Brewers (Henderson) vs Cubs (Gausman): 09/03/26, 6:15 PM

[wiguy94]

Just now, adambr2 said:

No, I wouldn’t. Please don’t put words in my mouth. 

I’ve been a longstanding advocate for not just guessing when you have a situation where there’s 2 outs and a situation where the bases are loaded or there’s runners on 2nd and 3rd. I understand you can guess wrong there but with 2 strikes in that situation, you can’t get caught with the bat on your shoulders, that is my philosophy. So, you’re wrong there as to how I would feel. 

Not sure how it's putting words in your mouth when literally in this thread you were calling ABs garbage when guys were chasing splitters below the zone. Mitchell with another garbage AB chasing a 3-2 splitter below the zone. 

[adambr2]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Not sure how it's putting words in your mouth when literally in this thread you were calling ABs garbage when guys were chasing splitters below the zone. Mitchell with another garbage AB chasing a 3-2 splitter below the zone. 

Were there two runners in scoring position and 2 outs when I said that? 

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, wntrtxn21 said:

You're right. Vaughn has to be in the lineup more. Turang has to be hurt the way he's playing. 2 for 16 with 7 whiffs in the series. They need him healthy (or as close to it as possible) for the playoffs, so sit him for a while. Hopefully Bauers can get the bat untracked. He's getting on base with walks, but the hits and RBIs aren't there right now. I don't know what to think about Rollover. He looks good for a couple of games then goes right back to little weak grounders. 

Bauers also is looking banged up. Murphy needs to get Bauers and Turang healthy heading into the playoffs. We need a deep lineup come the postseason. Can't have black holes killing rallies in the lineup not that Bauers has been a blackhole lately. Just not swinging his best bat.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Tonite was a refresher course for those who think the term 'good pitching can beat good hitting' no longer applies. I know Gausman has mediocre numbers on the year but they would be much, much better if he threw the way he did in this game. Not that there weren't some poor ABs, but it was mostly him being one step ahead pretty much all night. It's why you saw some of the takes on hittable balls, and why I hate guessing w/two strikes. This was a night where Gausman getting through the 7th inning was huge for them.

The thing about Turang that is confounding to me is that he's perfectly happy going to the opposite field, he's good at it, and he's getting pitches he can go that way with; it's not like people are constantly busting him inside every AB. Yet he's STILL having contact issues. A hitter that can go oppo getting balls he can do that with & missing them is.......weird. Just in a bad place right now.

A bad leadoff walk from Hall followed two hitters later by a drive that was caught, but I liked his willingness to be aggressive in the zone. His breaker for a strike on the 2-1 pitch just before the walk was pretty. Just so much better than he was pre-IL.

I had no issue with the lineup. Hamiltons' at-bats were more good than bad IMO, Ortiz coulda sat for Pratt but they're both swinging the bat well, and if Turang would benefit from a day it would most likely come vs a LHP.

[Recovering Chicagoan]

7 minutes ago, willie key said:

There was nothing about this series that says we would bury these guys in the playoffs.   
 

problem is all the rest of the national league teams are good so it really doesn’t matter.    Just get the bye that’s all that matters 

I agree.

[adambr2]

1 minute ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Tonite was a refresher course for those who think the term 'good pitching can beat good hitting' no longer applies. I know Gausman has mediocre numbers on the year but they would be much, much better if he threw the way he did in this game. Not that there weren't some poor ABs, but it was mostly him being one step ahead pretty much all night. It's why you saw some of the takes on hittable balls, and why I hate guessing w/two strikes. This was a night where Gausman getting through the 7th inning was huge for them.

The thing about Turang that is confounding to me is that he's perfectly happy going to the opposite field, he's good at it, and he's getting pitches he can go that way with; it's not like people are constantly busting him inside every AB. Yet he's STILL having contact issues. A hitter that can go oppo getting balls he can do that with & missing them is.......weird. Just in a bad place right now.

A bad leadoff walk from Hall followed two hitters later by a drive that was caught, but I liked his willingness to be aggressive in the zone. Just so much better than he was pre-IL.

I had no issue with the lineup. Hamiltons' at-bats were more good than bad IMO, Ortiz coulda sat for Pratt but they're both swinging the bat well, and if Turang would benefit from a day it would most likely come vs a LHP.

I’m not even calling for Turang to see the bench against righties, of course.

But good heavens, he shouldn’t be at the top of the order right now.

[Bulldogboy]

Turang at 176 since August 1st. It's time.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I’m not even calling for Turang to see the bench against righties, of course.

But good heavens, he shouldn’t be at the top of the order right now.

I hear ya. For sure, he's not swinging the bat like a guy you want up there in the order. I just don't know what the other options would be. I think Murphy sees Pratt & Ortiz in a good spot mentally right now & might be reluctant to mess with that. Moving someone up in the order shouldn't make a difference, but that doesn't mean it doesn't. I don't like Mitchell up there now that he's cooled off, and as @wiguy94pointed out Lara right now isn't someone you can just plug into the 2-hole regardless of who the pitcher is. Down the road, either him or Lara could be great fits there. And you want Chourio to hit with some baserunners so that's also a factor re the bottom 2-3 spots.

If you were to give him a break from that spot in the order I guess the best options would be Ortiz, or Frelick if/when he's in the lineup. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

27 minutes ago, willie key said:

There was nothing about this series that says we would bury these guys in the playoffs.   
 

problem is all the rest of the national league teams are good so it really doesn’t matter.    Just get the bye that’s all that matters 

Media types always like to say how this & that is 'wide open' even when it really isn't, like they're trying to sell airtime or something. But when you look at the top 4-5 teams in the NL, it really appears to be the case this year. But in the case of the team we played this week, in a playoff scenario I don't know how often they can avoid having to get 10, 11, or 12 outs from their bullpen, which sounds like a pretty big ask.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

29 minutes ago, Recovering Chicagoan said:

I agree.

They could have won every game 12-0 and it wouldn't mean dick as far as what happens in a playoff series. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

46 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

 

My one gripe about Murph tonight is that he let two left-on-left matchups happen in the 9th, while Gary Sanchez sat on the bench in a one-run game.

 

 

Great point; much better than some of the lineup griping. Bauers didn't look good at the plate tonite but he usually doesn't get himself out. He can extract a walk. So I'd have let him hit. Sanchez for Yelich makes a lot of sense though, especially since you made the same move in reverse earlier in the series. Unless he goes up there totally undisciplined (possible), I think he's at least even money to draw a walk, you run for him, then either Pratt or Lara for Mitchell.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Jim French Stepstool said:

Great point; much better than some of the lineup griping. Bauers didn't look good at the plate tonite but he usually doesn't get himself out. He can extract a walk. So I'd have let him hit. Sanchez for Yelich makes a lot of sense though, especially since you made the same move in reverse earlier in the series. Unless he goes up there totally undisciplined (possible), I think he's at least even money to draw a walk, you run for him, then either Pratt or Lara for Mitchell.

Brewers still have not pinch hit for Yelich this year in a game that was competitive. The only time he's been pinch hit for is a blowout where they get him out of the game early. I wouldn't expect Yelich to be pinch hit for any time soon for that reason. 

[Brian]

[adambr2]

Want to point out, I understand that Gausman was very good last night. He had the splitter working, which helped set up his fastball. 

So was I too hard on Mitchell to criticize his ABs? Sure, I think that’s a fair statement. He certainly wasn’t the only one to look bad. 

My point on Turang was far more situational. It’s a 2-1 game, there are two outs and just a single puts you in front 3-2. You HAVE to attempt to put the ball in play with 2 strikes and 2 outs there, the game potentially hinges on it. It’s a key moment. You CANNOT afford to guess splitter and get caught looking at a fastball to end the inning. If you sit fastball there and end up whiffing at the splitter, so be it. At least the inning isn’t ending with the bat on your shoulders and two runners in scoring position. 

Of more importance long-term, Turang is the Kyle Harrison of the offense where we are trying to figure out what is wrong with this guy. He is batting .133 over his last 60 ABs. He looked like an MVP candidate in the first half of the season. So, whatever is going on with him I really hope he can figure it out soon. Our postseason chances are going to require some guys to get hot offensively. 

[Brian]

Turang and Bauers are the two slumping players I noticed and need a break IMHO. 

[willie key]

16 minutes ago, Brian said:

Turang and Bauers are the two slumping players I noticed and need a break IMHO. 

The problem is how can we get any rest for Bauers.   There is no one to replace him.   What are we going to do?  Play Vaughn five full games in a row?    
 
how is Murphy going to manage when his go to move  is to pull Vaughn out for a pinch runner.    He might have a seizure playing Vaughn that much

[Brian]

1 hour ago, willie key said:

The problem is how can we get any rest for Bauers.   There is no one to replace him.   What are we going to do?  Play Vaughn five full games in a row?    
 
how is Murphy going to manage when his go to move  is to pull Vaughn out for a pinch runner.    He might have a seizure playing Vaughn that much

Jake Bauers needs a rest.  I know, Vaughn doesn't fit into a speedy game plan but neither should Jake Bauers.  Also, Vaughn's offensive numbers are better than Jake Bauers and against both righties and lefties.  Bauers and Vaughn's plate appearances should be close to equal but there not. 

I do know Murphy thinks Christian Yelich and Jake Bauers are the two golden boy, foolproof players regardless of any criticism.  Also, I thought Bauers had shin splints?  Those do not go away quickly. 

[hoosier]

2 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Want to point out, I understand that Gausman was very good last night. He had the splitter working, which helped set up his fastball. 

So was I too hard on Mitchell to criticize his ABs? Sure, I think that’s a fair statement. He certainly wasn’t the only one to look bad. 

My point on Turang was far more situational. It’s a 2-1 game, there are two outs and just a single puts you in front 3-2. You HAVE to attempt to put the ball in play with 2 strikes and 2 outs there, the game potentially hinges on it. It’s a key moment. You CANNOT afford to guess splitter and get caught looking at a fastball to end the inning. If you sit fastball there and end up whiffing at the splitter, so be it. At least the inning isn’t ending with the bat on your shoulders and two runners in scoring position. 

Of more importance long-term, Turang is the Kyle Harrison of the offense where we are trying to figure out what is wrong with this guy. He is batting .133 over his last 60 ABs. He looked like an MVP candidate in the first half of the season. So, whatever is going on with him I really hope he can figure it out soon. Our postseason chances are going to require some guys to get hot offensively. 

The standard, classic two-strike approach that you teach to high school kids is, be ready for the fastball and if you get off speed then foul it off. Easier to do that then look for something off-speed and try to catch up with the fastball you weren't prepared for. Obviously everything gets accelerated and more complex at the level Turang is playing at. I, who have never had to try to hit a pitch at this level, would think the specific situation calls for a non-guess approach. Maybe with the way Gausman was dealing that wasn't in the cards. But, yeah, if you have to go up there looking for a specific pitch, I would think it would be #1 and then try to ruin it if it turns up splitter. 

[Yaz]

That was a frustrating game last night.  The PCA home run was earned.  That was not a bad pitch by Henderson.   The Brewers offense was SLEEPY and predictable.   

The good is we split so no real harm done.  Got the Magic # down to 14 and now the Brewers play the Reds.  Btw, if all goes well this weekend the Reds won't be a worry any longer.  Amazing that it isn't even Labor Day yet.

[adambr2]

1 hour ago, willie key said:

The problem is how can we get any rest for Bauers.   There is no one to replace him.   What are we going to do?  Play Vaughn five full games in a row?    
 
how is Murphy going to manage when his go to move  is to pull Vaughn out for a pinch runner.    He might have a seizure playing Vaughn that much

Simple, play Vaughn at 1st for 3 days and don’t take him out early.

They have plenty of outfielders without needing Bauers for the OF. 

At least sit Bauers versus LHP until he starts getting it together again. 

[Frisbee Slider]

26 minutes ago, Brian said:

I know, Vaughn doesn't fit into a speedy game plan but neither should Jake Bauers.  Also, Vaughn's offensive numbers are better than Jake Bauers and against both righties and lefties.

Vaughn speed

Bauers speed

Bauers hits RHP meaningfully better than Vaughn this season. 

[Brian]

13 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Bauers hits RHP meaningfully better than Vaughn this season. 

Only if these #'s are wrong, that's not true. 

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/jake-bauers-stats-vs-righties-this-season

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/andrew-vaughn-vs-right-handed-pitching-2026

[Team Canada]

52 minutes ago, Brian said:

Only if these #'s are wrong, that's not true. 

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/jake-bauers-stats-vs-righties-this-season

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/andrew-vaughn-vs-right-handed-pitching-2026

Using those links, Bauers OPS: 863. Vaughn OPS: 778 

[Brian]

18 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

Using those links, Bauers OPS: 863. Vaughn OPS: 778 

I was looking at batting avg. but Bauers OPS is better.  Don't know why the 2 sites have different #'s. 

https://www.mlb.com/player/andrew-vaughn-683734

https://www.mlb.com/player/jake-bauers-641343

 

[Frisbee Slider]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

Only if these #'s are wrong, that's not true. 

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/jake-bauers-stats-vs-righties-this-season

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/andrew-vaughn-vs-right-handed-pitching-2026

.778 OPS for Vaughn

.863 OPS for Bauers

Against RHP