I didn't create this thread. I'm not going to attribute any team's success or failure to one aspect of the game.

But strikeouts don't matter. OPS matters. Production matters. Last night Kris Bryant hit into a double play after Rizzo led off the inning getting on base. I'd have rather Bryant struck out than hit into a double play.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

An ordinary team squeezing every ounce out of Jason Hammel.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Strikeouts are factored into OPS and they do matter.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Strikeouts are not factored into OPS. Outs are. The type of out does not come into play. Over the course of 700 PA, there is no way to judge which type of outs are better than others. They are all equally annoying, and can only be judged on a singular basis.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Taylor Jungmann is a 1st round pick from 2011.

very nice WHIP of 1.14, has lasted into at least the 5th on every outing he has started.

Saw him in Milwaukee v Cubs. Really good young pitcher, first full season.

last night Cubs made him throw 81 pitches through 2.2 innings, he only let up 5 hits, not great, but you arent taking him out for 5 hits? You take him out because he was tired early...which is what PART of what they want batters to do...not really sure how it can be argued. Its what they have said they want to do, why they want to and they did it?

Of course, everyone coming up, taking one swing and hitting a single would be fine too....but the emphasis on quality at bats proved to help a win last night.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Strikeouts are outs. And they're bad outs. A ball in play results in a man reaching safely over 30% of the time. A strikeout never does that. Or are we playing selective SABRmetrics?

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Yet another reason why I'm glad I'm done with baseball as a sport.

Sounds riveting...

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Its what they said they would do and they did it....you might not like it, but you should be able to admit they did what they said they would do.

"DO WHAT SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO"

Use it many times in biz ness"

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Paul Konerko. 2005. Grand slam. First pitch.

Wait 'til next year.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

And Kris Bryant reaches safely on 33.5% of at-bats with balls not put into play. His BAbip is 34.1%. Virtually identical.

So, since OPS factors all of that into play with its excellent use of OBP and SLG, let's just go with OPS.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Why would anyone care about admitting it?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

To be honest.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

JORR is absolutely being driven nuts by this tiny bit of success from the Cubs.

I feel like you judge the Cubs with some bias.


So now a team 14 over .500 isnt even "good"?

15 games over .500

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

not sure why but your quote reminded me of:



All time rant!

He's not alone , add Rick, Walt and Seacrest . I think Dolphin has already come to grips with what's about to happen.

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Its all just harmless fun.

I dont think any of them are really bothered (other than JORR who admits it to a degree)

Rick wants the Cubs to win.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

wow. global warming causing cold temps and changing the game forever. it all makes sense now.

So apparently people on this board cannot tell tone even though I just put global warming and below average temperatures right next to each other.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

We all have biases. I don't think this team is as good as it's played. And if they do happen to make the playoffs I think you'll see the weaknesses show.

Just so I'm not accused of bias, let's talk instead about the 1993 White Sox. That was a decent team, but they were just lacking and it showed against Toronto which was a very good team. The Sox pitchers couldn't get through that order without somebody hurting them. And when the Sox came up to bat, every time they got something going Bo Jackson or Karkovice came up and killed it.

You know I'm not a guy who thinks there's one winner and every other team is an equal loser. The Cubs are having a nice season. I don't know why that can't be enjoyed in and of itself. I think most Cub fans believe this is like a starter season and the team will only get greater and greater. This may be their best season in the next ten. Who knows? But there's nothing impressive about their offense. And taking a lot of pitches doesn't seem to be helping them.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

JORR,
I judge how good a guy is hitting by BA first. In that regards,Rizzo is having a hell of a season. Schwarber looks like the real deal and I feel Bryant will improve. Soler seems to be hitting better but no HR power which surprises me. You can brag about the young Coob BUT If the Cubs didn't have Coughlin & Denorfia who have provided solid numbers,they would be hurting.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

So, you think Maddon is a GREAT manager. 15 over is great and if you think the players are not that good, then it must be the manager. Unless you think it is luck, just like 2005.

You need science in your life

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with the crazy stats and numbers your calculator spews out sometimes it is hard to tell what your tone is.

we all agree a team can get LUCKY !

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

2005 wasn't "luck". That team was the best team in baseball from start to finish. I think they're the only team to go wire to wire since Detroit in '84.

And no, I don't think Maddon is a great manager. He isn't fucking up this team. But I don't think Jerry Manuel was a great manager and he won 95 games with Cal Eldred as his best pitcher.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

May I ask why?

Those evil "analytics" have proven there are better statistics to reference when talking about an offense's success.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.