OSS: Everything’s coming up Milhouse.
Three+ up:
- The Cubs offense took care of business against an opposing starting pitcher with a 7+ ERA. Schwarber, Baez, and Happ all went yard in this one, and at least this time Javy’s homer counted. Schwarber’s bomb was to the opposite field, which was also great to see.
- Baez also hit a two run double in the fifth inning, and had five RBI on the day. His season line is now .291/.328/.571, good for a wOBA of .373.
- Kyle Hendricks was adequate, somehow laboring to get through five innings on 100+ pitches but not issuing any walks.
- The Brewers lost both ends of a doubleheader to the Pirates, and from the snatches of the broadcast that I caught they left the bases loaded about 12 times today. The Cubs are now 1.5 games up.
Three down:
- Rob Zastryzny couldn’t close things out in the ninth with a seven run lead and Joe went to Cishek to get the last out. I’m not sure that five runs is really the point where you have to bring in the cagey vet to replace the youngster there to eat up the low leverage innings. Maybe he was on a pitch count or something.
- Randy Rosario was touched up a bit in relief of Hendricks. His peripherals still aren’t great but Joe seems to like leaning on him, hopefully this means a little less in future.
- The Cardinals announced some Matheny news today, but sadly it was not another three year extension. He got the axe, and it sounds like the final straw was his old school tough guy quotes in an article that came out this week. Hopefully the Cardinals find someone with his bullpen management skills to replace him.
Next up: The Cubs go for the sweep with Jon Lester on the mound against Eric Lauer at 3:10 PM CT. It would have been nice if the Cubs could have skipped Chatwood’s start in this series, but I’m guessing they wanted to prioritize having Lester pitch on Sunday to conveniently have him unable to pitch in an exhibition game.
Comments
Today was fun.
Actually, now yesterday was fun. Today should also be fun.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The prevailing joke that’s not really a joke is to let Yadi manage the Cards. I’m not sure if that would work or fail spectacularly.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I could see Yadi retiring after this season and then managing next season if he wanted to. The Cardinals will create a managerial opening if or when Yadi decides to manage.
dmick89Quote Reply
Heading into the year, if a projection had Javy with 71 RBIs and 19 HR, a .373 wOBA and 3.4 WAR for the whole season, I would’ve been pretty pleased to see that come to fruition. To see him achieve that before the All Star break has been so much fun.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Same here. That means he’ll probably get injured during the All Star Game and miss the rest of the season.
dmick89Quote Reply
The optimism is strong with this one (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
I’m not called the optimistic one around these parts for nothing.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Agreed, except I’m assuming it’ll be while legging out an inside the parker during the Home Run Derby.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Pirates are up 2-1 in the bottom of the 4th.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Kato needs to be put on suicide watch.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brewers tied it at 2 going to the bottom of the 6th.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Pirates have 2 runs on 1 hit.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I can’t believe the Pirates didn’t go to the bullpen at least two or three batters before that.
dmick89Quote Reply
Javy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Javy!
andcountingQuote Reply
Addy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez! Russell!
dmick89Quote Reply
Stupid Jody Mercer.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Freese!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Freese!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
I thought the ball Freese hit was long gone.
dmick89Quote Reply
always saying pinch batter instead of pinch hitter
(things Pat Hughes does that are annoying)
and I know it’a logically and possibly even technically correct, but it’s still annoying.
SKQuote Reply
That bad strike call on Bryant messed up his whole plate appearance.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Heyward!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Heyward!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Willson!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow @ Pittsburgh
dmick89Quote Reply
5 up in the loss column.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Pirates just swept the Brewers in a five game series.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Didn’t the Cubs go into the break last year on a 6-game losing streak? For some reason that’s what I’m remembering and they were 5 out or something.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
There aren’t many 5 game sweeps. I still remember when the Cubs took 4 of 5 from the Cardinals in 2003 and that was pretty awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate the Pirates PBP guy. Worst in baseball.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bad bunting day for Lester.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nice day for Bote.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This has been a pretty good weekend.
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to login,
It’s been productive.
dmick89Quote Reply
Damn it, Jonny.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Why Norwood?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Because Joe is new to bullpen management.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jesus.
dmick89Quote Reply
Stop striking out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wilson looks a little wild today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The David Bote Game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Great play by Bote.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m starting to like this lead in the division.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs might have finally found a solution at third base (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-7-padres-4/
berseliusQuote Reply