OSS: Cubs get some clutch hits, cruise to victory against another playoff contender.
Three up:
- Willson Contreras had the two biggest hits of the day by WPA, driving in the Cubs first two runs by homering in the second inning and knocking in Javy on a RBI single in his next PA. He also prompted a kerfuffle with his first HR to to words /gestures exchanged with Tyler Flowers and/or the Braves dugout. The crowd certainly let Flowers have it when he struck out in the next inning.
- We got good Jon Lester in this one, striking out seven with no walks in six innings. He did give up two unearned runs in the sixth thanks to a David Bote error, but the Cubs were up 7-0 by that point.
- Jason Heyward had a two hit day, including a ground rule double that just missed being a back to back HR with Willson. He later did make it over the fence in the eigth inning.
Three down:
- Tony Barnette made his Cubs debut after being activated off the 60 day IL, and gave up a HR to the first batter he saw. Welcome to the Cubs bullpen! He was actually pretty solid with the Rangers in the past, posting sub-3.00 ERAs in two of his three seasons there.
- Steve Cishek came in to close out the game with a five run lead, which *shrug*. I guess Kimbrel’s arrival is imminent.
- No off-day for the Cubs for another week and a half. Thanks schedule makers! Somehow they are ahead of the Brewers in games played now.
Next up: Max Fried takes on Adbert Alzolay at 7:05 PM CT. Fried was on fire early in the year and shut down the Cubs as a part of the sweep in Atlana, but he’s looked more human of late.
Comments
By Grabthar’s Hammer, somehow I did not realize that the Brewers have a negative run differential on the season.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Also, it’s kind of hilarious that the Reds and Pirates have the same record despite run differentials of +48 and -72
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Wow, they must really be living and dying on the bullpen’s ability to close out every lead.
andcountingQuote Reply
We’ll probably never know what happened between Willson and Flowers, but that was weird. I don’t want to sound biased, but it almost seems like Flowers had to have said or done something for Willson to turn around like that and immediately taunt him and then the dugout.
dmick89Quote Reply
So I’m guessing Kimbrel pitches tonight and tomorrow and is recalled on the 28th if all goes well. That would be twice he’d have pitched on back to back days.
dmick89Quote Reply
I want Willson to go deep tonight and shoot for the first-ever minute long home run trot.
MylesQuote Reply
https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/06/25/willson-contreras-puts-it-perfectly-i-just-told-him-to-do-his-job-and-ill-do-mine/
PerkinsQuote Reply
When are we locking Contreras up long-term?
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Gonna need someone else to get divorced first.
berseliusQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
He definitely did, basically commenting on Willson complaining about a strike call. Like batters aren’t allowed to complain about strike calls. He griped about another player complaining about a strike call. Then he acted surprised when his dumb fucking face got pointed at by the superior catcher who just homered despite Flowers’ ignorant-ass dumbfuckery. Then in Flowers’ next at bat, he was called out on strikes and complained about the call.
He doesn’t like Contreras because he’s Hispanic. Everything else is just window dressing.
andcountingQuote Reply
Man, it’d seem awfully hard to hate Hispanics if you’re a baseball player in 2019, but I don’t doubt that is a component.
I really wish Curt Schilling’s career was 10 years later than it was because we’d get so, so many moments like this with him. Would just love to see players today dunking on him.
MylesQuote Reply
berselius,
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2842536-mlb-divorces-that-need-to-happen-during-2019-trade-season
andcountingQuote Reply
Myles,
To take a little less radical angle than my last statement, I don’t think he dislikes all Hispanics, necessarily. But in general someone being of another nationality and culture, particularly someone who doesn’t just try to stay quiet and blend in, tends to increase apprehension in people. Regardless, we know everything Flowers said about the incident is irrational, because he tried to disguise it as something that was out of his control and a product of someone else’s character. At least Willson made it pretty clear he just didn’t like what was said so he got emotional and yelled some things. Flowers acted like he and his team had no choice but to scold Contreras on the field. Because they simply can’t be talked to that way in a professional environment or something. It’s bullshit. Just say you don’t like him and it got overheated.
andcountingQuote Reply
berselius,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I think it’s funny when the opposing team gets upset that someone else acts in a certain way after they hit a home run even if it’s unprovoked. Let the players play and have some fun. Don’t want the guy to act like that? Don’t let him hit it that far. Pretty fucking simple.
dmick89Quote Reply
One of the reasons I loved Zambrano was he wore his emotions on his sleeve and so often in this game players are taught to keep those in check. You don’t see that in other sports as much as you do baseball.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate bringing race into it, but baseball is probably the most diverse sport there is, at least in the states. I wonder if that has something to do with it.
WaLiQuote Reply
So just for baseball reasons, the Cubs should probably just cut bait on Addison Russell. He has been worse basically every single year he has been in the league, and he’s not even a replacement-level hitter this year. Every plate appearance he takes is one that David Bote doesn’t get to take (and apparently Robel Garcia), and we need to win games, not develop year-5 guys that have literally never been league-average with the bat. Maybe demote him to AAA if you think he can contribute in the future, but he’s almost certainly going to get non-tendered next year so just get it over with.
MylesQuote Reply
I’m also just about ready to call an end to the Carlos Gonzalez experiment. He doesn’t have that much left in the tank. I’d rather put Bryant in the outfield a little more often, play David Bote, and see if CarGo will accept a AAA assignment.
MylesQuote Reply
Man, i’m extremely unpopular today.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Considering how it’s looking less and less likely that Zobrist is going to return, there’s really no way that I’d just DFA Russell at this point even considering the off field stuff. The Cubs will need him at SS if Baez gets hurt. They should have an option on him though.
dmick89Quote Reply
today?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I earned that.
MylesQuote Reply
I hate to say it, because I’d like him off somewhere where he isn’t complicating my fandom, but we probably do really need Russell for shortstop depth. But it does seem like it’d be better to have him stashed in Iowa like we would any other defense-first backup shortstop option.
UrkQuote Reply
Myles,
Official scorer’s change has made it unearned.
dmick89Quote Reply
WaLi,
It is the most diverse of the big three in the US, in terms of the majority is the smallest, but baseball is the whitest sport around, at least this side of hockey. The NBA and NFL are somewhere in the 70-80% range majority African American. The culture of those sports reflects that. Baseball is still a mostly white sport, so its culture still reflects a kind of stodgy white church who gets upset when anyone so much as stands up and claps.
andcountingQuote Reply
Happy Adbertday!
andcountingQuote Reply
Don’t think I’ve seen a double caught stealing before.
andcountingQuote Reply
Double Tootblan!
URKQuote Reply
andcounting,
Based on Flowers previous objectionable comments about gay people, he gets no benefit of the doubt from me.
BVSQuote Reply
I feel like the Mike Montgomery experience should come to an end.
JKVQuote Reply
JKV,
He’s got a final-out-in-the-World-Series-no-trade-waivers-or-demotions clause. All they can do is put him on the injured list every now and again.
andcountingQuote Reply
I do not like this Cubs team when it loses.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I don’t like it when they make two outs on the bases with the bases loaded and leave the pitcher at the plate to lead off the next inning. You do that, you should lose.
andcountingQuote Reply
So Cole Roederer had a day in A ball, hitting for the cycle plus another double.
More minor league notes:
AAA – Robel Garcia continues to rake. His OPS in Iowa is 1.
AA – The rotation has come back to Earth a bit, but Cory Abbott and Tyson Miller are still intriguing options for the big club. Also, 2017 Alex Lange was promoted to AA and had a decent first outing. I wonder if he was asked to work on a pitch in A+ to start the year.
A+ – SS Aramis Ademan is holding his own as a 20-year-old.
A – Roederer is coming around, but the big story at this level is Brennan Davis. At 19, he’s head and shoulders above everyone else at this level with an OPS of .903 (no one else on the team is above .800) and 16 walks to 18 Ks in 84 ABs. He’s making a case to be the organization’s top prospect by season’s end. On the mound, Brailyn Marquez might have the org’s highest upside. 100 mph from the left side has led to 59 Ks in 46 IP this year. His GO/AO of 2.24 looks great too, but the 30 walks are killing him.
A(SS) – It’s early. ’18 draftee Kohl Franklin has had two pretty good starts, though.
AZL – ’18 bonus baby Richard Gallardo is off to a good start. If he’s what “they” say he is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start next season in South Bend and rocket through the system.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
thanks for this. any news on brailyn marquez? his overall numbers at south bend don’t look great but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.
EDIT: nevermind, i am an idiot and did not read every word.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I also don’t like this team when they play every goddamn day. They’re in the middle of a stretch from May 31 through July 4 in which they have 34 games and exactly one day off with six trips thrown in for good measure.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
MLB players need to form some kind of union.
andcountingQuote Reply
I’m going to assume that if Kimbrel also pitches tonight that he’ll be recalled on Friday.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
There is speculation you might not pitch again in the minors. I’m wondering if he might be recalled today. I’m pretty sure Montgomery “got hurt” last night, (dying laughing).
andcountingQuote Reply
That’s probably pretty good speculation. I see no reason to believe that I will pitch in the minors. I’m a straight to majors kind of talent.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
(dying laughing). Autocorrect hates me.
andcountingQuote Reply
It’s possible the site will act a little weird over the next 48 hours. I’m hoping it won’t, but the host switched to cloud servers and I finally got around to changing the IP address over to the cloud.
dmick89Quote Reply
Inverted M is White Socks, much happy
myLeSQuote Reply
This is not a good start.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yu throws mid to upper 90s, has a pretty nasty slider, and really good stuff overall. Yeah, he struggles with control pretty consistently, so the inability to get wins makes sense. But I don’t get what makes him so easy to hit homers off of.
andcountingQuote Reply
His middle name is Steve Trachsel.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs are going to get 15 hits and no runs.
andcountingQuote Reply
Go rain!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It’s kind of amazing that we’re about 12 weeks into the season and the Cubs have been good for about 4 of them, but are somehow still in first place. I guess it’s a good thing the NL Central sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Brewers lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The fact that the rest of the division is struggling almost makes this more frustrating. The Cubs should be running away with the division.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Runs, plz.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Washington Post reported that the little girl hit by Almora’s foul ball had a skull fracture and seizures. She was sitting on her Granddad’s lap with her back to game. They have counsel, but aren’t saber rattling right now.
BVSQuote Reply
Does anybody have any information on the new pitcher the Cubs called up today?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I heard he’s good, but he seems a little old for a minor league call up.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It makes it a lot more frustrating, but that’s because I think the Cubs have played better than they really are to this point.
dmick89Quote Reply
The change is scheduled for July 1st.
dmick89Quote Reply
BVS,
Any team that doesn’t have netting from foul pole to foul pole by the start of next season should be banned from postseason play. This girl’s life is forever changed because of this. Hopefully she recovers.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think they’ve actually played pretty true to form. They are and will probably wind up being top 5 in the NL in run scoring and run prevention, but not the best in either category. That’s going to keep a team in the playoffs but not make them nearly as fun to watch as a team who dominates either offensively or defensively. They also have a lot of offensive contributors showing up in the top 10 or 15 of a lot of the league leaderboards but nobody at the very top. So the Cubs are a pretty deep team, pretty solid. Definitely above .500. Willson may end up having a career year, but it doesn’t look like anyone else will. So it’s kinda fun, kinda boring, but definitely not OMG THIS TEAM IS UNSTOPPABLE. But it would also be pretty surprising if the team went through a nosedive, especially after Kimbrel joins the bullpen. The trade deadline could make a difference, I guess, but I expect the rest of the year to be mildly frustrating with an off chance of a surprising postseason.
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
sounds like the nats and the white sox just announced plans to do this. crazy that more teams have not made similar announcements.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
As of right now, that should mean we get a Nats/White Sox World Series.
dmick89Quote Reply
Have a day, Hey Hey!
andcountingQuote Reply
Kimbrel is fitting right in.
dmick89Quote Reply
Wow. I thought for sure that was a hit once it was clear the Cubs had to rely on Rizzo’s speed.
dmick89Quote Reply
Woohoo Cubs win in spite of a Chatwood start
WaLiQuote Reply
dmick89,
He’s the rare person who’s faster when he’s diving to the base.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey, two of my votes actually counted.
andcountingQuote Reply
So three of the MLB starting all stars were drafted or signed by Jim Hendry.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cookie Monster may be my favorite celebrity 7th inning stretch singer ever.
BVSQuote Reply
Pointed out in last night’s radio broadcast, we’re about to roll into July and the Cubs have played the Pirates just three times. Almost 20% of their remaining games are against the Buccos. Yay scheduling.
berseliusQuote Reply
Bring back the old couple who did the schedules. Seriously.
MylesQuote Reply
5 things I’d do if I was commissioner of baseball:
1. All new stadiums must have retractable roofs at a minimum.
2. Netting is extended to the foul poles.
3. Pitchers have to wear face guards.
4. Players are granted free agency after 8 years if they are drafted out of high school, 7 years if after college, and 7 years if they are an international free agent that signs after their 19th birthday (8 years if before their 19th birthday).
5. 6 scheduled day-night doubleheaders per team per year (on Sundays) with an off-day immediately following.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
what’s your rationale for #5? Six more off-days?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Yep. We need more off days but I doubt we can reduce the number of games in a season. In this scenario, those days you’d have like a 28-man roster.
MylesQuote Reply
The problem is pitchers day’s rest. You could solve that problem by putting the off day in FRONT of the scheduled DH, but I don’t like that idea. Doesn’t make sense from a rest perspective.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Wow. I love every single one of these.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs have the second best run differential in the NL, but it’s less than half that of the Dodgers. Holy shit the Dodgers are good.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Myles,
One thing that I’ve thought of for a long time is that there needs to be some changes made to minor league free agency. Currently you get, what, about 6 years in the minors before you’re eligible? I think it’s 6 years, maybe 7 depending on your age when you’re drafted. I’m okay with 6 or 7 years if a player is consistently moving up in the system, but I think any player who is sent to a league they’ve played in for two seasons should become immediate minor league free agents. Obviously we’d have to exclude rehab assignments, but I’d like to see those guys who get stuck at AA given a chance in another organization.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
i am not at all opposed to #1 but i might trade that for DH in the NL if we can only have 5 things on the list
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Myles,
If it were up to me, I’d just do away with the draft altogether. Recruit people and pay them, figure out contracts. Incoming players become eligible when they declare themselves eligible, and draft day becomes free agency day. You want control of someone for a long time? Sign him to a long contract. Not sure about a kid? Offer him three years, after that he’s a free agent. Want free agency to be less of a big deal? Take away the mystique. Offer it to everyone as soon as they come in. The draft is dumb. I see no reason for it.
andcountingQuote Reply
Stop striking out!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
fuuuuuuuuuck
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
What happened to Hamels?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
pat and ron aren’t even speculating
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
sounds like he threw like 2 warmup pitches before the 2nd started, and then just walked off the field without even talking to anyone
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
at least monty is off to a really good start
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
He struck out the opposing pitcher!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Felt something in his left side, according to Len.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think I’d be okay sending Montgomery back to Seattle for Vogelbach now.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Thanks, Pirates and Padres.
PerkinsQuote Reply
What pathetic pitcher takes Hamels place in the rotation? This rotation went from mediocre to among the worst in baseball pretty quickly.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m guessing they make do with five pitchers until the all star break and keep Chatwood and Alzolay along with Lester, Q, and Yu. It’s pretty bad, but I was expecting a rough record through July 4 anyway. This stretch of games the last month plus is murderous.
andcountingQuote Reply
Sounds like CarGo got #HugWatch-Ed last night
berseliusQuote Reply
What?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Never mind. I see he was DFA’d, (dying laughing).
andcountingQuote Reply
Hamels to the IL, CarGo DFA’d
Rowan Wick (dying laughing) and Dillon Maples (dying laughing) recalled
dmick89Quote Reply
Anyone watching this London game? Anyone thinking of going next year?
SKQuote Reply
I mean I’d understand if you’d rather get a root canal than listen to Smoltz and Buck saying the world cricket every 30 seconds.
SKQuote Reply
tl:dr jetlag affects pitchers more than hitters
SKQuote Reply
Heyward!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Q is the best argument for the designated hitter.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sigh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zack Duke and Oliver Perez are the same pitcher in my head.
berseliusQuote Reply
Screw the closer!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
JAVY
berseliusQuote Reply
Oppo!
berseliusQuote Reply
M—————> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
The Orioles beat the Indians 13-0 for the second day in a row.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/1145014931944869889?s=20
(dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
Jesus, Kyle.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
We are going to get blown up today.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
Well, they have won one in a row so we already knew today was a loss.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’ll never regret the Lester signing because of 2016, but the back end of his contract will likely be ugly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Joe’s gonna need to get ejected in this one, lots of horseshit calls
berseliusQuote Reply
The fan clearly interfered, but there’s no guarantee that catch would’ve been, so that’s just bad luck.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
What’s really annoying is that the Reds fan helped the Reds by doing something he wasn’t supposed to do.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
SK,
Maybe. Have a friend in Wolverhampton and could combine baseball with visit. How much are tickets running. Hopefully less than airfare from SC, (dying laughing).
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Too bad they didn’t have nets to the foul poles….
BVSQuote Reply
Schwarber!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwabernator
SKQuote Reply
WAR BEAR
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
BVS,
Much easier for me to get to, but I did hear the ticket prices were outrageous. I know several guys that went this weekend and will see what kind of feedback I get about the experience.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Yeah, definitely post a report. Timing is pretty good in terms of dates. Wouldn’t be surprised if my friend is closer to London anyway by then. Passports are current.
BVSQuote Reply
Ugh, not this again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Some strange things with fouls today.
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
God bless America?
BVSQuote Reply
Weirdly pissed off that Joe is still in this game given how many borderline calls have gone against the Cubs. Yeah shit happens but sticking up for his players is something that Maddon is supposed to be good at.
berseliusQuote Reply
Heyward!
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That could have gone better.
berseliusQuote Reply
What a series by Heyward, though.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
#tweetsfrom2003
RynoQuote Reply
He is by far having his best season in a Cubs uniform (though that isn’t saying much). He also so far has his second highest OPS of his career right now at .834 (highest was his rookie season .849) and is on track to have the second most HR in his career (currently at 14, he had 18 his rookie year and 27 his third year in the league).
WaLiQuote Reply
Heyward has been very good this year. Good to see.
MylesQuote Reply
hendricks is pitching tomorrow
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
since 1969, the only team to be more games out of first place on July 1 than the 2019 orioles is…the 2018 orioles
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
i’m starting to get nervous about the orioles’ playoff odds, you guys
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
If it were any other pitcher, I’d wonder if that would be stupid, but I assume all Cyle’s decisions are smart.
andcountingQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
They are just unlucky. They’re X-W/L based on RA and RS gives them more than 10% of the wins they currently have.
WaLiQuote Reply
The Orioles have outscored their opponents 26-2 over the last 3 games. I’m not sure why you guys are ruling them out. They’re on fire.
dmick89Quote Reply
Tyler Skaggs died today. 27 years old.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is fine.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m really hoping for a 5-way tie for first place when the season ends. This division sucks enough that it could happen.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m okay with the events that are unfolding currently.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s okay. Things are going to be okay.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All that Cy Young talk was false adbertising.
andcountingQuote Reply
Nothing like a TOOTBLAN at 3rd when you’re down 4 and rallying.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brach!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Brach!?!
andcountingQuote Reply
Good God, Caratini is slow.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damn.
andcountingQuote Reply
Jesus. What a piece of shit game.
andcountingQuote Reply
I haven’t been this annoyed by a two-out, two-strike fastball in the strike zone to the opposing pitcher with the bases loaded since John Lackey in the 2016 NLDS.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
At least Brewers are losi….dammit
berseliusQuote Reply
Kimbrel signed with Chicago for exactly this type of high-leverage situation.
andcountingQuote Reply
Damn. Josh Bell’s one out was a warning-track fly. Settles for three homers and a double.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Oh, and a ground out. He sucks.
andcountingQuote Reply
I’m glad Kimbrel got his runs allowed out of the way when they didn’t matter.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I’m sure he’ll give some up when it matters. He’s a Cub now.
dmick89Quote Reply
Yelich’s game-deciding home run had a xBA of 0.30.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m not sure why xBA is a valuable statistic. It assumes batted ball direction is both irrelevant and not skill-driven (by either pitcher, defensive alignment, or batter), which is particularly untrue in an era of advanced defensive shifting. Exit velocity and launch angle are important, but direction is pretty damn important, especially in stadiums with short porches or cavernous power alleys. I’m sure spin of the ball off the bat is important too, but I’m not aware of that being measured.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I don’t know if it’s valuable, but it still can be neat when someone gets a game winning hit that shouldn’t have been or losing a game with an out that should have been a hit.
WaLiQuote Reply
andcounting,
I don’t know much about xBA, but I’ve assumed it’s some sort of calculation that includes launch angle, velocity, distance, direction (because each field is different) and distance for fly balls and line drives. I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it for the same reason I don’t particularly care about the home plate umpire screwing up calls. Over the course of the season, every team is going to benefit from bad calls by the HPU and every team is going to benefit from lucky hits or lucky home runs. I think someone on here recently showed a Rizzo home run with an xBA of about .150 or something.
dmick89Quote Reply
That doesn’t sound right, Rizzo hasn’t had any HR recently it seems.
MylesQuote Reply
CHC just spent a LOT of money on a 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher and quite a bit on a SS.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Not saying $3MM on a 16 y/o isn’t a lot, but what are the usual signing amounts for international FA’s? Aren’t their penalties for going over a certain bonus pool?
WaLiQuote Reply
Myles,
I have a loose definition of recent. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Ah yes, Rizzo’s recent homerun in Dallas.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Or berselius’s recent ability to make new threads on this site.
berseliusQuote Reply
Hendricks ——> Cubs
Rosario ——> Cubs
Alzolay ——> AAA
Wick ——> AAA
berseliusQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
Someone tell these guys that Musgrove isn’t a big strikeout pitcher.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Musgrove isn’t much of a groundball pitcher, either.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A rain delay? In Pittsburgh?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
It’s no aurora borealis
berseliusQuote Reply
I remember when Rizzo used to hit the ball in the air more often than he hit it on the ground.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Shocker: Maples walked a man.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Brewers lose in 11.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
(dying laughing) This division is hilarious.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Comedy Central.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Teaser rallies, FTW
berseliusQuote Reply
Maybe signing Creed Krackle was a bit premature.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
andcountingQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
They can trade him for prospects later this month.
dmick89Quote Reply
WaLi,
Their bonus pool for this year is $5.7 million, so they’re in good shape.
NYY spent like $5 million on supposedly the next Mickey Mantle. The most CHC has spent on an international signing (not including someone like Coskay Fuckyoudome), is $2.8 million on Eloy.
So the kid is not like a transcendent talent or anything, but yeah they think really highly of him.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
They’ll probably end up trading these guys for one year rentals so I have a hard time getting all that excited. I’m expecting Nico Hoerner will be dealt for some left handed bullpen help in the next few weeks.
dmick89Quote Reply
4 games in the loss column separates the teams in the NL Central. I’m still holding out hope for a 5-way tie.
dmick89Quote Reply
We stinks.
MylesQuote Reply
dmick89,
Apparently the rulebook (https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/majorleaguerules.pdf) has no rule for what would happen if there is a five-way tie for the division leader (or any five-way tie). The most it has is a Four-Club tie.
Major League Rules 33(c) has the tie-breaking procedures.
Then there are a four subsections for different criteria determining A, B, C, and D teams. I’ll go to the most confusing one:
Okay, great. Now that we figured out who is Club A, B, C, and D. How do they play each other?
I don’t know why they didn’t consider a five-club tie.
WaLiQuote Reply
Hopefully the NL Central forces MLB to adopt a new rule, midseason, to deal with the inevitable 5-way tie that’s coming.
dmick89Quote Reply
Think about how awesome a 5-way tie could be. A team could go from 1st place to last place any given day or vice versa. It would be awesome and since the Cubs aren’t very good, this is their best shot at the postseason. I think the Cubs will have to get better to deserve to be in a 5-way tie, but maybe they can make a trade or two this month to improve their chances.
dmick89Quote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
berseliusQuote Reply
It’s okay when it’s in a 5-way
It’s not gay when it’s in a 5-way
With a Pirate in the middle, there’s some leeway
The area’s grey in a 1-2-3-4-5 way
WaLiQuote Reply
Robel Garcia –> CHC
Maples –> not CHC
RynoQuote Reply
Hayden Simps– err, Ryan Jenson –> Euguene
RynoQuote Reply
Maples seems to be just about out of chances with this organization. Something just isn’t clicking in the majors. Probably the fact that he has horrible control.
MylesQuote Reply
That’s where he belongs.
dmick89Quote Reply
ZiPS rest of season actually projects a BB/9 over 9 for Maples. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I’d start Robel Garcia at SS a few nights to see if he can hack it there in the majors. If he can, you can feel free to eject Addy.
MylesQuote Reply
How many more divorces would it require for the Cubs to sign KB to an extension?
dmick89Quote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs lose
dmick89Quote Reply
Caratini!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
FanGraphs has the Cubs with a 71.7% chance of making the postseason, FWIW, which is the highest in the division. Brewers are next at 50.5%. They do not list odds for a 5-way tie.
North Side PatQuote Reply
A few well placed rumors about the Lesters might get it done.
andcountingQuote Reply
At the risk of jinxing the impossible, Yu is on pace for a Maddux.
andcountingQuote Reply
Please stop hitting grounders, Anthony.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stop being a terrible hitter, Albert.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That lead was fun while it lasted.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Javy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nice catch Willson
WaLiQuote Reply
Caratini again!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think if the Cubs can get anything for Maples, they should. Maybe part of a package to Seattle for Dee Gordon. Whatever. I get that power is great, but some command is essential.
Also the Descalso and Brach experiments should be over too.
I’d keep Russell for now. He’s hitting better this week and fills the D replacement role pretty well.
Let’s give Schwarber a day off soon and put Rizzo in leadoff to get him going. Also as KB and JHey feel better then maybe Bote at 3b KB in right JHey in CF and Almora on bench much more. We could probably trade Almora for bullpen help.
BVSQuote Reply
Watching Rizzo stretch at 1b makes my groin hurt.
BVSQuote Reply
Maybe 250k in international FA $$
BVSQuote Reply
As much as I like Maples, I’d cut bait on him too. He has problems this org just isn’t fixing for whatever reason. If you could get anything if value, do it.
Descalso is useless to this team. If you can get anything for Russell, I’d trade him too.
MylesQuote Reply
Baby steps for Darvish. Not a horrible start.
MylesQuote Reply
Brewers lose again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I love this division.
dmick89Quote Reply
Helluva throw by Willy from RF
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Keep him in right (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
Kinda tired of Cubs hitters not running hard out of the box.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Me too
BVSQuote Reply
Ugh!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
WaLi,
Never mind, fire him
WaLiQuote Reply
Jesus.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh wtf
WaLiQuote Reply
That was dumb.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stupid fucking plays in the 9th. Shitty fucking loss
WaLiQuote Reply
Ok. Guess I’m fine trading Russell too.
BVSQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Tyler Chatwood and Schwarber for Justin Upton and Noe Ramirez?
Giambrone for Tony Watson?
BVSQuote Reply
That was a game that recently deserved a forest gif.
andcountingQuote Reply
3 games in the loss column separate the NL Central teams.
dmick89Quote Reply
The DSL Yanks beat the DSL Twins 38 to 2 yesterday. Yankee Luis Velasquez got a save for pitching 4 scoreless innings. Score was 23-2 when he came in. 3h 2b 7k. We should acquire him and promote to the Cubs ASAP as our shutdown, long man reliever.
BVSQuote Reply
I think he should be the only option out of the Cubs bullpen.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bryant.
andcountingQuote Reply
That Robel Garcia kid’s really turning this team around.
andcountingQuote Reply
Al!
andcountingQuote Reply
I generally don’t feel this way, but I would enjoy seeing Kang suffer a career-ending injury.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
You don’t generally feel that way about players but you do about Kang, or you generally like Kang but today he’s really pissing you off?
andcountingQuote Reply
Just saw this on Twitter.
Most losses in the NL since May 8th:
Cubs 29
Dbacks 29
Mets 29
Pirates 28
Cards 27
Giants 27
Marlins 27
Padres 27
Phillies 26
Brewers 25
Reds 23
Rockies 22
Nationals 20
Braves 18
Dodgers 15
dmick89Quote Reply
Brewers lose yet again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Oh shit, hope Bote is ok.
berseliusQuote Reply
This division is going to be a 5-way tie really soon.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
I don’t generally wish injuries on players, but I do on Kang. Mostly for all the drunk driving and credible rape allegations.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Great debut for Robel Garcia
berseliusQuote Reply
Perkins,
I really don’t follow the allegations wire enough. I had no idea.
andcountingQuote Reply
Interesting. May 8th was the day Addison Russell was called up.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
The tweet included that bit of info, but he didn’t suddenly make the Cubs suck. They aren’t as bad as they’ve been since then, but are probably still only about a. .500 team. At no point this season have I rethought my 75-80 win prediction. There was a brief moment (about a day or two) where I started to consider it, but then they became the team I knew they always were. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
They’ve also had 3 off days since then. And, dating back to the last off day they had before May 8, they played 60 games. So, to recap:
Losses since May 8: 29
Games since May 2: 60
Off days since May 2: 3
Addison Russell PAs: 141
I’m putting a bit more blame on the 20 games per off day rate myself.
andcountingQuote Reply
Given how scarce they’ve been for the past two months, I’m happy the Cubs have an off day tomorrow. But WTF at a Friday off day. The White Sox must be pissed off at pissing away a big revenue night.
berseliusQuote Reply
I complained about this earlier this week, but one of my biggest/weirdest complaints about Maddon is that he doesn’t get ejected enough. Glad he actually did in this one.
berseliusQuote Reply
What? The Cubs have a scheduled off day on a Friday?
dmick89Quote Reply
That doesn’t sound right to me. Cubs were good before Russell. Since Russell, they’ve been bad. Seems pretty clear he wrecked everything the moment he entered the clubhouse, and none of your macho head games can change that. Even the smallest person can change the course of the future, and on the active roster only Daniel Descalso is listed as shorter.
Prove me wrong.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
That’s no weirder than six teams having a scheduled of day on the fourth of July.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It’s a lot weirder. The 4th happened to be on a Thursday, which is frequently a day off for MLB teams.
dmick89Quote Reply
The Cubs are having a decent season and should be in the hunt for the post-season in September. Whether or not they have enough to win the World Series, only time will tell.
Berdj Joseph RassamQuote Reply
Think Bote will add the chin guard to his helmet now like KB has? Or his wife will make him?
That ought to be as mandatory as foul line nets.
BVSQuote Reply
Probably only four options for me. Ranked:
1. Good-sized CB
2. Slot WR
3. Kicker
4. QB, but he won’t last in the NFL with his frame
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’d be perfectly qualified to work in colonial airports.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
The president of the United States literally thinks there were airplanes involved in the revolutionary war. Not a slip of the tongue. Not a moment of confusion. He’s just that stupid.
andcountingQuote Reply
Punter, CB, running back.
andcountingQuote Reply
In addition to the 5-way divisional tie possibility, the NL wildcard race could be interesting. Only 3 NL teams are as much as 4 games out in the WC standings. What would they do in the case of a 5-way NL Central tie and a 10-way wildcard tie?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I hope we find out. October Madness.
dmick89Quote Reply
Obviously, they would award the Cardinals a few extra competitive balance picks.
berseliusQuote Reply
Pirates tie the Brewers with a five-run ninth.
andcountingQuote Reply
I hope that game goes 20 innings.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Failpen!
berseliusQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/series-preview-chicago-cubs-46-42-at-chicago-white-sox-41-43/
berseliusQuote Reply