How to blow a 3-1 lead?

[El Supremo]

Have Draymond Green throw out the first pitch.

[stopbush]

1. The problem with the Giants was a bullpen that couldn't throw strikes.

Last edited Wed Oct 12, 2016, 01:47 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm always amazed at how NL batters chase bad pitches - they simply lack the discipline of the typical AL batter. And NL pitchers have it easier as they don't need to face a DH.

Last night, the Cubs showed batting discipline by not hacking away at the pitches being thrown well out of the strike zone by the SF bullpen. That allowed them to sit on anything that actually did make it over the plate, and the results were predictable.

You don't need to go through five relief pitchers in a single inning if even one of them is controlling the strike zone and throwing strikes, especially if they are throwing pitches that have movement on them as they cross the plate. No batter is fooled by a pitch that is an obvious ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand. All it takes is the discipline to fight the urge to hack away at anything coming toward the plate.

So kudos to the Cubs for exhibiting discipline, and raspberries for the Giants believing that they could throw anything at the plate and think the Cubs batters would be swinging.

[Auggie]

2. There was some luck involved ...

some of those hits were the result of Giants infielders playing unusual defensive shifts. But I agree ... relievers have to throw challenge strikes.

No Giants fan was surprised by last night. We knew there were huge problems with the 'pen. They got as far as they did on starting pitching. And good defense (until the 9th inning of last night).