9/16 Indians(Civale) @Cubs(Lester) 7:15 MSN

[PackLandVA]

When was Schwarber's last hit?

 

He's something like 1 for his last 25

 

He started September 4 for 15. He's now 5 for 42. So that 1 for 27 clip is, ummm,

 

[champaignchris]

Cubs are 17-17 since the 13-3 start

 

They were 5.5 games up in the division then and are 5.5 games up in the division now.

[Brian]

does this dude have crazy splits or what, weird pulling the 2 guys that just had nice hits the last time up

 

oh he in fact has reverse splits so the dumb moves were even dumber that they first appeared

[UMFan83]

So once again Theo has turned a pile of cast offs into a serviceable bullpen. After all the near blown games early in the year, the pen has been legit good since then and possibly even a strength heading into the playoffs. There are things I can criticize Theo/FO for but figuring out a bullpen is not one of them

 

How good has the pen been? Since August 23rd they have the 3rd best WAR in baseball as a unit

Edited September 17, 2020 by UMFan83

[squally1313]

Saw something about Lester being emotional post game because he knew it could be his last start at wrigley, which really dampened my happiness from the win. Hopefully we get a chance to give him the ovation he deserves at some point soon.

[Brian]

Did not even think about this

 

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At this point I don't think he gets a start in the wild card round and that would be the last Wrigley games (assuming no collapse upcoming)

[UMFan83]

Did not even think about this

 

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At this point I don't think he gets a start in the wild card round and that would be the last Wrigley games (assuming no collapse upcoming)

 

Who do you think would be the Cubs 3rd starter in the Wild Card round? Mills?

[soccer10k]

Did not even think about this

 

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At this point I don't think he gets a start in the wild card round and that would be the last Wrigley games (assuming no collapse upcoming)

 

You think Ross would go Mills over Lester in Game 3 if we played it?

[Brian]

If Mills keeps rolling I think you have to go with him, my heart says Lester in the big game though.

 

 

How about Yu and Kyle take care of business and the decision doesn't have to be made.

[Brian]

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[David]

i'm sad

 

feels like yesterday i was at his debut with no bleachers and fans pissing in their beer cups

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

If Mills keeps rolling I think you have to go with him

I mean, I'm a cold-hearted automaton, and I'm pretty sure that's not right.

[itisallpartoftheplan]

i'm sad

 

feels like yesterday i was at his debut with no bleachers and fans pissing in their beer cups

 

And Soler nailed that Red at third after Lester’s bad pick off throw.

 

Funny how that never became an issue because Ross and Lester then eventually Willy and Lester.

 

Also gave us the great pick-off of Tommy Pham aided by McCarvers announcing!!

[soccer10k]

If Mills keeps rolling I think you have to go with him, my heart says Lester in the big game though.

 

 

How about Yu and Kyle take care of business and the decision doesn't have to be made.

 

The latter works for me.

 

If it does go 3 games, I feel like Ross will justify it with Lester being a proven vet who has shown up in big games before. I'm torn. Mills has obviously been the better pitcher this year and Lester clearly isn't wasn't what he once was, but Mills doesn't have any playoff experience. I would hope, whoever Ross would choose if we play a Game 3, that he has a quick hook.

[Bertz]

So once again Theo has turned a pile of cast offs into a serviceable bullpen. After all the near blown games early in the year, the pen has been legit good since then and possibly even a strength heading into the playoffs. There are things I can criticize Theo/FO for but figuring out a bullpen is not one of them

 

How good has the pen been? Since August 23rd they have the 3rd best WAR in baseball as a unit

 

It's deep too, which is important with the no offdays playoffs this year. In that context I'd rather have 6-7 good relievers than 2-3 awesome relievers.

 

And for Game 3 of the Wildcard round I'd lean on the pen. Give Lester (or hopefully Q by then?) three innings and then go with the parade of relievers.

[stitchface]

bad luck that Happ had to go back to 2b on that

 

 

 

bad read by Happ. He should have scored. Baez, Heyward, others score on that. There is zero chance he gets thrown out at third if Lindor gets to that because he has to go so far to his left - runner on second should be able to read that.

[squally1313]

So once again Theo has turned a pile of cast offs into a serviceable bullpen. After all the near blown games early in the year, the pen has been legit good since then and possibly even a strength heading into the playoffs. There are things I can criticize Theo/FO for but figuring out a bullpen is not one of them

 

How good has the pen been? Since August 23rd they have the 3rd best WAR in baseball as a unit

 

It's deep too, which is important with the no offdays playoffs this year. In that context I'd rather have 6-7 good relievers than 2-3 awesome relievers.

 

And for Game 3 of the Wildcard round I'd lean on the pen. Give Lester (or hopefully Q by then?) three innings and then go with the parade of relievers.

 

I think you build up Q with the intention that he’s going to get, at most, one time through the lineup. As weird as it sounds, Lester and Mills are in a competition for that #3 spot. Might end up being match up based, but they’ve both put up impressive outings lately.

 

Here’s a dumb idea: Darvish goes out and wins game 1...do you save Hendricks and hope you win game 2 without him?

[squally1313]

bad luck that Happ had to go back to 2b on that

 

 

 

bad read by Happ. He should have scored. Baez, Heyward, others score on that. There is zero chance he gets thrown out at third if Lindor gets to that because he has to go so far to his left - runner on second should be able to read that.

 

Nobody out changes that a lot. What’s the probability of scoring 1 run with, essentially, the bases loaded nobody out? Because you need to be more sure than that of A. Not getting thrown out by Lindor, and B. Not getting thrown out at home.

[stitchface]

bad luck that Happ had to go back to 2b on that

 

 

 

bad read by Happ. He should have scored. Baez, Heyward, others score on that. There is zero chance he gets thrown out at third if Lindor gets to that because he has to go so far to his left - runner on second should be able to read that.

 

Nobody out changes that a lot. What’s the probability of scoring 1 run with, essentially, the bases loaded nobody out? Because you need to be more sure than that of A. Not getting thrown out by Lindor, and B. Not getting thrown out at home.

 

 

well, those weren't the scenarios but that's exactly my point. He made those calculations incorrectly and could have cost his team the game.

[Brian]

Doesn't seem to be thinking about hanging it up.

 

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[UMFan83]

So once again Theo has turned a pile of cast offs into a serviceable bullpen. After all the near blown games early in the year, the pen has been legit good since then and possibly even a strength heading into the playoffs. There are things I can criticize Theo/FO for but figuring out a bullpen is not one of them

 

How good has the pen been? Since August 23rd they have the 3rd best WAR in baseball as a unit

 

It's deep too, which is important with the no offdays playoffs this year. In that context I'd rather have 6-7 good relievers than 2-3 awesome relievers.

 

And for Game 3 of the Wildcard round I'd lean on the pen. Give Lester (or hopefully Q by then?) three innings and then go with the parade of relievers.

 

I think you build up Q with the intention that he’s going to get, at most, one time through the lineup. As weird as it sounds, Lester and Mills are in a competition for that #3 spot. Might end up being match up based, but they’ve both put up impressive outings lately.

 

Here’s a dumb idea: Darvish goes out and wins game 1...do you save Hendricks and hope you win game 2 without him?

 

No I don't think so. I can see the appeal of making sure Hendricks starts game 1 of the NLDS, thus giving you the option of starting him in Game 5 on 3 days rest but I'd rather get there first and figure it out. If you win Game 2, you have 3 full off days before Game 1 of the NLDS so you can start your Wild Card G1 starter in G1 of the NLDS if you want. It's going to be interesting to see how teams approach Game 5 of the NLDS with no off days. Either you start your ace on short rest, your 5th starter, or perhaps a bullpen game.

[UMFan83]

Doesn't seem to be thinking about hanging it up.

 

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I would take Lester back at a discount in 2020. Like 1 year $8m or something. The Cubs have to replace him, Chatwood and Quintana (though obviously they've made due without the later 2 all season), but if we can get Lester back on a discount we may be able to afford a TOR caliber starter as well.

[Brian]

The Jon Lester market is interesting to think about.

 

Cole Hamels got 18 million last off season. They are about 10 days apart in age, so Jon is hitting this fee agency 1 year old than when Cole got 18, and of course this will be mid Covid. Considering the Cubs will be paying him 10 million already, I can see a hope for a scenario where somewhere around 5 million with incentives could do the trick.

[soccer10k]

 

It's deep too, which is important with the no offdays playoffs this year. In that context I'd rather have 6-7 good relievers than 2-3 awesome relievers.

 

And for Game 3 of the Wildcard round I'd lean on the pen. Give Lester (or hopefully Q by then?) three innings and then go with the parade of relievers.

 

I think you build up Q with the intention that he’s going to get, at most, one time through the lineup. As weird as it sounds, Lester and Mills are in a competition for that #3 spot. Might end up being match up based, but they’ve both put up impressive outings lately.

 

Here’s a dumb idea: Darvish goes out and wins game 1...do you save Hendricks and hope you win game 2 without him?

 

No I don't think so. I can see the appeal of making sure Hendricks starts game 1 of the NLDS, thus giving you the option of starting him in Game 5 on 3 days rest but I'd rather get there first and figure it out. If you win Game 2, you have 3 full off days before Game 1 of the NLDS so you can start your Wild Card G1 starter in G1 of the NLDS if you want. It's going to be interesting to see how teams approach Game 5 of the NLDS with no off days. Either you start your ace on short rest, your 5th starter, or perhaps a bullpen game.

 

Yeah, the extra days off make a difference. Your WC Game 1 starter would be ok 5 days rest going into G1 of the NLDS so the same would be the case for G2. Even if there was only 1 day off between G3 of the WC round and G1 of the NLDS, you do what you need to do to advance and worry about the next round if you get there.