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

[Little Slide Rooter]

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.

 

What it comes down to is that this is their must win, not ours. Bochy's the one wringing his hands, not Maddon.

[mikeyt34]

If it's a tight game in say the 7th or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe switch out Soler for Almora, or bring in Heyward to RF and move Zobrist to LF.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If it's a tight game in say the 7th or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe switch out Soler for Almora, or bring in Heyward to RF and move Zobrist to LF.

 

If it's a close game in the 7th, Soler has about as much chance of taking the field as I do.

[MUCubsfan]

Combined with the fact that Heyward has looked good the first two NLDS games

He has? He had one double that he ripped down the right field line, but that is his only hit, and I don't recall him looking good outside of that at bat.

He had another ball that he smoked but right to the outfielder. He's had a couple weak popups as well. Either way, I'm drawing more from the previous couple weeks than a seven at bat sample. Both are small, of course.

 

But Zobrist is starting in RF, so it's all moot.

[mikeyt34]

If it's a tight game in say the 7th or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe switch out Soler for Almora, or bring in Heyward to RF and move Zobrist to LF.

 

If it's a close game in the 7th, Soler has about as much chance of taking the field as I do.

 

Yeah, after I posted this I realized that was a Captian Obvious post. My bad.

[Banedon]

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

 

More of robbing him of a double than a HR though.

[Cubswin11]

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)

He did have the shoulder flare up in the 2nd half. Extended rest, if possible, is probably good for him.

[Cubswin11]

I'm almost expecting a massive Soler dong, TBQH

From the WC game thread. Let's make it a double-dong night.

 

Also if Bumgarner leaves some of those FB up in the zone in game 3 like he did tonight I feel like whichever of Georgie/Javy is getting a start that game will do something very bad to one of them

 

was envisioning georgie putting those on the street earlier

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I'm almost expecting a massive Soler dong, TBQH

 

And then pimp it and let the chain flow. Oh, how delighted I would be to see that redneck's reaction.

[minnesotacubsfan]

"CHAINFLOW". As in: The DONG was followed by the CHAINFLOW.

[bukie]

The best scenario is Soler homers in the top of the first to give the Cubs a 2-4 run lead, and then is immediately replaced by Heyward for defensive purposes so Heyward plays all 9 defensive innings.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd probably prefer Bryant in RF and Zobrist/Baez on the IF, but those are the 8 I prefer. Montero will have the largest defensive impact of any one player, and you can't afford to punt a third of the lineup by starting him and Heyward against an elite LHP. Plus if the game is close you can quickly get Heyward in after Soler hits in the middle innings.

[bukie]

My other favorite scenario is Javy admiring a hit long enough to set off Bumgarner and he gets himself tossed.

[trushar]

Snuck out of work and going to game. Some guy at BART said it's a bad matchup for the Cubs. I told him I never heard of Bumgarner.

 

GO CUBS

 

HORSEFEATHERS bum and the Giants and #beliEVEN

[UMFan83]

My other favorite scenario is Javy admiring a hit long enough to set off Bumgarner and he gets himself tossed.

 

Heck even if it's a pop fly to the middle of the OF, I demand that Javy flip his bat and trot to first in the most grating way possible. Bonus points if he stares down Bum as he trots to first

[Cubswin11]

A Javy tag to Bumgarner's face would also be acceptable tonight

[gobigred]

bumgarners pitch count will be 150 tonight right ?

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

The only game I remember facing Bum this year was in Spring Training with the Fowler/Heyward not really sign stealing non sense. Do we do well against him overall?

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Really, it could be anything that sets Bumgarner off, as long as the player isn't white. So Javy just needs to be demonstrative, regardless of what he's doing.

[PackLandVA]

bumgarners pitch count will be 150 tonight right ?

 

So he's pitching into the 6th??

[gobigred]

The only game I remember facing Bum this year was in Spring Training with the Fowler/Heyward not really sign stealing non sense. Do we do well against him overall?

 

 

 

we faced him on a Sunday night loaded the bases in 1st didnt score got beat 1-0

[minnesotacubsfan]

bumgarners pitch count will be 150 tonight right ?

 

So he's pitching into the 6th??

 

Gotta get em qualified for the win

 

But he wont

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

The only game I remember facing Bum this year was in Spring Training with the Fowler/Heyward not really sign stealing non sense. Do we do well against him overall?

 

 

 

we faced him on a Sunday night loaded the bases in 1st didnt score got beat 1-0

Ah, yeah, that rings a bell.

[UMFan83]

The only game I remember facing Bum this year was in Spring Training with the Fowler/Heyward not really sign stealing non sense. Do we do well against him overall?

 

 

 

we faced him on a Sunday night loaded the bases in 1st didnt score got beat 1-0

Ah, yeah, that rings a bell.

 

And him and Jake matched up last month at Wrigley. He was good but hittable. Scored 2 runs in 7 innings I believe bit Jake gave up 3 and took the L.

 

He also completely shut us down in SF last year IRRC. doesn't matter though today is a different day

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

 

 

we faced him on a Sunday night loaded the bases in 1st didnt score got beat 1-0

Ah, yeah, that rings a bell.

 

And him and Jake matched up last month at Wrigley. He was good but hittable. Scored 2 runs in 7 innings I believe bit Jake gave up 3 and took the L.

 

He also completely shut us down in SF last year IRRC. doesn't matter though today is a different day

 

That September game featured Rizzo on a day off and Hail Ceaser starting in the OF

 

 

GEORGIE DONT PLAY THAT