8/10 Nationals (Hellickson) @ Cubs (Hendricks), 1:20 PM CDT NBC Sports Chicago, MLBN

[Cubswin11]

Russell is absolute ass

[BigSlick]

these idiots don't even have a hit yet? pathetic

[CyHawk_Cub]

I simply can't grasp why Rizzo isn't getting AB's w/ runners on base with high OBP guys like the pitcher's spot & Addison Russell hitting in front of him. Edited August 10, 2018 by CyHawk_Cub

[Sammy Sofa]

Might be time for Joe to set a normal lineup moving forward. Rizzo batting 3rd/4th and pitcher batting 9th.

 

isn't the pitcher basically hitting 9th whenever Russell plays?

I'd rather some combination of Zobrist, Heyward and/or Baez bat in front of Rizzo instead of Russell/pitcher

 

Yeah, Baez ostensibly SHOULD be able to hack it as a middle of the order guy, but he's such a weird baseball freak that who knows. Give me Heyward-Zobrist-Rizzo-Baez 1-2-3-4 more often than not.

[squally1313]

 

Interesting. Thanks for pulling that.

3-4 in games starters went under 5 innings, but were 3-1 going in to the WS by my count (4-4 and 4-1 if you include Drone Boys bloody finger game). And those last 3 WS games vs us they went under 5 IP the SP were going on short rest, I believe. They weren't in the DS/CS games.

 

horsefeathers, I don't think the Cubs have 3 starters right now that even stack up to the 2016 Indians, and I think their bullpen would end up easily as cooked at minimum if they tried to bullpen it for a deep run this season. Hendricks is likely their best option, and he's essentially 2016 Bauer. Yeeeeeesh. The Cubs basically need Yu to come back as Classic Yu.

 

We obviously don't have a Corey Kluber, but Tomlin was and always has been hot garbage, and this was back when Bauer was trying to pitch with 3.5 fingers. It's obviously past the point of worrisome that none of Lester/Hendricks/Quintana has shown much sign of a rebound to career norms and we're coming up on the middle of August, but I'd take the best two of those three and Yu to line up against the Indians three.

 

The difference in bullpens is obviously that they had an Andrew Miller who could go multiple innings and dominate (he pitched the second most innings in the playoffs for Cleveland), whereas we have 3-5 guys who would probably be considered better than anyone else Cleveland had in the bullpen. It's going to fall on Maddon to press the right buttons multiple times in a game if we're going to need 4-5 innings out of the bullpen. Given his history....that's pretty concerning.

[Sammy Sofa]

3-4 in games starters went under 5 innings, but were 3-1 going in to the WS by my count (4-4 and 4-1 if you include Drone Boys bloody finger game). And those last 3 WS games vs us they went under 5 IP the SP were going on short rest, I believe. They weren't in the DS/CS games.

 

horsefeathers, I don't think the Cubs have 3 starters right now that even stack up to the 2016 Indians, and I think their bullpen would end up easily as cooked at minimum if they tried to bullpen it for a deep run this season. Hendricks is likely their best option, and he's essentially 2016 Bauer. Yeeeeeesh. The Cubs basically need Yu to come back as Classic Yu.

 

We obviously don't have a Corey Kluber, but Tomlin was and always has been hot garbage, and this was back when Bauer was trying to pitch with 3.5 fingers. It's obviously past the point of worrisome that none of Lester/Hendricks/Quintana has shown much sign of a rebound to career norms and we're coming up on the middle of August, but I'd take the best two of those three and Yu to line up against the Indians three.

 

The difference in bullpens is obviously that they had an Andrew Miller who could go multiple innings and dominate (he pitched the second most innings in the playoffs for Cleveland), whereas we have 3-5 guys who would probably be considered better than anyone else Cleveland had in the bullpen. It's going to fall on Maddon to press the right buttons multiple times in a game if we're going to need 4-5 innings out of the bullpen. Given his history....that's pretty concerning.

 

Dammit. You had me feeling a lot better until the end there.

[Sammy Sofa]

I really don't give a horsefeathers what Russell's overall statistical value is; all-glove players are even lamer than the shift.

[UMFan83]

these idiots don't even have a hit yet? pathetic

 

they dont even have a base runner since Rizzo led off the game with a walk. Getting mowed down.

[squally1313]

 

isn't the pitcher basically hitting 9th whenever Russell plays?

I'd rather some combination of Zobrist, Heyward and/or Baez bat in front of Rizzo instead of Russell/pitcher

 

Yeah, Baez ostensibly SHOULD be able to hack it as a middle of the order guy, but he's such a weird baseball freak that who knows. Give me Heyward-Zobrist-Rizzo-Baez 1-2-3-4 more often than not.

 

Zobrist

Contreras

Rizzo

Baez

Happ

Bote

Russell

Pitcher

Heyward

[Cubswin11]

 

isn't the pitcher basically hitting 9th whenever Russell plays?

I'd rather some combination of Zobrist, Heyward and/or Baez bat in front of Rizzo instead of Russell/pitcher

 

Yeah, Baez ostensibly SHOULD be able to hack it as a middle of the order guy, but he's such a weird baseball freak that who knows. Give me Heyward-Zobrist-Rizzo-Baez 1-2-3-4 more often than not.

I want Rizzo back in the middle of the order. Get Zobrist/Heyward/Schwarbs/OBP guys in front of him damn it. Stop the charade of Rizzo lead off hitter, joe

[Sammy Sofa]

Man; I got up to use the bathroom and refill a water bottle and this AB is STILL going.

[BigSlick]

thats a really cool at bat from Rizzo

 

it probably doesn't mean anything, but good for him

[Cubswin11]

 

horsefeathers, I don't think the Cubs have 3 starters right now that even stack up to the 2016 Indians, and I think their bullpen would end up easily as cooked at minimum if they tried to bullpen it for a deep run this season. Hendricks is likely their best option, and he's essentially 2016 Bauer. Yeeeeeesh. The Cubs basically need Yu to come back as Classic Yu.

 

We obviously don't have a Corey Kluber, but Tomlin was and always has been hot garbage, and this was back when Bauer was trying to pitch with 3.5 fingers. It's obviously past the point of worrisome that none of Lester/Hendricks/Quintana has shown much sign of a rebound to career norms and we're coming up on the middle of August, but I'd take the best two of those three and Yu to line up against the Indians three.

 

The difference in bullpens is obviously that they had an Andrew Miller who could go multiple innings and dominate (he pitched the second most innings in the playoffs for Cleveland), whereas we have 3-5 guys who would probably be considered better than anyone else Cleveland had in the bullpen. It's going to fall on Maddon to press the right buttons multiple times in a game if we're going to need 4-5 innings out of the bullpen. Given his history....that's pretty concerning.

 

Dammit. You had me feeling a lot better until the end there.

He still might screw up (likely will with the usage/situations) but at near full health there won’t be an awful/bad option in the pen in the playoffs. Joe won’t have a Rosario/Duensing/Bass etc to go to.

[squally1313]

Save us Jav

[NotSoSober]

There are kids playing in the LLWS right now that have better stuff than Hellickson. Baez won't tolerate this. Here comes a double down the RF line

[Sammy Sofa]

Uh-oh; 3-0 again...

[UMFan83]

Javy BBaez

[Sammy Sofa]

OH MY GOD.

[UMFan83]

Only 9 8 more balls and its a tie game

[Sammy Sofa]

I am going to will another heroic Heyward GS dong. It's gonna happen.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Here comes Almora..

[imb]

we're going to win the first 3-2 no-hitter in mlb history

[BigSlick]

huh. well if we scored, or even, god forbid, took the lead, that would be cool

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I am going to will another heroic Heyward GS dong. It's gonna happen.

 

Pinch hit Almora for him.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

huh. well if we scored, or even, god forbid, took the lead, that would be cool

 

I've seen nothing to indicate that will happen........unless we can get another walk.