LeonDurham

Last post. Pretty much what I'm trying to say. It’s pretty simple. The Cubs scored the second-most runs in the National League, behind the Colorado Rockies, but averaged just 2.5 runs per game in the 2017 postseason. Epstein noted that the Cubs have had mediocre offense the past three postseasons. “Is it the fact that our offense is depressed in October, or is it a small sample or a coincidence?” Epstein said. “Or is there something intrinsic in our personnel and our approach? How we do it? How we get to those runs we created in the regular season that makes us more vulnerable to the type of pitching and the type of preparation and advance scouting you see in the postseason? It’s virtually impossible to answer except to say you’re safer assuming there is some element that you can control.”

Haha. Ok guys. See you later. You guys don’t know me at all. Yeah I don’t jerk off to baseball prospectus. Hey I have a demanding day job. . But I can assure you I’m not a meatball. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m way more successful than all you guys. And smarter. Because I wouldn’t go calling people I don’t know meatball because they have a different opinion. Go cubs. Peace out. ✌️

This is where we disagree. He's not. And as good as he is, he has flaws and he can get better. As many 24-25 year olds do. Even Barry Bonds or Mike Trout. And I'm not sure coaching is the answer. But how are you guys so sure coaching isn't the answer? The Cubs fired Bosio when you'd think Arrieta alone would've been worth some job security. And the historic 2016 pitching season. And I love it how everyone likes to use the word "meatball" so freely to describe any opinion that differs from theirs. And ridicule their opinions. This is so horsefeathering condescending and disdainful. God, how annoying is it when people throw around the term "meatball" here. Some people think they are so horsefeathering smart on an internet message board. For all I know, you guys who like to call other people meatball live in your parents basement. I know I don't.

This seems like a...questionable example to end with. Especially since it's not true. Well, not immediately following a loss in the SB, which is the only way that would be an interesting tidbit because I'm pretty sure coaches who have lost in a Super Bowl have been fired in later years before. Marty shottenheimer then. My point is we hold football coaches responsible when their players dont perform. We also hold them responsible for player development. Why not baseball coaches. All we do is question decision making as if it would've made a damn but of difference vs the dodgers or the mets in 2015.

I completely understand the random nature of baseball and the crapshoot of the playoffs. But I'm open minded to the fact that there might be ways to improve performance in the playoffs- high pressure situations against better pitchers. I don't completely discount the possibility that "clutch" hitting may exist and certain players might have better success through a better approach or better coaching. Sure. It's easy to throw up your arms, point to all the runs scored against crap pitchers in 13-1 regular season games and say oh well. horsefeathers happens. We were just unlucky. But I hope the team doesn't feel that way. I want them to try and figure out how to get better. If there's one team that struggles under the postseason pressure, it's gotta be the one with a bunch of 25 year olds who have been to the LCS 3 straight years. Like everyone else here, I understand the concept of "sample size". But I'm also openminded about certain things that people often write off to "sample size". For instance "clutch". I'm just using "clutchness" as an example. And yes, I do believe "clutch" exists. http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/clutch-hitting-swing-difference-081414 But the main point is that an improved approach and improvement of play should be coachable, shouldn't it? If not, then why have a hitting coach at all? For instance, we know that KB, even as MVP, was horrible against the changeup, or a low breaking ball. If he improves this, he would likely not only become better against the low change, but probably against a high fastball as well. He would become an overall better player. And he would be less vulnerable to good pitchers go can throw those pitches effectively with control. The kind of good pitchers you might face in a postseason game. And to the "guessing" question that has been raised. I don't know if they guess too much or not. But I'm open minded to the possibility that a coach may have an impact on strategy. For instance, this pitcher will attack you this way and we should think about doing this... Maybe this does help and maybe the Cubs are bad at this. I don't pretend to know how baseball players are coached in terms of hitting. But I do understand that Maddon and his staff believe in a hands off approach. Players are discouraged to take BP and instead rest. Team meetings don't occur. Maybe 25 years olds need more instruction. And I'm not completely happy with the offense has performed. We can argue about clutchness or overall numbers. But one thing I'm not totally happy about is the improvement of the 25 year olds. And improvement should be coachable. So I don't see why coaches shouldn't be accountable for performance of the players. We blame NFL coaches all the time for poor performances on the part of the players. John Fox was fired after Denver lost in the Super Bowl.

It's like you don't know how playoff baseball works. The Indians last year went 2, 2, 4, 1, 3 in the ALCS and 6, 1, 1, 7, 2, 3 in the WS before Game 7. So two good offensive games out of 11. We had a terrible series against the Mets in 2015. They also had 4 very good pitchers going. Those guys shut down a lot of teams. Last year we had two bad games against Kershaw and Hill but in the other 4 games they scored 8, 10, 8 and 5. Giants series they scored 1, 5, 5 and 6. WS was 0, 5, 0, 2, 3, 9, 8. Two bad games against Kluber and an inexplicably bad game against Tomlin. This year they got Strasburg twice, Scherzer, Kershaw twice, Hill, Darvish and Wood. When the worst starter you face is Gio Gonzalez, you faced a tough slate. These things happen. Sometimes Kershaw shuts you out and sometimes you light him up for 5 runs to advance to the WS. I completely understand the random nature of baseball and the crapshoot of the playoffs. But I'm open minded to the fact that there might be ways to improve performance in the playoffs- high pressure situations against better pitchers. I don't completely discount the possibility that "clutch" hitting may exist and certain players might have better success through a better approach or better coaching. Sure. It's easy to throw up your arms, point to all the runs scored against crap pitchers in 13-1 regular season games and say oh well. horsefeathers happens. We were just unlucky. But I hope the team doesn't feel that way. I want them to try and figure out how to get better.

The team will live and die by how its best hitters (and Baez) do? HOLY horsefeathers, YOU CRACKED THE horsefeathering CODE. Way to take the post out of context and make a stupid inflammatory statement. Good one. You wonder why a lot of people think this board is full of assholes. Yeah. What I meant was that we are stuck with these players. There won’t be drastic moves or acquisitions. They will have to be better. That’s what I mean. So if you’re all satisfied with them then great. Good for you. For those of who are not Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton are not horsefeathering coming, OK? And neither is Otani. I would like the players we have to perform better. Maybe coaching is the answer.

I agree. The offense is not satisfactory. Despite their numbers being good. Here are some issues with just pointing out number s - This team is loaded with top 10 prospects who were expected to be good and produced in the minors. We don’t have guys like Taylor who sucked and became good. Or turner who became a stud after 30. Or Aaron judge who OPSed 850 in the minors and because an mvp candidate. Name someone who they developed into a star beyond expectations. Besides Rizzo. - they are an inconsistent offense. They strike out a lot. Despite winning a WS they went into extended hitting droughts in all 3 playoff years. - there has not been enough improvement from guys that should be improving. Guys in their early mid 20s. Even Bryant should be getting better. So no. I’m absolutely not satisfied with the offense. And I think coaching may have something to do with it. In fact I hope so. Because let’s face it. This team will live or die with Rizzo Bryant Russell Willy Baez etc.

Why all the ridicule? Are people happy about the offense? How is everyone so sure that the offense didn’t underperform. They put up good numbers and won a WS. But to say a team didn’t underperform you’d have to know what the full potential of the players is. What I do known is Rizzo, Bryant and Baez did not improve from the year before. Russell regressed. Schwarber has an injury but started horribly and did a little better after mine league coaching. Heyward continued to perform below his career standard. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say the offense underperformed. They guys were all top prospects and draft picks. The offense was Tremendously streaky and inconsistent and numbers inflated by 12 run games. I don’t pretend to understand hitting. But I do know that the coaching staff philosophy seems to be hands off. Let the players do their thing. Maybe guys in their early 20s need coaching. Maybe they don’t need to be skipping BP or being fined bottles of wine for showing up early. I’m just saying.

You guys. Hate to break it to you. Otani will not be a cub next year.

Go horsefeathers yourself KB.

No way. Schwarber is going to fully armed and operational next year. Plus Russell will have his breakout season. Schwarber Bryant Rizzo Contreras Happ Russell is going to be dongtown USA. Russell and schwarber were disappointing but you have to think they are going to get better. Contreras is on a great trajectory. Happ and Baez are also still really young. Think about how good Turner was at 24. But the offense which was so bad this series is set next year.

When they trade schwarber he will become big papi. I’ll hold out hope for DH in NL.

We are a really good team that didnt play very consistent all season and are getting beat by a better team...nothing more to say slugger Frustrating as horsefeathers but what can you do. They are not playing well and don’t deserve it.

If before the series started you were told the player that plays better between Kiki Hernandez or Bryant, their team is winning the series. You would’ve been :good:

This seems hopeless but no need to overreact. This team will basically be the same next year. The offense is playing unimaginable badly right now for their level of talent.

I’m only watching because I enjoy pain. That and the 0.00001% chance we may see an epic comeback.

This kick in the ass needed to happen. If they aren’t going to win it all. It’s better than barely losing in game 7 of the WS.

They have absolute scrubs coming in and looking like mvp candidates. And our real mvp candidates look like absolute scrubs. I hate baseball.

Door number 1.

A guy who struggles with giving up homers and walks. Sweet!

Has to be. Him and turner both.

Yep. Their grounder finds the hold.

They are so much better than us right now. It’s not even close.

If they came back to win this game it would be a miracle and the dodgers wouldn’t be able to recover from the shock.