4/2 World Champion Chicago Cubs (Lester) @ Cardinals (Martinez) 7:35 CDT, ESPN/670

[bcl412]

Is Joe going to hit the pitcher 8th every other season just to mess with the league or something?

[OleMissCub]

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[David]

Is Joe going to hit the pitcher 8th every other season just to mess with the league or something?

 

believe it's tied to the schwarber leading off thing this time around

[Brian]

though a week early, Derwood's question is valid. The home opener appears to be ESPN only as well. It's BBTN before so they should be able to show it but it's pretty annoying Len won't be on the air for the moment.

[David]

though a week early, Derwood's question is valid. The home opener appears to be ESPN only as well. It's BBTN before so they should be able to show it but it's pretty annoying Len won't be on the air for the moment.

 

Yes, ESPN will of course be showing it. They're even running promos for it already.

 

And yeah, it would be nice if Len could be involved.

[mikeyt34]

Joe ain't messin' around with this line up tonight. To hell with the Almora/Jay platoon he says...Wonder why? Because of Martinez pitching? Just wants Javy out there? I'm thinking he just wants Javy in there.

 

I thought he might bat Heyward 7th pitcher 8th, glad he didn't, JH needs all the protection he can get with WIllson behind him.

[David]

Joe ain't messin' around with this line up tonight. To hell with the Almora/Jay platoon he says...Wonder why? Because of Martinez pitching? Just wants Javy out there? I'm thinking he just wants Javy in there.

 

I thought he might bat Heyward 7th pitcher 8th, glad he didn't, JH needs all the protection he can get with WIllson behind him.

 

infield defense being prioritized with lester on the mound, i'm guessing.

[David]

Have we talked about this at all

 

Among the final drills the Cubs completed in spring training were practicing a five-man infield and defending the bunt with first baseman Anthony Rizzo positioned "in the slot" next to the pitcher and wearing a fielder's glove, manager Joe Maddon said.

[Brian]

I'm going to get a funny feeling when Javy Javy-Tag's Dex tonight

[gobigred]

though a week early, Derwood's question is valid. The home opener appears to be ESPN only as well. It's BBTN before so they should be able to show it but it's pretty annoying Len won't be on the air for the moment.

 

Yes, ESPN will of course be showing it. They're even running promos for it already.

 

And yeah, it would be nice if Len could be involved.

 

 

Live in LA it better not be blacked out. I damn near bought a plane ticket but once they split up the banner and ring ceremony that priced me out of that option

[bcl412]

I wonder how agitating batting Schwarber at lead off is for traditionalists.

[CubinNY]

162-0, here we go!

[CubinNY]

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e1a174-b182-56af-95bc-a1e0f4349a5c/58af297d9eed9.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C782

 

i just noticed mozeliak in this picture and suddenly i understand mojo more than ever

Matheny looks like a douche-bag no matter what he's wearing. I bet he beats his wife.

[Derwood]

In my defense, having the defending champs open on the road is super dumb, weather be damned

[David]

In my defense, having the defending champs open on the road is super dumb, weather be damned

 

It is more than likely the Cubs' preference to start as late as possible with the renovations going on.

[Derwood]

In my defense, having the defending champs open on the road is super dumb, weather be damned

 

It is more than likely the Cubs' preference to start as late as possible with the renovations going on.

 

Don't care. Still dumb

[David]

Joe ain't messin' around with this line up tonight. To hell with the Almora/Jay platoon he says...Wonder why? Because of Martinez pitching? Just wants Javy out there? I'm thinking he just wants Javy in there.

 

I thought he might bat Heyward 7th pitcher 8th, glad he didn't, JH needs all the protection he can get with WIllson behind him.

 

http://www.cubsinsider.com/2017/04/02/javy-baez-not-albert-almora-starting-opening-night-cubs/

 

The question for the last year has been about how to get Baez into the lineup more frequently, but he’s not the only one who needs a spot. Since Almora started hitting the ball with more pop, trying to find adequate playing time for everyone has become even more challenging. As Jo Maddon said, both hitters can thrive against particular right-handed pitchers. Tonight’s lineup, featuring Baez batting ninth and playing second base, is a prime example.

 

The defending World Champion Chicago Cubs face Carlos Martinez in the first of their 162 games. The St. Louis Cardinals ace excels by using a sinker/changeup combination, throwing at least one of those pitches 50% of the time. Baez, not Almora, is better suited to attack that particular package.

 

Below are a pair of runs above average heat maps, very similar to the hot zones you might see in a video game or television broadcast. The first map illustrates how Baez performs against sinkers and changeups, while the second represents Almora’s production.

 

Pay close attention to the number of blue zones in Almora’s profile. Not only are there a lot of them, but the numbers in the cool areas are extremely low. On the contrary, Baez has more red zones, and his blue zones don’t contain such dramatic negative numbers. All of this suggests that Baez is most likely to perform well against Martinez.

 

http://www.cubsinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-02-at-12.43.19-PM.png

http://www.cubsinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-02-at-12.43.27-PM.png

Edited April 2, 2017 by David

[David]

In my defense, having the defending champs open on the road is super dumb, weather be damned

 

It is more than likely the Cubs' preference to start as late as possible with the renovations going on.

 

Don't care. Still dumb

 

Nope.

[David]

Not to mention I'm like 99% sure the schedule is set long before the postseason ends.

[Euthoniel]

infield defense being prioritized with lester on the mound, i'm guessing.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Cards try to run on Lester to get in his head, Baez's tagging ability might come in handy on throws to second.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

I wonder how agitating batting Schwarber at lead off is for traditionalists.

I thought that, traditionally, for meatballs, whatever team wins the WS is given a pass and copied whenever possible by all other teams the next season. I would bet the Phillies put Tommy Joseph at leadoff in a few weeks.

[mikeyt34]

ESPN is running promos for the game tonight, it shows a slow motion shot of the Cubs celebrating on the mound and the play by play call of the last out of the WS. Then over the image it flashes..."THE CHAMPS ARE BACK". I seriously felt movement in wee wee area.

 

Edit: Thanks David for that great post about Javy and Almora.

Edited April 2, 2017 by mikeyt34

[Brian]

What's that you're not sufficiently pumped up yet?

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[Brian]

Almost forgot about these bad boys.

 

http://i.imgur.com/UzHDTwn.jpg?1

[We Got The Whole 9]

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e1a174-b182-56af-95bc-a1e0f4349a5c/58af297d9eed9.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C782

 

i just noticed mozeliak in this picture and suddenly i understand mojo more than ever

Dex has his head down like holy horsefeathers what did I do