OSS: Cubs grind out a win on the frozen tundra.
Three up:
- There wasn’t a ton of hard contact today due to the cold weather, but the Cubs managed to make the most of it, working six walks and a ROE off Mets starter Taijuan Walker, including a BBRBI by Contreras and some hustle by Eric Sogard on a throwing error.
- Even more importantly, they managed to make actual contact and get at least one hit with runners in scoring position. Who know that could be possible? Sogard came through with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
- Arrieta had a solid, if inefficient start, going five innings and allowing one run. Everyone was kind of pitching to the conditions today and several balls on both sides likely would have gone out with last week’s weather. But it was good to see the movement on Arrieta’s pitches today, especially given the weather’s effect on grip.
- Bonus points to the Cubs game day ops people for making sure to put Santo on the big board for the stretch while the Cubs were beating the Mets.
Three down:
- Joc Pederson had another terrible day at the plate, going 0-4 with three strikeouts.
- This was topped by Javy, who struck out in all four plate appearances. I credited Ross the other day for not feeling the need to rearrange the deckchairs, and I think the top four in the lineup are doing just fine. Pederson, Baez, and Heyward are all hitting awful, and I don’t really see that the guys who would spell them are likely to provide that spark. They just gotta hit.
- Kimbrel had a rocky ninth but managed to close it out. His pitches were kind of all over the place but I choose to just blame it on the weather. Or that fangraphs article talking about his combined perfect game.
Next up:
David Peterson takes on Zach Davies at 6:40 PM CT. Peterson is a lefty so we’re not likely to see the Peterson-Pederson, Two Men Enter, One Letter Leaves cage match. I’d put my money on T if they do meet up.
Comments
To-day’s base ball squadron versus a south paw
LF Happ
C Contreras
RF Bryant
1B Rizzo
SS Baez
3B Duffy
2B Bote
CF Marisnick
P Davies
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow, that’s a really right handed lineup.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Mets!!
andcountingQuote Reply
Gift runs!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
mEts!
berseliusQuote Reply
Contact!
andcountingQuote Reply
I hope Ian Happ is paying attention.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He was! At least until he got on base.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Not to his own base running, but still…runs!
andcountingQuote Reply
Did the Cubs find a way to play three games at the same time? I saw they scored 7 runs, and that can’t be right.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Duffy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
moar runs!
berseliusQuote Reply
The Mets are in first place? Jeebus.
andcountingQuote Reply
Almora strikes out looking at an 89 mph fastball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Javy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Are we sure it’s safe to bring in Shelby Miller with a 12-run lead?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Too lazy to write a new postgame, so I’ll just repost:
berseliusQuote Reply
The Mets also did the Cubs a favor by pushing deGrom back a day, so it will be Joey Lucchesi vs Trevor Williams as the Cubs go for…a sweep???!?
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
what the fuck is a “sweep”
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
It’s what happens when you need to win one game against the Pirates to make the playoffs.
andcountingQuote Reply
This Santo pic and the forlorn-looking Counsell pic are my 2 favorites. Hopefully we’ll see more of both the next few days.
North Side PatQuote Reply
North Side Pat,
The Counsell one makes me laugh every time (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Pederson —–> IL (wrist tendinitis)
Nico —–> Cubs
I guess that’s one explanation for his batting line early in the year.
berseliusQuote Reply
Big props to the Comcast marketing department – they managed to improved their overplayed seasonal ad from incredibly annoying to merely annoying. I guess this means there’s hope for the Cubs offensive improvements (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
After that single off the body of the pitcher, the Mets coaching staff is checking to si if he’s Lucche.
andcountingQuote Reply
berselius,
I don’t know, that Drone Chef joke is pretty unbearable, but who am I to talk? (dying not laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Bryant!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
KB2B!
andcountingQuote Reply
KB!
berseliusQuote Reply
I mean it’s bad, but it doesn’t radiate the same energy of the “can you believe that, a fraction?!” guy of the last season or two.
berseliusQuote Reply
It sure is nice to see the Cubs string together some not outs consistently.
andcountingQuote Reply
berselius,
Terrible puns are just regular awful (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Yeah, I suppose a joke that falls flat is preferable to just straight dialogue that sounds preposterous/AI-generated.
andcountingQuote Reply
This Mets dude somehow looks like he throws 10 mph faster than what the radar gun says.
berseliusQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN
berseliusQuote Reply
Not great, Javy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He may be safe, but jeez.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Come on, Ian.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ron Santo shaking his head from beyond the grave here
berseliusQuote Reply
Javy-esque slide
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m really surprised Bryant was called out there. He clearly beat the throw, and if he popped off the base for a fraction of a second with the tag on, how could the umpire see it?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Kimbrel is out after 7 pitches?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
andcountingQuote Reply
Bullpen gonna bullpen
berseliusQuote Reply
Dan Walkler
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Whew
berseliusQuote Reply
Not sure that one would have won the bunting contest (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
They might do a Joe Maddon special here
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I hated Joe’s obsession with squeeze plays but this sure seems like a good time
berseliusQuote Reply
JHey!
berseliusQuote Reply
Hey! Hey!
andcountingQuote Reply
M———> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-4-mets-3/
berseliusQuote Reply