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

[Bull]

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

 

To come to the conclusion that you don’t want to start Heyward against a right-handed pitcher, you have to put a lot of weight on his 2016 performance, believing that he’s currently unable to hit anywhere near his career levels for one reason or another.

 

http://i2.wp.com/i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/210/116/youdontsay.jpg?resize=433%2C368

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

okay, calm down. The Cubs are in the world series, let's not focus so much on making targeting the guys who are having a bad season.

 

 

And yes, the fact that they are in the world series is a very good reason for heyward to escape the vitriol, along with the stupidity of the vitriol toward Soriano and Cutler in the first place.

[ScrubMD]

Coghlan has improved quite a bit on defense the past couple of years and has been a good hitter for the Cubs this year. I don't mind it at all.

[Bull]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=847&position=2B/OF

 

Scroll all the way down to the section titled "value"

[Brian]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-lee-yearbook-cubs-prediction_us_580f9b23e4b0a03911ef1c23

[Rob]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

 

What a ridiculous sentiment. There's no reason for the vitriol at all. Do you think he doesn't want to perform? Do you think he's just being lazy?

 

No. Nobody thinks that. The wrist injury messed with his swing and he's been unable to get back on track, despite working hard at it. But he's managed to provide value on the bases (which was applicable far less often than preferred, but still...) and with his absolutely stellar RF defense. Overall, despite the abysmal offensive season, he managed to put up a slightly below average season overall, ranking 14th out of 21 qualifying RF.

 

We aren't substantially better with Contreras, or Soler, or Coghlan in RF pretending that they know how to play defense. So let's drop the being "held accountable" crap. If you want to win, he's still probably our best option out there. And I bet he'll have himself sorted out after some rest in the offseason and ready to go next year.

[trushar]

Going to miss the beginning today/tomorrow from sitting in traffic bc of some unexpected work training. As if I'm doing anything besides reading anything Cubs today. Oh well, radio for me for a bit.

 

GO CUBS!

[JonJayCutler]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=847&position=2B/OF

 

Scroll all the way down to the section titled "value"

 

What am I missing? Soriano had a 6.7 fWAR in his first season with the Cubs, Heyward 1.6...

 

Btw I don't know how this got to me defending Soriano, as I never said he didn't deserve his criticism. Just that Heyward deserves the same.

[David]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=847&position=2B/OF

 

Scroll all the way down to the section titled "value"

 

What am I missing? Soriano had a 6.7 fWAR in his first season with the Cubs, Heyward 1.6...

 

Btw I don't know how this got to me defending Soriano, as I never said he didn't deserve his criticism. Just that Heyward deserves the same.

 

Soriano's contract wasn't ridiculous (neither was Cutler's for that matter).

[Banedon]

Lets take the "we should hate Heyward more" discussion out of the World Series game thread please.

[Banedon]

Lets take the "we should hate Heyward more" discussion out of the World Series game thread please.

 

In fact, how about we just table that till Spring.

[TysonCBulls423]

I can't believe I'm posting in a World Series thread. It's all still surreal to me. I'm going to games 4 and 5 sooooo cubbies let's get this thing started right tonight.

 

:flythew:

 

FYI, I am an official World Series ticket inspector. PM me so I can send you my address so you can drop by to let me verify whether your tickets are actually legit. If they are fakes, I will save you any legal troubles by taking them from you and privately disposing of them.

 

I appreciate it! I won't actually have the ticket until I show up to Wrigley but my buddy gets the tickets from the team itself so we should be alright.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=847&position=2B/OF

 

Scroll all the way down to the section titled "value"

 

What am I missing? Soriano had a 6.7 fWAR in his first season with the Cubs, Heyward 1.6...

 

Btw I don't know how this got to me defending Soriano, as I never said he didn't deserve his criticism. Just that Heyward deserves the same.

That's the problem. Soriano didn't deserve criticism. He lived up to his contract. The Cubs are in the freaking World Series, stop focusing on punishment for the guys having bad seasons and enjoy the moment.

[trushar]

Lets take the "we should hate Heyward more" discussion out of the World Series game thread please.

 

In fact, how about we just table that till Spring.

 

it's all good anyway, if anyone can afford to have a pricey dude to come in and play the best RF for innings 7-8-9 or do some running in a pinch, it's us, w/ our collection of talent. who cares, we have 7 (horsefeathers that, 4) games to play a bunch of situational baseball. there's still a role for him to play here.

 

Who's excited? LET'S GO CUBS

[squally1313]

Players should negotiate their contracts down if they are worried about not performing up to arbitrary standards.

[PetermanRealityTour]

Kipnis is in....

 

 

 

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[minnesotacubsfan]

Lets take the "we should hate Heyward more" discussion out of the World Series game thread please.

 

In fact, how about we just table that till Spring.

 

Yes please

[squally1313]

Leading off with someone who had a .306 OBP this year just because he can maybe steal a base off Lester seems a bit...backwards?

[JonJayCutler]

That's the problem. Soriano didn't deserve criticism. He lived up to his contract. The Cubs are in the freaking World Series, stop focusing on punishment for the guys having bad seasons and enjoy the moment.

 

Just wanted to know why the media/fan perception was so different on Heyward vs the other two guys. I'm going with "World Series". Fair enough.

 

Didn't mean for this to blow up right before the game, and even though I stand by my position, I do apologize. GO CUBS!!!

[Cubswin11]

Leading off with someone who had a .306 OBP this year just because he can maybe steal a base off Lester seems a bit...backwards?

Yeah guessing he's gonna try and bunt. But good luck with that with the Bermuda Triangle defense

[BigSlick]

I'm just glad Heyward is finally starting to be held accountable. The Cubs magical run has softened the blow to this point, no doubt.

 

But there's still no reason at all for him to escape the vitriol that Soriano and Cutler endured in this city for underperforming on a ridiculous [expletive] contract.

 

The fix for fans treating players shitty isn't to go and treat some other players shitty, its to stop treating some players shitty

 

I'm sure no one feels worse than Heyward for how he's played this year than Heyward. And he's clearly tried his best throughout the year to play at the highest level he can. Making him feel bad for that is cruel and unusual.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Just give me a Schwarber homer tonight, please. I've never felt entitled to anything as a baseball fan before. But I need this.

[BigSlick]

Just give me a Schwarber homer tonight, please. I've never felt entitled to anything as a baseball fan before. But I need this.

I'm almost upset his first at bat wont occur at home, because I just want to see how Wrigley would react to a Schwarber pinch hit appearance

[badger]

The White Sox continue to get erased from Chicago history... lol.

 

http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/screen-shot-2016-10-25-at-6-31-05-am.png

[Old Style]

Just give me a Schwarber homer tonight, please. I've never felt entitled to anything as a baseball fan before. But I need this.

40-1 odds that he hits the first homer in the series. Tempted to put some money down on that.