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

[UMFan83]

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

 

I actually had a feeling this might be the move, but I thought it was too radical to suggest. The reasoning being Coghlan is a lefty and he actually has an XBH off of Kluber (obviously extremely small sample size of 3 ABs)

[Bull]

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

 

Glad to see you're ok.

[BigSlick]

Coghlan instead of either Contreras or Heyward is a tad bit surprising.

 

The more I hate on Coghlan the better he does though, so I expect him to go 3-5

[UMFan83]

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.

 

I also think that he might be saving Contreras in case Schwarber comes up to face Miller. Given his rust and his numbers against lefties last year, it might make sense to PH for Contreras (or Soler). But of course if you PH the DH spot, you lose the DH spot for the game and need to PH there the rest of the game or hit with the pitcher. Hence having 2 quality bats off the bench in Willy and Georgie.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

I was expecting Contreras as well but hopefully Coghlan comes through for us! Heyward can be a late inning defensive replacement for us all series if they want. I am tired of seeing Heyward bat so any one will be an upgrade over him.

[squally1313]

Sample sizes might not be big enough to say this definitively, but there's a good amount of evidence to suggest there is quite a large gap between Coghlan and Contreras when it comes to outfield defense.

 

Contreras in 180 LF innings this year: -14.7 UZR/150

Coghlan in 304 OF innings this year: 9.6 UZR/150

Coghlan in 5000 OF innings, career: -3.1 UZR/150

 

For reference, Heyward in 1200 OF innings this year was 23.2 UZR/150.

[Andy]

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

Eh, it's fine. Defensively they're probably a wash (IIRC Coghlan actually graded out well in the outfield this year), and as soon as Miller comes in to face Coghlan Joe is going to Contreras.

[cubbyvirus00]

Very excited for this series. Still feels like a dream. I'm not too excited to see Cogs but I'll trust Joe on this. I hate seeing Contreras sit.

[Cubswin11]

Yeah on the surface it just seems getting as many good LHBs in there vs Kluber but also saving Willson for a PH spot later in the game. Also if Schwarber looks awful, it could be getting Coghlan some abs to use as a DH tomorrow or games 6/7.

[UMFan83]

Also, do we tar and feather Agony now or do we just join him in peeing on his sources front door?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I hope Coghlan is so awesome tonight that you all feel bad and buy Coghlan jerseys tomorrow

[Cubswin11]

Small sample size/arbitrary end points, but in 85 PAs in August, September and October Coghlan had an OPS in the mid .800s. I'm fine with this move to let him get 2-3 ABs then pulling him for defense/pinch-hitter.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I hope Coghlan is so awesome tonight that you all feel bad and buy Coghlan jerseys tomorrow

 

I hope so too, but I won't be buying a jersey just yet. If he becomes the WS MVP, then yes

[minnesotacubsfan]

But at that point I'll buy a lot of jerseys

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Platoon advantage is a real thing and "last X weeks" /!; stuff are not. This is the right call, as you should expect from this management at this point.

 

All the pressure is on Cleveland in this one. Losing a Kubler start would be backbreaking.

 

Also I'm going to refer to him as Koogler from now on just cause.

[BigSlick]

Also, do we tar and feather Agony now or do we just join him in peeing on his sources front door?

Well he wasn't wrong about him starting as a DH, he was just wrong where he was in the batting order. Which is up to Maddon completely so he may have just changed his mind.

[muntjack]

You know, I wonder what odds you could have gotten at the all-star break for Kyle Schwarber: WS MVP ?

[jersey cubs fan]

Also, do we tar and feather Agony now or do we just join him in peeing on his sources front door?

maybe all his friends are dyslexic

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I probably would've started Contreras(neither Kluber or Contreras had much of a platoon split this year), but Coghlan being in the lineup is fine. Not sure why Coghlan is in RF though, I guess they anticipate more balls to LF with the righties facing Lester. Or just more familiarity for Zobrist since he hasn't been in the OF a ton.

[Banedon]

You know, I wonder what odds you could have gotten at the all-star break for Kyle Schwarber: WS MVP ?

 

At the All Star Break? Hell...Saturday night...

[Banedon]

I probably would've started Contreras(neither Kluber or Contreras had much of a platoon split this year), but Coghlan being in the lineup is fine. Not sure why Coghlan is in RF though, I guess they anticipate more balls to LF with the righties facing Lester. Or just more familiarity for Zobrist since he hasn't been in the OF a ton.

 

Yeah, I figured Joe just didn't see much benefit in moving Zobrist since he's been out there so much lately.

[UMFan83]

It boggles my mind that yesterday I was watching Schwarber on a grainy stream with a crappy camera angle hitting against Minor Leaguers in Arizona, and today I will be watching him in the World Series in Cleveland.

[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.

 

I also think that he might be saving Contreras in case Schwarber comes up to face Miller. Given his rust and his numbers against lefties last year, it might make sense to PH for Contreras (or Soler). But of course if you PH the DH spot, you lose the DH spot for the game and need to PH there the rest of the game or hit with the pitcher. Hence having 2 quality bats off the bench in Willy and Georgie.

 

There's also this funky split where Coghlan has the greatest disparity between being unable to hit a power fastball and a curve. Joe's banking on him to catch a breaking ball (Kluber's best pitch and one of the best in baseball) like Montero did with Blanton.

 

Also, Heyward will be in the game by the 6th inning if the Cubs have a lead.

[Old Style]

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.

 

I also think that he might be saving Contreras in case Schwarber comes up to face Miller. Given his rust and his numbers against lefties last year, it might make sense to PH for Contreras (or Soler). But of course if you PH the DH spot, you lose the DH spot for the game and need to PH there the rest of the game or hit with the pitcher. Hence having 2 quality bats off the bench in Willy and Georgie.

The DH rule is so dumb.

[Banedon]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/chris-coghlan-is-starting-in-the-world-series-and-thats-weird/