Arrieta simply doesn't know where the ball is going anymore. Fastball or off speed, it doesn't matter. The only reason he isn't giving up 10 a game is because his stuff is still good.

What Bumgarner did in the Wildcard game, especially vs Cespedes, is what Jake did to every hitter in every game last season.

His control was so good and he was changing eye levels. Drop a get me over curve, fastball on the upper half, slider low and away, see ya. Fastball upper half, fastball low outside corner, fastball inner upper half, see ya. You get the picture, it was clinical.

Teams are going up to the plate this year leaving the bat on their shoulder until a clear fastball count and then ripping the ones down the middle. No one is biting on his breaking stuff out of the zone this year even in 2 strike situations. Once it's clear that he's lost faith in the breaking stuff they start hacking away on all counts because they know it's going to be heat over the heart of the plate.

His control has completely failed him. He's going to need to find it again.

The Giants are horrible on offense and have been really undisciplined so far in this series.

I also wonder if teams have found something in his delivery as far as tipping pitches.

His breaking stuff is still sick yet there's been so many times this season in 2 strike situations where he starts a breaking ball over the heart of the plate and then it cuts off low and left and batters aren't even flinching. They're giving up on the pitch as soon as it leaves his hand.

Has made me go "hmmmmm" on many occasions. Makes no sense.

If ever there was a player that I think can mentally and physically go to another level in an important situation, it is Arrieta.

Not a good thing, but he became human after the Cubs were well ahead in the division. He relaxed.

While I cannot guarantee a win, I think you're going to see him at a high level tonight.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

giants have yet to take a walk this series.

You all gotta relax, Jake is a beast on long rest..tonights a coin flip..Lackey locks it down tomorrow if they get one tonight.


I'm more concerned about Russell n Rizzo not hitting dick.

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Where is this proof that Arrieta is a beast on long rest?

I hear and see people saying this all the time. How many times has he pitched for the Cubs on extended rest?

I think one start after the all star break

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That's a huge sample size

I'm guaranteeing this one.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

In 2016:

6+ Days,GS

5 Starts
4-0 Record
1.39 ERA
32.1 IP
0.804 WHIP
3.00 K/BB


http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... r=2016&t=p

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Good shit IMU. I did not know that.

We should be all right tonight.

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IMU always comes through.

There's hope for tonight.

FOCUS

He has similar statistics in 2014 and 2015 on long rest.

Honestly...I care more about smashing through Bumgarner than Arrieta's performance. While I'd love to beat the Giants 15-0, I'd take a win with Bumgarner giving up 4 ER in 5 innings.

I'll take any win, honestly.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

AGREED.

Hang an L on that doucher hilljack. Everyone jerking it to Playoff Bumgarner. It's gotten to be too much. Time to kick his nuts in.

Any win of course.

Idk how the Giants can hit Jake if he's God mode for this start. Their lineup is already very weak.

Tonight could be a repeat of Game 1.

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http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/batvspit ... ke-arrieta

Wow.

He has only given up two extra base hits in 110 AB against Giants hitters.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Agree about Bumgarner. I'm so tired of this fuckin guy. He makes Lackey seem like less of a tool.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Heyward is benched!!

Zobrist in RF and Soler in LF.

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Cubs lose. That isn't a good outfield alignment for AT&T park.

This won't be a tater fest...not sure why you would choose to go with such a weak defensive lineup.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

That was my first thought. Although questioning Joe usually hasn't worked out for me.

Zobrist did play RF this year in SF so not his first time being in that alley.

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Team Cutler.

Maddon must have a feeling about Jake's stuff tonight for him to put a more offensive lineup together.

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No Heyward in a ballpark where right field is the hardest to play in the entire league.

people been clamoring for Heyward to be benched all year long and he is benched this game and people still not happy.

Zobrist will be fine in RF.

Not gonna matter any ways. Jakes got this one on lockdown.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I didn't want Heyward benched. He had a good game last game.

That said, I get it.

Montero and Heyward aren't doing anything vs Bumgarner so you can't have both in. Jake wants Montero. That leaves Heyward as the odd man out. Soler can turn around a Bumgarner fastball.

Maddon really had no choice.

J-Hey will be in there around the 6th or 7th as a defensive replacement as Jake is working on his no hitter and the Cubs are up by 5.

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Lineup doesn't matter. We'll be down by 6 and Arrieta will be done by the third.

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If and it's a big if he doesn't walk the world he should be ok.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Bumgarner is due for a shit game in the playoffs. Hopefully it is tonight.

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