Padres-Cubs Wild Card Game One Thread, By The Numbers

23 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Bunting is not bad baseball, there is a reason it's been done for 100+ years.  The '16 Cubs did squeeze bunts and had massive success, if I recall Jason Heyward (fresh off his massive contract) bunted in the 8th or 9th inning against the Giants in that last game (although he didn't execute it properly, he was a bum) 

A bad result doesn't justify a bad process.  Ian Happ doesn't bunt because he's a veteran player who thinks it's above him.. and that's where the criticism comes in 

Do you think there's any takeaways from the fact that your one example from 9 years ago actually didn't work

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

It was a tournament. 

I didn't win

I didn't win the first round

You also created the tournament which made it even funnier.  But I do think that was part of the reason why you lost.

I think I lost to raw in the Sweet 16

2 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I thought we can count on Dansby to make errors late in the season and playoffs. Isn’t that what you said previously? So now you are saying his D will be there. So which is it? 

Take it easy. Playoff just started! You’re going to jinx him.

1 minute ago, Caesar said:

Take it easy. Playoff just started! You’re going to jinx him.

I never said he D sucks . I said he makes crucial errors on easy plays in big games. Today he did well but don’t get ahead of yourself. If he hits it will offset any errors. His bat has been a disappointment with the Cubs but if he gets hot than it’s easier to overlook the other mistakes. Remember you are bringing back up. If he makes a critical error make sure you bring it up to me like you’ve done. 

All the games today are tight pitching matchups.  Bullpens and defense really really matter. 

24 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Do you think there's any takeaways from the fact that your one example from 9 years ago actually didn't work

Yeah it's not like they didn't lay down a successful bunt in the world series that year, lmao.  Are you really suggesting that there have been 0 successful bunts in the last 9 years?  😂

Edited October 1, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

27 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

And totally not true. Do you think Happ refused to.bunt? Seriously that is ridiculous. As for Heyward, he hit .210 that year. He should have bunted. Merrill is a clean up hitter. True, the bunt has been around for 100 years, and less bunts occur every year. You know why? Because stats show it is not a correct move. You are right, a bad result doesn’t mean a bad process. Same with Happ. He hit the ball over 100mph and happened to hit into a double play. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right call and doesn’t mean he was selfish (complete nonsense statement) to have swung away. 

Okay, then pull up how many times Ian has bunted in his entire career as a Cub and lets re-discuss 

Well Greene went full on implosion

25 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

This was a 1-run game until what, the 7th inning.  If you think trying to squeeze out a run in a playoff game is a bad philosophy then I guess there's no further point in discussing.  Most skippers would disagree with you, including the one that won the most recent world series for the team we all root for 

Edited October 1, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

1 minute ago, Tryptamine said:

Well Greene went full on implosion

I have a bad feeling we're going to see a lot of this from the Dodgers.  They were like the Bulls just coasting through the regular season, waiting to turn it on again in the playoffs.

23 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

You also created the tournament which made it even funnier.  But I do think that was part of the reason why you lost.

I think I lost to raw in the Sweet 16

In retrospect, it was all I deserved

24 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

You also created the tournament which made it even funnier.  But I do think that was part of the reason why you lost.

I think I lost to raw in the Sweet 16

I opted out of that whole debacle before it started.

Best choice I ever made.

6 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Yeah it's not like they didn't lay down a successful bunt in game 7 of the world series, lmao.  Are you really suggesting that there have been 0 successful bunts in the last 9 years?  😂

I'm saying it's telling that the one example you chose to bring up wasn't even a successful bunt. Because it's not some like, combination of buttons you press to move the runners 90 feet and add an out to the board. There are legitimate reasons to not like even successful bunts. Outs are precious, Happ is very good hitter over his career who has been excellent in the last month. There's a reason why, since 1960, the ten years with the least amount of sacrifice hits league wide are all in the last 10 years.

But beyond that, they don't even work all the time! You could pop it up, you could one hop it to the catcher or the pitcher for an easy DP, they can get the lead runner, Happ could take a fastball off the face like the Guardians dude did last week. Miller was ready to come in and you had a chance with a good hitter against a less elite pitcher. It was a fine baseball decision before criticizing Happ's character or arrogance or whatever else you were doing in all your negative posts during the Cubs first playoff win in 8 years. 

1 hour ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Bunting is not bad baseball, there is a reason it's been done for 100+ years.  The '16 Cubs did squeeze bunts and had massive success, if I recall Jason Heyward (fresh off his massive contract) bunted in the 8th or 9th inning against the Giants in that last game (although he didn't execute it properly, he was a bum) 

A bad result doesn't justify a bad process.  Ian Happ doesn't bunt because he's a veteran player who thinks it's above him.. and that's where the criticism comes in 

Just because something has always been done a certain way is not a justification to keep doing it. Sometimes we figure out better ways to do things.

7 minutes ago, Derwood said:

In retrospect, it was all I deserved

To be fair, I think you lost because people thought it would be funny if the person who spent all this time putting together a 64 poster tournament would lose in the first round.

We were a mean bunch back then.  We still are now, but back then too

Edited October 1, 2025 by UMFan83

12 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Okay, then pull up how many times Ian has bunted in his entire career as a Cub and lets re-discuss 

Is this your attempt to suggest Happ plays selfish baseball? Because he doesn’t bunt? I honestly don’t know how many times he has tried bunting. But I am sure his arrogance or selfishness has nothing to do with him not bunting. And, again, bunting does not mean you are playing selfless, smart baseball. If has been proven time and time again that in many cases bunting is not the correct move. As an example, I was fine with Shaw bunting in the 8th. TBH, I would have been ok with Happ bunting when he came up with 2 on and no outs. But I wouldn’t ever say he didn’t because he was selfish and wasn’t playing smart team ball. He didn’t because Counsell didn’t want him to. 

10 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I'm saying it's telling that the one example you chose to bring up wasn't even a successful bunt. Because it's not some like, combination of buttons you press to move the runners 90 feet and add an out to the board. There are legitimate reasons to not like even successful bunts. Outs are precious, Happ is very good hitter over his career who has been excellent in the last month. There's a reason why, since 1960, the ten years with the least amount of sacrifice hits league wide are all in the last 10 years.

But beyond that, they don't even work all the time! You could pop it up, you could one hop it to the catcher or the pitcher for an easy DP, they can get the lead runner, Happ could take a fastball off the face like the Guardians dude did last week. Miller was ready to come in and you had a chance with a good hitter against a less elite pitcher. It was a fine baseball decision before criticizing Happ's character or arrogance or whatever else you were doing in all your negative posts during the Cubs first playoff win in 8 years. 

Those are fair points but the best team in baseball, Milwaukee, plays small ball.  You know who doesn't?  Craig Counsell, who has never won a ring and Milwaukee is just as good or better since he left.  I love CC and I get that analytics is his thing, but it doesn't mean that bunting doesn't have its place in baseball.  By the way, Ian Happ has 0 career bunts, a guy like Freddie Freeman who is a 1st ballot hall of famer has 2 career bunts.  So yes I do think it's fair to question if it's an entitlement issue with him.  That's who he thinks he is in his mind.  He's a decent player, a tick above average.  

Also, calling me negative every time we have a slight disagreement is lame dude, and comes across as dismissive.  I'm obviously thrilled the Cubs won, doesn't mean I can't provide minor constructive commentary about other things I want to see them doing 

Edited October 1, 2025 by PeanutPunch33

17 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

This was a 1-run game until what, the 7th inning.  If you think trying to squeeze out a run in a playoff game is a bad philosophy then I guess there's no further point in discussing.  Most skippers would disagree with you, including the one that won the most recent world series for the team we all root for 

Giving up an out to move a runner is almost always a net loss. You are cutting your chances to score before the inning even starts.

The numbers do not lie. In 1998 there were around 1,700 sacrifice bunts across the league. By 2019 that number dropped under 800. Position players are bunting even less. Managers learned it rarely increases win expectancy.

If bunting really worked, teams would still do it all the time. They do not. It only makes sense in very rare situations like a tie game in the ninth with a weak hitter up. Outside of that, modern baseball proves giving away outs is a mistake.

15 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

Just because something has always been done a certain way is not a justification to keep doing it. Sometimes we figure out better ways to do things.

True, I just want them to consider doing it occasionally and have some balance, it seems like this team never does it unless it's PCA trying to get on base

Didn’t think the Reds would offer much resistance, they’re punchless.  Dodgers would have rolled the Mets, though, the Mets would have been able trade some punches.

3 minutes ago, PeanutPunch33 said:

Those are fair points but the best team in baseball, Milwaukee, plays small ball.  You know who doesn't?  Craig Counsell, who has never won a ring and Milwaukee is just as good or better since he left.  I love CC and I get that analytics is his thing, but it doesn't mean that bunting doesn't have its place in baseball.  By the way, Ian Happ has 0 career bunts, a guy like Freddie Freeman who is a 1st ballot hall of famer has 2 career bunts.  So yes I do think it's fair to question if it's an entitlement issue with him.  That's who he thinks he is in his mind.  He's a decent player, a tick above average.  

Also, calling me negative every time we have a slight disagreement is lame dude, and comes across as dismissive.  I'm obviously thrilled the Cubs won, doesn't mean I can't provide minor constructive commentary about other things I want to see them doing 

• The Cubs had 57 more home runs than the Brewers did this year, all the advanced statistics say the Cubs had a better offense, the Brewers had 13 more runs than the Cubs over the course of the year, some would say that was because they did an extra sacrifice bunt every 10 games (they had 26 sacrifice hits to the Cubs 10), I would say it's more driven by them out BABIPing us by 23 points. 
• So if Ian Happ lays down 2 bunts next year you'd stop criticizing his character? It's completely baseless that this is specifically an Ian Happ decision and not a team philosophy. 
• Your first contribution to the game thread was calling them the most uninspiring 90 win team ever when they went down 1-0 in the second inning of the first game of the series. It's horsefeathers tiring and, for me, it costs you the benefit of the doubt that you're doing anything besides just bitching for the sake of bitching. 

4 hours ago, Bertz said:

Not the biggest fan of this but willing to let Craig prove me wrong

 

I like the idea given Shota's first inning troubles.  He'll get to miss Tatis etc

20 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Didn’t think the Reds would offer much resistance, they’re punchless.  Dodgers would have rolled the Mets, though, the Mets would have been able trade some punches.

Ridiculous that they're even in. 83 wins getting you in the playoffs is absurd.

I could see Ballesteros hitting for Shaw or the catcher late in the game tomorrow vs RHP.

Even if Tucker walks this winter Caissie seems like the odd man out next year unless there's an injury.