Brewers-Cubs NLDS Game Two Thread

[liveforoctober]

If it were me I would not have an opener tomorrow and would just let Quinn do his thing. But I do have a few flashbacks of Suter in the first inning and I wonder if there is just a little bit of Murphy trying to protect Quinn from the first inning nervousness of it being a playoff game?

[Bulldogboy]

Why not Gasser as opener if you want a lefty? Using Ashby early and not having him in a big spot later feels like an unforced error. 

[liveforoctober]

8 minutes ago, Bulldogboy said:

Why not Gasser as opener if you want a lefty? Using Ashby early and not having him in a big spot later feels like an unforced error. 

Dodgers 4-2 Brewers (Sep 30, 2020) Box Score - ESPN

[Frisbee Slider]

Michael Busch will likely lead off. His OPS against LHP is .642 against LHP and .910 against RHP.

Tucker doesn’t struggle against LHP.

I suppose Counsell could move Busch to cleanup spot and stack three RHH at top of the lineup to counter? 🤷‍♂️

[Oxy]

I love the Ashby move.  In addition to the points made already, he was dealing yesterday.  Keep the mojo going for him and get as many outs as you can with him.  There are plenty of other bullpen arms for the late innings.

[Frisbee Slider]

I trust Ashby can pitch a clean first inning. Plus, if we are going to face Michael Busch in the first inning, let it be against a LHP.

Busch has been outstanding at the plate against RHP.

[Frisbee Slider]

18 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

Dodgers 4-2 Brewers (Sep 30, 2020) Box Score - ESPN

We had no business in the 2020 post season. That was still an incredibly painful 1.2 IP from Suter.

[BrewerFan]

4 hours ago, markedman5 said:

 

I don't hate this in theory... but I'm also not a huge fan. 

So you get a few innings, 3 MAYBE where you negate their LHed bats(hopefully). 

Then you're coming back with Priester for the next 3-4? Or is it just going by feel? Priester may or may not pitch?

If Ashby is really dealing, you get through 3, do you just go a full on BP game? Patrick for an inning or 3(he has been pretty good as of late). 

Mears, Uribe, Koenig and then Megill?

 

Hell, hopefully Misiorowski pitches with a healthy lead, but still an odd decision IMO. 

[folly412]

Not minding the Ashby open.  If he can get a couple and give way to Priester, game 3 would set up perhaps as Quintana, Patrick, Gasser all for 2-3 apiece.

[Frisbee Slider]

12 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

If Ashby is really dealing, you get through 3, do you just go a full on BP game?

I think bullpenning for game three is reasonable. Quintana approximately once through the order then rotate power arms for the rest of the game. ♟️🔥

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, markedman5 said:

My guess is they want to take away him having to face the top of the order an extra time……. Ashby is a much better matchup against Busch, Tucker etc.

When they have used an opener for him it’s been against left handed hitting heavy top of the order lineups……like the Phillies.

I hear you guys, but the way Ashby has been throwing... and the time off during the series, I'd be looking for more than just 3 outs from him. Or at least I wouldn't have a set number. Ashby has overpowering stuff and that breaking ball can get a lot of swings and misses. 

I'd ride him until he got into trouble or for 3...even 4 innings. Let him empty the tank. The only real reason not to is because you'd want him to throw in Gm3, but... I'd prefer to just lock this one down. 

 

[liveforoctober]

13 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

I don't hate this in theory... but I'm also not a huge fan. 

So you get a few innings, 3 MAYBE where you negate their LHed bats(hopefully). 

Then you're coming back with Priester for the next 3-4? Or is it just going by feel? Priester may or may not pitch?

If Ashby is really dealing, you get through 3, do you just go a full on BP game? Patrick for an inning or 3(he has been pretty good as of late). 

Mears, Uribe, Koenig and then Megill?

 

Hell, hopefully Misiorowski pitches with a healthy lead, but still an odd decision IMO. 

Others can correct me if I'm wrong but the thinking behind an opener is to maximize your starter (Priester in this case) getting through the order twice. If the Brewers don't want Priester going through an order for a 3rd time (which has often been the strategy this season) ... and the top of the opponent's order has tough lefties in it - if you can get through that spot with someone else and avoid your starter getting into early trouble.. you can let him get into a rhythm against the bottom half of the order and cruise through innings 2/3-6/7.

I would bet on Ashby getting 1 inning, MAYBE 2 if the 1st is really quick. I don't see a scenario that he pitches into the 3rd. We need him available in every game this series.

[BrewerFan]

12 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

I think bullpenning for game three is reasonable. Quintana approximately once through the order then rotate power arms for the rest of the game. ♟️🔥

Well, what I was saying was just going with a BP game for Gm2 if Ashby goes deep enough. 

If he just comes out and goes 1-2-3 in the first and his pitch count stays reasonable... ride it. 

[Brian]

Chourio update, https://www.mlb.com/news/jackson-chourio-nlds-game-1-hamstring-injury-update 

[BrewerFan]

6 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

Others can correct me if I'm wrong but the thinking behind an opener is to maximize your starter (Priester in this case) getting through the order twice. If the Brewers don't want Priester going through an order for a 3rd time (which has often been the strategy this season) ... and the top of the opponent's order has tough lefties in it - if you can get through that spot with someone else and avoid your starter getting into early trouble.. you can let him get into a rhythm against the bottom half of the order and cruise through innings 2/3-6/7.

I would bet on Ashby getting 1 inning, MAYBE 2 if the 1st is really quick. I don't see a scenario that he pitches into the 3rd. We need him available in every game this series.

Yeah, I don't really like it if that's the plan going into the game. I'd rather use Koenig then.

You're burning your best lefty and one your best multi-inning reliever. 

There's some gamesmanship that comes with staters(at least in recent Brewers history)... but being too rigid, if Ashby is throwing really well, still taking him out after the first or 2nd in the most extreme case, I'd just go with Koenig. 

And I don't need him available in Gm3 as much as I need the Brewers to really put their figurative food on the Cubs figurative throats in Gm2. Lets say he's gets through 2 innings and he's just dealing. Why not put him back out there?

I hope it's at least a discussion as that means Ashby's throwing well. 

[BrewerFan]

5 hours ago, markedman5 said:

 

I have a feeling Jackson will not be communicating any discomfort with them. 

Not saying that's a good thing or not, but... just my guess. 

If he plays, I hope his base running is limited to nice... easy base running. A light jog a time or two around the bases. 

[Brian]

Maybe Blake Perkins tomorrow because he rakes against Shota Imanaga and just rest Chourio. 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/batvspitch/_/id/5134630/shota-imanaga

[rickh150]

4 hours ago, Patrick425 said:

Back in 2008 and 2011 I did sell tickets to a few games. I know that is a bit different than selling tix to playoff games vs the Cubs. However, I'm not going to totally fault any SSH that does this. The price of the entire strip is more than double the total cost of a 20 game SSH package. Everyone has different financial situations.  Just because you are a SSH does not mean you are "rich".  

"Not totally fault" is another way to say "PARTIALLY Blame". And I agree with you.... partially.

To me, it's one thing to sell playoff tickets to friends and Brewers buddies  and another to sell to random people  when we are playing the Cubs.   Of course, now is the time to go to the game yourself, Brewerfan, or sell/gift to friends/relatives/Brewers fans!   

And yes, season ticket holders can afford the hit or they shouldn't buy the strip! Easy. Of course they shouldn't be using secondary markets and get Cubs fans in the door....just awful, awful, awful so called fans. Awful.  Sell to Brewers fans. Give a game to a couple at church or your Little League coach. 

The entire team and manager want Brewers fans there like Game 1! Of course!

[liveforoctober]

7 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

"Not totally fault" is another way to say "PARTIALLY Blame". And I agree with you.... partially.

To me, it's one thing to sell playoff tickets to friends and Brewers buddies  and another to sell to random people  when we are playing the Cubs.   Of course, now is the time to go to the game yourself, Brewerfan, or sell/gift to friends/relatives/Brewers fans!   

And yes, season ticket holders can afford the hit or they shouldn't buy the strip! Easy. Of course they shouldn't be using secondary markets and get Cubs fans in the door....just awful, awful, awful so called fans. Awful.  Sell to Brewers fans. Give a game to a couple at church or your Little League coach. 

The entire team and manager want Brewers fans there like Game 1! Of course!

Please don't take over another thread with this. You have your own thread already to do this.

Please.

[Patrick425]

5 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

"Not totally fault" is another way to say "PARTIALLY Blame". And I agree with you.... partially.

To me, it's one thing to sell playoff tickets to friends and Brewers buddies  and another to sell to random people  when we are playing the Cubs.   Of course, now is the time to go to the game yourself, Brewerfan, or sell/gift to friends/relatives/Brewers fans!   

And yes, season ticket holders can afford the hit or they shouldn't buy the strip! Easy. Of course they shouldn't be using secondary markets and get Cubs fans in the door....just awful, awful, awful so called fans. Awful.  Sell to Brewers fans. Give a game to a couple at church or your Little League coach. 

The entire team and manager want Brewers fans there like Game 1! Of course!

One of those topics where you are not going to change my mind and I'm not going to change yours. So pointless to go back and forth on it. Agree to disagree I guess. Go Brewers!

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

1 hour ago, BrewerFan said:

I hear you guys, but the way Ashby has been throwing... and the time off during the series, I'd be looking for more than just 3 outs from him. Or at least I wouldn't have a set number. Ashby has overpowering stuff and that breaking ball can get a lot of swings and misses. 

I'd ride him until he got into trouble or for 3...even 4 innings. Let him empty the tank. The only real reason not to is because you'd want him to throw in Gm3, but... I'd prefer to just lock this one down. 

 

But there's really no "locking it down" after 9-12 outs. Just too much game left. I want Ashby to get 3 outs and I HOPE he can get 6. Getting 9 would be an awesomely insane thing, and it probably means he's doing it on 35 pitches. I think you absolutely want him fresh as possible for Game 3.

[Dragonbait]

I don't like the cookie cutter post season swag... every team has the same motto/phrase/graphics on the swag.

Where's the creativity? 

Where's the originality? 

[TURBO]

How many games has Ashby been the opener/starter for the Brewers this season?

[Ando Calrissian]

2 hours ago, Oxy said:

I love the Ashby move.  In addition to the points made already, he was dealing yesterday.  Keep the mojo going for him and get as many outs as you can with him.  There are plenty of other bullpen arms for the late innings.

I share this perspective. Use him as opener to and claim advantage of what he’s giving you rather than waiting to see if a spot to use him emerges in an unfolding game.

[Frisbee Slider]

7 minutes ago, TURBO said:

How many games has Ashby been the opener/starter for the Brewers this season?

Once. August 27 against Arizona to open for Fedde. 2 perfect innings for Ashby with 3 K.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL202508270.shtml