As we get settled in our new apartment back in our former neighborhood in Chicago, I note that the Cubs finally won a series for the first time in forever, and right before a much-needed off day too. There is probably some kind of irony in the fact that I can no longer piggyback off berselius’ MLB dot TV for Cubs games since I’m blacked out, and that the building’s complimentary (read: I already pay for this with my amenities fee) cable doesn’t include Marquee. Of course, I did remember while shuttling around Chicago that, oh yeah, I AM in Chicago! And therefore could listen to Pat Hughes on the radio, so that will be fun when my wife sets up her record player (which doubles as a radio) so I don’t have to randomly go to the car.
Anyway, the Cubs still suck, but the rest of the National League sort of sucks too, and they’re not so far behind that it is impossible to make a comeback as they did last season, but also they’ve really dug themselves a hole for sucking ass for such a prolonged period. However, at least the Cubs have their mandated All-Star representative who probably gets the nod even without the at-least-one-per-team rule:
[Shota] Imanaga was named to the National League’s pitching staff on Sunday, making him the first Cubs rookie to be named an All-Star since Kris Bryant in his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2015. Imanaga was the lone member of Chicago’s team to make the Senior Circuit’s squad for the Midsummer Classic, which is set for 7 p.m. CT on July 16 (on FOX) at Globe Life Field in Texas.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Imanaga joins Sam Jones (1955) as the only Cubs rookie pitchers to earn All-Star honors. Imanaga is the first official rookie pitcher to make an All-Star team for Chicago since 1958, when rookie rules were first established by MLB.
MLB.com
You can’t say he doesn’t deserve it, and although there have been a couple of blowup starts of the type we feared, Shota Imanaga has been rock solid and thus far has more than earned his contract and at least some brownie points for Jed Hoyer, who still has some explaining to do for whatever all this is right now. There may yet be some additional Cubs picked as replacements for the already-named players who bow out due to injury, pitching on that final Sunday before the break, or who just want a five day vacation. For everyone else, they do get a long break to recover and see what they can do to push for some additions before the trade deadline.
Comments
Whatever Elon has done has made it impossible to properly embed tweets in the main article now, although we seem to still be able to embed tweets in comments.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) that Shota
https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/shota-imanaga-reacts-to-being-named-all-star?t=t112-default-vtp
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Neat
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 463 9/9:
Rarity: 8
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bleah, Marlins
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 463 9/9:
Rarity: 11
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Random news
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Execute Order 66
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 464 9/9:
Rarity: 66
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
Failure! Kinsler and Vlad the senior did win but with other teams
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 464 7/9:
Rarity: 214
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩⬜️⬜️
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing) this is apparently in reference to an interview three years ago in which Nick Madrigal said the 3,000 hit club was very reachable:
https://x.com/JayCuda/status/1810033008172236802
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Would be easier if he didn’t break his hand…sad
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tonight’s squadron
2B Hoerner
1B Busch
CF Bellinger
RF Suzuki
LF Happ
DH Morel
SS Swanson
3B Mastrobuoni
C Nido
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Nifty
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Buschhhhhhhhhhhh
/belated
berseliusQuote Reply
That’s Cubs WAR leader Michael Busch, which…bleh
berseliusQuote Reply
Ugly pitch by Taillon there.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I know pitchers will make mistakes but I prefer those mistakes stay in the park
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Orioles roster looks like what ChatGPT would come up with if you asked it for a list of 25 new character names for the series Nashville.
andcountingQuote Reply
Happ!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Wow.
andcountingQuote Reply
It feels like the Cubs’ horrible BABIP luck from the past couple months is regressing positively in this game.
PerkinsQuote Reply
If you feel so compelled, invert the M.
andcountingQuote Reply
Go Cubs go
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The cubs are just trying to make me look bad for pre-emptively congratulating an O’s fan coworker for the easy wins (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
You did the lord’s work there
Rice CubeQuote Reply
8 Cubs today, including legend Will Ohman.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 465 9/9:
Rarity: 7
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Always makes me think of
berseliusQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
2B Hoerner
1B Busch
RF Belli
DH Seiya
LF Happ
3B Morel
SS Swanson
CF PCA
C Amaya
SP Shota
berseliusQuote Reply
Early offense nice to see
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m a fan of this game so far.
andcountingQuote Reply
Bump.
andcountingQuote Reply
Should’ve scored way more, oh well
Rain delay speech anyone?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Screw the closer! Neris-proof this lead, fellas. Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
The closer is screwed, the M is inverted, the streak is undisputed, and the go Cubs have gone.
andcountingQuote Reply
I wonder how long before Neris’ option vests
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Not that I’m enamored about keeping him around but it is something to keep an eye on
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cardinals swept in a doubleheader. You love to see it.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Built all the furniture I could today, then remembered I didn’t do this yet
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 465 9/9:
Rarity: 2
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
Cmon Royals, you could have at least made one of those games extra innings smh
berseliusQuote Reply
Canario —–> BWI
Probably not a great sign for Bellinger’s hand injury results
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
So it is 🙁
Broken finger, Canario up as replacement
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Stupid lack of 2000 hit Rays
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 466 9/9:
Rarity: 5
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bah
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 466 9/9:
Rarity: 20
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
Let’s go cubbies love da cubs
berseliusQuote Reply
If the Cubs have suddenly remembered how to be good again, that would be cool.
PerkinsQuote Reply
This game is a masterpiece (so far).
andcountingQuote Reply
PCA just ran ~7.4 miles to back up Ian Happ diving for a shallow line drive and held Mateo to a double on what easily could have been an inside the parker. That was nuts.
andcountingQuote Reply
Ugly Duckling Dong!
andcountingQuote Reply
Where were these fuckin’ guys the past two months?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Baseball is weird
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The starting rotation looks insanely good when the team hits like this.
andcountingQuote Reply
Baseball is better when the Cubs win, so they are obligated to make us happy now
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Back-to-back shutouts by lefty starters against the Orioles is a hell of a way to get back on track.
andcountingQuote Reply
Suddenly the team is 3 games out of the wildcard. If they traded for a closer, the bullpen would look formidable overnight. I swear. Curse this damn franchise’s hold on me.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
If the Cubs had converted even 8 of their 17 blown saves, they’d be only a couple games behind the Brewers for the division. They dug themselves a big hole, but maybe they’ll be like the 2007 squad.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I can’t wait for Morel to recreate the iconic Aramis shot
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
The rotation and pitching depth waiting to come off the IL is the thing that keeps hope alive for me with this team. For as many things have been going wrong, so few things have to improve for the second half to be completely different.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
If they can get back Merryweather and Alzolay and both are effective, that’s a huge swing and being fresher, maybe they won’t burn out mounting a run the way they did last year.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Merryweather seems to be throwing in rehab again but Alzolay might be a while longer, however Kilian is already throwing as well so while it’s not Wicks or Brown, it’s at least something
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Even better if it gets Bob Uecker to make a similar call.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Nobody’s listening anyway
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m actually curious for this group’s takes – which Cub of your lifetime would you most want to see at the plate in a critical late game situation? Mine would definitely be Aramis Ramirez.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Carlos Zambrano (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
But for real, yeah it is Ramirez
berseliusQuote Reply
Aramis is a good choice but steroid-addled Sammy Sosa is my go-to (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Blah
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 467 9/9:
Rarity: 20
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s a tough call without knowing the matchup (Sosa always struggled against flame throwers with good sliders). Ramirez is up there. Rizzo too. But I might have to say Sandberg.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Sandberg is an interesting one. Outside of his eponymous game, I don’t remember too many of his big moments, but I was young and he played on a lot of dogshit Cubs teams. (dying laughing)
Rizzo was my other thought after Rami. Seemed like he usually came up when it mattered.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bleurgh
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 467 9/9:
Rarity: 38
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref
PerkinsQuote Reply
to-day’s base ball squadron
2B Hoerner
1B Busch
RF Suzuki
LF Happ
DH Morel
SS Swanson
3B Mastrobuoni
CF PCA
C Amaya
berseliusQuote Reply
Pitcher injury updates
https://x.com/M_Montemurro/status/1811865632205607229
Rice CubeQuote Reply
CIN is playing the Marlins, MIL is playing the Nats, and PIT is playing the White Sox, so no pressure for the Cubs or anything right now as we get into the scoreboard watching portion of the season
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If you’re on GameDay the little graphic seemed to show in near real-time Willson’s TOOTBLAN
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Pat doing color on the radio broadcast is a weird choice
berseliusQuote Reply
Perkins,
I’ve lost track of the original question, but if there are two outs and the Cubs need a homer, I do want Aramis for sure. If any hit wins it, I might have to go with Ben Zobrist now that I think of it.
andcountingQuote Reply
@Cyle
berseliusQuote Reply
you love to see it
berseliusQuote Reply
I like when the Cubs don’t suck
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s been a minute since I did that specific GIS (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Mother fucker, Little just got hurt.
andcountingQuote Reply
Crap
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Sucks for Little, if it’s a sproing
berseliusQuote Reply
If it isn’t an arm thing that would be the only good news, the Cubs don’t have another healthy lefty they can call up on the 40 man at this time
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Just saw video…he was pitching so well, looked so dejected that something was so obviously wrong
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Yeah, he really didn’t move his arm after throwing the pitch. It’s not good.
andcountingQuote Reply
This is a bit of a mess.
andcountingQuote Reply
Throwing strikes is something Pitch Lab should look into someday
Rice CubeQuote Reply
W(hew).
andcountingQuote Reply
Oh they were just playing the long game, assume Cubs pitching can’t throw strikes and then just drop one in to end the game (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
https://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-5-cardinals-1-2/
berseliusQuote Reply