IGT: NL Wild Card Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates 7:08PM TBS

[CRM 114]

I say Cubs win 2-1.

Cole is good but Arrieta is better. Our offense will do just enough to win the game.

 

[SilenceS]

In case people missed this on the homepage. Im so pumped for Weds.

[video=youtube;RTm1YRks1SU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=295&v=RTm1YRks1SU[/video]

 

[ijustposthere]

All sports should be this way.

Divisions shouldn't do anything except guarantee you a playoff spot in my opinion. But you shouldn't have rights to seeding or HFA.

Same goes for the NFL.

The NFL is the only sport where divisions make sense because there isn't enough games to play everyone.

 

[TL1961]

Cubs win 5-3

 

[beckdawg]

Honestly, after 97 wins anything more this season I view as gravy. I figured 85 wins would be a good year though i did expect them to slow play Schwarber and Russell a bit more. Regardless, I feel like the cubs are a team no one really wants to play in the playoffs. From Arrieta and his dominance to the fact that the cubs have handled pressure situations well(13-5 in extras(best in league) and 34-21 in one run games(second to the pirates who were 36-17)), the best road record in baseball, the best(I believe) 2nd half record in baseball and finally the fact they are dealing with a lot of young talent makes for a scary picture.

I suppose you could argue young players are a double edge sword. On one hand they basically are getting better every game but on the other they are still suspect to inexperience. But you do have Maddon who most view as at worst a top 3 manager. And as I said in the opener to this, it's not like this cubs team has much to lose. Think almost any cubs fan views this season a success whether or not they advance. So the pressure isn't really on them where as some teams(say the dodgers for example if the cubs get that far) kind of need this.

 

[brett05]

Not getting to 500 posts...Come on Cubbies!!!!

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I didn't hear the interview but I guess Len Kasper was strongly suggesting that Tommy LaStella is going to start at 3B tomorrow with Bryant in LF and Schwarber in RF. Makes some sense in that LaStella makes good contact and Baez could come in as a pinch hitter and/or defensive replacement.

 

[DanTown]

Can anyone remember a team having this many young, highly capable multi-positional players? This isn't like playing Bryant in LF or LaStella at 3B is some terrible defensive team. I'm amazed.

 

[CRM 114]

Not getting to 500 posts...Come on Cubbies!!!!

It's not going to happen. The Cubs forum just doesn't see enough traffic.

 

[SilenceS]

I didn't hear the interview but I guess Len Kasper was strongly suggesting that Tommy LaStella is going to start at 3B tomorrow with Bryant in LF and Schwarber in RF. Makes some sense in that LaStella makes good contact and Baez could come in as a pinch hitter and/or defensive replacement.

I thought about that. LaStella is for 1 for 3 this year against Cole. I totally forgot my thinking the other day now that you mention Schwarber. Joe put Schwarber in right and Bryant in left a couple of games a go. I thought that was odd but, when I thought about it. I thought he did it specifically for Pittsburgh. Left center in Pitt is massive. You need speed to get to those ball or people are running all day. Right field has a short porch. You need to figure out how to play the wall. It makes sense because Schwarber in left in Pitt would be a nightmare. He runs well for a big man, but no where near Bryant long strides when he opens up. Yet again, this is why Joe makes the big bucks. Every angle.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Can anyone remember a team having this many young, highly capable multi-positional players? This isn't like playing Bryant in LF or LaStella at 3B is some terrible defensive team. I'm amazed.

No it's remarkable. If this is what happens and La Stella starts at 3B with Schwarber in RF and Bryant in LF with the usual suspects in their normal positions you can argue that defensively the only upgrade you could see would be Baez over La Stella at 3B and since in what is likely to be a low scoring came you would favor the contact early and can put Baez in later. Clearly in PNC Bryant has to play LF over Schwarber. In RF Schwarber or Coghlan would be a wash and right now offensively a wash as well with a slight edge to Schwarber and his power potential. The flexibility in this lineup is, as you say, crazy. In another ballpark against another pitcher you might make completely different decisions.

 

[ijustposthere]

I didn't hear the interview but I guess Len Kasper was strongly suggesting that Tommy LaStella is going to start at 3B tomorrow with Bryant in LF and Schwarber in RF. Makes some sense in that LaStella makes good contact and Baez could come in as a pinch hitter and/or defensive replacement.

I like LaStella off the bench a lot more personally.

 

[ijustposthere]

Can anyone remember a team having this many young, highly capable multi-positional players? This isn't like playing Bryant in LF or LaStella at 3B is some terrible defensive team. I'm amazed.

Definitely not. For the next few years, this team is just fucking stacked.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I like the fact that even if they lose, this team exceeded expectations 10 fold. I'd be disappointed for sure... but for me and my expectations this is already bonus baseball.

 

[DanTown]

I think Joe wants to have Baez as a bat off the bench and I think he wants his defensive flexibility. If you start Javy, you basically are just using guys as PH and LaStella is probably a better fit in a game like this because he's such a good contact guy. personally, I'd bat him second with Fowler at the top and try and get a hit and run situation going. go something like Fowler - LaStella - Rizzo - Bryant - Schwarber - Castro - Montero - P - Russell. It's also going to goat the Pirates into using their L against Fowler at the top and then you can go with either Baez or Soler off the bench to hit for LaStella later in the game.

 

[Parade_Rain]

LOL. Schwarber in RF and people complain about Soler being a defensive liability.

 

[ijustposthere]

I like the fact that even if they lose, this team exceeded expectations 10 fold. I'd be disappointed for sure... but for me and my expectations this is already bonus baseball.

I thought the max they could do, if everyone developed well, was 88 wins and a push for the 2nd WC. That was my absolute ceiling with everything going right. Never thought they'd win 97 games. I think this team has a legit shot at the World Series, though I think they're still going to fall short. I can definitely see them winning against the Pirates though.

 

[brett05]

Dun worry about the defense...Be Happy about the CUBBIES!!!!! BEST DEFENSE EVER!!!

 

[SilenceS]

LOL. Schwarber in RF and people complain about Soler being a defensive liability.

They are a wash. I think Schwarber takes slightly better routes, but neither are turning heads out there. Wrigley is a tougher right field then Pitt.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

LOL. Schwarber in RF and people complain about Soler being a defensive liability.

You need that lefty bat and in Pittsburgh it makes sense. PNC is not your average park and Schwarber in LF has disaster potential.