4/10 Cubs (Harden) @ Brewers (Looper) - 3:05 CDT WGN

[Fred Hornkohl]

Cotts in to pitch for the CUBS

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Uh...Cotts coming in. :(

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Lou is thinking a bit too much here. Counsell's not dangerous enough to warrant a LH reliever with 3 better RH hitters coming behind him

[BCVM22]

One order of tie game, coming up.

[YearofDaCubs]

That was a fast outing by Heilman. Cotts isn't even a good lefty.

[islandcub]

Please throw strikes, Cotts.

[Keener98]

Lou is thinking a bit too much here. Counsell's not dangerous enough to warrant a LH reliever with 3 better RH hitters coming behind him

 

Do leftys hit Heilman that much better? I wonder if Marmol will come in to face the RH hitters

[Rob]

I think he'll be a .825 to .850 OPS guy with subpar range at first but great receiving skills. Pretty much the same guy he was last year... overpaid, but couldn't be much less of a problem to this team.

 

What I am convinced that will change are the absurd GIDP tendencies he showed last year that were completely out of whack with his career numbers.

 

I don't know. He just doesn't seem to be able to get any lift on the ball any more. These balls that he's rolling over to SS are pitches he used to drive into the gaps on a consistent basis. In the first four games this year that doesn't seem to look any different from last year. I hope you're right, but I really have no confidence in him anymore.

 

Four games does not a season make. Have faith.

 

Remember, for all the bitching about his offense last year, his EqA last year was .279... with major league average first baseman at .283.

 

Average with the bat and plus defensive value... and he's still got some upside to return to form. At the very least, his walk rate is almost a lock to rebound a bit.

 

I hope you're right. Until he figures it out though, I'd still prefer him to be lower in the order.

 

I wouldn't have a problem with that either. for that matter, leave him lower in the order even after he figures it out. He probably belongs down in the 5-7 area. What I do have a problem with is the absurd rallying against such a classy guy while he still maintains value to the team. Some people need to control their urge to bitch. (Not directed at you, Butters)

[Tryptamine]

GJ Cotts...

[cubswin2009]

Awesome!

[Fred Hornkohl]

Counsell, pinch hitting for McClung, hit by pitch

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

That move worked out well... :blink:

[Keener98]

Nice job Cotts. I feel like Im watching Tony Larussa manage this inning

[Tryptamine]

Well that was a quick waste of two relievers for one out.

[Guest]

And now Cotts is done after one batter.

 

At least Lou is bringing Marmol in.

[Hall7810]

Marmol time.

[YearofDaCubs]

Cotts sucks! Seriously, he isn't even a loogy. He's just not good.

[E.J.]

Lou is awful. He micromanages with the best of 'em.

[McEvans]

just setting up the 6-4-3

[Roast]

plz be good marmol and not bad marmol.

[weatherdood]

Just the first of many no decisions coming up for Harden.

[TruffleShuffle]

i hate you neal cotts.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cotts needed to get one LH hitter out...and a pretty crappy one at that, and yet he fails.

 

I have a feeling at the deadline we'll be looking for a LH reliever.

[cubswin2009]

I don't trust our bullpen here.

 

Any particular reason?

This is why. I still haven't seen any consistency out of ANY of our bullpen pitchers yet. Cotts is going to be off this team by May.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I think he'll be a .825 to .850 OPS guy with subpar range at first but great receiving skills. Pretty much the same guy he was last year... overpaid, but couldn't be much less of a problem to this team.

 

What I am convinced that will change are the absurd GIDP tendencies he showed last year that were completely out of whack with his career numbers.

 

I don't know. He just doesn't seem to be able to get any lift on the ball any more. These balls that he's rolling over to SS are pitches he used to drive into the gaps on a consistent basis. In the first four games this year that doesn't seem to look any different from last year. I hope you're right, but I really have no confidence in him anymore.

 

Four games does not a season make. Have faith.

 

Remember, for all the bitching about his offense last year, his EqA last year was .279... with major league average first baseman at .283.

 

Average with the bat and plus defensive value... and he's still got some upside to return to form. At the very least, his walk rate is almost a lock to rebound a bit.

 

I hope you're right. Until he figures it out though, I'd still prefer him to be lower in the order.

 

I wouldn't have a problem with that either. for that matter, leave him lower in the order even after he figures it out. He probably belongs down in the 5-7 area. What I do have a problem with is the absurd rallying against such a classy guy while he still maintains value to the team. Some people need to control their urge to bitch. (Not directed at you, Butters)

 

No, I hear ya. That's why it's so frustrating/sad to see him slump like he has been. He's such an easy guy to root for because he's so classy, that it sucks to have to be frustrated with him because his play is down a bit.