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

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

Was thinking about this earlier, wouldn't it have been better to use someone other than Kittredge since they just saw him yesterday?

 

Yeah thats what I was just saying.  Ultimately, Craig is smarter at baseball than us and has access to more data that goes way beyond "those guys faced him yesterday, bad idea" so I'll trust it was the right call.

[JHBulls]

Note to self: Don’t fist pump outs. 

[UMFan83]

Stupid camera angle...for a half second I was tricked into thinking it might have a chance.

Edited October 1, 2025 by UMFan83

[UMFan83]

Repeat of yesterday.  Busch with a long fly out, Nico with a single

[Jason Ross]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

Yeah thats what I was just saying.  Ultimately, Craig is smarter at baseball than us and has access to more data that goes way beyond "those guys faced him yesterday, bad idea" so I'll trust it was the right call.

He's got a few starts as an opener under his belt. Probably felt the most comfortable going with the guy who's done it. 

Soroka probably the other option but Kittredge did well against Tatis and Arraez yesterday so I'd guess that coupled with experience made him the option.

[Manny Trillos Brother]

I'd like to see Cubs really run up Cease's pitch count. I know their "vaunted" pen is "great", but I'd love to get him out earlier than the Padres planned.

[chibears55]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

I know the feeling is going to be that the opener totally backfired, but it may not have entirely. The goal of an opener is to get your SP deeper into the game - in this instance when Shota would be facing Tatis and Machado for a third time it will still only be his second. 

Giving up a run certainly is not optimal, but I wouldn't classify it as a total bust if Shota gets 5 innings of good quality behind it. 

Not disagreeing but because the first 2 guys reached, Shota needs to shut them down in the 2nd and not allow the lineup to turnover again by allowing a couple baserunners. 

[UMFan83]

Happ has no chance vs Cease.  Not sure why he's batting 3rd

[Stratos]

Happer's been crapper

[Outshined_One]

Shoulda bunted.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Jason Ross said:

He's got a few starts as an opener under his belt. Probably felt the most comfortable going with the guy who's done it. 

Soroka probably the other option but Kittredge did well against Tatis and Arraez yesterday so I'd guess that coupled with experience made him the option.

Plus I'm assuming you want to save Soroka for potential multiple innings later in the game.

[soccer10k]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

Repeat of yesterday.  Busch with a long fly out, Nico with a single

Padres took a 1-0 lead. As long as the game ends the same way I’m good.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, chibears55 said:

Not disagreeing but because the first 2 guys reached, Shota needs to shut them down in the 2nd and not allow the lineup to turnover again by allowing a couple baserunners. 

He'll be facing 3 LHH who hit significantly worse against LHP. It's a good inning for him.

[Cubbies1996]

Cease has been awful on the road this year. He’s gonna dominate the Cubs today isn’t he? Lol

[Post Count Padder]

Happ working the count: great

Happ striking out: not great

[JHBulls]

Scoreless inning. Two long outs. 

[abuck1220]

is it the audio on the broadcast or amped up fans that make it sound like every flyball the cubs hit is 20 rows deep? 

[UMFan83]

xBA on Cubs batted balls that inning:

.470

.640

.370

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Cubbies1996 said:

Cease has been awful on the road this year. He’s gonna dominate the Cubs today isn’t he? Lol

I think most pitching is going to look pretty good today. The wind is going to knock most things down. 

[SpongeWorthy]

well at least kyle hit the ball hard

[Hortonhearsawho]

5 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

I'm fine with the opener.  A little concerned that he chose a guy who Tatis and Arraez both got to see 22 hours ago.

Yeah maybe opening with Rea or something might have worked out better. 

[Outshined_One]

Just now, JHBulls said:

Scoreless inning. Two long outs. 

They'll get to Cease; it's just a matter of when.

The bigger issue is going to be Shota keeping the ball in the park.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, abuck1220 said:

is it the audio on the broadcast or amped up fans that make it sound like every flyball the cubs hit is 20 rows deep? 

The Cubs have hits of: 99mph, 101 mph and 99mph. Fans are reacting to really hard hit balls. Wind is killing things today.

[UMFan83]

Just now, Cubbies1996 said:

Cease has been awful on the road this year. He’s gonna dominate the Cubs today isn’t he? Lol

He has been awful but from what I've seen his peripherals haven't changed that much.  Also Wrigley basically plays like Petco these days.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Hortonhearsawho said:

Yeah maybe opening with Rea or something might have worked out better. 

Rea is a much worse pitcher than Kittredge. If we're worried about the Padres seeing BP players two-days-in-a-row in a three game set, then we were already screwed.