MLB 2017 Season

[DegenerateDish]

One stupid rule helped the Cubs Thursday night. One stupid rule hurts the Cubs tonight.

[wadesworld]

Puig is a tool, that was a bad call. The throw took him across the plate.

I don’t think so. He clearly kicked his leg out. And I honestly don’t find it to be a bad rule. I guess it comes down to whether or not you think a fielder should be able to block a runner from being able to touch the bag. Personally I like that the fielder can’t. The only reason the runner couldn’t touch the base was because he was blocked from the base by the fielder. If a baserunner can’t block a fielder from making a clean throw (double play situation, etc) then I don’t have a problem with a fielder not being able to block a runner from being able to touch a base.

Unless the Cubs get 2 runs here it won’t end up mattering though.

[DegenerateDish]

Maddon should probably be more mad that his bullpen kinda sucks than over that call.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Maddon should probably be more mad that his bullpen kinda sucks than over that call.

That rule is as dumb as the NFL pass possession rule with its 50 caveats. Let the players play.

[DegenerateDish]

That rule is a dumb as the NFL pass possession rule with its 50 caveats. Let the players play.

I don't disagree, flip side is if old rule is in place, Contreras likely gets bulldozed there.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I don't disagree, flip side is if old rule is in place, Contreras likely gets bulldozed there.

The rule was intended to protect the catcher but what that play proves, is is unfair for the fielder and favors the runner. It was a bang bang play where the catcher had to swing to the left to catch and apply the tag.

They review it in slow motion and determine he was blocking the plate as he is receiving the ball.

[Jockey]

The rule was intended to protect the catcher but what that play proves, is is unfair for the fielder and favors the runner. It was a bang bang play where the catcher had to swing to the left to catch and apply the tag.

They review it in slow motion and determine he was blocking the plate as he is receiving the ball.

As Wades said, there are other rules that favor the fielder.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I don’t think so. He clearly kicked his leg out. And I honestly don’t find it to be a bad rule. I guess it comes down to whether or not you think a fielder should be able to block a runner from being able to touch the bag. Personally I like that the fielder can’t. The only reason the runner couldn’t touch the base was because he was blocked from the base by the fielder. If a baserunner can’t block a fielder from making a clean throw (double play situation, etc) then I don’t have a problem with a fielder not being able to block a runner from being able to touch a base.

Unless the Cubs get 2 runs here it won’t end up mattering though.

It didn't matter but it's still an awful rule. The throw absolutely took him in that direction.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

And 5 minutes after I post that he makes the throw of his life.

[wadesworld]

It didn't matter but it's still an awful rule. The throw absolutely took him in that direction.

He kicked his leg out as far as he possibly could for one reason only and that was to block Culverson from the plate.

[buckchuckler]

I didn't see the play, but the ESPN broadcasters seemed to immediately think the initial call would be overturned and couldn't believe Maddon was arguing.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I didn't see the play, but the ESPN broadcasters seemed to immediately think the initial call would be overturned and couldn't believe Maddon was arguing.

I don’t think anyone, including Maddon, thinks they got the call wrong. Everyone, including the umpires on the field think it is an over legislated rule where a Wizard of Oz in NY determines what a clear channel is or isn’t, in slow motion.

Joe was grandstanding to make a statement and to try and jolt his team.  Being an ex-catcher, he feels it was a perfectly executed baseball play and the rule is incredibly flawed, which it is.  But it is a rule now built for instant replay just like the NFL possession rule.

End of the day, though, the Cubs just need hits or it’s cutains.

[B. McBannerson]

One stupid rule helped the Cubs Thursday night. One stupid rule hurts the Cubs tonight.

Definitely a stupid rule.  Lackey had it right, the softening of baseball has hurt the game. 

[wadesworld]

Definitely a stupid rule.  Lackey had it right, the softening of baseball has hurt the game.

What do the ratings say?

[#UnleashSean]

What do the ratings say?

Just looking at world series ratings.

Took a sharp downturn after 04 from 20m plus to around 12-15m. 05-15 is the lowest ratings in a long time. 16 shot the ratings way up. But I think there was alternative reasons for that one. We will see if that continues this year.

In other news. The League of legends championship beat out the world series in ratings in 2015

[MUBurrow]

Definitely a stupid rule.  Lackey had it right, the softening of baseball has hurt the game.

Nah. For how often collisions at home or breaking up double plays end in real injury, they should absolutely be legislated out of the game. They're so rare, such a risk to the players, and serve no purpose other than proving who the "tough guys" are. I thought we had unwritten rules for that.

[DegenerateDish]

I sound like a broken record...

Joe Maddon made some odd bullpen decisions tonight.

Did Wade Davis leave the stadium or something in like the 5th inning?

[brewcity77]

I sound like a broken record...

Joe Maddon made some odd bullpen decisions tonight.

Did Wade Davis leave the stadium or something in like the 5th inning?

Going to Lackey instead of Davis seemed odd when you consider Lackey has never pitched on consecutive nights before. I understand that you're hoping for someone that can maybe give a couple innings in that spot, but you have to figure you'd pinch hit for any pitcher as soon as they're up, so why not use your best guy there?

[MU82]

I sound like a broken record...

Joe Maddon made some odd bullpen decisions tonight.

Did Wade Davis leave the stadium or something in like the 5th inning?

Maddon said later that Davis was available for only one inning so he was only going to use Davis in a save situation. He was prepared to use Lackey for 2 innings or more.

I said to Mrs. 82 during the pitching change: "Why Lackey? He's a shell of what he used to be. If they can't use Davis, they should just stay with Duensing."

ESPN is playing the Gibson homer from '88 with the classic Buck call: "I don't believe what I just saw!"

I get it. It was the 29th anniversary of that HR, it was a Dodgers winning HR, etc. But c'mon ...

Lackey against Turner?

I most definitely COULD believe what I just saw!

[DegenerateDish]

Maddon lucked into the Cubs offense last year masking his poor bullpen decision making. That's not happening this year.

Turner was 3-6 (now 4-7) lifetime against Lackey. Everything about bringing him in made ZERO sense, between the consecutive nights being used, bringing a starter into the middle of an inning with a runner on, his velocity hitting just low 90's.

Maddon's postgame comments were just absurd. So basically he wasn't bringing Davis in unless the Cubs got a lead. Utterly ridiculous.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yahoo calling Maddon “Buck Showalter”.  Considering the travel day tomorrow, it was really inexcusable not to bring in Davis.

That said, the Cubs are swinging (and usually missing) at every pitch. KB, Rizzo and Contreras have been horrendous.

https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-maddon-pulled-buck-showalter-032301912.html

[JWags85]

Maddon lucked into the Cubs offense last year masking his poor bullpen decision making. That's not happening this year.

Turner was 3-6 (now 4-7) lifetime against Lackey. Everything about bringing him in made ZERO sense, between the consecutive nights being used, bringing a starter into the middle of an inning with a runner on, his velocity hitting just low 90's.

Maddon's postgame comments were just absurd. So basically he wasn't bringing Davis in unless the Cubs got a lead. Utterly ridiculous.

Every Cubs fan saw that happening.  I had NO faith in Lackey there.  I was praying he lucked into an out of some sort with Taylor cause I knew at worst Turner was going to poke a single somewhere on a bad pitch.

For any soccer fans, Maddon reminds me of the Mourinho effect.  Provides magic in the locker room, gets teams to play together, but that wears off.  He doesn't get toxic like Mourinho, but I think the spark he brings and provides is past. 

I firmly believe that team doesn't gel quickly and get to back to back NLCS's without him.  But he couldn't manage a bullpen last year and its even worse this year.  He's holding the team back.  Baseball is funny and the Cubs could easily win this series in 6 or 7, but margins are very thin and he's severely disadvantaged in late game pitching talent, without him bumbling through it.

KB has been as bad as Ive ever seen an elite talent be.

[wadesworld]

1) Arrieta 2) Murphy 3) Turner

Top 3 most obvious PED users in the MLB.

[#UnleashSean]

back to back NLCS's

Back to back to back.

[DegenerateDish]

Every Cubs fan saw that happening.  I had NO faith in Lackey there.  I was praying he lucked into an out of some sort with Taylor cause I knew at worst Turner was going to poke a single somewhere on a bad pitch.

For any soccer fans, Maddon reminds me of the Mourinho effect.  Provides magic in the locker room, gets teams to play together, but that wears off.  He doesn't get toxic like Mourinho, but I think the spark he brings and provides is past. 

I firmly believe that team doesn't gel quickly and get to back to back NLCS's without him.  But he couldn't manage a bullpen last year and its even worse this year.  He's holding the team back.  Baseball is funny and the Cubs could easily win this series in 6 or 7, but margins are very thin and he's severely disadvantaged in late game pitching talent, without him bumbling through it.

KB has been as bad as Ive ever seen an elite talent be.

This is well said about Maddon. He brings a good mindset/attitude to the clubhouse, but in pressure situations, he's at best mediocre in his decision making. He'll always have a WS title to his name, but overrated for sure.