8/12/18 Cubs(Hamels) vs Nationals(Scherzer) 7:05PM ESPN

[itisallpartoftheplan]

My turn for the game thread!! Who pitches vs the Cubs....

 

The last time we saw Max we bombarded him with Chili’s favorite inning of all time. That’s when he knew he needed to be the Cubs hitting coach.

 

 

 

But horsefeathers that horsefeathers. I’m tired of hoping for 3 singles. Give me the bloop and a blast. Bring me the DONGS.

https://youtu.be/x-4e5qBvC-U

 

Make Chili angry and more importantly win!

[UMFan83]

This will be Hamels Cubs coming out party. Predicting a big night, something like 5.1 IP 3 ER. At least 1 Cub will hit it to the warning track.

 

Don’t hate me for being an optimist

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Cobs have a -25 run differential over their last 22 games. They are 11-11 in that stretch, but that's only because they've been propped up by good fortune in one-run games. They are 3-8 in games decided by 4+ runs in that stretch, versus 6-1 in games decided by 2 or fewer runs.

 

They've had a *really* bad stretch being propped up by sequencing luck to make it look like they're treading water. Which doesn't mean they can't start a hot streak tomorrow or something.

[Andy]

My friend and I decided to do the Chicago double tomorrow so maybe between them we'll see a local team win

[PackLandVA]

Not certain which instills less confidence - a previous Chatsuck start. Or facing Scherzer. A push, I guess.

[Gilby]

The Cubs have a surprising amount of hitters with good numbers against Scherzer.

[PackLandVA]

The Cubs have a surprising amount of hitters with good numbers against Scherzer.

 

But those numbers are from years past. This years Cubs hitters are not really hitting like Cubs hitters of the past, with the exception of Javy (better than in the past).

 

Of course, with their Jeckyll and Hyde outputs this year, they’ll probably chase Max in the fifth inning.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

It's not even posted yet, but I already hate the construction of the lineup. Can we go back to a normal looking one just so it doesn't like as depressing? Like maybe Zobrist, Baez, Rizzo, Schwarbs and Willy as our 1-5?

[itisallpartoftheplan]

[bcl412]

I think karma owes the Cubs franchise a run in the playoffs they have no business making so hope that happens...or just get their horsefeathers together and dominate these other teams

[Derwood]

What did Contreras do to piss Joe off?

[UMFan83]

Wait what in the horsefeathering hell? Almora has struggled against righties in his career (and struggled against everyone lately, 495 OPS since July 1) so he’s in the lineup against one of the most dominant pitchers against righties this decade...AND HE IS HITTING 5TH?

 

Joe is the oldest manager in baseball...should we be concerned?

[CyHawk_Cub]

Maddon is deteriorating before out eyes.

 

Anyway, Heyward/Almora in the middle of the order. :woof:

[itisallpartoftheplan]

What did Contreras do to piss Joe off?

 

He puts him there to get on base in front of Rizzo. He wants Contreras and Russell to get on for Rizzo.

 

He used leadoff to break Rizzo’s slump now he doesn’t think Rizzo’s a mature enough hitter to resume hitting 3 or 4 again.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Joe just keeps forgetting russell has no idea how to get on base

[Derwood]

Joe just keeps forgetting russell has no idea how to get on base

 

.580 OPS since the ASB (.301 OBP, .279 SLG)

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Wait what in the horsefeathering hell? Almora has struggled against righties in his career (and struggled against everyone lately, 495 OPS since July 1) so he’s in the lineup against one of the most dominant pitchers against righties this decade...AND HE IS HITTING 5TH?

 

Joe is the oldest manager in baseball...should we be concerned?

 

Scherzer has never gotten Almora out.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Almora crushes fastballs from righties, specifically 4-seam fastballs, more specifically 4-seam fastballs up, and most specifically 4-seam fastballs up at elite velocity.

 

 

 

I think it's a good matchup for him. Scherzer throws a lot of fastballs and loves working up. Basically no one is a good matchup against Scherzer, but this is one specific skill that Almora has that might come in handy. Somehow.

Edited August 12, 2018 by Duke Silver

[r_mack]

I'm not an Almora fan but one of Almora's strengths is hitting velocity.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Oh my god I agree with r_mack.

 

[CyHawk_Cub]

Oh my god I agree with r_mack.

 

[Cubswin11]

Oh my god I agree with r_mack.

 

http://gifimage.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/how-the-turntables-gif-3.gif

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Albert will go 0-4 and see a total of 2 pitches

[UMFan83]

Almora crushes fastballs from righties, specifically 4-seam fastballs, more specifically 4-seam fastballs up, and most specifically 4-seam fastballs up at elite velocity.

 

 

 

I think it's a good matchup for him. Scherzer throws a lot of fastballs and loves working up. Basically no one is a good matchup against Scherzer, but this is one specific skill that Almora has that might come in handy. Somehow.

 

Thanks for that. that should earn him a spot in the lineup, but 5th? I guess the heart of the order is now the bottom of the order in Joe’s twisted world

Edited August 12, 2018 by UMFan83

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Wait what in the horsefeathering hell? Almora has struggled against righties in his career (and struggled against everyone lately, 495 OPS since July 1) so he’s in the lineup against one of the most dominant pitchers against righties this decade...AND HE IS HITTING 5TH?

 

Joe is the oldest manager in baseball...should we be concerned?

 

Scherzer has never gotten Almora out.

 

Fine. Since nobody asked, he has never gotten him out in 0 career at bats.