IST: Cubs @ Astros

[Parade_Rain]

There is an ebb and flow to every season. Right now the Cubs starting pitching is going through a rough patch. That will get fixed. Baez needs to stop taking his weight to 3B in his swing. I noticed in an AB where he tried to feel a correction. Hitting coach must’ve noticed. Hard to go oppo when you pull off the ball. Bryant currently out of the lineup. This team will pick It up again.

 

[SilenceS]

There is an ebb and flow to every season. Right now the Cubs starting pitching is going through a rough patch. That will get fixed. Baez needs to stop taking his weight to 3B in his swing. I noticed in an AB where he tried to feel a correction. Hitting coach must’ve noticed. Hard to go oppo when you pull off the ball. Bryant currently out of the lineup. This team will pick It up again.

Yea, he is funky. He said the other day he isnt seeing the ball well either. He will snap out of it. Whats funny? People say he is incosistent and its not true. Look at his numbers since 2016, he has stayed pretty consistent from month to month. He doesnt have big swings either way except for a couple of months out of those years.

 

[anotheridiot]

What they need to do?

Play Baez at SS and Russell at 2B full time.

With Bryant injured somewhat Bote fills in fine at 3B.

Descanasio at that point is just a PH.

I am sure we can all go back to Javy being Javy, penciled in at SS and batting 4th every game at the beginning of the year. 312/.355/613/.968. 61K 13 BB (and he hated every one of them) 13 HR, 32 RBI 36 runs scored in 45 games.

Batting second is a train wreck. Third he hit for better average, but no power numbers in 3 games.

If you gotta have Joe being Joe and wanting every guy to be a swiss army knife, then let Javy do what he does best.

 

[anotheridiot]

Regardless I'm more interested in seeing if they push Alozay up. I would figure they have had internal talks after that last game. The rotation is looking poor lately and a little injection of life might be needed

We might be seeing Dylan Cease start a game soon on the south side of town, I just want this entire staff to be on the 6 man rotation, not keeping Lester on his normal 5 days and bouncing guys around him. Unless there is something physically wrong with Q that has him going south.

 

[CSF77]

We might be seeing Dylan Cease start a game soon on the south side of town, I just want this entire staff to be on the 6 man rotation, not keeping Lester on his normal 5 days and bouncing guys around him. Unless there is something physically wrong with Q that has him going south.

I don't disagree with this

I was trying to think about the value of a 5 or a 6 man rotation. In the Cubs case they really lack a legit Ace. All 5 are quality pitchers but a extra day off wouldn't hurt.

There would be blow back though. Why would you go with 6 for Alozay but not for Chatwood.

That is why I was saying 1 game to give the starters another day off. They are in a rough patch right now and it might be called for.

If he dominates then it brings up another issue. But the situation has to demand a response to force a change.

Basically he comes out and pitches 7 innings and 12 strike outs no walks and 1 hit it forces a change. And the players would be 100% behind it.

 

[CSF77]

Latest On Ben Zobrist

The Cubs have been without utilityman Ben Zobrist since May 8 because of a personal matter. Three weeks later, they …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

It is not known if Ben is collecting while on the restricted list. But they don't expect him back.

So this might end up freeing up resources for Kimbrol. You have to figure that they could just prorate a contract for what they saved on Zobrist. If Ben returns then figure that bit out if it happens.

 

[CSF77]

CHC Lineup

K Schwarber (L) LF
K Bryant (R) DH
A Rizzo (L) 1B
J Báez (R) 3B
W Contreras (R) C
A Almora (R) CF
J Heyward (L) RF
A Russell (R) SS
D Bote (R) 2B

HOU Lineup

Fisher (L) LF
A Bregman (R) SS
M Brantley (L) DH
Y Gurriel (R) 3B
J Reddick (L) RF
R Chirinos (R) C
T White (R) 1B
T Kemp (L) 2B
J Marisnick (R) CF

 

[CSF77]

Think Baez is limited with lateral movement. So less demands at 3B.

Nice to see Bryant back.

 

[zack54attack]

KB back.

 

[CSF77]

Just had a weird thought.

How would the team do with Cartini and Schwarber swapping roles.

Contreras' back up really is not going to get more than Darvish. Let's be real here. So they could still have Cartini catch that day if there is this love affair going on.

But my reasoning:

Cartini has been limited to 30 AB from playing 1 per round and injury. 1.067 OPS. over that span.

Schwarber in a more used role 758 OPS. Which is less than Almora's. And his OBA is .333.

I'm not really a fan boi of moving Bryant into the OF. That collision should be enough of a warning sign. But Schwarber is supposed to bring 1 thing to the line up and that is not apparent.

So I would be in favor of getting more playing time out of Caritini and Schwarber is the most inept guy.

But he is still a emergency catcher so he has his utility.

But anything to get the O firing again.

 

[TL1961]

Just had a weird thought.

How would the team do with Cartini and Schwarber swapping roles.

Contreras' back up really is not going to get more than Darvish. Let's be real here. So they could still have Cartini catch that day if there is this love affair going on.

But my reasoning:

Cartini has been limited to 30 AB from playing 1 per round and injury. 1.067 OPS. over that span.

Schwarber in a more used role 758 OPS. Which is less than Almora's. And his OBA is .333.

I'm not really a fan boi of moving Bryant into the OF. That collision should be enough of a warning sign. But Schwarber is supposed to bring 1 thing to the line up and that is not apparent.

So I would be in favor of getting more playing time out of Caritini and Schwarber is the most inept guy.

But he is still a emergency catcher so he has his utility.

But anything to get the O firing again.

I don’t get the logic of putting people in positions defensively where they will hurt us more, because of their offensive struggles.

Why not have Schwarber pitch? Then his numbers at the plate would look better.

 

[fatbeard]

Latest On Ben Zobrist

The Cubs have been without utilityman Ben Zobrist since May 8 because of a personal matter. Three weeks later, they …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

It is not known if Ben is collecting while on the restricted list. But they don't expect him back.

That's not what the article says, at all.

 

[anotheridiot]

Think Baez is limited with lateral movement. So less demands at 3B.

Nice to see Bryant back.

I sure hope its something like this, because he rakes when he bats 4th and plays short. Its just starting to feel like Russell is going to start hitting and he will get the nod to stay at short.

I don't disagree with this

I was trying to think about the value of a 5 or a 6 man rotation. In the Cubs case they really lack a legit Ace. All 5 are quality pitchers but a extra day off wouldn't hurt.

There would be blow back though. Why would you go with 6 for Alozay but not for Chatwood.

That is why I was saying 1 game to give the starters another day off. They are in a rough patch right now and it might be called for.

If he dominates then it brings up another issue. But the situation has to demand a response to force a change.

Basically he comes out and pitches 7 innings and 12 strike outs no walks and 1 hit it forces a change. And the players would be 100% behind it.

basically because I can see Chatwood closing.

 

[anotheridiot]

I don’t get the logic of putting people in positions defensively where they will hurt us more, because of their offensive struggles.

Why not have Schwarber pitch? Then his numbers at the plate would look better.

Yeah, and people say Contrares hurts us catching too, cant frame, throws the ball away too much, rough calling games (could not get on the same page with Hamels the last two either). Nobody has seen what the fitter fixed knee Schwarber could do behind the plate yet.

 

[CSF77]

That's not what the article says, at all.

It says that he most likely is done. And if he is not then it would take a whole work up process.

 

[CSF77]

I sure hope its something like this, because he rakes when he bats 4th and plays short. Its just starting to feel like Russell is going to start hitting and he will get the nod to stay at short.



basically because I can see Chatwood closing.

Again not against it. But if they can back door a closer you do it.

If Chatwood was considered a legit closer then he would be the closer. Instead we a hoping Strop returns and dodging bullets

 

[CSF77]

I don’t get the logic of putting people in positions defensively where they will hurt us more, because of their offensive struggles.

Why not have Schwarber pitch? Then his numbers at the plate would look better.

You could have said the same with Schwarber in LF.

Again if Schwarber was producing then this would not even be a issue. But .222/.333/.425 really sucks for a bat first player

 

[chibears55]

Just had a weird thought.

How would the team do with Cartini and Schwarber swapping roles.

Contreras' back up really is not going to get more than Darvish. Let's be real here. So they could still have Cartini catch that day if there is this love affair going on.

But my reasoning:

Cartini has been limited to 30 AB from playing 1 per round and injury. 1.067 OPS. over that span.

Schwarber in a more used role 758 OPS. Which is less than Almora's. And his OBA is .333.

I'm not really a fan boi of moving Bryant into the OF. That collision should be enough of a warning sign. But Schwarber is supposed to bring 1 thing to the line up and that is not apparent.

So I would be in favor of getting more playing time out of Caritini and Schwarber is the most inept guy.

But he is still a emergency catcher so he has his utility.

But anything to get the O firing again.

You want Caratini to rumble around LF...lol
Almost as bad as when you wanted CJ to start
Lol

 

[chibears55]

You could have said the same with Schwarber in LF.

Again if Schwarber was producing then this would not even be a issue. But .222/.333/.425 really sucks for a bat first player

But he takes pitches and walks...?

 

[fatbeard]

It says that he most likely is done.

It doesn't say that, either.

And if he is not then it would take a whole work up process.

This is silly. He's not coming off a major injury. He needs a week in AAA to get his timing back.