IGT: Cubs vs. Dodgers Game 1(NLCS)

[Boobaby1]

Lester was not pitching well. The Dodgers were hitting him hard but with no BABIP luck. Lifting him was absolutely the correct move and the fact that this is even a controversy is simply baffling.

I echo your statement.

If Lester was dominating, he would have been left in there. It was a combination that the Cubs wanted an insurance run, and the fact that Lester was not on his game. Moreso on the latter.

Either way, the Cubs won and pulled the right strings, and Lester did not pitch too many pitches. They could use him in a relief role if they decided too.

The Cubs have won with Rizzo and Russell being non-existant offensively. That is a credit to the pitching and the defense that the Cubs employ.

If those two (Rizzo and Russell) start to come around.........look out.

BTW. Would love nothing better than to somehow win the game tonight. Putting the Dodgers down 2-0 would be a huge blow to them and they would know at best that they would have to travel back to Chicago.

Go Cubbies!

 

[Parade_Rain]

Zoberist is doing just fine and he has more discipline than Baez

Who is "Zoberist"? New player?

 

[85Bears]

Hendricks pitches Game 2, and you KNOW you need a lot of work from your pen in that one.

Why?

Hendricks is the MLB ERA leader, pitched deep into games the last month or two, pitched more innings than Lackey this year and only 7 less than Arrieta. I think there's a much better chance of Hendricks making it deep into a game than Lackey or even Arrieta.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

LA putting all their chips in tonight with Kershaw/Jansen. If we win game 2, it will be seriously demoralizing for them.

We can really take control of the series.


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[TL1961]

I echo your statement.

If Lester was dominating, he would have been left in there. It was a combination that the Cubs wanted an insurance run, and the fact that Lester was not on his game. Moreso on the latter.

Either way, the Cubs won and pulled the right strings, and Lester did not pitch too many pitches. They could use him in a relief role if they decided too.

The Cubs have won with Rizzo and Russell being non-existant offensively. That is a credit to the pitching and the defense that the Cubs employ.

If those two (Rizzo and Russell) start to come around.........look out.

BTW. Would love nothing better than to somehow win the game tonight. Putting the Dodgers down 2-0 would be a huge blow to them and they would know at best that they would have to travel back to Chicago.

Go Cubbies!

No. No they absolutely can NOT use lester in a relief role. He needs to be available to start again (in the event the Dodgers find a way to win one.

You cannot consider using your #1 starter in relief unless it's AFTER his final start of the series.

 

[Parade_Rain]

My brothers and I talk constantly about "baseball IQ" and get frustrated by those who simply don't have an ounce of it. That was my primary issue with a certain SS we had. And many before him.

Baez is smart. Baseball smart. Added to his ability - that's a great combination.

When he stole home, my first thought was you can't teach that and the second was "Castro could have never made that play happen". Then again the great majority of players couldn't make that happen.

 

[TL1961]

LA putting all their chips in tonight with Kershaw/Jansen. If we win game 2, it will be seriously demoralizing for them.

We can really take control of the series.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kershaw has to be getting gassed a bit. The pressure should be on him, too, as he has not performed well in postseason, in spite of the save. He gave up 3 in 5IP last start. He does that tonight, we win.

I fear Hendricks doesn't go deep, but he continues to exceed expectations, so I am not too worried. I love that we have bullpen options. The key is for Joe to stoop getting so cute with the matchups. Let a pitcher throw to more than one batter in the "noncritical" moments. I said Roberts' move to force Chapman out was a decent decision, but walking Heyward to get to Baez simply for the overrated righty-lefty matchup? These guys are overthinking it.

 

[TL1961]

When he stole home, my first thought was you can't teach that and the second was "Castro could have never made that play happen". Then again the great majority of players couldn't make that happen.

Castro would have been on first.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Castro would have been on first.

[emoji38]

 

[jooo83]

Why?

Hendricks is the MLB ERA leader, pitched deep into games the last month or two, pitched more innings than Lackey this year and only 7 less than Arrieta. I think there's a much better chance of Hendricks making it deep into a game than Lackey or even Arrieta.

Do you really believe that?

 

[85Bears]

Do you really believe that?

Obviously, or I wouldn't have posted it......

Last year he couldn't reliably make it past the 5th inning. This year he's our #2 playoff pitcher behind Lester. He's a freaking Cy Yong candidate, the ERA leader, and he's been pitching deep into games the last half of the season. I'm not saying he's going to pitch a complete game because this is playoff baseball, and Maddon yanked even Lester after 6 innings of 1 run work because: playoffs.

But to imply that Hendrick's start means you automatically need more work from the pen than normal isn't recognizing the current situation. If Maddon felt that way about him he wouldn't be #2 on the playoff roster. He'd be further down or sitting on the bench. He may be yanked early, but I don't think he has a greater chance of being yanked early in the playoffs than any of them. They are all on short leashes.

 

[SilenceS]

When he stole home, my first thought was you can't teach that and the second was "Castro could have never made that play happen". Then again the great majority of players couldn't make that happen.

Castro has never been aggressive. Also, I still strictly believe he has ADD which doesnt help at all. lol

 

[Parade_Rain]

Castro has never been aggressive. Also, I still strictly believe he has ADD which doesnt help at all. lol

Castro doesn't have good baseball instincts. Good kid and very good athlete. Otherwise he couldn't have been a MIF. However, a good MIF can play a lot of positions. Russell could play 3B or OF, if he wanted. Quite a few MIF end up in CF. Castro couldn't make that adjustment due to instincts. IMHO.

 

[Diehardfan]

What a lot of us are missing is that while Chapman's 8th inning entrance was questioned after he gave up the hit to Gonzo...when the smoke cleared just his presence in the game actually caused the downfall of the Dodgers last night. Call it fear, call it respect but when the opposing manager orders an intentional walk with both first and second occupied just to get him out of the game...that says something.

 

[DanTown]

It's a bad move to have me pinch run, even BEFORE I have to run.

I do NOT blame a manager for a move if the players fail to execute. I am not one of those. I said it BEFORE Jorge batted, while knowing full well he could have launched one to give the Cubs a 5 run lead.

The reason it was a bad move was -

Chapman is already being used heavily, and getting to the pen an inning early only guarantees that Chapman pitches earlier.

The Cubs needed to get nine more outs and had a fully rested bullpen; I'm not sure that Joe is worrying about Chapman having to pitch multiple innings. It took MULTIPLE players not getting their job done (Montgomery giving up a hit to a lefty, Strop walking Utley) for Joe to have to go to Chapman. But even if he did, that's why you get Arodlis Chapman: to pitch him in high leverage situations late in a game.

Hendricks pitches Game 2, and you KNOW you need a lot of work from your pen in that one.

The Cubs have played one game in the last four days and have a day off tomorrow; I cannot imagine a scenario where someone could have been used last night in a non-extra inning game and then been unavailable tonight.

Lester was still pitching well. You do NOT take out a pitcher having success to try and pad a lead for the pen. If the pitcher is done, and you take him out, fine. But Lester was definitely not done. And Joe took him out not due to the pitching but due to the situation on offense.

It's third time through the order so of course you have plenty of reason to take Lester out. Also, you're trying to score a very important run (a 3 run lead requires multiple baserunners to reach base to tie you) and Lester had pitched ok stat line but he was being hit hard in terms of line drives and was struggling to keep the ball down with a huge jet stream. I don't fault a team going to their bullpen in the 7th inning.

 

[DrGonzo]

That gif is a serious contender for post of the year.

 

[Doubledown]

Kyle is fuckin $$$$

 

[cubby chubby]

Dammit. Shit.

 

[cubby chubby]

That gif is a serious contender for post of the year.

Shitty pizza. Real pizza would have put gravy all his pompous face.

 

[cubby chubby]

Kershaw is nails right now. Hopefully he gets tired and sloppy sometime soon.