OSS: 
Three up
- The Cubs won this game on a walkoff bunt by Jon Lester which was set up by a booming double to lead off the inning by Jason Heyward. That is a sentence I wasn’t planning to write any time in my life (dying laughing).
- Addison Russell went 1-5 with three strikeouts, but he was the WPA leader by far in this game with a whopping .514. He drove in a run on a HBP during one of Hernandez’s sporadically wild stretches, and drove in a run as part of the Cubs ninth inning rally. The biggest play though was the game tying wild pitch that sent the game to extras (.411!).
- Huge kudos to the Cubs much-maligned bullpen as well, who were forced to pitch a full nine innings following Brian Matusz pitching in line with what he has done over the course of his career. In total, the pen put up a line of 9 IP, 5 hits, 2 BB, 0 R, and 12 strikeouts. Special credit to Carl Edwards, Jr. who struck out five of the six batters he faced and Hector Rondon, who threw two dominant innings in a game he wasn’t even supposed to appear in.
Three down
- Well, I guess the Cubs starters are all rested now. Not so much for the bullpen. Matusz’s terrible start has deprived the Cubs from the 24 year old A-ball pitcher that they could have got for a guy that was released earlier this year. Who thought it was a good idea to call this a showcase? I’m guessing Spencer Patton gets called up and tries to give everyone in the pen a breather tomorrow. He’s been not great in his handsful of appearances for the Cubs, but he’s sporting a 14+ K/9 and 0.93 ERA in Iowa.
- The Cubs worst play of the game by WPA could have been a whole lot worse. Willson Contreras just missed ending the game on a double play in the ninth inning, just beating the throw to keep the Cubs chances alive.
- Heyward came up with the big hit in extras, but both he and Rizzo had pretty lousy days heading up to it. They combined to go 2-11 with three strikeouts, most notably both striking out with the bases loaded in the fifth, which look worse when you see that they bookend a bases loaded walk and HBP.
Next up: The Cubs face the Marlins, Ichiro looks for his 3,000th hit, and we wait to see which journeyman players turn into Babe Ruth/Cy Young against the Cubs.
Comments
That was the best worst best game ever.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I liken it to a fossilized turd that someone finds thinking it a diamond in the rough, only to find out that some extinct animal ate and shat a rock that also happened to be a diamond.
Actually, that may be more plausible.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Looking at the guys in Iowa, I would really like to see Felix Peña get a cup of coffee until Grimm is ready.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That WPA chart tho. I sort of thought it was a loss after the first 2-run rally stalled but I guess that’s why they go the full 9.
Rice in limboQuote Reply
Rice in limbo,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYX-NSZMqt0
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rosenthal – Cubs looking for controllable SP and lefty LFer. I wonder if they are seriously going to go to a 6 man rotation.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Just DL Matusz and recall Grimm.
dmick89Quote Reply
Could be that they see Hammel as part of that package and they bumped back the rotation by a day to push his next start after the trade deadline.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Matusz to the DL with suckitis?
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Sounds about right.
dmick89Quote Reply
I wish I got to see this game, but the only part of it I watched was the bottom of the 10th.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Just let the bullpen guys take turns throwing fastballs at Matusz until he’s actually injured.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Full Metal Jacket beat Pyle with soap socks dot gif
Rice in limboQuote Reply
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/192935086/cubs-stun-mariners-in-12th-on-lesters-rbi/
i keep watching this to try to figure out who the fucking asshole is who whipped the bag of pitching mound chalk directly into lester’s face. i think it’s rizzo?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Rondon, I think.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It wasn’t the sulking, clubhouse cancer Chapman, that’s for sure.
#fireTheo
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Naw, he would have shot 8 rosin bags into the wall behind Lester.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Brian Matusz ———> Dumpster out behind Wrigley
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Did they DL him so they could recall Grimm because that’s the smart move.
dmick89Quote Reply
http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/07/31/andrew-cashner-cites-the-cardinal-way-as-marlins-cardinals-exchange-beanballs/
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
Brett is reporting a release, and probably bringing Patton up to take his spot unless Cahill is ready.
Also, I’m guessing the league is watching those type of shenanigans after the Cubs got slapped for doing that last year.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Makes me hate this 6th starter bullshit even more. If the Cubs had held onto their 12 game lead, I could understand, but this lead isn’t that big. It’s big, but not insurmountable.
dmick89Quote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Or…multiple years ago. I’m tired.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Jay Bruce —–> Mets
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Josh Reddick & Rich Hill ——> Dodgers
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Some guy who’s given up 17 HRs with a 4.59 FIP in AAA —–> Oakland
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I wonder if Puig is on the move.
Dodger’s OFers:
Enrique Hernandez
Joc Pederson
Yasiel Puig
Andrew Toles
Scott Van Slyke
Trace Thompson
Andre Ethier
Josh Reddick
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Next up, Puig to the Pale Hose, apparently.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
yeah for shields. i guess it makes sense?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
That was the initial rumor I read, yeah. If that’s the case, the Dodgers keep piling up on 4th-5th starters.
But then again, the rest of the rotation is broken, so they need some bodies one way or another..
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
A lightning rod like Puig in the Sox dumpster fire of a clubhouse would be hilarious.
berseliusQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
Wasn’t the main point of this start to make sure they could keep him?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah, because I think he could have opted out like today or tomorrow. My guess is that it was also to broadcast a potential trade chip as well. This all worked out perfectly as designed (dying laughing)
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
berselius,
Yeah, it’s too bad Latos isn’t around anymore. That would have been even better.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/760163368183488512
Source: #Cubs discussing a trade for #Angels’ Joe Smith. Considering number of other possibilities as well.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
mikeakaleroy,
WHY ? He’s Grimm except 32, will cost prospects, and no upside.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Whoa. Marlins sending back Rea to Padres.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
No idea. First I’d heard of that rumor. Doesn’t make a ton of sense to me, but what the hell do I know
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
berselius,
Pretty sure I’d have to take a subscription to the Sun-Times if that happened.
uncle daveQuote Reply
series preview will auto post at 3pm
dmick89Quote Reply
Spencer Patton has indeed been deemed worthy to take the roster spot of the dearly departed Brian Matusz.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
It may be enough, yet I despair nothing will fill the void left in Clayton Richard’s absence.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
*pours one out for ClayDick*
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Per Buster, the cubs got Joe Smith…for some reason.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
—MLBTR
I get this reasoning, but I simply don’t get the equivalence. The compression of Twitter through the telephone of the blogosphere leads to absurdity.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Maybe so they could flip him at the…
ceruleanQuote Reply
Waiver trade deadline?
berseliusQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/series-preview-miami-marlins-57-48-chicago-cubs-63-41/
berseliusQuote Reply
Everybody is now a pumpkin.
ceruleanQuote Reply
JonKneeVQuote Reply