OSS: Cubs get just enough, stretch division lead to one game.
Three up:
- David Bote had the big hit of the day, a two out triple that put the Cubs on the board in the second inning. The Pirates put Schwarber on to start the inning thanks to some outfield miscommunication between Marte and Osuna, and for a while it looked like the Cubs would continue their treng of not capitalizing, but luckily Bote came through. He showed some great wheels legging this one out too.
- Lester wasn’t his sharpest, but he managed six innings of shutout ball despite laboring through his start. He also worked two great PAs, bringing Williams to a full count in his first one and hitting a single and scoring a run in his second.
- Coming off yesterday’s shitshow, the bullpen managed three relatively uneventful shutout innings to close out the game. Edwards still can’t seem to find the strike zone but the defense was able to bail him out in this one.
Three down
- On the Jon Lester single mentioned above, Butterfield made the baffling decision to send Willson home on a grounder hit to left and he was out by a mile. I guess he just really wanted to get Jon that RBI.
- Willson also had a bad looking strikeout in the middle of the Cubs rally in the second. His double later in the game offsets things somewhat, but it was the most negative WPA play of the game for the Cubs offense.
- It was a rough day for Tony, who went 0-4.
Next up: The Cardinals come to Wrigley for the last series of the year. Cyle takes on Waino, who might be pitching his last game in a Cardinals uniform, at 1:20 PM.
Comments
May the Cubs sweep the weekend in a good way.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
It was nice watching this game tonight after the shitshow that was the rest of television today.
BVSQuote Reply
Today:
Wainwright @ Hendricks
Zimmerman @ Davies
Tomorrow:
Mikolas @ Hamels
Norris @ Miley
Sunday:
Flaherty @ Montgomery
Turnbull @ TBD
RynoQuote Reply
Da Cubssszz
SKQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/9/28/17869968/cubs-cardinals-series-preview
Great subhead, Alvin.
RynoQuote Reply
I watched live network television for the first time in who knows how many years for a TV show. ThumbsUp The Good Place. ReversedHandWithMiddleFingerExtended network television commercials.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Ryno,
He must read every word, because he changed it. It originally read, “something goes here.”
RynoQuote Reply
cerulean,
We may or may not have had jalepeno poppers and shrimp cocktail in our house last night.
berseliusQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
cerulean,
Also, aside from the whole question about Chidi’s actual position in academia, the most ludicrous thing this show has ever done was to give him an office that big.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
You cannot alter words.
RynoQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
2B Murphy
RF Zobrist
1B Rizzo
SS Baez
CF Heyward
LF Bryant
C Contreras
P Hendricks
3B Bote
Bryant hitting behind Heyward, just like they drew it up at the start of the season (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I think I’d prefer Schwarber over Bote in that lineup.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Both offenses usually feature 11 players. Both involve a football.
Stick to forcing your players to be “patriotic,” Jerry.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Don’t ruin the good place, i’m watching it tonight!!!!
MylesQuote Reply
Based on one of Tahani’s lines, I’m going to assume Shur or someone on his staff flies a lot with Delta.
PerkinsQuote Reply
berselius,
I see similarities between Stevie Wonder and myself. I’m proud of my ability to play the wax-paper comb like Stevie was proud to play the harmonica. He used to produce sounds and now I produce sounds. I don’t think its a reach to think I could have that kind of musical productivity.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Not optimistic.
MylesQuote Reply
Ryno,
Seems pretty clear he shouldn’t pitch this weekend.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hendricks hit 90 mph.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Gameday says 89.5. Fastest Hendricks pitch I remember in some time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Tony!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
He’d occasionally hit that when he first came up, but it’s been awhile.
dmick89Quote Reply
Defense!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Terrible PA by Bryant.
dmick89Quote Reply
Not a bad AB by Contreras, but he really needs to remember how to hit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’d feel a lot better about the Cubs’ chances of winning the division if they win today and tomorrow and MIL loses tonight.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I feel like they’re all must win at this point until they aren’t. (dying laughing)
I’ll feel better when they’ve clinched.
dmick89Quote Reply
So March?
RynoQuote Reply
Not a great start to the third. The BABIP luck dragon is not kind.
PerkinsQuote Reply
More runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cyle is back.
MylesQuote Reply
I’d like to see more strikeouts, but I’m loving the weak contact.
PerkinsQuote Reply
KB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
KBOOM
berseliusQuote Reply
Bryant!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Game on,
andcountingQuote Reply
Kris Bryant was obviously grimacing during his home run trot. That’s not good.
MylesQuote Reply
Cyle!
berseliusQuote Reply
I wonder if he’ll get a cortisone shot before the season is over.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bet he will. Would also not be surprised if he takes the last game of the season off.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
I don’t know about obvious. Not enough to where he looked hurt, IMO.
andcountingQuote Reply
Ruh roh. Runs, please.
MylesQuote Reply
Maybe. I’ve looked at it a few times and maybe I’m seeing something that isn’t there.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
I’ve always thought KB looked like he was grimacing as he rounds the bases. It used to worry me. He’s still in the game so I’m guessing if he was injured he’d be out.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hope KB has the last game of the season off, since that would mean the Cubs will have clinched the division.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Hendricks still has just one strikeout.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t have a good feeling.
dmick89Quote Reply
Normally I’d say this was a good time to pull Cyle, but *shrug* with this bullpen.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
That was my thought too.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
Assuming Chavez is unavailable, I think a tiring Hendricks is probably better than anyone else out there.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Not a ton of strikeouts, but he got a big one when he needed it. Great start by Hendricks.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
He’s only at 84 pitches, maybe he goes one more.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
He’s batting, so I’d guess so.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Pinch runner please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Defense!
dmick89Quote Reply
Cardinals defense!
berseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
The Cubs can’t afford to lose Bud Norris.
andcountingQuote Reply
Insurance!
berseliusQuote Reply
Hendricks draws a walk (dying laughing)
MylesQuote Reply
still wondering why Hendricks is still in. Maybe to get another AB in the bottom of the 8th?
sharpchicityQuote Reply
Whew. Cyle!
berseliusQuote Reply
Myles,
It was a 5 pitch walk.
dmick89Quote Reply
Jorge de la Rosa and Jaime Garcia warming up in the pen is your answer.
berseliusQuote Reply
A couple of those pitches to Gyorko were right on the edge of the zone. Willson really needs to work on his framing in the offseason. Also his hitting.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Who closes this game? Cishek? (gulp) Kintzler?
berseliusQuote Reply
I still wouldn’t put it past Joe to throw Hendricks out there again (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see three relievers each asked to get one out.
PerkinsQuote Reply
berselius,
That’s probably what I’d do.
dmick89Quote Reply
Oh good, Justin Wilson is warming up.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cardinals defense again!
PerkinsQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Hey, look. Joe learned his lesson about pinch hitting in the late innings with a chance to add on.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Bases clogged
berseliusQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Bote! Love the bases loaded walk.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cubs got a few calls in that PA, but not surprising given how all over the place Hicks can be.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Kind of evens out for the calls Gyorko got against Hendricks in the top of the inning.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Almora!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Al-Al!
berseliusQuote Reply
Almora!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Almora!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Put this in Chatwood territory, fellas.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I think I’d trust Kintzler with a 6 run lead. Might want to have someone up in the pen though. Just in case.
PerkinsQuote Reply
berselius,
By saying his name, the opposing team automatically gets two walks to start the inning.
sharpchicityQuote Reply
The Error Game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
M ——–> Inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
PerkinsQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wonder if dbacks would swap Greinke for Russell (assuming he wasn’t going to be suspended) — Dbacks save ~25M in salary and get a 2WAR middle infielder and cubs get a reliable SP.
sharpchicityQuote Reply
sharpchicity,
Even leaving out the terrible PR for doing this, which makes it a non-starter IMO, The Dbacks were a contending team this year and I don’t see them trading their nominal ace for damaged goods.
berseliusQuote Reply
So hey guys. Go Tigers.
Rice in CAQuote Reply
I kind of hope it’s LA against MIL in the WC game. That would be a lot better than if the Cubs are in the WC game.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I think Kershaw pitches this weekend, unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how things go with the Brewers this weekend)
berseliusQuote Reply
Tigers score 3 in the 1st.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Hell yes great start
WaLiQuote Reply
It’s kinda weird to see an MVP race basically come down to the last week of games, but that is exactly what’s happening. Yelich just pulled way ahead with that homer. Jesus.
andcountingQuote Reply
And just like that it’s tied at 3. On to the 2nd.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I think Yellich has it locked up. I’d probably give it to deGrom and after that Yellich and then Cain.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I don’t have a problem giving it to a pitcher, nor do I object to giving it to a player on a losing team. But I couldn’t give it to a pitcher on a losing team.
andcountingQuote Reply
Come on, Tigers.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Time for the Candelario trade to pay dividends.
BVSQuote Reply
Tigers just tied it up off Hader.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I turned it off when he came in. I figured it was over. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Tigers!
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
I hope Ryan Braun tears both ACLs. Then gets food poisoning and shits his guts out.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I. Hate. Ryan. Braun.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Perkins,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Well he already has herpes (seriously), so there’s that
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Stupid Tigers.
PerkinsQuote Reply
It would really suck if the Cubs ended up tying the Brewers. They could really use some time off and that would mean they play Monday to determine the division winner. Quintana would get the start and he’s been up and down this season. If they lose they play on Tuesday.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well they’ll just have to sweep the Cardinals. I can get behind that.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-8-cardinals-4/
berseliusQuote Reply