IST: Cubs vs Cards at wrigley

[brett05]

Very interesting. I'll have to look into this more. I appreciate the insight! In regards to the Cubs batting the pitcher 8th and a position guy 9th, Maddon had said he would do this when he didn't expect a starter to go deep into a game. This means that early in the season we can expect the Cubs to bat a pitcher 8th more often than mid-summer, as pitchers are still building up their stamina. Come mid-summer we should see a pitcher bat 8th maybe once every six or seven games would seem appropriate. Considering the current roster construction, the Cubs have immense flexibility. The double switch was implemented twice on Opening Night alone. It really played to Maddon's advantage.

I would say the opposite. Having a real hitter 8 instead of the pitcher cost the Cubs. The had scoring chances that got wasted with the pitcher. They even said they'd just walk the guy, but that changes things even if it's just four more pitches on the arm.

 

[beckdawg]

More PA's. More chances. One hit in the right time can change the game.

I agree but if this is the argument you're going with it should be that the #2 hitters sees more of these opps rather than just the #2 hitter hits 15 more times in a season. The problem with the idea that more chances = better is that it's first reliant on the player being healthy. If the player gets hurt for any real length of time that essentially nullifies the difference in PAs. You then need to argue that the #2 hitter has more quality chances. This may be the case. I don't know as I've not really viewed the data. I would comment that all of this is highly reliant on sequencing which anyone will tell you isn't very predictable.

Like I said, I'm not really against the idea. Really all I was trying to say is that if the main reason were more PAs it's a pretty inconsequential change. For a great player it's 5-6 more times on base over a season if they literally play every game. I'd imagine the larger scope of why to do it would be late inning positional changes more than anything.

 

[beckdawg]

Ok I'm going to fucking shoot myself I can only watch the game on fox sports MW these comentators are horrible

I get it on abc 7. For me that's be rebroadcast on WCIX

 

[brett05]

I continue my love fest with Jake. He's by miles my favorite Cub

 

[beckdawg]

If they don't get Soler in after a triple I might freak out. Be warned.

 

[LuvMyBears]

Oy they're making me nervous here!!

 

[SilenceS]

Well, a K may have not been the worse thing there. Those sinkers were nasty.

 

[beckdawg]

Ugh... you're killing smalls.... you're killing me!

 

[SilenceS]

Ugh... you're killing smalls.... you're killing me!

Yep

 

[beckdawg]

**** you local weather station for cutting into the game twice now not during commercial....

 

[LuvMyBears]

These at-bats are abysmal......yeesh!!!

 

[beckdawg]

That curve was nasty.

 

[LuvMyBears]

On the bright side though, Arrieta is dealing!!!

 

[beckdawg]

Nice hitting by Castro.

 

[LuvMyBears]

Finally!!!

 

[zack54attack]

That-a-boy starlin!

 

[beckdawg]

Nice execution between Cog/Montero.

 

[beckdawg]

Great Castro with an error. Now we get to hear about how he's not a SS more.

 

[LuvMyBears]

They can spin that if they want to by saying "it ate him up," but that should have been routine IMO.

 

[Diehardfan]

Just this situation makes me think it won't be very long till we see Russell back in the bigs. THe way Maddon uses a staff having two leftys in the pen is almost a must.