OnlyBucs

Today's lineup (7/19):

1. Starling Marte (R) LF

2. Josh Harrison (R) 2B

3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF

4. Jose Osuna (R) 1B

5. David Freese (R) 3B

6. Gregory Polanco (L) RF

7. Francisco Cervelli (R) C

8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS

9. Gerrit Cole (R) P



Hurdle decided it was best to give his top HR threat a day off. Hey, it's only a big series against the 1st place team. Rest is important.

I want to state that I like Osuna. I really do.



But honestly I see NO LOGICAL REASON to give Josh Bell the night off in a game this big WHEN HE JUST HAD ALL OF LAST WEEK OFF.



Makes no sense whatsoever.



Why, Hurdle? Why?

They better win tonight because I'm sure we'll see Stewart and Moroff in tomorrow afternoon's game.

022F22333425327271400 wrote: Today's lineup (7/19):

1. Starling Marte (R) LF

2. Josh Harrison (R) 2B

3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF

4. Jose Osuna (R) 1B

5. David Freese (R) 3B

6. Gregory Polanco (L) RF

7. Francisco Cervelli (R) C

8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS

9. Gerrit Cole (R) P



Hurdle decided it was best to give his top HR threat a day off. Hey, it's only a big series against the 1st place team. Rest is important.


Osuna is 2-6 with two HRs against Davies. Maybe try Osuna at 3B? Bell is 0-3. I think the only player not to have a hit against Davies in their career is Bell.



Cervelli is starting his ninth game in a row and is tearing it up during his no-rest streak.

Wait a minute . . . Bell is 0 for his career against this guy? Why isn't he in there? That just screams 'hidden vigorish.'

6B69737563060 wrote: Wait a minute . . . Bell is 0 for his career against this guy? Why isn't he in there? That just screams 'hidden vigorish.'
LOL. Yes, he's 0 for 3 "lifetime" against Davies.

I am not saying Bell should be rested, but if a player needs "rest" it is him. He has only not played in one game all year (93 of 94 games).



At least Hurdle has a reasoning (assuming Osuna's career vs Davies is that reason). It doesn't seem like a "gut" move to me.

464D45494C4D561315625B434A4D4D0C414D220 wrote: I am not saying Bell should be rested, but if a player needs "rest" it is him.  He has only not played in one game all year (93 of 94 games). 



At least Hurdle has a reasoning (assuming Osuna's career vs Davies is that reason).  It doesn't seem like a "gut" move to me.
A lot of those games were a PH appearance or a single inning at 1B late in the game. Not like he started 93 of 94. He started 83 games in the field and finished only 56. And he was off last week. I like Osuna. But Bell is an important bat and this is an important game. But Hurdle never manages that way.

Being 0-3 is way too small of a sample size.



Bell is a good hitter with lots of power and most of it is from the left side.



He should be in the lineup tonight. He cannot possibly be tired.

1E333E2F28392E6E6D5C0 wrote: They better win tonight because I'm sure we'll see Stewart and Moroff in tomorrow afternoon's game.


Frankly, I'm surprised Stewart isn't starting tonight. I kind of would have preferred him. You know Cervelli isn't going to catch a day game after a night game, and I can understand that. But Stewart and Cole seem to have a good rapport with each other. They seem to work well together. Knowing Stewart is likely going to catch one of these two games, seems to me to make more sense to put him with Cole.