Marlins (Luzardo/Munoz) vs Cubs (Assad/Imanaga): 4/20/24, 1:20pm/6:40pm

[ToolDRT]

1 minute ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Man these have been some painful losses. 

This. There’s losing and then there’s painful losses that could have been avoided. Oh well, let’s get them tonight. 

[Tryptamine]

I'm sure the 3 or 4 games they've blown already wont have an impact at all by the end of the season.

[LBiittner]

I'm fully willing to let canario go away and disappear and never put on a chicago cub uni ever more

[abuck1220]

10 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

 

As for pinch hitting for Canario, you aren't making yourself better by putting a LHH in there, even Bellinger.  

yeah I guess I would just very strongly disagree with that. 

[UMFan83]

9 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I'm sure the 3 or 4 games they've blown already wont have an impact at all by the end of the season.

I can’t think of any recent seasons where a few blown games had a dramatic impact on the outcome of the season. 

Edited April 20, 2024 by UMFan83

[chibears55]

20 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

we can talk about counsell all we want but the bottom line is they cheaped out on the pen and are getting what they deserve

Exactly,  and for this game specifically,  he had his 2 best late guys ready and available to get the final 6 outs with a lead and they didn't get the job done.

Also

This bullpen doesn't even sniff to the arms he had in Milwaukee to close out the final 2-3 innings.

[17 Seconds]

the funny thing is that their expected win loss is right where they are, based on rd

[Derwood]

Isn’t Bellinger hitting like .350 against lefties this year?

[spaincubsfan]

Well, that bit. Adbert sure hasn't been nails but like everyone has alluded to, who do you put in his place? We need Leiter in the setup role and the other pen arms can't throw strikes. The offense was really bad today but missing Happ & Suzuki is really detrimental, especially Suzuki.

[muntjack]

Bellinger for Canario was the right play if they wanted to win the game.  It felt like bunting with Amaya then staying with Canario was basically giving up 2 outs.  Big fan of Craig but that was terrible.

[Southpaw19]

[gantonson]

22 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Exactly,  and for this game specifically,  he had his 2 best late guys ready and available to get the final 6 outs with a lead and they didn't get the job done.

Also

This bullpen doesn't even sniff to the arms he had in Milwaukee to close out the final 2-3 innings.

Jed has given us NO real closer the past two years!  Alzolay is NOT a closer.  If he was up around 98/99 that would make his secondary stuff perhaps no as hittable.  But, when he does not have pinpoint command and falls behind, he gets hit hard - exhibit "3" A today.  Dammit.

[Brock Beauchamp]

5 minutes ago, gantonson said:

Jed has given us NO real closer the past two years!  Alzolay is NOT a closer.  If he was up around 98/99 that would make his secondary stuff perhaps no as hittable.  But, when he does not have pinpoint command and falls behind, he gets hit hard - exhibit "3" A today.  Dammit.

Welcome to NSBB!

[Rcal10]

35 minutes ago, muntjack said:

Bellinger for Canario was the right play if they wanted to win the game.  It felt like bunting with Amaya then staying with Canario was basically giving up 2 outs.  Big fan of Craig but that was terrible.

Why did it have to be Bellinger pinch hitting anyway. If you wanted a right handed bat who was very successful in big moments last year, why couldn’t Gomes pinch hit? At least he would be just trying to put the ball in play. 

[Irrelevant Dude]

I'll go against the grain and say that I think leaving Canario in was the right move there.  He didn't get the job done, but taking at bats against lefties is what he is supposed to do.  I just don't think bringing a left handed hitter off the bench to face a tough lefty pitcher was a realistic option.  And if you bring Gomes in there, MAYBE he gives the Cubs a fractionally better chance of getting the run(s) in, but what does that do for Canario's confidence?  I like that Counsell is giving unproven guys chances in situations like that, but it isn't always going to work out.  Unfortunately, this was one of those times.

I'm 50/50 on the bunt with the Amaya, but I absolutely understand why the Cubs did it and Amaya executed it perfectly.

[UMFan83]

5 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I'll go against the grain and say that I think leaving Canario in was the right move there.  He didn't get the job done, but taking at bats against lefties is what he is supposed to do.  I just don't think bringing a left handed hitter off the bench to face a tough lefty pitcher was a realistic option.  And if you bring Gomes in there, MAYBE he gives the Cubs a fractionally better chance of getting the run(s) in, but what does that do for Canario's confidence?  I like that Counsell is giving unproven guys chances in situations like that, but it isn't always going to work out.  Unfortunately, this was one of those times.

I'm 50/50 on the bunt with the Amaya, but I absolutely understand why the Cubs did it and Amaya executed it perfectly.

my stance is that bunting with Amaya is fine, hitting Canario is fine, doing both of those things seems like a waste of limited resources.

[Rcal10]

6 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

I'll go against the grain and say that I think leaving Canario in was the right move there.  He didn't get the job done, but taking at bats against lefties is what he is supposed to do.  I just don't think bringing a left handed hitter off the bench to face a tough lefty pitcher was a realistic option.  And if you bring Gomes in there, MAYBE he gives the Cubs a fractionally better chance of getting the run(s) in, but what does that do for Canario's confidence?  I like that Counsell is giving unproven guys chances in situations like that, but it isn't always going to work out.  Unfortunately, this was one of those times.

I'm 50/50 on the bunt with the Amaya, but I absolutely understand why the Cubs did it and Amaya executed it perfectly.

I don’t disagree with any of this. All I was trying to say is if Counsell did want to pinch hit it didn’t have to be a lefty. Gomes was available. 

[Andy]

29 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

my stance is that bunting with Amaya is fine, hitting Canario is fine, doing both of those things seems like a waste of limited resources.

Yeah if he'd let Amaya swing away and then he struck out, or even GIDP'd, Canario hitting would've made sense. If you're trying to maximize your chances of tying it up, that combination feels suboptimal. Amaya has done pretty well vs LHP in his career and, in a small sample, extremely well this year. I would've rather given them both a shot than just Canario.

[JHBulls]

Hopefully a solid 6 innings from Shota tonight. 

[PeanutPunch33]

The Cubs had Amaya bunt today despite 2 guys in front of him getting a knock, but the other day in Arizona, no bunt/squeeze play for Swanson when the Cubs had a 1 run lead in the 8th inning if I recall.  Just odd timing to call it today especially with Amaya swinging a hot stick lately..

Edited April 20, 2024 by PeanutPunch33

[LBiittner]

7 minutes ago, JHBulls said:

Hopefully a solid 6 innings from Shota tonight. 

6? Our bullpen would still have to pitch 3? 

[LBiittner]

Sure. Belli hits a Homer in his first at bat. He shoulda batted in the 9th last game. Can u imagine the Belli chants during his at bat?

[JHBulls]

10 minutes ago, LBiittner said:

6? Our bullpen would still have to pitch 3? 

Yeah, one of those weird things where fans always talk about a pitcher going 6 innings. Not 5, not 7, but 6. If Shota pitches a complete game, I wouldn’t complain. 

[PeanutPunch33]

Madrigal has been terrible lately..the true definition of a AAAA player..he'd have a .1000 ops in Iowa right now 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

12 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Madrigal has been terrible lately..the true definition of a AAAA player..he'd have a .1000 ops in Iowa right now 

Madrigal has 9 plate appearances in the last 2 weeks, including 5 today.