White Sox fans enjoying this a little too much.

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Panglossian

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I don't like the Lackey vs the triples alley matchup.

I'm almost leaning towards Almora in CF instead of Fowler with JHey in right.

I know that won't happen though.

Report excessive trolling posts and the moderator team will review and take action as needed.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Fowler can still play center, but you could shade him more toward center / right-center if Almora is in left. Which is the move I'd make. Keep Heyward in right. Fowler was shaded on many at bats toward left center (even though the Giants are stacked with left handed batters) to make up for Soler having no legs I think. Almora covers a lot of ground, allowing Fowler a chance to get to more of those balls in triple alley.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

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I don't really want to take Zobrist's bat out of the lineup since he's had a decent series but this is probably the best way to go.

Lackey, who gives up a ton of contact vs the team who makes the most contact. We need our best defensive unit out there.

This game will probably come down to the bullpens again. I can see us taking an early lead and the Giants then chip away on Lackey.

We need to tack on runs vs their garbage bullpen. Enough of this shit.

#FOCUSED

Well Lackey usually gives up his runs early and then settles in. We'll see...

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

So what time did the game actually end last night? 1:40??

And Kirkwood, I've already exceeded the nine innings I planned on watching in the postseason altogether. Guess I am a BFIB after all.

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-- source

Something like 1:40a, yeah.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I'm still confused by Maddon's use of Strop.

Guy comes in the 7th, and gets two weak outs on 7 pitches. Maddon brings in Wood to face Span. At that point Maddon "has" to leave Wood in for Belt, and "has" to use Rondon for Posey.

Let Strop flame Span in the 7th, and the 8th sets up way different.

Also, if he was committed to bringing Champan in for the 8th to put out a fire, why not just bring him in to prevent a fire?

That said, Go Cubs.

Agreed. Can't stand the over managing when it comes to matchups.

Maddon didn't look too good last night.

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I mean if Strop had crazy platoon splits, then yeah maybe. Lefties .140, righties .180.

Also, Wood is your "long guy" that you burn for two batters in a 1 run game?

That said, Go Cubs.

I would have made moves differently than Maddon.

That being said...hindsight.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

No doubt hindsight benefit, but still, pulling Strop was confusing then, and now regardless of the outcome.

Go Cubs.

It would be cool if the Cubs lost Game 4. Lots of great memories will be made in Game 5.

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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!

I don't think it's hindsight to question his moves. I questioned them in real time, especially the "chapman gets six outs" wisdom.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

They kind of have.

I'm also working off of about 3 hours sleep and have been through 2 hours of the most God-awful boring meetings that would even Marc Trestman would consider pointless.

So, I just might be emotionally drained in general.

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You know me like that.

I think I'm running on adrenaline, but I'm going to crash at some point.

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He should be batting them 3rd.

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You know me like that.

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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!

If you were OK with chapman taking over with 2 on for 6 outs, you should have started him in the inning. I view him as a rented mule. Start him in the 8th every time and bring in rondon if he gets gased.

The parallels to both 1984 and 2003 would be too much to endure. And losing three straight to lose a playoff series, which the Cubs have done in every playoff since 1945, would be horrific.

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The only way to change this trend is to play in Game 5 and win.

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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!

Agreed. My fear is that Lester hits an improbable home run (ala Kerry Wood in 2003) and then collapses.

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They should have just had Arrieta go back out to start the 7th. He's just coming off an easy 1-2-3 inning and facing the bottom of the lineup. Have Wood ready to face Span if necessary and Strop just ready in general to come in for the 7th or 8th.

He was only at 97 pitches. He could have at least gotten you those first 2 outs that Strop got you and you don't burn him.

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You know me like that.

Stop it.

Although I do have to acknowledge the irony that a guy named "Panik" got the game-winning hit last night.

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What would've been wrong with bringing him in just for the 8th? Use him in the highest leverage situation not just necessarily the 9th? Wasn't it 2-3-4 for the Giants in the 8th? Start him to get the 3 best hitters then use Rondon in the 9th

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

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