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

[squally1313]

It would be pretty surprising to see Kershaw twice again this series. On three days rest and then on two days rest? Considering we were about 15 feet away from beating Kershaw on normal rest, I'm not sure all this pessimism is really warranted.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I have no faith in our offense right now. You can't hide These slumping bats

 

Good point; it's been a whole 24 hours since they scored 8.

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

I'm kinda confused why runs in certain innings don't count. In the playoffs they've won and lost a 1-0 game, and scored at least 5 runs in the other 4.

 

Meanwhile the Dodgers have 4 runs and 3 extra base hits through 2 games.

[Thusly Boned]

I have no faith in our offense right now. You can't hide These slumping bats

 

Good point; it's been a whole 24 hours since they scored 8.

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

[NotSoSober]

 

How do you feel about arietta and lackey right now? Real confident? Then we'd get Kershaw in LA in game 5. It's likely we take one of those games but if someone gave me odds we go 0-3 in LA I would definitely take it

what odds do you want?

 

Wouldn't take much given how bad jake and lackey have been, combined with our struggling offense going into a cavernous ballpark.

What odds do you want, Ernie?*

[tawfiqmp]

I have no faith in our offense right now. You can't hide These slumping bats

 

Good point; it's been a whole 24 hours since they scored 8.

The Cubs won't win anything with Russell and Rizzo struggling the way they are. You can't hide that forever.

[Ski]

We all wish there was a quick fix to the offensive struggles. Most of our guys have sucked at the plate. You think they don't know that? As nice as it would be if Maddon could give them a good talking to and have that fix everything, that's not how it works.

 

I don't think there's any other answer besides Russell and Rizzo need to get out of their own heads.

[mikeyt34]

2 out of 3 in LA and we'll be in good shape. I expect Jake to be California God-Mode Jake and Toothy McToothson to bounce back to his playoff norms.

[Sammy Sofa]

I have no faith in our offense right now. You can't hide These slumping bats

 

Good point; it's been a whole 24 hours since they scored 8.

The Cubs won't win anything with Russell and Rizzo struggling the way they are. You can't hide that forever.

 

How are they "hiding" them?

[SpongeWorthy]

im p concerned that our 3 and 5 hitters have a combined postseason OPS that is a little more than half of what heyward posted in the regular season

[imb]

 

Good point; it's been a whole 24 hours since they scored 8.

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

 

What was the team OPS in those four games

[tawfiqmp]

Game 1 was just so important. I'll admit it, had they lost Game 1, this series would have been over. Take 2 of 3 in LA and they'll win this series.

[Thusly Boned]

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

 

What was the team OPS in those four games

 

Not sure, but gonna guess it was better than the opposition in almost all of them

[NotSoSober]

im p concerned that our 3 and 5 hitters have a combined postseason OPS that is a little more than half of what heyward posted in the regular season

Rizzo does this and then ends up hitting 3 HRs in 2 games. Russell on the other hand.........

[Sammy Sofa]

Rizzo's the only one I'm worried about; Russell has had plenty of stretches where he stinks with the bat and the team did fine. They've dealt with Heyward all season, too, and kicked ass. But Rizzo being ice cold seems like it's having a pretty big ripple effect.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

 

What was the team OPS in those four games

 

I'm not going to do the gory math, but from eyeballing baseball reference I'll say it's about .750 to .650 for their opponents.

[soccer10k]

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

 

What was the team OPS in those four games

 

718, 645, 580 and 1051.

[tawfiqmp]

im p concerned that our 3 and 5 hitters have a combined postseason OPS that is a little more than half of what heyward posted in the regular season

Rizzo does this and then ends up hitting 3 HRs in 2 games. Russell on the other hand.........

Russell was very bad before the postseason started. He's had about a month of bad games.

[UMFan83]

i would bet a lot of money that we dont come back from LA

 

Not sure if being pessimistic or optimistic. Gonna guess based on the poster optimistic

 

How do you feel about arietta and lackey right now? Real confident? Then we'd get Kershaw in LA in game 5. It's likely we take one of those games but if someone gave me odds we go 0-3 in LA I would definitely take it

 

Why would Kershaw pitch game 5 on 3 days rest if the Dodgers were up 3-1 in your scenario?

 

Look my brain is constantly trying to feed me pessimistic thoughts but this team has passed the test so many times I won't let one loss change that opinion. Come on this team hasn't made a believer out of you yet?

[squally1313]

 

I don't think we can count on 9th inning grand slams going forward. This offense has been bad the entire postseason

 

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal.

 

But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue.

 

What was the team OPS in those four games

 

Jesus if we're going to go full on Pete Rose here and just buy into super small sample sizes, going into tonight the Cubs had a .686 OPS and the Dodgers had a .698. But yeah, just write this team off based on the best pitcher in the last twenty years shutting us down.

[Thusly Boned]

im p concerned that our 3 and 5 hitters have a combined postseason OPS that is a little more than half of what heyward posted in the regular season

Rizzo does this and then ends up hitting 3 HRs in 2 games. Russell on the other hand.........

 

Yeah, they have to be spread out in the order, and if I had to keep one in the middle, it'd be Rizzo. He's going to come out of this sooner or later.

[ScrubMD]

Now I have to spend the next 2 days feeling like we'll never win again.

 

I'm not being a poopy crybaby, it's just brain science. Recreating feelings based on strong associations.

[soccer10k]

 

Not sure if being pessimistic or optimistic. Gonna guess based on the poster optimistic

 

How do you feel about arietta and lackey right now? Real confident? Then we'd get Kershaw in LA in game 5. It's likely we take one of those games but if someone gave me odds we go 0-3 in LA I would definitely take it

 

Why would Kershaw pitch game 5 on 3 days rest if the Dodgers were up 3-1 in your scenario?

 

Look my brain is constantly trying to feed me pessimistic thoughts but this team has passed the test so many times I won't let one loss change that opinion. Come on this team hasn't made a believer out of you yet?

 

I think Kershaw goes in Game 5 if it's 3-1 Cubs or it's tied. I doubt he pitches if LA is up 3-1.

[squally1313]

If I cited the team OPS when we destroyed Julio Urias a few months ago I'd be rightfully dismissed as an idiot, but yeah, let's do that now.

[Sammy Sofa]

im p concerned that our 3 and 5 hitters have a combined postseason OPS that is a little more than half of what heyward posted in the regular season

Rizzo does this and then ends up hitting 3 HRs in 2 games. Russell on the other hand.........

Russell was very bad before the postseason started. He's had about a month of bad games.

 

And he had other bad stretches, too. They can easily win with Russell not hitting; it's not nearly as much of an issue as Rizzo going through one of his slumps.

 

Makes me REALLY miss Schwarber; the lineup is pretty barren of power right now once you get past Bryant until Baez comes up to bat.

[Little Slide Rooter]

i would bet a lot of money that we dont come back from LA

 

Not sure if being pessimistic or optimistic. Gonna guess based on the poster optimistic

 

How do you feel about arietta and lackey right now? Real confident? Then we'd get Kershaw in LA in game 5. It's likely we take one of those games but if someone gave me odds we go 0-3 in LA I would definitely take it

 

If Arrieta and Lackey were up against Kershaw and Kershaw, I'd feel a lot less confident. But they're not.