7/26 - Cubs (Stroman) vs White Sox (Lynn): 7:10pm, Marquee

[Tryptamine]

edit

Edited July 26, 2023 by Tryptamine

[Derwood]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

I liked Len and Deshaies the most and Boog is growing on me, but there's a special place in my heart for Boog and Girardi. I just absolutely love how openly he dislikes Girardi. 

He really does, but its not worth listening to Girardi act like the smartest guy in the stadium all game for the couple of jabs Boog gets in

[Derwood]

Brewers won today, so Cubs need to win to keep pace

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, Derwood said:

Brewers won today, so Cubs need to win to keep pace

Alternate way of looking at that is the Cubs can get to 4.5 games out of the WC at a minimum with a win today.  DBacks also losing 1-0 but its early.  They'd also need the Phillies to lose tonight (I think) to finish the night 4 games out. 

Edited July 26, 2023 by UMFan83

[bukie]

30 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Alternate way of looking at that is the Cubs can get to 4.5 games out of the WC at a minimum with a win today.  DBacks also losing 1-0 but its early.  They'd also need the Phillies to lose tonight (I think) to finish the night 4 games out. 

Effectively, every win gains a game on half the league so a net half game gain on the league, and every loss loses a game on half the league so a net loss of half a game on the league.

To be in the wild card conversation, they'll need to gain 4-5 games on the league as things stand, so the Cubs will have to play 8-10 games over .500 for a stretch to be in the playoff hunt.

Alternatively, for the division, they just have to outplay 4 teams overall, so in a weak division, the potential is there to contend without being quite as good. In that sense, they need to gain on the Reds and Brewers now, so with them playing each other, the Cubs only gain by winning their own game.

[Derwood]

 

[UMFan83]

Barnhart has been better with the bat of late I guess (.799 OPS in his last 36 PA!) and understand they like his work behind the plate, but hate when he's in the lineup 2 days after an off day for a critical game especially when they have a catcher who is hitting much better than him this season and is seemingly appreciated behind the plate as well.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

Barnhart has been better with the bat of late I guess (.799 OPS in his last 36 PA!) and understand they like his work behind the plate, but hate when he's in the lineup 2 days after an off day for a critical game especially when they have a catcher who is hitting much better than him this season and is seemingly appreciated behind the plate as well.

I think there's a Stroman connection that may go above matchups/rest/form too.  For a while Barnhart was basically his personal catcher, and Stroman's recent dip in form does match fairly cleanly with Gomes catching him more in late June/July.

[PackLandVA]

Can the Cubs let Stroman bat and have Morel DH the catcher position?

[PackLandVA]

6 hours ago, bukie said:

Had the Sox broadcast on last night (we don't get Marquee and I'm in no hurry to order it a la carte), and Steve Stone was billing this matchup as "two of the league's premier pitchers"....which, in itself, is effectively a slider low and away.

In fairness, during the 8th inning he was also discussing how the Cubs were out of the race and almost certainly sellers, while the Sox were one good week away from turning this thing around and getting right back into the race.

Once Stone got the “Hawk funk” on him, he hasn’t been able to get it off. He is a shell of his former “baseball analyst”. And often his predictions are like a blind squirrel that eventually finds a nut. 

[Eeyore]

2 hours ago, bukie said:

Benetti is the best broadcaster the Sox have had since TV came out.

I barely remember the combination of Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall. '77-'81 on Channel 44 WSNS but they played mostly at night. They were fantastic. 

 

I watch the Sox when the Cubs aren't playing but I don't pay attention to the broadcast.

[Cubfanintheknow]

1 hour ago, Eeyore said:

I barely remember the combination of Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall. '77-'81 on Channel 44 WSNS but they played mostly at night. They were fantastic. 

 

I watch the Sox when the Cubs aren't playing but I don't pay attention to the broadcast.

I remember that combination as well. Caray was as much an entertainer as he was a play by play caller and Piersall was a total loose cannon. Good stuff.

[PeanutPunch33]

When Pat Hughes and JD call a game, it’s the best in the business imo.  

[Tryptamine]

Syndergaard for Amed Rosario was an interesting trade. If anyone can get Syndergaard right it's Cleveland. 

[Derwood]

Seem to be swinging through some meatballs in the heart of the plate

[Irrelevant Dude]

This is not ideal on multiple levels.

[Tryptamine]

Well this isn't good for their chances of winning or Stroman's trade value.

[UMFan83]

I know Stroman wants to stay here but he doesn’t have to torpedo his trade value to get what he wants. His ERA has gone up a full run over 5 starts

Edited July 27, 2023 by UMFan83

[Irrelevant Dude]

Runners on second and third for... Ugh.

[Derwood]

Nico heating up is a welcome sight

[UMFan83]

3 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Runners on second and third for... Ugh.

Ugh got the job done, somewhat

[UMFan83]

How concerned should we be that Ian Happ is hitting .202/.329/.318/.647 since mid-May? (237 PA).

[Derwood]

7 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

How concerned should we be that Ian Happ is hitting .202/.329/.318/.647 since mid-May? (237 PA).

Very. He seems to be swinging through everything

[Derwood]

The fudge was that?

[Irrelevant Dude]

Of course he scores after that