IST, Cubs @ Wrigley North Brewers

[anotheridiot]

Ill never forget Maddon yanking him in the WS. Except we won that game.
Does Hendricks have a history of falling off a cliff after 5? Why is the Hendo leash so short?

He pulled Darvish after 77 pitches last game. I think he has breweritis where he thinks the strength of this team is the bullpen. The other day when Chatwood was pitching, Wick had a Lester-esque warmup session where he must have thrown 200 pitches, then was not even the first guy he used.

After that double switch the other day when he did not realize Rizzo was tossed from the game, it always seems like the next few games he tries to prove why he should be managing. Pen was rested from an off day and then night game, they have an off day after this series. It was that same befuddled look like when Pedro pulled the hamstring running to first base. Hey, theres a thought......

 

[anotheridiot]

And how about the stroke of Genius putting KB in the 3 hole.
15 games, slash line of .375/.420/.750/1.220 and starting to get comparisons to doing better than his MVP season so we better get him the hell out of there.

 

[Diehardfan]

I guess you're a Cards fan? The same fanbase who gave death threats to Heyward when he dared not accept your contract? No fan base is more anal implosive than the Cardinals. It's all fun now..but you guys are insane psychopaths when things aren't going good.

Nope. He's a White Sox fan. They tend to migrate here at this time of the year.....their team is once again dead meat and the Sox Forum is a ghost town. That's the thing about Sox fans....they are happier to see the Cubs struggle than their own team win.


They are a silly group.

 

[Diehardfan]

I don't remember anyone here saying it's fine. If you're paying attention the weaknesses are obvious.

I believe Meatball JimJohnson has said it multiple times but then again.....you probably knew that before you posted.

 

[CSF77]

And how about the stroke of Genius putting KB in the 3 hole.
15 games, slash line of .375/.420/.750/1.220 and starting to get comparisons to doing better than his MVP season so we better get him the hell out of there.

I tend to agree. Javy was raking in the 2

 

[CSF77]

Well Happ sucks at Fielding.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1154911583300149248

 

[Raskolnikov]

Nope. He's a White Sox fan. They tend to migrate here at this time of the year.....their team is once again dead meat and the Sox Forum is a ghost town. That's the thing about Sox fans....they are happier to see the Cubs struggle than their own team win.


They are a silly group.

Good, but to clarify slightly we are waiting for the tight wad owner who runs "family businesses" to die so the Sox and Bulls can make baseball and basketball decisions again, respectively, on the court/field, but moreso with in house management and scout firings.

The Sox could compete again if they ponied up for a pitcher or two, but that won't happen and we will begin to watch these young hitters get older with no backing and miss their prime. Sometimes it can take a while for a man to die...so yeah...I would love to have the Cubs "problems" and watching the tears of disillusioned panty waists is more fun than watching my team give up 8 runs per game.

 

[CSF77]

Good, but to clarify slightly we are waiting for the tight wad owner who runs "family businesses" to die so the Sox and Bulls can make baseball and basketball decisions again, respectively, on the court/field, but moreso with in house management and scout firings.

The Sox could compete again if they ponied up for a pitcher or two, but that won't happen and we will begin to watch these young hitters get older with no backing and miss their prime. Sometimes it can take a while for a man to die...so yeah...I would love to have the Cubs "problems" and watching the tears of disillusioned panty waists is more fun than watching my team give up 8 runs per game.

Sox are pretty much set up to succeed. You can't just plug a group of adapting players in and expect a champion.

Theo drafted polished hitters and they advanced quick. But not every one proved to be outstanding. Bryant was the exception.

But it takes a bit of everything. I do think that they should make a run at MadBum. Having a lefty stud to stablize their young rotation is worth the investment.

But I wouldn't blame R-Dork. That rebuild was needed and it came at the right time. CLE is going to fall off the map with payroll issues. Minn has a window but their draft success has been meh. They are not going to pull off a splash move.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Sox are pretty much set up to succeed. You can't just plug a group of adapting players in and expect a champion.

Theo drafted polished hitters and they advanced quick. But not every one proved to be outstanding. Bryant was the exception.

But it takes a bit of everything. I do think that they should make a run at MadBum. Having a lefty stud to stablize their young rotation is worth the investment.

But I wouldn't blame R-Dork. That rebuild was needed and it came at the right time. CLE is going to fall off the map with payroll issues. Minn has a window but their draft success has been meh. They are not going to pull off a splash move.

I know the Sox way a bit. I am with the rebuild, my belief in them to buy the piece or two to finish and tweak it is low, we will see but expect Abreu to go, and then never to go after the MadBum or Bauer or Keuchel or what have you to solidify the rotation.

 

[CSF77]

I know the Sox way a bit. I am with the rebuild, my belief in them to buy the piece or two to finish and tweak it is low, we will see but expect Abreu to go, and then never to go after the MadBum or Bauer or Keuchel or what have you to solidify the rotation.

Keuchel would also be a decent target.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Keuchel would also be a decent target.

my standard isn't even elite. Its just decent. A functional reliable veteran arm that knows what its doing.

Maybe it doesn't matter if they don't change the aerodynamics back...you can't sink the fucking seams...basically pitching is dead and everyone is playing in Coors Field this year due to a manufacturers probably cost cutting efficiency decision.

And what are they playing in Coors Field? I don't know but the line everyday here in Vegas is +-14 and it usually goes over.

Its worth thinking about, as it may have effected a guy like Strop more than others for some reason. What pitches does he throw and how have those guys been effected around the league?

In some respects...you almost have to throw pitching stats out for 2019 if they do indeed fix the ball. If they don't, god help us...

poor Kyle Freeland (who may be a cheap fixable target to go after if they reverse the ball manufacturing, get his ass out of space ball)

 

[CSF77]

Most pitchers that have been successful have gone to a 4 seem to keep high in the zone to counter the uppercut. Hendricks's change up keeps hitters off balance. He doesn't sit on a 2 seem. He also will mix in a cutter, 4 and a curve.

Strop's basic problem is it is either fastball with a sink or a slider. They both are going to drop. One more than the other. So a hitter with a uppercut swing it is going to be in his wheelhouse 40%. He has gone over 50% sliders now because his 2 is a pitch that will get smoked.

Now he still has velocity and IMO if he would just scrap the 2 and use a cutter grip instead. He should be able to spin a 89 cutter and counter it with a slider that breaks further. So that gives the hitters more variance to deal with due to pitch velocity and movement.

If stays status Que at his age he will be out of the majors next year.


Another thing he could do is use the same release point on every pitch. Up and in. That way a 4 seem would push them off. Cutter would bite for a called strike. Slider would sweep to down and away. Adding and subtracting from the slider would cause a low strike to a dirt ball

I'm pretty sure that he could pull it off.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Going to the game tonite ???????????????????????????

 

[anotheridiot]

I tend to agree. Javy was raking in the 2

What the flying **** tonight,

Garcia
Contrares
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Heyward
Happ cf
Schwarber
Lester

Well, I guess he put Bryant back in the 3 hole, other than that, Maybe Rizzo needed to be pushed down to fifth.

 

[CSF77]

What the flying **** tonight,

Garcia
Contrares
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Heyward
Happ cf
Schwarber
Lester

Well, I guess he put Bryant back in the 3 hole, other than that, Maybe Rizzo needed to be pushed down to fifth.

Well at least that is new. We will see if it does anything.

 

[CSF77]

1. Fan of Schwarber #8. All that dude does is take walks. In front of the pitcher he will get pitched around.

2. Happ in front of Schwarber. Means that he will get pitches to hit.

3. Baez dropped down. Extends the line up. It has been a rich man poor man halves.

4. Garcia #1. IDK honestly. Might as well at this point. Lead off has been the major issue and if he gets a ripe 1st pitch fast ball make sure to clock their stupid mascot on the slide.

 

[Fred Garvin]

1. Fan of Schwarber #8. All that dude does is take walks. In front of the pitcher he will get pitched around.

2. Happ in front of Schwarber. Means that he will get pitches to hit.

3. Baez dropped down. Extends the line up. It has been a rich man poor man halves.

4. Garcia #1. IDK honestly. Might as well at this point. Lead off has been the major issue and if he gets a ripe 1st pitch fast ball make sure to clock their stupid mascot on the slide.

Schwarber is an emotional fans connection...due to World Series etc. but he's a LIFETIME .229 hitter. This year .223. Last night he did as expected and struck out in his only at bat. They send Russell down while he's hitting .246...but "Schwarbs"? ...always a threat to hit a home run i guess...but he is what he is...and it's been years of the same thing with him. Then Theo expressed hope and faith in Descalso...who is hitting .104 the past 2 months. It's this kind of waiting around that kills this team. It did last year. We saw it. We saw it with Strop last night and it cost us a critical road game. As soon as I heard Strop was warming up and getting ready to come in I KNEW we were in trouble. 1st pitch he nails a guy. Then..cuz he can't friggin throw a strike he over compensates and lays a cookie across the plate for the game winner. Just move on from unproductive guys who are killing us.

 

[MDB111™]

What the flying **** tonight,

Garcia
Contrares
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Heyward
Happ cf
Schwarber
Lester

Well, I guess he put Bryant back in the 3 hole, other than that, Maybe Rizzo needed to be pushed down to fifth.

Bryant and Contreras have raked against Anderson. Rizzo, Hayward Schwarber have done terrible. Should be interesting

 

[Fred Garvin]

We have Bryant, Rizzo, Conteras and Baez in the line up...and none of them do ANYTHING last night. Bryant had a couple hits...but in this juiced ball season especially we NEED more power from him. The one guy who did anything last night was Bote...who lingers with a .250 average and marginal, occasional power...but we NEED these big hitters to step up and do something in these big games. Baez 0-4, Rizzo 0-4 last night..Contreras..0-4...C'mon. Sometimes you NEED a big smack over the fence...like Goldschmidt is doing for Cards. Gawd it so frustrating hearing about how great these guys are and watch them continuously fail in these big games. It seems the bats just die at Miller Park. I think we had that one big game where we scored 14 runs early in the year...but outside of that...we can't do jack at that park...and these are very important games. There was a series last year there...where I think we scored 2 runs the whole series. I don't have the answers to fix this...it's on them...but damn...c'mon guys.

 

[CSF77]

Schwarber is an emotional fans connection...due to World Series etc. but he's a LIFETIME .229 hitter. This year .223. Last night he did as expected and struck out in his only at bat. They send Russell down while he's hitting .246...but "Schwarbs"? ...always a threat to hit a home run i guess...but he is what he is...and it's been years of the same thing with him. Then Theo expressed hope and faith in Descalso...who is hitting .104 the past 2 months. It's this kind of waiting around that kills this team. It did last year. We saw it. We saw it with Strop last night and it cost us a critical road game. As soon as I heard Strop was warming up and getting ready to come in I KNEW we were in trouble. 1st pitch he nails a guy. Then..cuz he can't friggin throw a strike he over compensates and lays a cookie across the plate for the game winner. Just move on from unproductive guys who are killing us.

Batting 1. 108 wRC+
Batting 8. 147 wRC+

IMO gets in his head to be a run vs drive one in