2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Saul Goodman]

I expected them to call up some catching help today, so it's a little odd they're sticking with Montero and Schwarber.  Must be waiting for Ross's return?

[CubFaninHydePark]

DPD.  Just took a closer look and in 5 starts with the Cubs Haren failed to record 17 outs (or 5 2/3 IP) in 4 of them.  In 21 starts with Miami, he only pitched 5 1/3 innings or fewer twice.

So this is either cause for optimism, as his performance with the Cubs has been remarkably less than what it was with the Marlins and he's due for a progression to his season standards, or it just means he's finished and the Cubs picked up a pitcher who is completely out of gas. Tonight will probably be a good indication of which is which.

It could have just been different bullpen usages by the managers...it seems Maddon is pretty quick once his backend starters get to the third time through the order.  This is Haren...he of decent K/BB ratios and giving up a good amount of hits.  If he can go 5 tonight without giving up more than a couple of runs, it's good enough for me.

I think it's because Haren has sucked out loud his last two starts and given up 5+ ER before the 5th inning was through. Joe's quick hook has had nothing to do with it. If he can get back to being Miami Haren, fine, but he's been considerably worse than that as a Cub and it's not because Joe has pulled him too soon.

The good news is with expanded rosters I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe warm up Richard or Cahill or Wada before Haren even has the chance to get himself in too much trouble.

Shit, I'd be completely cool with Wada getting a start in his place.

I think Haren has to be in "earn your next start" land right now.  After the next bad one, Wada should get it.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

DPD.  Just took a closer look and in 5 starts with the Cubs Haren failed to record 17 outs (or 5 2/3 IP) in 4 of them.  In 21 starts with Miami, he only pitched 5 1/3 innings or fewer twice.

So this is either cause for optimism, as his performance with the Cubs has been remarkably less than what it was with the Marlins and he's due for a progression to his season standards, or it just means he's finished and the Cubs picked up a pitcher who is completely out of gas. Tonight will probably be a good indication of which is which.

It could have just been different bullpen usages by the managers...it seems Maddon is pretty quick once his backend starters get to the third time through the order.  This is Haren...he of decent K/BB ratios and giving up a good amount of hits.  If he can go 5 tonight without giving up more than a couple of runs, it's good enough for me.

I think it's because Haren has sucked out loud his last two starts and given up 5+ ER before the 5th inning was through. Joe's quick hook has had nothing to do with it. If he can get back to being Miami Haren, fine, but he's been considerably worse than that as a Cub and it's not because Joe has pulled him too soon.

The good news is with expanded rosters I wouldn't be surprised to see Joe warm up Richard or Cahill or Wada before Haren even has the chance to get himself in too much trouble.

Shit, I'd be completely cool with Wada getting a start in his place.

I think Haren has to be in "earn your next start" land right now.  After the next bad one, Wada should get it.

Similarly you should be in the "earn your next post" land by stopping with your gratingly reactionary and idiotic knuckle-dragging bleatings.

[Quality Start Machine]

The magic number's down to 25 for the Cubs to get the playoff spot they weren't supposed to get until next season.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is. 

[Chuck to Chuck]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is. 

His OPS has lost 45 points since August 15.  He lost 67 points from July 12 to July 28, but put 59 points back on by August 6.

Maybe Al's right and Rizzo is too fat.

[Tony]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is. 

I think Bryant was also slumping when Rizzo slumped before, but that's definitely not he case now.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double (sic) off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is.  

Nevermind.  Even a simple-minded potato-brain like me can use the BB-REF filters easily enough.

His other slump began with the first game after the All-Star Break.  From July 17th to July 29th, he slashed .160/.259/.240/.499.  8-for-50 with a HR and a double.  In his current "slump", which dates back to the aforementioned Kluber triple and has only lasted a little over week (or slightly more than half the length of the earlier slump), he's slashed .133/.212/.233/.445.  4-for-30 with 1 very delicious dinger off Kershaw.

Other than that this dude's been the balls all year.

[SKO]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double (sic) off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is.  

Nevermind.  Even a simple-minded potato-brain like me can use the BB-REF filters easily enough.

His other slump began with the first game after the All-Star Break.  From July 17th to July 29th, he slashed .160/.259/.240/.499.  8-for-50 with a HR and a double.  In his current "slump", which dates back to the aforementioned Kluber triple and has only lasted a little over week (or slightly more than half the length of the earlier slump), he's slashed .133/.212/.233/.445.  4-for-30 with 1 very delicious dinger off Kershaw.

Other than that this dude's been the balls all year.

He just seems to be kind of a streaky player (although he tends to walk a lot even when slumping, which helps mitigate the damage, especially when Bryant is raking behind him, which, as Tony noted, wasn't the case in July). He had a 3-33 stretch back in June, his last few weeks of July were brutal, but when he busts outs he tends to do it in dramatic fashion. He responded to the 3-33 in June with 4 homers in his next 5 games, and then responded to his late July slump by homering in 4 straight and posting a .412/.492/.902/1.394 over his next 15.

Although, really, he's probably not even that streaky. That's probably just normal ups and downs, he's just so damn good and has such a textbook approach that it just feels like he should never slump.

[Quality Start Machine]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double (sic) off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is.  

Nevermind.  Even a simple-minded potato-brain like me can use the BB-REF filters easily enough.

His other slump began with the first game after the All-Star Break.  From July 17th to July 29th, he slashed .160/.259/.240/.499.  8-for-50 with a HR and a double.  In his current "slump", which dates back to the aforementioned Kluber triple and has only lasted a little over week (or slightly more than half the length of the earlier slump), he's slashed .133/.212/.233/.445.  4-for-30 with 1 very delicious dinger off Kershaw.

Other than that this dude's been the balls all year.

He just seems to be kind of a streaky player (although he tends to walk a lot even when slumping, which helps mitigate the damage, especially when Bryant is raking behind him, which, as Tony noted, wasn't the case in July). He had a 3-33 stretch back in June, his last few weeks of July were brutal, but when he busts outs he tends to do it in dramatic fashion. He responded to the 3-33 in June with 4 homers in his next 5 games, and then responded to his late July slump by homering in 4 straight and posting a .412/.492/.902/1.394 over his next 15.

Although, really, he's probably not even that streaky. That's probably just normal ups and downs, he's just so damn good and has such a textbook approach that it just feels like he should never slump.

The fact that he's popping pretty much everything up means there's some glitch that he and the coaches will iron out pretty quickly. Fortunately (as stated previously) Bryant has heated up, so there's some cover in place.

[SKO]

Just, please, limit yourself to giving up home runs to the Reds players who should actually be hitting home runs, okay? Enough with leading off innings by allowing bombs to Scrappy McGillicuddy.

[Quality Start Machine]

Just, please, limit yourself to giving up home runs to the Reds players who should actually be hitting home runs, okay? Enough with leading off innings by allowing bombs to Scrappy McGillicuddy.

Or LaStella?

[CBStew]

Could someone with more developed statfaggotry qualify that Rizzo is in only second extended slump of the season?  Going back to his go-ahead double (sic) off Kluber 9 days ago?  He had a brutal road trip and popped everything up last night.  Just trying to put things in context.  I can't remember exactly when his other slump was this year but I know it basically led the team on an offensive nosedive, whereas the current slump hasn't been as devastating, thankfully.  I think part of that is because Dexter was slumping alongisde Rizzo last time and that hasn't been the case this time.

For what it's worth I fully expect Rizzo to bust out of it any moment now and ride out the rest of the season like the MVP candidate that he is.  

Nevermind.  Even a simple-minded potato-brain like me can use the BB-REF filters easily enough.

His other slump began with the first game after the All-Star Break.  From July 17th to July 29th, he slashed .160/.259/.240/.499.  8-for-50 with a HR and a double.  In his current "slump", which dates back to the aforementioned Kluber triple and has only lasted a little over week (or slightly more than half the length of the earlier slump), he's slashed .133/.212/.233/.445.  4-for-30 with 1 very delicious dinger off Kershaw.

Other than that this dude's been the balls all year.

He just seems to be kind of a streaky player (although he tends to walk a lot even when slumping, which helps mitigate the damage, especially when Bryant is raking behind him, which, as Tony noted, wasn't the case in July). He had a 3-33 stretch back in June, his last few weeks of July were brutal, but when he busts outs he tends to do it in dramatic fashion. He responded to the 3-33 in June with 4 homers in his next 5 games, and then responded to his late July slump by homering in 4 straight and posting a .412/.492/.902/1.394 over his next 15.

Although, really, he's probably not even that streaky. That's probably just normal ups and downs, he's just so damn good and has such a textbook approach that it just feels like he should never slump.

The fact that he's popping pretty much everything up means there's some glitch that he and the coaches will iron out pretty quickly. Fortunately (as stated previously) Bryant has heated up, so there's some cover in place.

When I first read this it said "The fact that he's pooping everything up means there's some glitch..."  I stopped reading there as it appeared to be a medical opinion coming from a lay person.

[Slaky]

Remember we discussed this a few months ago when it looked like the Cubs might compete.

This is not always going to be fun.

[Quality Start Machine]

Just, please, limit yourself to giving up home runs to the Reds players who should actually be hitting home runs, okay? Enough with leading off innings by allowing bombs to Scrappy McGillicuddy.

Rondon sure picked one helluva time to listen to you.