Schwarber: Fully torn ACL and LCL. Out for 172 meaningless games.

[Banedon]

If Schwarber plays LF they're going to move Zobrist to 2B and Javy to the bench.

 

What? No...they are not going to bench Javy.

[woodchip2153]

But I don't think Schwarber will start tomorrow. My guess is Joe is confident enough in Hendricks that he'll use Kyle as a key PH when there's a run scoring opportunity (and maybe keep him in the game if he's cleared to play defense). I think we'll see Zobrist in one corner with either Contreras or Soler starting in the opposite corner.

 

Since we have the last at bat, by starting a more defensive minded player you can maximize his innings on defense while minimizing his abs. Also, in theory, we won't need the defense as much later in the game, because our relievers strike out batters at a higher rate, but since we'll have the lead we can bring in the other defensive stud.

 

Edit: what WF22 said

Edited October 27, 2016 by woodchip2153

[USSoccer]

If Schwarber plays LF they're going to move Zobrist to 2B and Javy to the bench.

 

What? No...they are not going to bench Javy.

 

If they get medical clearance for Schwarber to play LF it would not surprise me to see them self-compromise by saying they'll play Heyward and shade everyone left so that Schwarber has to cover as little ground as possible.

 

They aren't going to sit Zobrist in that scenario.

 

I would prefer they not bench Javy, I'm just speculating on a thought process.

[Cubswin11]

Tomlin actually has reverse splits, this year and for his career. So if they are iffy on Schwarber to begin with in the OF I could see that playing a factor in at least sitting him for the game tomorrow. .276/.310/.487 vs RHB and .246/.277/.450 vs LHB for his career and .295/.323/.522 vs RHB and .227/.247/.438 vs LHB this year.

[davell]

Cleveland fans, and Indians social media isn't happy with the Schwarber love...

 

 

Its almost cute to watch stupidity. Cleveland just isn't as important to baseball as the Cubs are. Its a kick in the jimmy, but its swift and they need to know the truth, if they're too slow to have already figured it out.

[mikeyt34]

If Kyle plays LF, would it be crazy to play Almora in RF, that way Dex can cheat to LF a lot more? Bascially tell Schwarbs if it's in the LF gap, get out of the way and let Dex get it. I'm saying this with no inteniton of JHey starting. I would much rather have Almora's bat in the line up over his and Almora can cover just as much ground if not more than JHey.

 

Are you benching Zobrist for Almora?

 

Oh man...Major brain fart. My bad. Just trying to figure out ways to protect Kyle in LF defensivly. Of course Zo plays, I lost my mind temporarily.

[big_shooter17]

What about:

Schwarber LF

Bryant RF

Baez 3B

Zobrist 2B

[WrigleyField 22]

What about:

Schwarber LF

Bryant RF

Baez 3B

Zobrist 2B

I dont think that really upgrades any of your defensive spots over just keepong Zobrist in RF. These guys have been in their spots for a while now.

[Clem Fandango]

If Schwarber plays LF they're going to move Zobrist to 2B and Javy to the bench.

 

What? No...they are not going to bench Javy.

 

Easy solution:

 

C Contreras

1B Rizzo

2B/RF Zobrist

SS Russell

3B/2B Baez

LF Schwarber

CF Fowler

RF/3B Bryant

 

Pure dongaliciousness

Edited October 27, 2016 by The Logan

[Tracer Bullet]

But I don't think Schwarber will start tomorrow. My guess is Joe is confident enough in Hendricks that he'll use Kyle as a key PH when there's a run scoring opportunity (and maybe keep him in the game if he's cleared to play defense). I think we'll see Zobrist in one corner with either Contreras or Soler starting in the opposite corner.

 

Since we have the last at bat, by starting a more defensive minded player you can maximize his innings on defense while minimizing his abs. Also, in theory, we won't need the defense as much later in the game, because our relievers strike out batters at a higher rate, but since we'll have the lead we can bring in the other defensive stud.

 

But you can do that at any point in the game. You can start with a guy like Soler in RF, who isn't great but isn't Schwarber (who may be inhuman as a hitter, but how many fly balls has he taken since spring training?). As the game progresses, if the need arises, you can insert Schwarber in a double switch or straight up for Soler to maximize the importance of his 1-2 ABs, then if the Cubs have the lead late, you take him out for Heyward or Almora. With that strategy, you have 1 or 0 ABs by a guy like Heyward that's been sucking out loud. And you have at least some potential for donging with Soler getting a couple ABs early in the game. If we get out to a nice lead, you don't bring in Kyle but go straight to Heyward in the middle innings. We have the flexibility in our roster to do that and I think you start the game assuming you're not PH for Hendricks until at least bottom of the 6th.

 

Again, this assumes he's medically cleared for the OF. But if he hasn't been taking fly balls since spring training, I can't see how you put him in the OF with a guy that pitches to weak contact like Hendricks. Get the lead off the Indians crappy SP, play good defense, and let Scwharber PH in a key spot if you need it - that'd be my plan for Game 3.

[Tracer Bullet]

If Schwarber plays LF they're going to move Zobrist to 2B and Javy to the bench.

 

What? No...they are not going to bench Javy.

 

Easy solution:

 

C Contreras

1B Rizzo

2B/RF Zobrist

SS Russell

3B/2B Baez

LF Schwarber

CF Fowler

RF/3B Bryant

 

Pure dongaliciousness

 

I forgot Contreras would be C. Especially given that, you don't need to start Schwarber tomorrow and sacrifice so much D. We have a huge advantage in SP but ours relies on quality defense behind him. Our offense is significantly better than theirs even without Schwarber starting. So put Soler in RF and leave the stud IF defense alone.

[biittner77]

Tomlin actually has reverse splits, this year and for his career. So if they are iffy on Schwarber to begin with in the OF I could see that playing a factor in at least sitting him for the game tomorrow. .276/.310/.487 vs RHB and .246/.277/.450 vs LHB for his career and .295/.323/.522 vs RHB and .227/.247/.438 vs LHB this year.

 

Do teams ever take into account reverse splits when making a lineup or looking for match ups? It seems like they don't do it very often or not often enough.

[woodchip2153]

But I don't think Schwarber will start tomorrow. My guess is Joe is confident enough in Hendricks that he'll use Kyle as a key PH when there's a run scoring opportunity (and maybe keep him in the game if he's cleared to play defense). I think we'll see Zobrist in one corner with either Contreras or Soler starting in the opposite corner.

 

Since we have the last at bat, by starting a more defensive minded player you can maximize his innings on defense while minimizing his abs. Also, in theory, we won't need the defense as much later in the game, because our relievers strike out batters at a higher rate, but since we'll have the lead we can bring in the other defensive stud.

 

But you can do that at any point in the game. You can start with a guy like Soler in RF, who isn't great but isn't Schwarber (who may be inhuman as a hitter, but how many fly balls has he taken since spring training?). As the game progresses, if the need arises, you can insert Schwarber in a double switch or straight up for Soler to maximize the importance of his 1-2 ABs, then if the Cubs have the lead late, you take him out for Heyward or Almora. With that strategy, you have 1 or 0 ABs by a guy like Heyward that's been sucking out loud. And you have at least some potential for donging with Soler getting a couple ABs early in the game. If we get out to a nice lead, you don't bring in Kyle but go straight to Heyward in the middle innings. We have the flexibility in our roster to do that and I think you start the game assuming you're not PH for Hendricks until at least bottom of the 6th.

 

Again, this assumes he's medically cleared for the OF. But if he hasn't been taking fly balls since spring training, I can't see how you put him in the OF with a guy that pitches to weak contact like Hendricks. Get the lead off the Indians crappy SP, play good defense, and let Scwharber PH in a key spot if you need it - that'd be my plan for Game 3.

 

we are agreed.

[Cubswin11]

Tomlin actually has reverse splits, this year and for his career. So if they are iffy on Schwarber to begin with in the OF I could see that playing a factor in at least sitting him for the game tomorrow. .276/.310/.487 vs RHB and .246/.277/.450 vs LHB for his career and .295/.323/.522 vs RHB and .227/.247/.438 vs LHB this year.

 

Do teams ever take into account reverse splits when making a lineup or looking for match ups? It seems like they don't do it very often or not often enough.

Joe literally cited Bauer's reverse splits last night as a reason why Soler was in the lineup

[davell]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Banedon]

If Schwarber plays LF they're going to move Zobrist to 2B and Javy to the bench.

 

What? No...they are not going to bench Javy.

 

If they get medical clearance for Schwarber to play LF it would not surprise me to see them self-compromise by saying they'll play Heyward and shade everyone left so that Schwarber has to cover as little ground as possible.

 

They aren't going to sit Zobrist in that scenario.

 

I would prefer they not bench Javy, I'm just speculating on a thought process.

 

With the soft contact our pitchers get, the infield defense that Baez brings is more valuable than what Heyward brings. If you play Schwarber in the field, you're basically saying "offense is more important than defense right now."

 

I strongly doubt Schwarber will play, but if he does, I'm confident it will be at Heyward's expense.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yeah, with Tomlin on the mound and a crazy wind, it's an easy compromise to let Soler play RF and leave Schwarber as a pinch hitter. The conversation for Game 4 is much more interesting, I don't think I have a strong opinion on what the best option would be.

[mikeyt34]

Hopefully I didn't lose all cred for forgeting about Zobrist in my Almora in RF post. After reading other suggestions, if Schwarbs does play left, Dex is going to be forced to cheat a bit to Left Center and Zo is just going to have to have an extra Red Bull before the game. No way you tinker with the infield defense with Kyle (the other one) on the mound.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm assuming that the ideas to play Soler stem from fears of Schwarber injuring himself, because there's absolutely no way that Soler is a better fielder than even a gigantic, hobbled sentient bat-dong hybrid.

[Fro]

Hendricks/Arrieta/Lackey could start in LF (depending on who's pitching and who is throwing a side-session) and that would give you a half-inning or two of D before Schwarber's spot comes up.

 

So that would cut it down to 4-6 innings that he'd need to be out there.

 

1B isn't any better since some runner might collide with him, but Schwarber's played 1B before and I don't see why Rizzo couldn't handle LF better than Soler

[Banedon]

I'm assuming that the ideas to play Soler stem from fears of Schwarber injuring himself, because there's absolutely no way that Soler is a better fielder than even a gigantic, hobbled sentient bat-dong hybrid.

 

Your love/hate relationship with Soler is fascinating.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm assuming that the ideas to play Soler stem from fears of Schwarber injuring himself, because there's absolutely no way that Soler is a better fielder than even a gigantic, hobbled sentient bat-dong hybrid.

 

Your love/hate relationship with Soler is fascinating.

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm assuming that the ideas to play Soler stem from fears of Schwarber injuring himself, because there's absolutely no way that Soler is a better fielder than even a gigantic, hobbled sentient bat-dong hybrid.

 

Your love/hate relationship with Soler is fascinating.

lol, that's exactly what I was just thinking

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm assuming that the ideas to play Soler stem from fears of Schwarber injuring himself, because there's absolutely no way that Soler is a better fielder than even a gigantic, hobbled sentient bat-dong hybrid.

Eh- its not just being hobbled, but just practiced. Obviously being medically cleared is the big step, but i can buy the argument that hitting is more stressful already, particularly the back leg.

[Sammy Sofa]

He's beautiful to look at, but terrible at baseball. Seems simple enough.