10/07 CUBS (ARRIETA) @ PIRATES (COLE), 7:00 PM CDT, TBS

[Omar]

Has the playoff roster been finalized?

 

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[rawaction]

Here's a probably dumb question: let's say that the first inning goes better than anyone can expect, Cole gets rocked, leaves before finishing the inning, etc. How many runs do they have to score before you tell Arrieta he's not pitching so he can go twice in the NLDS? I think technically he'd have to face one hitter, but that hitter/inning would just bide time to warm someone up. 8 runs? 10? 15?

 

I wouldn't affect his routine. He's already on regular rest, he'll have warmed up in anticipation of pitching. Even if it's 10+ before he takes the mound, I let him go. I don't even know that I would limit his pitches to anything super low, because there's really no chance he would be able to pitch anything but Game 3 if he pitches Wednesday regardless.

[bcl412]

We're gonna win and it's gonna be awesome.

[Guest]

Is anyone else concerned about the Cubs' high propensity to strike out and how that might affect this game? I think that is a big concern in the post season.

Nope.

 

They won 97 freaking games while leading the league in k's.

[rocket]

I'm nervous af

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not the least bit nervous, just comfortably excited.

[rawaction]

You guys are making me nervous. I wasn't nervous at all til reading the responses. I'm fairly confident about this game.

[Stu]

Is anyone else concerned about the Cubs' high propensity to strike out and how that might affect this game? I think that is a big concern in the post season.

Nope.

 

They won 97 freaking games while leading the league in k's.

 

 

Hey I gotta be concerned/nervous Nellie about something, I am a Cubs fan!

[ScrubMD]

Already getting the nervous poos.

[Schwarber Fan]

Do you consider starting Jackson in LF due to PNC Nat'l forest and his recent hot bat?

[RammyFanny]

Is anyone else concerned about the Cubs' high propensity to strike out and how that might affect this game? I think that is a big concern in the post season.

But dongs.

 

In seriousness, sort of depends on the lineup.

LaStella/Castro/Rizzo/Coghlan could offset it some.

 

What's the food of choice? I might be eating at a Mexican restaurant/bar for it but I will not hesitate to smuggle in Chinese.

[Guest]

Do you consider starting Jackson in LF due to PNC Nat'l forest and his recent hot bat?

you absolutely consider it.

[Banedon]

http://i.imgur.com/KlWSuwj.gif

[UMFan83]

Do you consider starting Jackson in LF due to PNC Nat'l forest and his recent hot bat?

 

I would consider it, but Coghlan picked it up over the weekend with his bat making the decision tougher. It's a tough choice. Coghlan is better against righties..you could start Jackson and bring Coghlan in if we need a bat later or start Coghlan and bring in Jackson if we have a small lead for defense. The difference is if we started Jackson and PH Coghlan later, the Pirates would probably bring in a lefty, nullifying him and getting Jacksons D out of the game.

[ScrubMD]

Alright, so Rizzo at 1B, Montero at C, Russell at SS, Fowler at CF seem certain. I'd say Castro at 2B is near certain. So how do you finish out 3B/LF/RF with Bryant, Schwarber, Baez, Coghlan, Jackson?

 

Bryant obviously plays somewhere.

 

It seems like Schwarber would be certain, but he's been struggling and it's a giant outfield. But when you have a dongsman like him, seems crazy not to start him.

 

I really want Baez in there for defense and because I want him to hit a monster dong so bad, but I kind of doubt he starts.

 

Coghlan has had a couple good games after struggling for awhile.

 

Jackson seems ideal to have in LF for defense, but is probably the least awesome bat.

 

I think I would go Baez 3B/Bryant LF/Schwarber RF. I'd guess Joe goes Bryant 3B/Coghlan LF/Schwarber RF.

[Guest]

Do you consider starting Jackson in LF due to PNC Nat'l forest and his recent hot bat?

 

I would consider it, but Coghlan picked it up over the weekend with his bat making the decision tougher. It's a tough choice. Coghlan is better against righties..you could start Jackson and bring Coghlan in if we need a bat later or start Coghlan and bring in Jackson if we have a small lead for defense. The difference is if we started Jackson and PH Coghlan later, the Pirates would probably bring in a lefty, nullifying him and getting Jacksons D out of the game.

Cole has a reverse split, too. I could see the argument to start Jackson in LF and bring in Coghlan against a reliever.

[kujay]

I'm keeping the fatalistic Cubs fan side of me repressed.

 

Jake is the man. He's got this.

 

Gonna stay busy at work the next three days, drink heavily on Wednesday evening and all will be fine.

[Sammy Sofa]

[Omar]

Cubs v. Cole

Name                PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Anthony Rizzo       20  17  6  1  0  0   1  2  3  .353  .450  .412  .862  0  0   0   1         0
Starlin Castro      19  17  6  0  0  0   4  1  4  .353  .368  .353  .721  0  1   0   0         0
Chris Coghlan       17  13  2  0  0  0   1  2  5  .154  .294  .154  .448  0  1   0   1         0
Dexter Fowler       15  14  3  0  0  0   0  1  4  .214  .267  .214  .481  0  0   0   0         1
Kris Bryant         11   9  3  0  0  0   0  2  6  .333  .455  .333  .788  0  0   0   0         0
Chris Denorfia       7   6  3  1  0  0   0  1  0  .500  .571  .667 1.238  0  0   0   0         0
Addison Russell      7   7  2  0  0  0   1  0  2  .286  .286  .286  .571  0  0   0   0         0
Jorge Soler          7   7  2  0  0  0   0  0  2  .286  .286  .286  .571  0  0   0   0         1
Javier Baez          6   6  1  0  0  1   1  0  3  .167  .167  .667  .833  0  0   0   0         0
Tommy La Stella      6   6  1  1  0  0   1  0  0  .167  .167  .333  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Kyle Schwarber       6   5  1  0  0  0   0  1  1  .200  .333  .200  .533  0  0   0   0         0
Miguel Montero       5   5  3  0  0  0   1  0  1  .600  .600  .600 1.200  0  0   0   0         0
David Ross           5   5  0  0  0  0   0  0  3  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jon Lester           4   4  0  0  0  0   0  0  4  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Dan Haren            2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jonathan Herrera     2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Tsuyoshi Wada        2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Wood          2   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  .000  .500  .000  .500  0  0   0   1         0
Trevor Cahill        1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jason Hammel         1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Kyle Hendricks       1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Matt Szczur          1   1  1  0  0  0   2  0  0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000  0  0   0   0         0
Total              147 132 34  3  0  1  12 10 44  .258  .320  .303  .623  0  2   0   3         2

 

Pirates vs. Arrieta

Name                  PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG  OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Andrew McCutchen      27  23  8  2  0  0   1  3  7 .348 .444 .435 .879  0  0   0   1         0
Neil Walker           26  25  4  1  0  0   1  1  6 .160 .192 .200 .392  0  0   0   0         1
Aramis Ramirez        21  19  2  0  0  0   0  1  2 .105 .190 .105 .296  0  0   0   1         3
Pedro Alvarez         19  17  2  0  0  1   1  2  4 .118 .211 .294 .505  0  0   0   0         1
Starling Marte        18  17  4  0  0  0   0  0  4 .235 .278 .235 .513  0  0   0   1         0
Gregory Polanco       16  16  3  0  0  0   1  0  5 .188 .188 .188 .375  0  0   0   0         0
Francisco Cervelli    13  13  2  0  0  0   1  0  5 .154 .154 .154 .308  0  0   0   0         1
Josh Harrison         10  10  1  1  0  0   0  0  2 .100 .100 .200 .300  0  0   0   0         0
Mike Morse             9   9  2  1  0  0   1  0  2 .222 .222 .333 .556  0  0   0   0         0
A.J. Burnett           7   7  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Snider          5   5  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .200 .200 .200 .400  0  0   0   0         0
Jordy Mercer           4   4  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Francisco Liriano      2   2  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jaff Decker            1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
J.A. Happ              1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Ishikawa        1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Charlie Morton         1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000 .000 .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total                181 171 29  5  0  1   6  7 45 .170 .215 .216 .432  0  0   0   3         6

[Smack]

I'll be listening in the car while driving. That sucks but it's probably best for my liver anyway.

[rawaction]

Do you consider starting Jackson in LF due to PNC Nat'l forest and his recent hot bat?

 

I would consider it, but Coghlan picked it up over the weekend with his bat making the decision tougher. It's a tough choice. Coghlan is better against righties..you could start Jackson and bring Coghlan in if we need a bat later or start Coghlan and bring in Jackson if we have a small lead for defense. The difference is if we started Jackson and PH Coghlan later, the Pirates would probably bring in a lefty, nullifying him and getting Jacksons D out of the game.

Cole has a reverse split, too. I could see the argument to start Jackson in LF and bring in Coghlan against a reliever.

 

I'm strongly leaning this way. I think defense/speed is more important in what should be a low scoring game. hasn't hit Cole and Jackson hasn't seen him. Throw in the splits and Coghlan is the 4th LH against a guy that's tough against them. And the Cards have no LH starters, so Coghlan will probably start every game of that series.

[Omar]

It would suck if our downfall this year is because of Aramis Ramirez.

[Sammy Sofa]

It would suck if our downfall this year is because of Aramis Ramirez.

 

That's literally the only way a Pirates' win would not depress the hell out of me.

[Brian707]

For what its worth. Cubs open as a slight money line favorite of -130 and the run total for the game is 5.5

[Liam Neeson]

Who is announcing this on TBS and is Len Kasper planning to be in the radio booth with Pat and Ron?