Cubs-Padres Game Two Thread: Imanaga's Opener Is A Necessary Evil

[s2obed]

Shota would been my 3/4 guy on the depth chart. Ride the hot hand.

This was Jamo or Rea's game. 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, PeanutPunch33 said:

Lineup construction is not a dumb thing, otherwise the best hitters in baseball would be hitting at the bottom of the lineup instead of the top.  Clearly it means something to people who are in the business.  

Lineup construction does not matter. We literally have data from the last 20 years to prove it. As long as you generally have good hitters at the front of the lineup, whether Happ hits 3rd or 5th, it doesn't matter. It just doesn't. 

Also, you ignored the rest of that post. Should we tweet at the Guardians to bench Kwan because of 8 poor PA's? 

You are better than being an overreaction machine, Peanut. I know you. We can be emotional while also not throwing a fit because of 6 PA's. 

Here, I'll be emotional: Cousnel horsefeathered that inning up. If you're worried enough about Imanaga against Machado that you threw an opener, he should have brought in a RHP there.

[UMFan83]

Just now, s2obed said:

Shota would been my 3/4 guy on the depth chart. Ride the hot hand.

This was Jamo or Rea's game. 

Taillon would be on short rest since he started Saturday

[We Got The Whole 9]

Just an absolutely horrible location. He is not right.

[Hortonhearsawho]

*If* and this is a big if we make it through this series you have to leave Shota off the roster for the remainder of the playoffs he has nothing. 

[SparkMark1]

Yikes.  I go outside to get kids off bus and this happens

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, s2obed said:

Shota would been my 3/4 guy on the depth chart. Ride the hot hand.

This was Jamo or Rea's game. 

The Padres are, generally, really bad against LHP. The only two hitters you really have worry about are Machado and Tatis. 

Going with Imanaga second is the right call.

I'll give you this: I think he should have yanked him at that PA, however. That's the mess up. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Cannot believe he tried to squeeze another inning out of him. Devastating. 

[s2obed]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

Taillon would be on short rest since he started Saturday

Ah yea, I forgot that part. The Cade injury threw a wrench in the pitching plans unfortunately.

Edited October 1, 2025 by s2obed

[Brian707]

Just now, Hortonhearsawho said:

*If* and this is a big if we make it through this series you have to leave Shota off the roster for the remainder of the playoffs he has nothing. 

Come on now

[Stratos]

3 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

As well as Consell coached yesterday, he's been pretty miserable today. Kittridge as an opener, Happ facing Cease, leaving Shota in there to face the top of the line up again. All of it was foreseeable. 

Hindsight is 20/20.  And I'd rather have Happ in for the last half of the game than Castro or Alcantara.

[SpongeWorthy]

so glad jed couldn't "find the right deal" for a SP before the deadline

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

As well as Consell coached yesterday, he's been pretty miserable today. Kittridge as an opener, Happ facing Cease, leaving Shota in there to face the top of the line up again. All of it was foreseeable. 

I agree it was a mistake to keep Shoto in. I was shocked he didn’t go to the pen or walk Machado. Pen was my thought, however. As for Kittredge starting and Happ in the line up, I don’t have an issue with those decisions. 

Edited October 1, 2025 by Rcal10

[Dfan25]

Counsell managed a great game yesterday  , pitching to Machado there was an awful decision . Imanaga really isn’t throwing well .
 

Had Soroka up and he had two options . Bring Soroka againts Machado or walk Machado and get lefty lefty matchup . Chose the most awful out of all the options .

[Caesar]

Well if the can’t score more than 3 a game in the series they won’t win it so let’s see what happens. If they don’t score at least 4 in one of the remaining 2 games they are toast. 4 is the magic number 

[Stratos]

I'm not reading this forum for the rest of the game until the Cubs tie it up.   The doomers and gloomers are coming out. 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Yep, I was glooming yesterday. Feels like this is the Cubs' MO now. 

[UMFan83]

1 total unintentional walk by the Cubs offense in 13 innings this series.

[SpongeWorthy]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

The Padres are, generally, really bad against LHP. The only two hitters you really have worry about are Machado and Tatis. 

Going with Imanaga second is the right call.

I'll give you this: I think he should have yanked him at that PA, however. That's the mess up. 

i would simply construct a roster where you have a better option to attack a very flawed lineup in game 2 of a playoff series than a pitcher who has been downright bad for 2 months

[Rex Buckingham]

Gonna be hard to get back into this unless we can run into a HR

[UMFan83]

Tons of weak contact all series (with notable exceptions).  Just feels impossible the way they are swinging it right now to put together a rally much less score 3 runs.

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, SpongeWorthy said:

i would simply construct a roster where you have a better option to attack a very flawed lineup in game 2 of a playoff series than a pitcher who has been downright bad for 2 months

Well, it's October 1st. That's long gone. The Cubs would have had Justin Steele starting one of these games and Boyd the other but things happened. As well, the Cubs developed a roster that won 92 games. 

I have quibbles on the roster construction, but it's quibbles. I don't know what you wanted them to have realistically done at this stage. Imanaga was the correct call today. 

[JHBulls]

Machado is a massive FIGJAM.

[mul21]

3 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree on beeping Shoto in. I was shocked he didn’t go to the pen or walk Machado. Pen was my thought, however. As for Kittredge starting and Happ in the line up, I don’t have an issue with those decisions. 

First, his name is Shota.  You've gotten that wrong in like 20 consecutive posts.

I've hated almost everything Counsell has done today.  Kittredge facing the same part of the lineup he did yesterday was my beef there, not the use of an opener.  Letting Shota face Machado instead of a walk or a reliever was inexcusable.  There are literally 2 guys in their lineup who hurt LHP and you waved the white flag with one of them up.  The Happ thing wasn't a choice because of the Tucker injury, but his history against Cease would have certainly warranted a start for Mo, not his overall performance as a top 10 LF in the game for the last 7-8 years, in spite of what some of the idiots here who love bunts may say.

[Caesar]

The Cubs offense is what will lose them the series things don’t change quickly. Yesterday’s offense was terrible as well other than the 2 homers. The offense is letting them down .