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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2011 20:51:38 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Chicago Cubs (44-32) @ Cincinnati Reds (34-41)[/shadow]
CHC: Brett Anderson (6-6, 3.19 ERA) CIN: Blair Carson (5-5, 3.81 ERA)
After trading for Neftali Feliz and Jay Bruce on June 2nd, it looked as if the Cubs had set up an All-Star roster that couldn't fail. They bludgeoned the Marlins 16-3 in their first contest as grizzlies, not just cubs.
Since that first win, the only thing grizzly has been Chicago's performance on the field.
The Cubs enter Cincinnati having lost 15 of 25 games, and are coming off series losses to the sub-.500 Mariners and Padres. The team that was supposed to run away with the National League hasn't materialized.
Neftali Feliz, openly upset about his trade from the Rangers, has an ERA over 5 on the Cubs.
Michael Bowden, Michael Pineda, Rafael Perez, Esmil Rogers, Pedro Strop, and closer Joey Devine all have ERA's over 5.4 in June. So does tonight's starter Brett Anderson who has gone 1-4 in the month.
Batting averages are down too, with Brian McCann and Evan Longoria hitting under .200 for the month. All of a sudden the Cubs are very vulnerable. Even against a sub-.500 team like the Reds.
Cincinnati has stabilized after a rough start, and despite trading their lynchpin in Bruce, stand within shouting distance of a .500 record.
Part of the reason why they've kept their heads above water has been the play of two promising rookies. Knuckleballer Huston Summers has been a real lift with a 6-5 record, and a 3.67 ERA. He provided a special treat last Wednesday with the first PBL rookie to pitch a no-hitter when he didn't allow a scratch against the Indians.
Equally impressive has been Blair Carson, a five-pitch pitcher, who has kept hitters off balance to the tune of a 3.81 ERA.
Carson hasn't faced a lineup as potent as the Cubs, but he keeps hitters off balance with his junkballing. He even throws a screwball, which is a very unnatural pitch for hitters to pick up on.
The other reason for Cincinnati's success is their lineup in the middle. Byron Wiley is hitting for the average he hit for as a rookie in 2012, while Joey Votto remains a fearsome slugger.
The heart of the order can produce against any pitcher---let alone a struggling staff like Chicago's.
Questions for the GM's. For Garrett Cubbies, your team has not gelled one bit this month. Why?
When you acquired Neftali Feliz you assumed you were getting an ace. It looks like his heart is still in Texas though. How long will it take for him to turn things around.
Finally, your team has been shut out three times in the last seven days. What has kept the offense from firing up this past week?
For Jon Paradiso, you've gotten a real lift from your rookies. First of all, reflect on Huston Summer's No-hitter and what it was like to witness it.
Blair Carson has been a real shot in the arm. Did you think he would be this strong? Right now he's competing with another starting pitcher named Carson for the Rookie-of-the-Year.
Finally, Byron Wiley is really starting to hit for average again, and his power is still tremendous. What has him hitting like its 2012 again, as opposed to 2013?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 8:04:24 GMT -5
Hey Erick as always very nice write up! Sorry I didn't get to this last night but I was working a little OT.
Your team has not gelled one bit this month. Why?
Well I really believe that the reason we haven't gelled this month is just because of all the movement. We have a lot of new faces which means a lot of changes in the line-ups and rotation. I am hoping guys can now start to get settled in and get back to the dominance we had in the first couple months of the season!
When you acquired Neftali Feliz you assumed you were getting an ace. It looks like his heart is still in Texas though. How long will it take for him to turn things around.
I don't know if is heart is in Texas really. Like I mentioned before we are seeing a lot of changes. I take full responsibility for Feliz and his slow start. We put the young man straight into the fire as the #1 in our rotation. While I still believe he is a #1 its a lot of undo pressure coming over to a team that had a number one all ready and telling him "ok your are new number 1"! I also think it upset the balance of the rotation....after what Price did for our team last year taking him from his #1 spot and putting a new kid in his spot prolly wasn't the best thing to do.
Finally, your team has been shut out three times in the last seven days. What has kept the offense from firing up this past week?
I hate to keep mentioning all the changes we made but I really think/hope that's are issue! More changes were just made as we acquired another nice young bat in the OF. We are going to see what happens now....Hicks is going to lead-off for us now that we traded Richardson! If these guys can gel together I really think this line-up could be fearsome! I don't know whats going on with Longo either but if he can't get it figured out expect Anthony Hewitt to be our starting 3b for the remainder of the season!
Anyways thanks again Erick! Sorry I didn't get this in sooner. I know how much effort you put into this and I really like to participate and do my part.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 11:02:42 GMT -5
Postgame Wrapup
[shadow=red,left,300]Chicago 8 - Cincinnati 5 (10)[/shadow]
The beleaguered Cubs bullpen did everything in its power to blow another Cubs win. Josh Ravin returned the favor.
After blowing a 4-1 eighth inning lead, the Chicago Cubs took advantage of a single and three walks by Reds reliever Josh Ravin, including a Jay Bruce bases-loaded walk that pushed across the go-ahead run. Prince Fielder greeted Nick Masset with a bases-clearing triple, and the Cubs ended a disappointing month with a win that feels more like a relief than a cause for celebration.
A Robinson Cano home run in the first, and a three-run shot by Fielder in the fifth gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead off Blair Carson, who pitched tentatively to the Cubs lineup, walking five and striking out five over six innings of work.
Mark Fleury led off the bottom of the fifth with a long ball against a sharp Michael Bowden to cut the lead to 4-1 and it would stay that way until the eighth.
After Bowden exited, allowing a run on five hits over seven innings, Esmil Rogers surrendered a home run to Joey Votto in the eighth. Rogers, Randall Delgado, and Michael Kirkman then proceeded to walk the bases loaded, but Jean Almanzar grounded back to Kirkman to end the threat.
After Anthony Hewitt struck out with runners on the corners and two out in the 9th, Ben Guez singled, Drew Stubbs drove him in with a triple, and and Miguel Rojas singled to tie the game. Ravin's wildness let the Cubs off the hook.
While Carson pitched conservatively, it was not without good effect. Fielder's home run in the fifth was preceded by a sure-fire double play ball that was booted by Brandon Phillips extending the inning.
In total, the Reds walked 12 hitters though, combining with the Cubs staff for 19 total base on balls. In seven combined innings of relief work, the bullpens combined to put 12 hitters on via the walk for some very sloppy baseball.
Questions for the GM's, for Garrett Cubbies, as alluded to in the pre-game, June has been a disastrous month for your bullpen. Do you feel confident heading into a pennant race with these guys holding down the fort?
Prince Fielder continues to get the job done, punishing a defensive mistake with his three-run fifth inning blast, and punishing Nick Masset with a three-run bases-loaded double to break open the game. Where does he stand on the MVP leaderboard in your eyes?
Michael Bowden's smile may be too close to his nose with a bizzare dimple on one cheek but not the other that causes him to resemble a form of alien swine---but he's been an effective starter this season, and for the most part has gotten good movement from his array of breaking pitches. Are you confident in him as a fifth starter, or are you looking to upgrade?
For Jon Paradiso, Carson was very conservative against the Cubs. Was that the gameplan, was he wild, or was the umpire squeezing him?
Josh Ravin is a young rookie without much of a big-league makeup. What was he still doing in the game after it was clear that he couldn't find the strike zone?
Finally, Drew Stubbs has been in a season long slump, but he had four hits, including a booming triple to center field. Is he on his way out of the slump?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 13:25:11 GMT -5
As alluded to in the pre-game, June has been a disastrous month for your bullpen. Do you feel confident heading into a pennant race with these guys holding down the fort?
In all honesty NO. Our Pen is definitely the achilles heal of the ball club. I am hoping Delgado can provide some stability in MR. I really don't know how long I am going to give these guys a chance though. Rogers and Kirkman were very reliable last season but have been pretty poor this year. If they can't get things together soon we will be bringing up some guys out of AAA. Look to see Brooks Raley, Jordan Pratt, or Seth Lintz coming up. They maybe aren't big names but we need to try something to shake this pen up. Obviously loosing K-rod hurts but we need someone to take charge in the pen!
Prince Fielder continues to get the job done, punishing a defensive mistake with his three-run fifth inning blast, and punishing Nick Masset with a three-run bases-loaded double to break open the game. Where does he stand on the MVP leaderboard in your eyes?
Listen I'm a huge fan of Prince Fielder but I'm also a big fan of honesty! Prince was MVP of April and that's about it. I'm not saying he isn't producing great numbers but if he were the MVP right now we wouldn't have as many teams within striking distance! I think he still has a chance at being the MVP especially with the talent we have surrounding him now. As of late though I would say Bruce has been the MVP for the Cubs and if you want my MVP for the NL look at that kid Sandoval in Pittsburgh! I hate to talk well about my competition but Sandoval has been simply amazing since joining the Pirates last season and I don't think he gets the notoriety he deserves. So if I had to choose an MVP so far this season its Pablo Sandoval.
Michael Bowden's smile may be too close to his nose with a bizzare dimple on one cheek but not the other that causes him to resemble a form of alien swine---but he's been an effective starter this season, and for the most part has gotten good movement from his array of breaking pitches. Are you confident in him as a fifth starter, or are you looking to upgrade?
lol you crack me up Erick! Yes Bowden isn't winning any beauty pageants but he's definitely won a spot in our rotation. I'm confident in him as not only a fifth starter but a fourth starter. Hell I think a lot of teams in the league wouldn't mind him as a #3! He's not as flashy overpowering as the big three (Price, Feliz, and Anderson) but he's a work horse! He put up some nice numbers last year as well and we have really liked him since coming over from Boston.
Great questions Erick. I hope everyone else is enjoying reading these GOTW threads!
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Post by reds on Jun 14, 2011 15:41:40 GMT -5
Sorry I missed this too, so I figured I would reply anyway For Jon Paradiso, you've gotten a real lift from your rookies. First of all, reflect on Huston Summer's No-hitter and what it was like to witness it. Watching Houston pitch a no-hitter was fantastic mainly because how far he has come since joining the organization. This is a guy that my scouting team signed as a minor league free agent after the Cardinals released him. He had some success in the minors, but most scouts said that he didn't have the stuff or control to make it to the big leagues. Our scouting organization saw a pitcher whose uniqueness made him undervalued, but whose intelligence made us confident that he was going to learn the control needed to throw the knuckleball successfully. With the way Houston pitches, I think he is going to be in the league for a long time, and his no-hitter is just a taste of what he can achieve.Blair Carson has been a real shot in the arm. Did you think he would be this strong? Right now he's competing with another starting pitcher named Carson for the Rookie-of-the-Year. Blair was part of the same minor league "class" as Houston Summers and Matthew Fairel, and was often overshadowed by those two pitchers statistically and developmentally. Blair sneaks up on hitters (and scouts) because while he doesn't have overpowering stuff, he has a lot of different pitches that often keep hitters off-balance. That's why you see his strikeout total as high as it is. Hitters don't know what's going to come next. I hope that he and Houston Summers don't steal votes from each other in the voting this year, because if they keep pitching the way they have they should both get consideration.Finally, Byron Wiley is really starting to hit for average again, and his power is still tremendous. What has him hitting like its 2012 again, as opposed to 2013? Well first off, it's hard to say that 2013 was a down year for a sophomore season with 35 home runs and 91 runs batted in, but I guess Bye Bye Wiley is just that good. I think a major contributing factor to his lower stats in 2013 was some of the slumps and injuries that hitters in front and behind him dealt with in 2013. Jay Bruce had a down year. So did Brandon Phillips. Those are two of our core players right there. We were too reliant on the long ball last year, and top to bottom in the lineup, our hitters were not focused on getting on base. That hurts a guy like Wiley, especially statistically.
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Post by reds on Jun 14, 2011 16:13:32 GMT -5
For Jon Paradiso, Carson was very conservative against the Cubs. Was that the gameplan, was he wild, or was the umpire squeezing him?
A lot of that was nerves. Blair knew he was pitching the game of the week against a hated rival who was just traded one of the more popular players in Reds history. I am sure he was overthrowing most of the time he was out there. I am pretty happy with what he was able to do, quite honestly, and I think Blair's going to walk away from this one learning a lot about what it takes to pitch in big games. Part of what we are trying to do this year is find out which of these younger players have what it takes to win at this level, so you have to put them in situations like this and see how they react.
Josh Ravin is a young rookie without much of a big-league makeup. What was he still doing in the game after it was clear that he couldn't find the strike zone?
I think that is the flip side of developing as strong a group of rookies and prospects as the Reds organization has. You need to give them an opportunity to succeed, even though they might get roughed up. There is no secret that the roles in the bullpen are wide open right now. We gave Ravin a chance and he failed.
Finally, Drew Stubbs has been in a season long slump, but he had four hits, including a booming triple to center field. Is he on his way out of the slump?
It would be great to see Stubbsy get hot at the plate, but that's just one part of his game. We got spoiled last year with his Gold Glove in Center Field saving more than a few games for us, and I think his value (and his own internal measure of success) comes his ability to use all five tools to win games. I am hoping that we see him improve his fielding and focus on getting on base. That's going to be when I know he is out of his slump.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 16:29:13 GMT -5
Thanks for getting this done guys!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 16:37:34 GMT -5
Thanks for getting this done guys! Anytime Erick!
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