Chicago Cubs 2016 Season

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#826      
champaignchris
Illiniaaron said:
How about Russell with 80 rbi already. He has a decent shot to knock in 100 for the year. If he could just get his average up to .270 or so the numbers might really explode. It certainly helps hitting behind Bryant and Rizzo.
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The rbis are a factor of where he bats in the lineup more than anything. I'm impressed by he home runs. He's going to surpass 20 homers as a 22-year old gold glove caliber short stop. That's really nice.

Russell probably gets compared more to Barry Larkin than any other short stop. I don't know if Russell will ever hit for average like Larkin did, but he very well might have quite a bit more power. Alan Trammel might be a better comparison.
 
#827      
IanKEvans2
I really like tonight's lineup. Possible NLDS game 1 preview?

1. Fowler - CF
2. Bryant - 3B
3. Rizzo - 1B
4. Zobrist - LF
5. Russell - SS
6. Heyward - RF
7. Baez - 2B
8. Contreras - C
9. Arrieta - P
 
#829      
IanKEvans2
ChiCityHoops34 said:
I'd prefer one of Zobrist, Addy, Baez sliding to second Bryant to third.
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Given his strengths of getting on base at a high clip and low strikeout rate (.385 OBP & only 63 K's), I'd prefer Zobrist there of the 3 you mentioned. Not sure I like Baez or Russell batting second (yet).

EDIT: Posted as Bryant launches HR #33 of the year, tying the NL lead with Arenado.
 
#830      
KBLEE
Russell has hit 5HR in his last 5 games. :D
 
#834      
champaignchris
Second and Chalmers said:
Joe is throwing Chapman too much.
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12+ innings in the 27 games since coming over. If my math is right, that's about a 76 inning pace. A little heavier workload than Chapman's used to, but nothing too extreme. I expect things will be dialed back a bit when Rondon is back and September call ups happen.
 
#835      
Second and Chalmers
champaignchris said:
12+ innings in the 27 games since coming over. If my math is right, that's about a 76 inning pace. A little heavier workload than Chapman's used to, but nothing too extreme. I expect things will be dialed back a bit when Rondon is back and September call ups happen.
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Forget the innings, for a reliever it's about the number of times you have to warm up and pitch in a game. It's now 15 appearances in 28 days. That would be a 98 appearance pace. That would be the second most appearances in the history of baseball.

For reference, he threw 31 times in 75 days with the Yankees this year, which was still a lot, a 76 appearance pace.

Given that he's a free agent in the offseason, you can't blame Maddon for driving him like the rental car he is, but if he gets hurt before the playoffs the whole plan blows up in your face.
 
#837      
IanKEvans2
Bomb Squad 217 said:
I guess we will just have to score more runs so there's no save situations.
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That is certainly one solution. :thumb:

Another, hopefully, is the reinforcement via roster expansion in 8 days that champaignchris alluded to. Giving Rondon, Strop, and Lackey time to heal up is so important for the pennant run. Chapman will get his rest.

Maddon is one of the smartest persons in baseball. I don't foresee him overworking pitchers a la Dusty Baker.
 
#838      
Deleted member 11241
Hey Cubs fans. I was at Wrigley Field Saturday and Monday for the Pearl Jam shows and had Field GA tickets Saturday night. It was pretty cool being out in Centerfield @ Wrigley. Even got to touch the ivy out in left field. Even though I root for Cards, I respect the Cubs and the history of Wrigley so it was a pretty neat experience for me
 
#839      
IanKEvans2
Despite the loss tonight, the Cubs' magic number is now 21 because of the Cardinals' loss.

They'll probably get to that number faster than Pedro Baez can finish an inning on the mound (I am now officially in favor of a pitch clock after his 7.5 minute at bat against Bryant).
 
#840      
champaignchris
Cubs go 21-13 the rest of the way (not an unreasonable record) they win the division even if the Cardinals win the rest of their games.
 
#841      
IanKEvans2
champaignchris said:
Cubs go 21-13 the rest of the way (not an unreasonable record) they win the division even if the Cardinals win the rest of their games.
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Which they did not today. Magic number down to 20.

Quite the frustrating 8th inning against the Dodgers tonight. Lester pitched very well, Grimm did his job, which was followed by the Cahill throwing error/Baez very poor decision on a fielder's choice.

Bring on the Pirates and Giants at home. Would love to see a major dent into the Giants' wild card lead at Sunday's end.
 
#843      
Cubby Blue
IanKEvans2 said:
[ W ] alkoff!

One of the weirdest games of the season. Magic number is 19!
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Yeah, you come up in the bottom of the 13th down a run and you get.........single.......single......single........intentional walk.......single.
 
#846      
Hoppy2105
We get Lackey back and we have Arrieta, Lester, Hendricks, and Lackey in the playoffs? Hammer will probably be a guy out of the pen right? Which means we will have him, Strop, Grimm, Cahill, Rondon and Chapman as long as everyone returns from injury. That is a pretty strong pitching staff.
 
#847      
champaignchris
September call ups?

I'm assuming Almora, LaStella and Concepcion for sure. Watkins, Candelario, Kawasaki, Ryan Williams and Soto are maybes.

Also figure that Coghlan, Lackey, Rondon, and maybe even Smith will all suddenly be healthy.
 
#848      
IanKEvans2
champaignchris said:
September call ups?

I'm assuming Almora, LaStella and Concepcion for sure. Watkins, Candelario, Kawasaki, Ryan Williams and Soto are maybes.

Also figure that Coghlan, Lackey, Rondon, and maybe even Smith will all suddenly be healthy.
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Can't argue with any of those you've listed.

La Stella brought up (and starting) for tonight's game with Spencer Patton optioned.
 
#850      
Hoppy2105
Heyward is hitting .352 with 3 RBIs in his last 5 games (including his 0 for 4 performance last night). Maybe he will slowly but surely get that bat going just in time to do monster things in the playoffs.



Maybe...
 
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