OSS: David Bote has a day, and the Cubs new bullpen reinforcment can’t get here fast enough
Three up
- The Cubs finally did what was obvious that they should have done six months ago, namely, sign Craig Kimbrel. We’ll see how long it tackes for him to be game ready, but whenever it is, it won’t be a moment too soon. It only took a high profile player being away from the team for a month and a half or so to be able to make this happen, apparently. The deal is for three (well, two and a half) years and $43m, which an club option for a fourth year that could vest.
- Oh yeah, there was a game today. David Bote went 4-4 with a homer, a double, and a whopping seven RBI. He had been slumping a bit of late but today’s game pushed his wOBA all the way up to .364. The Cubs FO must be feeling pretty good about the 5/15 deal they signed him to in the offseason.
- Yu Darvish had another solidish start, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned). He was pulled in the sixth after giving up a run and racking up a decent pitch count, and the bullpen/defense went on to tack on to his total. Progress.
Three down
- The bullpen wasted no time showing why the Kimbrel signing was sorely needed. Kyle Ryan (and an error by Rizzo) let in a bunch of inherited runners when Darvish exited as noted above.
- The Cubs rebuilt the lead after that mini-meltdown, but Brad Brach gave it right back and nearly blew the five run lead that the Cubs had staked him to.
- Erstwhile quasi-closer Steve Cishek immediately gave up a run in the ninth, but at least the Cubs had given him a little insurance.
Next up: The Cubs go for the sweep at 1:20 PM. Q faces callup Peter Lambert, who was the Rockies second round pick in 2015 and is making his major league debut. Jon Gray was supposed to make this start but apparently the Rocks wanted to give him some extra time to recover from a blister issue. I’ll take it.
Comments
berseliusQuote Reply
How many more wins do you think the Cubs would have right now if Kimbrel was on the team from day 1? I’d say at least 3.
andcountingQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
LF Schwarber
RF Bryant
1B Rizzo
SS Baez
C Contreras
3B Bote
CF Almora
2B Almora
P Q
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Almora is going to be busy.
andcountingQuote Reply
3 is probably conservative. There were two in the first week alone.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing), whoops. Descalsuck at 2B.
berseliusQuote Reply
Kimbrel may join the team as early as June 20th. Wish it could be sooner.
Edwards/Cishek-Strop-Morrow (is he ever going to be healthy?)-Kimbrel wouldn’t look too bad for Innings 6 or 7 through 9 with Chatwood in for long relief.
WaLiQuote Reply
Probably not. I’m sure he’ll pitch some this year, but I think I put the over/under on appearances for him back in spring training at 14 and I’ll still take the under.
dmick89Quote Reply
I also took the over on a 5.5 ERA for Hendricks and Darvish. Still think it will be over 5.5 for Darvish, but Hendricks is going to make me look stupid. So I guess what I’m saying is that my predictions might suck.
dmick89Quote Reply
So of course the Cubs bats are mystified by the AAA pitcher with garbage numbers.
Can Crud Kampbell hit?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Jeff Garlin in the booth is a good cue to turn off the radio and find something to work on.
berseliusQuote Reply
A run!
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Holy shit he is awful up there
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
He manages to top himself every time in awfulness.
berseliusQuote Reply
It sure seems like the Cubs have more trouble handling AAA starters with middling stuff than most teams, but that might be a function of following the Cubs more closely.
What’s weird is how constant it seems to be, whether the Cubs are bad or good.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I used to wonder the same thing, but if it isn’t true then the guys the Cubs call up for spot starts should have equal success. I don’t think that they do. I just assume if it’s a AAA spot starter that the Cubs are going to be lucky to score a run. I’ve thought that for the last 15-20 years.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It’s remarkable. Ryan O’Malley in 2006 is the only Cubs spot starter who comes to mind who did to another team what spot starters do to the Cubs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No time to write Cubs Cards preview. No dinner etc etc
berseliusQuote Reply
Wouldn’t the producers/directors/hosts of the Tv/radio broadcasts know by now that Garlin in the booth is worse than Ron Coomer reading Funkaway spots on repeat?
If it’s radio, I switch to TV, if it’s TV, I mute. Awful, terrible booth shtick.
SKQuote Reply
Looks like Kimbrels 2.5/$43M contract is the prorated price
https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-introduce-craig-kimbrel
WaLiQuote Reply
Fuck Todd Ricketts
SKQuote Reply
SK,
The hosts love the guy – he’s been around enough that Pat and Coom have their own set of Garlin in-jokes that they bring up from time to time.
berseliusQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
1B Rizzo
3B Bryant
LF CarGo
SS Baez
RF Heyward
C Caratini
2B Bote
CF Almora
P Hamels
berseliusQuote Reply
Don’t tell me who to do
berseliusQuote Reply
Baez!!
WaLiQuote Reply
Javy!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Has anyone heard a timetable for Kimbrel? I’m guessing July 1st, but would t be surprised if it’s July 12th (first game after the ASB).
dmick89Quote Reply
The optimistic timeline is June 20th.
mylesQuote Reply
myles,
Yeah, that’s way too optimistic. I doubt he goes out on assignment before then. At that point he’d have 20 games before he had to be up unless they’ve changed that rule, which is possible.
dmick89Quote Reply
I could see him being assigned to AAA on or around the 20th. I think he’ll be there for at least a couple weeks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Is grounding into double plays an addiction? I’m worried about Almora.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
He needs to start working the steps.
dmick89Quote Reply
Caratini is a different hitter this year. It’s crazy.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Mikolas is a different pitcher this year too. Hasn’t quite turned back into a pumpkin – maybe a spaghetti squash.
berseliusQuote Reply
Pretty nice game for Hamels
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I’d probably let him go for the shutout.
PerkinsQuote Reply
M ——> Inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Perkins,
Yeah strange they didn’t. Oh well
WaLiQuote Reply
“which an club option for a fourth year that could vest”
I couldn’t agree more
oogQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-3-cardinals-1/
berseliusQuote Reply