squally1313

If I cited the team OPS when we destroyed Julio Urias a few months ago I'd be rightfully dismissed as an idiot, but yeah, let's do that now.

The previous four games were 5-5-6-8, runs wise. Not abysmal. But definitely not where it should be. Russell has to be moved out of the five spot. Having two hitters who are slumping badly back to back in the middle of your lineup can't continue. What was the team OPS in those four games Jesus if we're going to go full on Pete Rose here and just buy into super small sample sizes, going into tonight the Cubs had a .686 OPS and the Dodgers had a .698. But yeah, just write this team off based on the best pitcher in the last twenty years shutting us down.

It would be pretty surprising to see Kershaw twice again this series. On three days rest and then on two days rest? Considering we were about 15 feet away from beating Kershaw on normal rest, I'm not sure all this pessimism is really warranted.

Best of five where we only see Clayton once still strongly favors us. Big pitching advantages the next two games...put them on the ropes.

I know we probably would rather face Washington. But their season ending on making Daniel Murphy and dusty baker look bad/dumb is a pretty hard thing to not root for.

I know this is sidetracking the discussion, and I know pitching is stupid, but at some point we're going to have to figure out what the 2018 rotation is, because right now it's 34 year old Lester, Hendricks, and...Montgomery? Yes, maybe we can just count on Theo signing the Lackey's and Hammels of the year to two year deals for forever, but this phenomenal defense was complimented by a very strong pitching staff that I assume we want to maintain going forward. I know the idea of a 4 WAR logjam in the field is amazing, and it's not a 'problem'. It's an opportunity. Pitching is dumb, and paying a big price for pitching is even dumber. But we're going to need some of it soon. 2018 is so far away in terms of pitching with how fungible it is, it's silly to worry about it because it's a constantly moving target, who knows what happens to what we have both currently in the majors and minors and what pitchers across the league emerge/get hurt. On top of that Soler isn't bringing in that pitcher we want right now with where his value is and if I had to guess I bet we'd be underwhelmed on what Javy alone would bring back as a return. Well then, I guess, what's the plan there? The free agent market for starting pitching the next two years is brutal, unless we want to splurge on Darvish or hope Otani comes over. Right now there isn't a single arm in the minor leagues I'd count on to be a starter for the Cubs in the next two years. We're going to have to bring in reinforcements, probably even for next year, because there's just no one behind Montgomery/Rob Z who can help out behind our top 4. This is very Cubs of me to be worried about this right now. Baez will probably just teach himself to pitch in the offseason.

We would have Schwarber/Zobrist/Bryant for left, assuming Contreras is mostly catching. Fowler/Almora in CF. Heyward in RF. Why do we need to keep him? Depth/protection against injury, to face LHP and because we can? Why trade him just because? He's not bringing anything but a nominal return so keep him and let baseball figure itself out. Or do you just want the Szczur's of the world taking up bench spots? I know this is sidetracking the discussion, and I know pitching is stupid, but at some point we're going to have to figure out what the 2018 rotation is, because right now it's 34 year old Lester, Hendricks, and...Montgomery? Yes, maybe we can just count on Theo signing the Lackey's and Hammels of the year to two year deals for forever, but this phenomenal defense was complimented by a very strong pitching staff that I assume we want to maintain going forward. I know the idea of a 4 WAR logjam in the field is amazing, and it's not a 'problem'. It's an opportunity. Pitching is dumb, and paying a big price for pitching is even dumber. But we're going to need some of it soon.

Alright, lets have good chapman. Hopefully Ross can get him through this.

THIS IS horsefeathering GLORIOUS

CAN WE PLEASE ESTABLISH SOME RULES AROUND HERE REGARDING THIS BAD ASS horsefeathering BASEBALL TEAM

Not a starter.

So...do we pinch hit for addy?

Were you here last night? I mean, yes, he falls pretty comfortably into the 'our players do something and we love it and the other team does it and they're the worst', but you saw him pitch and hang out in the dugout yesterday, right?

It probably won't matter, but this is a very meatball-y managed game by Bochy.

48 hours off and a return to Wrigley is going to kill off whatever emotional/mental/momentum-al crap is going on here, if even of that even means anything. We've got Jon at home in a do or die game against Ali rip full of generally shitty lefty hitters. Yeah, the sweep would have been nice, but being favored to get to the NLCS is pretty damn nice.

Bumgarner on 2 days rest? In a situation where we've chased cueto and they feel like they have to resort to that option (and ruin their NLCS rotation)? Um, yes please. It would be his side day so I think he could throw an inning or two and be good for game 2 As opposed to being on full rest for game 1 with the option to go on short rest for 4 and 7. If we see bumgarner on Thursday (if it gets there) things are going well for us

Bumgarner on 2 days rest? In a situation where we've chased cueto and they feel like they have to resort to that option (and ruin their NLCS rotation)? Um, yes please.

Holy horsefeathers I know you have like 40x the number of posts I do, but...you're better than this.

Game 1 was a push but losing in 13 innings was a decisive victory, got it. And it's the top of the [expletive] 6th inning, Jesus. Hey, I'm not saying they have been THAT much better, but I bet all the important numbers are in their favor. What 'numbers'? The one that shows who has won more games this series? You're the one that says you feel lucky to get to game 5.

This makes no sense. Do you think they deserve extra wins for games 3 or 4? Was Jon Lester pitching like Jon Lester luck of some sort? Was us beating up terrible Jeff samardzjia something that wasn't supposed to happen? Seriously, stop. Be better than John smoltz. For me Game 1 was a push. Good starting pitching by both. Also remember that our offense has done almost nothing. It's been our pitchers and backup catcher doing all the damage. I feel like SF's bullpen and offense have been better. It might not be that much better, but better. Game 1 was a push but losing in 13 innings was a decisive victory, got it. And it's the top of the horsefeathering 6th inning, Jesus.

I just can't believe any one who has watched this team all year thinking there are some fatal flaws on this team that either developed in the last 20 hours or have someone been there all year hiding behind a 103 win team. Over 162 games, we win 60% of our games against the giants. Over 5 games, who knows. But to imply or outright say this team sucks is asinine.

This makes no sense. Do you think they deserve extra wins for games 3 or 4? Was Jon Lester pitching like Jon Lester luck of some sort? Was us beating up terrible Jeff samardzjia something that wasn't supposed to happen? Seriously, stop. Be better than John smoltz.

I would have kinda loved to see chapman in this spot instead of wood.

How the horsefeathers has hunter pence had good at bats in this series

No.