10/16 NLCS Game 2: Dodgers (Kershaw) @ Cubs (Hendricks) 7:08 PM CT FS1/670

[Derwood]

There Will Be Blood

[davell]

I think they'll start out this way.....

 

CF Dex

3B KB

1B Rizzo

RF Zobrist

C Willy

LF Soler

2B Javy

SS Addy

P Kyle

[Banedon]

Just saw this in an LA Times article and thought it was a really interesting quote from Joe...

 

When asked in a pre-series news conference Friday how his club had managed to play league-best defense while shifting less than anyone else, Cubs Manager Joe Maddon pushed back. His club was shifting all season long, he indicated, just not into alignments traditionally defined as defensive shifts.

 

“It’s only counted when the shortstop moves on the other side of the second baseman or the second baseman moves on the other side,” Maddon said. “I think we’re still in an appropriate defensive alignment. We still move a lot. We just maybe don't move to the other side of the bag where it gets notated.”

[MUCubsfan]

If the Cubs win this one, with Jake Arrieta looming for game three, I feel like this series will be all but over. With Cyle on the mound at home, I don't care who the other team throws out - Cubs should win.

 

I suspect that Zobrist will start over Heyward in RF with Jorge in LF. Wouldn't be surprised to see Baez and Russell swap in the order given how poorly Addy has been hitting.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I have had 2 herniated discs in my back, both absolutely crippling me and requiring surgery to be expedited. I hate Clayton Kershaw for being able to have one and be a major league pitcher

[NOLA]

If the Cubs win this one, with Jake Arrieta looming for game three, I feel like this series will be all but over. With Cyle on the mound at home, I don't care who the other team throws out - Cubs should win.

 

I suspect that Zobrist will start over Heyward in RF with Jorge in LF. Wouldn't be surprised to see Baez and Russell swap in the order given how poorly Addy has been hitting.

It's not like Jorge has been stellar this postseason. JHey looks like he's having some good at bats.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If the Cubs win this one, with Jake Arrieta looming for game three, I feel like this series will be all but over. With Cyle on the mound at home, I don't care who the other team throws out - Cubs should win.

 

I suspect that Zobrist will start over Heyward in RF with Jorge in LF. Wouldn't be surprised to see Baez and Russell swap in the order given how poorly Addy has been hitting.

 

I'll be interested to see how Joe handles the third OF spot not taken by Fowler and Zobrist/Bryant. With Contreras's bat in the lineup there's a little more freedom to go defense first, although I wouldn't be surprised if he split the difference and started Almora.

 

And agree on the series. If the Cubs beat Kershaw, the Dodgers have to beat Arrieta while throwing a lesser LHP or face the consequence of Maeda/Urias trying to stave off elimination. Losing today puts an inordinate amount of pressure on them given how the rotation is aligned.

[UMFan83]

Meanwhile the Dodgers will probably have 4 new guys in the lineup right?

 

Utley for Hernandez

Grandal for Ruiz

Towles for Kendrick

Reddick for Puig

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yep, the lefties are coming. Zastryzny, Montgomery, and Wood are gonna get a workout until/unless Lester has to pitch again.

 

Speaking of bullpens, it's a good time to take stock of recent usage.

 

Jansen threw 51 pitches on Thursday and has 2 days rest since then

Blanton threw 28 pitches yesterday after throwing 4 of 5 NLDS games

Baez threw 34 pitches yesterday

 

No Cub reliever threw more than 17 pitches yesterday(Chapman) and all of them were on at least 3 days rest, so with the off day tomorrow it's safe to say everyone is good to go.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm assuming/hoping Maddon and co. won't shy away from using Strop in key spots; I thought ht actually looked pretty good yesterday and mostly got boned by a couple of bad calls and Bryant's, uh, "interesting" fielding choice.

 

Rondon, on the other hand, still scares the hell out of me. He looked better yesterday, but still very hittable.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm assuming/hoping Maddon and co. won't shy away from using Strop in key spots; I thought ht actually looked pretty good yesterday and mostly got boned by a couple of bad calls and Bryant's, uh, "interesting" fielding choice.

 

Rondon, on the other hand, still scares the hell out of me. He looked better yesterday, but still very hittable.

 

Edwards' status is a big factor there. He hasn't been used back to back once all year to try to keep him healthy, I wonder if they let him go tonight with an off day tomorrow.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm assuming/hoping Maddon and co. won't shy away from using Strop in key spots; I thought ht actually looked pretty good yesterday and mostly got boned by a couple of bad calls and Bryant's, uh, "interesting" fielding choice.

 

Rondon, on the other hand, still scares the hell out of me. He looked better yesterday, but still very hittable.

 

Edwards' status is a big factor there. He hasn't been used back to back once all year to try to keep him healthy, I wonder if they let him go tonight with an off day tomorrow.

 

Wow, I didn't know that was the case. Hope he can go tonight if needed; outside of the cringe-inducing final pitch selection in that walk, I feel damn good when he's out there.

[Banedon]

Am I crazy to think that Edwards could be a closer down the road?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Am I crazy to think that Edwards could be a closer down the road?

no, that's not why you're crazy

[minnesotacubsfan]

I would like a comment let's game shut out by Kyle tonight. That would be nice.

[hawkeyecub]

Am I crazy to think that Edwards could be a closer down the road?

 

I think pretty much everyone thinks that.

[Omar]

Hendricks v. Dodgers

Name              PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Justin Turner      8  7 2  0  0  1   3  1  2 .286 .375 .714 1.089  0  0   0   0         0
Adrian Gonzalez    6  5 1  0  0  1   1  1  0 .200 .333 .800 1.133  0  0   1   0         1
Yasmani Grandal    5  4 0  0  0  0   0  1  1 .000 .200 .000  .200  0  0   0   0         1
Joc Pederson       5  4 0  0  0  0   0  1  2 .000 .200 .000  .200  0  0   0   0         0
Yasiel Puig        4  4 1  0  0  0   0  0  1 .250 .250 .250  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Corey Seager       3  2 0  0  0  0   1  0  0 .000 .000 .000  .000  0  1   0   0         1
Chase Utley        3  3 1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .333 .333 .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Andre Ethier       2  2 1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .500 .500 .500 1.000  0  0   0   0         0
Carlos Ruiz        2  1 0  0  0  0   0  1  0 .000 .500 .000  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Julio Urias        1  0 0  0  0  0   0  0                       0  1  0   0   0         0
Total             39 32 6  0  0  2   5  5  6 .188 .289 .375  .664  1  1   1   0         3
Has not faced: Austin Barnes, Charlie Culberson, Howie Kendrick, Josh Reddick and Andrew Toles & Has not faced pitchers: Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Josh Fields, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling

 

Cubs v. Kershaw

Name               PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Dexter Fowler      48  44 18  2  1  0   1  4 10 .409 .458  .500  .958  0  0   0   0         0
Miguel Montero     32  32  6  3  0  0   4  0 13 .188 .188  .281  .469  0  0   0   0         1
David Ross         15  14  2  0  0  0   2  1  6 .143 .200  .143  .343  0  0   0   0         1
Anthony Rizzo      12  11  3  1  0  1   2  0  3 .273 .333  .636  .970  0  0   0   1         0
Jason Heyward      10  10  0  0  0  0   0  0  7 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Chris Coghlan       8   8  1  0  0  0   0  0  6 .125 .125  .125  .250  0  0   0   0         0
Kris Bryant         6   5  1  0  0  1   2  1  4 .200 .333  .800 1.133  0  0   0   0         0
Addison Russell     6   6  0  0  0  0   0  0  3 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Tommy La Stella     5   5  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .200 .200  .200  .400  0  0   0   0         0
Travis Wood         4   4  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .250 .250  .250  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Javier Baez         3   3  0  0  0  0   0  0  1 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Jorge Soler         3   3  1  0  1  0   1  0  2 .333 .333 1.000 1.333  0  0   0   0         0
Ben Zobrist         3   3  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total             155 148 34  6  2  2  12  6 59 .230 .265  .338  .602  0  0   0   1         2
Has not faced: Albert Almora and Willson Contreras & Has not faced pitchers: Jake Arrieta, Aroldis Chapman, Carl Edwards, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Mike Montgomery, Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop

[Banedon]

Am I crazy to think that Edwards could be a closer down the road?

no, that's not why you're crazy

 

http://i.imgur.com/US4zF30.gif

[davell]

Any idea on the wind yet?

[BigSlick]

Am I crazy to think that Edwards could be a closer down the road?

Of course not, but hopefully closers are abolished soon

[USSoccer]

Any idea on the wind yet?

 

It should be SSE @ 10mph, so that would be blowing out, if I'm not mistaken.

[UMFan83]

Reading Dodger fan comments online today they seem convinced that the Dodgers outplayed the Cubs, seized momentum despite the loss and Cub fans are worried about them because of game 1

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Reading Dodger fan comments online today they seem convinced that the Dodgers outplayed the Cubs, seized momentum despite the loss and Cub fans are worried about them because of game 1

 

This is what fans do.

 

If the Cubs win tonight they will say something about the Cubs holding serve and it doesn't matter if they haven't lost at home yet.

[Brian]

Reading Dodger fan comments online today they seem convinced that the Dodgers outplayed the Cubs, seized momentum despite the loss and Cub fans are worried about them because of game 1

 

Reminds me of how I felt after 2015 NLCS Game 1, Lester looked great just some bad luck and Murphy pop up somehow getting out, and the Cubs were smashing the ball all over just right at people. (that's just from my memory through trying to block those memories so I could be way off)

[Brian]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLoYppGAGT3/