IST: Cubs vs A's

[CSF77]

Throw this game in the trash.

I think that we can take this one as Underwood needs more opertunites now.

 

[JimJohnson]

Nice fallacy. This is an example of why you are the worst poster on CCS.

Says the guy who promised that Lovie would take the Illini to a bowl game by his 3rd season. LOL

 

[TL1961]

“Nothing is over until WE say it is!

Or Tony Kemp bats

 

[TL1961]

Lefties have been the thorn for the O. I still can't figure it out with Baez, Bryant,Nick all coming from the R.

Isn’t this the first lefty Castellanos has seen since joining the Cubs?

 

[CSF77]

Isn’t this the first lefty Castellanos has seen since joining the Cubs?

No.

 

[CSF77]

When Schwarber catches Davis you know it is garbage time.

AI must have been dancing in the 9th.

 

[anotheridiot]

When Schwarber catches Davis you know it is garbage time.

AI must have been dancing in the 9th.

No, I missed it, I am glad you brought it up so you know it all's can start apologizing that he would never catch again. Hell, you did not think he even had gear again.

I guess we will be signing Lucroy today. I cant think that Carrot tops catching hand is going to feel too good today after getting slid into and God forbid Schwarber has to catch in a real game.

 

[anotheridiot]

I guess Underwood deserved another shot before now too, huh?

 

[CSF77]

No, I missed it, I am glad you brought it up so you know it all's can start apologizing that he would never catch again. Hell, you did not think he even had gear again.

I guess we will be signing Lucroy today. I cant think that Carrot tops catching hand is going to feel too good today after getting slid into and God forbid Schwarber has to catch in a real game.

It was garbage time.

But this was talked about:

No more than five minutes after Willson Contreras came up hobbling in Saturday's Cubs win, there was Kyle Schwarber with a catcher's glove in hand.


Schwarber jumped at the chance to squat behind home plate, even if only to warm up a couple of Cubs relievers in between innings while Victor Caratini — Contreras' replacement — got his gear on after hitting.

You better believe Schwarber has been in Joe Maddon's ear, reminding him he can catch while the Cubs' depth is being tested with Contreras out for the next month with a Grade-2 hamstring strain.

"Oh he wants to play, man," Maddon said, laughing. "He came in after the game [Sunday] and talked to me about actually starting a game. He's ready to roll."

Maddon confirmed Schwarber would serve as the Cubs' emergency catcher over the next few weeks — a position he already filled even when Contreras was healthy.

The team currently has Caratini and Taylor Davis for depth and will likely add a veteran from outside the organization in some capacity.

Schwarber came up as a part-time catcher in the Cubs system, playing 72 games and more than 623 innings at the position. He also caught 21 games (15 starts) in his rookie season of 2015 before blowing out his knee in the collision with Dexter Fowler in April 2016.

Since then, Schwarber has not started a game at catcher in the big leagues, only seeing four appearances and seven total innings behind the dish (all of which came in 2017).

While the position's defensive requirements are obviously important, the Cubs also have to find a way to match the offense Contreras was putting up from the catcher spot (.890 OPS).

The lineup has been inconsistent all year, so would it be crazy to see the team get creative and put Schwarber at catcher and somebody like Ian Happ or Albert Almora Jr. in the outfield for an offensive-minded group? The Cubs could always swap out Schwarber for defensive purposes late in games and insert Davis or Caratini.

The short answer: Don't expect to see that.

"I think he'd like that," GM Jed Hoyer said with a smile. "I think we've always felt good about having that as a third catcher if something happened. Most teams have an infielder or something like that, but we have a guy that did it a lot in the minor leagues. He can certainly do it.

"I've always thought the challenge with that kind of thing is the bullpen. It's one thing to catch the starters; it's another thing to catch a series of relievers coming into the game throwing 97 mph. It's a lot different than playing in left field.

"He would do a good job if we needed him, but our goal here is to keep him healthy and keep his bat in the lineup. We made that decision to move him out from behind there for that reason."

Like Hoyer said, the Cubs haven't really considered Schwarber a catcher for years. Even before the devastating knee injury, they weren't sure he'd stick long-term at the most demanding defensive position on the field.

But hey, as Maddon always says, "necessity is the mother of invention," so maybe don't rule anything out over these next few weeks...

 

[CSF77]

Ross was talking about this subject on the ESPN game and of course he is 100% against the computer strike zone. But even he said that the demands of the job would downgrade to best stick. It would become another 1B position.

 

[CSF77]

I guess Underwood deserved another shot before now too, huh?

Underwood faced six batters and struck them all out after he came on for starter Jon Lester in the fifth inning. In doing so, he became the first Cub in the modern era (since 1900) to strike out every batter he faced and record six-plus strikeouts in the game.

“I didn’t know it was six until I got to the dugout and they said ‘Look at the board,’” Underwood said. “I thought that was pretty cool. I’m not trying to punch tickets. I’m just trying to get guys out. I’ve pitched to contact. I’ve struck guys out. Whatever gets the out is where I’m out.”

This was the 25-year-old’s first appearance of the season and second of his MLB career.

Underwood was 95-97 with his fastball and heavily used that pitch among his 29 pitches. He did get Mark Canha to strikeout swinging on a changeup for his final out.

“I know the score was not good,” manager Joe Maddon said. “They got a different attitude as offensive players, I think, a little bit, but to punch out six and they have a pretty good lineup. That was impressive.”

After Lester gave up 11 runs in four innings, the game was out of reach, but Underwood showed he could be a useful piece for the Cubs bullpen.

Lester joked Underwood probably should have started the game.

“I’ve always been impressed with his stuff,” Lester said. “He’s one of those kids you see and you see him work hard and you hope that he figures it out. I feel like he’s been given opportunities and he’s done well with them.”

Underwood was used as a starter in the minors until late May of this season. He had a 6.46 ERA in 10 starts in Triple-A Iowa, largely due to a lack of control (28 walks in 47 1/3 innings). Since moving to the bullpen in Triple-A, Underwood has had a 2.83 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 10 walks in 28 2/3 innings.

He credited Iowa pitching coach Rod Nichols with helping him transition to the bullpen. He said Nichols told him to stay aggressive when he comes out of the pen.

“I feel like I’ve been doing that since I’ve made the transition and it’s helped all my stuff play,” Underwood said.

 

[CSF77]

I'm pretty sure that Jr will be a prime go-to now with Joe. I was watching him pitch some while at the Gym. His fastball was alive and was darting around.

 

[SilenceS]

Q is very sharp early on. Lets get some runs

 

[zack54attack]

Pitching duel early on

 

[CSF77]

Wouldnt it be weird if this line up with Contreras vs Caratini becomes the staple for next year.

 

[zack54attack]

Javy!

 

[zack54attack]

Happ!!!!

 

[Briggs is GOAT]

Ian Happ baby let'sGOOOOO

 

[Briggs is GOAT]

Bailey started to crack last inning.

 

[SilenceS]

Happ telling Joe I am not going anywhere