OSS: The Aprilists wear down a great pitcher and hang on to win.
Three up:
- The top two of the Cubs order set the tone for the day, reaching base six out of six times against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. Fowler led all Cubs hitters with a .183 WPA, and he and Contreras combined to go 5-7 with a walk, two RsBI, and two runs scored.
- The biggest single play of the game in the Cubs favor was not Dex’s leadoff triple, but a pickoff of Dee Gordon at first base in the eighth inning by Hector Rondon. Pat and Ron were baffled that Rondon was able to get him, since he had nearly picked him off just seconds before and typically runners get the message when that happens.
- Jason Hammel pitched six scoreless innings and looked pretty good, but Maddon did not hesitate for once to pinch hit for him when the Cubs had a chance to add on to their lead against a tiring Fernandez in the bottom of the sixth. Though I’m not so sure that Montero is a much better hitter than Hammel at this point (dying laughing). Joe stuck to his guns when he told Bryant that he would have the day off.
Three down:
- It’s been a while since we have seen Bad Strop, and I’m not so convinced we saw him tonight. At least, not in the usual wild fashion that this brings to mind. The big play of the game was a throwing error on Strop that should have been a double play. From the radio call, he threw it both early and at about 100mph to second base and sent the ball into center, which led to both Marlins runs. They might have tied it up were it not for a diving catch by Coghlan to get the Cubs out of the inning.
- Ben Zobrist and Javy Baez had lousy nights at the plate, going 0-8 including a first inning double play for Zobrist and three strikeouts for Javy. Not that it’s too surprising for Javy at least, given the platoon disadvantage and quality of the competition.
- I have no idea what the hell happened with the Cubs second run, I was up a canyon somewhere and not listening to the radio broadcast. Gameday has it as “Anthony Rizzo flies into double play, left fielder Christian Yelich to first baseman Chris Johnson to catcher JT Realmuto to pitcher Jose Fernandez to second baseman Derek Dietrich. Dexter Fowler scores, Willson Contreras out at second”. It sounds like Yelich screwed up the throw and the Cubs almost double TOOTBLANed?
Next up: The Cubs go for the sweep as John Lackey takes on Tom Koehler at 1:20 PM CT.
Comments
In addition to throwing it early at 100mph, I think Strop was throwing it to Addison. It seemed like it went right by his glove, but he was pulling up to let Zo turn it and so was focused on not running into him. That was a weird play.
And yes, it was good Strop. A broken-bat single and a tailor-made-if-not-for-the-bad-luck-of-hitting-Strop single bookended the error and an honest-to-goodness single. The Marlins have some good young hitters that can basehit you to death.
Also, that Coghlan catch was the play of the game. If he played it safe the game was tied, but he didn’t play it safe so if that got past him, the Marlins would have taken the lead on a triple.
ceruleanQuote Reply
And that second run, Rizzo flied out to shallow left but Contreras either thought it would drop and was almost to second before slamming on the brakes and heading back to first. A halfway decent throw would have got him doubled off easy, but Yelich (I think) long-tossed it about five feet past first. Dexter had gone back to tag, so when he saw the throw he just took off for home. Who’s on first caught the ball off the bag and fired it home too late and the ball got away, so Contreras took off for second and was possibly safe despite being beaten by the throw—but there is little chance a challenge would have overturned the call on the field.
That was two TOOTBLAN opportunities in one play, but Dexter may not have scored at all if Contreras didn’t do the failed TOOTBLAN.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Truth be told, I should probably drop the good Strop/bad Strop thing. He’s been really good. I just got a little frustrated when he botched that routine double play ball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Strop occasionally loses his command, but yeah, he’s been really good.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ve hated Joey Votto for as long as I can remember, but after this I might have to take a little of it back…
https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/73D526C2321372431076945211392_50d8109b394.25.2.2E58FFB6-F4FE-483A-9C29-19438DC4AF17.mp4?versionId=ihByz.uiuZOY0IBfQL.lpSiXsWp2iFKk
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I love Joey Votto, but I’m a sucker for great players. I can’t think of a once legitimately great player that I’ve ever not enjoyed watching.
dmick89Quote Reply
Didn’t Votto give the guy a signed ball afterward and apologize or something?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah. It was pretty cool.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Votto didn’t just sign the ball, he wrote a message on it apologizing and took pictures with the guy
The shirt tug was typical Votto, but the ball thing was pretty cool.
NcablkQuote Reply
Yeah, that’s going way above and beyond what he needed to do. All he really needed to do was apologize in the post-game remarks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs 3rd order win % is .690, or 73-33. That would be awesome if it was the real record.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hammel —> Bereavement Leave
Grimm —> Cubs
La Stella —> ????
ceruleanQuote Reply
Question on Hammel—BBREF has the team option for next year voidable if certain performance thresholds are met—does anyone know what those thresholds are?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Nevermind—found it. The option becomes mutual if he reaches 200 IP this year or gets traded.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which the Cubs don’t pick that option up.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Averaging 6.2 IP over 12 starts or 7.1 over 11 would allow him to opt out. I have the suspicion that he will often be lifted after six. Turns out the Cubs don’t need starting pitching next year after all.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I wonder if there is movement in the minors to get relievers, particularly those with notable splits, time learning other defensive positions—basically any of the corners. It might also be interesting for a defense-first player with a live arm to work on two pitches for this purpose.
I can foresee LOOGY/ROOGY tandems being a new market inefficiency.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I guess Contreras got fooled on that double over his head. I blame inexperience.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s gonna be fun to watch Lackey kill and eat Flash Jr. before this game is over.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
This was the easiest win of the series. Maybe someone should tell them they have to score.
dmick89Quote Reply
Lackey the double machine
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
The cubs have 9 relievers now?
dmick89Quote Reply
Mathis with a HR into the basket. God God Damnit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No Cubs starter should be in a tied game in the 7th IMO.
dmick89Quote Reply
Stupid sac bunts.
dmick89Quote Reply
Fucking bunts
berseliusQuote Reply
What a stupid bunt. 3-2 with a contact hitter who could work a walk.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Surprise, surprise.
ceruleanQuote Reply
The bunt was fine (positive WPA). The hitting after it was the problem.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
And he had the platoon advantage. Contreras did not and Zobrist is a better hitter.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bases clogged
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow, what a horseshit strike three call on Bryant.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No way.
umbraQuote Reply
????
berseliusQuote Reply
Sac bunt time for Zobrist! (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Was is that bad? That sucks.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Umps got to go. Plain and simple. Let them learn how to take care of the computer that will… on second thought. No. Umps just got to go.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Fuck yeah, looks like April Cubs are back.
PerkinsQuote Reply
That was a complete pitcher meltdown I recently enjoyed
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
#invertedM
berseliusQuote Reply
It was 3-4 inches off the outside corner. The kind of thing a robot ump wouldn’t miss.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I will definitely take another 25-6 stretch, if that’s what this team is starting on again.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Wild pitches. Wild, wild pitches. Couldn’t drag me away.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That was awesome. Twice in a week.
dmick89Quote Reply
1927 Yankees!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Also great: Strop, Rondon and Chapman get at least two days off.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing) let’s save some good fortune for the postseason, fellas.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Division odds back up to 94% on 538. Would be nice to see that climb north of 98% again.
PerkinsQuote Reply
7–1 homestand. Should have been 8–0, smh.
#fireTheo #cubsLostOne
ceruleanQuote Reply
Way.
umbraQuote Reply
Fortune cannot be saved, only spent.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Kershaw ———> 60 Day DL
berseliusQuote Reply
That game was unexpectedly interesting haha.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Between Cishek and Ramos, the Cubs found a new way to play Screw the Closer.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That really sucks for baseball and Kershaw. But I am not sad for the Dodgers.
Being a Dodgers fan right now must be like being a Red Sox fan in the late nineties, but with the bonus of the Red Sox having the Yankees payroll.
ceruleanQuote Reply
today’s game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krbl911ZPBA
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
These one run wins are great and all but it’s not helping the run differential much.
Rich HardenQuote Reply
What is the Cubs longest winning streak this year? Seems like a team this good should have a double digit winning streak in them.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
8 games, if I’m reading the log correctly.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bref agrees, it was May 2 – May 10
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow, I just found out the 1927 Yankees won the World Series on a walk-off wild pitch: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA192710080.shtml#play_by_play
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Intentionally walking Ruth to get to Gehrig makes no damn sense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I am totally okay with alternating between blow-out wins and walk-off wins. The last thing we want is monotony.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I can at least see the logic in walking Rizzo to get to Zobrist, even though it worked out badly and may have been the wrong move.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I had to pick up my stupid kid at stupid school during the 9th, so I missed the ending. I’m gonna leave the little shit at school from now on.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Parents can’t always be there for their kids.
dmick89Quote Reply
You are missing opportunities to teach your stupid kid real lessons in life by sending the little shit to school. Kids should hang out with their parents in men’s locker rooms.
A sticker for your parenting effort: ?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It’s a sign
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It seems like people are finally starting to see through Trump. I think he may just one-up his son’s elephant hunting by taking down the Grand Old Party.
ceruleanQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/cubs-5-marlins-4-8-3-16/
berseliusQuote Reply