Cubs (TBD) vs Mets (McLean/Manaea): 6/24/26, 12:10pm/6:10pm

[Stratos]

4 hours ago, mul21 said:

I don't know, feels like him missing his spots is really the issue.  The one Alvarez hit was 4" above the zone and both Ewing and Vientos hit pitches that were down the middle and not anywhere near where he wanted them.

Honestly that's been a big issue i agree.   Either putting the fb in a bad spot over the plate or the split hanging in the middle of the plate.  So he has lots of potential to improve.  He was nails in April if I recall correctly.

[Stratos]

54 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

That has been my belief for a long time as well  I think he needs to pitch more on the outside part of the plate against righties .

 If he can locate low and away , home runs should go down . I think at times he gets fastball happy as well and forgets his splitter . Everybody knew he was going to allow home runs , but it has gotten out of control 

He was barely throwing the split early yesterday, which was weird.  Maybe he didn't have the feel?

Edited Thursday at 08:53 PM by Stratos

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

Yes as i said, I do understand the logic of why they have him throw up in the zone with his FB.

I agree it would probably reduce whiffs on the fb, but it might also reduce his FB%, barrel rate, and HR/9. Maybe it doesn't, but why not try it out?  They can always goo back to his current usage.  His FB is getting pummeled.

It's already riding directly into the barrel.  Since last July Shota has the worst barrel%, FB%, and HR/9 in baseball.  It also seems like a terrible idea to keep doing the same thing.   The odds of those stats getting worse are pretty low.   But maybe they do get worse?  They could also improve.  I'm just saying it's worth trying.

It's not worth trying. You'd both limit whiffs and increase HR%. Here's your league data on pitchers 93mph (fastball only) and less at the bottom of the zone (including chase) and at the top of the zone:

Bottom of the zone: xBA - .303, xSLG,  -.491 whiff% 20.1%
Top of the zone: xBA - .244, xSLG  - .431 whiff% 23.9%

If we eliminate the chase zones (same metrics in the same order):

Bottom: .316, ..515 15.1%
Top: .256, .456, 21.6%

To recap: throwing fastballs at 93mph in the bottom third of the zone is categorically worse across the board. No, we do not need to try it. It would absolutely make his issues worse.

[We Got The Whole 9]

8 hours ago, Derwood said:

Dansby on 6/17: .176/.280/.318

Dansby on 6/25: .202/.303/.385

Slash line over the last 5 games: .526/.565/1.211

 

Mendoza said it plainly; they just didnt execute vs him. A lot of relative meatballs. The offspeed and breaking are going to be laid on pretty thick again I would think. We will see if he can do any damage against that.