6/7 Cubs (Hendricks) @ Phillies (Eickoff), 6:05 CT, WGN

Gilby · June 8, 2016

Today was the day I actually started taking 117 seriously with those articles that came out. So what I'm saying is, don't lose, Cubs.

Ski · June 8, 2016

boy im tired of watching heyward hit.

I mean, Maddon could drop a hint by slotting him 8th in the order.

Tim · June 8, 2016

I bet every likely outcome for Heyward in Maddon's binder is "weak grounder to 2B."

If it was a weak grounder, he would have beaten the turn.

Liam Neeson · June 8, 2016

Camera man thought it was leaving the stadium.

David · June 8, 2016

boy im tired of watching heyward hit.

yyyuuuppp

BigSlick · June 8, 2016

The Phillies hard grounder get past La Stella, the Heyward one goes for a double play. Its baseball.

Agony and Ivy · June 8, 2016

I bet every likely outcome for Heyward in Maddon's binder is "weak grounder to 2B."
If it was a weak grounder, he would have beaten the turn.

Then just a grounder to second. Hitting the ball on the ground every time up is going to be a bad time.

Tim · June 8, 2016

That face Cahill made kinda made me like him.

Tim · June 8, 2016

I bet every likely outcome for Heyward in Maddon's binder is "weak grounder to 2B."
If it was a weak grounder, he would have beaten the turn.

Then just a grounder to second. Hitting the ball on the ground every time up is going to be a bad time.

Check the post right above this one from you.

BigSlick · June 8, 2016

We got Rizzo-Zobrist-La Stella (lol) up, so our chances aren't terrible

EDIT: Its way beter its Bryant-Rizzo-Zobrist, lol

Edited June 8, 2016 by BigSlick

Ski · June 8, 2016

I know there's nothing to be done about Heyward besides be patient. Bitching him out or dropping him in the order isn't going to magically flip a switch in his head and make him start performing at the plate. But at the moment, he has no business batting near the top of the order.

Gilby · June 8, 2016

nice job, Trevor "Trevor" Cahill

soccer10k · June 8, 2016

We got Rizzo-Zobrist-La Stella (lol) up, so our chances aren't terrible

It's Bryant-Rizzo-Zobrist.

Andy · June 8, 2016

boy im tired of watching heyward hit.
I mean, Maddon could drop a hint by slotting him 8th in the order.

He doesn't need to hit 8th, but pretty much everyone else in the lineup other than Fowler has hit all over the place, I don't know why Heyward at 2 has to be gospel.

Tim · June 8, 2016

We've still go this.

Ski · June 8, 2016

I did a little digging around on fangraphs.

Heyward;s groundball rate this year (48.6%) is in line with his career average (49.8%). His line drive and fly ball rates are similar to his standards as well. But his hard% is 21.4%, down from his career average of 30.5%. So the notion that Heyward isn't driving the ball this year is entirely accurate.

Sammy Sofa · June 8, 2016

I know there's nothing to be done about Heyward besides be patient. Bitching him out or dropping him in the order isn't going to magically flip a switch in his head and make him start performing at the plate. But at the moment, he has no business batting near the top of the order.

"Well, Jason, you're hitting .250 .318. 550 .868 over the last week, but you don't belong anywhere near the top of the lineup because some lunatic on the internet is mad over a double play."

bcl412 · June 8, 2016

I have watched the phillies play 5 times now and still don't know who these people are

Cubswin11 · June 8, 2016

I mean lineup construction doesn't matter all that much so idk how moving Heyward around is really going to affect anything, unless it's a mental/comfort thing they think he has being moved down. He's gonna come up in the 5/6/7/8 spot or wherever some of you guys want him plenty with runners on and hit those grounders.

Gilby · June 8, 2016

Nice call, WEGNER

CubinNY · June 8, 2016

It looks to me like Heyward rarely is in a good hitting posture at contact. It seems like he's out on his front foot and his hips are closed and not under him. He also has too much top hand pressure so he's not getting lift. I don't remember his swing looking this ugly before.