10/25 World Series Game 1: Cubs (Lester) vs Indians (Kluber) 7 p.m., FOX

[David]

I'm still thinking it makes more sense to start Heyward than Contreras, but I admit it's close enough that either decision is defensible.

 

I'd be stunned if Heyward isn't playing RF tonight. Given that the Cubs are 4-41 lifetime against Kluber, Maddon is likely to put his best LH hitters in there with correlated splits. Bauer and Tomlin are inverse splits LH/RH so expect Contreras in LF when Montero catches Jake. In fact, I see it this way with what the Indians are doing:

 

Game 1: C, Ross - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

Game 2: C, Montero - LF, Contreras - RF, Zobrist

Game 3: C, Contreras - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

 

Soler cannot hit when it is under 50 degrees.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoMbEZbXZc

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyWmL0ENdxI

 

I don't really buy into that narrative about cold weather either (it took off when he sucked at the start of last year, but then he sucked all year), but neither of those games were sub 50 degrees.

[David]

well people are not gonna be pleased with the surprise in tonight's lineup

[LeonDurham]

No Heyward! Chris Coughlan instead. Schwarber batting 5th.

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[USSoccer]

Yeah sure I guess lets bench Thrillson Contreras for Chris Coghlan.

[woodchip2153]

I'm still thinking it makes more sense to start Heyward than Contreras, but I admit it's close enough that either decision is defensible.

 

Fangraphs had an article about how starting Heyward was a good way to maximize the number of innings he plays defense, while minimizing his at bats, especially at bats against lhrp by pinch hitting for him late. It sold me.

 

edit: I guess the same works with Coghlan, except you aren't getting ++ defense.

Edited October 25, 2016 by woodchip2153

[David]

fwiw, kluber is considerably more human (but still good) vs lefties

[Bull]

Edit = I'm superstitious and had to erase it. Edited October 25, 2016 by Bull

[LeonDurham]

Coughlan is a surprise, but I'll trust Joe here. Actually expected Heyward. If benching Heyward, not sure why not Contreras.

[Elrhino]

I'm still thinking it makes more sense to start Heyward than Contreras, but I admit it's close enough that either decision is defensible.

 

I'd be stunned if Heyward isn't playing RF tonight. Given that the Cubs are 4-41 lifetime against Kluber, Maddon is likely to put his best LH hitters in there with correlated splits. Bauer and Tomlin are inverse splits LH/RH so expect Contreras in LF when Montero catches Jake. In fact, I see it this way with what the Indians are doing:

 

Game 1: C, Ross - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

Game 2: C, Montero - LF, Contreras - RF, Zobrist

Game 3: C, Contreras - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

 

 

Regardless of splits, when you currently can't physically get the head of the bat around on Kenta Maeda's belt high inside fastball when everyone in the stadium knows it's coming, I'm penciling you in as a hopeless cause against Kluber.

[David]

that's a lot of lefties we're hitting em with, that's for sure

[Bull]

Coughlan is a surprise, but I'll trust Joe here. Actually expected Heyward. If benching Heyward, not sure why not Contreras.

Bats RH.

[JonJayCutler]

Love Coghlan starting.

[Elrhino]

Coughlan is a surprise, but I'll trust Joe here. Actually expected Heyward. If benching Heyward, not sure why not Contreras.

Bats RH.

 

Also career 1.000 OPS against Kluber ... (in 3 at bats)

[abuck1220]

if you're gonna weaken the defense by benching heyward, i'd prefer to go with the defensive liability that has been red hot at the plate vs. the defensive liability that hit .190 and has batted like twice in the last 3 weeks.

[squally1313]

No one is saying Coghlan is a good defensive outfielder, but maybe Maddon just wasn't comfortable downgrading the defense that significantly from Heyward to Contreras.

 

Maybe there is a thought that when Miller comes in the game, Contreras becomes the top pinch hit option, and then can also come into the game for Ross (because it'll be right around the time Lester comes out too)?

[abuck1220]

that being said, for some reason, coghlan seems like a decent option vs kluber

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I think Maddon wants to pick his spot with Contreras against Miller, hence the move to start Coghlan. But over Heyward, it's a surprise just purely based on defensive metrics.

 

It's a bit tough to question Maddon's process when it has the Cubs on the doorstep of history.

[Bull]

that's a lot of lefties we're hitting em with, that's for sure

L (S)

R

L

L (S)

L

R

L

R

R

 

 

Nah... A lot of lefties would have been

 

Fowler CF

Bryant 3B

Rizzo 1b

Zobrist 2B

Schwarzer DH

Cogs LF

Montero C

Russell

JHey RF

[minnesotacubsfan]

if you're gonna weaken the defense by benching heyward, i'd prefer to go with the defensive liability that has been red hot at the plate vs. the defensive liability that hit .190 and has batted like twice in the last 3 weeks.

 

I don't get it either. Hopefully we are both proved to be wrong

[Bull]

 

I'd be stunned if Heyward isn't playing RF tonight. Given that the Cubs are 4-41 lifetime against Kluber, Maddon is likely to put his best LH hitters in there with correlated splits. Bauer and Tomlin are inverse splits LH/RH so expect Contreras in LF when Montero catches Jake. In fact, I see it this way with what the Indians are doing:

 

Game 1: C, Ross - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

Game 2: C, Montero - LF, Contreras - RF, Zobrist

Game 3: C, Contreras - LF, Zobrist - RF, Heyward

 

Soler cannot hit when it is under 50 degrees.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoMbEZbXZc

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyWmL0ENdxI

 

Not sure if you are trying to debunk the claim that Soler can't hit when its under 50 degrees, but Game time temp for Game 2 in St. Louis was 70 degrees and for Game 3 against the Mets it was 72.

 

Just giving Soler some love.

[KatJ]

Any quotes from cubs players on Schwarber being added to the roster?

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

Maybe he'll pitch like it this time.

[Cubswin11]

Verducci just said he's been told that Salazar has 70 pitches (he estimated 4 innings) and he's done in this series. Was told that's what he's getting then it's see him in spring training. FWIW.

[David]

that being said, for some reason, coghlan seems like a decent option vs kluber

 

your two posts are basically exactly how i feel. like i want to be really mad about it, but i'm not, really.

[Bull]

Coughlan is a surprise, but I'll trust Joe here. Actually expected Heyward. If benching Heyward, not sure why not Contreras.

Bats RH.

 

Also career 1.000 OPS against Kluber ... (in 3 at bats)

 

Not saying I'm on board, but thats the reason.