Big home stand coming up for the Phillies. They’ll get it turned around.

Going to be tough for anyone to move much in the Cubs division for the next three days. 2 of three the cubs over the indians is my optimistic prediction, with the reds winning two over the cards. pirates losing two to the padres, and brewers losing two of three to the dodgers. Time will tell. I don't bet on these things though as I'm often wrong. lol

Sweep for the Phillies coming up over those fish.

Bewers will be facing a tough test for sure. Cubs have been playing very well and the pirates not.
Lot of teams in the mix yet with over 2/3rds of the season behind us.

Bryce

Cards blew it. I think the Cubs could of won this one and may still if they pull off a miracle, but the ump cost them 4 runs early on, hard to overcome that. Brewers will have to come back from down 4 if they are going to beat the Dodgers.

I really thought the cubs were going to win this one… they found some kinks in the pitching…Cubs have been playing some fantastic baseball lately… I think they have a legitimate chance for a wildcard spot…
But I think the Phillies will be going to the World Series

How did the umps screw up this time?

Missed a clear strike 3 that would of been the end of the inning with zero runs scored, then the indians went on to score 4 that inning. I'm ready for the robot umps to call balls and strikes. Too many games are won and lost due to umps that can't call balls and strikes. I rarely blame umps for a loss personally but this one stung. Cubs would be back to 500, 5 game win streak, and momentum going into the next two tough games, not to mention pulling to within 1/2 game of second place in the division,,,, but one bad call, could of, and I think did change the whole complexion of the game. Still they did score 8 runs on the team that's 1st in MLB.

I don’t know if it’s just me,,, but it just seems like ALOT of crappy calls this year… more than usual

There were bad calls by the home plate umpire both ways tonight.

Indians bullpen is overworked and shot. Only 3 guys are pitching well and he uses them almost every night. He gave 2 of those 3 the night off tonight. The closer has now pitched 3 straight games so he hopefully won't pitch him tomorrow night. The starters can't go more than 3 or 4 innings most nights and when one is pitching well he has to over manage and take him out if he gives up a hit or walk past the 5th inning. The last 2 games against Minnesota he pulled the starter way early. Last night the Indians were ahead 5 to 1. The starter had thrown 84 pitches thru 5 2/3 innings. The next batter had made an out on one pitch both times he batted. There was a runner on first and he took him out. He used up the setup guys and with 2 outs and one on in the 8th he pulled our 2nd best reliever (Gaddis) and brought in a guy that has been struggling since coming off the disabled list. He immediately gives up a 2 run homer and Minnesota is right back in the game. Gaddis had only thrown about 15 pitches. Fortunately our closer got out of a bases loaded and nobody out jam in the ninth.

He also gets guys up and has them get loose and then doesn't use them. He will get a different guy up and bring him in the next inning. I think the cheapo Indians took bids on the managerial job this past off season. They hired whoever said they would take the managerial job for the least amount of money!!

A few games back the Phillies lost a game similar. The ump called a ball on what was clearly a strike. The Phillies catcher opened my eyes to something I never thought of. He said he set up for a high and outside pitch in the strike zone, the pitcher missed that badly by throwing low and inside, but it was a strike. The catcher said he knew the ump would call that a ball because of the way he set up. It would have been the third out, but the inning did not end and it cost the Phillies the game. I am not trying to make excuses for the umpires, I just wanted to shed some possible light on the situation. It is unfortunate when that happens.

I don't believe that to be the case in this instance NL, but the robo-ump would eliminate that too. lol

I use MLB.Com to follow the Phillies since I can' t watch them on TV most of the time. They show a figure in the batters box and it has the graph for a strike or a ball which is what the Robo thing would be. If any portion of that ball is in the box it should be a strike. I think it would be very interesting to see the Robo ump, not sure how I would like it, lol. That would take the guess work out of an ump calling balls and strikes I guess. What does amaze me is how often batters swing at pitches not in the strike zone and sometimes they aren't even close. It also amazes me how often a batter takes a strike when it is right down the middle of the zone. My playing days were many years ago and I wasn't even close to being a professional player. Most of the pitchers I faced when I played only had about two pitches, a fast ball and a curve ball so it wasn't as difficult to determine where the pitch would end up.

The slump continues for the Phillies, playing the team tied with the worst record in the National League and they can't even score a run.

They used the closer for the 4th consecutive day. He will probably be on the disabled list soon like several of the other relievers.

I wonder if these umpires have seeing eye dogs to help them get to the stadium every day. Most of them appear to be legally blind!!!

I didn't get to watch today any baseball yet today. Looks like two of my optimistic guesses are blown. Good chance the other two may be too if the Cards and/or brewers blow it again tomorrow. We'll see what the bucks do too I guess.

Indians shooting themselves in the foot if they hurt that closer, they are going to need him bad if they can't get a decent lead off the Cubs, what are they gonna do vs. the good playing teams? lol

CH if the umps were as bad as you say, I'm glad I didn't get to watch it.

My mistake I thought that was the final score dodgers up 7-1. Guess they could make a comeback.

ADC,

It was bad both ways again. Even worse than last night.

They need to protect the closer from himself. He says he can pitch so they pitch him. They need to just possibly sacrifice a game here and there and get him some rest. They are off Thursday and supposedly the manager has already said that he won't pitch him tomorrow no matter what. I hope so because that will give him 2 days off.

Well, they must of been awfully scared of the Cubs or just really stupid to pitch him again today IMO.

On the Brewers telecast the umpire is wearing a camera on his mask. Real good idea of just how fast those pitches are coming in. Makes you appreciate big league hitters and umpires.

Or not.