IST: Pirates vs Cubs

[SilenceS]

I asked that very question earlier. Can this be lumped on to Davis? There are certain things I question but it's not only him but Mallee as well....like why they never take the inviting bunt into the shift. I'm certainly no expert but it seems to me that if you know something is coming, you make some sort of an adjustment for it. I would make these guys practice bunting till their hands bled. You bunt them out of that shift and force the other team to counter.

Won’t happen. Many articles have been written on major league teams do not want the players approach to change. We aren’t the only team who gets shifted on and they do the same thing. Kids are taught launch angle and power. It’s the way the game has evolved and it isn’t going anywhere in the next decade.


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[SilenceS]

Something I was thinking about last night is the quality of the central. There are not easy wins for Chicago or MIL vs these teams. Pitt has taken a chunk out of MIL as well. CIN isn't "good" but they can still take games off you better than some teams will. The central has 4 of the top 7 teams in the NL which is pretty nuts. The distance pitt is from the dodgers is almost the distance the dodgers are from the cubs.

Another thought I had re: the bullpen is in the playoffs the cubs will get a bit of help. Monty shifting back to the pen is a useful piece. It's not going to be a great situation without Morrow and hopefully strop returns but chavez, edwards, wilson, strop, monty and cischek shouldn't be *that* bad.

Na, I have been told all year the Cubs were lucky to be in a mediocre division


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[Diehardfan]

That philosophy and change would be more on Maddon and Epstein than it would be Davis or Mallee. Also, take into consideration from a hitter's perspective that a bunt isn't going to get down all the time, so instead of allowing a batter to see a pitch and time movements to a pitcher, they've wasted that opportunity. A bunt in that situation of nobody on does nothing a walk can't. It puts a guy at 1B. I'd tend to want to have the opportunity to do more damage in the AB. That said, RH batters should be raised to spray all over the yard. LH can pull the ball more, but they do have an advantage to drop a bunt occasionally. If I were an upper level FO, I would employ the occasional bunt up and down my team's farm system.

The thing is that it doesn't even have to be a good bunt. I'm thinking Rizzo and Schwarber...the 3B is well off the line, you can bunt it as hard as you want, just need to keep it fair and far enough away from the pitcher. Make them play defense. Think about recent games around the league, balls are being tossed nearly everywhere. Most outs these days stress no one...bunts down the 3B line have both the pitcher and the 3B (who's closer to SS) running away from 1B just get to the ball. Stressful for all involved. But you are correct, it should have been started a long time ago before these guys became millionaires who are now more concerned about driving the ball than what has potential. If it's my team, anybody that steps in the batters box has to be able to get a bunt down....it's not hard. I might have been the worst hitter to ever pick up a bat, but even I could bunt.

 

[Parade_Rain]

The thing is that it doesn't even have to be a good bunt. I'm thinking Rizzo and Schwarber...the 3B is well off the line, you can bunt it as hard as you want, just need to keep it fair and far enough away from the pitcher. Make them play defense. Think about recent games around the league, balls are being tossed nearly everywhere. Most outs these days stress no one...bunts down the 3B line have both the pitcher and the 3B (who's closer to SS) running away from 1B just get to the ball. Stressful for all involved. But you are correct, it should have been started a long time ago before these guys became millionaires who are now more concerned about driving the ball than what has potential. If it's my team, anybody that steps in the batters box has to be able to get a bunt down....it's not hard. I might have been the worst hitter to ever pick up a bat, but even I could bunt.

Bunting isn't as easy as you appear to be representing. Sure, it's fairly easy to bunt a 90 mph FB with no movement, but that isn't likely a MLB pitcher. Try bunting off Yu Darvish or Aroldis Chapman. That Freeman bunt last night was outstanding.

 

[Diehardfan]

Bunting isn't as easy as you appear to be representing. Sure, it's fairly easy to bunt a 90 mph FB with no movement, but that isn't likely a MLB pitcher. Try bunting off Yu Darvish or Aroldis Chapman. That Freeman bunt last night was outstanding.

It's relative. I never faced any high calibur pitching but these guys are professional hitters who have faced good pitchers for many years...it should not be that difficult for them. Besides, they wouldn't be doing it every AB and would have the element of surprise working for them....first pitch would be good as would 3-1. If they go for it and it's a tough pitch, you pull back and try it in another AB.

 

[Parade_Rain]

It's relative. I never faced any high calibur pitching but these guys are professional hitters who have faced good pitchers for many years...it should not be that difficult for them. Besides, they wouldn't be doing it every AB and would have the element of surprise working for them....first pitch would be good as would 3-1. If they go for it and it's a tough pitch, you pull back and try it in another AB.

And the pitch was just wasted going through the timing of the eyes and hands.

 

[Holy Cow]

Anyone else find the Bryant hit by pitch a little peculiar?Milw tv play by play announcer Anderson(who is one of the very few Brewer media contingent that isn’t petty or biased)mentioned the other night that Pitts was looking forward to coming to Chicago and doing some damage.Not an odd statement in general..just found the tone coming from him interesting..he’s not one to stir the pot so to speak.Thought coming into the series that Javy(too obvious?)could be targeted based off what happened early in the year vs Pitt.Not sayin Archer was directly involved but wouldn’t doubt if Hurdle planned going inside on a key player as long as the opportunity presented itself...4-0 lead mid inning with one out and bases empty would work.So was this a Clint Hurdle version of dirty deeds done dirt cheap...Let the conspiracy sheet fly!?

 

[Omeletpants]

Anyone else find the Bryant hit by pitch a little peculiar?Milw tv play by play announcer Anderson(who is one of the very few Brewer media contingent that isn’t petty or biased)mentioned the other night that Pitts was looking forward to coming to Chicago and doing some damage.Not an odd statement in general..just found the tone coming from him interesting..he’s not one to stir the pot so to speak.Thought coming into the series that Javy(too obvious?)could be targeted based off what happened early in the year vs Pitt.Not sayin Archer was directly involved but wouldn’t doubt if Hurdle planned going inside on a key player as long as the opportunity presented itself...4-0 lead mid inning with one out and bases empty would work.So was this a Clint Hurdle version of dirty deeds done dirt cheap...Let the conspiracy sheet fly!��

 

[anotheridiot]

Anyone else find the Bryant hit by pitch a little peculiar?Milw tv play by play announcer Anderson(who is one of the very few Brewer media contingent that isn’t petty or biased)mentioned the other night that Pitts was looking forward to coming to Chicago and doing some damage.Not an odd statement in general..just found the tone coming from him interesting..he’s not one to stir the pot so to speak.Thought coming into the series that Javy(too obvious?)could be targeted based off what happened early in the year vs Pitt.Not sayin Archer was directly involved but wouldn’t doubt if Hurdle planned going inside on a key player as long as the opportunity presented itself...4-0 lead mid inning with one out and bases empty would work.So was this a Clint Hurdle version of dirty deeds done dirt cheap...Let the conspiracy sheet fly!��

I would not put it past the chew gum like a horse ass hole Hurdle. Its when Archer has pinpoint control and a fastball goes into the hands that makes it seem like there was some purpose.

Probably helped the team out since KB is scuffling so much. I just hope KB has that surgery that is needed on his shoulder right after the playoffs so it does not drag til june of next year.

 

[Diehardfan]

And the pitch was just wasted going through the timing of the eyes and hands.

Well, yeah but how is that any different than them looking at center cut fastballs then swinging at a pitch 6 inches outside? Look, I'm not calling for a change of life...just a few bunts every now and then into a wide open side of the field. But, you're the guy that knows hitting...maybe I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Please go 8, Lester. This bullpen is a disaster.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Well, yeah but how is that any different than them looking at center cut fastballs then swinging at a pitch 6 inches outside? Look, I'm not calling for a change of life...just a few bunts every now and then into a wide open side of the field. But, you're the guy that knows hitting...maybe I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

You aren't keeping up with the latest research. I wouldn't want my focus changed like that often, if I'm a LH slugger. I'll post the link later. At a fall scrimmage right now.

 

[CSF77]

Please go 8, Lester. This bullpen is a disaster.

Q got pulled after 74. You give him 100 that puts the game in the 7th with Chavez.

So that was part of the problem for sure. Joe needs to get 100 pitches in.

Other than that Edwards is a time bomb. I honestly don’t want him as a Cub next year. Disappointing but that is the norm vs the exception in self development

If anything needs a overhaul this off it is the pen. I’m pretty much thinking Monty staped as the mid inning guy with Chavez offered a deal.

Chatwood youare stuck so might as well fix him.

Strop make the closer. Morrow set up. More stable.

Smyly replacing Wilson. At worse push.

That leaves some interesting AAA arms as depth.

 

[TL1961]

Contreras finally gets on and is thrown out on the bases.

Jon Lester scores from 2nd, however. ?

 

[TL1961]

6 innings.
No runs.
3 hits.

Jon Friggin’ Lester !

 

[chibears55]

2 post on the game..
Lol

 

[Ari Bear]

Lester's done we need to get some runs, I don't trust our pen.

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[Chief Walking Stick]

Good start by Lester. Nothing special, but he did the job.

Cringing hard at every pitch from the Cubs' bullpen.

LETS GO!

 

[chibears55]

...

 

[beckdawg]

magic number is now 3