Padres @ Brewers Series Thread

[Kerb Hohl]

I will reiterate that Knebel may be our best guy to use as “closer.”

Not because I think he’s good but because the other 4 guys should be deployed in more important situations. Now, if it’s a 1 run game against Rizzo/Bryant/Baez in the 9th, then I’m going to Hader and/or Jeffress if they’re still available.

[Gianstoppable]

I will reiterate that Knebel may be our best guy to use as “closer.”

Not because I think he’s good but because the other 4 guys should be deployed in more important situations. Now, if it’s a 1 run game against Rizzo/Bryant/Baez in the 9th, then I’m going to Hader and/or Jeffress if they’re still available.

If you cant throw strikes you shouldnt be in any high leverage situations.

[Kerb Hohl]

I will reiterate that Knebel may be our best guy to use as “closer.”

Not because I think he’s good but because the other 4 guys should be deployed in more important situations. Now, if it’s a 1 run game against Rizzo/Bryant/Baez in the 9th, then I’m going to Hader and/or Jeffress if they’re still available.

If you cant throw strikes you shouldnt be in any high leverage situations.

Yes, I think that he needs to be demoted basically to the back of the line given the way he's pitching...but he still may be in front of Barnes and the middling bullpen portion.

OK, here's a scenario:

This coming Tuesday, we're playing the Cubs. It's 5-4 we're ahead in the 8th inning. Baez, Contreras, Schwarber are due up. You've already burned Hader in the 7th, Burnes pitched 32 pitches yesterday, Soria also has already pitched to finish out the 6th to get out of a jam.

You gonna save Jeffress for the 9th because he's your new closer?

I think Knebel has been somewhat of closer in name only and they hoped to just sneak by with getting him in the game with big leads. The way he's pitching, I'm glad that he may even be demoted from that, but I think other than some cases where they had to go to Knebel in a save opp, they were already doing things pretty optimally. Pitch your better relievers earlier as the need arises.

I think by making somebody else closer because we need to play baseball like it's 1998 that you may actually throw Knebel into higher leverage situations and pull a good reliever out of them. I think most on here will agree to play matchups/leverage and not have a closer, but depending on who was available yesterday that's maybe what they were doing. They made up some bogus excuse as to why Knebel didn't pitch with a 1 run lead in the 9th against LA which I think was actually "Knebel only closes games that we have a 2 or 3 run lead in now against crappier parts of the order."

[JimmyTheKid]

After spending a good chunk of the night ranting to my wife and commiserating with friends via text message I figured I'd check on my favorite internet strangers to see how they're holding up. Not well is the answer to that question.

Mistake #1 from Counsell was bringing in Knebel for the save opportunity in a close game.
Mistake #2 from Counsell was refusing to immediately get someone up in the 'pen after Knebel walked the first two guys.
Mistake #3 from Counsell was letting Knebel pitch to Jankowski.

As ridiculously irrational as this probably sounds the Soria injury is 100% on Craig. I know that doesn't make any sense but thats the deal and I'm sticking to it. We badly need a win tonight so this thing doesn't spiral.

[Kerb Hohl]

After spending a good chunk of the night ranting to my wife and commiserating with friends via text message I figured I'd check on my favorite internet strangers to see how they're holding up. Not well is the answer to that question.

Mistake #1 from Counsell was bringing in Knebel for the save opportunity in a close game.
Mistake #2 from Counsell was refusing to immediately get someone up in the 'pen after Knebel walked the first two guys.
Mistake #3 from Counsell was letting Knebel pitch to Jankowski.

As ridiculously irrational as this probably sounds the Soria injury is 100% on Craig. I know that doesn't make any sense but thats the deal and I'm sticking to it. We badly need a win tonight so this thing doesn't spiral.

I'm good with #2 and #3.

With #1, we were facing the bottom of San Diego's order with a 2 run lead. I'm OK "risking" Knebel there. That should be a low leverage situation. After Knebel had 2 long, full count ABs that he lost I think it was a done deal.

[MAC1987]

After spending a good chunk of the night ranting to my wife and commiserating with friends via text message I figured I'd check on my favorite internet strangers to see how they're holding up. Not well is the answer to that question.

Mistake #1 from Counsell was bringing in Knebel for the save opportunity in a close game.
Mistake #2 from Counsell was refusing to immediately get someone up in the 'pen after Knebel walked the first two guys.
Mistake #3 from Counsell was letting Knebel pitch to Jankowski.

As ridiculously irrational as this probably sounds the Soria injury is 100% on Craig. I know that doesn't make any sense but thats the deal and I'm sticking to it. We badly need a win tonight so this thing doesn't spiral.

#1 is not a mistake and it was a 2 run lead....Moving forward 'if' Soria didn't get hurt I bet Craig puts him in instead of Knebel.

#2 eh, sure. Don't see it as a big deal as Knebel is a pro and should do his job. This is Knebels fault.

#3 again, on Knebel. As a manager you have to try to stick with a guy like Knebel to get his s*** straight. We NEED him in the playoffs. Yes or no?

Your last comment is as you say doesn't make any sense what so ever.

[JimmyTheKid]

After spending a good chunk of the night ranting to my wife and commiserating with friends via text message I figured I'd check on my favorite internet strangers to see how they're holding up. Not well is the answer to that question.

Mistake #1 from Counsell was bringing in Knebel for the save opportunity in a close game.
Mistake #2 from Counsell was refusing to immediately get someone up in the 'pen after Knebel walked the first two guys.
Mistake #3 from Counsell was letting Knebel pitch to Jankowski.

As ridiculously irrational as this probably sounds the Soria injury is 100% on Craig. I know that doesn't make any sense but thats the deal and I'm sticking to it. We badly need a win tonight so this thing doesn't spiral.

#1 is not a mistake and it was a 2 run lead....Moving forward 'if' Soria didn't get hurt I bet Craig puts him in instead of Knebel.

#2 eh, sure. Don't see it as a big deal as Knebel is a pro and should do his job. This is Knebels fault.

#3 again, on Knebel. As a manager you have to try to stick with a guy like Knebel to get his s*** straight. We NEED him in the playoffs. Yes or no?

Your last comment is as you say doesn't make any sense what so ever.

1) We've seen nothing but the shaky version of Knebel all season. A 2-run lead to close out a game and series is a high leverage situation.

2) We've seen nothing but the shaky version of Knebel all season. Why should it take more than two hitters to understand its shaping up to be more of the same? Because Counsell is stubborn thats why.

3) Yes, we probably "need" Knebel in the playoffs. It just might not be in the role we all envisioned going into the season. Which is fine. He can still eat innings for us and once he starts to look a little more like last season we can increase his appearances in high leverage situations. Until then, there are better options, and Counsell should go with them. The Cardinals gave Greg Holland $14 million to close games for them this year. Should have they just stuck with him because "he's their closer, so..."? Of course not. Bullpens are always fluid in baseball. Magical seasons like Knebel's 2017 are tough to repeat. Never get caught up in "he's our closer, so..."

My last comment was totally irrational and didn't make any sense, but if Soria comes in to open the 9th in a more traditional save situation, maybe he's not forced to hurriedly "get warm" and maybe he doesn't get hurt. A reach? Definitely. But Soria's injury is still on Craig for the way he handled that 9th inning.

[livestrong4ever]

17-29 in day games

Strangeest splits i have seen. Braun has a .520 OPS in day games. .880 OPS in night games

thats just for this year, or his career?

didnt we use to say Braun and Prince were horrible in day games too?

That is just for this year.
If you take it out to a 3 year span, Braun is actually better in day games than night games
.924 OPS compared to .888

[Gianstoppable]

I will reiterate that Knebel may be our best guy to use as “closer.”

Not because I think he’s good but because the other 4 guys should be deployed in more important situations. Now, if it’s a 1 run game against Rizzo/Bryant/Baez in the 9th, then I’m going to Hader and/or Jeffress if they’re still available.

If you cant throw strikes you shouldnt be in any high leverage situations.

Yes, I think that he needs to be demoted basically to the back of the line given the way he's pitching...but he still may be in front of Barnes and the middling bullpen portion.

OK, here's a scenario:

This coming Tuesday, we're playing the Cubs. It's 5-4 we're ahead in the 8th inning. Baez, Contreras, Schwarber are due up. You've already burned Hader in the 7th, Burnes pitched 32 pitches yesterday, Soria also has already pitched to finish out the 6th to get out of a jam.

You gonna save Jeffress for the 9th because he's your new closer?

I think Knebel has been somewhat of closer in name only and they hoped to just sneak by with getting him in the game with big leads. The way he's pitching, I'm glad that he may even be demoted from that, but I think other than some cases where they had to go to Knebel in a save opp, they were already doing things pretty optimally. Pitch your better relievers earlier as the need arises.

I think by making somebody else closer because we need to play baseball like it's 1998 that you may actually throw Knebel into higher leverage situations and pull a good reliever out of them. I think most on here will agree to play matchups/leverage and not have a closer, but depending on who was available yesterday that's maybe what they were doing. They made up some bogus excuse as to why Knebel didn't pitch with a 1 run lead in the 9th against LA which I think was actually "Knebel only closes games that we have a 2 or 3 run lead in now against crappier parts of the order."

Pitch JJ in the 8th and 9th problem solved. Just like Hader did the 8th and 9th tonight.

[Kerb Hohl]

If you cant throw strikes you shouldnt be in any high leverage situations.

Yes, I think that he needs to be demoted basically to the back of the line given the way he's pitching...but he still may be in front of Barnes and the middling bullpen portion.

OK, here's a scenario:

This coming Tuesday, we're playing the Cubs. It's 5-4 we're ahead in the 8th inning. Baez, Contreras, Schwarber are due up. You've already burned Hader in the 7th, Burnes pitched 32 pitches yesterday, Soria also has already pitched to finish out the 6th to get out of a jam.

You gonna save Jeffress for the 9th because he's your new closer?

I think Knebel has been somewhat of closer in name only and they hoped to just sneak by with getting him in the game with big leads. The way he's pitching, I'm glad that he may even be demoted from that, but I think other than some cases where they had to go to Knebel in a save opp, they were already doing things pretty optimally. Pitch your better relievers earlier as the need arises.

I think by making somebody else closer because we need to play baseball like it's 1998 that you may actually throw Knebel into higher leverage situations and pull a good reliever out of them. I think most on here will agree to play matchups/leverage and not have a closer, but depending on who was available yesterday that's maybe what they were doing. They made up some bogus excuse as to why Knebel didn't pitch with a 1 run lead in the 9th against LA which I think was actually "Knebel only closes games that we have a 2 or 3 run lead in now against crappier parts of the order."

Pitch JJ in the 8th and 9th problem solved. Just like Hader did the 8th and 9th tonight.

I’m all for that, but that is hard to do for a full season especially before Burnes and Soria were there. Those guys become unavailable for certain games and then...Corey Knebel closes the next game?

[Gianstoppable]

Yes, I think that he needs to be demoted basically to the back of the line given the way he's pitching...but he still may be in front of Barnes and the middling bullpen portion.

OK, here's a scenario:

This coming Tuesday, we're playing the Cubs. It's 5-4 we're ahead in the 8th inning. Baez, Contreras, Schwarber are due up. You've already burned Hader in the 7th, Burnes pitched 32 pitches yesterday, Soria also has already pitched to finish out the 6th to get out of a jam.

You gonna save Jeffress for the 9th because he's your new closer?

I think Knebel has been somewhat of closer in name only and they hoped to just sneak by with getting him in the game with big leads. The way he's pitching, I'm glad that he may even be demoted from that, but I think other than some cases where they had to go to Knebel in a save opp, they were already doing things pretty optimally. Pitch your better relievers earlier as the need arises.

I think by making somebody else closer because we need to play baseball like it's 1998 that you may actually throw Knebel into higher leverage situations and pull a good reliever out of them. I think most on here will agree to play matchups/leverage and not have a closer, but depending on who was available yesterday that's maybe what they were doing. They made up some bogus excuse as to why Knebel didn't pitch with a 1 run lead in the 9th against LA which I think was actually "Knebel only closes games that we have a 2 or 3 run lead in now against crappier parts of the order."

Pitch JJ in the 8th and 9th problem solved. Just like Hader did the 8th and 9th tonight.

I’m all for that, but that is hard to do for a full season especially before Burnes and Soria were there. Those guys become unavailable for certain games and then...Corey Knebel closes the next game?

Corey is one of the last options I would use to close a game right now, sure if Soria, JJ, Hader and Burnes are unavailable I go to Knebel. I'm not saying this will last the whole year, but until he can prove that he can throw strikes I want him nowhere near a save opportunity. At least if he blows it in the 7th we have a chance to score some runs. His leash needs to be short, it was an absolute joke that CC didnt pull him after walking 2 straight guys. Knebel is a guy that you can typically tell what hes gonna give you by the first 4 pitches