10/10 - NLDS Game 3 - Cubs (Arrieta) @ Giants (Bumgarner) 8:40PM CST FS1

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

5 years ago this board would have been hooting and yeehawing over a dongeriffic, all-offense line up like that. I'm still in that camp. Unleash the dongs. Bring Almora and JHey in after the 5th when we have a 4 run lead. ...or hell, do it as soon as Soler has his first AB. As the visitors, we bat first. Maybe it just makes more sense, with largerish rosters, to put in your all-offense line up right off the bat and sub in gloves when needed on the road...against a strong SP...when you are featuring a K-centric SP.

[USSoccer]

That is...dumb.

 

I'd say that's overstating it.

 

I don't hate it. It leaves me a little scared, yes, but I'm OK with that.

 

For all of Heyward's issues he's still a plus defender. Zobrist is not, and his good last 3 weeks aside, I'd rather see him on the bench than Heyward, especially facing a pitcher that has the ability to shut us down.

[Cubswin11]

Jake is our defense tonight, doesn't matter what the defense is when God-Mode is on the mound and the dong monsters are in the lineup

[PetermanRealityTour]

[UMFan83]

I was not expecting this. Wasn't it in SF earlier this year when Soler miraculously robbed a homer? Maybe he'll do that again.

 

Yep, robbed Posey.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v719292083

[David]

That is...dumb.

 

I'd say that's overstating it.

 

I don't hate it. It leaves me a little scared, yes, but I'm OK with that.

 

For all of Heyward's issues he's still a plus defender. Zobrist is not, and his good last 3 weeks aside, I'd rather see him on the bench than Heyward, especially facing a pitcher that has the ability to shut us down.

 

It seems like you're just glossing over/completely ignoring the fact that Zobrist is a much, much better hitter, especially vs. LHP.

[UMFan83]

I will admit it is quite a change to see the board flipping out about not having the optimal defensive lineup in there. We've really bought into it.

[TMan92]

Guessing his reasoning:

 

-Jake allows a lot of ground balls (7th in NL in GB/FB), IF defense is more important in this one than OF defense. Riz, Javy, Addy, KB is our optimal defensive infield (and happens to also be insanely good offensively especially against a lefty)

-Jake also allows a miniscule amount of hard contact. If it goes into the OF, chances are its a weak fly ball.

-The overall idea is to score some runs with the optimal offensive lineup (save Miggy/Contreras) and then lock it down with defensive replacements

 

It's not a terrible strategy although I reserve the right to flip my horsefeathers if Georgie misplays one in LF.

 

 

I am with you completely. If Jake is on it won't matter. If he is off, the hits seem to all be three run homers after two walks.

[USSoccer]

 

I'd say that's overstating it.

 

I don't hate it. It leaves me a little scared, yes, but I'm OK with that.

 

For all of Heyward's issues he's still a plus defender. Zobrist is not, and his good last 3 weeks aside, I'd rather see him on the bench than Heyward, especially facing a pitcher that has the ability to shut us down.

 

It seems like you're just glossing over/completely ignoring the fact that Zobrist is a much, much better hitter, especially vs. LHP.

 

No, I understand Zobrist is a better hitter against LHP, but I value Heyward's defense more.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I will admit it is quite a change to see the board flipping out about not having the optimal defensive lineup in there. We've really bought into it.

Completely hypothetically, it would be interesting to know how the Cubs would have setup their lineups if Schwarber wasn't injured. Would he have started Games 1 and 2 in place of Baez?

[minnesotacubsfan]

Let me just go ahead and state that if this lineup doesn't produce 7 runs and/or we walk away with a loss, I'm totally pinning it on ski

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

in its official form

[Derwood]

At the danger of looking ahead here, IF the Cubs can wrap this up tonight, do they start the NLCS Game 1 with Lackey, or jump back up to Lester if the requisite days rest allow it?

[Irrelevant Dude]

At the danger of looking ahead here, IF the Cubs can wrap this up tonight, do they start the NLCS Game 1 with Lackey

Not a chance. Lackey would start Simulated Game #2.

 

, or jump back up to Lester if the requisite days rest allow it?

Yes.

[Andy]

Jake will just strike everyone out, it's fine.

[Derwood]

At the danger of looking ahead here, IF the Cubs can wrap this up tonight, do they start the NLCS Game 1 with Lackey

Not a chance. Lackey would start Simulated Game #2.

 

, or jump back up to Lester if the requisite days rest allow it?

Yes.

 

I think so too, but that would mean that an NLCS Game 4 start for Lackey would be after, what, 2 weeks off (minus simulated games, which are cute and all but obviously not the same thing)

[David]

At the danger of looking ahead here, IF the Cubs can wrap this up tonight, do they start the NLCS Game 1 with Lackey, or jump back up to Lester if the requisite days rest allow it?

 

what the hell kind of question is this

[mikeyt34]

At the danger of looking ahead here, IF the Cubs can wrap this up tonight, do they start the NLCS Game 1 with Lackey, or jump back up to Lester if the requisite days rest allow it?

 

No comment.

 

Signed: The 1984 and 2003 Chicago Cubs.

[squally1313]

I will admit it is quite a change to see the board flipping out about not having the optimal defensive lineup in there. We've really bought into it.

 

Yeah I'm still a little torn, but this year has been a big eye opener for me. The last few years they seemed to be building the organization around offense/home runs, and doing things like putting Schwarber and Contreras in the outfield just to get their bats in the lineup. At the same, they were more or less ignoring developing pitching, which I associated with defense.

 

Then this year happens, and while we did more than enough offensively, I think most would agree the biggest factor of our dominance came on the pitching/defense side, and the .251 BAPIP stands out as the most staggering number. While I don't really care how much of it was a fluke, given that our offense is going to improve going forward, it really made me rethink my original 'horsefeathers defense' philosophy.

 

That, and I'm still not convinced Heyward is totally broken offensively. Or that a very rusty Soler will give you much. But whatever, 2-0 lead and massive pitching advantage in Game 4...not going to freak out about this one.

[David]

I'm almost expecting a massive Soler dong, TBQH

[Brian]

I'm almost expecting a massive Soler dong, TBQH

 

Yeah Soler is going to dong so hard, and it's going to be beautiful.

[mikeyt34]

I'm almost expecting a massive Soler dong, TBQH

 

That's what she said. :shock:

[The Savior]

Georgie is going to be the reason we win tonight.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Jake also has a mighty fine career line at AT&T: 3-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.923 WHiP, 26/6.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Jake is our defense tonight, doesn't matter what the defense is when God-Mode is on the mound and the dong monsters are in the lineup

 

Yep. 15 K's. There won't be a ball hit to the outfield anyway.