IST Pirates @ Cubs

[Shawon0Meter]

checked the score a couple times throughout the day and saw comfortable leads every time but i'm guessing Hendricks sucked, the bullpen sucked, and Rizzo saved the day

 

[chibears55]

Lost in that play. . Szczur needs a better swing then that on a 3 n 1 pitch.. twice he pops up with winning run on 3rd n 1 out

 

[Diehardfan]

Lost in that play. . Szczur needs a better swing then that on a 3 n 1 pitch.. twice he pops up with winning run on 3rd n 1 out

He's a borderline MLB player....I'd guess he was just glad to make contact.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

lol just watched the final play...amazing

 

[chibears55]

Tigers gotta help us out and beat up the Cardinals this weekend

 

[chibears55]

He's a borderline MLB player....I'd guess he was just glad to make contact.

Still if he swinging on 3 n 1 there, he better be swinging at a pitch he can drive..

 

[CSF77]

Wow. I'll take that sloppy win. It is becoming very apparent that when Lester, Arrieta or Hammel is not on the mound the O has to put up 6 plus runs to have a shot at winning.

They really need to bring another starter in to the rotation. I can go with 1 risk but not back to back risky guys. Taxes the pen too much.

 

[Diehardfan]

Still if he swinging on 3 n 1 there, he better be swinging at a pitch he can drive..

Yeah, I agree...it was a hitable pitch that a good hitter would've probably smoked. Don't think he's a real good hitter....probably headed out when Denorfia or LaStella comes off the DL.

 

[CSF77]

Same old thing. Both Hendricks and Wood are near 100 pitches by the 5th and they get raped for it. Then the pen has to put up 4+ innings 2 games in a row. Now we have to depend on Lester to put up 7 innings to right the ship.

 

[chibears55]

Same old thing. Both Hendricks and Wood are near 100 pitches by the 5th and they get raped for it. Then the pen has to put up 4+ innings 2 games in a row. Now we have to depend on Lester to put up 7 innings to right the ship.

shouldn't be a depend, but expected to go 7..
Lester being a TOR starter suppose to be going 7 + every game.

 

[CRM 114]

Nice win Cubs. I wish I could have watched it.

 

[beckdawg]

Same old thing. Both Hendricks and Wood are near 100 pitches by the 5th and they get raped for it. Then the pen has to put up 4+ innings 2 games in a row. Now we have to depend on Lester to put up 7 innings to right the ship.

I was following the game via stats so this might not be entirely accurate but seems to me Hendricks was fine until the 6th and he couldn't get himself out of it. Honestly, I feel like half the time the bullpen is it's own problem because usually someone like Motte gives up a couple of runs with no outs and then they have to call in another guy to get him out of a situation.

 

[Parade_Rain]

He's a borderline MLB player....I'd guess he was just glad to make contact.

He got in a bit of a rut. He needed to be thinking about setting his sights a little higher and staying above the ball.

 

[JimJohnson]

What do you think was going through Polanco's head when he tripped over himself and realized the ball was going to fall in behind him?

 

[Diehardfan]

Am i the only one wondering why Hurdle kept walking Soler in a situation where a strike out was in need? I don't believe anyone on the team has more Ks than the big guy in right.

 

[chibears55]

Baez lookn great in Iowa..
Maybe soon they might look to him for LF

 

[Boobaby1]

Baez lookn great in Iowa..
Maybe soon they might look to him for LF

Maybe soon they might look to trade him?

A pitcher seems to be the more pressing need IMO than a SS converting to LF part time.

I think they could look to deal him for some pitching help.......maybe.

Personally, I would much rather have a disciplined LH hitter like Schwarber manning LF if I had to choose one of the two, even though he may a year away.

 

[beckdawg]

Baez lookn great in Iowa..
Maybe soon they might look to him for LF

Is he really playing that much better than he did last year? He had a wRC+ of 108 last season in AAA and that includes his slow start. This season he has a 113. The one area where I feel you can say he's improved is his k rate is 5% lower. I still think you want to see more before you call him up again.

 

[CSF77]

I was following the game via stats so this might not be entirely accurate but seems to me Hendricks was fine until the 6th and he couldn't get himself out of it. Honestly, I feel like half the time the bullpen is it's own problem because usually someone like Motte gives up a couple of runs with no outs and then they have to call in another guy to get him out of a situation.

Hendricks was economical with his pitches last year. He recorded most of his out via ground ball. That is when he is at his best is when he locates his pitches and makes guys hit the ball where he wants them to. If the wind is blowing in make them put it in the air. blowing out keep the ball around the knee's. There is no need to try to be a strike out pitcher. That pushes up pitch counts faster than needed.

So he needs to have a plan and attack. Higher pitch counts tend to be from a passive approach. Playing around with the corners.

He lacks a knock out pitch to be dependent of the strike out. Arrieta's slider is a good strike out pitch because of it's late movement. Hendricks' best pitch is a change up. Not in the same class of pitch. So he needs to use his sinker more to induce ground balls and his change to alter speed.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

What do you think was going through Polanco's head when he tripped over himself and realized the ball was going to fall in behind him?