OSS: Cubs cruise to victory, and Kyle Schwarber is going to bring down the house on Friday.
Three+ up:
- Who else but Kyle Schwarber, he of four regular season PAs, would be the one to drive in multiple runs in this game? This is unreal and makes me even more excited for next year. The Cubs scored 808 runs in the regular season they might have outscored the Rockies with the War Bear in the lineup most days. He had two singles up the middle and drew a walk, working deep counts against all of the Cleveland pitchers yet again. I would be beyond shocked if he does anything more than pinch hit at Wrigley, but what the hell do I know anyway, I thought it was ridiculous that he would even be on the roster. Shut me right up.
- Anthony Rizzo also had a great game, working a roughly ten pitch at bat against Trevor Bauer in the first inning before smacking a double to get the Cubs off to an early lead. Rizzo walked in each of his next two at bats and came around to score on both.
- Ben Zobrist continued his hot hitting streak with two hits, including a single in the third inning rally that helped lead to the Cubs second run and a ‘triple’ in the fifth that probably should have been ruled a double and an error that drove in the Cubs third run. He appears to be locked in right now, and having a few extra guys get hot at the same time is certainly helping the Cubs melt the ice under their treads from game one.
- We got Good Jake tonight, though not Efficient Jake. I heard on the radio towards the end that this was the fourth deepest a pitcher has gone with a no-hitter in the World Series since Don Larsen‘s perfect game back in the 50s. It was clear that Jake wasn’t going to go the distance, but I’d still chalk it up as a great outing despite the fact that it felt like it could fall apart at any moment. Effectively wild indeed.
- Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman pitched the back half of the game without too much drama. Montgomery in particular seems to have become Joe’s fireman out of the pen, and he’s almost been using him like Francona has been using Miller this postseason. One might call him Miller Lite.
Three down:
- I can’t even complain about anyone here. Everyone in the starting lineup contributed with at least a walk today. Soler hit into a double play in the fourth in what was the Cubs only super negative play.
- Javy had a bunch of bad whiffs today, but his glove is keeping him in the lineup the rest of the way if nothing else.
- We have to wait another day for more World Series Cubs baseball.
Next up: Kyle Hendricks faces off with Mike Timlin Mike Tomlin Josh Tomlin at Wrigley on Friday night, 7:00 PM CT
Comments
3 more.
mylesQuote Reply
dmick89Quote Reply
The Best Fans in Baseball like to make Schwarber fat jokes: http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2016/10/26/13429192/world-series-game-2-open-thread
Also, the two seam fastball was invented by Chris Carpenter:
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Well, Schwarber does enjoy feasting on Cardinals pitching, as I recall from last year’s NLDS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
To be fair to BFIB, I don’t think they’re saying Carpenter invented the two seam fastball, just that Carpenter used a similar two-seam fastball/cutter/slider/curve combination. Which is fair, I think.
MillertimeQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
They’ve earned their egos. The Cardinals did, after all, narrowly escape losing the division by 20 games. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fact-checking-jake-arrieta/
(dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
That scbwarber pic is so perfect on many levels
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Everything’s coming up Ryno
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=16616055
oogQuote Reply
berselius,
Last night’s game was long, but it didn’t seem nearly as long as some of the other Cubs games this postseason in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
It felt like the longest non-extra inning game to me, but that was probably just because I had a 2 hour drive ahead of me after the game and wanted to leave sooner than I did (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, but I think that may be because it started (and therefore ended) earlier. That and Pedro Baez wasn’t pitching.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Everybody knows the two-seamer was invented by Greg Maddux.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
So was the change up and pitching. It’s a neat fact that nobody in baseball pitched before Greg Maddux. Sure, there were throwers and some came close to pitching, but none did so there you go. Sound smart with your friends.
dmick89Quote Reply
This place is just blowing up with comments after a Cubs win.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Millertime,
I drove everyone away with my Miller Lite joke.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’ve decided that I like this year’s team. They’re pretty good.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Millertime,
They could have done a lot better. They lost 58 fucking games. That’s probably more than the Patriots over the last decade.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs_in_5
SKQuote Reply
The Cubs just picked a good year to lose that many games.
dmick89Quote Reply
Maddon says Schwarber will play outfield if he gets clearance.
dmick89Quote Reply
Yeah, I might just wait until the rest of this WS shows up on Netflix so I can binge the rest of the games at once. Not really appointment tv.
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
If Schwarber wasn’t fat and lazy we may have won a few more.
WaLiQuote Reply
Can’t decide if this is a terrible idea or Joe just covering his ass or something. It me the naysayer though.
berseliusQuote Reply
I loved Schwarb-o-meter yesterday (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Schwarber is like that intern at work that shows up at some guys retirement party just to get cake
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Part of me thinks it’s stupid, but another part of me thinks about the worst could happen is he re-injures the knee. He’d probably then be ready to DH in a possible game 7 given his healing abilities.
dmick89Quote Reply
Apparently Schwarber is loosening up in the outfield. Crazy.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Most of those games were just Maddon resting the regulars, though. I think they only lost 2 or 3 games with the A-squad.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber was not cleared to play outfield. I think that’s good.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, I’m fine with that unless it means more Chris Coghlan.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
That’s what the liberal media wants you to believe.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Coghlan, Soler, I honestly don’t see much of a difference to be honest. I think both of them suck and it’s hard to believe a 103 win team has to carry two or three players who suck. I’d just play Heyward and he sucks at hitting.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’d play Heyward, too (and pinch-hit if I needed offense).
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I ilke Coghlan okay against right handers, but have no idea why Joe put him and Soler in RF instead of left.
berseliusQuote Reply
What if Joe put Schwarber at 1st and Rizzo in LF (dying laughing)
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Your other scenario was too unbelievable.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I honestly don’t think there’s a plausible argument for starting Coghlan over Heyward. Even if you think Coghlan is a better hitter (quite a stretch, imo), Heyward is a vastly better fielder and baserunner.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think maybe I should get the start in RF.
MillertimeQuote Reply
He’s posted a ~.340 wOBA in his 2.5 years with the Cubs.
(sweeps stats with Oakland under the biggest rug he can find)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
(dying laughing)
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sooooo… Obligatory Sammy-World Series piece here…
No comment on the last two grafs.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cubs-icon-in-exile-sammy-sosa-1477584078
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Ringer mlb show had an interesting interview with the Cubs mental skills guys
https://theringer.com/ringer-mlb-show-podcast-baseball-b581848ebe6d#.fl8dj23ap
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Any word on their dancing skills?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Fuck the Wall Street Journal, the Cubs, and Al.
SKQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I fucking love this team.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I don’t really understand the logic in making a distinction between hitting and running the bases, and playing the field.
Running the bases, there is a chance to fall, collide with a person or a base, get twisted up in a slide, take turns hard putting pressure on leg joints, etc. You can of course “take it easy” to avoid some of that, with the trade off that you might reduce runs scored or increase outs on bases.
Playing left field, all of the above are also in effect. And there is also the option to “take it easy” to avoid some of it.
What is so much more dangerous to a newly-healed knee in fielding compared to baserunning?
SKQuote Reply
The one clear difference is he’d be on his feet longer. That’s about all I can figure (assuming he has the option of being cautious when warranted).
SKQuote Reply
he’s pretty much running in a straight line on the base paths, but more likely to have to make lateral movements and stuff while fielding. Grass is also probably more dangerous to run on than the infield.
berseliusQuote Reply
SK,
I don’t know. I was thinking about it too and I didn’t have the kind of doctors or probably as severe a tear as Schwarber, but I was trying to compare it to my own recovery. It was easier for me early on to jog very short distances without pain and I’m guessing there’s just more overall movement in playing the field. However, he did make that sharp cut after he was nearly TOOTBLAN’d off of second base. I think he could probably do it, but I’m not sure it’s worth the risk.
I know Schwarber said when knee feels good, but I’m betting there’s some normal pain there too and that normal pain can really hurt.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
Good point about the grass. It’s definitely more likely to cause him to slip.
dmick89Quote Reply
Even if your assessment is that they’re of equal risk, playing the field increases the overall risk.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
If Schwarber would just hit some dingers then running the bases wouldn’t be a risk at all. No idea why Joe isn’t calling that play smh.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Right. It’s like when Joe didn’t call for the 6-run play in the first inning of game 1 and look what happened. It was the obvious play call in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
We Got This
SKQuote Reply
Thinking about injured guys playing rec league, they often have more trouble running bases than standing in the outfield picking their nose.
I don’t see the grass thing, unless it’s really long grass. I guess it’s true that movements could be less linear, but again, baserunning isn’t always a straight line.
I’m not questioning the doctor here, btw. I’m as amazed as anyone he’s been allowed to play at all.
SKQuote Reply
It’s probably much easier to take it easy on the bases than it would be in the field. We’ve talked about this over the years, but most batted balls don’t actually require the runner to go all out. There would be more of a chance that he could end up going much faster than he should be going in order to chase down a ball.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Ya. Taking it easy on the bases probably doesn’t hurt the team’s chances of winning too much. Being a statue in left field could cause much larger issues.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Speaking of, it sounds like Santana is playing LF tonight. He hasn’t played anywhere other than 1b since 2014, and has just four career innings in the OF, back in 2012.
berseliusQuote Reply
With the way the wind’s supposed to blow out, he may not have to make many plays.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s gonna be a long night.
berseliusQuote Reply
#misleading
RynoQuote Reply
berselius,
I’m cautiously optimistic.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I am (dying laughing) right now
WaLiQuote Reply
I’m uncautiously optimistic. The Cubs are winning tonight.
MillertimeQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/Aisle424/status/792036521406758912
SKQuote Reply
So the Cubs are gonna hit 10 HR off Tomlin before he can get an out, right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It could go either way
berseliusQuote Reply
Can everyone start leaving comments about anything so I can pass the time for the next 2 hours? I’m literally watching the minutes go by and am out of material to read about tonight.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Don’t tell us what to do
berseliusQuote Reply
Thought – although Cubs won’t have Schwarber as DH, the NL rules might help the Cubs if Francona puts Andrew Miller in a high leverage situation during the middle innings. Let’s say in the 6th inning in a close game, Cubs get runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out. In this situation, Francona has shown so far that he would go to Miller for a multi-inning hold.
In this case, what if the pitcher’s spot is due up soon? Does he make a double switch, taking out a position player batting 1-6 and possibly hurt his chances on scoring runs in future innings?
It’ll be interesting if such a scenario plays out. In case you’re wondering, Miller has a .111 OPS and no at bats since 2011.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
To day’s World Series base ball squadron:
Fowler CF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Zobrist LF
Contreras C
Soler RF
Baez 2B
Russell SS
Hendricks P
Tomlin gives up a lot of HR and has a reverse platoon split, so I have to think the idea is to get 2-3 PA out of Soler and put in Heyward. I like it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
Fowler
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist (LF)
Contreras
Soler (RF)
Baez
Russell
Cyle
berseliusQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Bryant is due to hit a couple out.
dmick89Quote Reply
JonKneeV,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him lean towards having Miller bat for himself.
berseliusQuote Reply
Billy Williams ————> first pitch
Bill Murray —————> stretch
SKQuote Reply
What’s with the outpouring of sorrow for the death of Vine? You would think that video was disappearing from the internet, reading some of these articles.
GWQuote Reply
I’m amazed, it feels just like when some celebrity I haven’t thought about in a decade dies.
berseliusQuote Reply
Shoulda got Bill Pullman to go for the hat trick.
berseliusQuote Reply
Cleveland lineup
LF Santana
2B Kipnis
SS Lindor
1B Napoli
3B Ramirez
RF Chisenhall
C Perez
CF Naguin
P Tomlin
berseliusQuote Reply
I’ve got comments on both politics and religion, which would you like first?
MillertimeQuote Reply
Both. Tell me about Trump and the Evangelical vote.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I’m going to need some hot cast iron pan takes
berseliusQuote Reply
game thread up: http://obstructedview.net/world-series-game-3-indians-cubs-game-thread/
dmick89Quote Reply