Well that two run homerun just sucks. It's something Severino may learn as he matures. To go after Bruce and live with him turning around on a 3-2 99 mph fastball for the solo homerun. Let's see how itchy Joe's bullpen trigger finger gets tonight. I wouldn't pull Severino until the tying runs on base at the very least especially if he's cruising beforehand. We need a well rested bullpen and we're sort of running through Cleveland's pen at the moment.
I understand the Cubs have Javier Baez and he's played well for them. We still got a steal in trading away Brendan Ryan and Adam Warren (got him back) for Castro. .283, 37 homers, 133 RBIs is damn good production over the past two years for a second basemen. 3x All-Star for them in his young career with him. The trade didn't make sense at the time in my eyes and it hasn't worked out for them at all. I know we have Torres coming up and are somewhat loaded up the middle. But I'd like to see us hold on to him longer than most think. The assumption is that he'll likely only be here one more season for when Torres is ready by 2019. He's still only 27 years old at the moment. I like the idea of staying with the proven product, even with as good as Torres is supposed to be. I wonder if Castro can play third. I know they've flirted with the idea of moving Torres there. And Andujar could be the 3rd basemen of the future. But I'd like to see us try to keep Castro.
Francona blew the World Series throwing his pitchers on short rest with a 3-1 lead and is going to do the same this series.
I don't get why he was even in the game. He shouldn't have touched the ball tonight. He's overworked. Need him for game 5, but he's also very clearly tired. Put Warren or Kahnle in with a 4 run lead from the get-go there.
Didn't see the MPH but Kahnle reared back on that one and was clearly jacked up. Still can't understand putting Betances in there. Bullpen Joe ALMOST strikes again. Does Chapman pitch the 9th, now? 4-run lead withstanding...
I was wondering the same thing. I'd like to stay away from Chapman and save his arm. Maybe bring Kahnle out until someone gets on? Hopefully we score here and that makes the decision to go to Warren much easier. This is sort of another reason why I would've liked to see Chad Green get some run at the end of games late in the season. So he had at least a little experience doing so.
Seriously. He threw all three starters on 3 days rest and it blew up in his face. These aren't the horses of even the late 90s/early 2000s. These guys can't handle doing that. It's strange though because he didn't do it in 2004 or 2007 with the Red Sox when they won. Granted they swept both series, but one would think he wouldn't wear his pitchers out this early in the playoffs. The right call I think. Wanted him available for game 5, but there is an off day. Bullpen should be at relatively full strength tomorrow. I hope Robertson isn't ruined for the post season because of that 50+ pitch outting. He hasn't looked great since.
Cubs/Nationals today (it was also supposed to be Game 4 of the Dodgers series but they won). Based on the forecast, there's almost no chance of playing 9 innings today. So do they want to play some innings, postpone the game and complete it tomorrow, or just play the entire game tomorrow?
Looking back now I'm glad to have the pitching as it was . Sevy for game 4 four worked out great and I'm glad we are putting CC out for 5 . Also gotta give Tanaka a huge part in pitching a shutout out in game three . So close to losing it it all that night if anyone else but him wasn't on the mound .
