resting regulars for Tuesday's game

[kente777]

From Chicagosports.com:

 

After winning their fourth straight, Piniella said he'd rest several regulars on Tuesday against San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum.

 

I guess I just don't understand this mentality. Wouldn't you want to rest your regulars with a weaker pitcher, not one who has the potential to dominate? Of course it's early, and of course players need rest...but resting "several regulars." Hey, how 'bout we just rest all our big hitters whenever a tough pitcher takes the mound.

 

Maybe someone can explain this to me.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs have just played 15 games straight and a bunch of regular hitters have either gotten no time off or are still coming back from injuries. It's an early game after a late one against a team that really isn't all that "important" in the grand scheme of things being fronted by apitcher that has a really good chance of shutting down the Cubs even if all the best bats are there and at full strength. It's kind of a perfect storm in terms of getting guys a break.

[jersey cubs fan]

Over the course of a 162 game season, you have to be willing to lose a game or two, losing the battle to preserve your ability to win the war. You can't throw out your best every day. It's very likely that a substantial portion of those losses are going to come against the opposition's ace. When you write up the schedule, whenever you have your 5th facing their ace, you are going to chalk up a loss in that game. If you lose to Lincecum, so be it. But you really don't want to lose to the 5th starters of the world. You want to take advantage of every one of those opportunities.

[David]

The Cubs have just played 15 games straight and a bunch of regular hitters have either gotten no time off or are still coming back from injuries. It's an early game after a late one against a team that really isn't all that "important" in the grand scheme of things being fronted by apitcher that has a really good chance of shutting down the Cubs even if all the best bats are there and at full strength. It's kind of a perfect storm in terms of getting guys a break.

 

 

These are my thoughts exactly. It's probably gonna take a bit of luck to score off Lincecum, anyway. Might as well give the opportunity to get lucky to the backups and let the regulars get a day off after a night game.

[CubbieBum]

I don't see why this needs its own thread. There's a game thread for this type of stuff.

[SouthSideRyan]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

[David]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Huh?

[SouthSideRyan]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Huh?

 

I was responding to the bum.

[rocket]

lou has tim on his fantasy team. duh.

[David]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Huh?

 

I was responding to the bum.

 

 

Didn't see that post... :?

[CubbieBum]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Then its their fault. This is solely about today's game and thus belongs in today's game thread. If you choose to not read the game thread then so be it, but don't start a thread about something already being discussed in the game thread.

[jersey cubs fan]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Then its their fault. This is solely about today's game and thus belongs in today's game thread. If you choose to not read the game thread then so be it, but don't start a thread about something already being discussed in the game thread.

 

Sir, yes Sir!

 

By the way, lots of stuff gets discussed in game threads and in other threads on this board.

[fromthestretch]

Way to go, SSR. You stole his thunder.

[CubColtPacer]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Then its their fault. This is solely about today's game and thus belongs in today's game thread. If you choose to not read the game thread then so be it, but don't start a thread about something already being discussed in the game thread.

 

This discussion has implications that go beyond today's game. It is a discussion on when and how you rest players. It's perfectly fine being discussed both here and the game thread.

[David]

owned

[Banedon]

Because a lot of people don't read game threads.

 

Then its their fault. This is solely about today's game and thus belongs in today's game thread. If you choose to not read the game thread then so be it, but don't start a thread about something already being discussed in the game thread.

 

If we decide to take suggestions for further board guidelines, we'll be sure to consult you.

[radarluv1]

the thread title implies they have been resting in preparation for tonights game. so that they will be ready to play tonight. against lincecum. i thought it was started monday.

[jersey cubs fan]

the thread title implies they have been resting in preparation for tonights game. so that they will be ready to play tonight. against lincecum. i thought it was started monday.

 

There is no game tonight. It's being played right now.

[radarluv1]

so did the extra rest help?

[NCCubFan]

I agree with resting the players. The game was a likely loss anyway, so in effect it was an unscheduled day off. The Cubs have still won 4 of the last 5; if they continue that all year (they won't) they'll be playing in October.

[twothousandfive]

Even his bullpen usage backed up the general idea that Piniella was ready to take a loss. Marshall got through seven with, what, 86 pitches or so and three runs allowed? With Lincecum at 115 pitches or so Piniella could have switched to playing to win, but I guess he'd decided to stick with the plan. So, he tested to see if Marshall could stay tough while getting to 90 pitches (sample size of one says "no.") Then it was the back of the bullpen to finish it up, though it seemed as though turning to Samardzjia was at least a chance to get out of the jam. On other days, isn't that a spot for Marmol? Since he pitched two days in a row, I guess he was getting a rest, too.

 

Even when he's taking it easy, though, Piniella clearly doesn't want Hoffpauir or Fontenot up against a lefty.

[17 Seconds]

I like how Lou waits until we finally are getting things going and are on a season high winning streak before he decides to just forfeit a game. Awesome.

[Guest]

I was only able to casually glance at today's game. What was the purpose of the forfeit line up?

 

Was it super cold outside? Was it really wet? Was it just because it was a day game after a night game? Was it because Tim Lincecum can outpitch Marshall with one arm tied behind his back?

 

I'm a bit confused why they would send that line up out there like that. As a fan who purchased a ticket, and if it was my only ticket after waiting in the virtual waiting room for hours and hours, I'd be thoroughly pissed that they had that line up out there.

 

I understand resting players. I really do. But, this team has really been playing horrible for the past couple of weeks and they haven't really played well enough in my mind to send out a forfeit line up.

 

And how does Sean Marshall feel about this? I know he's the low guy on the totem pole and there would be a mutiny if you gave Zambrano that line up, but Sean has been pitching pretty well leading up to that start, and I can't say I'm overly fond of the team saying "sorry dude, you can't beat Lincecum, so we just aren't even going to try."

 

What happened to giving one or two guys a rest rather than the whole team? Or how about playing half a game? I guess I see a whole lot of different options than what they actually did today. Might as well just cancel the game.

 

I'm going to trust that the weather was really bad, and in that case, I can completely understand this.

[bukie]

I was only able to casually glance at today's game. What was the purpose of the forfeit line up?

 

Was it super cold outside? Was it really wet? Was it just because it was a day game after a night game? Was it because Tim Lincecum can outpitch Marshall with one arm tied behind his back?

 

I'm a bit confused why they would send that line up out there like that. As a fan who purchased a ticket, and if it was my only ticket after waiting in the virtual waiting room for hours and hours, I'd be thoroughly pissed that they had that line up out there.

 

I understand resting players. I really do. But, this team has really been playing horrible for the past couple of weeks and they haven't really played well enough in my mind to send out a forfeit line up.

 

And how does Sean Marshall feel about this? I know he's the low guy on the totem pole and there would be a mutiny if you gave Zambrano that line up, but Sean has been pitching pretty well leading up to that start, and I can't say I'm overly fond of the team saying "sorry dude, you can't beat Lincecum, so we just aren't even going to try."

 

What happened to giving one or two guys a rest rather than the whole team? Or how about playing half a game? I guess I see a whole lot of different options than what they actually did today. Might as well just cancel the game.

 

I'm going to trust that the weather was really bad, and in that case, I can completely understand this.

 

The Cubs had just won 4 in a row and were playing their 14th game in a row in a sequence of 20 straight without an off-day. Criticize perhaps giving all the regular right-handers the day off, but don't criticize the concept of the day off, or that the Cubs may as well have forfeited.

[Soul]

And how does Sean Marshall feel about this? I know he's the low guy on the totem pole and there would be a mutiny if you gave Zambrano that line up, but Sean has been pitching pretty well leading up to that start, and I can't say I'm overly fond of the team saying "sorry dude, you can't beat Lincecum, so we just aren't even going to try."

 

I don't think that's the message the team is sending to Sean.

 

And I think the team is smart enough to judge a pitcher's performance on its own merits, without falling back on the old myth: "the team lost so you must have stunk."