OSS: Cubs beat another CYA contender.
Three+ up:
- Murphy, Rizzo, and Baez all hit home runs off of Aaron Nola, who had only coughed up eight dingers in 176 innings this season.
- Nola was eventually chased by a Kyle Schwarber triple. War Bear also gunned down Phillies leadoff man Roman Quinn at third base on the first play of the game, as the Phillies apparently didn’t get the memo on his arm.
- Jon Lester had another solid start, throwing six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. It was his fourth straight quality start.
- Most importantly, one of my neighbors brought me a six pack of Spotted Cow. He knew nothing about the beer but his Midwest hookup knew what was what.
Three down:
- The Cubs struck out six times in a row before Murphy’s home run. Nola had seven strikeouts through 3.2 innings and could have been on the way to a 20K game. Instead he settled for eleven strikeouts and the loss.
- The Brewers beat down the Nats bullpen to pull even with the Cardinals in the magic number column.
- I went to tune into the Cardinals-Reds broadcast and couldn’t decide which announcing team would be worse.
Next up: The Cubs head to Miller Park for a big series with the Brewers. Cole Hamels takes on Zach Davies, who has been out since late May with a shoulder injury.
Comments
It’s been fun seeing some of these repeat scores pop up. The last 8-1 win over the Phillies on the site was Almora’s debut.
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-8-phillies-1/
Also, from the 7-4 win over the Mets, Kyle Schwarber getting drafted was an aside in the recap.
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-7-mets-4/
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I love seeing the additional 2 in the URL. I used to check those out all the time and really enjoyed reading all the comments at the time. Been awhile since I did that, but it’s surprising to see it pop up as it often as it does.
dmick89Quote Reply
This should be a fun series in Milwaukee. I expect to see at least one 15-14 type game. When you have a talented team in a must-win situation against a very talented team with almost no pressure on them, the big brother/little brother dynamic makes for entertaining theater.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I want a sweep. I want the Brewers playoff hopes more or less dashed. I want to see the Kato mushroom cloud from my house.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Joe has employed the Jon Lester defense today.
andcountingQuote Reply
Javy!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing), from the crowd noise on the radio broadcast I would have thought this game was at Wrigley.
berseliusQuote Reply
Runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
It’s a quiet ballpark.
dmick89Quote Reply
Schwarber got screwed.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I. Hate. Ryan. Braun.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Striking out this much against a junkballer like Davies is a crime.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That throw has to go to 2nd base.
dmick89Quote Reply
Stupid defense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus, Javy. Nice stop.
andcountingQuote Reply
Time to actually start playing baseball.
andcountingQuote Reply
I know Schwarber has a large platoon split, but pinch-hitting for him with Almora seems silly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It looked like Aguilar just yelled at physics.
andcountingQuote Reply
Victor Caratini has to be one of the worst backup catchers in baseball.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rosario? Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I feel like scoring only one run or less against Davies should be included in tiebreaker scenarios at the end of the season.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Joe loves Rosario and Almora way more than he should.
dmick89Quote Reply
At least they’re burning Hader today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This would be a good time for Murphy to redeem himself.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Welp.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Terrible at bat.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Baseball is awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
RIZZOMG
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Another blown save for Bud Norris
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Why isn’t Contreras in?
dmick89Quote Reply
I miss the version of CJ who struck out lots of batters.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
More of that, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
One more, please.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Don’t. Walk. In. A. Run.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Get your money’s worth, Joe.
berseliusQuote Reply
Those pitches weren’t even close, Joe. I hate it when he argues about calls that were obviously correct.
dmick89Quote Reply
Just a really terrible performance right now by CJ.
andcountingQuote Reply
Jesus fucking christ.
dmick89Quote Reply
Would have been nice to have good CJ today.
North Side PatQuote Reply
Cardinals lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The thing I really hate about Joe getting ejected is how it fed the out-of-control negative emotions of Edwards. He needed to calm the fuck down and Joe did the opposite. Really stupid.
andcountingQuote Reply
Strikes, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cards lose
North Side PatQuote Reply
Bote time.
andcountingQuote Reply
STOP WALKING PEOPLE.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s not what I had in mind.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus, Willson.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was just not even sports.
andcountingQuote Reply
Why not Jesse Chavez.
andcountingQuote Reply
The last two innings pitched for the Cubs has been a clinic on what not to do.
dmick89Quote Reply
Couldn’t Bryant throw home?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryant, come on.
andcountingQuote Reply
That was some stupid baseball the last two innings.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
And then there’s Schwarber allowing a runner to advance by throwing home. Just a sloppy game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Cubs throw home when they don’t have a chance to get the lead runner, allowing the trailing runner to advance, but don’t throw home when the run literally wins the game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
This is one loss that is completely fair to blame on the manager. Joe is supposed to be this master zen guru, yet he lost his goddamn mind when he needed to calm things down. His team followed suit from that point on against a team trying really hard to lose.
andcountingQuote Reply
I think the only good thing to come of this game is that Hader probably isn’t available tomorrow.
dmick89Quote Reply
Something that I’ve seen pointed out by some people: Bryant would have had a double play had he thrown to second. Cain froze when the ball was hit and was nowhere near the base when the throw went to first.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Maybe. I don’t know. The only correct play is throwing home. I’m sure Bryant knows that and I’m also sure that 6 weeks on the shelf played a part in that bad decision. It was a stupid play, but I can at least explain it a little bit because Bryant has been injured. The walks are another story. Same for Schwarber throwing home though that didn’t end up costing the Cubs a run. Same also goes for the offense scoring only a run off of Davies.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m just perturbed because Rizzo’s homer off Hader was such beautiful moment, but the bullpen and defense ruined it with a whole bunch of sloppy slop, making it impossible for me to look back on this game fondly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sure it did. Cain advanced to second on the throw and then scored on a single by Yellich.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
That’s right. I forgot. There were so many bad plays I couldn’t keep track of all their outcomes.
dmick89Quote Reply
https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/09/03/remembering-marvin-miller-on-labor-day/
berseliusQuote Reply
https://mobile.twitter.com/TonyAndracki23/status/1036736415827206146
(dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
That’s awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Lo(dying laughing)
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Maybe this is his problem. He doesn’t know where the strike zone is.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
deGrom once again drove in as many runs as he allowed (1), but will have to settle for a no decision.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Keegan Thompson was pretty good
Brailyn Marquez – 2IP, 2H, 0ER, 4K, 0BB
The most notable minor league thing from the weekend, though, is that Allen Webster, Danny Hultzen and Duane Underwood all pitched well out of the Iowa bullpen.
RynoQuote Reply
I know this is a baseball website and all, but how are you Bears motherfuckers not going crazy about the Mack trade?
RynoQuote Reply
Bummer for the GB fan on here (b?). Get Rodgers back healthy in time to compete with what might be the best roster in the NFL, a playoff contender in CHI and the Texas Tech of the NFL.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
berseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
Seriously though, it’s a bummer. It seems like the biggest question marks for the Packers chances at a playoff spot are whether the defense can actually take a step forward now that Capers is finally gone and whether they keep Rodgers upright, as well as if Trubisky is actually any good. Adding Mack certainly hurts the keeping Rodgers upright angle of this. When you have him you always have a good shot but I wasn’t feeling that confident going into the year.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
It seems like GB realizes Rodgers is talented enough to carry an offense devoid of talent, so they’re focusing on the defense. And that defense could be pretty legit this year.
The sad thing is GB’s offense has been so vanilla for the last few years. Their route combos are so bland, it’s almost like they want plays to break down and let Rodgers improvise. With his intelligence, athleticism and arm talent, they could base their entire offense on RPOs.
RynoQuote Reply
With the offense Nagy is bringing, Trubisky doesn’t need to be good as much as not bad.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Being a Bears/NFL fan has lost almost all of its fun for me. I’d love to say it has something to do with a moral stance or something, but I think it’s probably that I can’t watch a game without Donald Trump’s name coming up.
Anyway. He’s the type of player that makes everyone else on defense more successful at their jobs, so they’ve definitely taken a giant leap forward. It should be fun to watch, especially if Trump dies in a fire.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
First of all, NFL football should be watched on mute. Unless Tony Romo is calling the game.
Second, Mack has proven to be a one-man wrecking crew at times.
CHI has 9-win potential this season if the offensive transition goes smoothly.
RynoQuote Reply
Seconded. Romo might be the best analyst on TV. Last year I watched a game he called with someone who hates football, and she said she’d watch all the games if he was on to explain everything. He’s better at color commentary than he was at quarterback, and he was an excellent quarterback.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
It’s amazing to me how he’s able to engage viewers with such with wide range of football knowledge. I think there are a handful of times each game where he teaches me something, while most other announcers spew the same cliches.
The best football-watching experience I’ve had is when they show the all-22 and have a coaches panel discussing the game. Watching a Romo game is the closest thing we’ll get to that in the NFL, I think.
RynoQuote Reply
Any of you burning your Nike stuff today?
RynoQuote Reply
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-mlbpa-has-a-new-chief-negotiator/
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
*hacks site to give this a million thumbs up*
berseliusQuote Reply
Cole Hamels’ car———> NL Pitcher of the Month parking spot
andcountingQuote Reply
Jaime Garcia—————-Tonight’s game, bottom of the 9th to defend a 1-run lead with the bases loaded, probably.
andcountingQuote Reply
Cubs hitters had better not struggle against another junkballer today.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I miss Kris Bryant.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think I’m going to find something else to watch. I don’t need to see them get shutout by Wade Fucking Miley.
dmick89Quote Reply
God. This umpire already sucks ass.
andcountingQuote Reply
Jesus fucking Christ.
andcountingQuote Reply
Mike got screwed out of strike three calls twice.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
He’s blown two easy strike three calls that weren’t even borderline bottom of the strike zone and there have only been three hitters.
andcountingQuote Reply
Bote, yes.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brewers defense!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Now Monty gets screwed on what should have been ball four. Welp.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m starting to wonder whether Monty had an affair with the umpire’s wife or something.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah, that was a pretty good at bat by Monty
BVSQuote Reply
You’re kidding me.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All right! They got the big strikeout! Now they have the pitcher coming up with two outs! What could go wrong here?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
More slop.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Someone tell the Cubs this game is kind of important.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow. The Cubs managed to score a run already? That box score must be wrong.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs might take notes on how to hit sac flies
BVSQuote Reply
Bote’s defense has been one of the better surprises this year.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Letting Miley face Bote there (with righty Knebel in the pen) was a serious managerial error. Too bad the Cubs couldn’t take advantage.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This game is trash. The highlights so far are two fly outs, a wild pitch, a ground out, an error, and a preview of a starting pitcher in the next series.
andcountingQuote Reply
Stop. Making. Errors.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Caratini has to stop that. Russell should probably have held on.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson is having a terrible game, too. Second passed ball in as many games. Not to mention all the strikes he has cost with his framing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow. Some games you are just completely snake bit.
But, three innings against the Brewers bullpen?
BVSQuote Reply
Maples’ control makes CJ look like Greg Maddux.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This will be the Cubs’first series loss in over a month.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzo——-> Right foot contusion
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s also likely going to be a sweep.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
That’s an awfully optimistic outlook. (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
So yeah, he throws hard, but I really don’t understand the infatuation with Maples. He had a decent stretch of about 3 mo last year in the minors. But mostly, he’s never been close to effectively wild.
BVSQuote Reply
I remember when the Cubs had the lead in this game. And Rizzo was un-injured. That was a good time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m not saying I support intentionally hitting batters. It just might be entertaining to have Maples pitch to Ryan Braun.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I wonder if Gore will get a chance at his first career hit.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Surprisingly, Gore doesn’t appear to have the best outfield arm.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
8 walks, 2 hit batters, a wild pitch, a passed ball and four errors. It’s like the sloppy finish to last night’s game stretched out over nine innings.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m going to bed. If they score 5 runs or so, call me.
BVSQuote Reply
Gore hitting alert.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Perkins,
There’s no way he can hit a target that small.
dmick89Quote Reply
I also have never understood the love for Dillon Maples, but I also still don’t understand why people think Almora is a good player so what do I know?
dmick89Quote Reply
I can’t believe the Brewers trust Albers with a 10-run lead.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
Unfortunately, with Heyward’s injury, Almora is the only player I trust to play center field.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow. Joe didn’t even pinch hit for Norwood with two on and nobody out in the 9th. I know it’s 11-1, but fuck you, Joe.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I guess he valued giving Murphy the day off more than the very tiny chance of coming back from a 10-run deficit. *Shrug*
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Honetly, I think there was a greater chance that Murphy would foul a ball off his knee or something than there was of a Cubs win, so I really don’t care.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I don’t care if he pinch hit with Tyler Chatwood’s left nut, he should have done something. His whole approach to this game sucked.
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
Well, yeah. Chacin has owned the Cubs this year.
RynoQuote Reply
True, but I assume that the strike zone would be the target and Braun would just be in the zone of where the ball might actually go.
PerkinsQuote Reply
538 is still projecting 95 wins and a division win for the Cubs. Yesterday’s loss knocked their Elo rating down a bit, but didn’t impact their projected record.
PerkinsQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Perkins,
Don’t worry, today’s loss will knock them down.
RynoQuote Reply
If people are so fucking stupid that they don’t recognize there are different ways to honor the soldiers than the fucking flag, fuck them. It’s a motherfucking flag and it’s not even a good looking flag. I don’t know much about flags, but I’m also pretty sure the US basically copied some other flag so the US has sucked from day one.
I hate this fucking country.
dmick89Quote Reply
If the Cubs do reach the playoffs and I’m the opposing team, I start the worst starting pitchers on the 25-man roster in game 1.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs pitchers lead the league in walks allowed by 20. The starters have the most walks allowed of any starting staff and the relievers have the second-most. So much for Theo’s pledge to add strike-throwers.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Leave Dillon Maples alone!!!
MylesQuote Reply
On a related note, Baseball Prospectus has Willson Contreras at -14.8 framing runs and Victor Caratini at -2.8.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(Contreras has been good at blocking pitches and throwing out runners, but those skills are estimated to have much lower impact on run-scoring.)
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It seems that whatever progress he was making with Montero and Ross on the roster in 2016 has evaporated. They really need to get a better defensive backup catcher for next season.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I wonder how much better they’d look if you took Tyler Chatwood and Brian Duensing out of the group.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cubs are 2nd in baseball in walks. Halve Chatwood’s walks and we’re still 6th.
MylesQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
I personally like the flag and what it represents (i.e., what we’re supposed to be as a country, rather than what we are), but I also really don’t give a shit if someone doesn’t stand for the anthem or even burns the flag. Free speech and expression are part of what it stands for, including the voicing of uncomfortable truths.
I can’t pretend to have a monopoly on patriotism or an understanding of what it’s like to fear that I might not come out of an interaction with law enforcement with life and limb intact. Nor can I imagine what it’s like to know that fellow citizens would happily deprive me of reproductive rights or even equal protection under the law (and to see some of it come to fruition). But I’d have very little inclination to stand for the anthem at this moment in history if I were a woman, LGBT+, or person of color.
What kills me about the Kaepernick situation specifically is that the recommendation to take a knee came from a teammate who was a former Special Forces soldier. Beyond that, I really fail to see how not standing is disrespectful to “the troops” or why that would be a big deal in the first place. The US is way more than the military, and the idea of the military as a sacred cow beyond criticism is certainly not a healthy one for the republic. And I’m saying this as a veteran who has deployed.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89,
That’s it. I’m burning my leftovers from Olive Garden in protest.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Red Sox have 97 wins on September 5th.
PerkinsQuote Reply
So if you play the Red Sox on September 5, pray for rain.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
By the way, one of the earlier of the Red Sox’ September 5th wins came in game 1 of the 1918 World Series against the Cubs, who were shut out 1-0 (at Comiskey) by some kid who really should have been a position player.
andcountingQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
MylesQuote Reply
To day’s base ball squadron:
Murphy
Baez
Rizzo
Zobrist
Bryant
Schwarber
Contreras
Quintana
Happ
Don’t get swept, Cubs. Or do. I can’t tell you what to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
If it wasn’t for that really long 4 or 5 game slump they had a couple weeks ago they’d probably be at 100.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
1 run. Late. Cubs lose 6-1.
dmick89Quote Reply
Sure, the Cubs can hit Syndergaard and Nola, but are they up to the challenge of yet another soft-tossing Milwaukee hurler?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ohtani——-> Tommy John surgery
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Score prediction: 14-8.
andcountingQuote Reply
Javy looked pretty out-matched there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Murphy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Brewers defense!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson! Also, bad baserunning by Schwarber.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
What happened to Willson’s blocking ability?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Third passed ball in as many days for Willson.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Whew!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zobrist!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
M ————> inverted
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Winning record——> clinched
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-6-brewers-4/
berseliusQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply