Webb and his Hat

[minnesotacubsfan]

Was Webb really juicing the ball last night? there was some discussion in the game thread, but as many beers as I had had and as fast as the thread went, I really couldntkeep up with the disc.

[Brendan]

my girlfriend pointed out the grease on his hat. i kinda forgot about it until just now...

[Mark_R]

That is a whole heckuva lotta sink.

[minnesotacubsfan]

so I scoured throught he game thread but my head hurts too much. what was the general concensous? was he goint to the brown spot alot? I honestly didnt see him do it once...but that doesnt mean much

[Tracer Bullet]

No one has any screen captures? I only saw the first half of the game and didn't really notice anything.

[daske17]

Yeah, there was a lot of fishiness going on last night. Webb definitely had something on the brim of his cap, be it pinetar or grease.

 

Also, Pat & Ron were saying how the ground in front of homeplate had extra dirt and it was wet to soften the area, helping Webb with his groundball tendencies.

 

Theoretically, it helped Z induce some groundballs as well, but it still is a little bit of dirty pool. Hopefully, the grass is real high at Wrigley this weekend, with the exception of Sunday when Webb pitches again.

[moorecg]

No one has any screen captures? I only saw the first half of the game and didn't really notice anything.

 

If he had anything it wasn't near as obvious as Kenny Rogers last year...it was a dirty had but I didn't think it was much more than that...he's just damn good.

[CubColtPacer]

Yeah, there was a lot of fishiness going on last night. Webb definitely had something on the brim of his cap, be it pinetar or grease.

 

Also, Pat & Ron were saying how the ground in front of homeplate had extra dirt and it was wet to soften the area, helping Webb with his groundball tendencies.

 

Theoretically, it helped Z induce some groundballs as well, but it still is a little bit of dirty pool. Hopefully, the grass is real high at Wrigley this weekend, with the exception of Sunday when Webb pitches again.

 

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

[Tracer Bullet]

Yeah, there was a lot of fishiness going on last night. Webb definitely had something on the brim of his cap, be it pinetar or grease.

 

Also, Pat & Ron were saying how the ground in front of homeplate had extra dirt and it was wet to soften the area, helping Webb with his groundball tendencies.

 

Theoretically, it helped Z induce some groundballs as well, but it still is a little bit of dirty pool. Hopefully, the grass is real high at Wrigley this weekend, with the exception of Sunday when Webb pitches again.

 

I couldn't care less about making the dirt in front of home plate soft, unless they only softened it before the Cubs' ABs each inning. It's not like the soft ground actually attracts ground balls - if we had hit line drives, it wouldn't matter if it was soft dirt or cement.

 

But if he's got pine tar on his hat - that's a different story.

[BigbadB]

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

 

Hmmm. I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. If the Cubs somehow won the next two games, I doubt that the D-Backs would risk their season on a rookie pitching against Zambrano, IN Chicago.

 

My guess is if the Cubs are up 2-1, Webb is pitching on Sunday. If Arizona is up 2-1, Webb pitches on Tuesday in Arizona.

 

It would be real nice for the Cubs to be up 2-1 in this series rather than down 2-1 come Sunday.

[CubColtPacer]

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

 

Hmmm. I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. If the Cubs somehow won the next two games, I doubt that the D-Backs would risk their season on a rookie pitching against Zambrano, IN Chicago.

 

My guess is if the Cubs are up 2-1, Webb is pitching on Sunday. If Arizona is up 2-1, Webb pitches on Tuesday in Arizona.

 

It would be real nice for the Cubs to be up 2-1 in this series rather than down 2-1 come Sunday.

 

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

[daske17]

I couldn't care less about making the dirt in front of home plate soft, unless they only softened it before the Cubs' ABs each inning. It's not like the soft ground actually attracts ground balls - if we had hit line drives, it wouldn't matter if it was soft dirt or cement.

 

But if he's got pine tar on his hat - that's a different story.

 

Yeah, but Webb isn't a line-drive/flyball kind of pitcher. His sinker is his bread and butter pitch, so it seems natural that the grounds crew would help him out in that regard.

 

But I have to imagine it would have helped keep balls in the infield and prevent high choppers from getting past the fielders.

[CubmanPi]

Also, Pat & Ron were saying how the ground in front of homeplate had extra dirt and it was wet to soften the area, helping Webb with his groundball tendencies.

It didn't look too soft when Riot bounced a ground ball off the dirt in front of the plate over the 3b's head.

[daske17]

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

 

Hmmm. I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. If the Cubs somehow won the next two games, I doubt that the D-Backs would risk their season on a rookie pitching against Zambrano, IN Chicago.

 

My guess is if the Cubs are up 2-1, Webb is pitching on Sunday. If Arizona is up 2-1, Webb pitches on Tuesday in Arizona.

 

It would be real nice for the Cubs to be up 2-1 in this series rather than down 2-1 come Sunday.

 

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

 

But if the D-Backs are facing elimination, the difference between Webb on short rest versus Owning/Davis can be quite significant. Personally, the only way I see Arizona NOT using Webb in game four is if they're up 2-1. That way they can hope to clinch the series at Wrigley with Ownings/Davis or use Webb on regular rest at home.

[CubColtPacer]

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

 

Hmmm. I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. If the Cubs somehow won the next two games, I doubt that the D-Backs would risk their season on a rookie pitching against Zambrano, IN Chicago.

 

My guess is if the Cubs are up 2-1, Webb is pitching on Sunday. If Arizona is up 2-1, Webb pitches on Tuesday in Arizona.

 

It would be real nice for the Cubs to be up 2-1 in this series rather than down 2-1 come Sunday.

 

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

 

But if the D-Backs are facing elimination, the difference between Webb on short rest versus Owning/Davis can be quite significant. Personally, the only way I see Arizona NOT using Webb in game four is if they're up 2-1. That way they can hope to clinch the series at Wrigley with Ownings/Davis or use Webb on regular rest at home.

 

They are facing elimination in game 5 too. What does it matter if it helps them win game 4 but causes them to have a smaller chance of winning the series?

[BigbadB]

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

 

Are you serious? I'd be beyond furious if in a must win situation (win or go home until 2008) and my ace starting pitcher sat on the bench and watched the team lose. I'd bring back my ace on the same exact rest Zambrano was getting, and take my chances.

 

Let me rephrase it. What if the role was reversed. Cubs had home field advantage and the Cubs are down 2-1 in Arizona. Arizona is going with Brandon Webb on short rest. Cubs decide to give Zambrano extra rest and go with Sean Marshall In Arizona.

 

If Marshall loses that game to Webb, Zambrano gets way more rest than I'd like to see him get. About 4 months worth.

 

Do you really believe Arizona would sit their ace down 2-1 on the road? Maybe they would, but I sure wouldn't. I'd like my chances much better playing at home the last game.

[Roast]

I saw him go to it multiple times. There was one time in particular i pointed out in the game thread which he went to that spot twice before throwing a pitch. Again, it was most likely just dirt but there was definitely something on his had and he was definitely touching that spot.

[daske17]

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

 

Are you serious? I'd be beyond furious if in a must win situation (win or go home until 2008) and my ace starting pitcher sat on the bench and watched the team lose. I'd bring back my ace on the same exact rest Zambrano was getting, and take my chances.

 

Let me rephrase it. What if the role was reversed. Cubs had home field advantage and the Cubs are down 2-1 in Arizona. Arizona is going with Brandon Webb on short rest. Cubs decide to give Zambrano extra rest and go with Sean Marshall In Arizona.

 

If Marshall loses that game to Webb, Zambrano gets way more rest than I'd like to see him get. About 4 months worth.

 

Do you really believe Arizona would sit their ace down 2-1 on the road? Maybe they would, but I sure wouldn't. I'd like my chances much better playing at home the last game.

 

What he said. :)

[Guest]

Webb isn't pitching on Sunday. Z is, but Webb is going in game 5 on Tuesday.

 

Hmmm. I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. If the Cubs somehow won the next two games, I doubt that the D-Backs would risk their season on a rookie pitching against Zambrano, IN Chicago.

 

My guess is if the Cubs are up 2-1, Webb is pitching on Sunday. If Arizona is up 2-1, Webb pitches on Tuesday in Arizona.

 

It would be real nice for the Cubs to be up 2-1 in this series rather than down 2-1 come Sunday.

 

I think it would be a terrible decision for the Diamondbacks if they moved Webb up. He has never pitched on 3 days rest in his career, and the Diamondbacks have no real reason to move him up like the Cubs do. The difference between Micah Owings and Doug Davis is a lot smaller than the difference between Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

The D-Backs would be giving themselves less chance of winning the series just to give them a greater chance of winning game 4. I hope they make that decision, but I doubt they will.

 

But if the D-Backs are facing elimination, the difference between Webb on short rest versus Owning/Davis can be quite significant. Personally, the only way I see Arizona NOT using Webb in game four is if they're up 2-1. That way they can hope to clinch the series at Wrigley with Ownings/Davis or use Webb on regular rest at home.

 

They are facing elimination in game 5 too. What does it matter if it helps them win game 4 but causes them to have a smaller chance of winning the series?

 

It's better to give yourself the best chance to win the current game and hope you can cobble something together in the next one. If you don't win this game, it doesn't matter what you have saved up for game 5 (or, in the Cubs case, what ace you have saved up for game 4 :x).

[BigbadB]

I saw him go to it multiple times. There was one time in particular i pointed out in the game thread which he went to that spot twice before throwing a pitch. Again, it was most likely just dirt but there was definitely something on his had and he was definitely touching that spot.

 

It was most likely dirt? A guy just likes touching a dirt spot on his hat for no reason in particular? I don't get it.

 

If he really was going to his hat multiple times, and in the same spot, I have to believe that it wasn't dirt he was playing touchy feely with.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

so let's say MLB confiscates the hat and finds pine tar or something on there - what happens next?

[Roast]

I saw him go to it multiple times. There was one time in particular i pointed out in the game thread which he went to that spot twice before throwing a pitch. Again, it was most likely just dirt but there was definitely something on his had and he was definitely touching that spot.

 

It was most likely dirt? A guy just likes touching a dirt spot on his hat for no reason in particular? I don't get it.

 

If he really was going to his hat multiple times, and in the same spot, I have to believe that it wasn't dirt he was playing touchy feely with.

 

The thing is, it didn't look THAT dark. At least not as dark as the spot that Rogers had. My thinking is maybe that it's just what he does on the mound. Z grabs his balls, Webb grabs his hat...you know..whatever works for you. And if he continually touched the same spot it would start to get discolored.

 

 

However, I still really wish someone would have called him on it just to make sue.

[Roast]

so let's say MLB confiscates the hat and finds pine tar or something on there - what happens next?

 

30 lashings.

[Guest]

so let's say MLB confiscates the hat and finds pine tar or something on there - what happens next?

 

Slap on the wrist?

[Roast]

so let's say MLB confiscates the hat and finds pine tar or something on there - what happens next?

 

Slap on the wrist?

 

30 lashings > slap on the wrist.