IST: Cubs @ Cardinals

[CSF77]

They need a lead off. Kyle blows at it

 

[Ari Bear]

They need a lead off. Kyle blows at it

As much as I like Schwarbie I never liked him as a leadoff hitter. He's a power hitter not a traditional leadoff hitter. I prefer him batting clean up.


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[CSF77]

As much as I like Schwarbie I never liked him as a leadoff hitter. He's a power hitter not a traditional leadoff hitter. I prefer him batting clean up.


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Seems many on the Cubs site are tired of Joe's excusess. Jake looked his best even though he gave up 2 2 run HR. Love Candy hitting 4. Schwarber leading off. Etc.

They need a legit lead off. When Fowler was leading off a game they were 41 games on ver .500. With out 3.

So this is a real problem. We can say: he only leads off 1....err he lead off 4 innings today.... ya

My opinion is they need to really look at the formula that worked in 2016. Lead off that gets on base. Pitcher hitting 9. Russell hitting 5. Etc.

They have Happ up on the team and they can shift Heyward over. At this point you have to do what works. Depending on Schwarber and Joe's excuses will make the this team a huge joke.

What they need to do is go back to what works. Kyle was not a part of the season and honestly he needs to prove he deserves to be playing.

 

[beckdawg]

Pete Abraham ✔ @PeteAbe
2016 playoff hangovers abound
Indians 19-17
Red Sox 19-18
Cubs 18-19
Rangers 19-20
Mets 16-20
Blue Jays 17-21
Giants 15-24

 

[Ari Bear]

Seems many on the Cubs site are tired of Joe's excusess. Jake looked his best even though he gave up 2 2 run HR. Love Candy hitting 4. Schwarber leading off. Etc.

They need a legit lead off. When Fowler was leading off a game they were 41 games on ver .500. With out 3.

So this is a real problem. We can say: he only leads off 1....err he lead off 4 innings today.... ya

My opinion is they need to really look at the formula that worked in 2016. Lead off that gets on base. Pitcher hitting 9. Russell hitting 5. Etc.

They have Happ up on the team and they can shift Heyward over. At this point you have to do what works. Depending on Schwarber and Joe's excuses will make the this team a huge joke.

What they need to do is go back to what works. Kyle was not a part of the season and honestly he needs to prove he deserves to be playing.

Schwarber I know he's struggling but he's to talented to not have in the line up. He's gonna produce. You talk about the formula that worked last year? Last year they were hitting Zoe, Rizz, all hit but Heyward struggle. Remember also on Schwarber hasnt really played a full season of baseball yet. He hit .400 plus in the WS there's some proof for ya in 2016. In the 2015 plays-offs he hit 5hrs when nobody else on the Cubs were hitting it out of the park. He's proven it. He just needs to get out of his funk right now.

 

[CSF77]

Schwarber I know he's struggling but he's to talented to not have in the line up. He's gonna produce. You talk about the formula that worked last year? Last year they were hitting Zoe, Rizz, all hit but Heyward struggle. Remember also on Schwarber hasnt really played a full season of baseball yet. He hit .400 plus in the WS there's some proof for ya in 2016. In the 2015 plays-offs he hit 5hrs when nobody else on the Cubs were hitting it out of the park. He's proven it. He just needs to get out of his funk right now.

Do you give up on the season to get out of a slump? Eventually they are going to have to switch it up because there has been no improvement.

Rizzo is also slumping for sure. But he is a proven player. There is reason to have faith because he has that track record. Schwarber has not proven that he is a MLB caliber player. He has the tools but there are plenty of failed tool players. So until he has had success then he is not something that you can hang your hat on.

My deal with his is he can not lead off. Put Happ into that situation. He fits the mold better and it wouldn't be a square into a round hole that Schwarber is. Kyle needs to figure out what he is as a player. Lead off is not it.

 

[Ari Bear]

Do you give up on the season to get out of a slump? Eventually they are going to have to switch it up because there has been no improvement.

Rizzo is also slumping for sure. But he is a proven player. There is reason to have faith because he has that track record. Schwarber has not proven that he is a MLB caliber player. He has the tools but there are plenty of failed tool players. So until he has had success then he is not something that you can hang your hat on.

My deal with his is he can not lead off. Put Happ into that situation. He fits the mold better and it wouldn't be a square into a round hole that Schwarber is. Kyle needs to figure out what he is as a player. Lead off is not it.

Happ mite be a good fit at lead off but if your talking about a proven player he isnt. Schwarber has hit the ball hard the last few games but unfortunately didn't get anything out of it. He's gonna come out of it.
Most of the team isnt hitting well it goes way beyond the leadoff hitter. Does no good for the leadoff hitter to get on if the players after him dont hit him in. They are not hitting and theres a lot of players you can point your finger at. Pitching, Arrietta is having major issue's. Lester is the easiest pitcher to steal bases on. Lackey pitched good in Colorado but his best days are behind him. Lots of problems right now with the Cubs. I'm confident the team will improve. How much who knows.

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[chibears55]

Funny , I was saying everything CSF saying a couple weeks ago..

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[CSF77]

Funny , I was saying everything CSF saying a couple weeks ago..

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You were saying to toss him to Iowa. That is extreme.

The only way they do that is if they feel he needs to make a big adjustment and he needs to see a diet of lesser competition to boost his confidence. The problem is it would have the opposite effect.

I believe that what we saw with Heyward will hold true with Kyle. Season of failure and take that lesson into the off season and retool.

 

[CSF77]

Happ mite be a good fit at lead off but if your talking about a proven player he isnt. Schwarber has hit the ball hard the last few games but unfortunately didn't get anything out of it. He's gonna come out of it.
Most of the team isnt hitting well it goes way beyond the leadoff hitter. Does no good for the leadoff hitter to get on if the players after him dont hit him in. They are not hitting and theres a lot of players you can point your finger at. Pitching, Arrietta is having major issue's. Lester is the easiest pitcher to steal bases on. Lackey pitched good in Colorado but his best days are behind him. Lots of problems right now with the Cubs. I'm confident the team will improve. How much who knows.

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I don't disagree. But if you look at each player Ian fits the mold easier. So he doesn't have to approach his AB's diffrent. Kyle is a production hitter forced into a OBA spot. Dropping him down to #8 in front of the pitcher IMO is what they should do. Let him get his swing back at a lesser impact spot in the line up. They did this with Heyward to lessen the impact of his struggles also.

 

[fatbeard]

Do you give up on the season to get out of a slump?

"Give up on the season"?

Cubs are 3.5 games back with 125 to play.

Way to think it through.

 

[anotheridiot]

What can we say, the new kids are playing better than the old. Sucks about Schwarber, he wants the challenge while they are too worried about their 182 million dollar man slumping again after redeveloping his swing. At least you get some speed on the bases with Heyward. But Joe will continue to put the rookies at the pressure positions in the lineup while they enable Heyward to not earn his keep. Now Happ is showing how little they needed Heyward last year.

Both Joe and Jake thought Arrieta had his best stuff all year. I guess you could say the same about Wainwright, the cubs just did not take advantage.

 

[CSF77]

"Give up on the season"?

Cubs are 3.5 games back with 125 to play.

Way to think it through.

I look at the trends.

No hitting.
Spotty pitching.
Injurys vs no injuries last year.
No staff ace/stopper stepping up.

This team is far from a sure thing. That said, I do believe that the talent will let them hover around 81 wins.

 

[CSF77]

What can we say, the new kids are playing better than the old. Sucks about Schwarber, he wants the challenge while they are too worried about their 182 million dollar man slumping again after redeveloping his swing. At least you get some speed on the bases with Heyward. But Joe will continue to put the rookies at the pressure positions in the lineup while they enable Heyward to not earn his keep. Now Happ is showing how little they needed Heyward last year.

Both Joe and Jake thought Arrieta had his best stuff all year. I guess you could say the same about Wainwright, the cubs just did not take advantage.

? Heyward should lead off. ?

He has never performed well hitting #1 in his career. That is why they didn't go there. I'm pretty sure if he suggested it they would concider it after he returns.

 

[chibears55]

You were saying to toss him to Iowa. That is extreme.

The only way they do that is if they feel he needs to make a big adjustment and he needs to see a diet of lesser competition to boost his confidence. The problem is it would have the opposite effect.

I believe that what we saw with Heyward will hold true with Kyle. Season of failure and take that lesson into the off season and retool.

Difference between Heyward and Schwarber is, Heyward was still helping them win games with his defense and was getting paid over 20 mil..
plus Heyward had a few seasons of success behind him..

Schwarber after his hot start hasn't done anything since in 300 or so AB ..
Nothing wrong with sending him down for a few weeks and let him find his groove there again ..

He young, it won't bruise his ego.
It seemed to be ok and helped when they sent Baez down



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[CSF77]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/93309482-132.html

 

[brett05]

If this team only wins 81 games, then they still win the NL Central IMO

 

[TC in Mississippi]

If this team only wins 81 games, then they still win the NL Central IMO

Probably. I still think they win 90-93 or somewhere close. It depends on whether they think they're competing for NL pennant or not and how aggressive they want to be at the deadline. The Central isn't a threat though and record or not they're a much better team than St. Louis in the end. Washington could certainly run away with the NL and be a heavy playoff favorite, but they aren't deep and injuries could hurt them. Baseball is an odd game.

 

[CSF77]

90 wins the central. When the Reds and Mil are the staples there is a problem.

 

[CSF77]

What can we say, the new kids are playing better than the old. Sucks about Schwarber, he wants the challenge while they are too worried about their 182 million dollar man slumping again after redeveloping his swing. At least you get some speed on the bases with Heyward. But Joe will continue to put the rookies at the pressure positions in the lineup while they enable Heyward to not earn his keep. Now Happ is showing how little they needed Heyward last year.

Both Joe and Jake thought Arrieta had his best stuff all year. I guess you could say the same about Wainwright, the cubs just did not take advantage.

Jake 2016 H/9: 6.3. 2017: 10.6. That is the issue. He is throwing more strikes but they are very hittable strikes. Which means his command is way off. His control is still good due to him pounding the strike zone but his command is off due to missing his pitch location in the zone.