It sure is nice having that twelve game cushion. The Cardinals have been flailing a bit lately, even losing a series at home to the Braves, but still have the third-best run differential in the NL. They’re down a couple of key contributers, including Michael Wacha, out with shoulder inflammation, Aledmys Diaz, out with a broken thumb, and Trevor Rosenthal, out with shoulder issues/suckitis. Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams are also a little banged up. Not that there’s any good time to face the Cardinals, but it would be nice to see the Cubs salt things away, as ridiculous as that sounds with a twelve game lead.
Team Leaders
Cubs
- OBP: Anthony Rizzo (.398)
- ISO: Rizzo (.284)
- HR: Kris Bryant (28)
- R+RBI: Bryant (154)
- wRC+: Rizzo (155)
- BSR: Bryant (3.9)
- SP K/9: Jake Arrieta (9.04)
- SP BB/9: Kyle Hendricks (2.34)
- SP FIP: Arrieta (2.99)
- RP K/9: Carl Edwards (12.50)
- RP BB/9: Hector Rondon (1.06)
- RP FIP: Edwards (1.91)
- WAR: Bryant (5.7)
Cardinals
- OBP: Matt Carpenter (.414)
- ISO: Brandon Moss (.299)
- HR: Matt Holliday (19)
- R+RBI: Aledmys Diaz (121)
- wRC+: Carpenter (158)
- BSR: Randal Grichuk (2.8)
- SP K/9: Jaime Garcia (7.65)
- SP BB/9: Mike Leake (1.42)
- SP FIP: Adam Wainwright (3.33)
- RP K/9: Rosenthal (12.27)
- RP BB/9: Seung Hwan Oh (2.22)
- RP FIP: Oh (2.13)
- WAR: Carpenter/Wainwright (3.0)
Pitching matchups
K/9, BB/9, ERA, FIP, projected ERA listed for each starter.
Thursday: Carlos Martinez, RHP (7.40, 3.22, 3.29, 3.86, 3.64) vs Jon Lester, LHP (8.84, 2.53, 2.93, 3.83, 3.32), 7:05 PM CT
Martinez’s ERA has been more than fine this year, but his peripherals don’t paint quite as rosy a picture compared to last year’s numbers. He’s striking out many fewer batters, but a good BABIP seems to be making up for it. He last faced the Cubs back in May, and was wrecked for six runs in five innings. Earlier the the season though he was able to hold the April Cubs to just one run in seven innings. He was knocked around by the mighty Braves offense in his last start.
Friday: Adam Wainwright, RHP (7.05, 2.33, 4.34, 3.33, 3.27) vs Jake Arrieta, RHP (9.04, 3.16, 2.59, 2.99, 2.68), 1:20 PM CT
It would be a massive understatement to say that Waino’s season did not get off to a good start. But aside from his strand rate, all of his peripherals look very similar to his last full season. What does seem strange is the sheer number of hits that he has given up. He’s had four different games this year in which he’s given up double digit hits. If you look at his line drive rate over the past few seasons it averages around 24%, which is not what you’d expect for a guy who puts up the kind of results that he does. I guess hitters are just getting more swings on him this year.
Saturday: Luke Weaver, RHP (-,-,-,-,-) vs Kyle Hendricks, RHP (7.58, 2.37, 2.17, 3.35, 3.60), 1:20 PM CT
Weaver is making his MLB debut, sucks for him to be facing the other team’s ace. He made thirteen starts in the minors this year, mostly in AA, where he posted a 90-12 strikeout to walk ratio. It’s a little surprising that he’s getting the start and not top prospect Alex Reyes, who was called up to pitch out of the bullpen.
Sunday: Mike Leake, RHP (6.22, 1.42, 4.79, 4.04, 3.90) vs John Lackey, RHP (8.96, 2.49, 3.56, 3.76, 3.46), 7:08 PM CT
Leake turned his Cardinals tenure from Dumpster Fire to mere smoldering trash earlier in the summer, but a string of bad starts has that fire roaring again. He had three starts in a row with 6+ runs given up, and managed to hold the Reds to three runs in six innings in his last start despite striking out no one and walking four. There’s only four more years of that contract! I’ll `enjoy’ seeing him turn into the next Kyle Lohse (the good version).
Comments
I hope Strop is ok. It’s about time the Cubs got some good news from an MRI machine.
dmick89Quote Reply
I am starting to love this La Stella saga. People are so confused. Dude, you have a contract. Why are you being so selfish? You’re only hurting yourself.
He’s Bartleby the scrivener. He’s Cool Hand Luke. I love the righteous disobedience. We do not have ownership over him.
It’s a beautiful thing.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
He’s John Galt.
EdwinQuote Reply
So apparently Trump’s plan for dealing with the fallout from him terrible statements: Make even more terrible statements. The man is non-stop.
EdwinQuote Reply
i enjoyed this piece about zambrano
https://theathletic.com/16943/2016/08/10/carlos-zambrano-is-always-welcome-at-wrigley-field/
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
I love the bit about being the Cubs on PlayStation
SKQuote Reply
So, if I could add a poll, I would ask:
How Many Games Back will the Cardinals be on Monday Morning?
I’ll say 12 because I’m a pessimistic bastard
SKQuote Reply
cerulean,
So is there a lefty bat the Cubs can get?
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I like how he doesn’t play as himself, because he doesn’t want to get mad at himself.
EdwinQuote Reply
infinity billion
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Edwin,
i know, i loved that quote
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
20.5
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
He’s a funny man with a big personality. Also, I’d love to see him get mad at himself.
SKQuote Reply
Cubs 2nd order record: 80-32.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ve seen the 2nd order records some of you have posted. What is that? Is that like the Pythagorean Record on Bref?
MuckerQuote Reply
It’s when you run out of records from the 1st order, so you have to order more records. “Hey, Mitch! We sold out of the ‘Meatloaf Live on Broadway’ records. Bust open that 2nd order.”
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
(dying laughing)
MuckerQuote Reply
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/
hover over the links on that page for the best description
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ve been on Fangraphs all day looking up stats that I didn’t even know existed. They have a “clutch” stat that measures how well a player performs in high leverage situations and I was pleasantly surprised to see Addison Russell leads MLB in that stat. Was also surprised to see Bryant has the 2nd lowest in MLB. Don’t really know what any of that means but I thought I’d share.
Cool story bro
MuckerQuote Reply
Wind is blowing out.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
dmick89,
Oh cool. Thanks. So what does that mean? They should have a better record based on their run differential? Does that mean they are better than they are and we should start celebrating now? Or that they are finding ways to lose games even though they are better and we should all start crying now?
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker,
It just means that based on their runs scored, underlying stats (hits, walks, etc), the formula expected the Cubs to be a bit better than they have been. I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in it. I usually look at it as whether or not a team has been lucky (the Cubs have been a bit unlucky). Crazy to think of this team as a bit unlucky, though.
dmick89Quote Reply
Strop —–> out 4-6 weeks
Grimm —-> Cubs
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
SK,
I’m gonna go with 14. I know that this is petty and probably not going to happen, but I’d love to see the Cubs clinch in St. Louis in mid-September. They’d have to open up about an 18 game lead or so, which sounds crazy, but then again if they sweep this series they’re at 16.
Not going to happen, but if it did I’d enjoy it more than I’d like to admit. It would be kinda like fucking your biggest bully’s girl on his bed.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
At least there was no ligament damage
berseliusQuote Reply
Wenningtons Gorilla Cock,
That’s pretty much the rest of the season. That sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
Fowler
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Russell
Heyward
Coghlan
Ross
Lester
I saw somewhere Martinez has a big platoon split – his career numbers are a .336 wOBA against for LHB and .265 for RHB, hence Coghlan.
berseliusQuote Reply
uncle dave,
Man, your revenge fantasies are real as shit.
SKQuote Reply
Nah, it’s Joe’s ageism at play here. Coghlan, Ross etc. play tonight, because only young guys can be expected to start on the day game after a night game. Zobrist probably gets a, ahem, blow, tomorrow too.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
“Death Wish III” is my favorite movie.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Fixed for ambiguity.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think Rizzo’s should have fielded that one.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed. It would have been a good play, but he should have had it. I bet he would agree with that assessment.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That inning was much better for Lester.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Matheny is talking about Molina’s “intangibles” on MLB Plus.
ceruleanQuote Reply
There is a dead space on the left of the screen that is the perfect size for showing pitch location and other statcast data, but it is just empty with an MLB Plus watermark.
ceruleanQuote Reply
31 pitches for 3 outs.
35 pitches for 6.
Blech.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
I watched part of an MLb Plus broadcast once, but wasn’t too impressed. I’m interested to see how they can improve it in the future though.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I am enjoying this one more than the one I saw a few months ago, though they have yet to do a phone interview, which is the worst. I enjoy the discussion sans play calling where they are actually watching the game.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Petriello just talked to Muskat about the Cubs having the NL Central all locked up—Carrie countered with Maddon’s cliché about one game at a time and the ’69 Cubs blowing a 9-game lead in August—and Mike respectfully disagreed—the lead is insurmountable for the Cardinals. I rather enjoyed that.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A hit!
ceruleanQuote Reply
I did not enjoy that Zobrist at-bat.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh, Zobrist WAGs.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ugh again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Clutchy McClutchface does not come through.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Runs, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Deleted
dmick89Quote Reply
Pinch-hitter, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was some dumb base running.
dmick89Quote Reply
Agreed, but there was no chance of it.
dmick89Quote Reply
That was sad.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Poop!
umbraQuote Reply
Ugh ugh ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It doesn’t work when I do it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
History has its eyes on these Cubs.
umbraQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Your timing is off.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Please hit a home run, Rizzo.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Good thing they let Lester bat to give up that homer
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bryzzo…
Brist?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Jesus.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Christ.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Now we just need a clutch hit from Coghlan.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Come on, Chris.
dmick89Quote Reply
Justify your existence, Cogs.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Coghlan!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ross!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Five singles. The wind is blowing out. This is so weird.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I sure wish the bullpen were healthy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Awesome. Only kind of bunt I’ll accept. 2 out surprise fuck-you bunts by catchers who can’t really hit.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Yeah, you fuck that Gatorade cooler up, buddy.
umbraQuote Reply
David Ross!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s embarrassing. ?
ceruleanQuote Reply
FUCK YEAH
umbraQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
??????
umbraQuote Reply
Rossie’s play is huge.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I miss that shutdown bullpen we had for 2 days.
dmick89Quote Reply
Siegrist… this guy conjures up some pleasant memories.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Per Petriello—here have only been five homers (out of about 3500) with a lower exit velocity than Grichuk’s homer. That was a shit happens.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I don’t understand why Joe is using Grimm to get a lefty out when he has Montgomery.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t know why Grimm didn’t just start this inning.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Reaper cares not which hand you use—you will be cut down.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Russell!
dmick89Quote Reply
Wild pitch?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Two pitches, two lineouts to Baez.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Three pitches.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Chapman is spent, right?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Montgomery is warming up, unfortunately.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think he broke his hand. Ouch.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Can’t wait for the retaliation.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Montgomery looked pretty good. And his impact will almost certainly be felt the rest of the series and maybe the rest of the season.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Bryant shouldn’t have slid.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Safe
dmick89Quote Reply
—Mike Petriello
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Damn.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was ball four
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
Carpenter slid too. Both should have run through and collided with one another. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Sigh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Cubs have put on a clinic on wasting base runners tonight.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
MVP Death Match.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Lackey in the bullpen.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus, throw a fucking strike.
dmick89Quote Reply
Montgomery is pretty good when he isn’t walking and hitting batters.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Willson.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Soler.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Another opportunity to waste a couple runners.
dmick89Quote Reply
Terrible AB, Kris.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It’s no wonder that Kris’s name begins with a K.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That was a strike, but I’ll take it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It was a strike! (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Every time Lackey warms up in the pen, the Cubs win. The universe doesn’t want a Lackey relief appearance.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t like winning on a bogus ball four call.
I fucking love it.
umbraQuote Reply
Rizzo’s gotten screwed on so many outside strikes, it’s only fair he got a ball on the inner half of the zone.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d say that wraps up the division about 999 out of 1000 times.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo should keep wearing that helmet without the logo for good luck.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
So…10 games in a row.
I’d be ok with another 10-game winning streak starting right now.
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/cubs-4-cardinals-3-8-11-16/
berseliusQuote Reply