USSoccer
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Everything posted by USSoccer
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Well that was terrible
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The cool thing about dodgers fans is that in a few months they can go back to pretending to be Lakers fans.
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Oh my lord they have "fly emirates" on the foul poles?
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So since it's the playoffs do Dodger fans arrive in the 2nd and stick around til the 7th?
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Maybe he liked the idea of RRRLRRRL in the lineup, with the ability to shift to LRLL at the top of the order if a RH comes in? It's odd because he's resisted moving Bryzzo 2-3 all season and has said how much he likes Zo as protection. Maybe with as well as Javy's been hitting he deems him to be suitable protection for Rizzo because I don't think any opponent is excited about pitching to Javy right now. Its not like Zobrist is hitting the crap out of the ball either.
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I just realized he also flipped Zobrist and Rizzo. What an odd decision.
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My plan is to talk about how terrible he is until game time and then when he shows up for the first time in 7 weeks and hits a big HR and doesn't cost us by being a folding chair with a glove on the seat in RF, so everyone can quote my posts ripping on him and call me an idiot.
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Hope they don't hit a lot of flyballs to right...
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I mean for what it's worth Cobs bunt attempts this postseason have been pretty bad but whatever
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I'll have to remember who that is when I read about NBA draft washouts in 4 years.
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But you're still having to deal with bad defense for half the game in that scenario. Given the size of the park, it's effect on power numbers in general and the massive difference in defense between Soler and Heyward I just can't see how it makes any sense to start Soler. If you're that concerned about Heyward v LHP, that you want to start a RHH, you're almost better off starting Almora. Almora would be preferable to Heyward and his .586 OPS against LHP this year, because since you're already starting Montero against a LHP for defense and you can't punt the entire bottom 3rd of the order for defensive purposes. I'd still rather Soler hit because I don't trust Almora at the plate at all, and knowing what you want to do with Soler going in means you can maximize the upside while minimzing the downside. The last game was a perfect example, he got 4 plate appearances and had one fly ball hit his way. Against leftypalooza you can probably similarly hide him in LF with similar outcomes. I'm not 100% sure if I'd put him as high in the lineup because that puts you in a tricky late innings spot where Rizzo could be pitched around to get to Heyward/Almora, but we're splitting hairs at that point. Are we sure Montero will be catching?
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I thought that ball was crushed to the point that I jumped up. And then felt dumb when it wasn't even a medium fly ball.
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Assuming he's hitting and healthy, sure, but he's not hitting, and he's terrible defensively, and we're playing in a park with a very large OF. You are basing him not hitting on 6 playoff ABs - one start and 3 PH appearances? He was bad in September, but I'm mostly basing my stance on his defense. Nah. Soler is really really bad defensively. There's no overstating it. Soler is bad defensively and probably worse than a healthy Schwarber, but the last page or so definitely proves it can be overstated. Especially in this case where he can easily be pulled after his 2nd/3rd at bat to minimize time in the field. But you're still having to deal with bad defense for half the game in that scenario. Given the size of the park, it's effect on power numbers in general and the massive difference in defense between Soler and Heyward I just can't see how it makes any sense to start Soler. If you're that concerned about Heyward v LHP, that you want to start a RHH, you're almost better off starting Almora.
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Why do you say such horrifying things when I'm about to eat my lunch. The 5th best hitter on the best offense in baseball is objectively valuable. Assuming he's hitting and healthy, sure, but he's not hitting, and he's terrible defensively, and we're playing in a park with a very large OF.
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In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe. But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters. Does this broom also grab a bat in Heyward's spot when facing LHP? The argument is whether the downgrade in defense is worth a 200+ OPS bump on offense. Maybe its silly to overreact when guys are slumping but we've all read the articles about how Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are hitting a combined .110 in the playoffs this year. If you are looking for an offensive boost, replacing Heyward with Soler is definitely a legitimate option. I thought I'd get more flack for benching Russell in my overreaction lineup. If the assumption is that none of Fowler, Rizzo, Zobrist and Russell are going to start hitting, sure, but I'd rather bank on the guys who were consistently good all year coming good as opposed to counting on Soler not giving back whatever he might give you at the plate in the field.
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In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe. But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters. I think that's overstating Solers defensive deficiency. He's better than Schwarber was defensively and has a solid throwing arm. He's no Heyward but nobody is. Hanging your hat on him being better defensively than the lug of a catcher we put in LF because he's an awesome hitter isn't really a point in Soler's favor.
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In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe. But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters. well so does the fact that we might as well have the same at the plate when heyward is up. what is this team missing more right now hitting or defense Fair enough point, but if runs are going to be at a premium I'd rather take my chances that Rizzo and Russell and to a slightly lesser extent Zobrist stop being useless as opposed to hoping that Soler doesn't spike himself Wong-style trying to catch a fly ball.
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Soler was objectively the 5th best hitter on the team this season, despite the overreacting to a 6 PA sample in this year's playoffs. In between 2 month stints on the DL, sure, maybe. But the fact that we may as well play with 2 OF and a broom with a glove on it propped up in LF when he's out there sort of matters.
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Hill is just as likely to be pitchcounted by the 5th or leave in the 2nd with blisters as he is to shut down the office for 6+. I get that Arrieta hasn't had a dominant year but I'd still rather have the guy who's demonstrated an ability to shut down teams and go deep in games against the guy who's been basically an above average to very good long reliever this year. If it ends up being bullpen v bullpen I like our chances. Also, it's sort of disingenuous to cite FIP as the difference when the Cubs have a truly elite defense behind their pitchers. (@ Kyle, not you) Ok, but their ERA difference is the same too In like 90 fewer innings. Everything about Hill this year is an outlier or a career high. He has blister issues. He doesn't pitch deep into games. He doesn't have a fastball to set up his 6 different curveballs. If the Cubs lose this game, it will be because Jake implodes or the offense is truly well and broken, and there's enough history and sample size for our hitters to suggest that isn't the case on either front.
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How about leave Soler on the bench where he belongs, because he's terrible defensively and according to my unofficial stat tracking has struck out 100 times this postseason. If you don't start him against Rich Hill, what's the point of even carrying him on the playoff roster then? He's a better hitter against LHP's than Heyward. The defensive point is fair, but I don't see how you can have Heyward starting against a tougher lefty again. You carry him for PH duty where his one skill could theoretically help the team. Heyward starts because he's still a generationally elite RF despite him turning into Augie Ojeda with the bat this year. Dodger Stadium has a pretty spacious OF; I'd rather not watch Soler lurch to balls hit to LF all night, especially given our offensive struggles.
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Based on what? how the two pitchers performed this year? Hill is just as likely to be pitchcounted by the 5th or leave in the 2nd with blisters as he is to shut down the office for 6+. I get that Arrieta hasn't had a dominant year but I'd still rather have the guy who's demonstrated an ability to shut down teams and go deep in games against the guy who's been basically an above average to very good long reliever this year. If it ends up being bullpen v bullpen I like our chances. Also, it's sort of disingenuous to cite FIP as the difference when the Cubs have a truly elite defense behind their pitchers. (@ Kyle, not you)
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Look at the pitching match-ups for games 3 & 4 and that should calm any panic. The Cubs do not have the pitching advantage in game 3 Based on what?
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How about leave Soler on the bench where he belongs, because he's terrible defensively and according to my unofficial stat tracking has struck out 100 times this postseason.
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Leave Rizzo where he is. Russell should be moved to 8th.