Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Nate Schierholtz and Chris Coghlan earn their keep. Three Up 1. Nate Schierholtz drove in the walk-off winner, part of a 3-4 day. 2. Chris Coghlan hit his first Cubs HR, and it was a doozy, tieing the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th. 3. Brian Schlitter inherited 2 runners in the …
Series Preview: Mets (28-29) at Cubs (20-34)
I hadn’t taken a look at the Mets record this year, and am surprised to see that they’re pretty close to .500. It’s especially surprising considering how strong their division-mates are/have been this year (Phillies excepted). They’re coming off a 3-1 series win against the Phillies in which there were three extra inning games in a row, so their bullpen …
MLB Draft Preview
Let me start this off by saying all I can tell you is what I’ve heard from the same sites that you have access to. I haven’t seen any of these prospects in person (though I have watched some of the available video on these guys). This is where I tell you to support the fine websites Baseball America and …
Cubs 8, Giants 4
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Shark gets his first win, and just about everyone helps out. Three Up 1. Emilio Bonifacio set the table with a 2-4, 3B, BB game. He was also caught stealing by roughly 12 feet. 2. Nasty Nate Schierholtz really needed a good game, and he had one. 2-4 with a jack, just his first of …
Series Preview: Cubs (18-30) at Giants (32-18)
Given how it seems the Cubs usually do on their west coast road trips, a split with the Padres feels like a sweep. As the next series is against the team with the best record in baseball, they’ve got their work cut out for them if they want to continue to buck the trend. Team Overviews Cubs wRC+: 80 (14th) …
Cubs 5, Padres 1
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Anthony Rizzo‘s HR still hasn’t landed. Three Up 1. Anthony Rizzo, man. 2-3, double, 2-run HR that went a long, long, long way: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_05_22_chnmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=33083847&tcid=vpp_copy_33083847 He’s been the Cubs’ MVP this year (either him or Shark). 2. Jake Arrieta was absolutely dominant in this game. He gave up a HR in the first round and zilch …
Yoan Moncada: The Next Great Cuban Defector?
Since it has become socially acceptable to speculate on which Cuban great will be the next to play in the Major Leagues, allow me to throw in my two cents: Yoan Moncada. Unlike Alfredo Despaigne’s case, there’s good reason to think it could happen soon. Yoan Manuel Moncada is a switch-hitting second-basemen who played for Cienfuegos alongside Jose Abreu and …
Yankees 4, Cubs 2 (Warning: House of Cards Spoilers)
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Hector Rondon blew his first save on a DARWIN BARNEY ERROR, and Joe Truth shat the bed in the 13th. Three Up 1. Jeff Samardzija was awesome (again). He didn’t get the win (again). The Cubs lost the game (again). 2. Junior Lake! He did really well today, notching 3 singles and raising his season …
Cubs 6, Yankees 1
Did The Cubs Win? OSS: Hammel outduels Tanaka, and Lou Goodvalue gives Masahiro fits. Three Up 1. Luis Valbuena doubled twice and singled once. On the season, he’s .261/.384/.434. Last year, he was .218/.331/.378 on a .233 BABIP, so we should have seen this coming. It’s insane to me that Valbuena isn’t considered a long-term solution at 2B or 3B; …
Alfredo Despaigne Profile
I’ll be GW’s pinch hitter, and hopefully he can give Alfredo a more thorough treatment than I can. Since Jose Dariel Abreu defected last year, the title of “best player not in the MLB” has fallen to Alfredo Despaigne. He is a multiple MVP of the Cuban League, and better yet, he is a corner outfielder. Just how good is …