CentralChamps21

The inanimate object changed its name? Surely you can write better than this.

I think Hamilton sticks around until Robert is back. I originally said I thought they would send Mendick down when Engel is back, but now I think Eaton might go on the IL so Mendick will get another 10 days, but Mendick having options and batting righty probably means he goes first. Not what I would do, but what I think happens.

6 of 9 road games vs 2020 playoff teams.

Zimmerman vs Cease Roster move today?

Some days, you just don't get hitable pitches. You take your walks when they're out of the zone, and you try to foul off the ones that are in the zone.

Did Yermin leave a bunch of guys on base today? Yes. However, competent lineup construction could have mitigated that problem. You don't bat someone who is as struggling and injured as Eaton second. If you feel the need to sac bunt with your #2 hitter in the 3rd inning, you have the wrong guy batting #2. Compounding the problem is then Hamilton has to go in for him and then he has to sac bunt from the #2 slot. Not pinch hitting Grandal for Collins in a 1-run game is really bad, unless Grandal is hurt and we don't know it. Not having Grandal in the lineup to begin with when the opposing pitcher hands out walks like candy is suspect to begin with. Mercedes has been struggling for a while and Vaughn should have been batting 5th. Hopefully a second rehab start for Engel is enough and he can be back tomorrow and Eaton can go rest for 10 days.

At this point, let Cease bat for himself tomorrow.

Last month the 4 best hitters have been Abreu, Grandal, Moncada, and Vaughn. Time to get those guys lined up 2-5 in some order.

He was caught before he threw a pitch.

When you put Hamilton into the game in the 2 spot in the order when you could have put Anderson there and moved Mendick to RF, you're essentially saying that a day off for TA is more important than winning this game.

Took a perfect throw to nail Eaton. If you never get thrown out at home you aren't being aggressive enough.

MLBN has an enhanced statcast broadcast of this game. I may check it out.

Just go with this lineup and tell the pitchers they better get a lot of strikeouts and not many balls in play: TA 6, Moncada 4, Abreu 3, Eloy 7, Mercedes DH, Robert 8, Grandal 2, Vaughn 9, Burger 5

I'm not concerned, I was just pointing out a bit of irony. If people have nothing better to do on a Wednesday morning than overreact to an innocent comment, perhaps people need an additional hobby to occupy their time.

That would be nice, but we don't even know if that will still be a thing.

I just don't like Eloy and Vaughn in the same outfield. Maybe in a game in an NL park where you lose Yermin's bat, but otherwise the lineup should be plenty strong without having to put both in the OF. Also, an Adam platoon in RF is not at all bad offensively and gives you much better defense.

Winning this game could have the unintended consequence of moving the Cubs into 1st.

I think the Sox will get a CF this weekend. GG level defense, right handed bat that has historically struggled but was very good recently.

Tony seems to love platoon matchups. I expect to see Leury either in CF for Engel or 2B for Madrigal vs most RH starters. Might even see him in RF for Eaton vs LH starters.

For just about any insane thing you could make up about COVID-19, there are people who believe it. There are stories circulating now indicating that researchers in the Wuhan lab got sick and had to be hospitalized in Nov 2019, so that does seem to support the theory that the virus originated in the lab, but does not support any intent.

A slow guy on base with Moncada up >>>>> nobody on base with Moncada up

ESPN only gets exclusive rights for Sunday nights. Tonight's game will still be on NBCSC

Does Lamb hit righties that much better than Blake Rutherford that we need to keep him for depth?

Who should get sent down/DFA? Lamb Who will get sent down? Mendick

I know it's a small sample size, but Engel was actually better vs RHP last year than LHP. He needs to be in CF every day from the time he's back until the time Robert is back.