How much of last night do you credit to Webb?

[kente777]

Did Webb just pitch that great or were we tight last night?

 

It seemed to me that Webb was vulnerable. He looked really good in the first 3 innings, but from that point on, I felt like our offense just sucked.

 

Tonight is a must win. We lose tonight, I don't think we win the series.

[C.C.]

Combo of both. It's amazing how we consistently swing at garbage. Why do pitchers even pitch us strikes?

[CuseCubFan69]

The DBacks made some nice plays on D too. I thought he pitched well, yes he had some hittable balls and the Cubs hit some hard right at somebody but Webb had some filthy sinkers too.

[badnews]

I give him little credit. He didn't look like he had his best stuff at all.

 

The problem is the Cubs' idea of plate discipline to is to take a 76 mph pitch right down the middle, then go "Oh crap" and follow it up by swinging at an 81 mph pitch 2 feet off the outside corner.

[kente777]

Combo of both. It's amazing how we consistently swing at garbage. Why do pitchers even pitch us strikes?

 

Tell me you still feel like we're gonna win this series.

[CuseCubFan69]

I give him little credit. He didn't look like he had his best stuff at all.

 

The problem is the Cubs' idea of plate discipline to is to take a 76 mph pitch right down the middle, then go "Oh crap" and follow it up by swinging at an 81 mph pitch 2 feet off the outside corner.

 

What about a Floyd AB. Cliff looked low and Webb beat him high for strike 3. I thought it was a great pitch.

[C.C.]

Combo of both. It's amazing how we consistently swing at garbage. Why do pitchers even pitch us strikes?

 

Tell me you still feel like we're gonna win this series.

 

I do. How many times have we looked clueless the first games of series only to come back and win it.

 

Have Faith.

[Peoriaman]

Webb was very good last night. Just accept it and move to game 2.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Webb didn't get as many groundballs because he was too busy striking everyone out. While I'm sure he could be better, he was hardly 'off' last night IMO.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What pissed me off is that he kept throwing that same pitch in the dirt and they kept swinging at it. Sure it's hard to lay off a ball that appears to be floating in at the knees before it drops, but that's what advanced scouting is for. They didn't make adjustments on that pitch as the game went on, and that was very frustrating. Webb was very fortunate last night in that he was hit hard, but they kept hitting the ball right at the defenders.

[CuseCubFan69]

What pissed me off is that he kept throwing that same pitch in the dirt and they kept swinging at it. Sure it's hard to lay off a ball that appears to be floating in at the knees before it drops, but that's what advanced scouting is for. They didn't make adjustments on that pitch as the game went on, and that was very frustrating. Webb was very fortunate last night in that he was hit hard, but they kept hitting the ball right at the defenders.

 

It's tough to read that pitch, especially with 2 strikes. Imo you sit on the first pitch fastball.

[UMFan83]

Are you kidding? Webb was on last night. We played right into his game plan. Other then his bouts of wildness, he got ahead of hitters with a sinker that looks hittable. He got ahead of hitters 0-1 and 0-2 so many times, and when you are in that position you are pretty much done for with Webb.

[kente777]

Are you kidding? Webb was on last night. We played right into his game plan. Other then his bouts of wildness, he got ahead of hitters with a sinker that looks hittable. He got ahead of hitters 0-1 and 0-2 so many times, and when you are in that position you are pretty much done for with Webb.

 

Yes, he was on, but not his best. He had bouts of wildness and his sinker was starting to get up around the 5th inning.

 

If we are going to advance, we better learn to hit good pitchers. The numbers from our big 3 were sick last night.

[CubinNY]

Webb was dealing last night. Lou probably took out Z too soon (He managed tight), but I don't know that it mattered.

 

What was somewhat shocking to me was all of the first pitch strikes the Cubs took. I really thought they'd get to Webb becuase they are so aggressive, but almost to a man they showed patience last night. Maybe they were pressing too, I don't know.

 

It's only one game, I really expect the Cubs to take this seires, two mistakes up in the zone and across the heart of the plate cost the Cubs the game, not much else was hit hard. On the other hand, the Cubs hit some at-em balls. The Cubs had a little bad luck last night and were facing a pitcher who was on. They'll get them tonight, I have no doubt.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What pissed me off is that he kept throwing that same pitch in the dirt and they kept swinging at it. Sure it's hard to lay off a ball that appears to be floating in at the knees before it drops, but that's what advanced scouting is for. They didn't make adjustments on that pitch as the game went on, and that was very frustrating. Webb was very fortunate last night in that he was hit hard, but they kept hitting the ball right at the defenders.

 

It's tough to read that pitch, especially with 2 strikes. Imo you sit on the first pitch fastball.

 

I know it's tough to read, but it's something you need to make an adjustment for. He kept going back to that pitch with the same results -- you need to take that offspeed stuff at the knees until he shows it's actually in the zone.

[transplanted_suburbanite]

The flashing light guy gave a great effort.

[CuseCubFan69]

What pissed me off is that he kept throwing that same pitch in the dirt and they kept swinging at it. Sure it's hard to lay off a ball that appears to be floating in at the knees before it drops, but that's what advanced scouting is for. They didn't make adjustments on that pitch as the game went on, and that was very frustrating. Webb was very fortunate last night in that he was hit hard, but they kept hitting the ball right at the defenders.

 

It's tough to read that pitch, especially with 2 strikes. Imo you sit on the first pitch fastball.

 

I know it's tough to read, but it's something you need to make an adjustment for. He kept going back to that pitch with the same results -- you need to take that offspeed stuff at the knees until he shows it's actually in the zone.

 

That's the cat and the mouse of it. You let it (sinker) go and he throws a low fastball. You just can't let him get ahead in the count.

[UMFan83]

Are you kidding? Webb was on last night. We played right into his game plan. Other then his bouts of wildness, he got ahead of hitters with a sinker that looks hittable. He got ahead of hitters 0-1 and 0-2 so many times, and when you are in that position you are pretty much done for with Webb.

 

Yes, he was on, but not his best. He had bouts of wildness and his sinker was starting to get up around the 5th inning.

 

If we are going to advance, we better learn to hit good pitchers. The numbers from our big 3 were sick last night.

 

I just don't think the Cubs and Webb are a good matchup. His sinker really gives us fits. Not that we hit a ton of good pitchers, but we have hit pitchers like Roy Oswalt much better than Webb.

[CubmanPi]

Webb was dealing last night. Lou probably took out Z too soon (He managed tight), but I don't know that it mattered.

 

What was somewhat shocking to me was all of the first pitch strikes the Cubs took. I really thought they'd get to Webb becuase they are so aggressive, but almost to a man they showed patience last night. Maybe they were pressing too, I don't know.

I agree, Webb was solid. Sure, there were bouts with wildness and some hard-hit balls, but I look at innings like the Z leadoff double, and none of the three who followed and K'd stood a chance in hell of getting a ball out of the infield. He was flithy for a large enough percentage of the game to get solid credit for how it came out.

 

As far as the first pitch takes, I'm sure that patience has been getting drilled into their heads since the morning after they clinched. And Lou's idea of patience is giving the take sign on 75% of first pitches. Given the inability of many of our hitters to be selective in the pitches that follow, I'm not sure how much I like the idea, but it's all hindsight. Cubs did have runners every inning against Webb, so it's not like it went terribly.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I did find it a bit funny that Z hit Webb harder than just about anyone else.

[UMFan83]

I did find it a bit funny that Z hit Webb harder than just about anyone else.

 

That is because it seemed like Webb would groove strike one over the plate to any bad hitters in our lineup. Guess he didn't read the scouting report on Z that he is very very aggressive.

[Elrhino]

He was definitely on, and the DBacks had to have it. Pitching their only good pitcher and playing at home, they had to win that game.

 

Just like the Cubs have to win tonight.

[rawaction]

I thought Zambrano outpitched Webb for the most part. But both were about as good as you could expect. Zambrano made literally 1 mistake all night (to Drew). Webb got away with a handful of mistakes, but dominated when the Cubs were threatening. His 3rd inning, after the Zambrano double was probably the best I've seen a pitcher throw this year. He simply beared down and made fools of Soriano, Jones and Lee.

 

I thought Geo was starting to get a good look at him, but Webb pitched around him in the 6th, when I thought he could have done a lot of damage. Lee and Ramirez looked like they were starting to get a good feel against him in their 3rd ABs. I like their chances if they see him again this series.

[anabiono]

The flashing light guy gave a great effort.

 

that was lame...somewhat amusing...but still lame

 

i am talking about the guy

[C.C.]

It's only one game, I really expect the Cubs to take this seires, two mistakes up in the zone and across the heart of the plate cost the Cubs the game, not much else was hit hard. On the other hand, the Cubs hit some at-em balls. The Cubs had a little bad luck last night and were facing a pitcher who was on. They'll get them tonight, I have no doubt.

 

I do to. I just can't see anywhere the Cubs don't win this series. Unless they beat themselves.