3/28 - Cubs (Steele) vs Rangers (Eovoldi): 6:35pm, ESPN

[KCCub]

 

Madrigal starting at 3b

[JBears79]

Oh good Madrigal is starting!

[Southpaw19]

Morel at DH and cleanup?
Madrigal starting opening day?
Um... I'm not sure about that... unless Madrigal rakes against Eovoldi, but I doubt it.

[UMFan83]

17 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

Madrigal starting at 3b

Very interesting to see....

Today's lineup with the number of times they hit in that spot of the order last year

1. Happ - 2 games (3rd was most common with 127 games)

2. Seiya - 13 games (4th was most common with 49 games)

3. Bellinger - 7 games (4th was most common with 83 games)

4. Morel - 3 games (7th was most common with 30 games)

5. Swanson - 62 games (2nd was most common at 68 gmaes)

6. Busch - N/A

7. Nico - 1 game (2nd was most common with 75 games)

8. Madrigal - 23 games (9th was most common at 49 games)

9. Gomes - 22 games (8th was most common at 50 games)

 

So not a single player in the opening day lineup started the most games at their current spot in the batting order last year, and only Swanson started more than 15% of last year's games at the same spot in the batting order that he is today.

Not a criticism at all, just interesting to see how different Counsell has them lined up than Ross did.

Edited March 28, 2024 by UMFan83

[Transmogrified Tiger]

One of Madrigal, Tauchman, or Mastrobuoni needs to start.  Against a high velo RHP with a GB heavy LHP on the mound, I don't see a huge issue with Madrigal at 3B and Morel DHing.  We've learned more about the team since then so we can probably strip Busch out of these and incorporate Mastrobuoni, but the matrix I threw together before ST would hold here. 

 

 

[Illiterate Scholar]

Eovaldi is a reverse splits guy so it's not a great matchup for Tauchman. And, well, left side infield defense is important behind Steele.

[chibears55]

22 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

Madrigal starting at 3b

I just dont get the love for Madrigal..

So much for giving Morel every opportunity to play 3B 🙄

[squally1313]

Just now, chibears55 said:

I just dont get the love for Madrigal..

So much for giving Morel every opportunity to play 3B 🙄

Seems like they did in the games that didn't matter. Now that they do...

[Southpaw19]

I have a feeling I'm going to have to remind myself to trust the process several times at the start of the season...

[Bertz]

Also even of Morel works out at 3B when a GB heavy lefty like Justin Steele is on the mound you probably want to aim higher than "adequate" for your 3B defense.

[CubinNY]

It’s fine. Opening night jitters ground ball pitcher. It’s one game. Madrigal may be out the first time he hits one in the gap trying to stretch a single. 

[ToolDRT]

I always look at this roster and wonder how the hell it’s as expensive as it is. 

[ToolDRT]

2 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Very interesting to see....

Today's lineup with the number of times they hit in that spot of the order last year

1. Happ - 2 games (3rd was most common with 127 games)

2. Seiya - 13 games (4th was most common with 49 games)

3. Bellinger - 7 games (4th was most common with 83 games)

4. Morel - 3 games (7th was most common with 30 games)

5. Swanson - 62 games (2nd was most common at 68 gmaes)

6. Busch - N/A

7. Nico - 1 game (2nd was most common with 75 games)

8. Madrigal - 23 games (9th was most common at 49 games)

9. Gomes - 22 games (8th was most common at 50 games)

 

So not a single player in the opening day lineup started the most games at their current spot in the batting order last year, and only Swanson started more than 15% of last year's games at the same spot in the batting order that he is today.

Not a criticism at all, just interesting to see how different Counsell has them lined up than Ross did.

Interesting post. I genuinely thought Nico lead off more than any other spot in the order last year. 

[chibears55]

2 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I always look at this roster and wonder how the hell it’s as expensive as it is. 

Overpay 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

I always look at this roster and wonder how the hell it’s as expensive as it is. 

A lack of pre-arb players, really. 

[CubinNY]

Getting fired up for baseball 

[Nolansomebody]

It’s so close!

So amped!

[UMFan83]

13 minutes ago, ToolDRT said:

Interesting post. I genuinely thought Nico lead off more than any other spot in the order last year. 

He actually played 1 less game where he led off. 75 games at 2 and 74 at 1

[Nolansomebody]

LETS PLAY SOME HORSEFEATHERIN’ BASEBALL

[ToolDRT]

I still hate you, Pudge! 🤣

[JHBulls]

Play ball ffs. 

[ToolDRT]

Would be absolutely huge for this team if Seiya takes it to the next level. Suzuki and Busch are x factors for me this season. 

Edited March 28, 2024 by ToolDRT

[muntjack]

So no legal way to watch this without cable.  Ech. I hate paying so much for mlb.tv and being unable to watch opening day. 

[UMFan83]

Happ absolutely tried to recreate his first pitch HR there

[UMFan83]

Crushed 2 balls. Bad BABIP luck already