Game Thread (7/04/2022): Cubs (Steele) at Brewers (Lauer) - 3:10 PM CDT

[Eye Black]

[willie key]

Let’s dominate a home stand now

[bensheeps]

Will we see Severino with his first action as a Brewer today vs. the lefty Steele?

[BruisedCrew]

13 minutes ago, bensheeps said:

Will we see Severino with his first action as a Brewer today vs. the lefty Steele?

I would guess yes. 

[yourout]

I'm hoping cc is rethinking how he uses Lauer.

If it's a close game it's two trips through the order and that's it no matter what.

[DuWayne Steurer]

35 minutes ago, yourout said:

I'm hoping cc is rethinking how he uses Lauer.

If it's a close game it's two trips through the order and that's it no matter what.

Yeah, he's been leaving these guys in for roughly 90-100 pitches and letting them get slapped around a bit.  I know he has to think about bullpen usage and how many innings/pitches each guy in the pen can throw, but I'd like to see just a smidge more urgency on in-game management.  I know there's 81 games to go, but every one of these count in the end. 

[CdrbrgMark]

Hiura batting DH against LHP. CC, you're clueless!!

[BruisedCrew]

I hope Caratini at 1B doesn’t become a factor. 

[Brewcrew82]

Robots......

[Eye Black]

Well it didn't take long to get the first blown strike call that could prove costly. 

[BruisedCrew]

One batter, I baserunner for the Cubs courtesy of the home plate ump. 

[BruisedCrew]

Not sure how that isn’t a balk, but karma delivers the deserved out. 

[Caswell]

Bad framing by Severino on that "ball". Pedro is horrible framing. Worst we've seen by a Brewer in a while

[Brewcrew82]

Caratini did good on that rundown. I still don't understand why he had to play 1B and not Hiura. 

[Brewcrew82]

Just now, Caswell said:

Bad framing by Severino on that "ball". Pedro is horrible framing. Worst we've seen by a Brewer in a while

Would've preferred Hiura at 1B, Caratini at C, and Severino at DH. 

[Brewcrew82]

Good fastball from Lauer in that inning. Looked much more like it did in April and May. Hopefully it carries over for the rest of his start. 

[edfunderburk]

What a bizarre lineup today … Caratini at 1B, Severino at C, Hiura at DH against a lefty … hope we score a dozen runs

[Caswell]

 

1 minute ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Would've preferred Hiura at 1B, Caratini at C, and Severino at DH. 

 

Caratini is probably the better defensive option at any of those positions, and will allow him to save his legs a little for the remaining of the series, plus a tryout for Severino at catcher.

[BruisedCrew]

1 minute ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Caratini did good on that rundown. I still don't understand why he had to play 1B and not Hiura. 

One thought I had is that they don’t want to risk having to give up the DH spot if they want to move Caratini to catcher at some point. 
 

The other thought is that Hiura plays 1B like a catcher. 

[edfunderburk]

2 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Would've preferred Hiura at 1B, Caratini at C, and Severino at DH. 

There has to be a better option than Hiura against a lefty

[edfunderburk]

1 minute ago, BruisedCrew said:

One thought I had is that they don’t want to risk having to give up the DH spot if they want to move Caratini to catcher at some point. 
 

The other thought is that Hiura plays 1B like a catcher. 

Sadly, Hiura is dreadful no matter where he plays defensively … that would matter less if he hit .280 with on OBP of .350 … I believe he will soon move back to Nashville or possibly be sent out in a trade at the deadline (preferred)

[edfunderburk]

11 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Robots......

It appears likely for 2024 … wish it could happen as soon as 2023

[edfunderburk]

2 hours ago, CdrbrgMark said:

Hiura batting DH against LHP. CC, you're clueless!!

Confusing for sure … there has to be a better option

[DuWayne Steurer]

CC's emphatic "it doesn't make sense" statement as to Hiura's batting line against left handed pitching is honestly, infuriating.  It might not make sense, but that's what it is. Continually using him against left handed pitching and just hoping against hope for a different result is poor management, and frankly, I expect better from Counsell. 

[edfunderburk]

2 hours ago, CdrbrgMark said:

Hiura batting DH against LHP. CC, you're clueless!!

Confusing for sure … there has to be a better option