OSS: Post-rain delay karma not enough to push the Cubs over the top
Three up
- Rizzo should have had two home runs today, but Grichuk robbed him of his first with a great catch at the wall to close out the first inning. The second one was a no-doubter, however, traveling 443 feet but felt like it was going to go 4430 feet off the bat. Rizzo also drove in the second Cubs run in the eighth inning, which proved to be the Cubs biggest WPA play of the day.
- Not much else to write home about Cubs-wise here. Dex continued his hot hitting/watching by reaching base three times on two hits and a walk.
- Next up on the schedule is ten games against the Reds, Brewers, and Braves.
Three down
- It's never a great sign when the bottom 13 WPA plays are all made by the same team. La Stella's fly out to end the eighth was the biggest one, but Kris Bryant's RBI groundout preceding it would easily have topped it if it had been a double play. As it was, trading an out for a run there was a net negative. Next time don't do the ground out to second play Kris smh.
- Kyle Hendricks hit for himself in the fifth inning, when the Cardinals had the top of the order coming up next. At least it was a no one on base situation. I'm not quite as critical of Maddon as others for letting pitchers bat in some of the situations that have come up so far this year, but this seems like exactly the situation that having multiple long ment in the pen is going to give you an advantage. Maybe he was a little spooked by the rain, but that's why you have four fucking long guys.
- The Cubs are in the Cardinals heads. How better to explain the fact that when the tarp was rolled out in the seventh with the Cardinals ahead by a decent margin, they decided to pick the game back up three hours later anyway? The Cardinals could head home to their own beds, while the Cubs still had to travel that night. Not to mention the dumb shit with banners during BP and challenging Baez's HBP. Petty gamesmanship is the Cardinal Way.
Next up: Jay Carrieta vs Brandon Finnegan, 6:10 PM CT.
Comments
The one thing that concerns me a little about Hendricks is his velocity is down this year. The results have been fine, and I know it’s early in the season, so there is plenty of time for the velocity to creep back up a bit, but comparing April 2015 to April 2016 he’s lost about 1.5 MPH on both his sinker and his 4-seam. Just something to keep an eye on.
MillertimeQuote Reply
Reds, Brewers, and Barves. Time to see what this team is made of.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
So PHI trades up to No. 2 and says they don’t know who LA’s taking, but they know who they’re taking.
OK…
Anyway, that should make you Bears fans happy. Now you just need someone to think Paxton Lynch deserves to go in the top 10.
BTW, CHI needs to sign Josh Norman.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno, you think Eagles are picking whichever QB the Rams don’t? I would move up for Buckner but I don’t know if he’s a fit for their D. He’s a 5T to me and I think the Eagles just went back to a 4-3.
The Bears should get a decent player at 11.
Norman is going to cost $15+ a year. I don’t think the Bears will do that but I guess I wouldn’t mind if they do.
MuckerQuote Reply
PHI’s comment makes me think they traded up for a non-QB, but that’s a LOT to give up for a non-QB. It’s also a lot to give up for “the other” QB. Wentz and Goff are too different to love equally. PHI knows who LA is taking or they gave up a shitload of picks to let another team pick their QB.
Buckner has ideal 5T traits, but he’s simply a disruptor. Best in a 3-4, but he can play anywhere.
True, but they’re so close to the top tier. Might be wise to trade up a bit.
They have cap space and you’re looking at a short-term deal. Plus a comp pick.
RynoQuote Reply
Mucker,
My comment is awaiting moderation, so I’ll try again…
PHI’s comment makes me think they traded up for a non-QB, but that’s a LOT to give up for a non-QB. It’s also a lot to give up for “the other” QB. Wentz and Goff are too different to love equally. PHI knows who LA is taking or they gave up a shitload of picks to let another team pick their QB.
Buckner has ideal 5T traits, but he’s simply a disruptor. Best in a 3-4, but he can play in any scheme.
CHI is so close to the top tier. Might be wise to trade up a bit.
They have cap space for Norman and you’re looking at a short-term deal. Plus a comp pick.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I don’t understand why teams continue to give up so much for a player who hasn’t even played a snap in NFL.
If the Bears moved up to 3 for Buckner, I’d buy that for a dollar. Because that would be a perfect fit for both he and the Bears. I wouldn’t move up to take Buckner if I ran a 4-3 but I would take him if he fell to me.
I agree about Bears needing to maybe trade but that’s not really their style. I think they’ll stay put or trade down before they trade up.
You mean short term for guaranteed money?
MuckerQuote Reply
Curt Schilling ———-> unemployment
berseliusQuote Reply
Man I just realized I completely contradicted myself in this statement. The way I look at it, it’s not my money or picks so do whatever you want with them. (dying laughing)
MuckerQuote Reply
Somehow I forgot to include the Cardinals banning “Try Not to Suck” tshirts in my list of Cards-related pettiness during this series.
berseliusQuote Reply
cerulean, I’m glad your teacher finally agreed to write you that recommendation letter.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
Adequate, ha.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
For the record, I dropped out of High School and went to night school to get that sham piece of paper. I was never an adequate student. (dying laughing)
This reminds me—my daughter was taking a standardized test. I would always get 99th percentile in most of the subjects, and nobody cared. What the hell am I taking this test for!? Not even a congrats about lifting the aggregate score of the school. Fuck institutions and their apathetic senescence.
ceruleanQuote Reply
RIP Prince. They’re going younger and younger.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Hence my post. Nice job.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I have a pair of expensive (not club box or anything, but tickets aint cheap this year) tickets for Cubs-Dbags on June 4th. Looks like I’ll be in Chicago a couple weeks later and now looking to go to the Pirates game on June 17th.
Is anyone familiar with one-off ticket sales/swaps on Stub hub or what my options might be? I’m guessing the best option would be – buy tickets to new date and then try to sell the other ones. Any other ideas welcome.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kid,
2016 has been the rapture for musicians.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Preview up
http://obstructedview.net/series-preview-chicago-cubs-11-4-at-cincinnati-reds-8-7/
berseliusQuote Reply