Time: 6:05 PM CT
TV: ESPN, CSN
Series Preview
Gameday
LINEUPS
Jose Reyes, 3B
Curtis Granderson, CF
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
James Loney, 1B
Neil Walker, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Michael Conforto, RF
Rene Rivera, C
Noah Syndergaard, P |
Tommy La Stella, 3B
Kris Bryant, RF
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Willson Contreras, C
Jason Heyward, CF
Addison Russell, SS
Miguel Montero, C
Jake Arrieta, P |
Will the Cubs win? No.
538 Forecast: 3% chance of winning
With the ascension of Contreras, what are the odds that Schwarber gets starts at Catcher in 2017? Torn ligaments are hell on a knee, and they can probably more comfortably put him in LF, with Contreras as primary C and Montero backing up.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’d think that it’s not very likely Schwarber gets any starts behind the plate. I think I read they were still committed to him as a catcher, but I’m not sure I buy that. I’m not even sure how committed they were to him behind the plate even if he didn’t injure his knee.
dmick89Quote Reply
He could be the team’s emergency catcher. Maybe they revisit it down the road, but I think the goal is to get him back and healthy as an outfielder.
dmick89Quote Reply
That was my supposition as well. Really looking forward to an OF of Heyward, Schwarber, and Almora.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’m still not sold on Almora, but if there’s a lineup that can afford to have an all defense kind of player, it’s probably the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
At this point, that could be two all defense Ofs
BerseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
It accomplishes what Heyward/Fowler was supposed to do this year at any rate, namely reducing the range Schwarber needs to have in LF.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Berselius,
Good point.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jake is looking sharp.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I thought Len said the other day that Contreras was going to catch this Arrieta start.
dmick89Quote Reply
Good idea. Hit it to center field.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Come on, Ben.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sheeeeeeeeeit. Gotta cash in against a guy like Thor.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Good Jake is good.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Heyward mystifies me. He’s built like Ken Griffey Jr. but does absolutely nothing with it at the plate.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Come on, Miggy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow, that sucked.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
What the fuck, Russell?
dmick89Quote Reply
Bad baserunning by Russell.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Bad by both of them in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Not a huge deal in Heyward’s case, since there should have still been a runner on third with one out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Also, I don’t know if the contact play was on.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
You see dat Heyward guy? Wack ‘um.
uncle daveQuote Reply
What a waste
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
True. It was way worse in Russell’s part. Still think Heyward fucked up though.
dmick89Quote Reply
First team to score wins.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I think the Cubs will get 5 hits in an inning before they score.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo is swinging at a lot of bad pitches.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
There’s your run, Jake.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I’ll take it.
dmick89Quote Reply
That’s why I don’t buy the “don’t make the third out at third” line.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It’s a stupid saying, but that was a pretty safe risk for Contreras.
dmick89Quote Reply
I wish Montero didn’t suck this year.
dmick89Quote Reply
Arrieta crushed that.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Maybe he and Ross did some soul-swapping thing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I would like one of our deadline moves to be trading Montero to a different playoff team.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Out
dmick89Quote Reply
That’s a shame.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sometimes I really miss the days when the umpire’s call stood.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Mets hitters must be in a hurry.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jim just mentioned that Arrieta has a shot at a Maddux. I really enjoy the Cubs announcers.
I also assume Jake’s about to give up a run.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Jake could go 10 innings tonight and need to throw a side session after the game to get to 100 pitches.
dmick89Quote Reply
Keep making Thor work.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryant is no Heyward.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
Too bad the Cubs didn’t score a run in the 1st it 2nd when they had a great chance to.
dmick89Quote Reply
It’s nice to have Jake back.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, then Jake could got the complete game win he richly deserves.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Golden sombrero.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugly night for Rizzo.
dmick89Quote Reply
Please be good Strop.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Please score some runs.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Feel like it’s going to take a home run for the Cubs to win this one.
dmick89Quote Reply
Will Heyward hit 10 home runs this year?
dmick89Quote Reply
*checks scores of Cardinals and Pirates games*
mobile daveQuote Reply
I hate replay.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was a terrible call.
dmick89Quote Reply
I miss when Rondon had two strikeouts per inning.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
That was way back when the Cubs were good.
dmick89Quote Reply
Someone tell the Cubs Rivera can’t hit.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rondon doesn’t give up many runs, but every single one seems to cost the Cubs the game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
Rivera, Billy Hamilton… I just don’t get it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Runs, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I fucking hate the Mets. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Didn’t Familia do this to the cubs recently in New York?
dmick89Quote Reply
Can’t believe Reyes fielded that.
dmick89Quote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
You have got to be fucking kidding me.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I told myself I wouldn’t get my hopes up in the bottom of the ninth. Then they loaded the bases with none out. I allowed myself to think, “Maybe they’ll pull this one off, after all.” When will I ever learn?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs are very, very good at wasting scoring opportunities. Of all the things they are good at, I’m not sure they excel at anything as well as they do that.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ninth inning rallies: Lucy holding football
Me: Charlie Brown
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
13 base runners in 9 innings. That is all.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Game Summary:
The good: Jake, Willson
The bad: literally everything and everyone else.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
The only one who scores does so on an error.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope all the Cubs hitters pitch in to buy Jake a gift. He deserved better.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Only one that really matters is Jake. Losing tonight sucks, but nobody will remember that shit if Jake is back.
(dying laughing), nobody will remember it even if he isn’t.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Why did we have to miss Kyle Lohse in the Rangers series? I’d much rather have faced him than Hamels.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Maybe we’ll get lucky and get Lincecum with the next Angels series.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Did we win?
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
yeah it was really exciting. they were down 2-1 but loaded the bases with no outs. i shut the game off since i figured a sac fly (at the very least) was a foregone conclusion. so yeah, i’m fairly certain they won or at least went into extra innings. because really, what kind of assholes don’t score in the bottom of the 9th with no outs and the bases loaded?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
yesterday wasn’t a total loss. the eugene emeralds showed how much they are embracing the organizational philosophy by walking 17 and only striking out 7. a k/bb ratio of 0.42 is really good right?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
If this were a season in which wins didn’t matter, I’d be inclined to agree. In some ways, I miss 2014.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
To put it another way, my confidence in Jake’s abilities didn’t increase by one win over a mere seven innings. He was fun to watch, though.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
At least they kept their K’s down. Squad goals!
EdwinQuote Reply
Cubs ace on the mound today!
berseliusQuote Reply
Something pretty awesome – Baez is at 230 ABs in 2016 at the MLB level and has a 22% K rate, his lowest as a professional.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Yeah, his strikeout rate is much improved. I wish his ability to walk was too. It’s still terrible and he’s probably a platoon player at this point, but he is a great defensive player. The Cubs are collecting quite a few great defensive players who aren’t all that good at hitting (Baez, Almora, Russell, Heyward).
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/mets-cubs-game-thread-7-20-16/
dmick89Quote Reply