NLDS Gm 2: Cubs (Lilly) at D'Backs (Davis) 9 PM TBS, 720

[Warren Brusstar]

Its not like Soto made a big (positive) difference in last night's game.

 

Well... he did have a key walk that moved a runner over to third for Theriot's IF RBI single. He was 0-1 in SB attempts, but who knows how many times the DBacks would have went for a SB with Kendall behind the plate.

 

I'm pretty sure that Kendall would have been just as patient in that situation. Also, the D-Backs rarely had the opportunity to run last night. The reason they weren't running wasn't because Soto was behind the plate instead of Kendall.

 

I don't think Kendall is a great catcher, but I'm not going to complain if he plays instead of Soto tonight.

 

I think you're mistaken if you think that the D'Backs won't try to run a lot more with Kendall behind the plate than with Soto. With Kendall back there, you're pretty much giving any runner with remotely good speed second base.

 

With Z on the mound, they're not going to run much on either of them. Teams *attempted* only 7 stolen bases the entire season with Z on the mound. He takes away the running game entirely on his own.

[MPrior]

Lefty who likes to pitch on the outside corner

 

+

 

Righty lineup that tries to pull everything

 

=

 

:wall:

 

I'll never understand why some ballplayers are so obtuse that they don't adjust to the particular pitching style they are facing that day. Are they just not intelligent?

 

They must not be. A normal person would think "Hrmm, every time I try to pull that outside pitch, I make an easy out. I should quit doing that."

 

A major leaguer thinks "Hrmmm.... I should just keep doing this. I'll be able to pull it eventually!"

 

Whatever happened to just hitting the ball hard and not trying to place it?

 

They probably think: if I let this guy pull me out of "my game", then I'll lose my lucky stance and be screwed up for weeks.

 

Maybe....now stay with me here......being a good major league hitter......is really really hard.

 

Psh. What do you know?

[Soul]

Cubs: you're starting to freak me out a little bit.

 

Stop that.

 

Thank you.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I hope we win!

[Derwood]

4 pages? for shame

[David]

4 pages? for shame

 

To be fair, I went to sleep right after the game last night and didn't realize I had to start this until I got up and logged in this morning.

[CUBZ99]

Less than 5 Hours until game time, where are the lineups?

[UMFan83]

OK Cubs... Go 3-0 or 3-1, you move on. Go 2-2, or 1-2 or 0-2, you go home.

[C.C.]

1/2 before beer time and 4 1/2 before game time...

[ctcf]

I'm a freaking wreck right now. Nerves have been shot all day, I feel like crap.

 

Almost regretting planning that trip, who in their right mind would let that much money depend on this team.

 

Oh yea... me.

 

That said, Go Cubs.

[ninetynineplus]

i've avoided this place ALL DAY.. (in caps because it has been the longest day since..... well, yesterday) I am so psyched.. i really think we will play a hell of a game tonight.. last night was strange.. i feel like had z had a mediocre outing and given up 5/6 and the final was 6-1, we'd be more optimistic than most of us are.. we really thought we could steal one last night.. oh well, we didn't, move on...

 

GO CUBS....

[CubsBears29]

Why can't they pick a normal time to start the ballgame?

 

Not to be a JA, but I'm off tomorrow so tonight's 9p (CST) start time doesn't bother me in the least. :)

 

 

Oh, and this is a MUST WIN tonight, Cubs... so DO IT!!

[Roast]

Alright, so I just took about a 3 hour walk down the lakefront and back. I'm much more calm now than I was earlier. GO CUBS.

[CubsBears29]

Lefty who likes to pitch on the outside corner

 

+

 

Righty lineup that tries to pull everything

 

=

 

:wall:

 

Why do I get the feeling that tonight's umps K-zone will not only be inconsistent, but will more often than not give Davis "on the black" calls on the outside corner, that will in all actuality be OFF the black.

[Roast]

I'm a freaking wreck right now. Nerves have been shot all day, I feel like crap.

 

Almost regretting planning that trip, who in their right mind would let that much money depend on this team.

 

Oh yea... me.

 

That said, Go Cubs.

 

Yeah, last night when I went to bed I was in a level of pissed off I haven't been in a very long time. It took everything I had not to put a hole in my wall.

 

Today i woke up early to go to class, then went for a 3 hour work. Now I'm fairly calm thanks to some music. Come 7 o clock or so i'm sure nothing short of a gallon of hard liquor will take the nerves away.

[ctcf]

I think I may have to break out that SOCO and Gin tonight if the Cubs keep this up...

[Soul]

Lefty who likes to pitch on the outside corner

 

+

 

Righty lineup that tries to pull everything

 

=

 

:wall:

 

Why do I get the feeling that tonight's umps K-zone will not only be inconsistent, but will more often than not give Davis "on the black" calls on the outside corner, that will in all actuality be OFF the black.

 

A guy like Davis will probably need that outside corner to survive. I would say whether the umps give it to him will play a very large role in the outcome of this baseball game.

 

DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM, UMPIOT!

[Bruce Miles]

Cubs

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Murton, RF

Soto, C

DeRosa, 2B

Jones, LF

Lilly, P

 

D'Backs

Young, CF

Drew, SS

Byrnes, LF

Jackson, 1B

Reynolds, 3B

Snyder, C

Upton, RF

Ojeda, 2B

Davis, P

[UK1679666180]

The keys for tonight game...

 

Lilly-maintain a sharp break on the curve, last outing vs. Cincy, he didn't have the same release point. Keep them off balance by mixing in the cutter/slider and work up and down w/the FB up and hammer low.

 

Davis-get him into FB counts, don't allow him to chnage speeds and get the Cubs hitters out in front on the change. He gets hitters out by deception and location, my key will be the ratio of opp. field hits to ground outs at SS.

 

I thought it was best to hit Webb early, I think the opposite for Davis, get him into FB counts.

[killthegoat06]

Cubs

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Murton, RF

Soto, C

DeRosa, 2B

Jones, LF

Lilly, P

 

D'Backs

Young, CF

Drew, SS

Byrnes, LF

Jackson, 1B

Reynolds, 3B

Snyder, C

Upton, RF

Ojeda, 2B

Davis, P

 

Thanks Bruce!

Derosa 7th!?!!

 

Please Win cobs.

[CubmanPi]

Derosa 7th!?!!

If that's the biggest mistake Lou makes tonight, I'll take it.

[CUBZ99]

Kendall has got to be pretty upset right now. Having said that, if Soto hits like he did in the regular season, who cares.

[killthegoat06]

Kendall has got to be pretty upset right now. Having said that, if Soto hits like he did in the regular season, who cares.

 

I don't care if he's upset. I don't want him playing right now.

[UMFan83]

Cubs

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Murton, RF

Soto, C

DeRosa, 2B

Jones, LF

Lilly, P

 

D'Backs

Young, CF

Drew, SS

Byrnes, LF

Jackson, 1B

Reynolds, 3B

Snyder, C

Upton, RF

Ojeda, 2B

Davis, P

 

Thanks Bruce!

Derosa 7th!?!!

 

Please Win cobs.

 

Theriot 2nd? ugh

[CubsBears29]

Its a good thing the Cubs game will start on TNT tonight, until the finish of the NYY/CLE game, cause it took 45 minutes to play 1 inning in Cleveland!!