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

[minnesotacubsfan]

do they still have pitching injuries? how is their bullpen outside of Miller?

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

so who can give a scouting report on the Indians? I know Kluber, Salazar and Miller, and only Miller am I afraid of. However, hasnt he been over pitched?

 

and what about their offense?

 

The Indians have a deep offense, 6 regulars have a wOBA over .340. For reference, the Cubs had 5 over .340 including Contreras. They have a mix of speed guys who have a bit of pop(Ramirez, Lindor), outright sluggers(Santana, Napoli, Naquin), and Kipnis who does a little of everything. They led the AL in stolen bases and baserunning value, which could mean that if Lester doesn't keep Rajai Davis(and Ramirez/Lindor to a lesser extent) off first base, the NLCS narrative could be very real like it was for Hamilton and Villar.

 

Their rotation is Kluber and a bunch of misfit toys. Kluber is very good, but more 2016 Arrieta than 2015 Arrieta. There is no Kershaw or Hill in the Indians rotation. Trevor Bauer performed like Jason Hammel this year and he cut his finger off with a drone. Salazar has great stuff but he's been hurt for a 6 weeks and was terrible for longer than that before getting hurt. Josh Tomlin is American League for Mike Leake. And by ability, Ryan Merritt would be more at home getting September starts for the Reds than pitching in the ALCS.

 

Their bullpen is nightmare fuel. Miller incinerates righties and lefties and goes for innings at a time. Allen is their nominal closer and strikes out a ton of guys, if you saw how good Thornburg was for the Brewers this year, that gives you an idea. Shaw is Strop-ian in effectiveness. And for days that their starters don't go long, Otero(AL Tyler Clippard) and McAllister(think 2015 Cahill) suck up innings.

 

Long story short: Work the starters hard but don't forget to score on them, their bullpen is deep enough to manage a 7 game series. Let your pitching and defense do the work it has been, there's no Rizzo or Bryant in this lineup but they don't run as many easy outs as LA and SF either.

[minnesotacubsfan]

so who can give a scouting report on the Indians? I know Kluber, Salazar and Miller, and only Miller am I afraid of. However, hasnt he been over pitched?

 

and what about their offense?

 

The Indians have a deep offense, 6 regulars have a wOBA over .340. For reference, the Cubs had 5 over .340 including Contreras. They have a mix of speed guys who have a bit of pop(Ramirez, Lindor), outright sluggers(Santana, Napoli, Naquin), and Kipnis who does a little of everything. They led the AL in stolen bases and baserunning value, which could mean that if Lester doesn't keep Rajai Davis(and Ramirez/Lindor to a lesser extent) off first base, the NLCS narrative could be very real like it was for Hamilton and Villar.

 

Their rotation is Kluber and a bunch of misfit toys. Kluber is very good, but more 2016 Arrieta than 2015 Arrieta. There is no Kershaw or Hill in the Indians rotation. Trevor Bauer performed like Jason Hammel this year and he cut his finger off with a drone. Salazar has great stuff but he's been hurt for a 6 weeks and was terrible for longer than that before getting hurt. Josh Tomlin is American League for Mike Leake. And by ability, Ryan Merritt would be more at home getting September starts for the Reds than pitching in the ALCS.

 

Their bullpen is nightmare fuel. Miller incinerates righties and lefties and goes for innings at a time. Allen is their nominal closer and strikes out a ton of guys, if you saw how good Thornburg was for the Brewers this year, that gives you an idea. Shaw is Strop-ian in effectiveness. And for days that their starters don't go long, Otero(AL Tyler Clippard) and McAllister(think 2015 Cahill) suck up innings.

 

Long story short: Work the starters hard but don't forget to score on them, their bullpen is deep enough to manage a 7 game series. Let your pitching and defense do the work it has been, there's no Rizzo or Bryant in this lineup but they don't run as many easy outs as LA and SF either.

 

so we could be looking at 7-5 run ballgames unless Lester and Hendricks shut down everyone?

[bukie]

From what I've read thus far, Indians fans underestimate the NL, the Cubs front office, the rotation (particularly Lester), the offense (they "struggle at the plate"), the bullpen ("nothing after Chapman and Chapman is hittable"), and the defense ("no better than us overall").

 

Just went from "happy to be in the series" to "Okay let's show then what the best team in baseball looks like."

[Banedon]

Lester officially announced as Game 1 starter.

[minnesotacubsfan]

From what I've read thus far, Indians fans underestimate the NL, the Cubs front office, the rotation (particularly Lester), the offense (they "struggle at the plate"), the bullpen ("nothing after Chapman and Chapman is hittable"), and the defense ("no better than us overall").

 

Just went from "happy to be in the series" to "Okay let's show then what the best team in baseball looks like."

 

when I look at their stats this year, I see the Cardinals with a better bullpen. hopefully we start mauling their starters right from the start and force their bullpen to be over pitched.

[Cubswin11]

The weather is supposed to be disgusting for game 2, 40s and a half+ inch of rain. If they were to try and play that game (I'm guessing it just gets pushed to Thursday) I wonder if they'd consider starting Lackey as to not burn Arrieta in a shortened game and/or give him more rest then go Hendricks and Arrieta game 3 and Game 4.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

At this point I'm not sure I care if we burn an Arriets start

[Banedon]

The weather is supposed to be disgusting for game 2, 40s and a half+ inch of rain. If they were to try and play that game (I'm guessing it just gets pushed to Thursday) I wonder if they'd consider starting Lackey as to not burn Arrieta in a shortened game and/or give him more rest then go Hendricks and Arrieta game 3 and Game 4.

 

Well they haven't committed to starters past Lester, and I'm guessing the weather is a major reason why.

[BigSlick]

maybe i'm too foolish but the fact that there isn't a Kershaw or Hill in this rotation makes me supremely confident we're just gonna stomp on them offensively

 

Like, after Bumgarner, Cueto, Kershaw etc..etc their Good And Above Average rotation just seems like peanuts to me. which means every game will be 2-1

[minnesotacubsfan]

At this point I'm not sure I care if we burn an Arriets start

 

Lackey would probably give you close to the same start anyway

[David]

From what I've read thus far, Indians fans underestimate the NL, the Cubs front office, the rotation (particularly Lester), the offense (they "struggle at the plate"), the bullpen ("nothing after Chapman and Chapman is hittable"), and the defense ("no better than us overall").

 

Just went from "happy to be in the series" to "Okay let's show then what the best team in baseball looks like."

 

They're starting Josh Tomlin and an OK pitcher who may have been close to needing his pitching pinky amputated about 10 days ago.

[UMFan83]

Of horsefeathering course this is who's table Jesse photographs and tweets out

 

[Brian]

Chapman hittable? I know they are two huge caveats (and bring the sample way down) but who has hit Chapman in a clean or 1 person on inning, in a close game? Buster Posey hit a double I think that's it.

[Rob]

so who can give a scouting report on the Indians? I know Kluber, Salazar and Miller, and only Miller am I afraid of. However, hasnt he been over pitched?

 

and what about their offense?

 

The Indians have a deep offense, 6 regulars have a wOBA over .340. For reference, the Cubs had 5 over .340 including Contreras. They have a mix of speed guys who have a bit of pop(Ramirez, Lindor), outright sluggers(Santana, Napoli, Naquin), and Kipnis who does a little of everything. They led the AL in stolen bases and baserunning value, which could mean that if Lester doesn't keep Rajai Davis(and Ramirez/Lindor to a lesser extent) off first base, the NLCS narrative could be very real like it was for Hamilton and Villar.

 

Their rotation is Kluber and a bunch of misfit toys. Kluber is very good, but more 2016 Arrieta than 2015 Arrieta. There is no Kershaw or Hill in the Indians rotation. Trevor Bauer performed like Jason Hammel this year and he cut his finger off with a drone. Salazar has great stuff but he's been hurt for a 6 weeks and was terrible for longer than that before getting hurt. Josh Tomlin is American League for Mike Leake. And by ability, Ryan Merritt would be more at home getting September starts for the Reds than pitching in the ALCS.

 

Their bullpen is nightmare fuel. Miller incinerates righties and lefties and goes for innings at a time. Allen is their nominal closer and strikes out a ton of guys, if you saw how good Thornburg was for the Brewers this year, that gives you an idea. Shaw is Strop-ian in effectiveness. And for days that their starters don't go long, Otero(AL Tyler Clippard) and McAllister(think 2015 Cahill) suck up innings.

 

Long story short: Work the starters hard but don't forget to score on them, their bullpen is deep enough to manage a 7 game series. Let your pitching and defense do the work it has been, there's no Rizzo or Bryant in this lineup but they don't run as many easy outs as LA and SF either.

 

 

It's worth noting that their offense is good in part because they've been able to split DH duties between Santana and Napoli. Only one of them will be able to play in Chicago unless Francona plays one of those guys out of position, which would be inadvisable at best.

 

Also worth noting that Kipnis slightly sprained his ankle in the ALCS celebration, so that might keep him from running very well tomorrow. I imagine it'll be back to normal by the end of the series though.

[raw]

Man, Pirates fans really don't want the Cubs to win. And oddly, most are strangely indifferent to the Cardinals. Probably a little jealousy playing in, just like their shitty players. Oh well, that'll just make me that much more unbearable in a week or so.

[Cubswin11]

Chapman hittable? I know they are two huge caveats (and bring the sample way down) but who has hit Chapman in a clean or 1 person on inning, in a close game? Buster Posey hit a double I think that's it.

It's relative with him, but Chapman has been more "hittable" this year than in years past but has also walked a lot less with a slight up tick in contact allowed.

[jersey cubs fan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JoeO670/status/790637830301069312[/tweet]

[David]

From what I've read thus far, Indians fans underestimate the NL, the Cubs front office, the rotation (particularly Lester), the offense (they "struggle at the plate"), the bullpen ("nothing after Chapman and Chapman is hittable"), and the defense ("no better than us overall").

 

Just went from "happy to be in the series" to "Okay let's show then what the best team in baseball looks like."

 

when I look at their stats this year, I see the Cardinals with a better bullpen. hopefully we start mauling their starters right from the start and force their bullpen to be over pitched.

 

their position players are much better than the cardinals. they can play defense and run the bases. the cardinals were abysmal at both of those things.

[Sammys Boombox]

I would think best case scenario for the Cubs would be for Game 1 to be played as scheduled and Game 2 to get played Thursday. You could start Hendricks in Game 2 and he could be ready for a Game 6 start just like the NLCS. Also, 4 consecutive days with games will make it harder for the Indians to throw Miller/Allen so many innings.

[UMFan83]

 

(This is where the image of Schwarber rounding the bases with Salazar looking upset would go if I could find one that isn't Getty)

Edited October 24, 2016 by UMFan83

[bukie]

So an inning and 2/3 of Cub hitters.

[Cubswin11]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I would think best case scenario for the Cubs would be for Game 1 to be played as scheduled and Game 2 to get played Thursday. You could start Hendricks in Game 2 and he could be ready for a Game 6 start just like the NLCS. Also, 4 consecutive days with games will make it harder for the Indians to throw Miller/Allen so many innings.

 

That will all depend on when Hendricks gets his side work in. But I doubt Maddon will push Arrieta from Game 2 just because of a postponed game.