Baseball predictions are silly up to a point, but I’m going to predict the Cubs are about to go on a run that’s similar to what they did in the first half. The Cardinals have pulled within 6.5 games, which is still a mile away in baseball terms, but I do miss the double digit lead they enjoyed for awhile. The …
Cubs 6, Rangers 0 (7.15.16)
OSS: Now that’s more like it Three up The Cubs offense hung some runs on a crappy pitcher, a hallmark of good teams and something that they were failing to do during their recent funk. This wasn’t just Bryzzo blasting their way to the lead, it was a team effort with no particular player sticking out WPA-wise. They got some …
Kris Bryant is good at sports
A little over 3 years ago the Cubs drafted Kris Bryant with the 2nd pick of the 2013 First Year Player Draft*. He was considered either the top prospect or close enough to the top that few teams, if any, would have passed on him given the chance to take him that high. It was somewhat surprising to see the Houston …
Cubs 6, Pirates 5 (7.10.16)
OSS: The marathon mercifully ends with a win Three up: Bryzzo combined to go 7-9 with a walk today, and Bryant drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. As bad as this stretch has been for the Cubs, at least these two guys have been producing. As Matt Clapp pointed out on twitter today, Bryant leads the NL …
Cubs 5, Reds 9 (6.5.16)
OSS: Four homers not enough to overcome a lackluster Lackey. Three up Addison Muscle had a big day, hitting two home runs and raising his slash line to .242/.338/.416 with a wOBA of .323, not too shabby from the shortstop position. He might not be the best choice to start for the NL in the ASG, but at least he’s …
Cubs 10, Reds 4 (7.4.16)
OSS: The best cure for a slump is to face the Reds. Three up: Jason Heyward had the biggest hit of the day, a two-run double in the first that put the Cubs up 3-0. He was finally dropped to sixth in the lineup and had two hits and a walk. The Cubs had three home runs on the day, …
Cubs 3, Mets 4 (6.30.16)
OSS: Cubs let one slip away, but maintain their eleven game lead. Three up: Kris Bryant remains on fire, slugging a two run homer in the first inning to put the Cubs on the board before even conceding an out. It was his eleventh HR of the month, and he had hit .278/.379/.680 for the month going into today’s game. …
Cubs 9, Reds 2 (6.29.16)
OSS: What is best in life? To crush your enemies, to drive them before you, to hear the lamentations of their broadcasters. Three up: After a 15-inning marathon last night, Kyle Hendricks pitched into the seventh inning to help give the pen a breather. I was going to say that it’s pretty long for a Hendricks start, but he’s actually …
Cubs 7, Reds 2 (15 innings)
OSS: The Joe Maddon game? Three up This was a slog of a game that turned entertaining as it got weirder and weirder in the late innings. Joe Maddon had used all of his position players by the 13th inning, so when he needed to bring in new LHP cannon fodder Joel Peralta to relieve Cahill he had Peralta take …
Cubs 11, Reds 8 (6.27.16)
OSS: Kris Bryant has a day Three up Kris Bryant went 5-5 for 16 total bases. He posted a .670 WPA, as well as a 1042 wRC+ and supposedly 0.6 WAR according to the twitters, but I think it’s a case of someone conflating WPA with WAR. Though having your season wOBA jump 21 points in one game might be …