OSS: The Cubs offense is waking from its deep slumber.
Three Four up:
- The big play of the game was a three run bomb by Anthony Rizzo in the fifth inning that put the Cubs up 3-1. They never looked back the rest of the way. Rizzo also knocked in a run and scored as a part of the Cubs batting around in the seventh to put the game far out of reach.
- Jason Heyward continues to knock the tar out of the ball. He went 3-5 with two RBI doubles in this game.
- Jake Arrieta had a terrible first inning, but settled down and didn't allow another baserunner until a walk in the sixth inning. I missed a lot of this game but Coomer and Heyward seemed to think he looked like Old Jake the rest of the way, so there are still some glimmers of his old form shining through.
- I had Torchy's for dinner, and you did not. I mean, I assume not. It's not like I use OV's IP logs to target an flotilla of drones to track your every move or anything.
Three down:
- Despite the many innings of possibly good Jake, the first inning was still a thing that happened. Jake gave up a single to Stanton (no aspersions cast there), but went on to walk the bases loaded with the next two batters.
- Addison Russell had another bad day at the plate, going 0-4 and leading the Cubs in negative WPA. He also brought his struggles out to the field on this one. I don't know if his shoulder is still bothering him or what is going on. Maybe the Cubs can give him a weekend off or something like they did with Heyward last season to try to reset and get things going again.
- The Cubs only managed to score four runs against Jeff Locke. He's definitely a charter member of the Bizarro Wandy Rodriguez HOF.
Next up: The Cubs go for another sweep as Lackey takes on Jose Urena at 7:05 PM CT.
Comments
Only bandwagon fans would settle for just a 15-game winning streak. You’ve only been a Cub fan since they won the World Series, haven’t you?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Four homer game for Scooter Gennett today. Just like the Reds drew it up when they acquired him (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
With a name like Scooter, you know he’s a masher.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Truly, on this day he was Scooty Puff Sr.
berseliusQuote Reply
The Astros blew a 6-run lead to end their winning streak.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Time to blow up that team. Maybe the Cubs can get Correa for Candelario.
berseliusQuote Reply
A stat I heard that I can’t believe: Jeff Samardzija is the first player ever to strikeout 50-something batters against only one walk in consecutive starts. I must have misheard it because that’s unpossible.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Depends if it’s the low 50s or high 50s.
dmick89Quote Reply
From what I could see, Jake’s velocity was back up around 94, so that’s encouraging.
Also encouraging: the part where the Cubs scored 10 runs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Looks like Jake's velocity dropped about 1.4 mph last October and is now down more than that, but has remained consistent.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Shut me right up.
Based on Gameday, his sinker was hitting 94 yesterday, but that may have just been the upper limit. I was watching early in the game.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Average 92.8, max 95.4.
dmick89Quote Reply
JD was asked if Jake can be good if his velocity is down a couple miles per hour and he said he could. He’s right. Jake has good enough secondary stuff that he can still be a top of the rotation pitcher, though still not one worth signing an extension for. Jake’s problem is often his control that vanishes from time to time and this season it’s been giving up so many home runs.
dmick89Quote Reply
has anyone listened to that “The Cubs Radio Story Of The 2016 World Champions” CD?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Not here, but I’m hoping to get a copy at some point.
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Pat’s call was pretty great. However, fans won’t strikeout with Coldgoats Bank. Visit ColdgoatsBank.com.
I listened to a bunch of the games on the internet radio—I don’t remember how pervasive those native ads were.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Speaking of ads, any chance OV could sponsor WAGs and TOOTBLANs?
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
We’d have to fight it out with wv23 on TOOTBLANs.
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
To day’s base ball squadron:
Happ (CF)
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Heyward
Contreras
Baez (SS)
Lackey
Schwarber
PerkinsQuote Reply
Not good fielding by Schwarber and Bryant there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Not good fielding by Osuna there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!
PerkinsQuote Reply
RIZZO!!!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Tony!
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Lackey!
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Sorry just needed to break up the monotony
Rice in limboQuote Reply
You moron
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It would be nice if Cubs pitchers would stop allowing so many home runs.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damnit, Lackey.
PerkinsQuote Reply
John Lacking.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Pinch-hitter, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damn it, Joe.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
There is no plausible reason to let Lackey lead off the bottom of the fifth down three runs with a well-rested bullpen.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Happ!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Happ is not lacking.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yep.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Zobrist at short? WTF?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Uggggghhhhh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
W
T
F
ceruleanQuote Reply
The Cubs really deserve to lose for that alone.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think that is a play they are going to work on a bit.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I mean, Gordon basically trotted home. How was nobody covering the plate?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
War Bear!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Schwarber is on pace for nearly 30 homeruns. Imagine if he was actually swinging the bat well.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Schwarber again!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yeah baby!
ceruleanQuote Reply
War Bear!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
This game should be tied 😐
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s been over a month since the Cubs walked it off.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’ll be a while longer.
ceruleanQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
First place was fun for a while.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
On the plus side, the Cardinals lost again. That’s always nice to see.
PerkinsQuote Reply
So apparently Addison Russell is a horrible person in addition to being a horrible baseball player.
https://sportsmockery.com/2017/06/addison-russell-accused-hitting-wife/
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
That sucks.
EdwinQuote Reply
I don’t want to rush to judgment, but it’s hard not to and it isn’t like she hasn’t had a chance to deny the worst of it.
MylesQuote Reply
The 2016 Cubs would win another 4 or 5 straight after a loss. I get the feeling that any loss in 2017 is the start of a losing streak. I predict the Cubs get swept by the Rockies.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think it’s strange how some people seem to blow right through the “cheating on the spouse” thing, as if it’s no big deal. At the very least, if he did cheat on his spouse, then I think he’s a total jerk bag (am I allowed to say that on here?).
I hope the Cubs take this seriously and work to solve the problem, if there is one, instead of just doing the normal thing and covering it up. If Russell is abusing his wife, there should be no place for him on the team unti lhe gets help and makes amends.
EdwinQuote Reply
Myles,
So far, SM is the only place reporting on the abuse allegations. The cheating stuff is bad enough, but I assume that’s somewhat common among athletes. I really hope he wasn’t abusive.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Edwin,
The cheating is certainly bad. In bird culture, this is considered “a dick move.”
Based on all the front office’s talk about character, I assume they’ll take the set of allegations seriously.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cheating on your wife would be pretty bad, but in my eyes that’s a moral misdemeanor. I don’t want to be friends with anyone who cheats on their SO, but I’m not going to hate that person forever and actively avoid them. Hitting anyone is a moral (and usually legal) felony, and that person needs to be excised from the team (and forgiveness can only come from active, steady contrition). If he hit his wife, than he can go fuck himself. Don’t want his sorry ass representing the Cubs.
MylesQuote Reply
And all this comes with the normal caveat that people can change and improve. That said, actions have to have consequences.
MylesQuote Reply
I really hope Schwarber is getting ready to go on a long tear at the plate.
dmick89Quote Reply
I am still 100% not worried about Schwarber.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
I’m worried quite a bit, but not nearly as much as I am about Russell’s performance so far. I wouldn’t mind seeing what Baez can do in a starting role and I have no faith in him being better than a 7 or 8 hitter.
dmick89Quote Reply
Sounds like MLB is going to investigate the DV allegations against Russell.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
He’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t kneel during the national anthem.
Wait, that might only be football…
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’m back in Austin this week – know of anything new around campus that’s worth checking out?
berseliusQuote Reply
I hate that you are entirely correct.
MylesQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/series-preview-colorado-rockies-38-23-chicago-cubs-30-28/
berseliusQuote Reply