Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Pre Series Discussion Thread

[hardcorecubfan]

The Diamondbacks are a bad team that got lucky. You had better really hope your management sees that and doesn't use the success this season as a reason to stick with what they have. They need major upgrades if they are going to compete again next season.

 

That said, the portion of the season where being good matters is over. The Diamondbacks lucked into the playoffs, and they now have the same roughly 1/8 chance as everyone else, and if they win it, good for them.

 

don't underestimate the DBacks esp. if Webb is on, which he usually is, and don't under estimate our perpencity to look like we did in Florida.

 

It may sound like a cliche but like Bob said it is a whole new season, the stats out the window and hope the the cream rises to the top.

[hawkeyecub]

Some of you are just setting yourself up for letdown in my opinion. It's a 3-5 game series. You have no idea what may happen. Their top two starters have fared well against us. Who knows what Z may give us in game 1, but I do like that their lineup is more RH. Our offense is inconsistent.

Their closer is more reliable in a tight game.

 

I would rather face them than the Phillies, but I'm not overly confident and would never predict a sweep. It's tough to sweep the Pirates, Reds, Marlins or Nationals in the regular season.

 

The playoffs have proven to be a crapshoot.

[David]

Some of you are just setting yourself up for letdown in my opinion. It's a 3-5 game series. You have no idea what may happen. Their top two starters have fared well against us. Who knows what Z may give us in game 1, but I do like that their lineup is more RH. Our offense is inconsistent.

Their closer is more reliable in a tight game.

 

I would rather face them than the Phillies, but I'm not overly confident and would never predict a sweep. It's tough to sweep the Pirates, Reds, Marlins or Nationals in the regular season.

 

The playoffs have proven to be a crapshoot.

 

 

Of course the playoffs are a crapshoot. We know that. But the better team still has a better chance of winning (albeit slightly).

 

Could you really ask for better in terms of an opponent in the playoffs, though?

[jjgman21]

 

You guys also like to use the whole pythag stat a lot.

 

Check this out

 

 

I had not seen that article before. interesting, but has to be a little disconcerting for the DBacks as if they do fall behind early, they have a choice, allow the game to be put out of reach with meatballs, or burn up their quality bullpen arms in a game the odds are against them winning.

 

 

the Cubs experienced a freakish phenomena the first two months of the season where the pen was great in blowouts and sucked in close ball games. that in large part is what prevented them from winning quite a few more ballgames then they did.

[Chris24Young]

 

You guys also like to use the whole pythag stat a lot.

 

Check this out

 

 

I had not seen that article before. interesting, but has to be a little disconcerting for the DBacks as if they do fall behind early, they have a choice, allow the game to be put out of reach with meatballs, or burn up their quality bullpen arms in a game the odds are against them winning.

 

 

I don't think we're going to have to deal with that. I think we're only bringing 10 pitchers on the roster. Our 5 starters. And with days off every two games we should be fine to throw Cruz in for those, if in so that occurs. We will probably only use Cruz, Slaten, Pena, Lyon, Valverde

[hawkeyecub]

Some of you are just setting yourself up for letdown in my opinion. It's a 3-5 game series. You have no idea what may happen. Their top two starters have fared well against us. Who knows what Z may give us in game 1, but I do like that their lineup is more RH. Our offense is inconsistent.

Their closer is more reliable in a tight game.

 

I would rather face them than the Phillies, but I'm not overly confident and would never predict a sweep. It's tough to sweep the Pirates, Reds, Marlins or Nationals in the regular season.

 

The playoffs have proven to be a crapshoot.

 

 

Of course the playoffs are a crapshoot. We know that. But the better team still has a better chance of winning (albeit slightly).

 

Could you really ask for better in terms of an opponent in the playoffs, though?

 

Yes I like our chances at winning the series and I think we match up pretty well.

 

To predict a sweep is just asking for frustration when we lose a game which will likely happen. Some people are acting like it would cause a meltdown for this series to go 5 games.

 

They aren't a bad team and our offense and #1 starter are both inconsistent.

[Vinestal]

Our offense has taken naps against pitchers all year that they should have pounded the crap out of. This is why a best of 5 series scares the heck out of me. I have more confidence in our pitching to show up than our hitting. Even Lou has said how we do will depend on how our offense does. If the bats come through then we should be fine. It would help if Lou starts Geo and Marquis never sees the mound, I guess we'll see. Playoffs scare the hell out of me, I'll have no fingernails by game 3. I thought we would win the World Series in 98, and the 03 team had great starting pitching... we came up short both times. Ive seen mediocre teams beat great teams in the playoffs, if there is one thing I am sure of about playoffs its that its a complete crapshoot. Im going to try to enjoy it win or loose. Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

[Little Slide Rooter]

On paper, the Cubs are a much better team than the D Backs, however, so are a whole lot of other teams that will be watching from the comfort of their own homes.

 

We havnt had a lot of luck against these guys this season,but hopefully we can take them down when it counts.

[David]

Our offense has taken naps against pitchers all year that they should have pounded the crap out of. This is why a best of 5 series scares the heck out of me. I have more confidence in our pitching to show up than our hitting. Even Lou has said how we do will depend on how our offense does. If the bats come through then we should be fine. It would help if Lou starts Geo and Marquis never sees the mound, I guess we'll see. Playoffs scare the hell out of me, I'll have no fingernails by game 3. I thought we would win the World Series in 98, and the 03 team had great starting pitching... we came up short both times. Ive seen mediocre teams beat great teams in the playoffs, if there is one thing I am sure of about playoffs its that its a complete crapshoot. Im going to try to enjoy it win or loose. Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

Really????!!!

[Illini Iceman]

Our offense has taken naps against pitchers all year that they should have pounded the crap out of. This is why a best of 5 series scares the heck out of me. I have more confidence in our pitching to show up than our hitting. Even Lou has said how we do will depend on how our offense does. If the bats come through then we should be fine. It would help if Lou starts Geo and Marquis never sees the mound, I guess we'll see. Playoffs scare the hell out of me, I'll have no fingernails by game 3. I thought we would win the World Series in 98, and the 03 team had great starting pitching... we came up short both times. Ive seen mediocre teams beat great teams in the playoffs, if there is one thing I am sure of about playoffs its that its a complete crapshoot. Im going to try to enjoy it win or loose. Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

This is a joke, right?

[ArthurVandalay]

Straight Lines, by Silverchair

 

After not caring for that song the first time I heard it, only a few days later I am absolutely addicted to that entire album. Recommended.

[Vinestal]

Our offense has taken naps against pitchers all year that they should have pounded the crap out of. This is why a best of 5 series scares the heck out of me. I have more confidence in our pitching to show up than our hitting. Even Lou has said how we do will depend on how our offense does. If the bats come through then we should be fine. It would help if Lou starts Geo and Marquis never sees the mound, I guess we'll see. Playoffs scare the hell out of me, I'll have no fingernails by game 3. I thought we would win the World Series in 98, and the 03 team had great starting pitching... we came up short both times. Ive seen mediocre teams beat great teams in the playoffs, if there is one thing I am sure of about playoffs its that its a complete crapshoot. Im going to try to enjoy it win or loose. Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

This is a joke, right?

 

lol I think I was confusing 98 and 03 or maybe I was just overly opptimistic that year. Its all a jumbled mess in my mind now. Im just saying I have felt better about other Cubs playoff teams than this one. My memory is not so great. In 03 the combo of Prior/Wood/Zambrano made me feel like we could pretty much beat anyone, but all 3 of them failed us in that series against the Marlins. *sigh* Here's hoping this run goes better.

[jjgman21]

Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

this team is far superior to 98. that teams pitching was total crap, and it's offense one guy.

 

they are also facing a much lesser opponent, than that 1998 team.

 

 

I think this team is about as good as the 1989 team, but again, they will be facing a lesser team.

 

 

the 'lesser' is not meant to detract from the DBacks. that 98 Braves team was incredible, and the 89 Giants were very very good.

[David]

Yea... 2007 Cubs > 1998 Cubs by a fairly wide margin, IMO

 

Plus 1998 NL field >>> 2007 NL field

[UK1679666180]

If I was Perry/Cubs advance scout...

 

My plan of attack would be...

 

Webb-attack the 1st pitch, it's likely the only FB you'll see that is a strike and his goal is to get ahead early on climb down the ladder with the FB making you ground out or K.

 

Davis-Make him throw you a FB, if you allow him to beat him with a changeup, he'll do it, and the Cubs have constantly tried to score runs off his change. If he's spotting his change or the Cubs are retiring on that change, they'll do like they always do.

 

Hernandez-He's fatigued right now, his velo has dropped from early on and he doesn't have the ability to work late into a game. You get into 15-20 pitches per inning, by the 4th and 2nd time thru the order, his FB will drop even lower and his curve will lose snap.

[Vinestal]

yeah jjg, my memory is foggy. The 98 team was basicly Sammy and Wood. I should never really coment about anything that happened further in the past than yesterday, thats how bad my memory is. 03 is the only team really fresh enough for me to even remember the rotation. Id have to think really hard to remember the 89 roster... hmmm Mitch Williams, Jeff Pico? Salazar?... Wasnt Damon Berryhill on that team? Grace, Sandberg, Dawson, I remember very little about the starting pitching, I think Maddux was there and Sutcliff? mmm Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith hahaha those were the days. Ok Im smelling smoke, better stop before I burn something out.

[Warren Brusstar]

Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

this team is far superior to 98. that teams pitching was total crap, and it's offense one guy.

 

they are also facing a much lesser opponent, than that 1998 team.

 

 

I think this team is about as good as the 1989 team, but again, they will be facing a lesser team.

 

 

the 'lesser' is not meant to detract from the DBacks. that 98 Braves team was incredible, and the 89 Giants were very very good.

 

The pitching on this year's team is clearly better. You're underrating the '98 team offensively.

 

FWIW, team OPS+:

 

'98 Cubs 104

'07 Cubs 97

[Illini Iceman]

Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

this team is far superior to 98. that teams pitching was total crap, and it's offense one guy.

 

they are also facing a much lesser opponent, than that 1998 team.

 

 

I think this team is about as good as the 1989 team, but again, they will be facing a lesser team.

 

 

the 'lesser' is not meant to detract from the DBacks. that 98 Braves team was incredible, and the 89 Giants were very very good.

 

In case anyone has forgotten how bad that rotation was in '98, let me remind you that Mark Clark started game 1 of the NLDS. Their only halfway decent pitcher, Kevin Tapani, almost stole game 2 and then they brought back Kerry Wood with his elbow held together most likely with duct tape because even by game 3 they had no one else halfway decent to throw out there.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Straight Lines, by Silverchair

 

After not caring for that song the first time I heard it, only a few days later I am absolutely addicted to that entire album. Recommended.

I bought their previous album and was pretty disappointed. I guess I was hoping for something a little closer to Frogstomp.

[soccer10k]

Hopefully the Cubs win in 4 and win both games in Chicago because I'll be there.

[Warren Brusstar]

Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

this team is far superior to 98. that teams pitching was total crap, and it's offense one guy.

 

they are also facing a much lesser opponent, than that 1998 team.

 

 

I think this team is about as good as the 1989 team, but again, they will be facing a lesser team.

 

 

the 'lesser' is not meant to detract from the DBacks. that 98 Braves team was incredible, and the 89 Giants were very very good.

 

In case anyone has forgotten how bad that rotation was in '98, let me remind you that Mark Clark started game 1 of the NLDS. Their only halfway decent pitcher, Kevin Tapani, almost stole game 2 and then they brought back Kerry Wood with his elbow held together most likely with duct tape because even by game 3 they had no one else halfway decent to throw out there.

 

Yeah. Wood was the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA+ over 100.

 

Having said that, Tapani's ERA that year is a little misleading because he had games in which he allowed 7, 8, and 9 earned runs.

[hawkeyecub]

If I was Perry/Cubs advance scout...

 

My plan of attack would be...

 

Webb-attack the 1st pitch, it's likely the only FB you'll see that is a strike and his goal is to get ahead early on climb down the ladder with the FB making you ground out or K.

 

This should be pinned in the game thread. I won't be there but I know people will be freaking out when/if we aren't being patient in every AB.

[ArthurVandalay]

Straight Lines, by Silverchair

 

After not caring for that song the first time I heard it, only a few days later I am absolutely addicted to that entire album. Recommended.

I bought their previous album and was pretty disappointed. I guess I was hoping for something a little closer to Frogstomp.

 

I'd only heard a couple of their songs previously (Year 2000 and Ana's Song.) Now that I'm getting into this new album I'm gonna have to check out some of their old stuff.

[rocket]

SWEEP THEM

[soccer10k]

Of the 4 Cubs playoff teams I have seen (89,98,03) this one is probably the least impressive to me but who knows maybe they will come out on top, if that Cardinal team could do it anyone can.

 

this team is far superior to 98. that teams pitching was total crap, and it's offense one guy.

 

they are also facing a much lesser opponent, than that 1998 team.

 

 

I think this team is about as good as the 1989 team, but again, they will be facing a lesser team.

 

 

the 'lesser' is not meant to detract from the DBacks. that 98 Braves team was incredible, and the 89 Giants were very very good.

 

I remember going into the 1998 playoffs thinking it would be a miracle if the Cubs didn't get swept by the Braves.