7/16 - Red Sox (Crawford) vs Cubs (Steele): 1:20pm, Marquee

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Cubs put Justin Steele on the mound in hopes of securing a series win against the enigmatic Red Sox because after today, it's 13 consecutive games against teams 14+ games under .500. If the Cubs are going to make a run, now is the time.

[Wilson A2000]

Why are Mancini and Mastrobuoni in the starting lineup today?

[Nolansomebody]

Just now, Wilson A2000 said:

Why are Mancini and Mastrobuoni in the starting lineup today?

Because...

Actually, that doesn't make any sense at all

[Derwood]

24 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Why are Mancini and Mastrobuoni in the starting lineup today?

If you add their OPS together you might get one Devers 

[Wilson A2000]

If the Cubs want to win these must-win games over the next two weeks, how can you not play Amaya and Wisdom over the alternatives that Ross is putting out today?

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Why are Mancini and Mastrobuoni in the starting lineup today?

Cubs really want Mastrobuoni to get that 2nd RBI this year

[Tryptamine]

I'm convinced there is some vendetta against Amaya. 

 

[Derwood]

5 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm convinced there is some vendetta against Amaya. 

 

Amaya is getting the Mervis treatment, only Amaya is actually tearing the cover off the ball

[Irrelevant Dude]

31 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm convinced there is some vendetta against Amaya. 

 

I'm more confused by what anyone sees in Mastrobuoni.  Bote is bad, but he is a significantly better baseball player than Mastrobuoni.

[Tryptamine]

16 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Amaya is getting the Mervis treatment, only Amaya is actually tearing the cover off the ball

A catcher putting up a 138 wRC+ on the season and is on pace for 4.3 fWAR per 162, but has played on back to back days once since June 11th.  Meanwhile Mancini has posted a 78 wRC+.

PA Since June 1st

Mancini- 65

Barnhart- 39

Gomes- 83

Amaya- 56

 

[Tryptamine]

Good thing the struggling hitter was in the clean up spot and not the guy who is torching everything. 

[muntjack]

Damn Mancini did not look good in that PA. Swung and missed at ball one, fouled off a 4-seam strike, then missed badly on a mediocre breaking ball that ended in the middle of the zone. 

[Andy]

6 minutes ago, muntjack said:

Damn Mancini did not look good in that PA. Swung and missed at ball one, fouled off a 4-seam strike, then missed badly on a mediocre breaking ball that ended in the middle of the zone. 

Amaya could never deliver such a professional AB

[Tryptamine]

Why the hell are you trying to steal 2B on a 3-0 count with no outs?

[Rex Buckingham]

got lucky on that review

[Andy]

Just now, Rex Buckingham said:

got lucky on that review

Lucky that Chang didn't catch the ball cleanly. It was probably the right call to let it stand but very close.

[Tryptamine]

Another Nico K

[Tryptamine]

Cobs

[UMFan83]

Nothing like getting 1st and 2nd and 0 outs in 2 of the first 3 innings and then striking out followed by a GIDP both times

[Rex Buckingham]

Happ looked like he wasn't moving too fast after that ball

[Tryptamine]

Nico really lighting the world on fire

[Tryptamine]

1 minute ago, Rex Buckingham said:

Happ looked like he wasn't moving too fast after that ball

They never showed it, but I thought the same thing. He couldn't have been going very hard to allow Devers to get to 2B. 

[Rex Buckingham]

4 minutes ago, Rex Buckingham said:

Happ looked like he wasn't moving too fast after that ball

made up for it with that throw!

[Irrelevant Dude]

Ok, back to sell mode I guess.

[UMFan83]

Some wRC+ in July:

Bellinger - 268

Barnhart - 151

Amaya - 149

Morel - 114

Seiya - 91

Wisdom - 81

Gomes - 80

Happ - 71

Swanson - 53

Tauchman - 47

Mancini - 42

Hoerner -  -2

Young - -4