For those wondering about Cubs bullpen moves this evening, David Ross intimated there was more at play, as in attempting to keep away from certain guys, however didnt reveal which guys/reasons … for this reason it looked a little diff than you might have expected.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) September 2, 2020
Then, if Ross knew he had 2 or three relievers that he didnt want to utilize, you may understand somewhat more his additional push to attempt to get Jon Lester through that 6th inning. From there, Rea and Kyle Ryan got the Cubs through that inning and the next one. The match-ups made sense. Fine.
For the 8th, though, prior to and after the rain delay, it was Dan Winkler getting the inning with a one-run lead (he immediately quit a game-tying homer). Generally, that inning would go to Rowan Wick. Or Ryan Tepera. Or perhaps even Craig Kimbrel. Jeremy Jeffress, you d presume, was being held for the 9th inning and the top/middle of the lineup. Fine. Then Wick wound up taking over for Winkler, so it appears like Wick wasnt a man who was not available. Why didnt he just begin that inning?
With Ross, so far, through almost six weeks, I d really only had one mild beef previously in the season. I simply couldnt come up with much, and I couldnt even keep in mind that specific beef.
Then the very next night– last night– I had beef.
Most of us did, several times, about the pitching decisions in the Cubs extra-innings 8-7 win over the Pirates. While viewing live, it seemed like Ross was method too sluggish to go get Jon Lester, relied on the incorrect guy to protect the lead in the 8th inning, and collaborated the men after that in an unusual method, including having brand-new LOOGY Josh Osich face at least another righty than he needed to. I wasnt irritated, but I was definitely perplexed.
I was on 670 Ball game a couple nights earlier– simply a fast visitor thing, I am not cool– and I was asked about David Ross up until now as the Cubs manager.
Ill most likely get blasted for even recommending him, however is he truly a worse alternative for the 8th than Dan Winkler if you know you have restricted options? The Cubs have actually held him out like that prior to.
That would imply the only other person in the bullpen is Duane Underwood, Jr., and although hes been racking up the Ks lately, hes pitched solely in low-leverage situations. I can understand, if the choices for the 8th were Winkler or Underwood, Ross choosing Winkler. That still does not rather explain why Wick didnt simply start that inning, however were getting closer to understanding whatever, at least.
Shouts, by the method, to the new person, Josh Osich. Ross deployed him in a match-up capability in the 9th, but in a circumstance where he was going to have to face a minimum of one righty with a runner in scoring position. Then Osich took the ball to begin the 10th, when its possible all Ross had actually left in his bullpen were Jeffress and Underwood.
I think you have to guess that Ryan Tepera, at a minimum, was not available. He quickly wouldve gotten either that area or among the extra-innings spots requiring strikeouts. He pitched both weekend games, tossed a great deal of pitches, and did not have control at all on Sunday. Hopefully its not a small injury issue (it cant be a known major injury problem, because the Cubs made a lot of lineup moves the other day, including sending out Casey Sadler (yes, the 40-man makes complex things, but Im believing if Tepera were seriously hurt, he wouldve hit the IL the other day)). Rather, I hope Ross was simply holding company on offering Tepera a minimum of 2 days rest. Thats fine.
But, not unlike an entire lotta the (few) beefs I would have with Maddon, you wake up the next day with more benefit of the doubt in mind, you hear more of the “why” from the supervisor, and it all starts to appear a lot more affordable. You might still disagree with the relocations, however at least you can much better comprehend them.
Lets start with Lester. Through 5 innings, Lester had tossed just 76 pitches, allowing only one run. That he would come out for the 6th inning with a 6-1 lead was never a question.
— Lester had actually been in and out of difficulty, allowing at least one early baserunner in each of the first four innings. With the Pirates lineup turning over to the third time through, ears need tove been raised to a quicker pull, even with the 6-1 lead and a fast 5th inning from Lester. Rather of a fast pull, it was an extremely slow one, with Lester permitted to offer up consecutive single, walk, double, single, double prior to he was pulled.
With Ross, so far, through nearly six weeks, I d truly only had one moderate beef previously in the season. While watching live, it seemed like Ross was way too slow to go get Jon Lester, turned to the wrong person to preserve the lead in the 8th inning, and coordinated the guys after that in an unusual method, including having new LOOGY Josh Osich face at least one more righty than he had to. Rather, I hope Ross was just holding firm on providing Tepera at least two days rest. I can comprehend, if the choices for the 8th were Winkler or Underwood, Ross going with Winkler. Ross deployed him in a match-up capability in the 9th, however in a scenario where he was going to have to face at least one righty with a runner in scoring position.
A minimum of thats how I saw things as it was happening live. What we didnt know at the time, and what no doubt affected the later decisions with which we beefed: Ross had some relievers he didnt wish to utilize.
Ultimately, all the reducers did great work, even in some odd spots, with the exception of a really bad pitch from Winkler.
Ross states he needed to stay away from some guys this evening, which is why he went to Dan Winkler in the 8th inning. #Cubs
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) September 2, 2020
