6/7 Pirates (Liriano) @ Cubs (Wood)- 1:20 pm CT, WGN

[ConstableRabbit]

Looking at 3 straight fastballs to K... WTF was that, Rizzo?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Ballgame.

[ConstableRabbit]

So it's gonna be one of those games.

[ConstableRabbit]

I know it's just been a few PAs, but Starlin has looked pretty patient today.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know it's just been a few PAs, but Starlin has looked pretty patient today.

 

as he flails low and away for a lazy pop up

[Guest]

i wonder if an ultimatum has come down from the top for starlin.

[ConstableRabbit]

I know it's just been a few PAs, but Starlin has looked pretty patient today.

 

as he flails low and away for a lazy pop up

I jinxed it.

[Jake]

MARMOL!!!! \:D/ :clapping: :yahoo:

[Jake]

sorry. Not my usual style.

[ConstableRabbit]

Marmol pwnage.

[Guest]

Liriano's not even attempting to swing and it still took Marmol five pitches to strike him out.

[Jake]

Lriano again makes a strong Argument for the DH.

[Sammy Sofa]

i wonder if an ultimatum has come down from the top for starlin.

 

To who? What would they possibly threaten? Little purpose is served by benching him or sending him down, and they're not going to trade him when his value has been lowered like this.

[GammonsPocketTweets]

Why didn't we get Liriano?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is one of those days where I wish we'd bring back Sappelt or find someone else to rebalance our L/R matchups.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Valbuena got hosed on a horsecrap call.

[ConstableRabbit]

Awful call.

[ConstableRabbit]

Was that a strike?

[Guest]

Was that a strike?

 

Gameday says yes, right on the corner.

[jersey cubs fan]

what a boring a game

[Cubswin11]

The hell, where was Barney positioned on that?

[Guest]

With how far away from the bag Barney was, that ball has to come home.

[Guest]

The hell, where was Barney positioned on that?

 

It was a LHP so he was playing towards the whole while giving enough room to make it to 2B. It looked bad because it was a hot shot that required zero movement from Valbuena, who threw to 2nd immediately.

 

JD thinks you have to go home there, but it's a hard decision for me. Your instinct when you get a ball hit straight to you is to go to 2B, and had it been a RH hitter or one with less power they probably turn it and end the inning. Maybe when you turn to 2B and see Barney not there you go home, but again, looking to 2B then going back to home is really counter to your instincts as a 3B so I understand him following through. It ended up being a bang bang play even despite all that.

 

 

Marte's HBP was a borderline strike, he shouldn't get first base.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So maybe having Villanueva in the pen isn't that great after all.

[Guest]

So maybe having Villanueva in the pen isn't that great after all.

 

Yeah, he's particularly poorly equipped to transition to the pen. No standout pitches, not great velocity, gets by with a wide variety of pitches and speeds. He should be headed back to the rotation soon when one of the SP gets traded.