6/30 Cubs (Lackey) v. Mets (Matz) 6:10, CSN;MLBN

[soccer10k]

I need a replay. How was that not a balk?

 

Yeah, it looked like he pretty much stepped straight to the plate.

[Gmoney08]

Is Javy anyone else's favorite player on the Cubs?

 

Obviously he isnt the best player.. KB & Rizzo are friggin awesome and we have some super awesome pitching too.

 

 

That being said Javy is definitely my favorite and if I was 8 years old right now I would want his Jersey more than anyones.

 

His combination of being young, loud, cocky, crazy potential, living up to some of that potential now, and just amazing plays has made him solidly my favorite player on the Cubs.

 

He kind of reminds me of the Cubs version of Vince Carter or White Chocolate Jason Williams in the NBA... not the best player but damn are they fun to watch.

[TruffleShuffle]

should be first and second, nobody out.

[Andy]

Javy being on pace for 16 or 17 dongs without even playing everyday is not something I would've guessed. Even more so when coupled with him not being completely otherwise useless at the plate.

[Tryptamine]

Baez suddenly sitting with a good looking .272/.314/.461 line.

[BigSlick]

RBI is totally and completely meaningless but it's hilarious that Bryant already has 60 and we're not even halfway through the season yet

[Gilby]

Balks annoy the crap out of me. If a pitcher slightly twitches after getting the signs, they call it. Those do not deceive any baserunner, nor are they designed to. But when lefties stride directly toward home then decide to throw to 1st, they NEVER get called.

 

*maybe I'm partially bitter our lefty never takes advantage of this

[Brian]

wtf was the Baez/Ross custom celebration? They each appeared to lift a leg and thrust their pelvises together with both players emitting a loud grunt.

 

Ross and Rizzo do it too after home runs

 

hit a dong, then touch dongs with your bro... nothing wrong with that.

[Gmoney08]

Javy being on pace for 16 or 17 dongs without even playing everyday is not something I would've guessed. Even more so when coupled with him not being completely otherwise useless at the plate.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see him go over 20 this year even with a non-full season.

 

He has always hit home runs in spurts and i could see him hitting a barrage at some point with the weather hot now, coupled with him getting consistent playing time.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

[list=]

RBI is totally and completely meaningless but it's hilarious that Bryant already has 60 and we're not even halfway through the season yet

 

It's meaningless until nobody is getting them, right right?

[Tim]

I love Javy being a goof when other people are catching popups.

[TruffleShuffle]

Balks annoy the crap out of me. If a pitcher slightly twitches after getting the signs, they call it. Those do not deceive any baserunner, nor are they designed to. But when lefties stride directly toward home then decide to throw to 1st, they NEVER get called.

 

*maybe I'm partially bitter our lefty never takes advantage of this

 

if matz were staying in the game, i sure hope that maddon would point out to the umpire crew that the move he used to pick off szczur is a really obvious balk. his foot landed in line with home plate.

[Gmoney08]

wtf was the Baez/Ross custom celebration? They each appeared to lift a leg and thrust their pelvises together with both players emitting a loud grunt.

 

Ross and Rizzo do it too after home runs

 

hit a dong, then touch dongs with your bro... nothing wrong with that.

 

It actually likely is something along these lines.

 

A buddy of mine knows one of the guys on the Cubs coaching staff and he told the head rubbing was a symbol for them rubbing a girls head after a bj. Essentially it meant they were getting their dong sucked tonight because of the good game.

[Tim]

That was hit really, really far.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Goodness.

[Tryptamine]

Man, Lackey went downhill quick.

[UMFan83]

Ok time to go lackey

[Tim]

okay, Lackey. Get it back under control

[UMFan83]

Was lackey taking shots between innings?

[soccer10k]

New pitcher, please.

[Thrilho]

Step right up and watch Javy adjust to the league!

 

He's been pretty impressive with the adjustments he's made to his swing and leg kick to increase contact rate while still having the power to hit a grand slam. Now watch the walks start coming. Seems like he's getting more comfortable with this new swing, as Duke's last article showed he's punishing fastballs in the zone more and making a lot of contact in the zone.

 

I don't think his recognition is as bad as it's seemed. I think he's been trying to make a radical change to his swing and approach and has had to think more than usual. If he can keep getting into the good counts he's been getting into by making contact on tough borderline pitches then eventually he'll see more pitches like that last Matz pitch where any buffoon would lay off.

 

That pitch also wouldn't have been thrown to hacker Javy of last year and early this year. That's part Matz been gassed but also part thinking about Javy's splits against lefties and the grand slam he just hit. So more good hitting Javy means more scared pitchers "not giving in" on the at bat to him and more walks. We'll see if he can do it against righties now, but he seems to be doing pretty well making adjustments to get from where his contact rates were in 2014 to now. I'd bet on Javy jumping around and fixing different parts of his swing and he'll end up being that 30 home run guy and a pretty good shot at the 4-5 win player Davell has been talking about.

[Tim]

The Peralta/Patton duo warming up in the pen kinda makes me want to give lackey more time, though

[soccer10k]

Was lackey taking shots between innings?

 

Chicken and beer with Lester and Ross in the clubhouse.

[Tryptamine]

Happy to get out there with only 1 run. Hopefully Lackey is done.

[Derwood]

Why does anyone ever throw Baez fastballs?

 

Was a change up no?

Yes it was. He stayed back on it very well, obviously.

 

Radar gun said 94