OSS: Cubs drop to 22 games over .500, all is lost.
Three up:
- Heyward was the only Cubs hitter to post a positive WPA on the day, a whopping 0.09. A big chunk was due to a base-clogging single in the third that eventually led to the Cubs only run, the rest was from a leadoff single in the sixth with the score tied. Fernandez struck out Bryzzo and Willson flew out to end the last real chance the Cubs had to take control of the game.
- Hammel gave up two runs in six innings but was playing with fire the whole time, seemingly escaping from early runners every inning. But put him down for a quality start, I guess.
- The Cubs don’t play any more games in that DeRosa-awful ballpark.
Three down:
- Jose Fernandez is good, and every batter in the box score had at least one strikeout. Not all were against him, obviously, but that’s a pretty tough feat for a side to pull off.
- More sloppy defense today, this time due to a bad throw by Bryant on what should have been a double play in the seventh with the Marlins up by just one run. That led to a Marlins run in the ensuing PA. The Cubs were also not able to complete a double play in the previous inning that led to the go-ahead run, though there’s some bad luck there due to defensive movement against a possible bunt putting guys out of position. Still, they have to execute those plays.
- Clay Dick and Wood get a lot of the bullpen-related hate, but Justin Grimm has probably been the biggest anchor weighing the pen down this year. His strikeout rate has dropped 10% from last year, though to be fair it is now near his career numbers (22.7%) than the absurd number he posted last year. He’s still walking batters at around the same rate as last year though, and coughing up a lot more HRs. Without the strikeouts to back it up, he’s been getting burned.
Next up: The Cubs travel to face the Reds at GABP, a good cure for a struggling offense even when the Reds pitching staff wasn’t the dumpster fire that it is this year. Jay Carrieta looks to right the ship vs Dan Straily, 6:10 PM CT.
Comments
I hope we see the return of efficient, low-walk Arrieta. I miss that guy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t have a huge problem with Wood. I think he’ll strikeout a few more than he has so far and walk a few less, but mostly he’s been lucky enough at preventing runs that I don’t mind seeing him. Other than him, the only other relievers I prefer seeing coming out of the Cubs bullpen is Strop and Rondon. The rest of the Cubs bullpen could be replaced with the best relievers from Iowa and nobody would be able to tell a difference in terms of how they perform.
I should probably exclude Warren from that list. I think he’s been unlucky so far, but he walked 4 in fewer than 4 AAA innings last night so maybe his control just went to shit. I expected he’d at least throw strikes at AAA, but one start is only one start.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I’ve been hoping that for awhile and he said something about having to attack hitters better after his last start so maybe we’ll finally see it.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ian Happ is off to a great start in AA.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Pirates are the first team to get to Kershaw in a long time. His ERA is higher than Arrieta’s now.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Series preview: the Reds are bad.
berseliusQuote Reply
Vogelbach hit another HR. Up to 14 on the year with a .240 ISO.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Oh please be the call up to fill Concepción’s spot. Give this offense a shot in the arm and some much needed rest for the Rizzo. Also, more walks please.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I mean wasn’t there an error where Coomer(?) said that Rizzo probably makes the play if his back isn’t sore? Back issues can linger.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Rizzo didn’t look very good going after that potential double play so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vogelbach called up.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
I’m guessing he was speculating. It’s doubtful the Cubs would have been playing Rizzo with a sore back and a double digit lead in the division. It’s not only doubtful, it would have been remarkably stupid.
dmick89Quote Reply
Better bet, if Rizzo is still sore, is that Rizzo lied about how his back was feeling because manly men don’t have back problems.
dmick89Quote Reply
It’s been about 5 or 6 days since I’ve had the logout issue happen to me. Has anyone else had it happen to them in the last couple days?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
A funny thing has happened to me before—after being in pain and stopping oneself to from making certain movements, when the pain subsides it can feel like everything is back to normal, but it’s not. The perception is that since you feel better than you did, you are good to go, but you really have to ease into it, especially when the body starts its long, inexorable decay after the age of 25. Resiliency is the first thing that goes.
I don’t put such optimism on machismo more than believing in the sunny side, in other words.
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
I haven’t either.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Hopefully I’m not reading any articles in a few days about how the Reds caught the Cubs at a good time.
dmick89Quote Reply
Looks like the Cubs brought up Joel Peralta to replace Encarnacion. He’s old, kinda short and gives up a ton of fly balls/homers, but his K/BB looks OK, I guess.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Can’t go without 8 relievers!
dmick89Quote Reply
Concepcion?
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
Why don’t they just have Patton and Edwards and their ilk on the shuttle between here and Iowa and keep six or seven relievers, at least five of which can be used on a given day?
ceruleanQuote Reply
berselius,
The immaculate conception becomes flesh. Easy mistake to make. (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
berselius,
Oops, yeah.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
cerulean,
Because every time you call them up, you use one of their minor league options.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Maybe my source is not reputable, but it’s the first thing I stumbled across and also comports with what I thought they were.
ceruleanQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
I thought it was year long. So if you use one option, it lasts all year no matter how many times he’s called up or sent down? Maybe I’m wrong.
MuckerQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
In other words, they can only use one per year. You burn it the first time you use it. So if I am not mistaken, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell would have all of their options and Kyle Schwarber would have two.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Mucker,
That’s my thinking too.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ya you’re probably right. That sounds better.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
Zobrist
Heyward
Bryant
Rizzo
Contreras (lf)
Montero
Russell
Coghlan
Carrieta
berseliusQuote Reply
Yeah, they’re option years.
dmick89Quote Reply
cerulean,
I think that the bigger issue is that you have to wait ten days to recall a player you’ve optioned to the minors, which would make it a bit more difficult to handle mechanically. There’s also the human element to consider. Even though these guys are constantly on the road, being constantly switched between teams and cities might be mentally difficult to cope with for some guys.
uncle daveQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/cubs-reds-game-thread-6-27-16/
dmick89Quote Reply