Chicago Cubs (46-70) at Cincinnati Reds (70-46) 8/17-19 Series Discussion Thread

[Mr. Cub]

Cubs trying to rally. Already with an ER off Chapman.

 

[ZDemp34]

Brenly's inner Santo just came out.

 

[Mr. Cub]

And Mather instead K's like always and kills the rally. Game over. Now onto game 2. We will probably get shelled.

 

[Uman85]

Just got back from the game. You know, I used to be neutral towards the Reds. Didn't really hate them, just didn't really pay attention to them. They weren't relevant in the cellar. Now that they're leading the division and I live about an hour south of where they play, I'm surrounded by them. It's comical to see them try to talk trash to me. I was with my friend, who is one of the sane, knowledgeable Reds fans and we minded our own business, yet the clowns came out.

All I have to say is this: until you either A) Fill up your stadium(28K on a sunny Saturday afternoon and you're in first place = pathetic) or B) Consistently win and contend, then STFU. Same goes for Brewers and Cubs fans. I didn't respond back because of course, I'd hear the oh so tired "1908." You win, you get the right to talk. Nobody here cared about the Reds until this year. It's pretty funny to see them crawl out of the woodwork.

Now that my short rant is over, I was disappointed Jeff couldn't last a bit longer. The HRs he gave up were giftwrapped for Cincy. He hung a couple pitches and that cost him and the Cubs. His control wasn't as bad as it could have been(didn't give up any walks), but he got into some deep counts. He continues to rack up the Ks, which everyone thought he would, but I'd just like to see more consistency which I'm sure he'll work on in the off-season.

Cueto was lights out after the first inning. Not really much to say about him or the Reds. They took advantage of the long ball like they have been all season. My only complaints about the Cubs are Castillo not getting to second in the ninth on the blooper to left. The left fielder was not paying attention to him at all. Easily could've made it to scoring position. Other than that, I was pleased with Castillo's work behind the plate today. He did a fairly decent job on locating the pitches and working the strike zone.

The thing that irritates me wasn't pinch hitting after Castillo. It was using Mather. Against Chapman? Really? You might as well let the bat boy stand in for him. I know there really aren't many pinch hitters who can reliably come in and produce this year for the Cubs, but I'd much rather have seen Jackson in that spot. Call me crazy, but maybe he'd thrive on that pressure and hit his first career HR off arguably the game's best closer at the moment. Crazier things have happened. Overall, it was a good time. Great seats, got to meet and talk to a few Cubs before the game and the food wasn't that bad either.

 

[Mr. Cub]

Just got back from the game. You know, I used to be neutral towards the Reds. Didn't really hate them, just didn't really pay attention to them. They weren't relevant in the cellar. Now that they're leading the division and I live about an hour south of where they play, I'm surrounded by them. It's comical to see them try to talk trash to me. I was with my friend, who is one of the sane, knowledgeable Reds fans and we minded our own business, yet the clowns came out.

All I have to say is this: until you either A) Fill up your stadium(28K on a sunny Saturday afternoon and you're in first place = pathetic) or B) Consistently win and contend, then STFU. Same goes for Brewers and Cubs fans. I didn't respond back because of course, I'd hear the oh so tired "1908." You win, you get the right to talk. Nobody here cared about the Reds until this year. It's pretty funny to see them crawl out of the woodwork.

Now that my short rant is over, I was disappointed Jeff couldn't last a bit longer. The HRs he gave up were giftwrapped for Cincy. He hung a couple pitches and that cost him and the Cubs. His control wasn't as bad as it could have been(didn't give up any walks), but he got into some deep counts. He continues to rack up the Ks, which everyone thought he would, but I'd just like to see more consistency which I'm sure he'll work on in the off-season.

Cueto was lights out after the first inning. Not really much to say about him or the Reds. They took advantage of the long ball like they have been all season. My only complaints about the Cubs are Castillo not getting to second in the ninth on the blooper to left. The left fielder was not paying attention to him at all. Easily could've made it to scoring position. Other than that, I was pleased with Castillo's work behind the plate today. He did a fairly decent job on locating the pitches and working the strike zone.

The thing that irritates me wasn't pinch hitting after Castillo. It was using Mather. Against Chapman? Really? You might as well let the bat boy stand in for him. I know there really aren't many pinch hitters who can reliably come in and produce this year for the Cubs, but I'd much rather have seen Jackson in that spot. Call me crazy, but maybe he'd thrive on that pressure and hit his first career HR off arguably the game's best closer at the moment. Crazier things have happened. Overall, it was a good time. Great seats, got to meet and talk to a few Cubs before the game and the food wasn't that bad either.

Lucky you. Which Cubs did you meet?

 

[Uman85]

Lucky you. Which Cubs did you meet?

Samardzija, Rizzo and Vitters. All really nice guys. Vitters still seems a bit shaky in the majors. You can kind of tell just by hearing him talk. Rizzo is a really nice guy. He must've taken a million pictures with little kids and a few babies as well. Hoping to see Samardzija in South Bend later this year for some Notre Dame football games.

 

[Mr. Cub]

Samardzija, Rizzo and Vitters. All really nice guys. Vitters still seems a bit shaky in the majors. You can kind of tell just by hearing him talk. Rizzo is a really nice guy. He must've taken a million pictures with little kids and a few babies as well. Hoping to see Samardzija in South Bend later this year for some Notre Dame football games.

Cool stuff. The only player ever associated with the Cubs that I have seen in person is Joe Mather, who I seen at a Bee's game last year when he played for the Colorado Sky Sox.

 

[Uman85]

Cool stuff. The only player ever associated with the Cubs that I have seen in person is Joe Mather, who I seen at a Bee's game last year when he played for the Colorado Sky Sox.

You should've given him some hitting lessons, Ernie. :lol:

 

[Mr. Cub]

You should've given him some hitting lessons, Ernie. :lol:

If only I would have known he would later go on to sign with the Cubs haha. By the way did you get any of those guy's autographs?

 

[Uman85]

If only I would have known he would later go on to sign with the Cubs haha. By the way did you get any of those guy's autographs?

I didn't. I'm not really a big autograph guy to be honest. Plus, I feel like a bother to ask. I know if I would've made the major leagues I'd be hounded by the fans, but I just enjoy talking to them about the game because I can definitely relate to them about it.

 

[Rice Cube]

Cubs lineup(gm. 2): Valbuena 3B, Mather LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, LaHair RF, Clevenger C, Jackson CF, Cardenas 2B, Raley P

Fun!

 

[Rice Cube]

Game 2 gameday up:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/inde...y#gid=2012_08_18_chnmlb_cinmlb_2&mode=classic

Reds lineup seems disproportionately better than the Cubs' lineup

 

[dabynsky]

Wow it took a double header to get Cardenas a game, and Castro batting cleanup is um interesting.

 

[Mr. Cub]

I didn't. I'm not really a big autograph guy to be honest. Plus, I feel like a bother to ask. I know if I would've made the major leagues I'd be hounded by the fans, but I just enjoy talking to them about the game because I can definitely relate to them about it.

Makes sense. Autographs are cool, but I feel kinda weird asking guys too.

 

[Mr. Cub]

Cubs lineup(gm. 2): Valbuena 3B, Mather LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, LaHair RF, Clevenger C, Jackson CF, Cardenas 2B, Raley P

Fun!

Wow. I don't see us scoring any runs. But this pitcher is making his first start so who knows what could happen.

 

[Rice Cube]

Wow. I don't see us scoring any runs. But this pitcher is making his first start so who knows what could happen.

Prepare for a perfect game.

 

[Uman85]

Prepare for a perfect game.

Cy new guy.

 

[Mr. Cub]

Prepare for a perfect game.

Haha if this was a stud pitcher it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Rice Cube]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=redmon001tod

Been a bit unlucky with the homers in AAA but has good control and excellent strikeout numbers. Not sure how it would translate to his MLB debut, but you're basically looking at someone who is likely as good as Brooks Raley, if not better. And this guy has a lineup that can score some runs for him.

Doesn't look good for our Cubs on paper.

 

[dabynsky]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=redmon001tod

Been a bit unlucky with the homers in AAA but has good control and excellent strikeout numbers. Not sure how it would translate to his MLB debut, but you're basically looking at someone who is likely as good as Brooks Raley, if not better. And this guy has a lineup that can score some runs for him.

Doesn't look good for our Cubs on paper.

And by that you mean it looks good for the Cubs.