6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Cubs with another odd managerial decision to face McCutchen (who already homered) with 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs. Naturally, he hits a rocket through the infield to score both.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Everything is bad. I'm not really concerned about the offense and I have a hard time believing that Starters 1-4 will struggle with their command at the same time in the 2nd half. The funny thing is the one starter who has his command is the guy they skipped in Kyle Hendricks. But the bullpen is a huge problem right now and going forward.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Josh Bell into the river with a pinch hit grand slam. Impressive. Cubs pitching......

EDIT: And Mercer goes back-to-back. 12-5 Pirates. Still in the 5th inning.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Bell's first career homer, too.

EDIT: And Mercer follows suit.

[LambertandHam]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Beeeeeeeeeeeell!

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Well the Cubs pitching is obviously toast, but it's nice to see Heyward with a 3-hit game after coming in batting .300 in July. Even if he popped out in his only RISP opportunity.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Josh Bell is the first Pirates rookie to hit a pinch-hit Grand Slam, and the first Pirates player since 1980 to hit a Grand Slam for his first career homer.

[LambertandHam]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Joyce and Harrison hurt tonight. Good thing the break is coming up.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Rizzo misses a cycle by 6 inches. Ball hit damn near off the top of the padding as Marte misjudged it.

[SidVish]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Cubs out hit Pittsburgh 14 to 9 and lose by 6. That's pretty much how these last 20 or so games have gone. Being a Cubs fan I just expect bad things for the rest of the season. It just never ends well.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[SidVish]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Cubs with another odd managerial decision to face McCutchen (who already homered) with 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs. Naturally, he hits a rocket through the infield to score both.

That drove me nuts. But then he had no problem intentionally walking Joyce. No comprende.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

That drove me nuts. But then he had no problem intentionally walking Joyce. No comprende.

And Joyce scored on Bell's homer anyway...we can add manager to the list of things malfunctioning on the Cubs right now.

[SPTO]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

Hopefully for the Cubs' sake Maddon can recalibrate what he's doing in Chicago over the All Star Break. He's a great chemistry over tactics manager but when a team is going in freefall the way the Cubs are right now than you have to become more balanced and try to find ways to maximize your players to the best of their abilities. Maddon in his career hasn't really shown that X's and O's ability so this will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

(I discount his last season in Tampa. That seemed like a situation where he kind of had one foot out of the door mentally)

[Jr.]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

And Joyce scored on Bell's homer anyway...we can add manager to the list of things malfunctioning on the Cubs right now.

It's like you said yesterday.. Maddon isn't a great in-game manager. His value comes from getting his players psychologically ready. He doesn't seem to be doing that much right now, but I'm confident he can figure that part out. It's the in-game decisions and bullpen management that concern me. I mentioned it a few times last year, but he's shown to be pretty bad about handling pitchers so far in his Cubs tenure.

The great start is proving to be more and more of a big thing. At least they can't lose the division lead before Monday.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 6/27 - 7/10 Game Discussion Thread

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