10/10 CUBS (HENDRICKS) @ CARDS (GARCIA,) 4:30 P.M. CT, TBS

[davell]

I kind of expect a high scoring game today. I'd start Javy at 2B personally today.

[Geech]

Can we ban Ski from the game threads for the remainder of the postseason?

[UMFan83]

Really want this lineup to come out...I hope Soler is in it

[muntjack]

Thing is, we win today and we become huge favorites. We own Wacha and Lynn.

[Guest]

Thing is, we win today and we become huge favorites. We own Wacha and Lynn.

 

I mentioned this in yesterday's game thread, but a point of optimism to take away is what Garcia has in common with Wacha and Lynn: not very many breaking pitches

 

Here's the percentage of curveballs and sliders each Cardinals starter throws:

 

Lackey: 30%

Garcia: 6%

Lynn: 13%

Wacha: 13%

 

The reason this is a problem is that against the Cubs offense as a whole, you have to get swings and misses. There's too many good hitters with pop and discipline to be able to go 6+ innings without getting squared up a couple times if you don't have a breaking ball to generate whiffs. Lynn throws most everything as a variant as a fastball, Wacha doesn't have fastball variety but mixes in a good changeup more often. Garcia is more like Wacha, but both Wacha and Lynn got lit up by the Cubs in September, twice.

[Guest]

[Irrelevant Dude]

The lineup is out, and Schwarber isn't in it...

 

1. Fowler CF

2. Soler RF

3. Bryant 3B

4. Rizzo 1B

5. Castro 2B

6. Jackson LF

7. Montero C

8. Hendricks P

9. Russell 2B

[Guest]

no schwarbs :(

[Guest]

not sure i get this lineup. garcia has reverse splits.

[davell]

Eh, I'd have put Schwarber in, but he's been pretty awful against lefties. Glad to see Soler in at least. Wish Javy was.

[Guest]

is this some weird new math gonzalez is doing

 

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[Gilby]

This lineup doesn't make sense. Garcia makes his living on a sinker and changeup that have great movement away from righties. Not sure how Joe can look at Garcia's stuff and the way Schwarber is hitting and not put him in there.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Legitimate question - Who is a better defensive Right Fielder, Soler or Schwarber?

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Soler surprises me a bit. With AJax I think you ignore Garcias splits and look at the fact that he completely rakes against LHP.

[UMFan83]

Legitimate question - Who is a better defensive Right Fielder, Soler or Schwarber?

 

Based on eye test I'd say Schwarber. He seems to take better routes to balls and gets good jumps. Soler has looked awful at times in right

[Guest]

Carpenter 3B

Piscotty RF

Holliday LF

Heyward CF

Peralta SS

Moss 1B

Molina C

Wong 2B

Garcia 1

[davell]

Yeah, Soler has looked like a complete liability in RF(outside of his arm), while Schwarber has looked surprisingly efficient(if awkward).

[PetermanRealityTour]

I trust Maddon but no schwarber makes me sad. Really, nobody outside of Fowler and Schwarber have shown signs of life. I thought we might get Javy at 3rd and KB in LF today too.

[Guest]

married friends can't get away, single friend i can usually rely on went back to school and has midterms to study for.

 

am i watching this game on my couch or am i doing the solo thing at a bar?

[Irrelevant Dude]

am i watching this game on my couch or am i doing the solo thing at a bar?

Solo couch-watching is the best.

[Guest]

am i watching this game on my couch or am i doing the solo thing at a bar?

Solo couch-watching is the best.

 

i did that last night. i kinda want to be around people today, lol. we'll see whether that outweighs the laziness.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Solo couch thing for me. Got some 3 floyds zombie... Ready to go!

[Sammy Sofa]

Solo bar-watching [expletive] sucks.

 

I'm feasting on some fantastic ultra spicy Chinese food right now, so this win is a lock.

[Guest]

Solo bar-watching [expletive] sucks.

 

I'm feasting on some fantastic ultra spicy Chinese food right now, so this win is a lock.

 

i'm a friendly drunk

 

anyway neither of those options will be a thing. managed to get one of my friends out of the house and we will suburban bar watch.

[Ski]

I hate bars that play music instead of the game audio. The announcing is usually [expletive], but the best part of watching a playoff game is hearing how much the crowd is getting into it.