8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

**LambertandHam** · 08-19-2018, 04:27 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Pirates hold the Cubs to 4 runs in 4 games yet only win two to split the series. I'll take it

**BleacherBum2310** · 08-19-2018, 04:32 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

That Almora strike 3 is absurd. How that can be called I don't know how. Cubs didn't deserve that win but my gosh.

/TeamRobotUmps

**SPTO** · 08-19-2018, 04:35 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Man, I thought the Jays had a chance against the Yanks this weekend....yeah, uh not really.

Oh well....Counting down the days til September call ups.

**Mabster** · 08-19-2018, 04:39 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by CBoller1331

I absolutely love everything about this A's playoff push. The fact that they tied the division is spectacular.

I don't know where this ends but it's been a fun summer so far. Lends hope to future seasons once all our Tommy Johns get healthy too.

**Sportsforever** · 08-19-2018, 04:40 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by BleacherBum2310

That Almora strike 3 is absurd. How that can be called I don't know how. Cubs didn't deserve that win but my gosh.

/TeamRobotUmps

The strike zone plot showed it was actually a really good call...you can see here that there wasn't a called strike against a Cubs RHB that was outside of the zone in the L/R plane. In fact, it looks like only one called strike was "out of the zone" against the Cubs:

**WaitTilNextYear** · 08-19-2018, 04:46 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by BleacherBum2310

That Almora strike 3 is absurd. How that can be called I don't know how. Cubs didn't deserve that win but my gosh.

/TeamRobotUmps

Call didn't bother me. Schwarber's been rung up on that pitch--or worse--a dozen times this season. Gotta swing if it's close with 2 strikes...baseball 101.

Almora swinging at the ball closer to hitting him in the head than being a strike was the downfall of that AB.

So many guys (Almora, Russell, Contreras, Happ...) look like they don't have a chance up there right now. Oy vey

**BigOscar** · 08-19-2018, 04:56 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

The Rockies are kind of sneaking into serious contention. Feels like no one has mentioned them this year but they are right in the thick of things

**WaitTilNextYear** · 08-19-2018, 05:02 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by BigOscar

The Rockies are kind of sneaking into serious contention. Feels like no one has mentioned them this year but they are right in the thick of things

The Rockies are another team in contention but underwater from a run differential standpoint. Last I checked they were 12 games over .500 and -12. Not nearly as gloriously upside down as Seattle, but interesting nonetheless.

**SPTO** · 08-19-2018, 05:04 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by BigOscar

The Rockies are kind of sneaking into serious contention. Feels like no one has mentioned them this year but they are right in the thick of things

It seems like other than the Dodgers (and even they aren't getting a ton of publicity like usual) the entire NL West has been ignored.

**BleacherBum2310** · 08-19-2018, 05:06 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by Sportsforever

The strike zone plot showed it was actually a really good call...you can see here that there wasn't a called strike against a Cubs RHB that was outside of the zone in the L/R plane. In fact, it looks like only one called strike was "out of the zone" against the Cubs:

Yeah i see what the data shows but i have no idea how that's a strike still haha. but alas Cubs played terrible but are still in good shape. They are in a rut but hopefully that was the worst of it. The Pirates/Cubs series was miserable to watch.

**BleacherBum2310** · 08-19-2018, 05:08 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by WaitTilNextYear

Call didn't bother me. Schwarber's been rung up on that pitch--or worse--a dozen times this season. Gotta swing if it's close with 2 strikes...baseball 101.

Almora swinging at the ball closer to hitting him in the head than being a strike was the downfall of that AB.

So many guys (Almora, Russell, Contreras, Happ...) look like they don't have a chance up there right now. Oy vey

I don't know why Russell is playing it's clear he's hurt. This team refuses to use the 10 day DL. It's maddening.

Contreras is having a weird season. He's underlying numbers are v good but it fees like an awful season. we've been waiting on that hot streak and it just hasn't come like last year.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 08-19-2018, 05:17 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by BleacherBum2310

I don't know why Russell is playing it's clear he's hurt. This team refuses to use the 10 day DL. It's maddening.

Contreras is having a weird season. He's underlying numbers are v good but it fees like an awful season. we've been waiting on that hot streak and it just hasn't come like last year.

I must've missed that Russell was hurt. He hasn't homered since June and is batting .207 since the break.

It's not just him though. The Cubs are 22nd in runs scored, 24th in homers, 24th in wRC+, 24th in LD%, 27th in ISO, and 28th in hard hit% since the break. Fascinating how this club has metamorphosed from being overly-reliant on the homer into a slap-hitting team that can't hit one.

EDIT: Frankly I'm just looking forward to a stretch where they play enjoyable baseball. It seems that something is always off with this year's team. Moreso than it should be for a 1st place team with this caliber of talent. Either the rotation is trash, or all the free agent acquisitions are trash, or everyone's getting hurt, or the team can't hit with RISP, or the offense isn't producing at all. There have been precious few games this season where all the pieces have fit together. Maybe it's just not our year (how's that for staying in character?).

**BigOscar** · 08-19-2018, 05:21 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by SPTO

It seems like other than the Dodgers (and even they aren't getting a ton of publicity like usual) the entire NL West has been ignored.

Nats as well have gotten a lot of publicity like the Dodgers (while neither really deserving it), while the Phillies and particularly Braves have got some for being young and exciting, the Brewers got a bit as well. But the Cubs have kind of been ignored as it seems like everyone just assumes they'll make it, but the Cardinals, Rockies and Dbacks have all been almost entirely under the radar it seems (to me at least)

**Jr.** · 08-19-2018, 05:24 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Originally posted by WaitTilNextYear

I must've missed that Russell was hurt. He hasn't homered since June and is batting .207 since the break.

It's not just him though. The Cubs are 22nd in runs scored, 24th in homers, 24th in wRC+, 24th in LD%, 27th in ISO, and 28th in hard hit% since the break. Fascinating how this club has metamorphosed from being overly-reliant on the homer into a slap-hitting team than can't hit one.

#ChiliDavisFactor

**WaitTilNextYear** · 08-19-2018, 08:27 PM

Re: 8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

Interesting. I knew the Cubs scoring 1 run in all 4 games seemed weird. But, apparently this is the first time in MLB history a team has scored 1 run in 4 straight games with all runs coming on solo homers. Weird little series in Pittsburgh.

8/13 - 8/26 Game Discussion Thread

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