7/25 - Diamondbacks (Ray) @ Cubs (Lester) 1:20 NBCSC

[Bertz]

 

We have too many guys putting together bad ABs in big spots - when it’s the pitcher who should feel the pressure. I think of that back to back Baez/Contreras sequence over the weekend and now Russell. You’re up 2-0 in that spot, take at least one more. As stated above, his swing changed the whole AB and inning.

 

You picked 2 isolated examples during a month long stretch where the Cubs are killing it with RISP

 

Fair enough. With the offense struggling at the moment, it’s just frustrating to see them come away with one in what should’ve been a big inning.

 

Be honest, would you have been mad if Russell's ball had otherwise the same but several feet to the left and snuck through for a hit?

[Cubswin11]

JA Happ is getting traded, no team yet. We’ve been mentioned, I really don’t care for him

[squally1313]

If the point is: Cubs hitters haven't been performing well in big spots...he's got a point. Cubs overall wRC+ is 106, Cubs wRC+ in High Leverage situations is 72 (with RISP it's 91).

 

If the point is that this is somehow a skill that can and should be taught to otherwise very skilled and advanced hitters, then...no.

What’s league average in high leverage and RISP spots?

 

Also we give ourselves more chances than anyone in those spots because, you know, we are good and lead the league in OBP. So being a little below on average on that isn’t the worst thing/kinda expected.

 

High leverage: 90

RISP: 99

 

We've got the most PAs with RISP, 3rd most high leverage PAs. I guess I'd agree that through sheer volume we're able to overcome relative struggles, but I wouldn't say the struggles are expected.

[Brian]

please keep Goldy in the park

[Cubswin11]

If the point is: Cubs hitters haven't been performing well in big spots...he's got a point. Cubs overall wRC+ is 106, Cubs wRC+ in High Leverage situations is 72 (with RISP it's 91).

 

If the point is that this is somehow a skill that can and should be taught to otherwise very skilled and advanced hitters, then...no.

What’s league average in high leverage and RISP spots?

 

Also we give ourselves more chances than anyone in those spots because, you know, we are good and lead the league in OBP. So being a little below on average on that isn’t the worst thing/kinda expected.

 

High leverage: 90

RISP: 99

 

We've got the most PAs with RISP, 3rd most high leverage PAs. I guess I'd agree that through sheer volume we're able to overcome relative struggles, but I wouldn't say the struggles are expected.

Well I mean with the volume you’d assume maybe below league average rates because with how often we get in those spots if we were above league average we’d be averaging like 8-10 runs a game

[Bertz]

JA Happ is getting traded, no team yet. We’ve been mentioned, I really don’t care for him

 

I'm torn. I like Happ a lot, but I'm worried about cost and I'm a little worried about how similar he is to Quintana and Lester.

[Bertz]

This might have been Lester's best start of the year. I'd pull him and turn it over to the well rested pen.

[squally1313]

JA Happ is getting traded, no team yet. We’ve been mentioned, I really don’t care for him

 

I'm torn. I like Happ a lot, but I'm worried about cost and I'm a little worried about how similar he is to Quintana and Lester.

 

Yeah, Happ seems to be that undesirable middle ground between "rotation depth/literally not Tyler Chatwood" that we should be able to acquire for next to nothing and "this guy slots into our playoff rotation". I guess if they know Darvish is out for the year, Happ can be the fourth guy. But if everyone is healthy, Happ would be my fifth option going into October.

[Cubswin11]

JA Happ is getting traded, no team yet. We’ve been mentioned, I really don’t care for him

 

I'm torn. I like Happ a lot, but I'm worried about cost and I'm a little worried about how similar he is to Quintana and Lester.

Having 4 lefties in the rotation kinda irrationally worries me as well

[Andy]

I'm prepared to be proven wrong, but I saw a Tweet saying Happ's price was too high for some clubs, and if we can't get him for something approximating a bag of balls, I'd be surprised if Theo made the move.

[Brian]

JA Happ is getting traded, no team yet. We’ve been mentioned, I really don’t care for him

 

I'm torn. I like Happ a lot, but I'm worried about cost and I'm a little worried about how similar he is to Quintana and Lester.

Having 4 lefties in the rotation kinda irrationally worries me as well

 

No matter how bad people want the opposite, I'm pretty sure Monty is leaving the rotation before Chatwood.

[Cubswin11]

horsefeathers

[Bertz]

I roll my eyes at a lot of the Joe bullpen whining, but what the hell. 3 righties coming up, Lester at about 100 pitches, and basically everyone good but Cishek fully rested. Why did Lester start this inning?

[imb]

This might have been Lester's best start of the year. I'd pull him and turn it over to the well rested pen.

 

why do that when you can leave him out there to give up a game-tying homer for no reason

[squally1313]

Just following along on gameday/twitter, but seems like an awful quick hook for a wind aided HR. Guessing Jon wasn't too thrilled.

[squally1313]

Didn't realize he was already at around 100 pitches. Guess more confused on why that one AB made Joe change his mind.

[Cubswin11]

Just following along on gameday/twitter, but seems like an awful quick hook for a wind aided HR. Guessing Jon wasn't too thrilled.

He was good today, but at 100+ pitches. 3 righties coming up with a fully rest pen (outside of Cishek), he shouldn’t have started that inning. That ball was a HR most days.

[squally1313]

Just following along on gameday/twitter, but seems like an awful quick hook for a wind aided HR. Guessing Jon wasn't too thrilled.

He was good today, but at 100+ pitches. 3 righties coming up with a fully rest pen (outside of Cishek), he shouldn’t have started that inning. That ball was a HR most days.

Yeah, I get that reasoning. Given we have the Chatwood/Monty special the next two days, I guess I don't mind trying to squeeze one more inning out of him the way he was throwing.

[Cubswin11]

Just following along on gameday/twitter, but seems like an awful quick hook for a wind aided HR. Guessing Jon wasn't too thrilled.

He was good today, but at 100+ pitches. 3 righties coming up with a fully rest pen (outside of Cishek), he shouldn’t have started that inning. That ball was a HR most days.

Yeah, I get that reasoning. Given we have the Chatwood/Monty special the next two days, I guess I don't mind trying to squeeze one more inning out of him the way he was throwing.

I’m sure that was part of it, but up 1-0 do what it takes to win today. Figure out tomorrow/Friday when they happen.

[Cubswin11]

That’s a hell of a catch by Happ.

[squally1313]

He was good today, but at 100+ pitches. 3 righties coming up with a fully rest pen (outside of Cishek), he shouldn’t have started that inning. That ball was a HR most days.

Yeah, I get that reasoning. Given we have the Chatwood/Monty special the next two days, I guess I don't mind trying to squeeze one more inning out of him the way he was throwing.

I’m sure that was part of it, but up 1-0 do what it takes to win today. Figure out tomorrow/Friday when they happen.

Yeah, but with Morrow out and Cishek unavailable...you get an inning out of Carl and Strop. They've only got one lefty in the lineup...maybe their top PH is a lefty and you can use Wilson there, but a tired Lester pitching well is pretty close to Justin Wilson for me.

[Irrelevant Dude]

What is a Robbie Ray and why can't the Cubs hit him?

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Brian]

What the happened hell to Robbie Ray this year? He was a 5 win pitcher last year and is now below replacement level this year.

 

So you’re saying he’s going 7 innings with 3 hits and 10 k’s today?

 

Pretty Pretty Pretty close

[TMan92]

What is a Robbie Ray and why can't the Cubs hit him?

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

He is a good pitcher....in 2017

[squally1313]

And I'll fully admit to being a Statcast/Baseball Savant idiot, but they've got Pollock's home run with a 19% hit probability.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?game_pk=530931&type=exit_velocity&chart_view=pitch&chart_type=sbp&inning=&count=&batter_hand=&pitcher_hand=&filter=