KeithStone53151

It's definitely more of a culture shock for Wilkerson. Normally he knows days ahead of time exactly when he'll be pitching. Now he will get like 3 batters of lead time.

I'd have to agree actually. This seems entirely silly. I don't understand the point of bringing up Wilkerson if it isn't to start. He not only has to adjust from going from AA to AAA to the majors in a couple weeks time, but now has to adjust to a bullpen role. If you wanted to do the bullpen game thing, fine. But it is so damn stupid for Jeffress to start it and Wilkerson to come in in relief.

I am a season seat holder, but I was able to get 4 diamondbox tickets to the friday game...section 115. I also tried to get them for sunday out of curiosity after I got the friday ones and could have, but didn't want to attend 2 games. So they had some available, I suspect some people had early dibs on teh primo tickets and a ton of people were clicking that link the second the clock hit 10 am thursday.

I felt like 88 wins was a safe number a month ago and I'm sticking with it. Anything less is risky business. Asking the team to go 11-5 is a big ask, but I think that's what we need.

You participated in that 3 page argument with me on the Nelson thread. Throwing a bullpen game at this point of the season is optimal and whether it works or not, this is the right thing to do. Wilkerson can be there to be the garbage collector if we are up 5 or down 5 (hopefully not) or if for some reason a bunch of the relievers throw scoreless innings but rack up a ton of pitches/pitching changes early. We don't need a starter in the traditional sense right now. No need to save the bullpen with expanded rosters and only 3 weeks left...and Wilkerson, while he's been great in AA, is definitely in that class of pitcher that you worry might be a AAAA type guy that gets blown up in the majors. You put him in the game and he loads the bases in the 2nd inning and it's over. Jeffress could also do that, but the numbers back up offenses having a harder time scoring when you can play matchups for the entire game. I'd have been fine if Wilkerson got the start with the expectation of only 2-3 innings pending game flow or a very quick hook...but if you're doing the smart thing and playing a bullpen game here, you can really start with anybody that you want. It's not at all the same argument, Wilkerson is not Nelson. It's very likely bullpen could give us better quality than an unknown like Wilkerson. I feel like it was fringe pointless to bring him up if they weren't going to start him. I guess my main thought process is that I thought Wilkerson was brought up to spot start a couple times, it seems weird that he isn't. Unless of course they have zero intention of using Garza/Guerra again this season barring an extreme blowout and want more pitching depth.

I'm not sure why Anderson was allowed to throw so many pitches. I would have thought to lessen his usage on short rest considering we were up 8-1 or whatever. I would have pulled him after the 5th inning without a doubt. Also any thoughts on why Jeffress is apparently starting the game Friday, and doing a bullpen game? Counsel said a likely bullpen game but didn't reveal the starter, apparently Thames hinted at it possibly being Jeffress. I would have thought we brought up Wilkerson to start a couple games, and this seems like a perfect opportunity to do so. I'm a bit baffled by this.

Counsel used to be so much better at staggering his lefties. Every manager in the world is already set on using their best lefty(in this case second best because Rivero is closer) against the top of the order in the 6th-8th inning. Why not let Perez bat 2nd and have Thames bat 6th with Pina 5th? At least at this point in the season we can counter like crazy with Aguilar, Braun, Villar, etc if they throw up a lefty.

Kleenex will make a fortune selling tissues in Illinois today.

True, but what happens if Wilkerson gets shelled? You throw him out there against the Cubs in a game that counts double? If we are lucky enough to use Davies lightly on Friday, we should consider pulling him early and starting him on 3 days rest against the Pirates next Tuesday with Wilkerson going on Weds against Pit. That way all of our pitchers against the Cubs, including Davies, can go on regular rest I think we should almost be planning to use him lightly Friday. If he can go 5 innings in 60-70 pitches, even in a close games at least we would have shortened it for the bullpen. We will have Woodruff following him, so it won't be a suter situation where we'll need 7 pitchers.

[sarcasm]Boy, I hope he was at least playing catch the last week or so.[/sarcasm] You misread another of my posts apparently. I said the guys who didn't pitch in the AAA playoffs had shut it down. That was in response to suggestions for Freddie Peralta and/or Burnes. Wilkerson did pitch in AAA playoffs which just ended Sunday so that didn't apply to him or Jungmann. I also said it would be either Jungmann or Wilkerson, Garza or Guerra. Peralta and Burnes were never going to pitch. Those guys are shut down for sure, similar to Hader after his big year in 2016. This move makes sense, especially considering Wilkerson threw an absolute gem on probably the biggest stage of his career on 9/7. Nice to see a guy rise to the challenge like that.

[sarcasm]Boy, I hope he was at least playing catch the last week or so.[/sarcasm] Wilkerson last pitched on 9/7, threw 7 no hit innings with 1 BB and 11 k. I would suspect he'll throw a sim game at some point in the next day or 2 and be ready for his call on the 19th.

From what I've read, the Brewers seem convinced they'll be going to Miami...but the Marlins haven't confirmed one way or the other. I personally don't think they'll be going. The stadium can be in fine shape, but do they have the manpower available to make the game happen? Are the hotels open and available for players? Does the stadium even have power? So many questions, I can't believe it hasn't been confirmed either way at this point...that's kinda bad.

Wilkerson is getting the call, per mccalvy

The Cubs are reaching the end of the easy part of their schedule. After these 2 games against the Mets, they play 3 home vs the Cardinals and then go on a 10 game road trip with no off days before closing the season against the reds. It sure would be nice if the Mets and Reds could help us out by taking one or two from the Cubs/Cards. I also noticed they play a 615 game against the cardinals in st louis on Thursday but haven't changed their Friday home game to a night game from 120. That team is something else. Also worth noting,

We are 4-8 vs. the Cubs so far. They eat our lunch. Ate it last season too. I have to feel a little less scared now because the Cubs are not hitting. Not for average anyway. Chris Bryant leads the team at .285. The Memphis Redbirds now playing in St. Louis (5 of 'em) are batting a combined .300 with power. It may be too late in the season for those kids to be figured out. You know, they ALL come up looking like future HOFers, then cool way off and get sent back down. Well the Cardinals are playing better right now. You will start with the ultimate mismatch of Martinez vs Lackey. And you'll for sure miss Lester. They are listing Saturday and Sunday as TBD in hopes that Arrieta can pitch, you'll likely face 2 of Quintana, Hendricks, Arrieta. Cardinals seem like the type of team that would destroy Hendricks, we'll see. At the moment I'm hoping the Cardinals take 4 or 5 of the remaining 7 from Chicago, that might change by the 25th.

Do you have a source? I haven't seen anything like that yet. I saw that too. I assume that means just that day. I believe after that Counsel or Stearns referenced an AAA starter coming up as a possibility and that it would have to be soon or they might not be sharp. Point being, it isn't ruled out yet.

Do you have a source? I haven't seen anything like that yet.

My rotation starting Friday: Fri 9/15: Jungmann Sat 9/16: Davies Sun 9/17: Woodruff Mon 9/18: Anderson Tues 9/19: Suter Wed 9/20: Jungmann Thu 9/21: Davies Fri 9/22: Woodruff Sat 9/23: Anderson Sun 9/24: Suter Tue 9/26: Davies Wed 9/27: Woodruff Thu 9/28: Jungmann Fri 9/29: Anderson Sat 9/30: Davies Sun 10/1: Suter Anderson and Davies each make 4 more starts with both getting one game vs. Cubs and one game vs. Cards. The Cub games could be irrelevant anyway if they head into them 6 back, but if they are within 4, they'll count double. and 3 out of 4 would be absolute necessity. Davies will start Friday on normal rest due to the day off. Shift everything back one day and it's pretty close. I think Davies pitches on the 24th on short rest against the cubs.

They likely have a very good idea of what they want to do with the rotation for the rest of the year already... they just aren't telling anyone. If it's jungmann or Wilkerson, I'd bet good money they are doing what is necessary to be sharp for whatever start they are given.

For what it's worth, had we called up a minor leaguer, that person would have faced the pirates back to back. That takes away the "hasn't seen him before" aspect of someone like Wilkerson the second time through. It appears we will need a 2nd starter on the 19th, 24th, and 30th of September. We could ask Davies to start on short rest on the 24th and with the off day, only need a 5th starter twice the rest of the way. I highly suspect we go that route, keep an eye on if Davies gets pulled on the 20th with a lower pitch count. It would also allow either Davies or Anderson to pitch a potential wildcard game on normal or extra rest. With 18 games left, our 2 best starters would pitch 8 times in this case. Here's hoping it works out.

I clearly was implying that whoever pitches the 5-6 innings nelson would have pitched down the stretch, but feel free to angle-shoot a comment to try and sound smart.

Man alive, are you still on this? Garza and Guerra are not virtual locks to be able to pitch 2 clean innings each as you suggest. Heck Guerra allowed a HR in the first inning of each of his last 2 appearances, that's even with his velocity back up due to pitch in relief. This happening late in the season, with our depth, allows us to more easily cover the innings without stressing our pen. We will not get nearly the same quality from whoever pitches the first 5-6 innings on Wednesday as Nelson would give us. Disputing that is just plain silly.

Everyone outside of Illinois would love it. Nobody like the cubs

Winner. We are averaging 15 runs per game when Perez leads off, that part was a no brainer.

I don't think you fully read my post. Of course the pitchers we have left are way worse than Nelson. However, 3 or 4 games where we pitch Garza for 2 innings and then throw 6 or 7 relief pitchers probably cobbles together a low ERA. That would burn a bullpen during the season but there is almost zero downside of it at this point of the season and we get to basically have a DH with pinch-hitting for the pitcher every time around. As for the playoffs, yeah, shifting the rotation up one peg hurts. Anderson/Davies/Woodruff is "fine" and probably not much worse than Nelson/Anderson/Davies and using Woodruff for the 1 time we'd need a 4th starter in the playoffs. Again, start Suter and play a bullpen game and it doesn't hurt that much. If we make the playoffs, I'd rather have Nelson + the full bullpen ready instead of a "bullpen game" but when playing with house money at that point it's not going to kill me and it may still work out in our favor. Oh I read your post and I get it. We have the quantity of arms to be able to pitch a bunch of guys 2 innings a piece and not be overworked, that's the crux of your point. The part I'm not with you on, is you seem fairly certain that guys like Guerra/Garza/Jeffress/etc are likely to put together a low ERA and pitch to a similar quality that Jimmy would give us in 6-7 innings. It is probably more likely than not that Guerra allows at least 1 HR in 2-3 innings of work. People seem very convinced that Garza is a sure thing to buzz through an order once, but he's been hit around in the 1st and 2nd inning often enough this season. And in your type of game, you are probably looking at having to use at least one of Drake/Torres at some point. Enough said. The extra offense from PH twice likely doesn't make up for the extra runs those guys give up compared to Jimmy.