2018 regular season thread

hermes · Post #81 » by **hermes** » Tue Jun 5, 2018 11:08 pm

anyone keeping an eye on the draft? did we get anyone good/promising?

Kizz Fastfists · Post #82 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Wed Jun 6, 2018 1:39 pm

hermes wrote:anyone keeping an eye on the draft? did we get anyone good/promising?

They went with position players early again. Their first pick was a high contact low strikeout SS who projects as a utility player or potential everyday 2B. There are questions about him sticking at SS, although there is a chance he sticks. We won't really know anything for 2 years when some of them start to hit AA.

hermes · Post #83 » by **hermes** » Thu Jun 7, 2018 10:16 pm

heyward!! big win last night, heyward's been playing well lately

and another win today! for the sweep! we might be on a roll!

except for chatwood, 7 walks!!?!?

hermes · Post #84 » by **hermes** » Fri Jun 8, 2018 10:14 pm

cubs win again, things are happening man

hermes · Post #85 » by **hermes** » Sat Jun 9, 2018 1:24 pm

speaking of happ-ening, happ had 3 great catches yesterday

including the game-ending one. always neat to see a game end on a web gem, seems like that doesn't happen as often

hermes · Post #86 » by **hermes** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:10 pm

i'm glad we have lester, he's good

beat the pirates again, took another series. only a half game behind the brewers

hermes · Post #87 » by **hermes** » Mon Jun 11, 2018 11:13 pm

and now we get the brewers, with the division lead at stake

Kizz Fastfists · Post #88 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 4:22 am

It took 11 innings for the bats to show up, but they are now the first place Cubs.

karch34 · Post #89 » by **karch34** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:06 am

Woo Hoo!!!!

hermes · Post #90 » by **hermes** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:35 am

yay!

crazy how well the cubs have played against the brewers this year, and how well the brewers are doing against everyone else

Kizz Fastfists · Post #91 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 3:29 am

Back to 2nd place. Tomorrow they have a chance to take the series and head to StL in first place.

hermes · Post #92 » by **hermes** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:19 pm

lost...

ran out of offense the last couple games

hermes · Post #93 » by **hermes** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 12:29 pm

the offense is back! (for a game at least)

take that redbirds!

hermes · Post #94 » by **hermes** » Sun Jun 17, 2018 1:01 pm

got another win!

how concerned should we be about hendricks and all these homers he's giving up?

Kizz Fastfists · Post #95 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:53 am

hermes wrote:how concerned should we be about hendricks and all these homers he's giving up?

I've been concerned about it for a while. He is limiting the damage, but all of the underlying stats are a bit concerning. His HR/FB rate is 17.1%, which is only up slightly from last year's 14.8%, but his career mark is 11.6%. His fly ball% is at 33.1% compared to last year at 29.1% and 30.1% for his career. He is giving up hard contact on 32% of the balls in play which is up from 30.4% last year and his career is 27.4%.

None of the individual numbers are up enough to be seen as as significant individually, but together they cause a potential problem. His FIP is 4.62 and that is easily the highest of his career. His SIERA is 4.22. The 3.55 ERA doesn't look bad, but every underlying stat suggests he's due for a jump to around 4.25. He has an issue with his fastball and curve and is compensating by throwing his sinker more. He isn't giving up more contact and he is getting the same swing and miss rates as before. It is just better contact. I'm not sure if his location is off just enough that it is allowing better contact or what the exact problem is. I haven't been able to watch any games this year, which is bothering me after watching 150+ the last few years. I just didn't want to afford extra innings this year since I had moved and money is tighter than I want it to be.

If he can fix the hard contact issue he could get back in line to the 3.00 ERA pitcher we are used to him being. I don't think it is anything significant, but it is enough to have me concerned since it has been going on this long without a correction. The starting pitching as a whole is becoming a concern. I'm just glad the bullpen appears to be strong enough that come playoff time they can get by with 5-6 innings from their starters.

hermes · Post #96 » by **hermes** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:48 am

yeah it kind of seems like the starting pitching is kind of walking on a knife's edge

can we somehow get another couple jon lesters?

hermes · Post #97 » by **hermes** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:36 pm

dang it, blew the first game of the doubleheader

morrow is out with a strain in his back or something from putting on his pants (is what i heard on the radio)....could have used him there

Kizz Fastfists · Post #98 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:41 am

They got the 2nd one, but blowing the first one like that stings.

hermes · Post #99 » by **hermes** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:41 pm

jon lester is good

schwarber is heating up with the long ball it seems

hermes · Post #100 » by **hermes** » Fri Jun 22, 2018 10:27 pm

lost, can't win them all i suppose

these are the reds though, need to get the next 3