MLB 2018 Season

[GGGG]

Times and Networks
https://twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/1047154124914081792

Won't be able to see Thursday.  Probably most of Friday.  But Sunday is after the Packer game!

[MUBurrow]

He's a nice weapon to have on the bench no doubt, with only 23 PAs in September I'm not sure he was that much of a factor.

That said, I'd like to see him get a whole lot more time next year.  I get that they had too many Ks last year and changed that up with Cain and Yelich, but Santana is starting to reach his prime years and Braun is aging.  Santana's OPS last year was pretty damn good, and if he can carry forward the sort of focus he's shown as a PH he could be very dangerous at least splitting time with Braun.

The unfortunate thing is that there is no platoon benefit to speak of with Braun and Santana, so the playing time balance would have to be solely due to Braun's decline/Santana's prime (Santana has a weird reverse split thing going on this year, but that wasn't the case last year and I'm going to chalk it up to sample size). 

Its too bad for the Brewers that the early signs of Braun's decline is that he's just going to give you less of everything, as opposed to slowly turning into that older power bat that still mashes LHP but struggles against righties.  With his contract, that would actually probably be better for the Crew, even if it made him less of a player overall, becuase you could go out and get him a platoon partner that plays passable OF and be in good shape.

[Dish]

Did Schwarber have to go take a piss or something? Why did Maddon hit Heyward there?

[naginiF]

My 12yr old is now PISSED he couldn't wear his sunglasses on the mound tonight (16-2 W). 

[JWags85]

Did Schwarber have to go take a piss or something? Why did Maddon hit Heyward there?

Cause he's an overmanaging idiot in key games. He's had no control over this team for a month. Why start now. Literally 0 good reason for that move. He's been trash tonight

[Jockey]

What is the purpose of replay?

[jesmu84]

Cause he's an overmanaging idiot in key games. He's had no control over this team for a month. Why start now. Literally 0 good reason for that move. He's been trash tonight

Per twitter, Hayward is the only one to have faced Ottavino prior, with success.

Not saying it's the correct decision, but it's one explanation.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

How is that force out at 2nd not overturned?  He beat the throw by two feet.

[cheebs09]

The ESPN Statcast telecast is way better than the ARod broadcast.

[Dish]

Wrigley, due to its age/setup doesn't have the camera angles other parks due. Kind of embarrassing for MLB and Wrigley.

[Jockey]

Listening to the SCORE today and they gave an interesting stat

Team with biggest hitting improvement this year? Boston sans Chili Davis.

Biggest slippage in hitting? Cubbies adding Chili Davis.

[Dish]

Ottavino paid ZERO attention to Gore, that was terrible. Gore probably steals successfully anyway, but geez.

[Benny B]

Ottavino paid ZERO attention to Gore, that was terrible. Gore probably steals successfully anyway, but geez.

Gore looked like he was running on motion.... easy chance for a PO/CS if Ottavino simply steps off the rubber.

[Dish]

I get it's tough being an NL manager in the postseason, but tonight won't go down in Bud Black's managerial career highlights.

[MU82]

In addition to being the best tagger and slider in the history of baseball, Javy is the best hugger in the baseline ever, too!

[jesmu84]

Cubs offense fails them in the 2 biggest games of the season

[real chili 83]

Not looking good.

[Dish]

Hendricks looked like he was gassed. I don't know how many times he got up to get loose, but he left everything up in the zone this inning.

[real chili 83]

Hendricks looked like he was gassed. I don't know how many times he got up to get loose, but he left everything up in the zone this inning.

Yep

[Dr. Blackheart]

Cubs offense fails them in the 2 biggest games of the season

Next to the Orioles, the Cubs have lost more 0 or 1 run games in all of MLB. It's been a season-long problem.

[real chili 83]

A talented, undisciplined team. Baez was a joke in his last at bat.

[Jockey]

Love watching teams celebrate at Wrigley.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Honestly, they didn't deserve it. Some mind numbing decisions from Maddon throughout the entire year. Stretches where they couldn't hit a 16" softball let alone a baseball, shame really that team is too talented to go out in the wild card round. 2 runs in 22 innings of baseball at Wrigley.

Ah well, time to hop aboard the Brewers bandwagon.

[Benny B]

Time to start complaining about the inequities of the 2nd wild card?

[JWags85]

Time to start complaining about the inequities of the 2nd wild card?

No. But 13 innings in your 33rd straight game, 41st in 42 days is pretty nuts. Oh, and it's cause winning the season series isn't enough to break a tie

Cubs choked, they scored no critical runs, and their manager let them down. But the structure that put them in that position in the first place is pretty lame.

Some will call it reactionary, but I'm done with Maddon. I can't think of the last time I was truly pleased or impressed with what he did. He was terrible in the 2017 playoffs too. He can drive Chili Davis out of town.