IST: Cubs vs Mariners

[Diehardfan]

You are the whiniest and most negative little wienie I have ever seen

Gee, I wonder who that is aimed at.

LOL....the best thing about the new ignore, all I see is the shots and not the whines.

 

[Diehardfan]

No. Holland has no business in MLB

I was answering “where has he been” or whatever

No idea. I've never heard of him. Just saying with a curve like that, he should be considered for the LOOGY role.

 

[TL1961]

Lester gets out of 3 bases loaded jams. There's clutch hitting...and in this case clutch pitching?

Ended all three innings with a strikeout.

 

[TL1961]

No idea. I've never heard of him. Just saying with a curve like that, he should be considered for the LOOGY role.

I do think he has more potential than others with bad stats. He has higher ceiling/lower floor. If they fix him or teach him a new pitch he has potential.

 

[Parade_Rain]

You really shouldn't worry that people here said not to worry, you get so fucking mad.

JimJohnson will be fine.

 

[CSF77]

No idea. I've never heard of him. Just saying with a curve like that, he should be considered for the LOOGY role.

He has nothing on Wieck. This kid has a nasty curve. Add to it holds a 12 K/9 career mark and a 2.45 BB/9 career mark. That is set up quality.

He was the guy they traded Edwards Jr for. It looks like another smart move by Jed.

I can see the pen shaking up as Wieck and Wick setting up for Kimbrel. I believe that the LOOGY will die off next year with the 3 hitter min.

But the pen next year:

Kimbrel 9th
Wick SU
Wieck SU
Ryan MR
Phelps MR
Underwood Jr MR

After that they have to sort out Alzolay and Chatwood. Who goes where. Leaves one spot and you would want another lefty IMO. Another who gets both out not a LOOGY. The guy that I would like to see given a shot at it is Danny Hultzen. Was a top prospect then blew out his arm and is on the comeback in Iowa. 14.5 SO/9 5.7 BB/9 So he needs more command to be considered but I would put him in the Maples category ATM. 16.5 SO/9 7.5 BB/9

But you see Wieck's value here. He gets a strong SO rate with out being all over the place.

 

[CSF77]

The more significant changes will come in 2020. Most notably, all pitchers will be required to pitch to a three-batter minimum or though the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries or “incapacitating illness.” The rule was implemented unilaterally by the Office of the Commissioner.

Additionally starting in 2020, active roster limits will expand from 25 to 26 players for Opening Day through August 31. (Teams will be allowed a 27th player for doubleheaders.) Beginning in September, rosters will expand only to 28 players, compared to the previous mark of 40 players.

 

[CSF77]

So I'm seeing it shake out as 12 position players and 12 pitchers being the end mix going forward. Then in Sept there will be only 2 players added. Most likely bull pen arms to cut back innings pitched for these pitchers going into the play offs.

So looking at the Cubs roster

Schwarber, Heyward, Almora
Bryant, Baez, Russell, Rizzo
Contreras, Caratini

IF/OF:
Happ, Kemp

Really leaves one guy and they need a legit lead off.

 

[CSF77]

But take away from the game:

Zo: 1 hit 1 walk. 1 fake out to double off a guy on 2B.

Schwarber 3-3 in the 2 hole. Well Don't dislike this.

Castellanos 2-3 with 4 RBI. He leads the team in SLG. It felt like there was an opportunity for RBI's that were missing with him hitting #2. With Zo and Schwarber who both take walks ahead of him it could prove to be a smart move.
+
Rizzo 0-3. with a walk. Nothing to see here.

Contreras 2-3 with a HR. I would keep him and Caratini 50/50 right now. Keep them both healthy. Take advantage to the 3 catchers. Both are hitting well enough to justify a true split.

Happ 0-3 with a walk. Nothing to see here. Can play 3B also. Great bench player not a great starter.

Heyward 0-4 ya he needs to figure some stuff out and down here is a less evil spot. The glove justifies him being in the line up not the bat.

Russell 0-4 I really see him as a UI and not starting when Baez returns.
wRC+ Monthly break down
May 115
June 58
July 98
Aug 48
Sept 37

That is not starter quality

They get Baez back well...

 

[Parade_Rain]

The more significant changes will come in 2020. Most notably, all pitchers will be required to pitch to a three-batter minimum or though the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries or “incapacitating illness.” The rule was implemented unilaterally by the Office of the Commissioner.

Additionally starting in 2020, active roster limits will expand from 25 to 26 players for Opening Day through August 31. (Teams will be allowed a 27th player for doubleheaders.) Beginning in September, rosters will expand only to 28 players, compared to the previous mark of 40 players.

The only one that puzzles me is the rosters in September only expanding to 28.

 

[CSF77]

The only one that puzzles me is the rosters in September only expanding to 28.

What are September call ups?

Through the first five months of the season, each team is subject to a 25-man limit for the active roster. In September, the roster limit is increased to 40, so teams frequently begin promoting players to the big league roster once minor league seasons have completed in early September.

Wait, what? Why?

Not even baseball historians are entirely sure why the practice began, but it has been going on since the early 20th century. Mostly likely it began to reward players for a good minor league season and to get a look at players for next year. There have been calls to end roster expansionbecause it creates unfairly creates a new set of rules for the last, and most pivotal month of the year. But for now, teams can expand rosters beginning today.

Do September call ups accrue Major League service time?

Yes, September promotions still count towards the service time Major Leaguers accrue towards arbitration and free agent eligibility.

Does getting called up in September affect rookie eligibility?

If players are called up in September, the playing time could affect Rookie of the Year eligibility for the next year. A player is considered in his rookie year if he has at least 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched, or spends 45 days on the roster. However, September does not count for those 45 days in regards to rookie eligibility. So, unless he hits 50 innings, Matt Strahm will still be eligible for Rookie of the Year in 2017.

 

[zack54attack]

Nice 2-game sweep. I had to follow along on the app yesterday as I was in a fantasy draft. How did Zo look?

 

[SilenceS]

Nice 2-game sweep. I had to follow along on the app yesterday as I was in a fantasy draft. How did Zo look?

Professional at bats

 

[anotheridiot]

The only one that puzzles me is the rosters in September only expanding to 28.

About the only thing I agree with Len Kasper on is having an active roster for september games of 26 or 28 players, not this 35 shit. You can keep all 40 on the bench, but you have to turn in an active roster with your starting lineup for each game.
That seems like too easy of a fix to ever work.

 

[beckdawg]

Was reading a fangraphs chat today and this was brought up

Kiley McDaniel: I read an article about this years ago, but it basically said that Juan Pierre types (contact, low pitch per plate appearance) do proportionally more of their damage against good pitchers while Adam Dunn types (power, high P/PA) do it disproportionately against poor pitchers for this reason

This wasn't specifically about the cubs but I think it's an interesting take as to potential problems the cubs have had since they have heavily focused on the latter type more so than the former.

 

[beckdawg]

Also of note

 

[SilenceS]

Also of note

Schwarbs has been locked in.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Schwarber has flattened his arc.

 

[CSF77]

He has nothing on Wieck. This kid has a nasty curve. Add to it holds a 12 K/9 career mark and a 2.45 BB/9 career mark. That is set up quality.

He was the guy they traded Edwards Jr for. It looks like another smart move by Jed.

I can see the pen shaking up as Wieck and Wick setting up for Kimbrel. I believe that the LOOGY will die off next year with the 3 hitter min.

But the pen next year:

Kimbrel 9th
Wick SU
Wieck SU
Ryan MR
Phelps MR
Underwood Jr MR

After that they have to sort out Alzolay and Chatwood. Who goes where. Leaves one spot and you would want another lefty IMO. Another who gets both out not a LOOGY. The guy that I would like to see given a shot at it is Danny Hultzen. Was a top prospect then blew out his arm and is on the comeback in Iowa. 14.5 SO/9 5.7 BB/9 So he needs more command to be considered but I would put him in the Maples category ATM. 16.5 SO/9 7.5 BB/9

But you see Wieck's value here. He gets a strong SO rate with out being all over the place.

Further info given on Cubs site.


Chicago Cubs
TICKETS
SCHEDULE
SCORES
STATS

News
Cubs News
Ups and downs for Cubs entering stretch run
Schwarber's 33rd HR
Schwarber's 33rd HR
01:05
Sep. 3rd, 2019

By Jordan Bastian @MLBastian
September 4, 2019
Facebook Share
Twitter Share
Email
Copy Link
CHICAGO -- When the Cubs arrive at Miller Park in Milwaukee on Thursday, it will mark the beginning of a 24-game sprint to the regular-season finish line. Chicago has work to do if it wants to avoid another National League Wild Card Game and instead reclaim a division title.

"It's in our own hands," Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber said.

Chicago entered Wednesday's off-day three games back of the NL Central-leading Cardinals, whom the Cubs will face seven times within their final 10 games this season. Starting with this weekend's four-game set with Milwaukee, Chicago plays division foes 20 times down the stretch.

As the Cubs stare down that end-of-season slate, here are three positive developments and three causes for concern that have emerged recently.

THREE UP

1. Schwarber's approach

Schwarber has fallen into three-true-outcome mode plenty of times in his career. Mash a homer, draw a walk or go down swinging hard. As this season has progressed, though, the Cubs' left fielder has improved his plate discipline and cut down on the strikeouts. Take a look at Schwarber's monthly strikeout rates:

March/April: 29.7 percent
May: 27.7 percent
June: 26.1 percent
July: 19.5 percent
Aug.-present: 21.6 percent

Schwarber's rate of swinging at pitches outside the zone has dropped to 21.5 percent since Aug. 1 -- down from 27.7 percent in July and 31.4 percent in June. He has hit to the opposite field (29.9 percent) more often than in any other season in his career, too. Since Aug. 1, the result has been a .287/.392/.678 slash line for the Cubs.

Wick earns the save
Wick earns the save
01:03
Aug. 22nd, 2019
2. Wi(e)ck-ed curveballs

The Cubs acquired right-hander Rowan Wick from the Padres over the offseason, and he has emerged as a reliable late-inning arm this season. Chicago reeled in lefty Brad Wieck from San Diego at the Trade Deadline, and he has been an intriguing September addition. What do they have in common besides a last name that is pronounced the same? They both now throw a knuckle-curveball. The Cubs put both Wick (in Spring Training) and Wieck (last month) in their pitching lab and had them ditch the traditional curve.

"Once you get your pointer finger out of the way, we noticed that the spin rate went up," Wieck explained. "So I'm just trying to spin the ball better and with better spin efficiency. It was kind of a gyro spin -- my curveball was kind of spinning like a slider. We got the pointer finger out of the way, and now it's moving more end over end."

Wick's curveball has had an average spin rate of 2,583 rpm this year with the Cubs, compared to 2,298 last season with the Padres. Similarly, Wieck's curve has jumped to 2,360 rpm on average so far in September, compared to 2,174 earlier this year with San Diego. Both relievers are poised to factor into the Cubs' 2020 bullpen plans.