shown the ability to play both second and third with better than decent defense, his offensive is a great boost to the bench, but third base is a spot that should provide power, and that isn't Madrigal.
Tailon's resurgance has made a strong difference on the starting staff, and Steele, Tailon, and Stroman are a good starting trio (I still think the Cubs are the favorites to re-sign Stroman) but although Hendricks and whoever are at best adequate, and perhaps not even that. Horton is still a year away at least, as is Brown, and although I like them both, it is never safe to have to count on prospects.
Surprisingly, the bullpen that was so horrible early in the year has suddenly shown great promise, not only for the rest of the season, but also in the coming years. Alzolay is young. Merryweather and fulmer are beginning to look very dependable, and they both have several years of team control, and Leiter is starting to look like the real thing als.. There probably isn't much help in the system for the rest of this season, but there are a great number of prospects that provide depth for next year's bullpen. Assuming that Estrada is not injured, his stuff is good enough to expect improvement next year, and the same applies to Palencia. And next year should provide bullpen help from one or more of Brown, Kilian or even Wicks.
And next year I can dream on Luke Little.
I think that Hoyer is putting together a system that will not only make us competitive for a couple of years, but has the ability to compete long term without the constant resets that we have had this century, with high highs and horrible lows. This time we need to work for a decades long "window". Then we won't destroy everything we worked for with high rish, low probability gambles that caused the last reset.
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They're 18-9 over the last month. That's a 108-win pace, so probably not. They've rounded into a very good ballclub, though.
As JD noted on the broadcast, Cubs have won 32 of last 50 games.
54 games is 1/3 of a season. So, 50 games is a pretty significant stretch. 32-18 is .640 winning %——which would be 104 wins over a full season.
Still, it’s a snapshot of a season, not a full season.
As noted a few times previously, Cubs are #3 in NL in runs scored per game. Not going to catch Dodgers or Braves in scoring but right now it’s a good offense. Cubs seemingly have fixed 1B/DH. This is what anti-awful is about… and when 1B and DH slug .500 (as Candelario and Morel are now), it’s going from awful to something better than anti-awful.
Just imagine if Suzuki gets it going and Candelario goes to 3B and Bellinger to 1B, replacing Madrigal power with a good-Suzuki power.
Well, decent-to-good chance the latter won’t happen and other guys can drop off and/or get hurt. That’s baseball. The unforeseen happens, good and bad.
For those of you who feel they know what will happen in the future, congrats. But, maybe kinda more fun to see how things play out in real time. At least if you like mysteries and can live with a bit of gray and the unknown.
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I don't see any chance that Seiya becomes a "superstar". That's OK. He just needs to be a very good offensive player and at least adequate defensively. I hope this business of treating him like a platoon player is just to allow him to reset mentally.
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Old friend Rafael Ortega is playing LF and batting eighth for the Mets tonight.
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SNY doesn't have the pitch box above home plate. It's weird to watch a baseball telecast without it.
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In a world featuring robotic umpiring, how do we feel about the interpretation of K-zone? If a tiny sliver of the baseball catches the edge of the zone, is that a strike? Or should there be a less liberal interpretation? What if at least half of the baseball had to be within the zone for it to be called a strike?
Discuss.
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How many more time to do the Cubs run Smyly out there? He's been really bad for better than half the season.
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If it nicks the box, it's a strike.
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If it nicks the box, it's a strike.
Blah.
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Gotta keep those hitters swinging the bat.
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Time to slot Hayden into the rotation over Smyly.
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It's gotta be tough seeing that your team has a chance to do something pretty special and realizing that you are one of the major things holding them back.
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How many more time to do the Cubs run Smyly out there? He's been really bad for better than half the season.
Smyly - a LHP - just gave up a hit to Rafael **** Ortega. It may be time to make a change. Ross, are you listening?
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In a world featuring robotic umpiring, how do we feel about the interpretation of K-zone? If a tiny sliver of the baseball catches the edge of the zone, is that a strike? Or should there be a less liberal interpretation? What if at least half of the baseball had to be within the zone for it to be called a strike?
Discuss.
It's a strike if it nicks the box, unless the Cubs are the ones hitting. Then, nah.
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It's a strike if it nicks the box, unless the Cubs are the ones hitting. Then, nah.
Giddyup.
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In a world featuring robotic umpiring, how do we feel about the interpretation of K-zone? If a tiny sliver of the baseball catches the edge of the zone, is that a strike? Or should there be a less liberal interpretation? What if at least half of the baseball had to be within the zone for it to be called a strike?
Discuss.
Would amend the strike zone itself a bit. Cut off the very upper inside and outside edges, diagonally. Not much, just a bit. Very few hitters can hit that pitch and not consistently called today in any case. (Smyly just walked in a run on a non-called strike there).
Aside from that, think some tiny, tiny portion of the ball should be within the box, not just brushing the outer edge, to be called a strike. Don’t think they’ll actually do that. Any touch probably will be a strike.
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Guess Ross wanted to make sure Smyly had totally destroyed any chance before he yanked him.
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Maybe Ross was hoping he'd pull a hammy or lat on the wet mound.
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Interesting to imagine if Senga had accepted the Cubs offer over Mets. By accounts, we offered more. Had that been so, I don't imagine that would have left as much. Easy to say now, but man would it be nice to exchange Smyly and Mancini contracts, maybe add in Fulmer, in exchange for Senga.
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That pathetic move sure does put the Black Hat on O's ownership and front office!
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Brother DeJesus is ready to get back to the hotel…
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Candelario and Morel both rung up on pitches outside the zone. Jeimer’s in particular was very low.
Morel was tossed while Marquee went to break.
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Candelario and Morel both rung up on pitches outside the zone. Jeimer’s in particular was very low.
Morel was tossed while Marquee went to break.
Crap. Now we're going to lose.
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Why are we pitching to Pete Alonso?
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Why are we pitching to Pete Alonso?
I came here to ask the same question.
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I am so tired of terrible umpires.
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Serious question - could Bellinger be working his way into the MVP discussion if Acuna were taken out of the equation?
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Man, Morel is fast.
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Serious question - could Bellinger be working his way into the MVP discussion if Acuna were taken out of the equation?
Probably the time lost to injury would be the only thing holding that back. He's been spectacular.
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Would you sign Bellinger to the Swanson contract today? Discuss.
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Would you sign Bellinger to the Swanson contract today? Discuss.
Yes. End of discussion.
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More seriously, the contract is effectively break-even at 3 WAR/yr, over 7 years, or a total of about 21 WAR. Cody is on ~8 WAR pace this year (over a full 162 games).
Cody generates value in every facet of the game. He's not dependent on a single skill set or position to be a meaningful contributor. And at 28 years old, he's not on the verge of significant age-related decline.
I'd obviously try to sign him for less, and there may be info in the medicals that the Cubs are privy to that is problematic. But absent legit concern that the prior shoulder issues are likely to resurface, I think Cody has proven that the prior two years were injury-related outliers, and this is the player he is.
Given the above, I think it's completely legit to pay Cody FA rates for 3 WAR/yr through his age 35/36 season. If he stays healthy (yes, big "if"), the deal likely ends up looking like a steal.
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More seriously, the contract is effectively break-even at 3 WAR/yr, over 7 years, or a total of about 21 WAR. Cody is on ~8 WAR pace this year (over a full 162 games).
Cody generates value in every facet of the game. He's not dependent on a single skill set or position to be a meaningful contributor. And at 28 years old, he's not on the verge of significant age-related decline.
I'd obviously try to sign him for less, and there may be info in the medicals that the Cubs are privy to that is problematic. But absent legit concern that the prior shoulder issues are likely to resurface, I think Cody has proven that the prior two years were injury-related outliers, and this is the player he is.
Given the above, I think it's completely legit to pay Cody FA rates for 3 WAR/yr through his age 35/36 season. If he stays healthy (yes, big "if"), the deal likely ends up looking like a steal.
Yo Yo Ma
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Would you sign Bellinger to the Swanson contract today? Discuss.
Bellinger is a uniquely difficult proposition, given how all over the map his performance has been. He's also young for a FA. You could offer him Swanson's deal but frankly I don't think he'd take it.
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Yo Yo Ma
I... don't get it, lol. Reasoning as beautiful as Ma's cello tone? ;)
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I think that was a Kramer thing.
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I think that was a Kramer thing.
Giddyup!
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Taillon has been really good the last 7-8 starts.
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Bellinger is a uniquely difficult proposition, given how all over the map his performance has been. He's also young for a FA. You could offer him Swanson's deal but frankly I don't think he'd take it.
I agree. I don't think he would take it. Sadly.
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That was an interesting inning. Merryweather throwing 99-100, with several sharp breaking balls, and fooled absolutely no one. Lucky to get out it unscathed.
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8/224 for Bellinger? Who says no?
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If Candealario has taken his free SB he'd have scored on Gomes' single.
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Would you sign Bellinger to the Swanson contract today? Discuss.
Like several others, I would sign him immediately to that contract. But also like several others, I don't think there is a chance that he, advised by Boras, would take it. And I don't think the Cubs will go to a 10 or 11 year contract that he will probably ask for and get.
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8/224 for Bellinger? Who says no?
Since it's not my money, I'm in.
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8/224 for Bellinger? Who says no?
. I would support that with no hesitation
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Bellinger is certainly OUR MVP. Can you imagine out last 30 days without him? I think he'd like to stay here, but this management won't pay him. Maybe Tom enjoys watching him as much we do. They have Schwab money now.
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I suspect it'll be something like 9-10 years, 250-280 million. And no, we won't pay him that kind of money.
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Alzolay has saved a lot of close games. Weird to be august and over .500. Nice
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I suspect it'll be something like 9-10 years, 250-280 million. And no, we won't pay him that kind of money.
And yet, some people think we'll go after Ohtani. When pigs fly.
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Craig, I accidentally deleted your last post. Sorry.
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Please stop pitching to Pete Alonso.
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If he's at the plate, and a homer would pull the Mets within 1 run of us, just IBB him.
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I know we say this all the time, but this home plate umpire is brutal.
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Cubs finally get Alonso out, and at just the right time, escaping a bases-loaded situation in the fifth. Score remains tied, 2-2.
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Wesneski comes in and is promptly greeted with a go-ahead homer from Jeff McNeil.
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Jose Cuas relieves Wesneski, who did not get anyone out, and prevents further damage. The Cubs still trail by two and are running out of outs.
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Candelario grounds out to start the seventh, but Tauchman walks and Amaya is hit by a pitch. Maybe we can get a rally going.
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Ross goes back to Merryweather and Leiter even trailing late.
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So clearly Seiya just needed a few days off…
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Down two to start the ninth. And Seiya hits a homer!
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Ottavino throws over 3 times, and Candelario gets to advance to 2B…think that’s the first time I have seen that happen…
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Jeimer singles and now we've got the go-ahead run at the plate with nobody out.
The Mets' odds (on Yahoo, which I think reflects gamblers' odds, not baseball situations like B-Ref does) have just gone from 95% to 68% in the span of two batters.
And Tauchman walks. Ottavino being taken out; Bickford coming in. Madrigal hitting for Amaya. Can we take the lead and win this game?
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Madrigal sac bunts the runners over…who didn’t see that coming?
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Infield in for Morel…
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Morel K looking on a cookie
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Hoerner is the last hope.
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Nico walks to load the bases again. Happ coming up with a huge chance; he is 0 for 4 today.
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Happ strikes out to end it. If we're going to try to win this division, we have to complete these kinds of rallies.
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Madrigal sac bunts the runners over…who didn’t see that coming?
Sac bunts are so dumb. They had three outs left against a team who hadn't gotten anyone out in the inning, and Madrigal was facing a pitcher who came in with an ERA around 6.00. But they just gave them an out. So stupid.
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Managers matter.
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Sac bunts are so dumb. They had three outs left against a team who hadn't gotten anyone out in the inning, and Madrigal was facing a pitcher who came in with an ERA around 6.00. But they just gave them an out. So stupid.
Forgot to mention...the guy coming up behind Madrigal has struck out in 33% of his PAs this year...so just getting a baserunner to third base in front of Morel doesn't really help at all.
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The Brewers consistently outperform their Pythagorean with Counsell, the Cubs consistently underperform theirs with Ross. Coincidence?
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Counsell is just better at his job than Ross.
Counsell is a free agent this offseason, FWIW.
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The Brewers consistently outperform their Pythagorean with Counsell, the Cubs consistently underperform theirs with Ross. Coincidence?
Actually, Cubs have outperformed their Pythag with Ross every season before this season.
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Remember about a month ago, Ross called for a bunt in an identical situation AND IT WORKED? Afterwards, announcers and board members were praising the brilliant move, and I thought, "Oh sh!t, now he's going to do it again. And he has, several times.
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Forgot to mention...the guy coming up behind Madrigal has struck out in 33% of his PAs this year...so just getting a baserunner to third base in front of Morel doesn't really help at all.
Bunt is not a bad play there depending on the circumstances. One run down and runners on first and second and no outs in the 9th, I'm scared to death of a DP grounder that mostly takes you out of the inning. But, here, Bickford is not a GB pitcher, so less nervous about that. And, if you're going to bunt, the next hitter should be a decent contact guy who can score the runner from 3B on a batted ball out. As BR noted, not the case here with Morel who is a K waiting to happen.
So, didn't like the bunt is these particular circumstances. Might be a good move by Ross in another game with runners on first and second and no outs in 9th, in different circumstances. Managers are not confronted by some kind of generic bunt or hit decision. Depends on the specific facts the manager is facing.
Listening to the broadcast, made me think of the Kevin Brown Baltimore situation in the sense that: would you think any chance that Boog turns to Joe Girardi and asks him what he thinks about bunting here with Madrigal coming up or right after Madrigal puts down the bunt? Maybe second-guessing (or first-guessing) Ross live? No, would surprise me if they did that on Cubs broadcast even though it's an interesting question.
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Counsell is just better at his job than Ross.
Counsell is a free agent this offseason, FWIW.
Oh, I know. I just don't think anyone but Ross will ever manage the Cubs as long as Jed is in his job.
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Bunt is not a bad play there depending on the circumstances. One run down and runners on first and second and no outs in the 9th, I'm scared to death of a DP grounder that mostly takes you out of the inning. But, here, Bickford is not a GB pitcher, so less nervous about that. And, if you're going to bunt, the next hitter should be a decent contact guy who can score the runner from 3B on a batted ball out. As BR noted, not the case here with Morel who is a K waiting to happen.
So, didn't like the bunt is these particular circumstances. Might be a good move by Ross in another game with runners on first and second and no outs in 9th, in different circumstances. Managers are not confronted by some kind of generic bunt or hit decision. Depends on the specific facts the manager is facing.
Listening to the broadcast, made me think of the Kevin Brown Baltimore situation in the sense that: would you think any chance that Boog turns to Joe Girardi and asks him what he thinks about bunting here with Madrigal coming up or right after Madrigal puts down the bunt? Maybe second-guessing (or first-guessing) Ross live? No, would surprise me if they did that on Cubs broadcast even though it's an interesting question.
I don't think anyone is considering the batter. Madrigal has been doing a good job of putting the ball in play. If you had to pick a player to bat there, you have Bellinger, Hoerner, or...Madrigal. Earl Weaver was respected for being two or three moves ahead of other managers. He was a real chess player. Ross is a great guy and we could do worse for a manager, but he's still playing checkers.
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Not sure it was best, but I've got no problem with that.
Retrospect is easy.
There's a lot of possible/probable's in the game. Possible that Madrigal would get a hit, but not probable. Very possible that Morel will K, and he did. But more probable that he wouldn't. He took a cookie; maybe more Morel than Ross that he didn't hit it? Happ also took a cookie, then chased unhittable non-strikes and whiffed. Bickford made good pitches to both guys. He dominated both Morel and Happ, he'd probably have dominated Madrigal too.
But yeah, in retrospect I wish Madrigal had gotten a shot. Bickford tends to be wild, and wild high; so Madrigal might not be Bickford's favorite guy to throw strikes to, either.
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Maybe the batting order was a bigger problem than the decision to bunt. Why have a high K power guy leading off?
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The Brewers consistently outperform their Pythagorean with Counsell, the Cubs consistently underperform theirs with Ross. Coincidence?
Can you give Ross the Brewers bullpen? From 2020-now the Brewers bullpen has 13.79 WPA (Win Probability Added) vs the Cubs 7.23 WPA. The Brewers started outperforming the same time as Kneubel/Hader started to dominate and then Hader/Williams and now Williams/Payampas. Uribe is probably their next stud.
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Maybe the batting order was a bigger problem than the decision to bunt. Why have a high K power guy leading off?
Cubs did it with Soriano for years…
Phillies doing it with Schwarber now…
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Agree with Blue. Strong bullpen is key to winning close games.
Speaking of which, Brandon Hughes was a good bullpen guy when Cubs won a bunch of close ones late last season. Is he plausible to be fully recovered next spring? He had some level of knee surgery, correct?
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Bellinger's meter going up like the taxi from hell.
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Bring Candy back.
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Obviously, Seiya coming to life would be pretty big.
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These AppleTV MLB broadcasts are far and away the best quality of any streaming platform. Would love to see others catch up.
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Tauchman singles Suzuki in to make it 6-0. Against Berrios!
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Bellinger's meter going up like the taxi from hell.
What I feared. That either he would stink and those of us who favored his signing would look stupider than usual or that he would do so well that the odds of re-signing him began to fade.
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Bowden Francis? Which of his parents hated him enough to tag him with that?
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72 pitches thru 5, gotta go at least 1 more with Assad I assume.
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Bring in Smyly and tie this sucker up!
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Keep Assad in the rotation, pls and thx
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80 pitches. Run him out there again.
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80 pitches. Run him out there again.
Just have someone ready.
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With a 5-run lead, I might actually let Smyly have a crack.
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Man, the Jays are hacking like they have an early dinner date.
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26 hitters faced, 13 retired in 3 pitches or less.
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91 pitches. One more?
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Eloy has homered for the White Sox to put Milwaukee down by two. Would love to see both that score and ours hold up.
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90 pitches through 7. Send him back out. This is an important learning opportunity.
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Presumably Ross is going to burn Alzolay even with a 4 run lead.
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Presumably Ross is going to burn Alzolay even with a 4 run lead.
I don't get that either. Plenty of guys in the pen who could finish. I'd save the guy for a real save.
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I don't like using Alzolay there, 22 pitches means he may or may not be available tomorrow.
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Yeah, surprised he used Alzolay tonight, and after K'ing the first two guys Alzolay had a LONG count on Chapman, and ended up racking up a 21-pitch inning. I'd have liked him rested so that he could comfortable save both Saturday and Sunday games and save the sweep!!! :) :)
I can understand Ross wanting to keep an uncomplicated win smooth and non-dramatic, I guess.
Very nice efficient game by Assad. Our regular aged starters are such HR guys, getting 7 innings with no HR's is kinda fluky. Only 2 K's, though; pitch-to-contact seems efficient when the contact makes outs. Doesn't always work that way, obviously.
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Alzolay easily holds the four-run lead in the ninth. Cubs win!
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Don’t think want to be a slave to the save rule. Alzolay had two off days coming in, only 9 pitches three days ago, and Cubs have off days coming up on Monday and Thursday. So, just lock down the win. Leiter and Merryweather have been worked hard. Use one of them and that impacts win chances Sat and Sunday too. Fullmer pitched. That leaves Wesneski (no), Smyly (really?), Cuas (36 pitches on Wed), Kilian (don’t think so). Palencia (5 earned runs last 1.2 IP).
With a bigger lead, sure. But, two baserunners get on early and things can spiral. Lock it down.
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Cubs are hanging on to a 4-3 lead in the sixth: Steele has been lifted at 84 pitches and Fulmer is in.
Last inning, Bellinger hit a 407-foot out to center field. Wish it had gone out; we could use an insurance run.
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Fulmer allows a double and then with two outs Leiter comes in, walks a guy, and allows a game-tying double. Inning is still going with runners on second and third and Daulton Varsho up.
And he flies to right to end the rally. But the Jays have tied it. Let's get some runs!
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Those same car commercials over and over on MLB are annoying
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Morel strikes out but Jeimer walks and Seiya gets an infield single. Yan Gomes with a chance to make something happen.
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Yan hits into a double play. Nuts.
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Cuas is in and the Cubs get through the seventh by catching Vlad stealing.
Now two quick outs in the eighth. We need a run!
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A scoreless eighth from Merryweather.
Bellinger doubles to start the ninth. Swanson grounds out, but Morel doubles Belli in! 5-4!
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Jordan Hicks dials it down from 102 to 85 to strike Candelario out swinging.
Suzuki up with two outs and Morel on second. Would love to get one more run here. Who pitches the ninth? It feels like Alzolay is overworked these days.
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Alzolay is called on to close it out.
He gets pinch-hitter Belt on strikes. Varsho hits into a 1-3 ground out. Whit Merrifield, who hit a two-run homer earlier, is the last hope for Toronto. And he flies to Tauchman in center.
Cubs win again!
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This bullpen desperately needs help. These guys' arms are going to fall off. They're doing admirable work but four guys can't do it alone for most of the season. Maybe Cuas is entering an outer ring of the circle of trust, but one bad outing and that will disintegrate.
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Relax, Deeg. Boxingburger is coming back and Smyly is in the pen, too. Who could ask for anything more. And you forgot about Palencia.
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Relax, Deeg. Boxingburger is coming back and Smyly is in the pen, too. Who could ask for anything more. And you forgot about Palencia.
Keegan Thompson had an OK day today, at least. How much would the '22 version of him help out down the stretch, unlikely as that is.
Are there still skeptics with Swanson? What an impact he's had on the whole organization.
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Swanson has been great. Belli has been great. Hoerner has been terrific, also.
Morel and Candelario have injected the offense. Tauchman has been ridiculously good overall, Happ has made some big plays on offense and defense, Gomes has been steady and Amaya looks good, Suzuki has hit in the past and is starting to hit again. Even Madrigal has come up big at times as has Wisdom.
Even in 2015-2017, our every-day players didn't provide nearly the quality and balance up and down the lineup this year's team has shown over the past several weeks.
IF (BIG if) we get strong pitching the rest of the way, Cubs should get in the playoffs and, possibly, make quick a dent.
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Morel has been in a slump. Really nice for him to get the game-winner.
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Where would the Cubs be if they had gone all in on Baez, Bryant, and Rizzo?
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Where would the Cubs be if they had gone all in on Baez, Bryant, and Rizzo?
In very deep s h i t.
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I have not yet finalized my opinion of Hoyer as Cubs President. He is certainly not as compelling as Theo (but who is?). But I'm not sure he gets the credit he might for the things he seems to have done right, such as rebuilding the Cubs' infrastructure (including the leadership team and integration of both the pitching and hitting personnel); the decision to trade Bryant, Baez and Rizzo; letting Contreras go as free agent; acquiring Stroman, Suzuki, Swanson, Gomes, Tauchman and Candelario (among others). Obviously not everything has gone well, but it seems like he's done a number of things right.
But as Gust Avrakotos said in Charlie Wilson's War, "we'll see."
https://www.google.com/search?q=gust+avrakotos+we%27ll+see&oq=gust&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0i67i650j69i64j69i59j46i131i433i512j0i20i263i512j0i433i512j46i131i433i512.1643j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:11d7455d,vid:B2L1-TgfKb4
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We are seeing why Belli should be at 1B all the time
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Not a fan of this line-up vs lefties.
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What did Ross get tossed for
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I think for the Suzuki check swing.
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Bellinger is a ridiculous defender.
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Bellinger is a ridiculous defender.
Nice foot speed too.
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I think for the Suzuki check swing.
They just said that the WS pitcher balked.
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Wow. This is a different Fullmer than back in April.
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That’s a nice way to end a game.
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These are the kinds of wins we need more of.
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Not every day you see a guy rip his entire upper body wardrobe off and dance around on the field naked from the waist up. Probably lead to a pointless beanball retaliation tomorrow.
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They don't play each other again until next year.
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They don't play each other again until next year.
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
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Wow, what a great ending! Morel is really fun.
Fullmer pitching out of bases-loaded no outs, that made it possible.
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…..Fullmer pitching out of bases-loaded no outs, that made it possible.
Yeah, Fulmer was something else tonight. Struck out the side on 11 pitches——with 4 swings and misses. Threw 8 sweepers and three of the swinging misses were on the sweeper. Just two called balls. Wow.
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Lost among the excitement could be Ross making some good moved tonight. Fulmer and Madrigal both worked perfectly. Call it luck but if you are going to criticize when his moves don't work, give credit when they do.
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Cubs will see Nelson Velazquez in the Royals series.
Velazquez is hot. 4 homers in 7 games with KC.
He batted cleanup on Thursday.
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Really nice to get a 1-run start from Hendricks.
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Assad doesn't blow you away in the eye test department, but he sure manages to get results. Weak contact is a narrow path to success but he's making it work.
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Jinx.
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Wow, Ross ventures outside the core four with a lead. Must have gotten a weird fortune cookie last night or something.
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Thanks for that strike 3 six inches off the plate on Meadows.
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Bellinger should have caught that.
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Palencia stops the bleeding.
That was pretty unfortunate inning for Fulmer. He got lucky on a K-call well off the plate, but he got unlucky on previous batter where full-count caught the corner, but ump called it walk and put the tying run on. Baez broken-bat flare was total luck hit. bellinger must have been way, way deep on the high fly that he didn't quite get too.
I wonder if in the pre-shift era, whether Swanson wouldn't have started a few steps onto the grass, and maybe have been able to get out for the high fly Bellinger didn't get?
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Leiter in to try to hold them; Palencia will get a well-deserved relief win if all goes well.
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Leiter gives up one, hits to the RH hitters. But gets all three lefties.
Ump was really bad, to the Cubs benefit. Leiter should have walked the leadoff guy, but ump called two of the first 5 pitches for strikes, despite being significantly off. Fulmer's only out was on a terrible call. But the tying run, on a Fulter walk, was a full count strike. Crazy.
Lots of cheap hits at the end. Baez' hit was super cheap. High fly that Bellinger didn't get to. Madrigal's was a super cheap bouncer down the line. super cheap hit by Tauchman.
Lucky lucky.
Cubs now have moved past Giants into 5th place.
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The Tigers score (Torkelson again) but Leiter gets the third out.
It seems a little unfair that that run is earned for Leiter. Torkelson only got into scoring position because of fielder's indifference. If not for that, the following hit would only have brought him to second, and the next batter would have ended the inning with no runs scoring. The run should probably be earned for the *team*, but not for Leiter.
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Palencia stops the bleeding.
……bellinger must have been way, way deep on the high fly that he didn't quite get too. I wonder if in the pre-shift era, whether Swanson wouldn't have started a few steps onto the grass, and maybe have been able to get out for the high fly Bellinger didn't get?
xBA on that ball was .170, according to Statcast.
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…Cubs now have moved past Giants into 5th place.
Also known as the second wild card.
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I was surprised he used Fullmer tonight. I thought he needed a rest like Merryweather and Adbert. Looked like it too.
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Bullpen is such a ticking time bomb. Baling wire and duct tape at this point. Can someone like Thompson, Boxberger, Burdi or Luke Little be of meaningful help?
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Three of the use-when-losing guys, Wesneski, Cuas, and Palencia, got 7 outs last night, with just one walk, I think. If the Cubs are going to make it into the playoffs, they'll presumably need to get some use-when-winning usage.
Obviously on any given day, Cuas or Palencia might walk the world, and Wesneski might be super-wild and give up the HR's. But they are what they are, part of the drama is having no clue whether they can locate anything on a given day.
I admit I kinda love the Cuas delivery. On days when he can throw enough strikes, he looks like he could be hard to hit. I kinda enjoy watching him, in the couple of chances I've seen. Same for Palencia, obviously if he could locate consistently he'd be a different value. But on days where his pitches are in the zone, I kinda like just letting it rip and let guys try to hit it.
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With all the pitch-lab stuff, it's crazy that 32-year-old Leiter hasn't been able to figure out some kind of grip and movement against RH hitters. Such an extreme reverse-splits guy, it's weird. Whether anything can work, beats me. But I assume this off-season, he'll again be trying to figure out something, anything, that can help his options against RH.
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Smyly still sucks.
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I'm gonna take a wild stab at our next DFA
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This Cubs team is spunky. They don't tend to give up without a fight.
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Re-signing Candy should be a no-brainer.
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Should never have started Smly, got lucky because the offense clawed this one back. Should pull him now and cut your losses. But who the hell do you put in? Especially after burning Wesneski on 2 hitters yesterday.
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Oh good. Ibañez again. With men on.
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And there ya go. Ugh.
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No excuse for this, really.
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Maybe Hayden and the offense can somehow salvage this.
I’m sure Smyly feels awful, but man, is he bad right now.
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No way Smyly can start another game for this organization.
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No way Smyly can start another game for this organization.
Smyly is owed $11M after this season, so likely you’re still going to see him plenty.
Smyly had an ERA OF 3.38 as late as June 27 and was stellar last season, so it’s two months of bad pitching since then. Probably puts him back in the bullpen….or IL with something or other and then he’ll be back. Lots of good swings against him right now. Maybe Cubs can fix him and get him back to form.
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June ERA: 5.81
July ERA: 6.65
August ERA: 10.47
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Through his first 15 starts this season, Smyly had an ERA OF 3.38. That was on the heels of his 2022 season when he had a ERA of 3.47 in 22 starts.
Do the math. That’s good pitching over course of 37 starts with Cubs.
Then, on June 28 of this season, Smyly got rocked for seven earned runs. That’s why his June ERA is poor.
Since June 28, he has had six more bad starts, including tonight (plus three good relief outings).
The conundrum for the Cubs is whether the guy is done because of these seven starts in the context of good work over the totality of 37 previous starts of good work?
Relevant to that question is that Smyly has $11M guaranteed starting in 2024. And that he had a very brief bullpen use when he pitched better than he did in his last 7 starts, as in 0 runs in three appearances.
So, while some just want to ignore those 37 starts, the issue for Cubs is more complex. Can he be fixed? Can he be useful in bullpen? Does he get some time iff? Does he get another start at some point this season?
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Yikes, I'd forgotten that Hoyer guaranteed Smyly, and he'll have another $11 coming next year with $9.5 lux. Oops!
Yikes, Smyly-Mancini-Barnhart, that's $20M in lux dollars. Some really bad decisions there by Hoyer and his scouts. An extra $20 next year could get you something useful.
[One of my tangent thoughts on the value of being kinda competitive: *IF* the Cubs had been a playoff team last summer, I wonder if last winter Senga might have accepted the Cubs offer? Man would this present team look different if Senga had taken the Cubs offer and we'd have settled without Smyly or Mancini? I think there is value in being perceived as competitive.]
Agree, reb, that the Cubs will carry Smyly and try to rehabilitate some value out of him. At least into next camp, they can always DFA him next year, but they're not going to yet. Maybe he could find some role as a lefty relief specialist or something? Obviously this year doesn't support the lefty-reliever profile: .981-OPS for lefties this year. But over his career, he's not been that bad against lefties, .696. (Not great, for a lefty specialist, but not like this year.). So I'm sure they'll hope for a reset next spring and give his guaranteed contract another shot.
Still, hindsight, hindsight. Having an extra $20 to spend this winter could have offered more possibilities than we'll expect from Smyly/Mancini/Barnhart next summer! Hindsight, hindsight.
reb, you are kinda framing the 37 solid starts as the backdrop for how awful he's been over the last 7. That frames the recent stuff as the outlier. But a different perspective is his larger career, in which context the 37-solid-starts seems the outlier.
Just using lazy baseball-reference stats...
1. Other than his 5-start Covid summer, last year was his first season since 2015 with an ERA <4.48, or an ERA+ above 100.
2. Using baseball reference FIP, his 4.23 FIP last year was his only sub-4.79 FIP since 2016.
3. Last year was his only HR/9 of <1.8 since 2015.
He's been a HR-factory, that's what he does, it's what he's always done. In retrospect, it appears unwise to have assumed he was finally blossoming as he rolls into his mid-30's, and had finally solved his HR-factory problem.
But yeah, given the money Hoyer guaranteed him for next year, he's going to be back in camp next spring trying to figure out something that can work against lefties.
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Think fair to say that Smyly’s career is very close to a league-average SP: 4.24 career ERA. That’s about average over the period of his career. Has missed substantial time with injuries.
Contract that Hoyer offered to him seems reasonable, coming off a good season. And, he’s been good as a Cub until the current horrid starts of late.
Seven bad starts (eight if count a game that Fulmer was used as an opener for him)—that’s terrible and way too long a bad stretch. Still, the post-2023 contract obligations incentivizes trying to get him back on track if possible.
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With some of this reasoning, Mancini and Heyward should still be on the team. I often wonder WWYD What would the Yankees do. Or Dodgers. Or Braves. Any team that wants to act like a real franchise. You admit you screwed up and DFA them. Smyly has completely lost it. WWJD is the question. What will Jedd do?
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Mancini was never any good as a Cub whereas Smyly was good most of this season and all of last season. So, there’s a difference.
Heyward—geez—Cubs waited years before cutting him loose. Smyly is two months bad.
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Gomes just drilled Skubal with a 101+ liner right off the thigh leading off the 4th.
Looks like he’s going to continue, for now…
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Cubs leading 4-0 after 5. All four runs have come on two-out hits. Sometimes RISP hitting happens, sometimes it doesn't, but it sure is fun when they get it.
In the 3rd inning, Hoerner-Swanson did a successful double-steal with one out. Happ whiffed, but 2-out Bellinger single then scored them both.
Hoerner has turned into a really smart base-stealer.
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Tigers get 2-out grandslam in the 6th. Bummer.
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Tigers get 2-out grandslam in the 6th. Bummer.
Doesn't he play for the White Sox?
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8th inning, up 1-run, runners 1st and 2nd, Madrigal bunts, successfully. Hoerner flies out to score the run, Swanson lines out.
Bunting for a single run is nicest when it works. And I think it's more likely to work with a good bunter like Madrigal, in front of a good contact situational guy like Hoerner. I have no fault with Ross bunting in that situation.
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With 2 run-lead, Alzolay walks a guy on 4 pitches, hit and a steal get tying runs on 2nd and 3rd, but a nice K to finish it. Good save.
Without the bunt-and-score insurance run, the inning might have played out differently had the guy one 3rd with one out been the tying run.
Veteran starter gave up 4 runs, but bullpen shuts out the last 3.1, allowing just one hit.
Merryweather, I've only seen a small fraction of his outings. But today was the best of any I've seen. Got 4 outs on only 16 pitches, 3 K's, and facing their most dangerous guys. Was hitting the corners. Looked really sharp. Getting a couple of days off might be helpful for him.
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Cubs are 23-10 in last 33 games.
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Actually, Tailon looked decent today; deserved a better fate.
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Boog jinxed him at the end of the 5th inning, as they were going to break…
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With 2 run-lead, Alzolay walks a guy on 4 pitches, hit and a steal get tying runs on 2nd and 3rd, but a nice K to finish it. Good save.
Without the bunt-and-score insurance run, the inning might have played out differently had the guy one 3rd with one out been the tying run.
Veteran starter gave up 4 runs, but bullpen shuts out the last 3.1, allowing just one hit.
Merryweather, I've only seen a small fraction of his outings. But today was the best of any I've seen. Got 4 outs on only 16 pitches, 3 K's, and facing their most dangerous guys. Was hitting the corners. Looked really sharp. Getting a couple of days off might be helpful for him.
After a rough start Merryweather has been consistently good, using a very simple formula - big fastball, slider. The issue is the same as Alzolay, they're sailing into uncharted waters with workload. Merryweather hasn't hit 50 innings since 2017.
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Ryan Herrera
@ryan_a_herrera
Cubs probables for the 4-game set in Pittsburgh:
Thursday: Justin Steele
Friday: Kyle Hendricks
Saturday: Javier Assad
Sunday: Drew Smyly
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Somebody needs to put "sticky stuff" in his glove and get that last guy suspended.
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Rob Z is the scheduled opener for Bucs against Cubs tonight.
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Seiya slugging over .700 with an OPS over 1.100 in August.
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Pirates tie the game at 3, so at least Zastryzny won't be the losing pitcher. It must be tough being an "opener", knowing that you can lose games but can never win them. Not that W-L matters so much for pitchers these days, but still.
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Ryan Herrera
@ryan_a_herrera
Cubs probables for the 4-game set in Pittsburgh:
Thursday: Justin Steele
Friday: Kyle Hendricks
Saturday: Javier Assad
Sunday: Drew Smyly
Apparently Smyly is no longer in the rotation after all.
https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/cubs-move-drew-smyly-back-to-bullpen-leaving-opening-in-rotation/
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Cubs push home the zombie runner and one more; Pirates only get the zombie in. Cubs win, 5-4. In 2016 benchwarmer news, Candelario drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Zastryzny was let off the hook when the Pirates tied it in the middle innings. Another valuable win; let's keep getting them.
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Nice job by Steele to labor it out through 6 innings with only 3 runs. Bullpen is great as usual, ghost runner in the 10th the only run allowed.
Palencia given the 9th inning in a tie game. Walked a couple, so not sure he exactly earned more trust. But another example where Ross is able to use a use-when-losing reliever without costing the win.
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I really wish we would get more innings per appearance from the relievers. When the DH came in, it looked like Ross was willing to do that -- Wesneski getting a 4-inning save and suchlike -- but recently it feels like he's back to post-2000-NL-style managing, with each reliever getting one inning at most. Each appearance costs the reliever more than just the pitches he throws on the field; he's got to throw a dozen or more (two dozen?) full-effort warmups too.
If we can get 2-3 innings per outing and only use two or three pitchers per game, the bullpen would hold up much better even if we're getting the same number of innings from our starters.
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Tuffy, that's a good observation. Given the main 3 guy, I'm good with the 1-inning to keep them available as often as possible.
But yeah, I'd think with guys like Cuas or Wesneski, maybe Fulmer or Palencia, *IF* they seem to have some control in their first inning, give them another. And *IF* Wesneski is theoretically having a sharp day, let him roll for a few innings.
Would be nice to score early and often, to actually have a fluky effective outing by a starter, and have a 5-1 lead after 6, let Cuas pitch 2 innings, and then have it 8-2 after 8 and just let Smyly finish, or something. But hard when the rotaton starter never gives up less than 3 or 4 runs.
I get the worry that our relievers have been used so much in so many wins that they'll be cooked soon, and suddenly they'll start losing leads. But from a more positive perspective, the relievers have just been great, including the use-when-losing guys. Seems like the starters give up 3-4 runs every 5 innings, but the relievers give up 0-1 runs every night in their 4 innings. They've been shockingly (luckily?) effective.
Palencia, walked two guys, but he got his shutout inning. That was nice. His stuff can look so good when he can throw some strikes. Still hopeful for him, long-term.
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that overturn was bullsh!t
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Fu*k me, I can't believe they overturned that. Terrible call. Not a clear mistake by any stretch.
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that overturn was bullsh!t
there was an article the other day that there were two calls in some game that were questionable
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I usually watch the oppo feed. The PBP guy chucked and said he was surprised.
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Keller was really good.
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Tough loss last night, especially with Milwaukee's win. Milwaukee sort of got a good pitcher at the deadline when Woodruff came off the IL. We went down two with Stroman and Smyly.
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Effective work by the use-when-losing bullpen guys again. Cuas got last out in 6th with Hendricks leaving a couple runners on, then Cuas and Smyly kept it within reach. Offense has been outscoring our bad rotation pitching, and relief stops the bleeding once the starters come out. Bummer to lose one when Hendricks kind of labored his way to a not-bad outing.
Offense may be ready for some chill-down. Dansby, in his last 10 starts he's been hitless in 7 out of 10. Dansby going into auto-out mode in the middle of the order is challenging. Bellinger is still doing well, but maybe not at his hottest this week? Candelario's been hitless in 6 of his last 11 games, and only one two-hit game over those 11. Tauchman's been hitless in 5 of his last 10 starts, with only 5 hits over those 10 starts.
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Wicks is interesting. Already flashed 6 pitches (4-seam, 2-seam, cutter, change, slider, curve) in 3 IP. Obviously the change is his out pitch, and it's very good. Lots of deception in the delivery.
7 Ks in 3 IP is great, but grain of salt with a guy hitters have never seen before. I think the stuff is there for him to be a productive SP, but he's going to have to pitch backwards - establish the offspeed to set up the fastball. The 4-seamer isn't good enough to be more than a complementary pitch, but the cutter looks better than I expected.
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I'm not a scout but Wicks looks like a major league starter. His ceiling might be as a very good 4 or even a solid 3. But the Cubs desperately need a not terrible 5 right now and at least against this awful Pirates line-up, he is dominating.
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2 Ks looking on 4-seamers right down the middle. That's pretty much a testament to how well Wicks has established the offspeed stuff.
Nice show of confidence in Amaya to let him catch Wicks' first game. Also, Bellinger is so good at 1B.
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Good thing Madrigal is a Baggins or that could have been ugly.
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Cubs have blown it open. Only negative is how long Wicks is sitting. I would imagine he'll get one more inning to secure his first victory then be done.
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8-1 now - Seiya is red-hot.
Get Wicks through 5 for the win, then let the B-team handle the rest. Crucial to get the core bullpen guys any rest they can, especially with Fulmer out.
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Wicks will get the win if this holds up. Great debut for him and just what our pitching-depleted team is needing.
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Very quick inning, 79 pitches. Maybe one more?
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Nope, Wesneeski. No problem so far.
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Let Wesneski finish if he can
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Popping 97-98 on the stadium gun.
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Happ records the Cubs' first OF putout with 1 out in the 7th.
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Maybe they give Keegan a look if this stays low leverage.
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So much for a blow out. Now Leiter has to come in after Wesneski gives up 3.
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Bit of a debacle having to burn Leiter (who at least had 4 days off) and Alzolay in what should have been a blowout. But it’d still be better than losing.
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Palencia is exhausting to watch. I'm not a fan.
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If you cannot trust Palencia to get ONE out with a 10-6 lead he's gotta go.
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Would have been better without that late-inning scare, but a win is a win.
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Didn’t seem like Amaya was even setting up at any particular part of the strike zone catching Palencia. Seem happy if he can throw a strike, anywhere. Obviously, has a terrific arm but hard to see command here.
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Wesneski sometimes doesn't seem to trust his stuff enough. Overthrows such that he misses too much to tempt. Had Suwinski 0-2, but his chase pitches were so far off. He almost got the swing call on full count, but he didn't really get anything close enough.
Nice to get another win.
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Without Fulmer this bullpen looks grisly on paper. Hopefully Thompson can be a semblance of what he was last season.
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With Assad starting tomorrow, Steele-Wicks-Assad will make a series with the Cubs starting three home-grown rotation guys. When has that happened? It's probably happened in between, but it kinda brings me back to the 2003-2004 era, with Wood-Prior-Zambrano, and then with Cruz, Mitre, and Wellemeyer as home-grown depth guys. I guess Maddux was home-grown, too..
Just kinda fun to have some home grown guys.
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Assad gets through the 6th at 81 pitches. Push him for one more? I'd take him out, I think. He'll get an extra day before his next start, so having a short, low-stress outing today, after an extra-day rest before today and an extra-day rest after, could set him up pretty fresh and strong going into September?
I wonder if this will be a day for Keegan to get an opportunity?
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Assad gets through the 6th at 81 pitches. Push him for one more? I'd take him out, I think. He'll get an extra day before his next start, so having a short, low-stress outing today, after an extra-day rest before today and an extra-day rest after, could set him up pretty fresh and strong going into September?
I wonder if this will be a day for Keegan to get an opportunity?
Keegan did get the opportunity you suggested and it seems he took full advantage of it, eh?
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Nice call for Assad-Thompson, Craig! Assad was outsanding for 7 IP and Thompson was as well in his two innings!
Assad: 7 3 1 1 2 7 (93 pitches, 53 strikes)
Thompson: 2 1 0 0 0 5 (33, 21)
Hoerner and Belli each had 3 hits, Hoerner scored 3 times with a double and his 34th SB, Belli had two doubles and 5 RBI (up to 75 now).
Suzuki had two doubles and two walks, while Candelario hit his 19th HR and had 3 RBIs (he's at 65 on the season).
Each winning starter for Cubs in this series was home grown (Steele, Wicks and Assad), which is a big deal!
Really nice job by Cubs executing and taking care of business over the past 7 games (5-2).
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Fun to have good day for Keegan. Happy for him,and what a boost good-Keegan could be.
Assad has era under 3. What a nice surprise he has been.
Nice to have a winning day with rest for the key relievers. They should all be refreshed
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An encouraging week end for the Cubs. Not so much for this year, since Milwaukee keep on winning, but for future years.
One weekend is about as short a sample size as you can get, but I was impressed not only with Wicks' pitching, but by his apparent maturity in the following interviews. I can see why the scouts were impressed with his character. And unlike OMalley and a few othersopening day wonders, Wicks has quite positive amateur and minor league scouting reports, as well as a decent minor league success to back him up.
Even more impressive to me was the performance of Assad. Given his stuff, I keep waiting for him to drop off the cliff, but his performance last year and so far this year, are starting to make a believer of me. However, no matter how long he does well, like Hendricks, he will be subject to expectations that the end is near. But with Steele, Wicks and Assad, with Horton waiting in the wings, the Cubs might end up with a pretty good home grown pitching staff. One can dream.
Perhaps the most encouraging thing this week end is the performance of Thompson. At least with him, we have a youong reliever that had good success in the past, impacted only by an injury that seems to be behind him.
Are there yet more to come in the upcoming year?
Hughes?
Roberts?
Wesneski?
Little?
Brown?
I think the Cubs are on an ascending trend currently. I hope they don't toss it all away just to keep the "window of opportunity" open a little while, as they did under Epstein.
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Keegan got very good results today but wasn’t all that impressed with his stuff.
Bucs kept swinging at high cutters, a few outside the zone. Got a bunch of swing-and-misses on cutters. Seemed like Pirates wanted to get a postgame meal and get it over with. Maybe that’s going to be a good pitch for Keegan going forward too, but will wait and see.
Would sure help if he is good and enters Ross’ “circle of trust”——Cubs could use that.
Not sure what to make of Fulmer’s injury. Fulmer said he has felt sore for past 3-4 weeks and wasn’t available at times for that reason. So, that’s probably better than oops, just threw a pitch and felt something different and bad kind of thing. Maybe Fulmer just needs couple weeks of rest—that would be the rosy scenario. Probably too rosy.
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Taillon reverting to his stinko form would be very bad for the playoff run.
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Just an awful performance by Tallion. Really disappointing.
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Jameson Taillon should die and rot stinking in the ground. No offense to him personally.
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Ross is worse at using replay challenges than anybody since Roger Federer.
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I foolishly had hoped that Taillon had figured things out. Disappointing.
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Jameson Taillon should die and rot stinking in the ground. No offense to him personally.
next to Matt Nagy
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Offense only scored 2 runs... not gonna win many games that way
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Cubs get on the board in the first inning as Nico gets hit with a pitch, moves to third on a Happ double, and scores on a Belli groundout.
1-0 going to the bottom of the second.
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Yelich made an out!
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Is Steele hurt?
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After 3, Burns looks dominant. Steele at 67 pitches to Burns 42. Cubs up 1-0, but I don't feel very confident.
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We're being outhit 5 to 1 but are somehow clinging to a 1-0 lead. Heart of the order coming up; let's extend it.
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Steele is through 5 but is pushing 100 pitches. We're going to need some good work from our overworked bullpen tonight.
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Steele at 94 pitches after 5. Ross will send him for one more? Or call it a day?
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111 pitches for Steele…. I get it, but that’s a lot for a guy already in uncharted innings waters.
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A couple of hits sandwiching a fielder's choice and the Cubs have a one-out rally brewing. Seiya coming up to bat. Feel free to stay hot, Seiya.
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Turang can't hit much, but man is that guy good defensively. Think we've talked about Hoerner for gold glove, but I kinda think Brewers fans would be justified in thinking Turang really deserves it.
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Give Leiter another inning.
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The rally fails; Leiter comes in for the 7th and puts them down in order.
Yahoo continues to think the Cubs have an 80% chance to win this game. It doesn't feel like it, but I'll be happy if they can hold it.
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Guessing that Leiter pitches to Yelich in eighth and then gives way to Merryweather.
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Gomes and Tauchman reach with one out in the seventh. Let's get some runs in and avoid a stressful last two innings.
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Hoerner and Happ fail to help the cause; Brewers get out of the inning unscored upon. Ouch.
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Yelich singles off new pitcher Merryweather... and they throw him out stealing!
I have to say, I'm really happy with Yan Gomes. I loved Contreras, but if they had their eye on Yan last season, I can see why they let Willson go. Yan is amazing.
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10 pitches Leiter in 7th; 8 pitches Merryweather in 8th.
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Alzolay The Precious (at least I think that's what his name means in Arabic) in to get the last three outs.
(Edit: I misremembered; it means 'brilliant' or 'sharp'.)
When was the last time we won a 1-0 game?
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CUBS WIN!
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The bullpen A-team finishes the job wit no fuss. Ending their win streak is a nice first step - beat them tomorrow and the division is still in play.
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Alzolay 11 pitches.
Bullpen economical tonight.
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Wow wow wow! What a game. That was amazing.
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After the 1st inning with 1-0 lead, I would have never guessed that would hold up. Fun!
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Bullpen big three handled the last three innings in 29 pitches.
I’m sure he won’t win, but Steele certainly ought to get some Cy Young 1st place votes. I don’t think anyone in the NL has been clearly better.
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That throw by Gomes to get Yelich stealing, that was really something. Lots of games, lots of different ways to win. But that one was really nice.
Kinda crazy that the Brewers have been scoring a million runs during their winning streak. In their starting lineup tonight, batters 4-9 all had .600's OPS.
If the Cubs could only get Yelich out more often, who knows?
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Not bad having Yann to mentor Amaya in his first year, too. I would think next year will be more of a 50-50 split (and it’s unlikely Gomes is going to put up the same offensive numbers), but he’s certainly a prototypical coach on the field. Sort of guy the Cubs will try to keep in the organization after he retires as a player.
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Not bad having Yann to mentor Amaya in his first year, too. I would think next year will be more of a 50-50 split (and it’s unlikely Gomes is going to put up the same offensive numbers), but he’s certainly a prototypical coach on the field. Sort of guy the Cubs will try to keep in the organization after he retires as a player.
Yeah, make him Rossy's #2 immediately upon his retirement as a player, or something like that.
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Cubs win Brewers series scoring total of six runs in three games.
Today, three runs scored on just four total bases.
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HBP! How fluky to have two low-scoring games with a combined total of 6 runs, with 3 hinging on HBP.
Horner got HBP and scored both yesterday and today in 1-run wins, Happ with key hits in both run-scoring 1st innings.
Brewers scored the game-tying run via HBP.
Funny.
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HUGE win and series win! Winning that series after losing game 1, then facing Burns and Woodruff must build team confidence!!
Hendricks continues to be such a plus big-game pitcher, whatever one might say about his stuff! He's really something. So is Steele and his PLUS stuff!
Gotta keep it rolling vs the Reds, but fabulous wins the last two days vs the hottest team in baseball and their two outstanding starters!
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Solid outing for Wicks in a tough ballpark…
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Snappy 7-pitch inning for Palencia.
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Snappy 7-pitch inning for Palencia.
He still must be pulled. Can't pitch two innings anymore. It's an unwritten rule. FTOTS
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I'm worried about Amaya's bat. His catching is fine, but he's not hitting a lick.
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It sucks that I know what FTOTS means…
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Solid outing for Wicks in a tough ballpark…
What he's shown the first two outings of his career is certainly promising. Have to feel pretty good about penciling him in the back of the rotation for next year right out of the gate, with decent innings-eating #3 upside.
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Bellinger lines out on the 14th pitch of his AB in the 9th.
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Cubs win, Cubs win. Cubs great bullpen covers 4 innings with a single run, and Palencia and Keegan cover 3 of those innings.
Cubs are 10 games over .500. Cubs history has enough Septembers where they go ice-cold and lose a bundle, so being 10 games over now by no means guarantees that they'll stay that way. But, just in the hypothetical case that they did, I think 86 wins was what I guessed in the season prediction thread? :):):)
Fun to have Happ being an asset contributor in these last three wins.
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I only caught a few glimpses of the game. But man, even if this was a rain-out makeup game that wasn't on the original schedule..... Can you even imagine Wrigley being that empty on a Friday afternoon? Looked like there was as much or more blue than red in the stands.
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Reds walk bases loaded in the first, but Swanson takes a full-count fastball right down the middle for strike 3. Suzuki gets up 2-0, but chases on one high and gets blown away by a couple of fastballs.
Richardson looks like he's got really good stuff.
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Just watching the replay of game one, why the hell did Cincy pitch to Bellinger with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1st base open in the 6th?
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Give us some recent examples of an intentional walk with no outs to load the bases.
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Give us some recent examples of an intentional walk with no outs to load the bases.
A couple years ago Joe walked Harper every time up.
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You can IBB him. You can pitch around him, hoping he'll chase. You can't let the Cubs' best hitter by a mile beat you late on a strike right down the middle early in the count. Not with first base open in a tie game.
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Hayden just hit 99 on the gun!
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Very nice inning for him after the long first AB.
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You can IBB him. You can pitch around him, hoping he'll chase. You can't let the Cubs' best hitter by a mile beat you late on a strike right down the middle early in the count. Not with first base open in a tie game.
The key is no outs. Rare to intentionally walk a batter with no outs. It’s not “late.” It’s 0 outs in sixth. Put a runner on 1B and he has 42% chance of scoring. That’s why it’s rare with 0 outs. It’s certainly not a “why the hell” did they pitch to him situation.
Making good pitches to Bellinger is a different matter. Yeah, you should make good pitches to Bellinger.
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Leiter is in for the eighth. Great long outing for Wesneski; we should be doing this more often, particularly if we're going to have more bullpen games.
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One of these days I fully expect Wesneski to bust out a Connor MacGregor strut after a big strikeout.
He brings a lot of swag to the bump, and I’m fully vested.
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Nick Martini, who played for us for a bit in 2021, homers to tie the game against Alzolay.
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The Reds push home another run with two outs and win the game. A disappointing finish.
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Crappy loss.
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We blew numerous opportunities to coast home in this one.
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Ouch. Leadoff double in the 9th, Candelario K'd pretty helplessly.
Real opportunity was the first. Starter struggling, had walked three guys with only a kinda bad Happ K for the only out. Swanson couldn't hit the ball, but still got to 3-2 count. Took a fastball cookie almost right down the middle. Swanson guessing spin on full count, understandable; but you'd think a guy would have some kinda contingency plan in case a guy does throw a fastball as proved true? That was really the opportunity situation to get a sac or put the ball in play or just foul it off and force the guy to throw another strike. But Swanson just committed to the bad guess, and took the cookie. Then Suzuki just got blown away by fastball velocity. Chance to get a lead there wasted.
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I would credit Ross with a nice game plan. First game, used only Merryweather, and got through Palencia and Keegan covering 3 innings. Using Palencia when it was still tie game? Or was it 3-1 already then?
Then I liked the Cuas opener in front of Smyly, who didn't get bombed. Then he wasted no time but yanked Smyly quickly after a a 2-out walk, nice move. I'd feared he'd try to ride Smyly too long, but getting him out before he caused much trouble was smart. Then he stuck with Wesneski for 3.1 innings, could have pulled him earlier but didn't, that was also a nice move. Got to the 8th inning and got to his use-when-winning leverage guys, nicely done.
That Alzolay didn't get it done doesn't mean Ross's handling of the two games wasn't really quite nicely done.
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Handling of the game was fine, but still a really terrible loss. You have to worry about Alzolay going so far past anything he's done innings-wise in his career.
Shame to waste a great job by the bullpen, especially Wesneski. He was just nasty out there - what a tease.
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Alzolay has been hit pretty hard his past few outings…several of his outs have been loud outs…
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Handling of the game was fine, but still a really terrible loss. You have to worry about Alzolay going so far past anything he's done innings-wise in his career.
Shame to waste a great job by the bullpen, especially Wesneski. He was just nasty out there - what a tease.
Wesneski is so mercurial, would really be fascinating to know how the front office evaluates him behind closed doors.
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We have to win tonight in order to split, since Taillon is pitching tomorrow.
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Alzolay has been hit pretty hard his past few outings…several of his outs have been loud outs…
I haven't seen lots of the games, but that seems true to those I have.
Leiter has been scarier to me. Seems to give up both hard contact, and gets behind with extreme chase pitches that aren't close enough to tempt, oftentimes. I get it, throwing chase pitches is his game. *IF* guys could recognize and not chase, I'm not sure I've ever seen him throw three strikes to any batter. If they didn't chase, he'd probably walk every hitter he faced.
Yesterday's loss was a killer and the Martini pitch was terrible. But lots of hitters take terrible pitches (Swanson in the first inning), or don't do much with bad pitches when they do swing. Nick Marcini is 33 years old and had 5 big-league HRs in his whole career entering that AB. I think being kind of aggressive and trying to throw a strike was probably a good concept, even though the outcome ended up terrible.
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I agree that Alzolay has been hit lately, line drives, long shots that stayed up long enough to be caught, and he was due to blow a save. Key will be how he comes back from a bad outing.
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The magic that Candelario brought with him the first few games is notably absent lately.
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We need some base hits. Why are a bunch of our guys trying to hit 5 run homers?
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On cue.
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Jeimer!
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Assad is through eight shutout innings at 98 pitches. I say let him finish it and give the bullpen the night off.
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Two men on with one out; let's get a bunch of runs and let Assad coast through the ninth.
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I'd be very tempted to let Assad try and finish this but I think it'll be Leiter.
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Cubs don't score in the ninth. Leiter is coming in again. Let's see if we can hold the one-run lead this time.
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Leadoff double and then pinch runner Bader steals third.
Not good.
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I'm fine w firing Ross
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This is a 100% manager loss. Why would you pull Assad? Stupid. Blatantly stupid.
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It was pretty much a when, not if, the bullpen really blew up. Unfortunately the timing was always going to suck.
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Bullpen loss, yes, but the offense is in a funk. Morel is barely in triple digits the last month and Tauchnan has been pretty bad. Why not give Canario a couple of starts to see what he can do?
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Firing Ross is a little extreme. The hitters have stopped looking to make contact in certain situations. Swanson is killing us lately. I wish Ross would ignore pitch counts, third time through the lineup and staying with the hot hand. Yes, you need to rest people and stuff, but the big objective is to win. I hope we don't reflect on these last two games if we miss the playoffs.
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How long do you stick with a DH who's hitting .130? Five weeks? Six?
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So apparently Ross pulled Assas and went to Leiter in the 9th knowing Leiter was "running on fumes" and didn't have his best pitch.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1698149336956522901
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No Canario again today. So what, exactly, was the point of calling him up? It would literally be almost impossible for him to be worse than Morel has been for the past six weeks. What do you have to lose? If he’s not going to start with a doubleheader and then two straight lefty starters, when would be?
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Those Ross postgame comments are just aggravating.
We have pitchers that aren’t gassed. Use them.
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Deeg, Ross is stuck in a zone between "gotta get Morel going " and "can't gamble on a rookie at this point. "
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Taillon sucks. If we get to the playoffs, he can't be trusted. He is NOT a big game pitcher.
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Taillon sucks. If we get to the playoffs, he can't be trusted. He is NOT a big game pitcher.
Just wanting to repeat myself.
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Terrible base running by Tauchman. Why take any chance of getting thrown out at third on that sac fly?
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You have to play good baseball to beat a good team. Bad base running, failing to get runners home when you have chances, and failing to hold leads when you get them. Not a formula for winning.
The Cubs are pretty resilient and they will need to be to get back on track.
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This is a 100% manager loss. Why would you pull Assad? Stupid. Blatantly stupid.
All season in majors in 2023, there have been only three pitchers winning 1-0 CGs.
Stroman did it earlier this season. Alcantara and Logan Webb are the other two. Alcantara has led league in CGs three times.
Highest pitch count in these three 1-0 CGs was 105 pitches.
Assad finished 8 innings with 98 pitches. So, likely would have taken 110+ pitches, which would be highest pitch count all season in majors in a 1-0 CG win. A lot to ask for a rookie.
Can make an argument to give him a shot to pitch a CG shutout but very reasonable decision to go to bullpen, at least if you look around at SP usage in the majors these days. It’s not 1965 anymore.
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Good thing we saved the rested pitcher for today to protect that 8 run lead in the 9th…
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Good thing we saved the rested pitcher for today to protect that 8 run lead in the 9th…
You would have used Shane Greene to close out the 1-0 game yesterday? Interesting.
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Going back to last night:
1. Assad hasn't thrown 100 pitches in a game in his life. Never with the Cubs, never in the minor.
2. Reds had an inning opening with 2 lefties, and Leiter has been the cubs lefty-specialist all season. Even after yesterday's debacle, he's still got 0.94 WHIP vs lefties, and .164 BA.
In retrospect, of course it didn't work. But going to your lefty specialist on an inning opening with two lefties, I see the logic of going with a lefty specialist who's done well against lefties.
"running on fumes": Leiter had pitched only 3.2 innings in the previous 11 days. And he'd gotten Thursday off. So I'm not sure it seems that firable to use a lefty specialist back-to-back after an off day.
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Cubs won today. I just saw parts of the end. Very nice to rally and win. Getting 15 runs and an 8-run win, is a reminder of why run-differential to me seems a bit overrated.
But the Cubs were losing after the 2nd-6th innings, and with our lack of scoring and late-game losses of late, this was hardly a safe win as the game progressed. Getting the run off Gibault was key.
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Kudos to Madrigal for a big bases loaded single.
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You would have used Shane Greene to close out the 1-0 game yesterday? Interesting.
Over a gassed Leiter? Yes.
It’s not like Greene is unaccustomed to the role.
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Wonder how merryweather is? Only 1 inning in last 4 days. Rested enough to pitch twice in giants series? Hope he’s ok.
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Palencia no walks, 4 outs and 1 ground ball single. I like that he’s been used and done ok in close games lately.
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Over a gassed Leiter? Yes.
It’s not like Greene is unaccustomed to the role.
As I said, that’s an interesting notion.
Since his closer days, Greene has been released/DFAed by three organizations (Braves, Dodgers, Yankees) in last two seasons.
Not a bad try for Cubs to sign him off the scrapheap and give him a look. But, to ask him to close out a 1-0 game in his first appearance back in big leagues?
Wow, that would be a gutsy and surprising move. Before start of that inning, not sure how many Cubs fans were saying: “bring in Shane Greene for the save.” I guess you were one of them.
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Wonder how merryweather is? Only 1 inning in last 4 days. Rested enough to pitch twice in giants series? Hope he’s ok.
Presumably Merryweather is on fumes too. He hasn’t been over 26 IP since 2017 (when he was a starter) an he’s on 61 now.
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deeg, I don't know how to think about reliever use. I'm not just trying to be argumentative, I'm sincerely trying to sort out how it works or how to think about it. How would you think about usage, and sufficient rest?
1. For example, have Alzolay/Merryweather/Leiter/Fulmer just all gotten overworked, and their arms are just un-fixably shot, and their arms will be dead until next spring?
2. Or, would a 10-day DL give sufficent rest?
3. Or would 2 days? 3 days? 4 days? What do you think would be enough rest?
4. I sincerely don't really know how "dead arm" works for relievers, and what it takes to resuscitate dead-arm for relievers!! So I'm interested in thoughts from you and others.
In the "running on fumes" metaphor, literally if I can run on fumes enough to get to a gas station, I then fill up and the car is refilled and good to go. Does a 2, or 3-, or 4-day rest refill? What does it take for a relieve to refill? I just don't know how it works. In both Adbert and Julian cases, each has now gotten two-days rest, and each has pitches only once since Wednesday. Over the last 10 days, Merryweather has pitched only 3 times, and Adbert 4, but one of those being a 1-batter game.
So, I'm not sure their short-term recent usage has been overwhelming, or their recent 10-day usage? Might they be considerd as fully recharged come tomorrow? Or, maybe they'd been chronically over-used for two months and it's going to take more than 2-days-rest or 4-days-with-1-usage to get them refreshed? I sincerely just don't know how to think about it.
Normally, I'd not think that 3-uses-per-10-days is excessive for Merryweather: most good relievers on good teams average more than that over the course of a season. But like you suggest, these guys have been worked heavily for 3 months now, so maybe it's just caught up to them and you can't undo the damage, I don't know.
A stretch here with 14 games in 13 days, that's rough. 10 more days before an off day. Would like to see the offense score some runs in bunches, so that like today you can win without using your use-when-winning guys.
Would sure like to see Palencia and Cuas succeed in some winning games. Wesneski, Keegan, and Greene. Perhaps Fulmer too.
But at this point, I kinda understand Ross trying to piece it together one day at a time, win one day if the offense gives you a lead, and let tomorrow take care of itself.
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Craig, this is a dopey oversimplification, but I think the answer to your questions depends on the individual. Each case is different.
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To get a fix on reliever “overuse” it may help to look at context.
The context is that lots of relievers around baseball have been used similarly—when they’re having a good season.
Merryweather is #24 in majors in appearances and #23 in relief innings. Leiter is #34 in relief innings and #11 in appearances. Fulmer is #47 and #65. Alzolay has been worked similarly to other top closers.
Lots of the most worked guys don’t have a long track record either. That’s the nature of bullpen guys these days. Think about how many relievers you’ve never heard until they play the Cubs and then you see their stats….and Wow.
Yes, guys without a track record of usage like this are a question mark. But, a question mark is not the same as breakdown-waiting-to-happen. It’s just an unknown, of which there a lot of unknowns in baseball. That’s part of the fun. Live with it.
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Just so there’s no confusion…
If I’m managing, and my 9th inning, 1-0 lead options are a gassed setup man or any other reliever who isn’t gassed, I’m picking the best of the non-gassed options.
That’s baseball.
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Those Ross postgame comments are just aggravating…
Part of the manager’s job is to cover for a player who just had a bad performance game. We all know that.
I think that’s what Ross probably was doing. I would not take his comments totally at face value. The guy stinks that day and so post-game he was “gassed.” But, I would be shocked if Hottovy and/or Ross and coaching staff didn’t discuss his availability with Leiter before/during the game. Before the game, he was available.
Just didn’t work out, kind of like what happened today with use of Reds closer Diaz. Entered with game still tied and Cubs went on to score seven runs that inning. Don’t know what Bell said post-game but probably made some kind of mitigating comments about Diaz.
With Alzolay, Merryweather, Wesneski, Smyly all unavailable (and of course Fulmer too), not too many practical options aside from Leiter. Cuas relieved him, so plain that Cuas was the other option. Really doubt that Greene was much of a consideration yesterday.
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I agree with both of you guys, Dave23 and reb. *IF* you *know* he's "gassed", then use somebody else no matter what. Cuas, Palencia, Greene, I don't care. Or just leave Assad in for one more. Don't intentionally put a guy out there who you know is gassed.
But I agree that "gassed" is an easy excuse, after the fact, for a guy who made a couple of bad pitches. Being gassed may have actually had nothing to do with it?
Or, retrospect knows things that you don't know before? Neither Leiter nor Hottovy may have been aware that Leiter was gassed, prior to actually going out there? Leiter may have thought his arm felt fine and he was ready? But then once in the moment, maybe the life in his arm wasn't as normal? In retrospect, maybe he really was gassed; but who knew going in?
Last, I wonder if guys maybe often pitch while variably gassed? By September, can you cover all the innings without using some tired arms? Beats me.
Was Assad pitching gassed by the 8th inning, but he still got a 1-2-3? Has Steele been kinda gassed for his last six starts? Beats me.
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Of the choices, I am one of those who would have left Assad in. Why? So he could get a complete game? No. So he could get a shut-out? No. Because he deserved a result for his day. Yes. But if all those guys in the pen were gassed, he had the incentive, the adrenalin to finish it. He had survived several tough innings through sheer grit. It was HIS game. Down through baseball history, not so much recently, pitchers pitched a complete game. It was not that unusual. When managers saw that their guy had the bit in his teeth and was in rhythm, they left him alone. Now, with no third time through the line-up thinking, one inning relievers, and crap, we've lost sight of the fact that maybe our starter is better than anything in the pen. JMO
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As I said before, think there’s an argument for bringing out Assad for the ninth in these circumstances.
But, it would be unusual to do that in the modern game—with the pitch count what it was to complete the game, a rookie. The few guys (three all season) completing a 1-0 game in MLB this season were veterans. If it was Stroman, pretty sure Ross leaves him in—as he did earlier this season. Hendricks. Taking Assad out is not grounds for firing Ross, as someone said here.
Think avoiding a bad loss for Assad—if he pitches the 9th and game gets away from him—might have been at least a small factor for Ross. But, decision is mostly based on what move most likely wins game for the club. Don’t think Ross brings in a guy who he knows is truly “gassed.” If that was the case, Leiter would have joined Assad and Merryweather in “unavailable” status. After-the-fact, yeah, we know more about something after it happens.
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After 4.5 Cubs up 1-0 on Suzuki HR. Webb looks REALLY good, his stuff/movement/command combination is really impressive. The Cubs only have the one hit. Cubs are going to have a hard time scoring anything else off of him, the way he looks thus far. He's only at 49 pitches, so he ought to be able to handle a bunch more innings.
Steele is also looking very sharp. He's at 67 pitches, so he might stretch to 7 innings?
Heh heh, looks kinda like the shape of the two Cinci losses, small lead but looks doubtful to build it. Winning a 1-0 game could be fun for a change? But yeah, 5-0 would be more fun....
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What a performance by Steele. And Seiya had a great game.
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But yeah, 5-0 would be more fun....
Spooky!
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Steele, what a game! Suzuki a great game, HR was the game for most of it, then drilled in the 2nd run and scored the 3rd. Gomes also had two hard-hit balls and then clutch 3rd-run RBI.
Attempted Steele by Bellinger was super important. Swanson didn't let him steal it, but I thought that was a really appropriate spot to try to steal a base and get a 2nd run. Swanson hit a super-easy DP ball, if Bellinger hadn't been going that would have been two outs. Really changed a lot.
Cuas with a nice 1-2-3 inning. He throws a lot of not-very-tempting pitches for sure, but nice helpful 1-2-3 inning.
Merriweather was warming up with 3-0 lead. So he must not be too-gassed for Ross to consider using him. Interesting that with a 3-0 lead, that it was Merryweather, not Alzolay warming.
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Official time of game:
1:59
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There was interesting play in the 8th, 2 outs, runners 2nd and 3rd.
Suzuki hit a softish grounder to 3rd, Swanson ran from 2nd towards 3rd, 3B caught it, Swanson reversed, and 3B chased him back and tagged him towards 2nd. But because it was a tagout, the runner from 3rd counted as the run. I wonder if the 3B had time to throw out Suzuki, or if it was too soft to make the throw to 1st?
I may have been wrong, but I thought it was a mistake: that a throw could have been made to first such that the run wouldn't count?
Didn't matter, of course, because 5th run didn't matter in a shutout.
And maybe Swanson just got lucky and had no brilliant idea that this might happen. But I think that may have been a smart thing by Swanson?
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If you have any chance to get Suzuki, you throw to first in that spot (anything to potentially keep another run from scoring). Perhaps he just had no play on Seiya.
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Agree. I thought he probably did have a play, and it was a mistake by Schmidt. But Swanson getting 5 feet from him and looking like an easy sure out was a good distraction.
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Yup. Heads up play by Dansby there.
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What Steele is able to do as a two-pitch guy without an overpowering fastball is pretty amazing.
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Trailing 3-0, the Cubs have a rally going. Nico leads it off with a hit and scores on a Swanson hit, and now with the bases loaded, Candelario walks to bring Bellinger in.
And now a double from Yan Gomes to score two more! Cubs lead, 4-3!
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Morel pops up to end the inning, but the Cubs have the lead.
Hendricks has given up single runs in each of the first three innings, so let's hope he can settle down.
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Wisdom pinch hit and the comment was that Ross wanted him to get some ab's, but then the next about, he hits for Wisdom. Huh?
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SF has tied it on a pair of doubles from Flores and Joc, and Hendricks is being lifted for Wesneski. Would have liked to see the Professor get the win today.
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Wesneski allows a homer and the Cubs now trail 6-4.
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SEIYA! Huge two-run homer to tie the game, and now hits from Candelario and Gomes to put runners on first and third with one out.
Madrigal up with a chance to be the hero.
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Jeimer scores on a fielder's choice to give the Cubs the lead!
And now Morel hits a three-run homer! 10-6; what a game!
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Leiter is in for Smyly; Ross doesn't want to let this game get away. And he promptly gives up a pair of hits and a run, and is replaced by Cuas.
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Leiter has really been struggling.
Very nice to outscore a rough pitching night.
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What a great win, and it sure is fun being one of those teams who just doesn't give up when they're behind, causing the other scoreboard-watching teams to get depressed when they see us coming back yet again. Let's have some more games like this one... but with less strain on the bullpen. Give Greene some more innings.
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Wicks with 0K-0BB line through 5 at only 64 pitches.
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Cubs up 7-0.
Now a danger that Ross will get Canario into a game.
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Wicks - Palencia - Luke Little (in his very successful debut)!!!
Homegrown arms for all 9 innings in the win today (and pull within 1.5 as Brewers lost) = a BIG deal for Cubs!
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I hope Ross is just resting Albert after that loss to the Reds, and that he's not hurt.
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Any scouting observations on Luke Little in his debut?
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Any scouting observations on Luke Little in his debut?
Big boy throw hard
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Any scouting observations on Luke Little in his debut?
Little threw three sweeper/sliders and got swing-and-misses on all three.
11 4-seamers and no swing-and-misses.
Get ahead in the count on heat and get hitters to chase the sweeper. That will be the scouting report and teams will be aware of that and Little will have to adjust and vary the routine some.
Throwing good strikes always a good idea in any case.
Palencia and Little are an interesting tandem.
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"Mongo straight."
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Well, that sucked.
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Gallen was electric today. Glad the Cardinals traded him away…
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That was a clinic on fastball command. As good as it gets.
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Gallen was electric today. Glad the Cardinals traded him away…
I suppose you think that the Cardinals would be a better team today of they had Gallen and Sandy Alcantara in their rotation. Idiot.
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Interesting that Ross pulled Taillon, who was not only near-flawless but on 77 pitches, after 6 innings. I get the impulse - pitcher's been struggling, get him out while things are looking good (a case I've made occasionally in the past). The counter-argument is that if he gets another inning out of him he never has to use Cuas.
What makes this even more interesting is that Ross said he did it because JT was "done", and JT says he felt great and wanted to stay in.
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Interesting that Ross pulled Taillon, who was not only near-flawless but on 77 pitches, after 6 innings. I get the impulse - pitcher's been struggling, get him out while things are looking good (a case I've made occasionally in the past). The counter-argument is that if he gets another inning out of him he never has to use Cuas.
What makes this even more interesting is that Ross said he did it because JT was "done", and JT says he felt great and wanted to stay in.
I could have lived with either decision...to leave him in or go with relievers. Problem today was offense. The guy is snakebit. He finally throws an outstanding game, and they don't get him any runs. That's baseball!
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I could have lived with either decision...to leave him in or go with relievers. Problem today was offense. The guy is snakebit. He finally throws an outstanding game, and they don't get him any runs. That's baseball!
I kind of disagree about the snakebit part. I mean, he's 7-9 and the ERA was 5.51 coming into today. Seems to me he's lucky it wasn't worse.
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Ross himself said to the beat writers this week that they/us shouldn’t always take what Ross says to them at face value.
Think Sharma probably has it right: Ross wanted Taillon “to go out on a high note.” Psychology of Managing.
Think maybe Ross has a bit too much confidence in Cuas.
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If Suzuki had one more inch on his glove, Cuas would have been out of the inning.
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That was hit off Leiter. Cuas was removed after three batters, two of which reached..
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If Suzuki had one more inch on his glove, Cuas would have been out of the inning.
That was hit off Leiter. Cuas was removed after three batters, two of which reached..
Let me rephrase: If Suzuki had one more inch on his glove, Cuas would not have factored in the loss. But I think you knew what I meant.
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Watching the replay, didn't look like the greatest range by Suzuki. Using Leiter in a close game seems scary these days..
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Watching the replay, didn't look like the greatest range by Suzuki…
So much sliding on defense instead of diving on defense these days. Think maybe Suzuki better chance to catch that ball with a dive, but did more of a slide for the No-Catch.
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From what I have seen today, the Cub hitters have been absolutely terrible at taking advantage when ahead in the count. Over and over again in that situation they are swinging at offspeed pitches out of the zone and losing their advantage. Really bad hitting.
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Did anyone else see the AZ RF hit his head against the rightfield line bricks?
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Well, this continues to suck.
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Hopefully, it's just part of the ebb and flow of baseball. At least things are working on the run prevention side!
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I know it'll never happen, but a shame Ross is too old-school to give Canario a shot. Tauchman and Madrigal are really nothing special offensively.
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Both are good enough to not hurt the team. Seems to be enough for Ross right now.
Too bad.
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Both are good enough to not hurt the team. Seems to be enough for Ross right now.
Too bad.
Not producing hurts the team.
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Both produce. Neither produces as much as Canario MIGHT produce.
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Zavala on his way to DFA land
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What a fine play by Ian Happ!
https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/kyle-hendricks-in-play-out-s-to-geraldo-perdomo-fzbicg
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Somehow, Kyle Hendricks continues to be a big-game pitcher.
Yesterday was a game the Cubs REALLY needed to win (for numerous reasons)!
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Kris Bryant activated from IL today for the Rockies and batting clean-up/starting at 1B against Cubs tonight.
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Rockies with nothing to play for. Hopefully, that works in our favor.
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He’s here!
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Will be very interesting to see if PCA gets any actual starts. If nothing else he’ll see the field as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement.
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Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
Pete Crow-Armstrong will “get some starts mixed in,” Ross says.
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Blackmon made a great diving catch to save a run in the 3rd. To my amateur eye, looked like a harder play than the one Suzuki didn't make on Friday that lost that game. Blackmon dived glove first, rather than the feet-first slide approach.
In the forth, Suzuki his a ball solid for an out, Swanson got on, Happ and Gomes both hit balls to the wall for outs. No breaks thus far.
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Morel hits one over the wall. 2-1 Cubs in 5th.
Really a pitch-to-contact game. Mid 5th, between two pitchers 1BB and 1K. (Both Wicks; Freeland 0/0)
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Cubs get runners on 1st-and-3rd nobody out, after no K's all game, Freeland gets Swanson to chase on a couple of bad balls, the K pitch bounced around the plate. Happ chases a full count for Freeland's second K, although Suzuki advanced to 2nd on a 2-2 wild pitch. Gomes gets a weak single to score Bellinger, but Suzuki gets thrown out at the plate on a really close call.
A kinda poor slide by Suzuki, I thought? The throw was 3 feet high. If he's slid with his leg stuck out, he'd have easily slid under the tag. But instead he had his leg folder under his body, and he had his arm ~2-3 feet high that made the tag really easy. A traditional foot-first slide, or a low head-first slide, either would have gone under the tag. Suzuki also made it close with a weird dumb start: There are two outs, so when Gomes hits it, Suzuki froze and maybe took a half step back towards 2nd, as if he maybe thought there was only one out and he didn't want to get doubled. If he's been running on contact, he'd have beat the throw. Kinda double-fail baserunning on that play by Seiya.
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Wicks at 97 pitches through 6. I assume that's the longest outing of his pro career? With three innings to cover, I admit some fear that Leiter will get used and cause trouble. Will be interesting how Ross does it with Adbert out. Merryweather has pitched 3 straight days, so he should really be off-limits for tonight.
Fulmer? Boxberger?
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I know he’s not striking a ton of guys out so far, but you have to be impressed with how Wicks has come up and locked down every single one of his starts so far. Really impressive stretch of games from him to start his major league career.
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PCA debuts. Pinch-running for Tauchman, after Tauchman gets pinch single leading off 7th.
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Ran on pitch two, got a good jump, Madrigal grounds to SS.
Wastes no time, gets gunned trying to steal 3rd.
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Cuas’ed…
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At 102.7mph, the throw that got Seiya earlier was the hardest thrown OF assist this year.
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2 on, nobody out, PCA on deck, welcome to the bigs, kid.
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Yan Gomes has really made me a fan of his this year.
I never would have dreamed I would have said that.
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Cuas should only be used in garbage innings bc he’s absolutely unreliable.
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Smyly to close? Good luck.
How crazy is it that Julian Merryweather is Chicago’s best reliever?
Er. Now Fulmer? Gosh….this bullpen is not awe inspiring.
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First MLB PA for Pete Crow-Armstrong: sacrifice bunt. Either Ross or PCA made a really, really stupid decision there.
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PCA bunt didn't work, because Morel's rocket was right at 2B. And I'd have liked to see him swing. But given his speed, wouldn't have take the bunt to be much better to be a hit. Don't see bunting with a good chance for a hit being that dumb.
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Soooo Smyly was pitching well. You pull him because? I have no trust in Smyly but it’s not like Fulmer is Adbert.
Chicago is going to lose.
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It’s tough for a LHH to bunt an inside pitch down the 3B line. I wish he had dragged it with him down the 1B line.
Of course, I wish he had ambushed that flat fastball he took down the middle for strike one, but…
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Castro with an awful AB. Bailed Fulmer out.
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I guess that’s why Colorado is where they are at. Few strikes thrown by Fulmer and Colorado helps him out.
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Wow. Fulmer walks first batter on 4 pitches, hits the next batter, then strikes out the next two.
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Wow. What a crazy win. Fulmer survives off some bad chase. Did he throw two actual strikes that inning? Lucky lucky lucky.
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Swanson stealing 3B, that was so awesome. And obviously that won the game, pulling Happ as winning run along behind him to 2nd. But man, he had that stolen by a mile. Kind of a cool recognition and decision. Obviously had he gotten thrown out or picked off, everybody would be faulting him. But that was so smart and such a cool decision. Very fun.
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That’s a lot of pitches for Wicks, considering how much they limited him in the minors.
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Morel hits one over the wall. 2-1 Cubs in 5th.
That was 466’ according to Statcast, though those are Colorado feet.
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I think Reb said the other day that Ross was trusting Cuas too much. I tend to agree. The guy looked phenomenal for his first two hitters and then splatt. Frustrating.
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That’s a lot of pitches for Wicks, considering how much they limited him in the minors.
Both the number and the reduced rest. Certainly the highest pitch-count as a pro. But also the reduced rest. He was usually on a 6- or sometimes 7-day cycle in minors. Shrinking that to 5-day cycle, plus extra pitches, kind of aggressive. Hope he doesn't end up hurt.
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Presumably, Ross now moves Cuas down in the pecking order.
His success before today as a Cub (1.17 ERA) was a chunk of good luck on BABIP (.200 as a Cub before today) and zero homers (to his credit).
But, more walks than Ks, not to mention 3 HBPs. The guy really has no command on way too high a % of pitches.
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I think Reb said the other day that Ross was trusting Cuas too much. I tend to agree. The guy looked phenomenal for his first two hitters and then splatt. Frustrating.
Unfortunately not sure who he's supposed to trust, with Alzolay and Merryweather out, and Leiter being bad lately.
*Smyly, Cuas, Boxberger, Fulmer, Palencia, Luke Little, Wesneski, it's kinda take-your-chances time!
Weird thing was Cuas kept getting to two strikes on guys, but his chase pitches weren't close enough to tempt.
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I know PCA got gunned stealing 3rd. And I know he hasn't been really all that especially good of a minor-league base-stealer, he's 75% in minors, a little higher at 78% this year. But it's not like either his volume or his efficiency is amazing or automatic.
I don't know what the SABER numbers are, but I still kinda love the steal-3rd-with-1-out effort. When it works, a fast guy on 3rd, I like the odds of getting him in from there, between hit, groundout, flyout, and wild pitch. All of those non-hit avenues are enhanced by speed at 3rd.
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Tuesday’s scheduled Rockies SP Chris Flexen has given up 12 homers as a Rockie in 38.2 IP.
Would be a good time to see PCA in the starting lineup.
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I'm guessing that PCA starts tomorrow.
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I'm guessing that PCA starts tomorrow.
I hope so. Against a bad pitcher at Coors is a good place to break him in.
The concern I have is, who is Ross going to sit for him? He loves Tauchman, he’s a real security blanket. Maybe use Tauchman or Bellinger as a DH, but that means sitting Morel after he hit a HR today.
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I'm guessing that PCA starts tomorrow.
If he's in the lineup (that's a big IF considering how Canario's time in MLB went), I hope he's learned that sacrifice bunting is stupid.
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I know PCA got gunned stealing 3rd. And I know he hasn't been really all that especially good of a minor-league base-stealer, he's 75% in minors, a little higher at 78% this year….
There are some really excellent defensive 3B in the NL. Ryan McMahon is one of them. Thought he made two excellent plays on PCA. The failed SB attempt was a great play by McMahon to get in position to make the tag and then a textbook tag itself. Ton of athleticism all around. Then on the PCA bunt, McMahon was not set up on the grass and made the play and throw to 1B look super easy when really was not an easy play. PCA has a bunt hit on that if bunted closer to the line. Guess he was trying to keep it fair.
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Agree, reb. That was a great and very difficult play on the steal, and also a perfect throw. The odds of getting him on that play depended on both C and 3B making really excellent plays. Also agree that McMahon made a very good play on the bunt.
Ironic that Rockies made some really good plays that limited Cubs scoring, the diving catch by Blackmon was really good and was very impactful. The throw to nail Suzuki.
Yet in the end, dropping Swanson fly ball is what cost them the game.
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Yan Gomes has really made me a fan of his this year.
I never would have dreamed I would have said that.
Gomes has had a really good, and in some respects, underappreciated career.
Gomes has 19 career bWAR which is more than Matt Wieters, Jonathan Lucroy, Earl Battey, Jody Davis, Steve Yeager, Ernie Whitt, guys like that. And, of course, he’s still playing and accumulating numbers.
Gomes has always hit lefties (.483 career slugging %) and this year he’s been making contact and having good ABs all around. Hitting .275 while NL is hitting .250 as a league.
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If he's in the lineup (that's a big IF considering how Canario's time in MLB went), I hope he's learned that sacrifice bunting is stupid.
He said in the post game interview that Ross called the sacrifice.
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PCA starting in CF tonight and batting #8.
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LMAO…OK, so Bellinger is a 1Bman now…
That was a catch!
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I mean - wow. PCA is electric. That should have been a double & he nonchalantly made that play. Yikes.
Also, Palencia is so disappointing.
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We're way too sloppy on the bases.
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That glove in CF is pretty special, no doubt about it.
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Those were two great catches. Shame to waste them on such a crummy loss.
Opportunity wasted to gain some ground, with other teams losing.
Hope Assad is OK. Control can come and go, obviously. But he's been racking up a lot of innings and pitches. Hope his arm isn't dead, and hope he's OK both short-term and long-term.
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PCA in starting lineup again this afternoon—against a lefty.
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The Cubs and Ross in particular have consistently said they prioritize defense. Having PCA in CF (and Bellinger at 1B) is certainly consistent with that approach.
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The Cubs and Ross in particular have consistently said they prioritize defense. Having PCA in CF (and Bellinger at 1B) is certainly consistent with that approach.
I wonder if this will hold true after Cubs leave Colorado. PCA there is a big, big plus. Guessing he’ll have to hit right away to get consecutive starts elsewhere.
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Why the hell are we bunting in Coors Field?
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When Taillon falls apart it's quick. It actually started in the 4th.
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Just looking at box score, looks like the Cubs had lots of chances early to break things out? But they left some runners on; Hoerner picked up the slack from PCA and got thrown out stealing; PCA was asked to bunt and failed, in front of a hit that would have scored a run had his bunt worked? I checked box a little earlier, 3-0, Cubs outhitting them 8-1, I thought that looked kinda promising. Now I come back and Cubs are losing 5-3.
Sounds kinda like same script as yesterday, get ahead early, waste chances, then get blasted?
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Just saw PCA's scoop K. Guessing that upper-half heat might eat him up? Looks like he's got an upper-cut launch-angle-geared swing, might be kinda out-classed by big-league pitchers who can locate fastballs above hip-level.
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Yup, you got most of it.
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From Sutcliffe's comments, he and Steele and Hotovey have tried to help Wesnewski with his pitch selection this year and when Hotovy goes to the mound, Wesneski usually responds with a good pitch, but normally he pitches opposite of what he has been told would be most effective, so, not trying to be cruel, but is the boy just not that bright?
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Ross stacking his HR-factory guys today. Taillon did his HR thing; Smyly; and Hayden.
Hayden's at 19HR/83 innings. Rate-wise, he's actually out-homering both Smyly and Taillon, which is no easy thing. He can look good at times, but being so HR-vulnerable is not promising for his long-term potential.
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Interesting to pinch-hot for the guy with 2 grand slams (albeit at AAA) in the last week with the bases loaded, down 7-3.
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I thought that as well…
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Wisdom has had few at bats. But Ross put him in the lineup in Coors. I thought that was smart. Sure he's a K-machine, but it's Coors. So we pinch hit for him with a guy who couldn't clear the fence from 2nd base with a fungo bat.
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Cubs are making a lot of bad pitchers look good lately.
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Thru 6 innings, Cubs haven’t moved a runner past 1B.
In 5th inning, with a runner on 1B, Gomes saw 7 pitches—at least six out of the zone and struck out.
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If Stroman was brought back with the idea that he could actually contribute meaningfully in a 2022 Thompson sort of role, interesting that Ross would burn him in a lost game.
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Big game tonight. The Cubs need to once again shake off a stretch of poor games and get back to playing winning baseball.
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Cubs making yet another bad SP look like Cy Young.
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Not swinging finally making bad pitchers look bad.
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And Morel promptly bails out Frias swinging at a ball in the dirt, eventually grounding into a DP. Batting him third is genius.
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PCA looks kind of helpless at the plate. Seems to kinda get blown away by velocity, especially if it's above the knees. I wonder if getting blitzed in the majors might be helpful for him, he might need to make some adjustments, maybe? And perhaps he can if he's shown it's necessary?
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Bellinger and the Cubs just got screwed. I guess "that's baseball."
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Gonna be a painful couple of weeks.
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Gonna be a painful couple of weeks.
We'll see.
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Stroman and Smyly both pitching in relief today.
Morel has moved from DH to center field, putting the pitcher's spot back in the batting order, so if Smyly can keep the game going, either he'll bat, or the last man on the bench, Canario, will be pinch hitting and looking for his first-ever major league hit.
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Ghost runner Gomes scores on a double play to give the Cubs yet another 1-run lead, and we're going to the bottom of the 13th with Smyly staying in to hold it. If he can, it will be a well-deserved three-inning win in relief.
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Wesneski relieves Smyly with the tying run on third. If he can hold it, it will be a well-deserved save. And Smyly pitched great no matter how the game goes; most of his baserunners weren't real.
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With one strike to go, a single from Emmanuel Rivera deflecting off Wesneski ties the game again.
And Moreno follows with a hit, scoring Longoria and winning the game for the D-Backs. What a disappointing loss. This team needs to right the ship somehow, soon; despite how after the first half the Cubs had no business even being in this spit, it's feeling like an epic collapse.
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Kinda should have gotten a run when Morel was on 3rd with no outs, with you middle-of-order guys up. But Bellinger had the funky HBP-grounder to pitcher, and Swanson couldn't get it past the pitcher either. Thought Swanson maybe had a play on the line drive that bounced off Wesneski's shoulder? I think he maybe rushed a little and fumbled it? Tough play though, all in the moment. Suzuki's play on the game-winning hit also didn't seem that good. Seemed a little slow in getting the throw off. But yeah, he's obviously not in there for his defense. AZ made an error at one point too, but they made a LOT of really excellent plays. Very good-fielding team. seemed like there were a whole lot of eyelash plays, all of which went Arizona's way.
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……Thought Swanson maybe had a play on the line drive that bounced off Wesneski's shoulder? I think he maybe rushed a little and fumbled it? Tough play though, all in the moment….
A lot happened fast, but would have been useful if Boofg and JD broke this down a bit. Thought that maybe Swanson had a chance to catch this before hit the ground and, if not, then get the force at 1B. But, the narrative is how great Swanson is all the time. Love the guy but nobody’s perfect. A really bad game for Swanson tonight: 0-6, 3 Ks, error, and then the above play that maybe could or could not have ended game with a win.
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Why did Wisdom not run on that grounder to 1B that was ruled fair? If he'd just taken off they'd never have gotten a double play.
Also, Ross opted to give up his DH rather than put Canario in the outfield. WTF is up with that?
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With one strike to go, a single from Emmanuel Rivera deflecting off Wesneski ties the game again.
And Moreno follows with a hit, scoring Longoria and winning the game for the D-Backs. What a disappointing loss. This team needs to right the ship somehow, soon; despite how after the first half the Cubs had no business even being in this spit, it's feeling like an epic collapse.
Spoken by a man that wasn't alive in 1969.
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It's all going so wrong at the moment. Season in the balance.
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FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK
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Canario getting a start tonight at DH
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Ross must think the game will be rained out.
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And Morel in lineup at 3B.
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And Morel in lineup at 3B.
Probably because Madrigal to the IL
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Hoerner walks and Dansby hits a two-run homer to give the Cubs the lead.
Fans seem pretty pumped up, too. Somehow I had been expecting a depressed crowd.
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Bailey Falter seems to have been an opener for the Pirates; Quinn Priester is in for the second inning.
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Where has this Canario kid been the past few weeks?! We could have used him!
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Who wants to bet he doesn’t start tomorrow?
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Luke Little wraps it up and the Cubs win 14-1. What a game for Canario! The pitcher he hit the slam off was making his major league debut and now has a career ERA of 162.00. I'd feel bad... but we needed it more today.
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Who wants to bet he doesn’t start tomorrow?
“Gotta get Miles going”
Very happy for Canario. To be able to do that after not having played for weeks is pretty amazing.
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I know it's easy to say after a kid just popped a grand slam in his first start, but Canario is just really impressive at the plate. Obviously there are swing and miss issues to contend with, but the ball absolutely flies off his bat. Bat speed is phenomenal and on the home run he just took a nice, easy pass at it and lofted it halfway up the bleachers.
Don''t. Trade. Canario.
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Nice couple of hits for Canario. The double was a rocket. Yeah, the bat speed seems high-end.
Don't think I've ever seen a play like when he interfered on the pop out. Very weird!
Obviously it's always a narrow path for contact-challenged K/HR hackers. Canario might have power on scale with Patrick Wisdom, maybe even more than Wisdom or Morel. Hopefully he'll make contact and get more hits than Wisdom. Who knows at this point?
I kinda like that he isn't tall. Not so much strike zone to manage.
But yeah, keep him and hope you get a favorable outcome. Top-end teams don't get there without some uncertain guys turning out favorably.
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“Gotta get Miles going”
Yup.
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Pirates get six singles in a row off Steele to start the fourth, chasing him from the game and giving them a 4-1 lead. Cuas is coming in, much earlier than usual.
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Steele gives up six straight hits to open the 4th, ouch. He's done.
7-1 Pirates.
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Cubs are making a game of it -- Happ hits a grand slam to pull them to within two. And now a double from Bellinger, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Dansby Swanson. Still only one out in the fifth; five runs in.
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Leiter isn't gassed, but he gives up a quick 3 more. 11-6.
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Pittsburgh pushes a run home on a fielder's choice and then Connor Joe hits a two-run homer to make it 11-6. Looks like we're going to be needing another of those 5-run innings.
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We're chipping away at it instead of scoring big: Mastrobuoni doubles and scores on a single from Wisdom with two outs. Pete Crow-Armstrong is in to pinch run.
But Hoerner grounds to short to set up a force out and the inning is over. 11-7 after six innings.
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Dansby is kind of a rally killer. K's kinda ugly with Happ on 3rd 1 out. Morel hits a 2-out rocket, but shift was in perfect spot.
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Dansby strikes out to end the game; the Pirates ended up not needing those ninth-inning insurance runs.
Get 'em tomorrow.
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xBA was .220 on the leadoff single by Connor Joe that got past Mastrobuoni.
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Dansby ends another rally, this time first and third with two outs.
Pirates start the second with a leadoff hit. Hendricks has been pitching well lately; hopefully he can give us a solid outing and we can win.
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Swanson error contributes to a 2-unearned run inning.
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The Chicago Bears of MLB.
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At least Canario gave us one nice memory of September.
See ya on the milk carton, Alex…
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Hoerner and Happ are on base to start the fifth. Now would be a fine time to get back into the game.
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Hoerner and Happ are on base to start the fifth. Now would be a fine time to get back into the game.
Get serious.
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One-out rally in the eighth: Gomes walks, Mastrobuoni singles, Tauchman doubles to score Gomes.
Tying run at the plate.
And a wile pitch moves the runners up! Mastrobuoni scores! 5-3!
Now Nico grounds out. A run comes in, but there are two outs and nobody on base. Would have liked a hit there even if it didn't score a run.
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Ryan Borucki comes in in relief and gets Happ to fly out to end the inning. We'll need a ninth-inning rally or this will be yet another loss.
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With the Pirates adding three insurance runs in the ninth on a homer, Bellinger starts the bottom of the ninth with a double and Dansby finally does something: a two-run homer to cut the deficit to two. But now there's nobody on base and all the Pirates need to do is get three outs.
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Bednar gets the next three outs, including whiffs from Suzuki and Morel, and the Pirates win. Again.
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Dansby finally does something: a two-run homer to cut the deficit to two. B
Jeez, it seems like 2 for 5 with 3 RBI is not all that bad a night.
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If the Pirates hadn't gotten 3 in the top of the 9th, Dansby's homer would have been a walk off, right?
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If the Pirates hadn't gotten 3 in the top of the 9th, Dansby's homer would have been a walk off, right?
Would he have been facing the same pitcher?
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Don't know...I wasn't able to watch the last couple of innings...
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To be fair to Tuffy…Dansby’s error was pretty costly, and he did K at least once in a potentially big situation…
But yeah…much bigger problems than Dansby…
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Good Taillon today…
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Good Taillon today…
a rare and endangered species.
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Cubs win, Cubs win, Cubs win!
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PCA got his first MLB stolen base after having been picked off.
The dude has some Javy DNA.
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Nice to see that standing O for Bryant. Never forget what those guys did for us.
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I wish the Bryant career path had been different.
Yes, he’s currently not worth his contract. But, change the facts and just maybe things turn out differently.
Let’s suppose Bryant had a different agent when he signs out of college. So, the assumption that Bryant inevitably will test free agency never comes into play and, indeed, he signs a long-term deal with Cubs after a few seasons. Cubs and Bryant commit to keeping him at 3B as he worked hard to attain solid average defense at 3B. Maybe he’s able to avoid or minimize the injury bugaboo somewhat, who knows.
Seems a shame he isn’t the Cubs regular 3B. Sure, maybe he’s still way underperforming his contract and Cubs lucky didn’t give him a long-term deal. But, when put a guy in a better situation to thrive and without the Boras free agency hangover and without Bryant moving around to OF corners and 1B, who knows. 3B has been an ongoing issue for Cubs and maybe didn’t have to be that way. Maybe Bryant is on a HOF career path as a 3B, as a Cub.
Yeah, all this is an alternative universe. But, change a big fact or two and life may be very different.
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Let's just acknowledge that Bryant did not have to do what Boras wanted him to do. His decision to leave the Cubs for free agency was his own.
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Let's just acknowledge that Bryant did not have to do what Boras wanted him to do. His decision to leave the Cubs for free agency was his own.
Of course that is true. He’s an adult.
But, I referenced, for a reason, Bryant signing up with Boras out of college. When you do that, there’s a momentum built up regarding free agency years before actual free agency. That momentum certainly was there with Bryant from day one——and not just for Bryant——Cubs front office too.
Sure, Bryant could have changed course at any time thereafter. But momentum sometimes is hard to overcome, especially dealing with a great salesperson like Boras.
Boras got Bryant the contract that he always sought for him. So, chalk it up as a “success.” And perhaps Bryant doesn’t even give it a thought about being Cubs 3B right now and in the years ahead.
I just think that in baseball legacy terms, Bryant as a Cubs 3B long-term might have put him in a different historical place…and might have been fun for Cubs fans too. Or, maybe we’d just be lamenting a bad contract. Who knows what happens when change facts.
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Tauchman not having a good game defensively. In Stroman's 4-hit inning, one was a Bryant ball to the wall, Tauchman kinda quit early, I wonder if a taller longer-reach guy like Bellinger would have gone to the wall and caught it, or if a faster guy like PCA would have gotten it? Subsequent guy hit a shallow single that Tauchman gave up on pretty quickly, I wonder if a faster and more live-to-the-hilt PCA might have gotten to it, or at least tried? Both guys scored.
In the 6th, high fly that hung up for a long time between Tauchman and Happ, Tauchman let it fall in. I'd think somebody with wheels like PCA probably would have gone all out and with some speed should have snagged that one.
Hoerner's had a couple of not-good ones at 2B. In Stroman 3-run inning, one was a hard-hit grounder up the middle, Hoerner came up just short, didn't dive or anything. Thought he might have gotten it, or at least tried to dive and stop it, and keep runner from 1st from getting easy cruise to 3rd. He's also muffed two doubles. In Stroman's bad inning, guy got a hit to left, stretched for double, Happ's throw beat him quite a bit, but instead of tagging the sliding hand, Hoerner just went for the body tag, and the guy easily reached around the bad tag. Plus Hoerner fumbled it anyway. Again in the 6th, on ball Tauchman didn't catch, throw to 2nd had the guy beat, but Hoerner again mishandled the throw and didn't get the tag down.
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Tauchman not having a good game defensively….In the 6th, high fly that hung up for a long time between Tauchman and Happ, Tauchman let it fall in. I'd think somebody with wheels like PCA probably would have gone all out and with some speed should have snagged that one…..
xBA on this one was .170. That ball has to be caught.
Think that Tauchman shied away a bit as he approached Happ but that was CFers ball all the way. PCA probably makes this catch look almost routine. Ross has been subbing out Tachman for PCA defensively of late in conjunction with pinch baserunning.
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Nice win, what a great outing by Assad.
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Assad was fabulous today and the primary reason we got the W! He's just been terrific this season!
His pitch that froze Bryant worked back over the outside corner at 95! Hat's off to the Cubs' Pitch Lab and Assad's willingness to work!
PCA or Bellinger are a big improvement over Tauchman defensively and very glad Ross can sub in PCA now; however, Tauch has been a key contributor this season, too!
Nice double by Gomes and very glad Morel ran into another bomb to give us a 2-run lead. Those guys have helped a lot, too!
Hoerner had a very sub-par defensive game for him, but he got a couple hits to drive in two and Cubs would be out of it now without him!
All in all, there've been a LOT of important contributors this season, which is what it takes to even sniff the playoffs.
IF, somehow, we can get top-notch pitching next season - the key reason we won it all in 2016 - Cubs will do VERY well in 2024!
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Last September the Phillies came to town and the Cibs swept them. The Phillies looked done and hardly like a World Series team. They went on to sweep the Cardinals. And continue on a streak to the WS.
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Meghan Montemurro
@M_Montemurro
Swanson's 3rd error in the last week puts the Rockies' go-ahead run on 2B with one out in the 7th after dropping on pop up in shallow LF.
Four of his 11 errors this season have come in Sept. Uncharacteristic defensive play lately
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reb, I thought it interesting on the dropped pop that Happ didn't take it. Usually outfielders coming in take balls from infielders going out. But I think Swanson is usually so reliable and confident, everybody just lets him have those, kinda like CFer taking anything he can get.
Assad pitching out of that was really good. Sometimes fielder makes an error, pitcher does NOT pitch around it, and a loss gets all blamed on the mistake. Assad staying composed and rising to the occasion makes it easier to not have every reporter pressing Swanson about it.
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Why pull Cuas after a smooth, 10-pitch 8th?
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Similar question about Palencia and the 7th. Sure hope this works out, Ross. (Typed after a leadoff walk by Merryweather.)
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Make that back-to-back leadoff walks by Merryweather…
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Wow! After the two walks, the Rockies swing at 2 consecutive pitches (lineout, deep flyout), 2 down!
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3-2 K!!! Cubs win!
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Cubs lead 4-0 in the fourth; Steele on the mound. D-Backs are losing; Miami is in a delay. Let's gain some ground.
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A two-out hit from Bellinger brings Mastrobuoni in with the Cubs' fifth run. Keep piling on!
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Nice to see Steele seemingly righting the ship. No one could blame him if he was simply done - he’s blown past his innings highs this season.
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Mastrobuoni scores again, this time on a Happ hit; it's 6-0. Cubs have 11 hits to the Braves' 3. Braves are in the pen already; Steele still going.
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Atlanta scores two in the sixth and is threatening to get more with only one out. Cuas coming in to relieve Steele. We've been relying on Cuas an awful lot since we got him.
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An Ozuna double brings in another run, but Cuas gets a pop-up and strikeout to escape further damage. 6-3 after 6.
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Every-day Cuas does nice job to get out of the 6th. 6-3.
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Pierce Johnson! Ex-Cub farmboy, and now he's 32 years old. Wow, the time she flies.
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Assad in for the seventh. I wonder how long Ross plans to use him.
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Two-run homer for Acuña, making up for his misplay earlier on Suzuki's hit; it's 6-5.
Gomes, Mastrobuoni, and Crow-Armstrong, who is still looking for his first ML hit, to bat next inning. Now would be a great time for PCA to get that milestone.
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That Braves offense and our bullpen is a very scary combination.
I think Smyly might be the best option down there, ridiculous as that sounds. He’s been on better form than anyone else.
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Yan singles and Brad Hand is coming in to replace Pierce Johnson. Let's get some insurance runs.
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Would love to see PCA bunt for a hit. He’s faster than the wind and obviously struggling with big-league pitching.
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Wow, you pinch-hit PCA’s glove out of the game in the 8th with a one-run lead?
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Arizona has come roaring back in their game with the White Sox; we can't let this one get away.
Mastro reaches base on a fielder's choice and steals second, but Wisdom, pinch hitting for PCA, strikes out.
And now Hoerner grounds out to end the inning. We needed a run there.
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Wow, you pinch-hit PCA’s glove out of the game in the 8th with a one-run lead?
David Ross isn't a smart manager.
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David Ross isn't a smart manager.
No, but even so, that’s a real boner.
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Smyly walks the tying run on base to start the 8th.
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Ozuna strikes out, but a wild pitch has moved Olson to second.
Need to get two outs from Smyly without him scoring. If we can hang on to win, we will deserve it.
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LOL, I jinxed him and Steele in the same game.
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The HR Acuna hit off Assad wasn’t a bad pitch at all…just Ronald doing Ronald things…
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WTF?
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Brant Brown 2023
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You have to be f*cking kidding me
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If PCA is out there he calls Suzuki off that ball and grabs it. Not that it wasn’t a horrible error by Suzuki, but Ross shares the blame on that one.
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Well, Seiya is coming up to bat this inning, so he's got a chance to redeem himself.
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Bellinger singles and Suzuki is up with the tying run on base. Time to become Comeback Player of the Game.
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Pfft. It's over folks.
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That’s the kind of thing that can stick a fork in a season.
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Still can’t believe he yanked PCA in that situation, Man…
Part of the problem, and you’re kidding yourself if you believe otherwise.
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The last couple of weeks, Ross has made a half dozen head scratching decisions. If we go to the playoffs this year or a future year, it will be in spite of Ross, not because of him
.
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The last couple of weeks, Ross has made a half dozen head scratching decisions. If we go to the playoffs this year or a future year, it will be in spite of Ross, not because of him
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He just seems like such a security blanket for Hoyer, who has no charisma (which is fine, in itself) and zero interest in being the face of the organization. Hard to imagine as long as he’s around Ross could ever be let go.
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It seems a little circuitous to focus the fault on Ross when poor Suzuki whiffs a fly ball. He had plenty of time, and was very aggressively and proactively calling for it well in advance. Don't really think this was Ross's fault that Suzuki decisively called for a ball that he had all day to catch, and he whiffed it. Bummer. Sad, and too bad. But just one of those things that happened. Don't think it's a roast-the-manager miss, though.
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It seems a little circuitous to focus the fault on Ross when poor Suzuki whiffs a fly ball. He had plenty of time, and was very aggressively and proactively calling for it well in advance. Don't really think this was Ross's fault that Suzuki decisively called for a ball that he had all day to catch, and he whiffed it. Bummer. Sad, and too bad. But just one of those things that happened. Don't think it's a roast-the-manager miss, though.
Craig, what about this scenario. You’re down a run going into the bottom of the 7th, and you sub out Bellinger for PCA. In the 8th, PCA Ks with the bases loaded on a terrible pitch. Do you say “Well, that’s on him - you can’t swing at a ball like that. Nothing to do with the manager”?
To me, yanking a great defender needing six outs to preserve a lead is a bonehad move. One which directly led to losing the game. If it’s bases-loaded one out or something, maybe you can make the case. In that situation? No effing way.
PCA makes that catch, 100%. Nothing else really matters in light of that.
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But it was Bellinger in CF after PCA was removed. Bellinger is both an excellent defender and someone with a lot more experience. Suzuki clearly called for the ball. If Bellinger didn't assert himself to over-rule Suzuki, why would you expect a rookie to do so?
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Pinch-hitting Wisdom for PCA is the clearly correct move.
Cubs hanging on by a thread there and obvious need to tack on run(s). Unfortunately, PCA has been consistently overmatched at the plate and the lefty Hand figured to eat him up. PCA came into game when Cubs up 5-0. When the need to tack on runs later arose, things changed.
As Craig and Ron note, Suzuki aggressively and proactively called for that ball. Notion that Suzuki wouldn’t be doing that if the kid rookie was playing CF instead of Bellinger is far fetched. And blaming Ross for that is doubly far fetched. Sure, if you have an agenda about Ross, blame the manager.
Blame Suzuki if looking for someone to blame. But, actually, was a team effort. Cubs pitchers walked guys who ended up scoring decisive runs and offense let some good scoring opportunities get away. In the end, just catch the ball. Nothing to do with the manager.
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Faster than Bellinger, more range, takes more aggressive routes. That’s the CF’s ball if he’s there in time, and PCA would have been. Maybe he defers to Suzuki but it seems very unlikely.
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Also, as usual way too many %#*& bunts.
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The issue isn’t whether PCA would have been there. Bellinger was there too. The issue is whether Suzuki isn’t aggressively calling for the ball if it’s PCA rather than Bellinger there. No reason at all to think Suzuki doesn’t still want that ball badly if its a different guy in CF.
As to the bunts, PCA’s ABs have been non-competitive. So, bunting him in the 6th makes sense. Bunting with Mastrobuoni in the 9th is more debatable. Hand has HUGE lefty/righty splits. So, can see the argument for bunting the lefty. Idea was to get Wisdom an AB against lefty with RISP. Wisdom v. Hand is a very good match-up for Cubs. Unfortunately, didn’t work out.
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It was an unnecessary move, Ron. That's the point. Ross is constantly outsmarting himself. Either he's getting poor advice or he's ignoring good advice. JMO
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It was an unnecessary move, Ron. That's the point. Ross is constantly outsmarting himself. Either he's getting poor advice or he's ignoring good advice. JMO
And functionally, it doesn’t matter which it is (though I’m not sure I would assume his constant overmanaging is the result of advice rather than his own impulses).
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Oh well, Willie Mays had 143 errors in his career.
Brooks Robinson and Ozzie Smith combined for over 500 errors.
Stuff happens sometimes, even to the best of them.
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Some sophomoric humor from Chip Caray's replacement in Atlanta during last night's game:
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1706848123606258092
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When Chip Caray leaves for another gig, you replace him, and the quality of your broadcasting team goes down, perhaps it's time to reevaluate your hiring strategies.
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He’s much better than Chip…granted, very low bar…
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Taillon works around a leadoff double in the second to keep the score at 1-1.
The Braves have Darius Vines, who only has four games of ML experience, on the mound.
And Tauchman booms one to deep right field in the third! Cubs lead!
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Three runs will not win this game.
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Titanic homer to center from Happ; 3-1!
Looks like the Cubs came to play.
MLB.tv has this game as the Free Game of the Day, if anyone wants to sign up.
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Three runs will not win this game.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
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Yo Yo Ma
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In other news, how the hell did no ump see that “passed ball” hit the bat!? I mean, you could hear it clearly, the ball changed direction like 60 degrees. Has to be one of the worst blown calls I’ve ever seen.
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Taillon is through four; still 3-1.
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Just 53 pitches for Taillon through 5 IP.
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64 through 6. Given the options available, I think you have to have a pretty long leash here.
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Hoerner error in the 7th puts the lead run on. For a team that was supposed to be built for defense, kind of a bummer that Swanson has made a bunch of errors this month and whiffed on a pop up on Saturday, although Assad bailed him out. Suzuki whiffs on the fly to lose last night. Now Hoerner tacks on an error. These veterans, especially Swanson and Hoerner, really weren't supposed to be the error boys down the stretch.
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Who do you try and get these last two innings out of? Does Merryweather have anything left? Even if he does you’d presumably save him for the 9th. I guess I’d go back to Smyly and see if he can give you one more inning.
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Smyly nice job to get out of the 7th. K's Murphy with tying run on 3rd and only one out.
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Looks like Merryweather is pretty much toast too.
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Man, really needed Mastrobuoni to put that ball in play.
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Olsen popped up on an absolute meatball (look at his reaction) and Ozuna ties it on a 3-0 pitch.
Our bullpen is an absolute dumpster fire.
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Ross basically ground the decent relievers into bone meal, then kept going back to them even after they sucked rather than risk giving the ball to someone else.
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Cuas somehow works out of it after PCA’s ill-advised dive lands a runner on 2nd, and a WP moves him to third.
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Ouch.
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Mastrobuoni striking out with a runner on third and one out was really the key AB of the game.
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He took a hittable fastball on the first pitch and that reduced his margin for error.
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ESPN Stats & Info
@ESPNStatsInfo
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5h
The Cubs have now lost 5 games this month after holding a lead in the 8th inning or later.
That's tied for their most such losses in any single month over the last 50 seasons (June 1991 & September 1992).
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Bumping Assad from the rotation for Stroman is not looking like a genius move.
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Suzuki doubles Happ in to cut the deficit to 5-2. Good to see him not giving up, but we need a lot more if the season is to be saved.
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Suzuki up as the tying run with one out and runners on first and third after singles from Happ and Bellinger. Keep the line moving, Seiya; don't try to tie it up all by yourself.
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Seiya gets the job done, with a single to right-center field. Nico scores; 5-3. Still only one out and Dansby is coming up. This is where we see what this team has.
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...and Dansby hits into an inning-ending double play. Ouch.
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Nice to see Seiya showing signs the Brant Brown play didn’t totally break him. We need this Seiya next season.
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Iglesias breezes through the ninth, and the Braves win.
Our season is hanging by a thread now.
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Interesting that as a team supposedly built around pitching and defense, the Cubs are tied for 3rd in the NL for most errors per game, and 2nd in unearned runs allowed.
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The Cubs probably need to go 5 out of the next six against the Brewers. 3 wins to get in, two out of three to advance. Yeah, right.
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Wouldn't that be a kick though? One can dream.
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The wildest ending possible would be for the Cubs to (somehow) win enough to finish with a half-game lead over Miami, forcing them to go back to New York to play half an inning and hold the one-run lead they took, which would put them in a tie with us and send them to the playoffs because of tiebreaker rules, then lose to the Mets in a walkoff, putting us back in the playoff spot.
I hope it happens.
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Who is more weak, pathetic, and impotent now - Stroman or Hendricks?
In a eugenics world, which one would be put down first?
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I don't see a world where it makes sense to have both Stroman and Hendricks back next season. We need to improve the top of the rotation and miss more bats, and we're already flush with strike-throwing #3-5 starters.
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I don't see a world where it makes sense to have both Stroman and Hendricks back next season. We need to improve the top of the rotation and miss more bats, and we're already flush with strike-throwing #3-5 starters.
We need to bring them both back. Assad, Wicks, Wesneski, Brown, Horton are all going to be innings limited.
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We need to bring them both back. Assad, Wicks, Wesneski, Brown, Horton are all going to be innings limited.
Drop almost $40 million on those two and you can kiss any meaningful rotation improvement from the outside goodbye.
We'll be stuck with Smyly, he can be an innings eater sixth starter.
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Interesting that as a team supposedly built around pitching and defense, the Cubs are tied for 3rd in the NL for most errors per game, and 2nd in unearned runs allowed.
sloppy again tonight. And Dansby trying to break a record in hitting into DPs
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One last teaser rally is getting started: a homer from Candelario and now a triple from Morel to start the eighth. Yan Gomes, one of the most pleasant surprises of the season, is up as the tying run with nobody out.
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Yan grounds to shortstop and Morel comes in to make it 3-2, but the bases are now empty with one out.
Tauchman up, Mastrobuoni next, and Happ to follow if they can keep the inning going. Would be *amazing* to win this game and keep pace.
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Tauchman whiffs. Wisdom hitting for Mastrobuoni, and reliever Caleb Boushley is in to pitch. Making his major league debut, evidently, and wearing the very non-callup-ish number 19. Let's make his debut an unpleasant one.
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And he strikes Wisdom out on a curveball to end the inning.
One last chance for the Cubs today, and it will be Happ, Bellinger, and Suzuki coming up next inning.
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Wisdom stays in the game to play second base, and Alzolay is in to pitch, throwing 97.
He walks a man with two outs but Gomes and Swanson catch him stealing.
Suzuki due up third in the ninth. Does he have a miracle in him?
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Ian Happ homers to tie the game! 3-3!!
Boushley gets three more outs to end it, including a called strikeout to Suzuki.
Got to hold them in the bottom half and then hope we can do something in the zombie runner extra innings.
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Leiter in to relieve Alzolay. We sure have run him ragged this season; does he have anything left in the tank?
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Leiter gives up a hit to Caratini but erases him with a double play. Now a walk to Yelich and Cuas is coming in. Another guy we have been putting out there day after day. Right now we just need him to get William Contreras out.
Dansby would be the ghost runner if we can get to the tenth.
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Every-Day Cuas gets his out to extend the Cubs season into extra-innings.
He blew a game in Colorado, but otherwise he's really been quite good.
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Cuas gets the Cubs out of it. I can't see it live, but it was pitcher to shortstop to first; maybe an attempt at a force out which Yelich beat, then a throw to first to get the batter which was in time? (Edit: it was a deflection off Cuas. Great adjustment by Swanson!)
Whatever it was, we're going to extras. We need this win. Let's get it.
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Looks like the Brewers are sticking with rookie Boushley and it's his game to win or lose.
Morel works a walk and Swanson moves up on a wild pitch.
Now Gomes whiffs on a pitch outside the zone. Two outs for Tauchman. Now would be a fine time to come up big.
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Morel steals second and they walk Tauchman to get to Wisdom.
Bases loaded, but there are two outs. Break the game open, Patrick!
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Wisdom strikes out swinging. A huge opportunity wasted.
Somehow we have to get through the bottom half and maybe get Happ up again in the 11th.
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Santana singles the zombie runner in; Brewers win. Congratulations to Caleb Boushley on winning his debut. And that probably ends the playoff hopes for the 2023 Cubs. The Marlins completed their late-inning comeback today; we couldn't.
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Cubs lose.
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What happened to Hoerner? Box score shows Hoerner being replaced by Mastrobuoni at some point, and then MM by Wisdom. Did Hoerner get injured?
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time to fire Ross
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What happened to Hoerner? Box score shows Hoerner being replaced by Mastrobuoni at some point, and then MM by Wisdom. Did Hoerner get injured?
Fouled a ball off his knee and left game an inning later.
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With their playoff hopes down to a tiny little thread, the Cubs put up six runs in the top of the first, including a grand slam from Yan Gomes and a two-out solo homer from Wisdom. They bat around and lead 6-0.
Even after all of that, Yahoo only gives them a 91% chance of winning. Let's see if Jordan Wicks can finally stop our slide. The Marlins are tied 1-1 with the Pirates, and (in the battle for second place in the division) Cincinnati is also tied.
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Nine runs in the 1st.
Over/under on runs in the remainder of the game: 8.5
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Brewers get three right back in the bottom half on a succession of hits. Wicks gets a grounder to Swanson to end the threat.
This feels like the kind of game where our opponent chips away all day and then takes the lead in the late innings while our offense goes cold. Let's keep pouring the runs on.
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Wow; they're not even chipping away; they're roaring right back. Santana hits a homer to tie the game, knocking Wicks out. Wesneski is coming in to keep them from scoring any more. How must our rivals feel watching us blow such a big lead so quickly?
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Cubs aren't giving up; Morel doubles and scores on a hit; Bellinger doubles off the wall and Suzuki makes a great slide under the tag to make it 8-6.
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First major league triple for Canario! It brings Candelario, who had doubled, in with the Cubs' ninth run; 9-6.
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Kind of a shame we never got to see what Canario could do with a few more ABs.
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That triple was off a good pitch, too. And Canario probably would have had an inside-the-park HR if they'd sent him.
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Taillon comes in for the last four innings and locks down the victory (and, I imagine, earns a four-inning save with Wesneski getting the win, though Taillon contributed more).
Nice to not end the season on a six-game losing streak.
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Smyly starts and can't get out of the first inning, raising his era to 5.00; Duffey makes his debut (wearing number 65), and Little pitches well, but the Cubs fall to Milwaukee 4-0 in the final game of the season.
They end the year at 83-79, much better than anyone would have expected if you asked in June but a disappointment after how we played in August. And they're just one game short of the 84 wins that Fangraphs continued to predict for them in mid-September, having them lose more than they would win the rest of the way. At the time I was indignant at their lack of belief in our team, but they were right all along.
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Smyly, third member of the albatross Triumvirate of Hendricks, Strohman, Smyly.
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Smyly, third member of the albatross Triumvirate of Hendricks, Strohman, Smyly.
Or, as they’re otherwise known, 3/5 of your opening day starting rotation.
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Steele, Stroman, Wicks and Taillon are likely to be in the rotation when the season starts next year. Unless he pitches lights out in the spring, Smily is likely to be in the pen. It is much more likely that the fifth starter will be either Asaad or Wesneski, unless they sign a free agent.
Steele was one of the best pitchers in baseball for just about the entire season.
Stroman was one of the better pitchers in baseball for the first half, and then did poorly when he was injured. Do you have information that he is not likely to be recovered by the beginning of next season?
Taillon has been a very good pitcher for a number of years. He did very poorly in the beginning of the year, but came back quite strongly in the second half of the season. You can assume that he will be bad again next year, but it would be helpful if you gave us the basis of your assumption.
Wicks performed well in the short time he was up. To early to call, but he had a good track record when he was drafted, and continued that track record in the minors, substantiated by decent scouting reports.
What kind of production will we get from the fifth starter? If Asaad and Wesneski fail, and if we get no early promotion for Horton, then we will probably get the kind of production that almost everyone gets from their fifth starter. Mediocre.
And all that assumes that they will not bring in someone in free agency or trade.
Probably a little early to make assumptions like that.
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It also assumes Hendricks will not be in the rotation.
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Would think strong likelihood that Hendricks is in rotation.
Not sure why Dave didn’t mention Hendricks. Would be curious to hear Dave’s point of view on that.
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Hendricks is a lock to be in the rotation. Probably with Steele, Stroman, Wicks, and Taillon to start the season if all are healthy.
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Hendricks is a lock to be in the rotation. Probably with Steele, Stroman, Wicks, and Taillon to start the season if all are healthy.
I still think it’s a mistake to commit almost $40 million in salary to Hendricks and Stroman. And the rotation described above (which doesn’t even factor in what we do with Smyly) is entirely made up of relatively soft-tossing strike throwers. That seems like a bad idea.
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I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Cubs did not rexercise his option, but if they do, he is likely to be in the rotation.
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BN (I think) speculated that Cubs add a year for Hendricks and bring down the AAV by declining the 2024 option and instead do a 2-year deal (including 2025) for lower 2024 money. Could see that.
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I still think it’s a mistake to commit almost $40 million in salary to Hendricks and Stroman. And the rotation described above (which doesn’t even factor in what we do with Smyly) is entirely made up of relatively soft-tossing strike throwers. That seems like a bad idea.
As I've expressed before, I agree with your view, deeg. Still, the Cubs decision is Hendricks, not Stroman. Stroman has a guaranteed deal, Hoyer and Hawkins don't have his $21 cash or $23.7 lux to control. Whether they like or dislike the idea of having him at that price doesn't matter, it's his call.
Cubs choice is whether Hendricks at $14.5/1 is good value, or bad? I'm guessing 3.7 ERA and 120+ ERA+ doesn't look bad for $14.5, *IF* you thought he could sustain that level.
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Do Smyly and Stroman have no trade contracts? I know Stroman has an option, but could he be traded? If either was DFA'ed would the Cubs be on the hook for their whole salary if someone picked them up?
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Do Smyly and Stroman have no trade contracts? I know Stroman has an option, but could he be traded? If either was DFA'ed would the Cubs be on the hook for their whole salary if someone picked them up?
They’re not gonna DFA Stroman and nobody would pick up Smyly at his salary.