Cubswin11

The weather looks a ton better for Sunday

We have off Monday and the Rockies stay at home so I don't think it would be an issue, even if what you said is a thing (which idk if it is). The only thing I know they changed about double headers is you get to carry 26 men on the roster for the 2nd game so I'd guess Mills, Tseng or Zas would be called up for that 2nd game Sunday for us.

Tomorrow evening looks alright. Then a DH Sunday. Then another off day Monday! Great. That’s what I’m thinking. Today gets canceled and they do a double header Sunday for the make up and tomorrow should be able to be played.

Hendricks has pitched pretty well in his career in Coors. 3.28 ERA in 4 starts in 24 innings. Also Jon Gray was a guy some wanted to take over Bryant with the #2 pick. We should laugh at that.

Law ranked Hankins at 33, but had him ranked #1 overall before the injury scare......

I'd go so far as to say they're the worst 3 now that Hawk is essentially gone. Yankees, Royals, and given Mark Grant's insufferable visits to the Cubs booth when their in town, I can only assume the Padres are just as bad. Oh yeah. I forgot about the Padres. They’re so bad.

Maddon, obviously

According to the Pirate announcers they owned Jake in a Cubs uniform... Between the Pirates, Reds and Cardinals I think the NL Central has 3 of the 5-7 or so worst broadcast teams in MLB but the Cubs and Brewers might be 1 and 2 in terms of the best.

Initial reaction is have to be at, at least 5 and likely 6 wins through that week 10 game vs Detroit for any playoff hopes with the finish.

How about we just keep this to ourselves though Duke and you don’t go writing about it

I'll die with you on this hill. http://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m71mclqbLL1qgj4zoo2_500.gif

It came up in the GT today but thought I'd post it here to keep the discussion going. The results haven't been great but the process has been really good by Russell so far this year and good things should start happening soon. As the Duke'ster and I pointed out Russell this year... He had a 15% BB and K rate going in to today, that's good. His Contact% is up and his O-Swing% is way down. He had a 29% LD rate, which is 8% higher than his career average and he did it by cutting down his GB rate by 9% over his career average, that's a very good and positive indicator. He is hitting for a little too much soft contact and his IFF% is high but he also has the highest % of hard hit balls he's ever had in his career, 7% above his career rate. If he can shift some of that soft contact for even medium contact good things are going to start to happen. He's putting himself in good spots, he just isn't executing as much as he should and can on balls in the zone yet. Even if we assume the K and BB rate go 5% the wrong way (~10% BB rate ~20% K rate when the season ends) if he keeps doing what he's doing for even a healthy 145 games, plays great defense, and the batted ball profile bounces a bit from weak to medium or hard contact we could be in for a breakout year. If he BABIPS just around his career .295 rate (which should go up with some of the positive indicators) we could be in for a 20 HR .260/.350/mid .400's slash line with elite defense as a median projection, that's a 4+ WAR player. Edit: I'll add if he continues what he's doing with even a little wrong way movement on the K/BB rate mentioned above but he puts up .320-.330ish BABIP (which shouldn't be crazy out of the question) he's basically Corey Seagar from last year. I know this is all projecting good and wishful things but there’s real reasons to believe it and why look at the negative side of things when you can look for the positive things in life.

I've really liked what I've seen so far, the stuff seems about as good as last year and I really like that he just seems to trust his stuff when he has to and isn't walking guys. Hopefully some of the other bullpen guys (Carl looking at you) take note.

:flythew: Super Cubs are back #WeAreGood

Willy has let some really good pitches in the zone not get punished today

Is that good?

Walking a little over 1 more per 9 so far to start the year. Though I'd imagine if you took out Chatwood and replaced what he's done with even a guy who's walking 4-5 per 9 we'd be in line with last year. Chatwood is probably really driving that overall team number up, he was responsible for 20% of the walks on the staff going in to today.

Process>Results

i mean you are really trying to convince yourself there's something there... He's struck out in 14.1% of his PA. His Contact% is up. His O-Swing% is way down. Those things stabilize much quicker than stuff like BABIP. He has been taking better ABs and the results will come. Yeah. In terms of things to look for, for him growing and developing as a hitter he's doing a lot of things to like early on

The results have been awful, the approach and the working of counts has been quite good. He has as many walks as Ks and is walking and K’ing at rates in the teens. i mean you are really trying to convince yourself there's something there... No, not really. Going in to today he had a 15% BB and K rate, that's good. He had a 29% LD rate, which is 8% higher than his career average and he did it by cutting down his GB rate by 9% over his career average, that's a very good and positive indicator. He is hitting for a little too much soft contact and his IFF% is high but he's also has the highest % of hard hit balls he's ever had in his career, 7% above his career rate. If he can shift some of that soft contact for even medium contact good things are going to start to happen. He's putting himself in good spots, he just isn't executing as much as he should and can on balls in the zone yet.

It wasn’t so much ignoring the deke attempt as it was more knowing Dexter doesn’t throw much better than a middle schooler Well he doesn't, but with 1 out and KB already rounding second, Dexter could've tossed the ball granny-style for a double play had he somehow caught it. Kris knew he wouldn't. I think your giving Bryant too much credit for not buying a deke from Fowler. That play was right over his head, he knew that ball was falling and Fowler has an awful arm so he went to 3rd the whole way. They’ve been taking an extra base on Fowler all day, they clearly know his arm.

Javy’s been a complete jackass on defense today

Other than KB he’s maybe had the best plate appearances overall this year in terms of discipline and working counts. The results will come. what he's been awful. The results have been awful, the approach and the working of counts has been quite good. He has as many walks as Ks and is walking and K’ing at rates in the teens.

Lester hasn’t pitched in like a month and won’t pitch for another month. With a Coors series and likely double header Sunday I’m surprised he wasn’t left out there to go another inning.