Bleacher Bums Forum

Nah.

Wonder if Counsell will have a good reason for not lifting Boyd after the Mitchell walk with righthanders coming up.

I think Counsell's being psyched out by his old friend.  I think many of us are.  Counsell has had to struggle with one injury after another of his pitching staff and I think it's taking its toll.  I've wondered about his decision making and confidence level for the last month or so.  He's not acting like himself.  Yesterday, for example, the guy who paced the dugout in the sixth inning, ready to jerk the pitcher if he so much as gets 2-0 on a hitter, suddenly lets Holmes get hit around and allowing walks to a point where we can't come back.   In his defense, who is out in the pen better than his starters?  Palencia looks like crap, Webb's been hurt, Thielbar is throwing Home Run Derby, Zeferjahn has been overworked and exposed, it's a minefield.  The most effective reliever this past week was Carson Kelly for an inning.

Totally disagree with the North Side BB guy about Counsell and eighth inning.

Makes a big deal about 3rd time thru the lineup that inning…..but Boyd retired #1-7 batters—third time thru—consecutively in 6th and 7th innings. Boyd was breezing third time thru today.

Leaving Boyd to face Mitchell at #8 retains the lefty v. lefty platoon advantage. At #9 spot, righty Ortiz has been a reverse splits hitter this season. And if you bring in Zeferjahn for Ortiz, you’re going to get Bauers pinch-hitting—Brewers best hitter this season. Way better matchup for Cubs facing Ortiz.

Was Boyd tiring? Not showing signs of that coming into the inning and, in any case, kind of presumptuous judging that from sitting in front of the TV compared to Counsell and the coaching staff on the scene.

I get it that diehards disappointed in the result but nothing to criticize today.

Perhaps the Brewers are the best team in MLB this year? 

Totally disagree with the North Side BB guy about Counsell and eighth inning.....

Agree.  He's starting off the 8th lefty-lefty, and Boyd was at 83 pitches, and hadn't been in a lot of high-stress innings.  It wasn't illogical.  Nor was it grossly illogical to leave him in to face light-hitting Ortiz.  Boyd got ahead either 0-2 or 1-2 on Mitchell, it's not really Counsell's fault that after throwing strikes all game, suddently at 85 pitches he can't locate the strike zone.  It is perhaps fault of Kelly/Boyd to be intentionally throwing extreme chase pitches, maybe?  Ortiz has a very careful eye and walks some.  To bring in Zeferjahn who doesn't have a good move to face Ortiz, that's half inviting either a walk or a stolen base?  Boyd just missed his location against both hitters.  Bummer.  I'm also half thinking that if things had gone Counsell's way, Boyd would have thrown a strike to Mitchell and gotten him out, then gotten light-hitting Ortiz.   Then he's got only four outs left to cover, maybe bring in Zeferjahn to face Chourio then? 

Seems to me that had he brought in Thielbar to face the lefty Mitchell, and Thielbar does bad, would we have been all supportive?  Then I'd have been saying "stick with Boyd, he's at only 83 pitches and pitching well..."  If he brought in righty Zeferjahn to face lefty Mitchell, and wild Zefer walks him and then lets him steal 2b, I'd probably have been arguing "why didn't you stay with lefty-lefty Boyd matchup?" 

Seems the strategy was all fine, the execution just failed. 

Defending Boyd facing Ortiz due to splits is a stretch. Okay, Ortiz is 70 OPS points higher against righties this year. He was 200 points better against lefties in '25 and 70 points better against lefties in '24.

Doesn't matter though. Managers aside, the Brewers are just superior again.

At what point do we have to acknowledge that Civale might just be pretty good?