6/17 Cubs(Dempster) @ Rays(Kazmir) 6:10CT CSN

[CubbieBum]

reality check.

 

can you win 'em all boyz and girls?

 

get over it. this was their best pitcher, and until lately, the Rays shared the best record in the game.

 

.500 on the road gets it done. any better than that, see you in October with this team...

 

who you talkin to I'm a man :yahoo:

[BCVM22]

So I guess the fake rally has now retired and lives in Tampa?

[Jon]

That was a good idea by Johnson. Unfortunately, while Longoria began playing deep at third, he started coming in during the pitch. Perhaps Johnson tipped off the bunt too early.

 

I figure that the odds of Johnson beating out a bunt in that situation are higher than him getting on by swinging away.

[BigSlick]

Neal Cotts sucking immensely and also giving up 3 bases on a stupid throw was worse than anything else the rest of the game

 

Reed trying to steal third was stupid and dumb, the bunt was actually an OK idea.

 

Oh well, get em next time

[17 Seconds]

Just got back from the game. How did the cheers sound for each team on TV? I'd say it was about 3:1 Cubs fans and the Rays fans that actually showed up were pretty quiet. Every once in awhile they'd try to talk junk (chanting "overrated" when Aramis came up for some reason) but they were shut up pretty quickly by Cubs fans.

 

Oh, and those cow bells are so god damn annoying.

[anabiono]

Just got back from the game. How did the cheers sound for each team on TV? I'd say it was about 3:1 Cubs fans and the Rays fans that actually showed up were pretty quiet. Every once in awhile they'd try to talk junk (chanting "overrated" when Aramis came up for some reason) but they were shut up pretty quickly by Cubs fans.

 

Oh, and those cow bells are so god damn annoying.

 

i tell you what...this was my second cubs game...my first was last season in miami with lilly on the mound...don't really need to tell you all about that crapfest...

 

but anyway...i was pissed for most of the game and then that comeback was awesome!!!

 

i actually left the stadium feeling pretty good...they gave it a ride...and may i just add...

 

KOSKUKE FUKUDOME!!!!!!!!

 

CLUTCH!!!!!!

 

also...neal cotts need to go and fast

 

matt murton was horrible at the plate...really really really behind on pitches...

 

other than that...everything was pretty okay...

 

i think a really big positive of this game was that the cubs were able to get a dominate ace out of the game in 4 and 2/3 innings...that did make me smile....

 

good times...wish i was going tomorrow...but hopefully the cubs will tie it up and i will witness them win the rubber game for my first ever in person cubs victory!!!

 

yay...yeah...i am a little drunk

 

:wave:

[Andy]

I really thought we were going to win that whole 9th inning. Even though they didn't, they put up a hell of an effort and if Willy Aybar doesn't make a very difficult pick with Reed bearing down on him we probably end up winning.

 

Good effort. We've got Z tomorrow so let's even this thing up.

[splintersag]

HAHA I just found out the Cubs scored another run in the 9th by watching SportsCenter highlights. GameDay either messed up, or I see 1s in place of 2s, because after the run scoring wild pitch, I still saw the score as 3-1. Good thing no one called me out for posting

 

GAH! A single and a sac fly would've done nicely

 

Yeah, assuming Kosuke scored on the single, Micah could've scored on a sac fly from 1st. D'oh! :oops:

[rawaction]

I'm trying to figure out how a bunt was a good idea. Percival had given up a rocket single, a rocket double, walked a man, threw 2 pitches wildly, and the only outs he recorded were the hardest hit ball of the game and a strikeout on a 4A player. Johnson sucks vs. RHPs, but he still shoulda been swinging. At the very least, don't bunt on the first pitch against a guy who has had control problems to previous batters.

[UK1679666180]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

[CubbieBum]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

Except he did bunt it well, Percival was coming of an energizing strikeout, and it took a ridiculous play on both the throw (a diving barehander) and the scoop(hit him in the chest) for them to win it. People really need to sit down and think about it or actually see the play.

[UMFan83]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

Some of the postgame comments indicated that the Rays manager sensed this was coming and warned Longoria right as the play was about to happen.

[UK1679666180]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

Except he did bunt it well, Percival was coming of an energizing strikeout, and it took a ridiculous play on both the throw (a diving barehander) and the scoop(hit him in the chest) for them to win it. People really need to sit down and think about it or actually see the play.

 

Have you ever been to an infield practice? Do you know how often that barehanded scoop is practiced as the final play of IF before each IF'er heads towards the dugout? Do you know that Longoria is already one of the best defensive 3B in the game? Did you know that ball was bunted too hard and too close to the mound?

 

The play that saved it was the scoop by Aybar rather than the play by Longoria as most 3B are capable of making that play espec. one as good Evan. If Johnson was an above avg. runner he probably beats that out.

[Soul]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

Except he did bunt it well, Percival was coming of an energizing strikeout, and it took a ridiculous play on both the throw (a diving barehander) and the scoop(hit him in the chest) for them to win it. People really need to sit down and think about it or actually see the play.

 

Have you ever been to an infield practice? Do you know how often that barehanded scoop is practiced as the final play of IF before each IF'er heads towards the dugout? Do you know that Longoria is already one of the best defensive 3B in the game? Did you know that ball was bunted too hard and too close to the mound?

 

The play that saved it was the scoop by Aybar rather than the play by Longoria as most 3B are capable of making that play espec. one as good Evan. If Johnson was an above avg. runner he probably beats that out.

 

It's harder to make that bunt die in the infield on turf too.

 

I dunno, I thought it wasn't a bad idea but it didn't work out. Johnson also sucks against righties. I don't know how I really feel about it.

 

I'll bet Aybar only makes that scoop maybe 5 or 6 times out of 10 though. He's the backup 1B.

[jersey cubs fan]

Freaking Neifi Johnson. What a stupid idea. He was out by a mile and that's a routine play, especially on carpet.

[Drew Doughty]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

this is my issue with it. i don't think the bunt was intrinsically a bad idea but given the context of the night i thought it was an awful one. i was cursing about the play as soon as i heard pat say "bunt."

[gflore34]

How awesome would that have been if we'd tied on the suicide squeeze?

 

This loss doesn't really anger me. It just strikes me as one of those games we weren't meant to win. Z will get us back in the win column tomorrow.

 

Agreed. I believe the Cubs will leave TB with 2 wins.

 

I believe so as well, the Cubs took their best shot-love the approach to Kazmir made him work, I can only imagine how ugly it would have been had he been facing one of Dusty' Cub teams-and they barely scraped out a win.

[Soul]

How awesome would that have been if we'd tied on the suicide squeeze?

 

This loss doesn't really anger me. It just strikes me as one of those games we weren't meant to win. Z will get us back in the win column tomorrow.

 

Agreed. I believe the Cubs will leave TB with 2 wins.

 

I believe so as well, the Cubs took their best shot-love the approach to Kazmir made him work, I can only imagine how ugly it would have been had he been facing one of Dusty' Cub teams-and they barely scraped out a win.

 

Might've been a no hitter under Dusty.

[Jon]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

this is my issue with it. i don't think the bunt was intrinsically a bad idea but given the context of the night i thought it was an awful one. i was cursing about the play as soon as i heard pat say "bunt."

Reed Johnson is horrible against righties with a sub-.300 OBP this season. I'd say there was a better than 30% chance of it working from the time Johnson made up his mind. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good bunt and in between the time he made up his mind and the time the bunt was laid down, Longoria began to suspect that a bunt might be coming and was starting to charge in during Percival's delivery.

[jersey cubs fan]

Percival didn't have good stuff last night, Johnson doesn't have great speed nor has he shown to be a good bunter in the past. Bad time to use the element of surprise whether it was called from the dugout or done on his own.

 

this is my issue with it. i don't think the bunt was intrinsically a bad idea but given the context of the night i thought it was an awful one. i was cursing about the play as soon as i heard pat say "bunt."

Reed Johnson is horrible against righties with a sub-.300 OBP this season. I'd say there was a better than 30% chance of it working from the time Johnson made up his mind. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good bunt and in between the time he made up his mind and the time the bunt was laid down, Longoria began to suspect that a bunt might be coming and was starting to charge in during Percival's delivery.

 

Your arbitrary assignment of percentage chance for success is meaningless. It was a horrible inexcusable decision.

[UMFan83]

I thought it was a good bunt. It was hit a little hard, but it was placed between the 3B and pitcher. Longoria had to make a great barehanded grab and throw to get him. I think that play had a 50% chance of being a hit...which is better than the odds of him getting on by hitting normally.

[jersey cubs fan]

I thought it was a good bunt. It was hit a little hard, but it was placed between the 3B and pitcher. Longoria had to make a great barehanded grab and throw to get him. I think that play had a 50% chance of being a hit...which is better than the odds of him getting on by hitting normally.

 

He didn't have to make a great play. He didn't make a great play, he made a routine play for major league 3B, including what was a pretty poor throw, and still got the out with plenty of room to spare.

 

Arbitrarily saying you think it had a 50% chance of succeeding means nothing. It was a horrible decision.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I thought it was a good bunt. It was hit a little hard, but it was placed between the 3B and pitcher. Longoria had to make a great barehanded grab and throw to get him. I think that play had a 50% chance of being a hit...which is better than the odds of him getting on by hitting normally.

 

Why would it be a good thing for it to be between the 3B and pitcher? It's not going to get past them, and it makes a shorter throw for the 3B with more momentum to the base.

 

Also, like has been mentioned, barehanding a slow roller and throwing to first from 3B is pretty easy, especially for a professional baseball player. It looks cool(and it's tons of fun to do), but it's not very difficult.

[Jon]

Your arbitrary assignment of percentage chance for success is meaningless. It was a horrible inexcusable decision.

Again, Johnson flatout sucks against righties. He's hitting .241/.294/.343 against them this season. With a third baseman playing very deep down 1 on the road with 2 outs, I don't see how it is horrible or inexcusable at all. It wasn't executed well, but do you really think having Johnson swing away against a righty is infinitely better than what he did? I sure as heck don't.

[UMFan83]

I thought it was a good bunt. It was hit a little hard, but it was placed between the 3B and pitcher. Longoria had to make a great barehanded grab and throw to get him. I think that play had a 50% chance of being a hit...which is better than the odds of him getting on by hitting normally.

 

Why would it be a good thing for it to be between the 3B and pitcher? It's not going to get past them, and it makes a shorter throw for the 3B with more momentum to the base.

 

Also, like has been mentioned, barehanding a slow roller and throwing to first from 3B is pretty easy, especially for a professional baseball player. It looks cool(and it's tons of fun to do), but it's not very difficult.

 

Apparently it is pretty difficult because he made a horrible throw. There were lots of places he could have messed up that play. He could have missed the barehand, he could have launched an awful throw, the first baseman could have bobbled the ball (very likely considering the long hop and the direction that ball took after hitting the ground).

 

I would take my chances with that bunt over his .292 OBP against righties any day.