UMFan83

Heyward is really driving the ball. Hit the ball with authority to the dead center warning track. Probably would have been out on some days

horsefeathering Zobrist. Instead of 2 outs 0 one on, his terrible throw makes it 1 out with runner on 3rd

Dream big, hope the Giants sweep their last 4 with the Dodgers and we get a 4 way tie plus 2 of those teams tying for the West. I know we are looking at advantageous scenarios for the Cubs but how about a 3 (or 4) way tie in the AL East with those teams also tying for the WC spots with like Detroit

Haha I guess Rizzo really loves Beer Money.

[tweet] [/tweet] Theo is probably flipping out about this

Is throwing the devastating slider a couple of times a game really going to change his chances of injury that much, especially at age 31? I am actually asking not refuting your point. Also I stopped reading your last post and didn't realize you already brought up Jake's FA put spun into a different perspective than mine, my bad. Remember the talk of the dangers of slider reliance when Garza came and started throwing it a bunch more (and being much more successful)? To be honest, very very vaguely. Again, my whole thing is I'm not suggesting he uses it at the frequency of last year, just that if that great out pitch is there, why isn't he throwing it 1-3 times a game, and if he does throwing it at a low frequency does that change the chances of injury dramatically? The counterargument I came up with is that perhaps the slider is a feel pitch and in order for it to be most effective he needs to throw it frequently, aka he can't just bring it out a couple times a game and expect to hit his spot with maximum break. But you and jersey have both made good points, I appreciate the input.

It benefits him by not going under the knife. Is throwing the devastating slider a couple of times a game really going to change his chances of injury that much, especially at age 31? I am actually asking not refuting your point. Also I stopped reading your last post and didn't realize you already brought up Jake's FA put spun into a different perspective than mine, my bad.

Let me clarify. I 'get' the reasoning why this is a theory, but I have never heard of a pitcher purposely avoiding throwing his best pitch all season to save it for the postseason. David made a point about Kerry Wood and the slurve, but he *never* used the slurve after his first couple of injuries and that was because throwing that pitch would make it likely he is injured again. Maybe there is a concern about Jake getting injured if he throws the slider at the same frequency and same break as last year, I don't know. You also have to remember Jake wants Kershaw money and as much as he's a team guy and wants to win it all, I am not sure how it benefits him to virtually stop using his best pitch 18 months away from his only chance at big money FA. I think what TT said is probably right (as usual).

Maybe someone could enlighten me but I don't see a reason why someone would completely stop throwing a pitch at all. ive never heard of a player holding a pitch back for the playoffs. I guess it's possible but it doesn't seem logical for a competitor like Jake to not use an out pitch when he's in a jam. Pitching is bad for your arm. Sliders times 10. I get the arm conservation thing being the reason, but if he had the ability to throw that wicked slider, don't you think he would be using it, if only occasionally, as an out pitch to get out of jams? It's been clear since April that the Cubs are going to the playoffs, and I know he wore down in the playoffs last year and wants to correct that. And I also realize he's still throwing a slider just not nearly as frequently and effectively, but there have been plenty of moments Jake has been in jams and I can't see him thinking "that devastating slider would be great to throw in this spot but I don't want to waste my arm for October" But who knows, that's just how I always saw it. I'm not a pitcher and dont know how these things work.

The last day of summer which means fall starts tomorrow. It's almost time for some real baseball, but we still have 11 meaningless games to go. The Cubs will face their 16th right handed starter in their last 17 games, much to the chagrin of Javy who just wants a nice lefty he can dong off of. The Cubs send King Douchebag to the mound, who's eyes have hopefully stopped burning. This is the last regular season home night game broadcast by a local television station, so make it count! CUBS are 96-55 (.635) overall CUBS are 15-7 (.682) on Wednesdays CUBS are 11-8 (.579) in September CUBS are 12-3 (.800) vs. Cincinnati CUBS are 43-22 (.662) vs. NL Central CUBS are 14-7 (.667) when they've won their last 2 games CUBS are 53-29 (.646) at night CUBS are 54-23 (.701) at home CUBS are 68-38 (.642) vs right handers CUBS are 15-12 (.556) when Lackey starts Go CUBS !!

Awesome. Now we can let Jake pitch his 5 excellent innings and then shut the door with Grimm-Strop-Rondon-Chapman

i like that it's not totally clear what you find more remarkable: whether jake would put his deadliest pitch on ice for a couple of months or that kyle was right to think that out loud Maybe someone could enlighten me but I don't see a reason why someone would completely stop throwing a pitch at all. ive never heard of a player holding a pitch back for the playoffs. I guess it's possible but it doesn't seem logical for a competitor like Jake to not use an out pitch when he's in a jam.

I just realized that the Cubs have faced right handed starters in 15 of their last 16 games and the next 3 games will be started by RHP (not sure beyond that). That seems unusual.

Thought the same thing.

Ok screw 100 wins, I want all the important Cubs wrapped in bubble wrap and placed somewhere safe until October 7

they just said that if the score holds in the nats game (it did) and the cubs win, it'll be down to 3 Does that magic number account for the fact that we won the season series and thus the tiebreaker? If not then the true magic number is 1 lower

Yay for bad defense

Everything. I think Phillips took pity on Ross and let him score because he was huffing and puffing around the bags

So umm Lester just lined one off the wall for an RBI double scoring Ross

Matt abattacola and Bernstein just went at it on the air. Sounded legit too. Bernstein did his usual bit when someone called in and suggested firing Pace, calling them an idiot and belittling them. Whatever it's his thing. And Abattacola went on a mini tirade about his schtick of belittling people for having opinions and basically went off for a minute not letting Bernstein get a word in. Finally Bernstein just mocked him saying "finally someone put that jerk Bernstein in his place". Matt said something like "the only thing worse than the idiots calling on Bears Monday is the horsefeathers that answers the calls" and then they rather abruptly went to commercial. Funny stuff and yes I know great story

No you're right, I forgot about the simplest permutation which is there is no tiebreaker

Amazingly enough even today he still has the ACL, its just torn.

For as flat out awful as he's been, its going to take much, much more than 4 games to think he's coming around. I do kind of suspect he'll hit well in the playoffs though. Hopefully, he can fix himself somewhat in the off season, to where he may be able to get back to being a solid hitter consistently. Agreed, but there still might be something to this removal of toe tapping thing. This is the story as I understand it: The Cubs tried to add a toe taping timing mechanism to his swing in order to generate more power, it failed miserably as he couldn't get around on fastballs well enough to get strong contact, pitchers started throwing him a crap ton of fastballs and he sucked. The Cubs stuck with it for several months mostly because the Cubs were winning and also because if he could make the adjustment the upside would make him a much better power hitter. But eventually it was clear that there was no coming around, and even moments of competence at the plate were not filled with power hitting. So the Cubs sat him down that weekend series in Colorado, worked with him on removing the toe tapping and since then he's been getting adjusted to timing without it. The results have been mixed, he initially started getting more hits, but I don't think there was a change in hard contact, then he went through an 0-23 stretch after that walkoff hit against SF, but now he seems to be hitting the ball with more authority. Does 4 games mean a ton? Not really, but if you have any hope of Heyward being a productive hitter this season/playoffs, you are in the "the toe tapping change was the problem, he's getting adjusted to his old swing' camp.

Maybe just another very small blip given the sample size, but last 4 games: 7-15, 1 HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K .467/.500/.800/1.300 Here are the 16 PA because I'm actively avoiding doing work: 1: K 2: Ground ball single 3: Line drive single 4: BB 5: Ground out 6: Line drive double down 3B line 7: Fly ball out 8: Line drive double to RF wall 9: Line drive single 10: K 11: Ground ball single 12: Foul out to shallow LF 13: K 14: Ground out 15: Lineout 16: Home run Has generally been driving the ball better in his ABs lately. Again, 4 games is a very very small blip but in those 4 games he's been hitting well and that makes me happy.

I mean, I could not imagine a more disastrous outcome last night Blowout loss to a rookie QB led team that's probably not that good....CHECK Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball that appear to range from 'multiple weeks out' to 'season ending'...CHECK Fight between teammates captured on national TV....CHECK Kicker that was brought on to replace surprisingly cut kicker before week 1 missing chip shot FG in his first FG attempt....CHECK Said injuries creating glaring holes that expose lack of depth.....CHECK Like even if you want to say 'its just a bad game, give it time to come together' (which is probably a silly expectation to begin win), because of the several injuries you really aren't going to get that opportunity to gel and whatever. The season is essentially lost which is insane for a team that is supposed to have a high floor/low ceiling coach and an easy schedule.