IST: Chicago Cubs (3-2) hosting Cincinnati Reds (4-2)

[FrankieLyrical]

Nothing Olt could do there. First 2 strikes were inside. Let's get the series win tomorrow boys!

 

[chibears55]

He got the 3 worse hitters possible for the cubs out..
Montero Ross and Olt

At least they gave themselves a chance.. gotta win tomorrow

 

[Bear Pride]

No shame here. Cubs still fought back and made it interesting. Really one bad inning in the 4th was the difference. Gotta love the fact they still had a chance at the end! Bring on the Reds tomorrow.... one series at a time! :yep:

#gocubs

 

[Parade_Rain]

Right..

Tell me montero and ross has made that much of a difference on the plus side with their catching over the negative with their bats so far

Agreed. I'd rather lose a couple of strikes and have the offense of Castillo. The off-season catcher signings appear to be a case of the FO over-thinking things. Time will tell.

 

[beckdawg]

Agreed. I'd rather lose a couple of strikes and have the offense of Castillo. The off-season catcher signings appear to be a case of the FO over-thinking things. Time will tell.

I'm kind of ok with Montero but I still don't like Ross. Montero is a guy who's been an all-star not just for his defense but also his hitting. Main setback with him was always injuries so having someone like Castillo around is a plus. Montero's a career .263/.342/.420 hitter and even if you say he's past his prime last season he hit .243/.329/.370 which is still respectable out of the C with his defensive value.

As for Ross, didn't get it then, don't really get it now.

 

[Diehardfan]

They're battling....gotta give them that. Plus they've got a short team right now. The three catcher thing isn't doing them any favors either when one of them can't hit a lick. I'm not sure about Montero but Ross and Olt defintely qualify as weak sticks like Chibears said. Personally. Right now Olt just pisses me off with nearly every AB. I'd be happy if he was the one taking the ride to Iowa Friday.

 

[Diehardfan]

Agreed. I'd rather lose a couple of strikes and have the offense of Castillo. The off-season catcher signings appear to be a case of the FO over-thinking things. Time will tell.

Really. I'm alright with the Montero signing as I like the lefty-righty catcher setup but what in the world did they think Ross was gonna accomplish? Had to be Lester playing GM.

 

[Ari Bear]

They're battling....gotta give them that. Plus they've got a short team right now. The three catcher thing isn't doing them any favors either when one of them can't hit a lick. I'm not sure about Montero but Ross and Olt defintely qualify as weak sticks like Chibears said. Personally. Right now Olt just pisses me off with nearly every AB. I'd be happy if he was the one taking the ride to Iowa Friday.

He will be going down there soon and you know who, will be coming up:yep:

 

[JZsportsfan]

So since Lester is a bust (jk don't freak out)

Can we get rid of Ross?

 

[Parade_Rain]

No shame here. Cubs still fought back and made it interesting. Really one bad inning in the 4th was the difference. Gotta love the fact they still had a chance at the end! Bring on the Reds tomorrow.... one series at a time! :yep:

#gocubs

That's really where it's at. Win each series.

 

[JosMin]

Lineup just announced for today's game. Kind of surprised Beef didn't get the start today over Montero.

Fowler CF
Rizzo 1B
Soler RF
Montero C
Coghlan LF
Castro SS
Alcantara 2B
Wood SP
Herrera 3B

 

[JosMin]

I hope we blow up Marquis for 8 runs today through three innings and win this one going away. Need a nice game to give the 'pen some rest and get some confidence going into the Padres series.

 

[SilenceS]

Lineup just announced for today's game. Kind of surprised Beef didn't get the start today over Montero.

Fowler CF
Rizzo 1B
Soler RF
Montero C
Coghlan LF
Castro SS
Alcantara 2B
Wood SP
Herrera 3B

Man, Bryant can not come fast enough. Castro batting 6th so they arent loaded with lefties the rest of the order even though Alcantara is a switch hitter.

 

[HeHateMe]

No shame here. Cubs still fought back and made it interesting. Really one bad inning in the 4th was the difference. Gotta love the fact they still had a chance at the end! Bring on the Reds tomorrow.... one series at a time! :yep:

#gocubs

:nope:

 

[CSF77]

Man, Bryant can not come fast enough. Castro batting 6th so they arent loaded with lefties the rest of the order even though Alcantara is a switch hitter.

Not a huge fan of it either.

I would be surprised if Bryant is not on the roster come Apr 17.

 

[Bear Pride]

Go Cubs!

 

[chibears55]

Welcome to the 2 run homer club Rizzo..

Great start to this game

 

[chibears55]

I heard they count tiebreaker games at end of season towards total days which means they may hold bryant down an extra day or two just in case

 

[TL1961]

Agreed. I'd rather lose a couple of strikes and have the offense of Castillo. The off-season catcher signings appear to be a case of the FO over-thinking things. Time will tell.

Really? You're coming to that conclusion after 7 games?

You have completely discounted / ignored the value of framing pitches, and because Lester hasn't been sharp, you've decided Ross adds nothing. Ross is no great bat, but he was one of the few who hit in the opener, and he hasn't played that much.

When I read a scout say he vomits watching Castillo catch, I put value on that informed opinion. The fact Castillo hits a little - and it's far from Piazza level here - doesn't mean he adds value. We were last in the league at the catcher position last year. But you want to stick with the guy because Ross isn't Bench?

 

[Parade_Rain]

Really? You're coming to that conclusion after 7 games?

You have completely discounted / ignored the value of framing pitches, and because Lester hasn't been sharp, you've decided Ross adds nothing. Ross is no great bat, but he was one of the few who hit in the opener, and he hasn't played that much.

When I read a scout say he vomits watching Castillo catch, I put value on that informed opinion. The fact Castillo hits a little - and it's far from Piazza level here - doesn't mean he adds value. We were last in the league at the catcher position last year. But you want to stick with the guy because Ross isn't Bench?

You're so dramatic. I didn't ignore the value if framing. It costs a couple of strikes per game. The conclusion I came to was "time will tell".