OSS: The Marlins stink, but a road sweep is a road sweep. Three up: Cole Hamels had another great start, striking out 8 in seven scoreless innings. I think JD said at one point that only one ball had reached the outfield all game. That was before he ran into some trouble in his last inning due to a fielding …
Cubs 4, Miami 0
OSS: Q keeps on rolling. Three up: Jose Quintana posted his second great start in a row, pitching seven scoreless innings with seven K’s and no walks. Q threw 63 strikes and just 28 balls, which I’m sure was music to the ears of Joe and the Cubs coaching staff. Javy Baez had a three hit day, including a loooooong …
Cubs 7, Marlins 2
OSS: Darvish levels up to kinda meh. Three+ up: Willson Contreras had a big day at the plate, going 2-3 with a HR, a bases loaded walk, and a HBP. The homer followed the hit by pitch, and Willson made sure to take his time around the bases. David Bote actually had an even better day, WPA-wise, with an assist …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (5-9) at Miami Marlins (4-12)
Well, at least Chatwood didn’t start after all. The Cubs take a brief break from their homestand for a three game series with the Marlins, who seem to be on track to be a new calibration point for the concept of replacement level. Still, it always seems like weird things happen in Miami, even when you leave their home run …
Cubs 2, Pirates 0 and mini-preview: Anaheim Trouts of Disneyland (7-6) at Chicago Cubs (4-8)
OSS: Cubs eke one out in the rain Three up: Jose Quintana had one of his best starts as a Cub, striking out eleven batters in seven shutout innings. It’s especially good to see given how much of a disaster his last start was. Even better, he only issued one walk. Daniel Descalso had the big hit of the night, …
Cubs 10, Pirates 0
OSS: Cubs thump Pirates, hopefully turn the page on the dumpster fire road trip. Three up: The Cubs sent Jameson Taillon packing with a little help from Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman, who had three errors in the second inning. Jon Lester, of all people, drove in the first run at Wrigley in 2019. The game was out of hand at …
Series Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates (5-3) at Chicago Cubs (2-7)
Well, that road trip is over with. Hopefully the Cubs can get a fresh start now that they are finally at their homes for the first time in two months. At least the Brewers final felt like a regular loss instead of yet another back-breaking loss. Team Leaders I’ll use the teams’ 2018 numbers here (excluding injured/departed players), since looking …
Cubs 14, Brewers 8
OSS: Cubs offense gets ahead of the Cubs pitching, for one day at least. Three up: Jason Heyward, of all people, had a big day at the plate, going 3-3 with two homers and two walks. Between this and his garbage time HR yesterday, he has brought his slash line up to .370/.419/.704. Hopefully he manages to gets some more …
Series Preview: Chicago Dumpster Fire (1-5) at Milwaukee Brewers (6-1)
Well that sucked. I’m not even jazzed enough to joke about this being the real Cubs home opener. The Brewers have gotten off to a hot start, full of dramatic walk off hits/catches and all the other fun things that the 2016 Cubs seemed to have from the get go. The Cubs meanwhile have gone from a team that certain …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (1-2) at Atlanta Braves (0-3)
Well, the offense looks like it’s going to be fun this year. It doesn’t look like the pitching staff has magically learned to throw strikes yet, however. The Braves may have built their team around young pitching, but the real strength of the team seems to be its defense. 13 different players started games for them last year, and they …