World Series IGT: Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians Game 5

[Omeletpants]

I would go Ross. Contreras is unstable in pressure situations.

 

[ijustposthere]

I wonder if Maddon tinkers with the lineup and bats Schwarber 4th instead of 5th?

Doubt it. The main reason Zobrist was on fire in the first two games was because Schwarber was behind him.

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[ijustposthere]

I would go Ross. Contreras is unstable in pressure situations.

I'd also consider Ross, since Contreras isn't doing much.

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[ijustposthere]

Yes. Lester said he would be in the BP for Game 6 and 7 after last night's game.

Imagine how insulting that's going to be for the BP.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I'd also consider Ross, since Contreras isn't doing much.

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Ross has productive AB in pressure situations like last night's sac fly. He also can throw runners out, so there isn't a drop off like there is with Montero.

 

[ijustposthere]

Ross has productive AB in pressure situations like last night's sac fly. He also can throw runners out, so there isn't a drop off like there is with Montero.

I like him behind the plate as well. Contreras needs to do a much better job of blocking balls.

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[fatbeard]

Still trying to digest the point made earlier that Maddon should bring in inferior pitchers in an elimination game so that he doesn't hurt their feelings.

I mean, just...wow.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Still trying to digest the point made earlier that Maddon should bring in inferior pitchers in an elimination game so that he doesn't hurt their feelings.

I mean, just...wow.

It's simple really. That's how losers think.

 

[beckdawg]

This probably wont be a popular opinion but I would consider starting Zobrist at 2B for game six. Baez's defense is obviously great but the cubs need to score some runs in the first 5 innings and Baez has obviously struggled against breaking pitches. Cleveland is probably going to have another short leash with Tomlin. As a reference here, Tomlin throws 30.8% 4 seam fastballs, 38.2% Cuttters, 8.4% Sinkers, 14.9% curves and 7.6% Change ups.

Top cubs curve hitters on the playoff roster are
David Ross - wCB/C 2.63
Albert Almora - 1.98
Kris Bryant - 1.87
Jorge Soler - 0.94
Ben Zobrist - 0.87
Willson Contreras - 0.86
Dexter Fowler - 0.57
Chris Coghlan - 0.42

Baez has done most if not all of his damage vs fastballs. His -1.87 is one of the worst on the playoff roster. Doesn't help that Russell is -2.02. Soler also hits cutters and 4 seam fastballs well(1.69 and 1.41) so he would seem to be the most likely candidate to play LF if you go with this idea. He also went 2-3 starting in RF vs Tomlin in game 3. Given the volatility of Heyward I think you can make a case for Soler in RF again. My only thing there is I feel like Heyward is more likely to run into a walk than Baez and while it's obviously been a tough season on him he's hitting .273 in the world series vs Baez at .143 . Honestly wouldn't hate the idea of both Soler and Coghlan in he outfield either.

 

[DJMoore_is_fat]

I would go Ross. Contreras is unstable in pressure situations.

Good point. I amend my lineup to include Ross.

 

[Diehardfan]

Good point. I amend my lineup to include Ross.

I agree. Contreras has been a train wreck lately...someone said improving on blocking, hell that last PB was on a strike...he's having trouble just catching it. Jake isn't all that stellar in holding runners either which Ross would also help with.

 

[Diehardfan]

This probably wont be a popular opinion but I would consider starting Zobrist at 2B for game six. Baez's defense is obviously great but the cubs need to score some runs in the first 5 innings and Baez has obviously struggled against breaking pitches. Cleveland is probably going to have another short leash with Tomlin. As a reference here, Tomlin throws 30.8% 4 seam fastballs, 38.2% Cuttters, 8.4% Sinkers, 14.9% curves and 7.6% Change ups.

Top cubs curve hitters on the playoff roster are
David Ross - wCB/C 2.63
Albert Almora - 1.98
Kris Bryant - 1.87
Jorge Soler - 0.94
Ben Zobrist - 0.87
Willson Contreras - 0.86
Dexter Fowler - 0.57
Chris Coghlan - 0.42

Baez has done most if not all of his damage vs fastballs. His -1.87 is one of the worst on the playoff roster. Doesn't help that Russell is -2.02. Soler also hits cutters and 4 seam fastballs well(1.69 and 1.41) so he would seem to be the most likely candidate to play LF if you go with this idea. He also went 2-3 starting in RF vs Tomlin in game 3. Given the volatility of Heyward I think you can make a case for Soler in RF again. My only thing there is I feel like Heyward is more likely to run into a walk than Baez and while it's obviously been a tough season on him he's hitting .273 in the world series vs Baez at .143 . Honestly wouldn't hate the idea of both Soler and Coghlan in he outfield either.

I can't say I disagree with anything you posted but in my mind...the upgrade in offense would really have to be significant to out weigh the defense you'd be losing by benching Baez. I don't think the Cubs have anyone on the bench who's offense would be enough of an upgrade.

 

[beckdawg]

I can't say I disagree with anything you posted but in my mind...the upgrade in offense would really have to be significant to out weigh the defense you'd be losing by benching Baez. I don't think the Cubs have anyone on the bench who's offense would be enough of an upgrade.

Well my thoughts on the defensive loss is more that you play for the early lead before Miller/Allen come in and then once you get a lead you can double switch Baez in around the 5th or so inning or just flat out insert him. Ultimately, you have to do damage vs Tomlin because if you don't the changes of getting to Allen/Miller are quite slim.

 

[DanTown]

Tomorrow I'm going

Fowler CF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Schwarber DH
Zobrist LF
Soler RF
Russell SS
Contreras C
Baez 2B

You go with Baez over Heyward essentially because you need his defense on the tags with Jake pitching. You bat him ninth and hope he realizes that hitting ninth, his goal is to get on so he doesn't have to drive anyone in, just keep the line moving.

 

[FatBabiesHaveNoPride]

If the players don't perform, the manager is always going to get his ass handed to him. Is this the best ability you have to talk baseball?

The lack of any critical thought on this or any thread on this forum is baffling. I sure hope that none of you work in the business field or even operate heavy machinery. Then again 'Slurpee Machine Technician' probably doesn't require a lot of critical thought.

This wasn't a matter of pinch hitting the wrong guy or ignoring a righty lefty matchup. This was the decision to pitch a closer - who pitches one inning - for almost three full innings. A guy who, when his pitch count gets up, gets wild. A guy who has never thrown 42 pitches in the MLB. A guy who has his longest outting in 4 seasons

That's not the easy baseball call. That was a very risky move. It paid off but you dopes acting like it was some baseball absolute and a no brainier is just ridiculous.

But that won't stop the regular band of dipshits from claiming their positions on the baseball knowledge throne

 

[Parade_Rain]

The lack of any critical thought on this or any thread on this forum is baffling. I sure hope that none of you work in the business field or even operate heavy machinery. Then again 'Slurpee Machine Technician' probably doesn't require a lot of critical thought.

This wasn't a matter of pinch hitting the wrong guy or ignoring a righty lefty matchup. This was the decision to pitch a closer - who pitches one inning - for almost three full innings. A guy who, when his pitch count gets up, gets wild. A guy who has never thrown 42 pitches in the MLB. A guy who has his longest outting in 4 seasons

That's not the easy baseball call. That was a very risky move. It paid off but you dopes acting like it was some baseball absolute and a no brainier is just ridiculous.

But that won't stop the regular band of dipshits from claiming their positions on the baseball knowledge throne

I actually get paid to coach baseball. I also have about 100 or so employees working for me in a separate business. So what we'll do here is consider that not only is your baseball analysis not very good, but your arguments are juvenile, as well.

 

[DanTown]

The lack of any critical thought on this or any thread on this forum is baffling. I sure hope that none of you work in the business field or even operate heavy machinery. Then again 'Slurpee Machine Technician' probably doesn't require a lot of critical thought.

This wasn't a matter of pinch hitting the wrong guy or ignoring a righty lefty matchup. This was the decision to pitch a closer - who pitches one inning - for almost three full innings. A guy who, when his pitch count gets up, gets wild. A guy who has never thrown 42 pitches in the MLB. A guy who has his longest outting in 4 seasons

That's not the easy baseball call. That was a very risky move. It paid off but you dopes acting like it was some baseball absolute and a no brainier is just ridiculous.

But that won't stop the regular band of dipshits from claiming their positions on the baseball knowledge throne

Is there risk in asking Chapman to go for 2+ innings? Of course there is. There's risk in ANY move you make. But don't forget the situation that he was called in to face: there was one out and the game tying run on second base. I have no doubt in my mind that Arodlis Chapman can go 40-50 pitches on a given night if necessary. One, the man is a literal freak of nature (if you've ever seen him just in person, you'd doubt this guy was a baseball player as he looks closer to a basketball player). Two, at no point was Arodlis Chapman NOT the Cubs best pitcher when he was in the game. He was throwing 102 to Ramirez so he showed no signs of tiring and the Indians got one hit on him: a ground ball that's an out if Chapman covers the bag.

Who would you have pitched last night INSTEAD of Chapman with the season literally on the line? Saber guys have argued for years that teams do not use their bullpen/closers aggressively enough: that teams wait to "save" the game when the true save needs to happen earlier than the ninth. It does not surprise me that the Cubs, Indians, and Dodgers were some of the most aggressive guys at using their bullpen and were 3/4th of the Championship Series competitors. Chapman is really fucking good so even him tired after 30 pitches (which over multiple innings is such a laughably low number to be concerned about fatigue with for one game), I trust him more than anyone else on the roster.

I guess I'll ask: what was your great move that Maddon did not make last night? Leave Edwards in? Leave Lester in?

I'd also love to see your "gets wild with elevated pitch count" theory backed by actual stats. The irony of your saying ALL of us are devoid of "critical thinking" when you spout wild unsubstantiated conjecture is not lost on me.

 

[SilenceS]

Chapman is Maddon's best pitcher? Funny, I thought that was the staff ace who was actually already pitching in the game.

Chapman is a closer. A one inning fireball throwing mid season signing closer. He doesn't throw multiple innings. That's not what closers do.

His 42 pitches last night was the longest outing of his career. He made his earliest appearance in a game since 2012.

And we care about what he threw in the minors? Why not go all the way back to little league?

Even John Smoltz was talking about what a risky move it was. If it it backfired - either via him blowing the save or him having to be taken out for the bat and replaced with whom exactly (Strope? Rondon? Grimm or Wood who pitched the night before?) - people would be handing Maddon his ass.

But we shouldn't listen to John Smoltz or the other analysts we heard from post game. We should listen to smart forum guys.

“Chapman came in a did something he has never done before,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Joe Maddon told Chapman and other people Chapman could pitch in the 7th before the game.

 

[DanTown]

If they continue to be in a funk....what I'd really like to see is a few hit & runs. Get the infielders moving around, open up some holes...plus it could really create some havoc if the Indians are in that shift they've been using.

They have so much swing and miss in their bats that I can't imagine the Cubs ever doing this plus the Cubs simply don't have that many basestealers. One of the guys who does steal (Fowler) hits in front of your power hitters so you're not going to marginalize their bats. I think in the future (i.e not tomorrow night), Contreras and Russell will be guys the Cubs have no problem doing this with.

 

[SilenceS]

This probably wont be a popular opinion but I would consider starting Zobrist at 2B for game six. Baez's defense is obviously great but the cubs need to score some runs in the first 5 innings and Baez has obviously struggled against breaking pitches. Cleveland is probably going to have another short leash with Tomlin. As a reference here, Tomlin throws 30.8% 4 seam fastballs, 38.2% Cuttters, 8.4% Sinkers, 14.9% curves and 7.6% Change ups.

Top cubs curve hitters on the playoff roster are
David Ross - wCB/C 2.63
Albert Almora - 1.98
Kris Bryant - 1.87
Jorge Soler - 0.94
Ben Zobrist - 0.87
Willson Contreras - 0.86
Dexter Fowler - 0.57
Chris Coghlan - 0.42

Baez has done most if not all of his damage vs fastballs. His -1.87 is one of the worst on the playoff roster. Doesn't help that Russell is -2.02. Soler also hits cutters and 4 seam fastballs well(1.69 and 1.41) so he would seem to be the most likely candidate to play LF if you go with this idea. He also went 2-3 starting in RF vs Tomlin in game 3. Given the volatility of Heyward I think you can make a case for Soler in RF again. My only thing there is I feel like Heyward is more likely to run into a walk than Baez and while it's obviously been a tough season on him he's hitting .273 in the world series vs Baez at .143 . Honestly wouldn't hate the idea of both Soler and Coghlan in he outfield either.

He is not benching Baez.