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In Game Threads by Obstructed View Staff142 Comments

Because I didn’t know what time the Cubs were playing tonight so you get one sentence preview that’s not even about the game.


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  1. Rice Cube

    Sam Fuld is like 0-for-the-weekend. Batting average now under .300, there was some Kryptonite in his Wheaties.

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  2. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Sam Fuld is like 0-for-the-weekend. Batting average now under .300, there was some Kryptonite in his Wheaties.[/quote]I think Fuld can maintain a pretty decent OBP because he has above average patience, but he has no power.

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  3. AndCounting

    I have never been more excited about a Cubs game. Even that one sentence not about the game is too much hype. (dying laughing)

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  4. Rice Cube

    Garza is 3 K’s away from tying Kerry Wood for most Cubs strikeouts in the month of April.

    Too bad he didn’t keep the ball down those last two batters.

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  5. Rice Cube

    That last pitch was down but caught so much of the zone. Garza’s mistakes are extremely punishable.

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  6. Horny Goat

    Garza should throw his slide piece more. His straight ball is too straight. I could hit that fucking thing.

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  7. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]I have never been more excited about a Cubs game. Even that one sentence not about the game is too much hype. (dying laughing)[/quote]Here at Obstructed View we’re all about hype. (dying laughing)

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  8. mb21

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Garza should throw his slide piece more. His straight ball is too straight. I could hit that fucking thing.[/quote]The slider is a nasty pitch, but other than velocity the fastball doesn’t have much to it.

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  9. mb21

    If we take Soriano’s April and say he batted the exact same the rest of the season, he’d be worth 1.8 WAR while hitting 60 home runs. (dying laughing)

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  10. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]If we take Soriano’s April and say he batted the exact same the rest of the season, he’d be worth 1.8 WAR while hitting 60 home runs. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    In that WAR calculation, are you using wOBA and his slightly inadequate defense? Serious question, not being snarky (I ask because I don’t know)

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  11. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]The slider is a nasty pitch, but other than velocity the fastball doesn’t have much to it.[/quote]
    He’s not locating his fastball well this year so far, but still, I wonder how he was so good for TB. Is the velocity down so much from 3 years ago?

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  12. Horny Goat

    [quote name=dylanj]he hasnt been bad for us HG. He’s a plus pitcher[/quote]
    I’m not slamming him too much. Wish he had more movement on that fastball.

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  13. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I’m not slamming him too much. Wish he had more movement on that fastball.[/quote]

    It seems his fastball tends to miss up. When even the pitcher gets good contact on that, it seems they should work on fixing that…

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  14. Horny Goat

    I think the pitch selection has also been suspect. I’ve seen many of Garza’s games since he came over. Wish they’d throw the slider on 0-2, 1-2 more often.

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  15. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]In that WAR calculation, are you using wOBA and his slightly inadequate defense? Serious question, not being snarky (I ask because I don’t know)[/quote]I just took his current 0.3 WAR and multiplied it by 6.

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  16. Rice Cube

    Is it possible that he was so fastball-heavy in TB because he wanted to induce flyballs in that cavern? And then never actually learned how to get good movement on it?

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  17. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Castro is good at sports.[/quote]
    I thought that first one was a gapper but the LF was playing way over. If he had a slight uppercut he’d hit more HRs, but I’m not complaining.

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  18. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Is it possible that he was so fastball-heavy in TB because he wanted to induce flyballs in that cavern? And then never actually learned how to get good movement on it?[/quote]
    my problem is I never watched many TB games except for the playoffs. that could be true though.

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  19. dylanj

    another start for russell on monday. the fucking cubs. all this talk of our minor system and they dont trust a single guy in the organization to spot start.

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  20. Rice Cube

    Just out of curiosity…how many HR do you think Soriano has to hit before fans actually like him again?

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  21. AndCounting

    Soriano is to home runs what Garza is to strikeouts. If you looked at just those stats for those two guys, you might think they were having great seasons.

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  22. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]another start for russell on monday. the fucking cubs. all this talk of our minor system and they dont trust a single guy in the organization to spot start.[/quote]Who exactly? We’ve gone over this before, but Jay Jackson is just off the DL. There’s literally nobody besides him and he’s only made 2 starts since coming off the DL.

    The I-Cubs rotation blows. JR Mathes has a 5.85 ERA, Austin Bibens-Dirkx is at 6.63 and then you have Robert Coello at 9.00 and Thomas Diamond channeling his inner Ryan Dempster at 9.92. Ramon Ortiz has been the best in terms of ERA at 4.15. He’s allowed 26 hits and 4 home runs in 22.1 innings though. And he’s a terrible pitcher.

    Not any better at AA either. Alberto Cabrera is at 4.71, Rusin at 5.68, Raley at 7.64, McNutt is returning from injury. Dolis has been good so far at 2.70. I don’t want to add a 22 year old to the 40-man roster for one or two starts.

    James Russell is the team’s only option. He or Samardzija.

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  23. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]HG, who is this color announcer for the Dbacks tonight? Any idea?[/quote]
    Joe Garagiola. I haven’t heard him do a game in like decades.

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  24. Rice Cube

    If they’re playing back with Castro on third, Baker should’ve bunted and they should’ve called a squeeze.

    Fucking Baker.

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  25. mb21

    The Cubs had really good depth entering the season, but 4 of them got injured. They had Dempster, Zambrano, Garza, Wells, Cashner, Coleman, Diamond, Russell, McNutt.

    Wells and Cashner are still out. McNutt and Jackson just returned. Wasn’t Diamond injured as well?

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  26. Berselius

    By Grapthar’s hammer, Soriano is on fire. Have any moran cubs fans pointed out that most of his HR has been solo shots? (dying laughing)

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  27. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]By Grapthar’s hammer, Soriano is on fire. Have any moran cubs fans pointed out that most of his HR has been solo shots? (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Some have actually been reasonable about noting that it isn’t Soriano’s fault that there’s nobody on base when he homers.

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  28. Rice Cube

    To be fair Soto has been sucking a bit, but I’m just astounded by the number of hard outs he’s hit into.

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  29. mb21

    Jackson threw 69 pitches in his first start and just under 90 in his next start. You’d have to add him to the 40-man roster, start his service time clock and limit him to about 75 to 80 pitches. It would be his first big league start so the stress would be crazy and it’s a much more difficult game. He’d be on a pitch count limit below his last start.

    I agree he could come up and give them 75 pitches, but I’d rather wait until he’s stretched out. That would be kind of messed up to call up a young pitcher making his big league debut two starts after returning from injury.

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  30. mb21

    If they called anyone up I’d call up Thomas Diamond. It doesn’t really matter to me though. Thomas Diamond and James Russell are about the same pitcher. Jackson probably isn’t even that much better.

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  31. Rice Cube

    I agree mb…I figured the continued Russell experiment at this point has to be borne out of necessity because not even the Cubs can be that stupid. It doesn’t make it a good choice though, just the only viable choice that won’t screw with a young guy with potential.

    One wonders if they’ll just option Russell down at some point when Wells/Cashner return.

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  32. mb21

    I don’t mind it either, RC. The Cubs had a flurry of injuries. It happens. When you’re down to your number 9 or number 10 starter he’s going to be pretty bad. You could take the Phillies and if you forced them to use their number 9 or 10 starter there’s a 99% chance he’s going to be pretty bad.

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  33. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]That has to be an error, right?[/quote]
    I think the guy has to actually touch the ball with his glove to be charged with an error. Which is dumb and also shows how subjective the “error” is.

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  34. AndCounting

    Matt Garza is having the season I thought Andrew Cashner would have. Pitch decent, never win.

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  35. Rice Cube

    Get two RBIs. Nothing.

    Misplay a double/triple…boo.

    Just on Facebook, but still extremely annoying. No love for Soriano.

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  36. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Get two RBIs. Nothing.

    Misplay a double/triple…boo.

    Just on Facebook, but still extremely annoying. No love for Soriano.[/quote]
    Since AC is here…

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  37. AndCounting

    He didn’t even misplay it, really, other than that he tried to catch it. If he had given up on it, and played the carom, he may have prevented the run, but it still would have pissed off the same people.

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  38. Rice Cube

    [quote name=AndCounting]He didn’t even misplay it, really, other than that he tried to catch it. If he had given up on it, and played the carom, he may have prevented the run, but it still would have pissed off the same people.[/quote]
    I can’t argue with you today.

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  39. AndCounting

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Jeff Baker is hurt![/quote]Blake DeWitt still won’t be able to buy his way into the lineup.

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  40. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]What happened to baker?[/quote]
    Back or shoulder problem.

    Bunting with Soto seems okay in theory but to me it’s really stupid even in the top of the 9th.

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  41. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing) at Q getting his money’s worth.[/quote]
    I wanted to see some bases thrown

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  42. AndCounting

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Back or shoulder problem.

    Bunting with Soto seems okay in theory but to me it’s really stupid even in the top of the 9th.[/quote]
    I can’t believe he bunted with Soto. If he wanted to move the runner, why not hit and run? Ugh. I hate that move.

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  43. Berselius

    [quote name=Horny Goat]agreed, AC. Swing away with Soto.

    Colvin was down 0-2 and worked a walk.[/quote]
    That was the best PA I’ve ever seen from Colvin

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  44. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Berselius]That was the best PA I’ve ever seen from Colvin[/quote]
    except for those monster HRs. I’d like to see more when June swoon Kosuke arrives.

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  45. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]Darwin Barney is a likable kid. He’s not short on confidence.[/quote]I agree. He’ll cool of a bit of course, but I like him. I’m glad the Cubs pretty much gave him the job and I’m even happier that he’s done so well.

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  46. mb21

    Bring Brett Jackson up and the Cubs middle of the field is awfully damn young All 4 in the middle of the field would be under 30.

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  47. Horny Goat

    what’s with all the throws in the dirt this year. can’t the cubs make it in the air once in a while? (dying laughing)

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  48. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Garza’s updated FIP number tomorrow is going to be pretty nice to see[/quote]It went up. 1.22 before the game and 1.25 after.

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  49. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]they should move him to second base (dying laughing)[/quote]
    He’d have gotten to that ball from RF (dying laughing)

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  50. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]It went up. 1.22 before the game and 1.25 after.[/quote]
    With 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, and no HR?

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  51. AndCounting

    Heard an interview with Brett Jackson on ESPN1000 this morning. Didn’t look like it was online last time I checked, but he’s a great interview. Obviously he should be a pretty exciting player to watch, too. There are reasons to be excited about this team, even if contention isn’t one of them. (dying laughing)

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  52. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]Bring Brett Jackson up and the Cubs middle of the field is awfully damn young All 4 in the middle of the field would be under 30.[/quote]
    When do you think Jackson will be up?

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  53. mb21

    I used a 3.11 constant because that’s what they’ve used so far on Fangraphs. It wouldn’t matter anyway. It would be higher regardless of the constant. His FIP in today’s outing using the 3.11 constant was 1.36. (2*3 – 2*10) / 8 + 3.11

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  54. Berselius

    I think what’s throwing me off is that his other outings were shorter, so his rate stats look even better in those.

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  55. mb21

    [quote name=AndCounting]Heard an interview with Brett Jackson on ESPN1000 this morning. Didn’t look like it was online last time I checked, but he’s a great interview. Obviously he should be a pretty exciting player to watch, too. There are reasons to be excited about this team, even if contention isn’t one of them. (dying laughing)[/quote]Yeah, especially if Cashner comes back and pitches well and they call up Jackson.

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  56. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I think what’s throwing me off is that his other outings were shorter, so his rate stats look even better in those.[/quote]Shorter and he struckout about 37 per 6 innings (dying laughing). 10 per 8 innings is under his season average.

    That’s ridiculous.

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  57. AndCounting

    (dying laughing) that Garza’s most efficient outing of the year came in Arizona’s detestable dry air.

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  58. Rice Cube

    Jeez. Soriano’s ISO is now at .355!

    Line is at .258/.278/.613…I calculated ISO correctly right?

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  59. GBTS

    [quote name=Horny Goat]who is that, GBTS?[/quote]Milton Bradley, who got tossed by the first base umpire while he was standing on second base. (dying laughing)

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  60. Horny Goat

    I’m sure most people would be rooting for Ethier IF he got close. HRs are the sacred record because it’s steroids. Anyone can get a hit, amirite? (dying laughing)

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  61. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I’m sure most people would be rooting for Ethier IF he got close. HRs are the sacred record because it’s steroids. Anyone can get a hit, amirite? (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Even Koyie Hill can get a hit here and there. But Koyie doesn’t need steroids because he is all heart.

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  62. bubblesdachimp

    Eduardo perez just referred to sorianos year as a contract year….

    PLEASE let him be true…

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

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