Cubs In-Series thread: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates

[zack54attack]

I'll sum up todays game:

Good pitching.
Good Defense.
Bad offense
Bad baserunning.

 

[nwfisch]

1 down 99 to go.

 

[CSF77]

Ruggiano having a foot issue most likely messed up the normal line up.

If he is healthy the line up is Bonifaco CF, Lake LF, Castro 2B, Rizzo 1B, Olt 3B, Ruggiano RF, Castillo C, Barney 2B. Vs LH SP

Vs RHSP. I'm not sure if they start Kalish or not. But they could put out:

Bonifacio 2B, Kalish LF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Valbuena 3B, Schierholtz RF, Sweeney CF, Baker C.

To be honest here Castro feels like a place holder for Baez. I wouldn't be surprised if Castro is traded and they are attempting to juice his RBI's hitting him 3rd.

 

[czman]

Hard not to see a trend continuing. I know it is one game, but we had 162 games last season of the same thing so it is more like 163 games not 1.

The bunt double play by Jeff was horrible.

Getting caught in a rundown between 3rd and home in a late scoreless game was horrible.

Rizzo and Olt were K machines, yes they were horrible.

I know the hitters are behind the pitchers, but the execution when it counted was crap. Swinging at bad pitches, when the pitcher is walking people. Not able to get a run home with less than 2 outs and a man on 3rd. Men in scoring position with no outs and nothing.

I agree with young player development, but it is past time to bring in quality vet bat. Someone needs to bat 4 in this lineup who has had success. Someone neesd to take the pressure off these young guys a bit and show them how to become quality major league hitters.

 

[czman]

Never want to see a loss but at least they were competitive against a quality team. Castro, Rizzo and Olt a combined 0-10 leaves a lot to be desired. I liked Lake and Bonafacio at the top of the order. Not sure how I feel about Castro at 3 but it was only 1 game.

I still think Castro should be 1 or 6/7. He is a good fastball hitter and aggressive. I know his OBP is low, but I don't think anyone on this team is going to carry a 370 OBP. Bonifico can bat 2, plus he is a switch hitter and that can be very nice in the 2 hole.

 

[CSF77]

You can only go with what they have right now.

On the SO's Liriano was on. He is not a push over at all. tip your cap and move on. The fact they got anything off of him was a good sign.

It is only 1 game and against a lefty. They have a history of struggle against them.

Bonifico is a good spark plug type. I would rather keep his wheels at the top.

#2 now. The ideal guy is Valbuena but...

I'm expecting platoons around Castro 3 and Rizzo 4. When Baez comes up he will slot either 3 or 5 depending if some team wants Castro that bad.

 

[CSF77]

But an ideal line up:

Bonifacio CF
Valbuena (takes walks) Barney (taking walks and bunting doesn't lose much) 2B
Castro SS #3 is over rated. Count how many time they come up with 2 out no one on....
Rizzo #4. 1B No one better
Olt #5 3B Full time to see what they have.
Schierholtz RF Full time. See how he hits LH pitching over the year.
Lake LF Can bunt here at times to get on or swing away.
Castillo C

Rugg and Kalish become DH/PH/Double switch options. Sweeney we will see. Not a fan of his game.

 

[czman]

But an ideal line up:

Bonifacio CF
Valbuena (takes walks) Barney (taking walks and bunting doesn't lose much) 2B
Castro SS #3 is over rated. Count how many time they come up with 2 out no one on....
Rizzo #4. 1B No one better
Olt #5 3B Full time to see what they have.
Schierholtz RF Full time. See how he hits LH pitching over the year.
Lake LF Can bunt here at times to get on or swing away.
Castillo C

Rugg and Kalish become DH/PH/Double switch options. Sweeney we will see. Not a fan of his game.

You do realize that the only way the 4 hitter comes up in the first inning is if someone gets on. If the first two guys make outs and the 3rd hits a double it is the same as the leadoff hitter getting a double followed by two strikeouts.

After the first inning it is a hodge podge anyway. The idea for having your best hitter in the 3 spot comes from the idea that will maximize the run changes for your 4 hitter. That is still true.

 

[patg006]

The idea for having your best hitter in the 3 spot comes from the idea that will maximize the run changes for your 4 hitter. That is still true.

What is also still true is that both the 3 and 4 hitters on the Cubs suck.

 

[Boobaby1]

What is also still true is that both the 3 and 4 hitters on the Cubs suck.

And the Cubs will continue to suck until Rizzo is hitting in the 6th or lower slot in the line-up.

 

[patg006]

And the Cubs will continue to suck until Rizzo is hitting in the 6th or lower slot in the line-up.

Or *gasp* someone better is playing 1B.

 

[CSF77]

You do realize that the only way the 4 hitter comes up in the first inning is if someone gets on. If the first two guys make outs and the 3rd hits a double it is the same as the leadoff hitter getting a double followed by two strikeouts.

After the first inning it is a hodge podge anyway. The idea for having your best hitter in the 3 spot comes from the idea that will maximize the run changes for your 4 hitter. That is still true.

1-3 OBA 4-5 SLG. 6 Mix of speed/power. 7-8 D players is traditional. If you can get speed out of the 1-2 spots is bonus.

D Lee always had a good OBA. He was not the #1 RBI bat.

Having the top RBI bat hitting #3 plays better in the AL where there is no pitcher hitting a .146. You can plug in a quality OBA stick in the 9 spot to front load the 3 hitter.

 

[zack54attack]

Rizzo struggles against leftys, so I'm not surprised by his awful start against Lirano. Although I do think he needs to improve to be a #4 hitter, or move him down.

 

[JosMin]

Rizzo struggles against leftys, so I'm not surprised by his awful start against Lirano. Although I do think he needs to improve to be a #4 hitter, or move him down.

His pitch recognition when facing Liriano was really, really atrocious yesterday. Again, first game. I'm not losing sleep over it. You just hope that Rizzo is able to start doing a better job sequencing ABs against lefties. The offense is really going to depend on it. It'll really diminish the value of adding Bonifacio if he's not able to plate guys.

 

[zack54attack]

His pitch recognition when facing Liriano was really, really atrocious yesterday. Again, first game. I'm not losing sleep over it. You just hope that Rizzo is able to start doing a better job sequencing ABs against lefties. The offense is really going to depend on it. It'll really diminish the value of adding Bonifacio if he's not able to plate guys.

Agreed. If he's having these problems in late May/June then I'll be very worried.

 

[SilenceS]

Rizzo struggles against leftys, so I'm not surprised by his awful start against Lirano. Although I do think he needs to improve to be a #4 hitter, or move him down.

He struggles against lefties like he did last year. He wouldnt warrant a full time starting gig.

 

[beckdawg]

His pitch recognition when facing Liriano was really, really atrocious yesterday. Again, first game. I'm not losing sleep over it. You just hope that Rizzo is able to start doing a better job sequencing ABs against lefties. The offense is really going to depend on it. It'll really diminish the value of adding Bonifacio if he's not able to plate guys.

Liriano in particular crushes lefties. Last season lefties hit .130/.175/.146 vs him. If you want an even bigger sample size, his career marks are .211/.282/.273. So, while seeing Rizzo struggle in the first game is obviously not desirable, it's hardly unexpected especially given his past struggles. I don't think this should be an indictment of why Rizzo will suck again vs lefties. It's entirely possible Rizzo will still suck against lefties but as I said it's hardly surprising when Liriano crushes most lefties including guys Cargo and Votto.

 

[patg006]

I don't think this should be an indictment of why Rizzo will suck again vs lefties.

I think his .192 career BA and .611 career OPS against LHP is an indictment of why Rizzo will suck again vs lefties.

 

[CSF77]

1 game. But it would make sense to drop him down in the line up when Ruggiano's foot is healthy.

No one was hitting Liriano. Schierholtz a LH got 1. Lake got 1. Boni went off on him.

Still one game.

 

[X]

Didn't you know Rizzo is bound for Cooperstown.

Why do you delete these? If you're gonna say it, own it.

Sent from my phone...in my pocket...with my mind.