squally1313

Cubs go on the road to a surefire division winner, split the series and score 11 runs in two games in nasty weather conditions. Normal Cubs fan: Bench the shortstop, make the offense better.

We're second in runs in the NL with the least amount of games played. How do you think this is supposed to work?

This seems like the kind of pitcher Russell would light up. Edit: Apparently the Indians agree.

Pretty slim apparently. I'm guessing he didn't even warm up.

2014? Check last night's game thread

That's two Crushed foul balls

Take it

Getting off topic, but in 2019 a league average Heyward in center, Harper in right, and Almora getting starts for Heyward or Schwarber every time they face a lefty sounds pretty ideal. Find a taker for the last year of Zobrist's deal (or he might retire depending on what this year's team does). Happ becomes the 'odd man out'...but seems like the ideal guy for that role with his flexibility and team control.

I know this year has been especially bad, weather wise. But to beat a dead horse, with this cancellation, we've played 15 games in 20 days. Absolutely no need for 8 guys in the bullpen.

I don't see any reason why he shouldn't run away with the 2B vote. Murphy isn't going to play enough to get the attention, and Baez was second to him last year without a lot of other competition that I can see. I guess if Asdrubal Cabrera and the Mets both stay hot, that would be a big enough market to challenge, but that's about it.

They didn't horsefeathers around today Oh man, turned off the swear filter, this is going to take a while to adjust to. Worth noting that it appears to be retroactive, in case you want to go back and see what people were really trying to say.

Hell yea. At this point, let's just have all the April Cubs games played down there. Give us an in with all the prospects growing up there, give Wrigley another month to get ready so they aren't rushing construction up until the last minute, and let the dongs commence early. If we can sell out Spring Training games in March, we can get a bunch of Cubs fans down to PR in April. (Kidding. Mostly.)

cancelled. see you thursday

In the above situation, give me the second option. But you're stacking the deck against yourself when you have to burn 1/3 of your bench and your backup catcher to pinch hit with no one on and one guy out in the bottom of the 6th. If it's that bad, just let Lester swing there.

No totally agreed. This wasn't some pixie dust thing, I'm not just going to get too upset or worry about Strop or anything. It's annoying in a weird way that those two runs were the difference rather than Chatwood walking everyone in the ballpark or Strop making a bad pitch to Dejong, but that's it. The way Maddon dealt with the 8th was questionable, but looking back I'm not sure how much you could have done. Lastella has pretty neutral splits in his career and should hit no matter what...he did, and struck out. If you put Almora in for Heyward, they bring in the righty then, and you're not getting much improvement. His hands were tied by Zobrist being hurt and (much more importantly) carrying 13 pitchers. Especially this early in the year, where there are days off, either scheduled or because of weather, every few days, you don't need 8 relievers. I get that Montgomery has earned more than mop-up/emergency reliever, but if Maddon is going to keep going to Duensing and we're going to keep trying to see if Wilson can recover, what's his role? Bring up another bat so we don't have to get so cute. I really don't think Matheny burns Lyons if Almora pinch hits. Then you can still PH La Stella for the pitcher. Why not? Maybe not for Norris, but he had a fresh bullpen with the day off yesterday. Could have thrown Bowman, Brebbia, Gregorson to get past him. Was already the bottom of the 8th and they were obviously set on Norris going 1+ innings to close it out. Edit: Could be wrong here. If they pulled Holland right after the walk to Russell, Lyons would have at least had to throw one pitch, so you're right, probably unlikely they pull him there. Still, bigger issue is the 3 man bench.

Butler. If he can go to AAA, great, if not, fare thee well, oh well, there's plenty of others. Duensing and Wilson are your lefties until one of them implodes, Montgomery is your long relief/mop-up/extra innings guy for the time being.

I mean we got a cheap ass run too so I don't really look at that as some egregious evil deed by the baseball gods.No totally agreed. This wasn't some pixie dust thing, I'm not just going to get too upset or worry about Strop or anything. It's annoying in a weird way that those two runs were the difference rather than Chatwood walking everyone in the ballpark or Strop making a bad pitch to Dejong, but that's it. The way Maddon dealt with the 8th was questionable, but looking back I'm not sure how much you could have done. Lastella has pretty neutral splits in his career and should hit no matter what...he did, and struck out. If you put Almora in for Heyward, they bring in the righty then, and you're not getting much improvement. His hands were tied by Zobrist being hurt and (much more importantly) carrying 13 pitchers. Especially this early in the year, where there are days off, either scheduled or because of weather, every few days, you don't need 8 relievers. I get that Montgomery has earned more than mop-up/emergency reliever, but if Maddon is going to keep going to Duensing and we're going to keep trying to see if Wilson can recover, what's his role? Bring up another bat so we don't have to get so cute.

I think the difference was the Cubs scoring 1 run off Adam Wainwright Well no the Cardinals won the baseball game 5-3, which means the 4th and the 5th run were the runs that they got that the Cubs didn't get, and therefore that was the difference between their run total and the Cubs run total, which decided who 'won' the baseball game. But hey, we'll see you the next time the Cubs give up a run.

Things we can't (really) control: Those two worthless infield singles they got that turned into what were the winning runs. Things we can control: Playing a game with three bench players and then using those three the way that we did tonight.

There's not really anywhere else to put tomorrow's game besides Thursday, which looks clear. So worst case we'll play Thursday.

There's no doubt in mind that Bud Norris somehow has a better season than Brandon Morrow this year. And not because of Brandon Morrow. Then after like May next year we never hear from him again.

Does the swing and the actual strike like cancel out there?

The guy who was hitting .191 going into this game? I mean, I'm as excited for him as anyone, but his first two home runs came in a loss, as did (most likely) this one. The highlights are great, and I would give up a whole lot for the idea of Javier Baez, MVP candidate, but this is a good team who has struggled but has still played .500 ball because they are talented across the roster.

Admittedly I didn't think about the Tommy card there. Still, little reason to waste an out on Heyward Plus Zobrist more or less out for the night. Happ made contact yay. Apparently this same Bud Norris is their closer (lol), so Bryzzontreras to get 2 next inning.

And tired in October again I'm sure There he is!