Cubs (Steele) vs Brewers (Houser): 7/5/23, 7:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Brewers almost had another stellar comeback yesterday but came up just a little bit short.

The next two games should pose a tougher challenge, as the Brewers face off against Justin Steele today and Marcus Stroman tomorrow.

[Jake McKibbin]

Steele has been lights out this year, using the four seamer more often and more effectively. He's an ace, and the Brewers may need a gem from Houser

[KeithStone53151]

This guy throws 2 pitches 96% of the time, with the main pitch being a 92 mph fastball. How in the world is he getting through orders 2-3 times? That 2.43 ERA tells me it isn't just us he's dominating.

[Brock Beauchamp]

13 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

This guy throws 2 pitches 96% of the time, with the main pitch being a 92 mph fastball. How in the world is he getting through orders 2-3 times? That 2.43 ERA tells me it isn't just us he's dominating.

I've watched Steele a lot (we run a Cubs site so I stay abreast of what they're doing). His pitches have crazy, unpredictable movement. While he *technically* throws two pitches, he has the ability to make them move differently.

Think of Mariano Rivera. He threw "one" pitch but it didn't look like one pitch to hitters because it moved differently based on what Rivera needed in the moment.*

*obviously, Justin Steele is not Mariano Rivera, just using the best-known example of a guy having one pitch that does a lot of different stuff

[Brock Beauchamp]

If anyone wants a good primer on Justin Steele, Matt Trueblood wrote this a few days ago:

https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/misinformation-is-justin-steeles-third-pitch-r161/

[KeithStone53151]

12 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

If anyone wants a good primer on Justin Steele, Matt Trueblood wrote this a few days ago:

https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/misinformation-is-justin-steeles-third-pitch-r161/

I don't buy this pitch being a cutter based on statcast data. His 4 seamer has a ton of vertical drop but almost no horizontal movement. It certainly moves far different on average than the majority of 4 seam fastballs in the league. It could be a case of being a bit of an artist with his movement leading to it actually being more than a 2 pitch arsenal, but even with that he doesn't seem to have the stuff or arm talent to justify his current stat line. That said, I also didn't think Hendricks could make a career out of exclusively flirting with the outside corner with extremely below average stuff...but here he is posting quality starts with an 87 mph fastball.

[Brock Beauchamp]

35 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

I don't buy this pitch being a cutter based on statcast data. His 4 seamer has a ton of vertical drop but almost no horizontal movement. It certainly moves far different on average than the majority of 4 seam fastballs in the league. It could be a case of being a bit of an artist with his movement leading to it actually being more than a 2 pitch arsenal, but even with that he doesn't seem to have the stuff or arm talent to justify his current stat line. That said, I also didn't think Hendricks could make a career out of exclusively flirting with the outside corner with extremely below average stuff...but here he is posting quality starts with an 87 mph fastball.

As much as advanced stats tell us, there are still elements outside their scope. My mind is immediately drawn to Joe Ryan of the Twins, who was a decent prospect considered to have a fastball that wouldn’t really play at the MLB level.

Yet because of his delivery, extension, and where he places his pitches, he has a 116 ERA+ through his first 50-ish starts. He’s just a good pitcher that punches above his metrics. I suspect Justin Steele is the same kind of guy, he’s just better than he “should” be based on the numbers. 

[treego14]

Prediction for STEELE:

Get him in the hot sun of the Brewers offense, and he will PEEL!

Prediction for HOUSER:

He will make the Cubs a LOSER!

[Brewcrew82]

It's bad enough facing a lefty, but Justin Steele is a guy we've never hit, and he just happens to be the current MLB leader in ERA. We're going to need "good Houser" to show up. Thankfully, most of the Cubs' best hitters are right-handed. And Steele isn't exactly known for his ability to go deep into games. If we're not going to score, we need to drive his pitch count up. 

[Ro Mueller]

So ya'all are saying that Houser and our defense need to limit the Cubs to 1-2 runs until we score 3 off of their bullpen. Got it.

[Brewcrew82]

Wonder if we'll see Jones in the lineup tonight...I'd be for it, just to see if the legend can grow. 

[markedman5]

Bullpen reshuffle again

https://twitter.com/brewers/status/1676682035488751616?s=61&t=FEhwhjje866e-FCjvDB1Ng

[markedman5]

So with Rowdy on the IL who else can play first besides Miller? Caratini? 
 

Has Anderson or Winker ever played there? 

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 hour ago, damuelle said:

So ya'all are saying that Houser and our defense need to limit the Cubs to 1-2 runs until we score 3 off of their bullpen. Got it.

Why only three?

[Brock Beauchamp]

6 minutes ago, markedman5 said:

So with Rowdy on the IL who else can play first besides Miller? Caratini? 

Has Anderson or Winker ever played there? 

Between the two of them, they have started all of one MLB game at first base.

[Brewcrew82]

Looking forward to hearing their plans for 1B...

[treego14]

1 hour ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Wonder if we'll see Jones in the lineup tonight...I'd be for it, just to see if the legend can grow. 

You got your wish!

[RobertCrawley]

I still haven't recovered from that send from third last night.

[sveumrules]

9 minutes ago, RobertCrawley said:

I still haven't recovered from that send from third last night.

Which one?

[Joseph Zarr]

I see the Brewers are now playing Organizational lack of 1B Depth Jenga at the MLB level as well? I've seen Dorrian, Toro, Hiura, and Devanney all play 1B for the Sounds in the past several weeks. Toss height out the window. It is now a 'Break Glass in Case of Emergency' depth chart. Hot take: Toro is the best of this bunch. 😂

 

[markedman5]

https://twitter.com/cyrthogg/status/1676691078538207234?s=61&t=kUXxygG7bbOWDfXCPabOIA

[TURBO]

I would guess Owen Miller might be the full time 1B until Rowdy gets back.

Has Jones played 1B before?  Seems sketchy to throw a guy over there who hasn't played there before.

[edfunderburk]

2 minutes ago, TURBO said:

I would guess Owen Miller might be the full time 1B until Rowdy gets back.

Has Jones played 1B before?  Seems sketchy to throw a guy over there who hasn't played there before.

Any chance Yelich is considered there since he has experience years ago at the position?

I believe he will play there next season & beyond

[Brewcrew82]

8 minutes ago, edfunderburk said:

Any chance Yelich is considered there since he has experience years ago at the position?

I believe he will play there next season & beyond

No. You don't mess with Yelich this season with the way he's playing, both on offense and in the field. 

[Frisbee Slider]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

Seems sketchy to throw a guy over there who hasn't played there before.