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

[davell]

I can see Javy at 3B tonight. In fact, I expect it with Lester pitching. Zobrist at 2B, KB in RF.....Willie in LF? Maybe even Coghlan.

[USSoccer]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history. Moving him off of 2B would also be dumb, albeit less so. If you're worried about CLE speed on the bases keeping him at 2B where he's been otherworldly this month would be more impactful, I'd think.

[mikeyt34]

So sounds like the lineup would be

 

Fowler, CF

Schwarber, DH (my fingers tingled as I typed this)

Bryant, 3B

Rizzo, 1B

Zobrist, RF

Baez, 2B

Contreras, LF

Ross, C

Russell, SS

 

Completely guessing on the order of the last 3. I thought maybe Maddon would bring back his "second leadoff hitter" in Russell from last year. The only thing that sucks is that its a lot of righties at the bottom of the order. Kluber doesn't have extreme L/R splits but obviously fares a little better against RHB.

 

I hope you're right about Contreras in LF and Zo in RF. The JHey show should be regulated to PH'ing, Pinch Running, and late defensive replacment. My heart tells me Joe goes with WIlly, my head tells me he won't and sends JHey back out there.

[UMFan83]

I'd say my most confident guess is Willson in LF, Bryant in RF, Javy at 3B, Zobrist at 2B. 2nd guess would be Bryant/Zobrist in LF/RF, LaStella at 2B (GOD NO, NO GOD) Javy at 3B.

 

LaStella is not on the roster.

yeah, but how do you know for sure he won't play?

 

TLS will surely be available in the series after game 4 when Lackey fakes an injury to be taken off the roster.

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

I'd say my most confident guess is Willson in LF, Bryant in RF, Javy at 3B, Zobrist at 2B. 2nd guess would be Bryant/Zobrist in LF/RF, LaStella at 2B (GOD NO, NO GOD) Javy at 3B.

Hard to see them moving Javy off of second at this point.

 

I can't imagine any Cubs pitcher being happy with Javy not at 2B. Much less someone like Lester.

Obviously you are fine with him at second, but didn't someone show a spray chart of lester's ground balls a week or two ago where most of his ground balls against go to 3rd? However, most of the Dodgers ground balls go to 2nd and that is probably somewhat of a factor as to why he was playing 2nd instead of the usual 3rd when Lester pitches. However, I do think the best defense is both he and Bryant in the infield with Zobrist in the outfield.

[jersey cubs fan]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history. Moving him off of 2B would also be dumb, albeit less so. If you're worried about CLE speed on the bases keeping him at 2B where he's been otherworldly this month would be more impactful, I'd think.

Hiring Dusty. Hiring Emery. Trading for Rick Mirer. Keeping the Blackhawks off TV, whatever the Bulls have been doing the past 20 years.

 

Javy made his mark as a less-than-full-time player this year and while I would want him in the lineup, I would not judge these guys for holding him back against the tough right hander for PH opportunities later in game 1. It would hardly be a stupid decision, let alone a top 5 stupid.

[USSoccer]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history. Moving him off of 2B would also be dumb, albeit less so. If you're worried about CLE speed on the bases keeping him at 2B where he's been otherworldly this month would be more impactful, I'd think.

Hiring Dusty. Hiring Emery. Trading for Rick Mirer. Keeping the Blackhawks off TV, whatever the Bulls have been doing the past 20 years.

 

Javy made his mark as a less-than-full-time player this year and while I would want him in the lineup, I would not judge these guys for holding him back against the tough right hander for PH opportunities later in game 1. It would hardly be a stupid decision, let alone a top 5 stupid.

 

He's made multiple game impacting plays on defense alone, sometimes more than once a game. Even if you think Kluber is a bad matchup batting, he's changing games with his glove.

[MUCubsfan]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history.

How long have you been a Chicago sports fan? I can think of PLENTY of decisions much worse than that.

 

That said, there's no logical reason whatsoever to think Javy wouldn't start tonight... especially with Lester on the mound... especially with knowing the Indians are going to run every chance they get and that Javy is the best tagger in the history of the game.

 

But, hey, kudos on the hyperbole!

[Elrhino]

Benching a hot bat coming off winning the NLCS MVP and one of the elite gloves in the game would be pretty historically dumb. Especially if it's to get Chris Coughlin more at bats. Edited October 25, 2016 by Elrhino

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[badger]

His ankle looks disgusting. I have no idea how he's gonna run on that.

[David]

us has hated theo since he let aramis go when he got hired. he doesn't trust these nerds.

 

STOP HATING THEO US

 

(i'm kidding please dont overreact)

Edited October 25, 2016 by David

[USSoccer]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history.

How long have you been a Chicago sports fan? I can think of PLENTY of decisions much worse than that.

 

That said, there's no logical reason whatsoever to think Javy wouldn't start tonight... especially with Lester on the mound... especially with knowing the Indians are going to run every chance they get and that Javy is the best tagger in the history of the game.

 

But, hey, kudos on the hyperbole!

 

Benching a guy who's hitting everyone well and playing otherworldly defense to get Chris Coghlan in the game at 2B would be top 5 dumb, which is what I was referring to.

[JonJayCutler]

Funny. Besides uncontrollable elation, I did mutter a "be careful now" as the team was piling together after the final out Saturday.

 

After we win the World Series, then please... suplexes, elbow drops, etc.

[UMFan83]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history.

How long have you been a Chicago sports fan? I can think of PLENTY of decisions much worse than that.

 

That said, there's no logical reason whatsoever to think Javy wouldn't start tonight... especially with Lester on the mound... especially with knowing the Indians are going to run every chance they get and that Javy is the best tagger in the history of the game.

 

But, hey, kudos on the hyperbole!

 

Benching a guy who's hitting everyone well and playing otherworldly defense to get Chris Coghlan in the game at 2B would be top 5 dumb, which is what I was referring to.

 

that was a joke. No one is considering benching Javy and especially not for Coghlan. Fans of other teams that come to the site to see our pre-game 1 discussion will be appalled to find out this was being discussed.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

 

LaStella is not on the roster.

yeah, but how do you know for sure he won't play?

 

TLS will surely be available in the series after game 4 when Lackey fakes an injury to be taken off the roster.

a pitcher may be replaced only by a pitcher

[Bull]

yea, TLS isn't on roster. Stop trying to make everyone sad USSoccer Cubswin11

 

Are you kidding me with this horsefeathers?

Is he..........

 

 

 

badgering you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

:hello:

[seanimal]

Can Schwarber dh for Heyward and Lester bat....I am 100% serious

 

mojo is that you?

[badger]

ugh.

[MUCubsfan]

Benching Javy would be a top-5 stupid decision in Chicago sports history.

How long have you been a Chicago sports fan? I can think of PLENTY of decisions much worse than that.

 

That said, there's no logical reason whatsoever to think Javy wouldn't start tonight... especially with Lester on the mound... especially with knowing the Indians are going to run every chance they get and that Javy is the best tagger in the history of the game.

 

But, hey, kudos on the hyperbole!

 

Benching a guy who's hitting everyone well and playing otherworldly defense to get Chris Coghlan in the game at 2B would be top 5 dumb, which is what I was referring to.

In what strange scenario would this actually happen?

[UMFan83]

yeah, but how do you know for sure he won't play?

 

TLS will surely be available in the series after game 4 when Lackey fakes an injury to be taken off the roster.

a pitcher may be replaced only by a pitcher

 

Well then he will have to pitch to a batter in order to make it legit. Then you can say something like 'well he hurt his arm pitching to that batter but it turns out he's actually like passable as a position player - for a pitcher'. Which everyone will believe after watching him attempt to be a position player.

[USSoccer]

How long have you been a Chicago sports fan? I can think of PLENTY of decisions much worse than that.

 

That said, there's no logical reason whatsoever to think Javy wouldn't start tonight... especially with Lester on the mound... especially with knowing the Indians are going to run every chance they get and that Javy is the best tagger in the history of the game.

 

But, hey, kudos on the hyperbole!

 

Benching a guy who's hitting everyone well and playing otherworldly defense to get Chris Coghlan in the game at 2B would be top 5 dumb, which is what I was referring to.

In what strange scenario would this actually happen?

 

Someone posted that a couple pages back they had heard Coghlan at 2B and no Baez as Maddon's "lineup surprise".

[UMFan83]

God I hope people don't actually try to start a serious rebuttal on my "Lackey fake injury, LaStella pitching in the world series fake injury to become position player" idea.

[Elrhino]

So sounds like the lineup would be

 

Fowler, CF

Schwarber, DH (my fingers tingled as I typed this)

Bryant, 3B

Rizzo, 1B

Zobrist, RF

Baez, 2B

Contreras, LF

Ross, C

Russell, SS

 

Completely guessing on the order of the last 3. I thought maybe Maddon would bring back his "second leadoff hitter" in Russell from last year. The only thing that sucks is that its a lot of righties at the bottom of the order. Kluber doesn't have extreme L/R splits but obviously fares a little better against RHB.

 

If Maddon keeps this simple and goes with the "no regrets" lineup, the lineup least likely to have you kicking yourself over with the WS on the line, that would be my lineup for tonight.

[gobigred]

Was reading the article in the Sun Times about some of the greats that have passed away and a name came to me that I hadnt thought of in ages...Yosh Kawano....Dude is STILL alive at 95...wow