OSS: Cubs comeback squelched by a backbreaking TOOTBLAN
Three up:
- Willson Contreras looked great in his first start as a Chicago Cub. He notched his second career RBI with a single in the third and nailed Matt Carpenter by a mile in a stolen base attempt in the top of the ninth. His receiving technique was reportedly a little shaky, though I missed most of the game JD said that he was moving around a little too much, but he’s got time to work on it.
- The Cubs may have lost but the play I’ll remember most was the Bryant-Russell-Contreras relay to gun down Alemdys Diaz in the top of the ninth. Perfectly executed by everyone involved.
- Albert Almora had the biggest WPA play of the day, doubling with one out against shaky Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal.
Three down:
- Unfortunately, that double was erased by a backbreaking TOOTBLAN two batters later. I can understand why it happened – Rosenthal threw a wild pitch that looked like it should have gone straight to the backstop, but what Almora missed was that it hit the umpire and basically bounced back right next to Molina, who gunned him down. He still nearly beat the throw anyway, impressive considering it was Molina. There was maybe a smidge too much adrenaline to remember that he was already in scoring position. I get it, but definitely a bad idea by Almora.This play reminded me of something I’ve always wondered – is there an unwritten rule that catchers won’t fake not knowing where the ball is when it’s really right next to them? Clearly baserunners have very little to go on in these kinds of situations.
- That amazing relay play was set up by Clayton Richard doing Clayton Richard things. I only consider that PA a success for him because the ball stayed in the yard.
- It sucks to have this beanball bullshit start in the first game of the series, especially so when John Lackey is the guy involved. No other org in baseball would have a better sense of whether that was a purpose pitch, and only one or two other orgs would be just as likely to retaliate for it. I hate that shit.
Next up: The suddenly hittable Adam Wainwright faces off with the suddenly unhittable Jason Hammel, 7:05 PM CT
Comments
Heyward this month: .290/.362/.484 good for a wOBA of .366
berseliusQuote Reply
FWIW, I’m not entirely sure Lackey threw at Moss. JD seemed convinced it wasn’t intentional, but considering how hard Moss had hit him in the two previous at bats, Lackey’s control and it being a fastball almost directly at the midsection, I think it probably was. Garcia’s undoubtedly was and Matheney is a piece of shit.
dmick89Quote Reply
There was no reason for Lackey to throw at Moss, but he’s got a temper and athletes often don’t use their heads. Lackey probably owes Bryant a dinner or two.
dmick89Quote Reply
Fifth
SKQuote Reply
It was perfect weather for a game. I still enjoyed it mainly because we are still a million up in the Central.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Myles Handley,
A million and two, actually, to be technically correct.
joshQuote Reply
Ugh, saw that Almora play. What a fucked up break that was. Sure, he should have stayed put, but Maddon loves players to be aggressive, so I don’t think it will count against him. Still, you gotta think it would have been tied up with the basehit later. Ugh. at least it was exciting.
joshQuote Reply
Login glitch is back. Now I’m getting my own pre-filled details.
SKQuote Reply
See how no avatar in previous comment? That’s because it was from the guest log in feature where my details were pre-filled. In the Login section top right, when I try to log in nothing happens.
Refresh isn’t helping this time either.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Yeah, I’m working on an alternative right now. The login issues will be fixed with in 7-10 days one way or another. I’d prefer to stick with this host. The page loading times are fantastic and the best we’ve ever had or the best I ever had on ACB. Easily. I don’t want to give that up, but this shit is getting old. I really don’t want to move again since it’s so much fucking tedious bullshit, but whatever.
I’m sorry about this, guys.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
If everything worked perfectly we’d just get complacent and forget that this blog is discredited.
joshQuote Reply
josh,
(dying laughing) I’m just tired of dealing with this. It’s been every single day that I’ve been checking on this issue. It’s tiring. It would be one thing if they weren’t responsive. It would be easy to leave, but it’s also the best customer service we’ve ever had. I think they just have their cache settings turned to 11 when 10 would suffice. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I skipped the minor league recap today so I could get a current backup ready just in case.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Just reporting current experience, not complaining. I agree that the site runs super fast otherwise.
SKQuote Reply
it sounds like mlb plus is kind of terrible but just a heads up that cubs/cards if the free game tonight.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Yeah blackouts!
joshQuote Reply
@SK – you mentioned being unable to login. Are you still having that problem? If so, remove whatever is showing up in the comment form (name, email, etc.) and try to post a comment. Thanks.
dmick89Quote Reply
MLB Plus does kind of suck. Len and JD are much better. A stat-oriented broadcast is a great idea, but you still need a regular play by play guy. Len would be great for something like that, but I want him to do the Cubs games and not that shit. They need a play by play guy and they need to fill the other parts of the broadcast with the stat stuff.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m so used to play-by-play that I even want that when I’m at the games. They should do a short-range, no delay broadcast inside the stadium. They could rent out a dedicated device or something for those who wanted it.
joshQuote Reply
josh,
Of course I haven’t been there since they installed the big screen, that might make it easier. I guess I just like having the chatter. Probably because it’s all I know.
joshQuote Reply
josh,
I wouldn’t mind this option. I always enjoyed listening to the Hawkeyes football announcers when I attended games, but have never done so at baseball games.
dmick89Quote Reply
josh,
That’s 6 year old me at my first Cubs game. I was disgusted that you couldn’t hear Jack Brickhouse and that the players looked so small. I thought it sucked!
SKQuote Reply
dmick89,
Still the same.
SKQuote Reply
dmick89,
DP-leeted because it didn’t show up the first time
SKQuote Reply
The bigger baserunning error was Coghlan not taking off for second when he saw Almora was going to third. The game would have been tied.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Is there a video of what Coghlan was doing? I wish there was a view from behind home plate that saw the entire field on that play. I don’t blame Coghlan for running when the ball didn’t get that far away from the catcher. Coghlan may have been on his way back to first at the time Almora took off. If so, it’s crazy for him to run to 2nd on that play.
That was just a bad break for the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, a game-ending double play because he got a late break would have been a hundred times worse.
joshQuote Reply
dmick89,
And he probably had a vantage point to see the ball bounce off the umpire.
joshQuote Reply
dmick89,
Looking at the play following, Zobrist’s single probably would have been an out with whoever-the-fuck-plays-first not holding Coghlan. It was a good read but a lucky bounce for the Cards, along with a perfect throw by Molina and a perfect tag by whoever-the-fuck-plays-third.
Speaking of perfect throws and prefect tags, I like this Contreras character. He seems like he is going to be the Yadi of the future.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Willson has a younger brother William and an older brother Willmer. His parents are shrewdly efficient, they can refer to any of them as ‘Will’. (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Yeah, that was a perfect throw and one of the reasons why I think he’ll be the primary starting catcher by the end of the season and throughout the playoffs. Maddon has talked about needing to get better at stopping the running game. Contreras is the answer to that.
dmick89Quote Reply
I also like that we’re going to start seeing Contreras play twice a week now. I’m guessing as he improves behind the plate, that will slowly be increased throughout the year.
dmick89Quote Reply
Word from the I-Cubs beat reporter is that someone is getting called up today. Hopefully it’s Concepcion with a Richard DFA.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’d really like to see him too, but I remain skeptical. I just think it’s funny that I had completely written him off and suddenly I’m clamoring for the Cubs to call him up. Despite that, the Cubs are on pace to win a billion games. It’s just a small part of the awesomeness that is 2016 Cubs baseball.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
Maddon said after one game “we have to get Richard straightened out” so yeah, he didn’t seem happy with dude.
joshQuote Reply
the first part of the sentence doesn’t make any sense without the last part of the sentence.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
It probably doesn’t make any sense at all to a casual fan.
joshQuote Reply
This is the very definition of a maculate conception.
ceruleanQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
Coghlan
Heyward
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Contreras
Russell
Almora
Hammel
berseliusQuote Reply
clay dick to the DL, warren to AAA. concepcion and patton getting called up.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I have never felt good about Richard. He just doesn’t fool anybody and never has.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Warren to Iowa is interesting. He’s getting stretched out. Is there going to be a deal for the likes of Hammel or Hendricks, or are they just banking on somebody going down?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
They’re just going to try to get him innings and perhaps market him as a starter at the deadline more than likely. He needs some innings to get some things figured out and the best way to do that is starting. It also increases his value to other teams.
dmick89Quote Reply
I like it
berseliusQuote Reply
I thought Warren was out of options/had to pass through waivers or something – otherwise the Cubs probably would have done this going into the season.
berseliusQuote Reply
Sounds like the Cubs have Warren slotted to start a game before the All-Star break
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
They may have slipped him through waivers already. I’m not sure what his option status is.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
The Chicago Cubs? Just to get their starting 5 an extra day since the Cubs don’t have any days off? That makes sense.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think Warren is only getting stretched out because of the long stretch of games without an off-day before the All-Star Game.
RizzoTheRatQuote Reply
He has options, but has enough service time to require going through waivers. But apparently it’s the type of waivers that no one ever actually claims, especially mid-season.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Thanks. I’ve forgotten these rules. Getting old.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
I once had a bank manager called Richard Stickrod.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Sounds like a perfectly apt name for a bank manager.
/deadpan
ceruleanQuote Reply
game thread is up: http://obstructedview.net/cardinals-cubs-game-thread-6-21-16/
dmick89Quote Reply