OSS: Cubs hang on to send the series back to Cleveland.
Three+ up:
- Aroldis Chapman was the Cubs WPA leader (.404), and it’s not even close. Chapman slammed the door on the Indians, pitching 2.2 innings and striking out four. As has been well documented doing this is way out of his comfort zone, but you couldn’t tell tonight. There’s going to be all sorts of records broken for relief pitching contracts in a few months (dying laughing). Hopefully he’s good to go for more on Tuesday, thought probably not for nearly three innings.
- Kris Bryant broke out of his slump with a line drive home run in the third inning that got the Cubs rally going.
- Rizzo had a nice game as well, just missing going back to back with Bryant in the third and scoring on Russell’s infield single.
- Addison Russell had two hits, and great contact on at least one of the hundreds of lineouts to RF the Cubs have drawn up this series. His weakest hit ball was the most important one, because that’s the way this series has gone (dying laughing). He drove in Rizzo for the Cubs second run.
- David Ross just missed on connecting with a grand slam that would have brought the house down in his final game at Wrigley, but his sac fly ended up being the deciding run.
- Heyward struck out in his first three PAs, but made a great defensive play and made some action on the basepaths in the eighth while the Cubs tried to tack on some insurance. Too bad it was Chapman at the plate.
- The last three innings took so many years off my life that I completely forgot that Jon Lester was dealing today. He came out strong, getting tons of whiffs while striking out the side in the first. Aside from a random solo shot he was cruising all the way to the fifth, where he worked around a leadoff double and got burned by a stolen base in the sixth. Still, a fantastic performance all around.
Three+ down:
- Javy looked completely lost at the plate, striking out on pitches that crossed the plate in Milwaukee. He did have a slick bunt single though, and we got our requisite JavyTag. Still, I wish Joe had put Schwarber in for him when he came up in the eighth.
- I could list like fifteen other tactical things here for Maddon, who overmanaged the hell out of this game. But at least he made sure to lean on his best relief pitcher. Scan through the game thread for all of them, I’m too lazy to lay them out here. Or don’t, I can’t tell you what to do.
Next up: The season lives on with game six in Cleveland, and we get bonus happy bafflement at seeing Kyle Schwarber at the plate. Jake Arrieta takes on Josh Tomlin at 7 pm CT. Hopefully the Cubs don’t make him look like Cy Young again.
Comments
berseliusQuote Reply
Still can’t believe they won this game.
At no point did it feel like a W.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Disagree. I thought it felt like it was in hand all game. I mean I was shitting my pants the whole time but at no point did I think it was anything resembling despair.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
That’s exactly how it felt to me too.
Nate the old recalcitrant one from a long time agoQuote Reply
Gotta hand it to you. You’ve kept it on the sunnier side the whole way.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
So the team that scores first is 0–2 in the last two games. When the stat about teams scoring first being undefeated in the LCS and WS to that point flashed on the broadcast yesterday after the Cubs took the lead, I had an “oh fuck” moment. I am glad to have had a “fuck yeah” moment this time.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Francisco Lindor on Chapman:
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/31/sports/baseball/world-series-ticket-to-wrigley-fulfills-a-71-year-old-promise-by-brothers.html
berseliusQuote Reply
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Tip drill.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
They guy on the left looks like a happy bartman
SKQuote Reply
I’m going to be pissed if Timlin Tomlin shuts down the Cubs again.
dmick89Quote Reply
Extremely.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
THIS
…is what stands between the Cubs and Game 7
SKQuote Reply
Hopefully Fowler can get something going in the first because I want to shut that stupid Cleveland crowd up. If they beat Timlin Tomlin like they should, I can understand losing to Kluber. He’s a great pitcher, but the fucker that starts game 6 is below average.
dmick89Quote Reply
And a further reminder of just how dumb it was the Cubs blew game 3.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Is it weird that one of the happier moments of last night’s game for me was seeing Heyward blast the ball foul a couple of times before managing another hit?
Man, if he would just snap out of it for 2 games…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Also, watching Chapman pitch last night, I realized for the first time I will be pretty disappointed if the Cubs don’t re-sign him.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’d even take this
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
(dying laughing) actually, you’re right. Just a couple of good ABs. Ecstatic.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Yeah, with the uncertainty with Rondon and Joe seemingly trying to avoid using Strop, I think the Cubs really have to try pretty hard to keep Chapman. They also gave up a ton to get him and I don’t want that to become an annual occurrence.
dmick89Quote Reply
That was an old school save last night. I didn’t figure there was much chance of 3 runs winning the game after the Indians got a man on 2nd with only one out in the 7th. Chapman was impressive.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is perhaps the biggest reason of all.
And from what I can tell this team is positioned to have one more “peak” year before potentially facing a slight retool. Which is why I’m all on board for bringing back Dexter.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’m not worried about Rondon for next season, fwiw. I think he’s just rusty, he’ll have time to find his slider again in the offseason.
berseliusQuote Reply
After seeing Chapman do his thing in the postseason, it would suck to see him do it against the Cubs in years to come. I have to think the Cubs will spend what’s necessary to retain him or get Jansen. Money probably isn’t a huge factor for the front office at this point.
PerkinsQuote Reply
It was. He actually pitched too. Forget who it was, but Chapman tossed three straight sliders with a man on third. Only threw one of them for a strike, but it was enough so he couldn’t sit dead red, and once Chapman brought back the fastball, dude was cooked.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
In a row.
ceruleanQuote Reply
All the better. If Maddon can regain trust in Strop, then with Chapman retained (or Jansen signed), games are 6 innings.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
That was Lindor—a good fastball hitter who has killed the Cubs this series.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Chapman’s usage is interesting. If it takes him a while to warm up but he’s brought in at the start of the eighth, a six out save might be something he can do on a regular basis. That would make him nearly as valuable as a starter.
Could he handle 120 innings? I think so.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Bonus in this scenario—when the Cubs play screw the closer in their last at bat, Chapman still gets the save.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I think he could too, but I think the need for it in the regular season wouldn’t be that high if the Cubs are getting good stuff from the rest of their arms.
But starting in September, I’d definitely start ramping him up for the postseason.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I would like to see the Cubs groom the likes of Bailey Clark and Jose Paulino for two-inning stints like that—guys with stuff that don’t have an arsenal of pitches.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what you’d like to see the Cubs groom.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Bleh, BN is a dumpster fire again. Big argument about how Baez should get all the starts at 2B just because he tags good, and you’re “fucking crazy” if you think otherwise.
I’d ignore over there more but you lazy fuckers don’t post enough here. (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I go back and forth. Next year, if they were to do this, they should start in August to ramp up his innings. But if that worked with no adverse side effects, why wouldn’t he just do it all year. He would probably win the Cy Young. Imagine his value doubling his production. He is worth about a win by fWAR every twenty innings.
ceruleanQuote Reply
You’ll hear what I’d like to see the Cubs groom and like it—with your tiny thumbs.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
That’s the thing, adverse side effects. I really don’t know how his arm would handle a doubling of workload for an entire year, which is why I’m more for splitting the difference and ramping up during the stretch run and into the postseason.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Maybe it’s been said here (didn’t read every word), but one thing to consider with regards to Chapman and Jansen is that Jansen will also cost the Cubs a draft pick. Because of that, I’d rather have Chapman.
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
For sure. Ramp up over two or threes years.
The one horrible downside during such a transition, however, would be all the “will his arm fatigue because blabbering” narratives. But I am becoming convinced that the one-inning save prevents teams’ best players from playing, so I could tolerate that. He has a lot of strength and life in that arm.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I’m worried because forearm injuries often seem to be precursors to elbow ligament injuries. Also, as dominating as he was in the first half, the Cubs still shelled out a ton to get a closer.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
120 might be high, but I think the best relievers should be close to 100 innings at the end of the year.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
Another bonus: Joe gets to have more relievers bat.
dmick89Quote Reply
I wonder how much the past domestic abuse allegations will tamp down some of Chapman’s value relative to Jansen. While Jansen costs a draft pick, you can easily make the case that Chapman comes with far more risk. And while I certainly hope all of that will remain in the past (especially for his family’s sake), it’s not like that type of thing is usually a one-off. That has to be a serious consideration in any contract negotiation, even if he’s been a model citizen since then.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Sorry man. Once I had the neck/back injury a couple years ago, it’s been difficult enough just doing the minimum amount necessary. I’m like a lazy Latino except I’m a privileged, middle aged white man.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
It has to be a factor. Definitely, but I think that sort of thing is best left to those who have more knowledge about what’s happened before and since. If the Cubs re-sign Chapman (and I still think it’s been their plan all along to re-sign him if possible), I’ll assume they’ve determined it’s worth the risk.
It will surely cost him some money. He’ll be cheaper than Jansen. He’d also not cost the Cubs a draft pick.
dmick89Quote Reply
Also, using a guy two innings at a time means that he would go on average once every three games, but let’s be honest, there will be a few games that are blowouts or that the Cubs might be down in where Chapman wouldn’t get a decent opportunity to come in the game, or the opposite where he would need to go two or three days in a row. That’s why they have Edwards and Strop and Rondon and whoever else. Hell, Edwards may be a good candidate to also stretch to two innings. I don’t know about Strop and Rondon though.
ceruleanQuote Reply
SK,
I like that the ump is like “HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY” and about to high-five Rizzo.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/10/31/someone-made-a-wedding-registry-for-joe-buck-and-kyle-schwarber/
Have to say, I’m surprised someone didn’t do this for him and Kershaw.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No. It was the first time he looked like vintage Jason Heyward in a long fucking time. It was a great PA.
MylesQuote Reply
Josh Tomlin sucks. Let’s beat his face in.
MylesQuote Reply
Brett deciding to not have the comments autoload was an MVP decision that pushed BN forward to being the 57th best Cubs blog.
berseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing), no worries, man. I could always find something productive to do when this place goes quiet, and not lurk in meatheadville. I just can’t help myself sometimes.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I agree with this analysis and the recommended course of action. Cubs must atone for game three.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I haven’t lurked the comments there in months, but have a pretty good guess at who is leading this charge (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
I figure, if we get to seven, it will be a low-scoring ass-clencher the likes of which we’ve never experienced. Which is why I would like, one last time, to see the 2016 Cubs offense in all its glory against substandard starting pitching in game 6.
Plus, Tito has gotten away with chucking-out-crap-SP for far too long this postseason. A reckoning is in order.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Brett seems like pretty good people. Al Yellon as he should have been.
Unfortunately, he cannot police his comment section without wrecking the site.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
What’s craziest about the allegation is that without it, he’s probably a Dodger right now and the Cubs aren’t in the World Series.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
FWIW, I’m in favor of starting Baez because a) he’s good and b) it’s stupid to bench someone because he’s having a bad week. The tags are just gravy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I wish Soler were good enough to move Zobrist to second (making Javy a valuable bench piece), but I don’t think he is.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey guys, I just realized something: Jason Heyward is better than Moises Alou.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It would be one thing if the “bad week” was so out of character for Baez, but we’ve seen this from him plenty of times before. It’s still too much a part of who he is right now.
He should have a big role on the 2017 Cubs, but he shouldn’t get the lion’s share of 2B starts and PAs until his bat can force the issue more. That said, I really, really want it to happen. We’d have another 5-6 WAR player under 25 then.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
True. Ftr, I’m assuming the Cubs are going to make a push to keep Fowler right now. And a resurgent Heyward will be in RF again.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Right, we know he’s not a great hitter. We’ve learned nothing we didn’t already know. I think his overall game is strong enough to justify starting him on the current roster, though.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I love a roving Baez. Give him time at second when Lester and Arrieta are on the mound and against lefty-heavy lineups. Have him at third when Hendricks and others are on the mound. Give Russell an occasional day off. Keep everyone fresh.
Hell, move him around the infield based on the individual batter spray chart.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Right now I don’t think there’s much choice, so yeah. I’m thinking more about next year when Schwarber takes LF. For the last two games, I think you just take what Baez brings defensively and hope he runs into one at the plate.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
While we’re at it, the org should groom some LOOGYs and a ROOGYs and have them work really hard at outfield defense.
(Or convert defense-first outfielders with good arms)
ceruleanQuote Reply
My own guess at the Cubs squadron to-morrow
Fowler
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Schwarber
Russell
Contreras
Heyward
Baez
berseliusQuote Reply
The Cubs are sans Soler and Jimenez and Torres but plus Miller. So it evens out.
That Red Sox team sure is tough though.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Fuck it. If Maddon is going to hit them anyway, teach ’em to actually do it. They barely pitch so there’s time. Then you have a legit 12 man bench, which I think is what Joe really wants.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
If Theo were ever amenable to doing that, he would have done that regardless of Chapman’s availability, I think.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
So you ARE David Ross. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.
BVSQuote Reply
For such a brief sentence, it is richly evocative.
SKQuote Reply
Re: Baez starting.
I’m for Zobrist at 2nd tomorrow. Let Baez come in as a defensive replacement/pinch runner. Soler can start in LF. Soler has a little more patience at the plate and more power. His O outweighs the losses at D in LF and 2nd. It’s not like Zo is unable to turn a double play.
With Tomlin pitching, I load the offense up.
But this is the very reason I wish TLS had been on the WS roster instead of Coghlan. TLS at 3rd, Bryant in left, Zo at 2nd.
BVSQuote Reply
Bevis and Butted are all over it.
BVSQuote Reply
Argh. Autocorrect. But you probably know what I meant. Unless the reference is after your time.
BVSQuote Reply
Don’t sweat the autocorrect, I think we’re all familiar with 1980s AM talk radio legends Bemis and Butler.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
I don’t mind if Baez starts, but he’s going to get nothing but shit pitches 10 feet off the plate and he’ll swing at most of them. He’s in one of those zones where he has to swing at every fucking pitch regardless of where it is. Tomlin could throw it to the center fielder and Baez would swing like he’s trying to hit it 65,000 feet.
dmick89Quote Reply
is it 8pm tomorrow yet? no? ok.
how about now? still no? alright.
aaaand now? no? motherfucker.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
“Baez strikes out from the on-deck circle. That’s his 4th of the night.
I eat human skin.”
-Joe Buck, probably
MylesQuote Reply
http://www.isiteightpmtomorrowyet.com
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’d be happy with him being in the lineup but banned from swinging. He’d get at least two walks. From what we’ve seen, Cleveland’s catchers aren’t throwing anyone out stealing so that’s like two doubles.
Alternatively, tell him he’s not allowed to decide to swing until he actually sees the ball is heading for the strike zone. That won’t eliminate all the breaking ball whiffs, but it should decrease them by 85%.
SKQuote Reply
Honestly, he’s swinging before he even sees where the pitch is going. It’s a form of the yips, just manifested in a different way in the hitting environment.
SKQuote Reply
I think, as usual, that people are making too big of a deal out of what has happened recently. Baez has always been a free swinger. The past few games, Baez has swung at a higher percentage of bad pitches than usual. That doesn’t mean it’s going to continue.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez drew 12 unintentional walks during the regular season. It’s just who he is. He still had a pretty good year.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I agree. Good enough to keep the role he held this year. Not good enough, imo, to get the full-time 2B gig from the outset of 2017. If his bat continues to improve, I’m fine with him forcing his way into the everyday role at one spot. But until then, let him rove. He still got 450 PA this year (a few too many, imo). And I would like the Cubs to preserve their depth as well, which is another reason I think the Cubs should make a strong push for Fowler.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I think people are a bit more lenient of small sample variances when the offense is otherwise just fine.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yes, but in the regular season Baez would sit for a day or two after a streak of indiscriminate swinging. Then he’d come back reset.
And this
BVSQuote Reply
Comments 74-76…
Apparently I was the only one not working at work this afternoon. (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
I think Baez’s defense is good enough to keep him in the lineup for now, but against a right hander, I can easily see an argument that he could sit a day. That would be a lot easier if Tommy La Stella was on the roster, but that’s another discussion. Speaking of roster construction, why the fuck was Albert Almora on the WS roster? I can see it against the Dodgers with their lefty starters, but not the Indians.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think the argument was more as late game defensive replacement, I guess for Zobrist or Fowler.
berseliusQuote Reply
Contreras indeed catching tomorrow
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m thinking Schwarber being back in the line-up definitely helps the offense, and that Tomlin isn’t going to be able to keep this up. I actually expect the Cubs to win game 6 now, and then who knows what happens.
Nate the old recalcitrant one from a long time agoQuote Reply
A potential game 7 could go either way.
dmick89Quote Reply
You never know
berseliusQuote Reply
The thesis I’m correcting right now reminds me of Baez at the plate recently. Swinging wildly, making little contact.
But Baez doesn’t use 75 pages.
Late night bitchfest.
BVSQuote Reply
Cubs are still in the World Series.
SKQuote Reply
Man, the Cubs are really trying to torture you. They could’ve put you out of your misery two days ago, but they won just to make it hurt worse.
RynoQuote Reply
SK,
November baseball.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ryno,
I liked this comment, but then I rescinded it (the system won’t actually let me change it though).
If they lost game 5, I would have felt much worse. Similar to the feeling of getting swept in the NLCS last year.
With the game 5 win, it won’t hurt as much to lose 6 or 7. There was a sense of vindication or redemption with that win and seeing Cleveland unable to score more than two runs (whatever about Cubs O-struggles).
That’s my story and you can print it.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I feel the same way. I’m a bit sick of seeing the Cubs roll over once they get down.
dmick89Quote Reply
SK,
I’ll still be mad if they lose to Josh Fucking Tomlin again, but not as mad as if they’d lost in 5.
Though I can’t get too pissed off about anything regarding this season. It’s been a hell of a ride.
PerkinsQuote Reply
One happy coincidence is that Cubs World Series Game 6 day is the same as my annual eat candy all day long day.
SKQuote Reply
Losing to Josh Tomlin twice will piss me off.
dmick89Quote Reply
SKQuote Reply
I’d consider batting Schwarber second tonight to get him up in the first and maximize his plate appearances.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Both are doing a service to overall entropy by not making connections.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Game 6 fell on “Give two technical talks at a giant conference that you stayed up most of the night prepping for”, so at least I won’t be dwelling on the game, most of the day. The last one finishes up 15 minutes before gametime.
berseliusQuote Reply
he’s replaced jimmy carter as history’s greatest monster.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
berselius,
ouch
SKQuote Reply
this ignores the fact that things like sunday’s game have made this the most enjoyable season of baseball i’ve ever experienced.
a loss tonight would sting for about 10 minutes or 2 shots (whichever comes first) and then i would have nothing but fond memories from that point on. but they’ll win tonight so it’s moot.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
that actually sounds like it could have worked out much, much worse e.g. game 6 was last night and/or the last one was an hour later. but good luck.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Yeah, win or lose this series (lose seems far more likely), this was a great season. It was the best Cubs team in my life by quite a bit and was a lot of fun to watch. They we’re also easily the best team in baseball. I’ll be disappointed, but to be honest, I’m going to be a little disappointed if they win it in 7 games. Thrilled, but this series should not have taken the Cubs 7 games to win. I’ll be over a loss tonight or tomorrow the next morning. For that matter, I’ll also be over a win that quickly. It’s not like the cubs winning it all is going to change my life. It will have no meaningful impact.
dmick89Quote Reply
holy shit get the fuck out of here (dying laughing)
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
I mean I’ll be disappointed they didn’t win it sooner. The Cubs are so much better than he Indians. If they win game 3 like they should have, this series ends tonight like it should have.
dmick89Quote Reply
All your triumphs turn to ash in your mouth. Welcome fellow discontent. No wonder I feel so at home here.
And by “at home”, I mean nettled and despondent to the point of (dying laughing).
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8LaT5Iiwo4
MylesQuote Reply
You guys are so cognitive dissonance.
RynoQuote Reply
Wrong.
EdwinQuote Reply
Joe West behind the plate for Arrieta tonight is probably the thing that makes me most nervous (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Could also hurt Tomlin as his stuff isn’t nearly as good as Arrieta’s. If he has a smaller zone to work with, his curve may not play as well. Though that assumes the Cubs resume being patient. So it could go either way.
PerkinsQuote Reply
False.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Could be a short night for both starters, even relative to how short outing have been these playoffs
berseliusQuote Reply
Correct.
SKQuote Reply
Per NBC Sports, top of the lineup is Fowler, Schwarber, Bryant, Rizzo, Zobrist. Well, they didn’t say Fowler, but he’s probably a lock to lead off.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I like it.
dmick89Quote Reply
Agree on a lot of this. I’ll be momentarily speechless with joy should they win, might even get a little emotional, but a win won’t have the same impact on me it would have had had this org gotten it done when I was a younger man. All life problems will still be there when it’s over. I’ll enjoy a brief, very pleasant high for a few days, I imagine (I’d bet you’ll hang on to that nice feeling a little longer than a day, md), but the idea that everything will suddenly be different, life completely redefined in a way that means only awesome from here on out, well, that idea bit the dust a while ago (I know, I was silly to entertain it in the first place, but blame it on my youth).
Also, the game has been demystified. I no longer think the same things about baseball I used to, for better or worse. And because of that I’ve come to feel quite meh about the postseason, despite its obvious necessity, as it is a deeply flawed way to determine who the best team in baseball is, and its presence unjustly negates the greater accomplishment of being the best over a six month period. The Cubs are the best team in baseball, and that question was settled a long time ago. But it’s about to be deemed not true and the season a waste because of six (or seven) games. That’s incredibly unfair. Cleveland stands to have two “champions” that were not really all that close to being the best teams in their particular sports.
Maybe that’s sour grapes talking (and maybe I’m being premature), but even if the Cubs had won the WS last year, I would not have claimed they were baseball’s best team. Just the winners of a really weird fucking tournament that elevates the potential randomness of baseball (something the regular season is designed to weed out) above all else.
And I would have been speechless with joy anyway. (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’d have considered keeping Rizzo third after Schwarber, but I know that alternating lefties and righties is something managers try to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Nice snark.
SKQuote Reply
Can you imagine this line up with 2015 Heyward? Fuck.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
BFIB official party line is that the only thing that matters is a ring. unless your team loses to a team with a shittier record, in which case the only thing that matters is the record. and if your team doesn’t make it at all, just start writing racist shit on other blogs.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I can. Next year.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
To day’s base ball squadron:
Fowler
Schwarber
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Russell
Contreras
Heyward
Baez
Here’s hoping it’s not the last of the season.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Good lineup IMHO.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Makes me wish the NL would adopt the DH full time.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I’m not a DH booster, but the idea of having Schwarber in the lineup every day without his glove is irresistible.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I believe they call that “the will to win.”
PerkinsQuote Reply
Batting two pitchers in a DH lineup. Interesting tactic.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Has a team ever tried to use a DH to bat for a position player and let the pitcher hit as well (e.g., Heyward or Baez only plays the field and Arrieta hits for himself, with Schwarber as DH)? The rule seems to say specifically that the DH is for the pitcher.
PerkinsQuote Reply
SKQuote Reply
Perkins,
I don’t read the rules (uh, man), but I always thought it was not pitcher-specific. Which is moot, because until there comes a time when certain players are developed literally only for their glove, this implementation of the rule will never be needed.
SKQuote Reply
In fact, Maddon accidentally DH’ed for Evan Longoria in a game and the pitcher bat. Best part: the pitcher singled in that game. Definitely true. I would have considered DH’ing for Baez and letting Arrieta bat if it wasn’t a psyche-crusher.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Yeah, the blow to Javy’s confidence would be my main reason not to do that as well. But Arrieta can rake. (dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’d rather have Heyward and Baez over Arrieta.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://seattlesportsnet.com/2009/05/17/managers-blunder-forces-rays-pitcher-to-hit-third/
MylesQuote Reply
I seriously think that the hometeam should decide how many DHs can be used in the game. That number can be 0–9. There would be some fascinating consequences to this, but I think this front office could find some interesting ways to take advantage of it.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Perkins,
The DH can only hit for the pitcher.
(see rule 5.11: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2015/official_baseball_rules.pdf )
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
game thread will auto-post at 4:30.
dmick89Quote Reply
Have we forgotten Baez’s excellent playoffs (and pretty good regular season) already? Having Jake hit over Javy is absurd.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I can understand wanting a DH for Heyward. I disagree–emphatically–but I at least see where people are coming from since he’s struggled for a long time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I haven’t forgotten, but he’s also swinging at everything in this series. We’ll just have to hope Cy Tomlin hangs a curve or leaves a fastball in the zone for him.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Five bad games doesn’t make him a worse hitter than the starting pitcher.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m using this to time when to take the pumpkin seeds out of the oven.
time’s nearly up!
SKQuote Reply
game thread: http://obstructedview.net/world-series-game-6-cubs-indians-game-thread/
dmick89Quote Reply