Game Thread (8/20/2022): Brewers (Peralta) at Cubs (Stroman) - 1:20 PM CDT

[Nola Beery]

2 minutes ago, Nola Beery said:

Again, we seem to hit the ball "hard".  Too bad we can't control WHERE we hit it. 

Location is better than velocity any day.  We score with homers, but not so much with "bat control" [TM].  And yes, I know hitting a baseball is really hard. 

Of course, EXIT velocity is always nice!

 

[Brewcrew82]

12 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

Counsell is just trying to get the season over with so he can retire as he clearly has lost his fire.

And a new bs conspiracy is born...

[HarveysWBs]

Wick couldn’t have soft-tossed that one to a better spot for Adames.  That is right where Willy wants it, and he didn’t miss.

[mtrebs]

I know it’s not a must-win game, but if the Brewers really want to make the postseason they need to start winning series. That HR could be huge.

[Brewcrew82]

Just now, mtrebs said:

I know it’s not a must-win game, but if the Brewers really want to make the postseason they need to start winning series. That HR could be huge.

Also. would be a big win considering I doubt we see Contreras tomorrow after him coming up limping. He's been dealing with that nagging injury the whole season. 

[brewers888]

Hiura should start every day the rest of the season and if McCutchen and Tellez don't like it too bad.

[Brewcrew82]

Just now, brewers888 said:

Hiura should start every day the rest of the season and if McCutchen and Tellez don't like it too bad.

McCutchen and Tellez have been our best hitters lately...Not saying Hiura shouldn't play some more, but he's really hurt by his lack of defensive versatility. 

[yourout]

Wonder what the % of hits that have been HRs over the last 2 weeks?

[brewers888]

I'd be lying if I said I trusted Bush but this is a big opportunity for him.

[yourout]

Just now, Brewcrew82 said:

McCutchen and Tellez have been our best hitters lately...Not saying Hiura shouldn't play some more, but he's really hurt by his lack of defensive versatility. 

CF is the black hole offensively.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Just now, yourout said:

CF is the black hole offensively.

At this point put McCutchen out there and live with his bad defense.  The Taylor/Davis combo just ...... yeh

[Brewcrew82]

1 minute ago, yourout said:

CF is the black hole offensively.

Yep. It's crying for a Frelick addition. Nothing wrong with a Frelick-Taylor combo. 

[yourout]

Just now, DuWayne Steurer said:

At this point put McCutchen out there and live with his bad defense.  The Taylor/Davis combo just ...... yeh

You could at least start the game that way and if you have a lead late you can sub for defense.

[Brewcrew82]

2004 draft continues to pay off for us....

[brewers888]

5 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

McCutchen and Tellez have been our best hitters lately...Not saying Hiura shouldn't play some more, but he's really hurt by his lack of defensive versatility. 

He's our best hitter and should play everyday. Neither McCutchen or Tellez are good enough to keep Keston out of the lineup.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

Shutdown 8th after taking the lead. Could use a couple tack-on runs in the 9th.

[mtrebs]

A nice clean inning for Bush. Was worried when he got behind the first few batters but he got through it nicely. 

[Brewcrew82]

Just now, brewers888 said:

He's our best hitter and should play everyday. Neither McCutchen or Tellez are good enough to keep Keston out of the lineup.

You say it so emphatically when it's anything but a certainty...Keston has been much better this year, but to say he's for sure our best hitter is a step too far. Rowdy's OPS for instance, is only 10 points off Keston's and he has a lot more at-bats and less strikeouts. 

[Simba2020]

McCutchen has only played about 100 innings in center since 2017. However, I'd definitely start playing him there against RHP until he shows me that he is totally incapable of playing the position. Hard to believe it would be that bad that it wouldn't justify the upgrade to Hiura over Taylor/Davis. Frelick is a whole other discussion of course.

[markedman5]

 

 

[brewers888]

1 minute ago, Brewcrew82 said:

You say it so emphatically when it's anything but a certainty...Keston has been much better this year, but to say he's for sure our best hitter is a step too far. Rowdy's OPS for instance, is only 10 points off Keston's and he has a lot more at-bats and less strikeouts. 

I can say that this lineup has been terrible especially lately and Hiura should be playing without a doubt.

[Brewcrew82]

Tomorrow is a day they could probably get away with McCutchen in CF given how relatively small the Wrigley Field outfield is. Would also allow them to DH Keston...

[brewers888]

Whatever way you want to spin it this lineup needs more production and can't afford to have Hiura on the bench while multiple players with an OBP under .300 play.

[HarveysWBs]

5 minutes ago, brewers888 said:

I can say that this lineup has been terrible especially lately and Hiura should be playing without a doubt.

You don’t make a bad lineup better by swapping out roughly equivalent offensive pieces.  You improve it by removing your worst bats with decisive improvements.  The thing you seem to not be acknowledging is that Hiura is only going to replace whoever is playing corner OF or DH.  Those positions are not even close to our biggest problems offensively.  Hence, the exasperation with your proposal.

[DuWayne Steurer]

There's definitely a difference between "having the highest OPS on the team" and "the guy who's the best hitter"... and that could be entirely up to debate.  That being said, Keston Hiura's produced enough in his playing time this year that at this point, even if the advanced data says his current level of production isn't sustainable (and I'm not sure that's entirely accurate, to be honest), he should be getting playing time until he shows that he can't sustain a .775 - 800 or so OPS.  You have an offense struggling to score runs, and a guy on the bench who provides OBP and power, who the manager stubbornly refuses to play, and it's mind boggling.