10/18 NLCS Game 3: Cubs (Jake) @ Dodgers (Rich Hill) & Stupid Old Umpire 7:00 PM CT FS1/670

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Soler had an .864 OPS in the 2nd half, and in that time a 1.099 OPS against LHP. I know he didn't have a knock out September(partially because he faced exclusively RHP), and I'm not trying to appeal to a big background of production for him, but I'm still a little puzzled that his bat is being considered a non-factor. I expect a copy of the lineup they sent out for Bumgarner, at least in terms of the 9 players in it.

 

Speaking of LHP, the Cubs were the best team in baseball against LHP, so even though Hill has had peripheral success, given his recent stumbles and the fact that his repertoire doesn't include heavy use of a slider like Kershaw/Bumgarner, I'm pretty confident that they'll get to him for a few runs at least.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

 

Probably because Soler did outplay Heyward this year (at the plate), has a crapload of power that is kind of missing from this lineup outside of Bryzzo and Javy, had an .864 OPS since Aug 1st (not including 0-6 in the playoffs so far, too lazy to do the math) and had an OPS against lefties that was 230 points higher than Heywards in 2016.

 

If you want to argue that its not worth benching Heyward against a lefty because of the drop off in defense, that's fine. But saying that he'll probably be just as bad at the plate as Heyward against a lefty is silly.

 

check out their splits against the dodgers and at LA. Heyward has outhit him in both instances. Now, why exactly, idk, and sample size, but it seems to me that playing Heyward might make as much sense for his bat then his D.

[USSoccer]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

[UMFan83]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

 

Probably because Soler did outplay Heyward this year (at the plate), has a crapload of power that is kind of missing from this lineup outside of Bryzzo and Javy, had an .864 OPS since Aug 1st (not including 0-6 in the playoffs so far, too lazy to do the math) and had an OPS against lefties that was 230 points higher than Heywards in 2016.

 

If you want to argue that its not worth benching Heyward against a lefty because of the drop off in defense, that's fine. But saying that he'll probably be just as bad at the plate as Heyward against a lefty is silly.

 

check out their splits against the dodgers and at LA. Heyward has outhit him in both instances. Now, why exactly, idk, and sample size, but it seems to me that playing Heyward might make as much sense for his bat then his D.

 

wtf cares about team splits? Neither of them even faced Rich Hill this year. If you look at Heywards career numbers against the Dodgers they are actually terrible. So even entertaining whether splits against a team mean anything, Heyward has a sub-600 OPS against the Dodgers for his career, and did not face the Game 3 starting pitcher for the Dodgers this year. So unless you are suggesting that Heyward is comfortable staring into the San Gabriel mountains as he bats, but only discovered them this season, that is a useless argument

[imb]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense

[Sammy Sofa]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season

 

Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch.

[bukie]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

I think that's overstating Solers defensive deficiency. He's better than Schwarber was defensively and has a solid throwing arm. He's no Heyward but nobody is.

[ScrubMD]

Just want to say that Russell actually looked good last night. Worked some counts, hit one to the warning track, made good contact in at least one other AB. Rizzo also looked much better, even facing the best lefty in baseball (second best overall, after Hendricks). They're going to be fine. I don't want to see Heyward against lefties anymore, though.

[USSoccer]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense

 

Fair enough point, but if runs are going to be at a premium I'd rather take my chances that Rizzo and Russell and to a slightly lesser extent Zobrist stop being useless as opposed to hoping that Soler doesn't spike himself Wong-style trying to catch a fly ball.

Edited October 17, 2016 by USSoccer

[UMFan83]

I really dont get why anyone thinks Soler is going to out play Heyward. Hit probably be just as bad with the bat and 10 times worse in the field

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

Does this broom also grab a bat in Heyward's spot when facing LHP? The argument is whether the downgrade in defense is worth a 200+ OPS bump on offense. Maybe its silly to overreact when guys are slumping but we've all read the articles about how Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are hitting a combined .110 in the playoffs this year. If you are looking for an offensive boost, replacing Heyward with Soler is definitely a legitimate option.

 

I thought I'd get more flack for benching Russell in my overreaction lineup.

[USSoccer]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

I think that's overstating Solers defensive deficiency. He's better than Schwarber was defensively and has a solid throwing arm. He's no Heyward but nobody is.

 

Hanging your hat on him being better defensively than the lug of a catcher we put in LF because he's an awesome hitter isn't really a point in Soler's favor.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense

 

theres a fair chance, better the 75%, you'd have that broom in LF and AB if you start Soler.

 

heres a question, if you really want to get Soler in there, why not sit Addi. Put Javy at ss, Zo and 2b and your infield D doesnt lose alot and you still a) keep RF and CF locked down and b) get (hopefully) a LH pitcher mashing god at the plate?

[imb]

Just want to say that Russell actually looked good last night. Worked some counts, hit one to the warning track, made good contact in at least one other AB. Rizzo also looked much better, even facing the best lefty in baseball (second best overall, after Hendricks). They're going to be fine. I don't want to see Heyward ... anymore, though.

 

same

[USSoccer]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

Does this broom also grab a bat in Heyward's spot when facing LHP? The argument is whether the downgrade in defense is worth a 200+ OPS bump on offense. Maybe its silly to overreact when guys are slumping but we've all read the articles about how Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are hitting a combined .110 in the playoffs this year. If you are looking for an offensive boost, replacing Heyward with Soler is definitely a legitimate option.

 

I thought I'd get more flack for benching Russell in my overreaction lineup.

 

If the assumption is that none of Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are going to start hitting, sure, but I'd rather bank on the guys who were consistently good all year coming good as opposed to counting on Soler not giving back whatever he might give you at the plate in the field.

[imb]

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense

 

theres a fair chance, better the 75%, you'd have that broom in LF and AB if you start Soler.

 

heres a question, if you really want to get Soler in there, why not sit Addi. Put Javy at ss, Zo and 2b and your infield D doesnt lose alot and you still a) keep RF and CF locked down and b) get (hopefully) a LH pitcher mashing god at the plate?

 

give me two hours to decipher this and ill get back to you

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense

 

theres a fair chance, better the 75%, you'd have that broom in LF and AB if you start Soler.

 

heres a question, if you really want to get Soler in there, why not sit Addi. Put Javy at ss, Zo and 2b and your infield D doesnt lose alot and you still a) keep RF and CF locked down and b) get (hopefully) a LH pitcher mashing god at the plate?

 

give me two hours to decipher this and ill get back to you

 

oklahoma is hot this time of year, huh?

[bukie]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season

 

Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch.

The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable.

[David]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs.

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

I think that's overstating Solers defensive deficiency. He's better than Schwarber was defensively and has a solid throwing arm. He's no Heyward but nobody is.

 

Nah.

 

Soler is really really bad defensively. There's no overstating it.

[UMFan83]

 

In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe.

 

But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.

 

Does this broom also grab a bat in Heyward's spot when facing LHP? The argument is whether the downgrade in defense is worth a 200+ OPS bump on offense. Maybe its silly to overreact when guys are slumping but we've all read the articles about how Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are hitting a combined .110 in the playoffs this year. If you are looking for an offensive boost, replacing Heyward with Soler is definitely a legitimate option.

 

I thought I'd get more flack for benching Russell in my overreaction lineup.

 

If the assumption is that none of Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are going to start hitting, sure, but I'd rather bank on the guys who were consistently good all year coming good as opposed to counting on Soler not giving back whatever he might give you at the plate in the field.

 

Yeah and that's a fine argument against it. But the argument started by suggesting there was no offensive upgrade between Heyward and Soler, or a marginal one. I think its a large enough upgrade against a LHP to overcome his defensive deficiencies

Edited October 17, 2016 by UMFan83

[Sammy Sofa]

I thought I'd get more flack for benching Russell in my overreaction lineup.

 

Well, replacing Russell is going to be because Baez is playing SS, and that's cool as hell.

[USSoccer]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season

 

Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch.

The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable.

 

Assuming he's hitting and healthy, sure, but he's not hitting, and he's terrible defensively, and we're playing in a park with a very large OF.

[Sammy Sofa]

Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season

 

Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch.

The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable.

 

It was a (kinda) joke about how you'd think/hope there were more than 4 hitters on the team better than a fragile defensive monstrosity that you're lucky to see for half of the season.

[UMFan83]

 

Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch.

The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable.

 

Assuming he's hitting and healthy, sure, but he's not hitting, and he's terrible defensively, and we're playing in a park with a very large OF.

 

You are basing him not hitting on 6 playoff ABs - one start and 3 PH appearances?

[Andy]

I'm not saying I would be utterly shocked if Heyward weren't in tomorrow's lineup, but if Joe was going to play him against Kershaw, knowing he would be horsefeathering useless at the plate, in a smaller ballpark, I don't know why he wouldn't play him against a lefty not named Kershaw in a much larger ballpark.

[imb]

The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable.

 

Assuming he's hitting and healthy, sure, but he's not hitting, and he's terrible defensively, and we're playing in a park with a very large OF.

 

You are basing him not hitting on 6 playoff ABs - one start and 3 PH appearances?

 

and his awful september