The Cubs kick off the first of three big intradivisional series with a three game set at Wrigley North. If the Cubs are going to pounce on the Brewers, these back-to-back weekend series would be the time to do it. The Brewers still have a negative run differential, and are reeling due to recent injuries to their starting rotation. Bob Minocqua was easily their best starting pitcher this year, and he’s expected to miss six weeks with an oblique strain. Just a day or two later Jhoulys Chacin also went down with an oblique injury, but given his whopping 0.1 WAR across 19 starts, that’s a slightly smaller blow. Still those innings have to come from somewhere, and aside from those two and Zach Davies the Brewers rotation was already a slapdash job.
Team Leaders
Cubs
- OBP: Bryant (.405)
- ISO: Contreras (.274)
- HR: Baez (25)
- R+RBI: Baez (139)
- wRC+: Bryant (151)
- BSR: Baez (2.2)
- Defense: Baez (10.3)
- SP K/9: Darvish (10.33)
- SP BB/9: Cyle (1.91)
- SP FIP: Hamels (3.59)
- RP K/9: Kimbrel (11.81)
- RP BB/9: Kintzler (1.90)
- RP FIP: Ryan (3.41)
- WAR: Bryant (4.2)
Beers
- OBP: Yelich (.436)
- ISO: Yelich (.372)
- HR: Yelich (35)
- R+RBI: Yelich (154)
- wRC+: Yelich (182)
- BSR: Yelich (4.4)
- Defense: Grandal (12.4)
- SP K/9: Freddy Peralta (11.61)
- SP BB/9: Woodruff (2.22)
- SP FIP: Woodruff (3.10)
- RP K/9: Hader (16.85)
- RP BB/9: Hader (2.36)
- RP FIP: Hader (2.68)
- WAR: Yelich (5.9)
Injuries, transactions, blood feuds, etc.
KB left Wednesday’s game after tweaking something in his knee, but all reports seem to be that it was pretty minor and he should be good to go for this series. Jon Lester was scrapped from his last start due to illness but is expected to start this weekend. Cole Hamels could be back next week, but won’t be back in this series.
The Cubs are expected to call up Ian Happ for this series, but no corresponding roster move has been announced. Considering the Cubs are carrying a billion relievers, that’s the likely move, but with the trade deadline coming up who knows what might be happening.
On the Brewers side, pretty much their whole injured list is pitchers. You could form a credible rotation from their hospital wing, assuming you had the power to make all of them suddenly healthy. Currently on the shelf are:
- Brandon Woodruff / Bob Minocqua / Ken Sayner
- Jimmy Nelson
- Jhoulys Chacin
- Brent Suter, the poor man’s Kyle Hendricks
- Corbin Burns
Pitching Matchups
K/9, BB/9, ERA, Projected ERA listed for all starters
Friday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (7.89, 1.91, 3.41, 3.73) vs Gio Gonzalez, LHP (6.94, 2.83, 3.60, 4.33), 7:10 PM CT
Saturday: Jon Lester, LHP (8.83, 1.93, 3.87, 4.02) vs Chase Anderson, RHP (8.78, 3.04, 3.90, 4.23), 6:10 PM CT
Sunday: Jose Quintana, LHP (7.63, 2.65, 4.42, 3.89) vs Zach Davies, RHP (5.94, 2.85, 3.17, 4.38), 1:10 PM CT
Comments
Don’t tell me what I could check.
WaLiQuote Reply
Derek Holland——————> Cubs
Tim Collins ———————> DGAF
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
*shrug*
berseliusQuote Reply
andcounting,
Deck chairs —> Shuffled
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
Ian Happ—————-> deck chair #6, situated in left.
andcountingQuote Reply
To-night’s base ball squadron:
Willson C
KB3B
Rizzo 1B
Baez SS
Heyward RF
Happ LF
Almora CF, Jr
Bote 2B
Cyle P
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I’m confused, was there ever anyone sent down or released for Happ?
WaLiQuote Reply
I sure hope Cyle gets as big a strike zone as Gio is getting.
PerkinsQuote Reply
That was a hell of a play by Cain.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Happ!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m going to guess the Cubs score less than 5 runs this weekend.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate the Grandal strike zone so much.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Contreras strike zone drives me crazy for a completely different reason!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
WaLi,
I don’t really understand either. The only explanation I heard was Holland isn’t with the team yet. So maybe Holland replaced Collins on the 40-man roster but not yet on the 25?
andcountingQuote Reply
Hitter who should have been called out on strikes gets hit by a pitch. Lovely.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This fucking bullpen
berseliusQuote Reply
Couple of thoughts:
It’s a shame the HP umpire didn’t realize Thames struck out.
Strop has no business in high leverage situations.
PerkinsQuote Reply
The Cubs should DFA everyone in their bullpen.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ah, the patented almost-get-out-the-jam-but-then-nah dick punch.
Thanks, Strop. Another guy I will not miss when he’s no longer a Cub. (That list is getting longer and longer).
Also, go fuck yourself, Houston.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Shame on me for thinking the Cubs had a chance to win that game.
PerkinsQuote Reply
There was pretty much a 100% chance that Javy’s at-bat would end with him chasing a high fastball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Just for fun I decided to go back through the Cubs schedule and see in how many of their road losses the opponent took the lead in their last at bat. I lost count, but it was a really high number and it wasn’t fun at all. So now it’s a really high number plus one.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
It’s happened for a couple reasons. The offense seems to be all or nothing and the bullpen flat out fucking sucks. Get rid of every reliever not named Kimbrel. No big loss.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
One thing that has been driving me crazy is Joe saying you’ve got to look at Strop’s body of work and not just how he’s pitched lately. I understand the premise to some degree—relievers can’t be judged by their last few pitches alone. But Joe seems to be unable to tell or unwilling to admit when a pitcher has just plain lost all command of what they’re doing on the mound. Strop has been in that place for quite some time, and Joe is allowing the rare good/lucky outing to obscure the absolute mess that has been Pedro Strop. For some reason he has tried to let Strop and Edwards figure out what’s wrong in the 8th and 9th innings.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Not to mention that the loss of velocity and command has been a season-long trend for Strop. There’s an awful lot of recent evidence that something’s wrong.
Joe had a much shorter leash with Rondon in 2016, so I’m wondering if he just likes Strop and it’s clouding his judgment.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I think it’s that somehow Strop is among the Cubs best relievers so he’s given more chances. Also, in 2016 the bullpen’s worst relievers were as good as this team’s best (minus Kimbrel).
I’m going to be pissed if the Cubs give up anything of value to improve this team. Yeah, they might be able to win this shitty division, but they aren’t beating any team in the playoffs. Not even one win.
dmick89Quote Reply
Based on Theo’s comments, it sounds like the Cubs don’t have payroll space for a significant addition. I guess the Rickettses have white supremacists to raise money for.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Descalso ————> phantom injury
berseliusQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
2B Garcia
C Contreras
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
SS Baez
RF Heyward
CF Happ
LF Schwarber
P Lester
berseliusQuote Reply
Cubs lose 8-1
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think Rizzo banked that one off a passing plane
berseliusQuote Reply
Correa!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing), Pat and Ron are ripping the ump that called that a fair ball for being the same guy with the shitty strike zone last night.
berseliusQuote Reply
Almora pinch-hitting for Schwarber is a thing that just happened.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Joe must have known that Lester was going to give him some lineup protection.
berseliusQuote Reply
Lester!
berseliusQuote Reply
Should have let Lester pitch the 8th.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Dammit
berseliusQuote Reply
This was entirely predictable.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Fuck off, eighth innings
berseliusQuote Reply
Lester was only at 94 pitches and on cruise control. I don’t know why Maddon would trust any non-Kimbrel reliever with a two run lead.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Also fuck the Ricketts family for deciding this was the time to tighten the purse strings when it was plainly obvious for the entire offseason that the bullpen needed help.
So glad I’m giving up my season tickets after this year. Those fucks can spend money on supporting white supremacists, but are apparently stretched thin when it comes to the baseball team.
PerkinsQuote Reply
DeRosa forbid that Joe would use his closer in a tie game on the road
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
At least it’s not Brach out there though.
berseliusQuote Reply
Wow, big pair on Wick with that throw to 3b
berseliusQuote Reply
Terrible baserunning by Grandal.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I loved the decoy tag by Javy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cardinals lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Shut me right up.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Al-Al!
berseliusQuote Reply
Almora!!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rough day for Bryant.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Fucking damnit.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Shocked.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing) of course
berseliusQuote Reply
Only 95 on the Kimbrel fastball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m out. Even if they win, there’s nothing fun about this.
PerkinsQuote Reply
This team loses in the most frustrating fucking ways
WaLiQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Fuck this team and the people who run it.
mobile daveQuote Reply
I can’t disagree. And yet, I have misgivings. Because the people who run this team gave us this too:
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I’ll always love 2016, but that’s been a few years now. It’s not that I think the Cubs should win it all every year, but they should have spent more in the offseason and they shouldn’t have this mess on their hands just a few years after having what appeared to be one of the best young cores in the game. Now it’s just kind of a mess and the Cubs are one of those teams stuck between trying to get better or sell. That doesn’t speak too highly of this front office in my opinion. What they built up over a long time didn’t stay good for too long and the future looks like it’s going to suck for awhile. I think this front office has done some things well and some things quite poorly. 10-15 years ago this would have been one of the best two or three front offices in the game. These days it’s just middle of the road and that’s not good enough for a team like the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
No real disagreement (other than your assessment of the future—as we have already seen, things can change in a hurry, for good or bad). I was speaking from emotion more than anything else.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
At least there’s no reason to think anyone in the bullpen can get outs. I can stop complaining about Joe. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
I mean, they had the lead. Kimbrel is as good as they have. And rested. None of us really thought that was a bad thing.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
That at least makes me feel less angry. I guess you go to war with the army you have.
PerkinsQuote Reply
No kidding. I was “Craig Kimbrel, plz” since the first week of April.
Which illustrates another reason for above-mentioned the misgivings. More times than not, the FO has done what I’ve wanted them to do the last few years. It would seem I’m no better at their job than they are. (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I mean, Kimberly could have been signed in February instead, which would have led to the rest of the pen being that much less burned out by now.
More accurately, I should say fuck the people who own this team instead. I will go to my grave believing that the front office worked under strict orders not to sign anyone this offseason as a specific message to the MLBPA, and that the Rickettses are front and center in that whole mess. So fuck them on so many different levels I can’t even keep track.
mobile daveQuote Reply
Anyway, I’ve said this before, but I think complaints about pulling a starting pitcher who is “cruising” are almost always misguided. The times through the order effect is real (i.e. hitters gain an advantage in a pitcher as the gain familiarity with him). The fact that a pitcher has had success up to that point is not a strong predictor of future success.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I agree that pitchers get much worse the more times they see a hitter, but here’s the thing: we know the bullpen is going to blow the lead. That simple. Unless it’s an insurmountable lead, Cubs lose. The bullpen is complete shit and the Cubs would be better off forcing 8 innings out of their starter under any circumstances in which the game is close.
dmick89Quote Reply
As far as the front office goes, they chose Descalso over La Stella and that’s cost them about 3 wins. Under no circumstances was Descalso a better option than La Stella. You couldn’t have expected what happened with La Stella, but he was better than Descalso.
dmick89Quote Reply
If I’m the Cubs front office, I’m looking at what players I could trade while still giving the team a reasonable chance of reaching the postseason.
dmick89Quote Reply
Eh. There’s plenty to flog this front office over the last few years, but imo that one is more shrug emoji than anything else. Veteran bench guys are similar to bullpen arms. You try to find the least bad player you can, and you try to ride the lightning and find players who might have figured something out in one respect or another. We’re talking about a player who is supposed to soak up 150-200 PAs. Descalso had been a 111 wRC+ hitter over 400+ PAs in 2017, had a fly ball lean in his batted ball profile, and a high hard hit rate. La Stella meanwhile had taken a sharp turn away from those things. He’d been a weakass groundball hitter in 2017. 86 wRC+. Whatever he figured out going into 2019 didn’t look like it was on its way after last season (and this year’s power explosion may be small-sample BS anyway; he was back to hitting groundballs again the last month he played; we won’t know what’s what with him for sure until he returns from injury).
Don’t get me wrong, I was not thrilled with the Descalso signing. My preference would have been neither, tbh. But in a vacuum, it’s not crazy the Cubs picked him over La Stella. And if I’d been forced to choose between the two, I probably would have picked Descalso too.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Make that 2018 on the Descalso 111 wRC+ and La Stella 86. I don’t know what year it was last year. (dying laughing)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Indeed. Let the FO spend on the bullpen this offseason, and this team is probably enjoying a 5+ game cushion in the division right now. Even with all the other uneven things going on.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Baseball sucks sometimes. That was last night. It sucked to be a Cubs fan last night because baseball at its best sucks sometimes. I don’t think last night was particularly embarrassing to the Cubs as an organization. It just sucked. Shit, impartially, the fact that Hiura’s parents were at the game, see him hit a game-tying homer that becomes a strikeout and then hit a for-real game-winning homer…that’s actually pretty awesome.
The Cubs are owned by a family that is pretty much wrapped up in white nationalistic, anti-human racketeering. Unfortunately, MLB franchises are worth billions of dollars, which means billionaires tend to own them. In my experience, they’re all depraved criminals. But they own almost literally everything. I don’t know what to do with that. My Cubs fandom probably makes me witlessly subservient to it all. Rich people suck. The rest of us swallow.
This front office? Yeah, World Series. Also, Morrow, Chatwood, Descalso, and Darvish. That’s so many millions of dollars that isn’t really being poured into wins. I don’t know what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem like the front office is operating at peak levels. That sucks too.
Everything sucks, especially the Cubs. Go Cubs.
andcountingQuote Reply
Too bad Lester has a full no trade clause. He’s got one more year of control and an option.
As much as I like him, he’d return some value.
Anyone not named Bryant, Rizzo, Baez, Hendricks, or Contreras are tradeable. Not to blow up the whole team, but to do a reset.
Of course, Darvish and Heyward are untradable with their contracts. So the remain part of the core. Darvish lately makes me feel undmickistic about his future. More than I feel about the Cubs making the playoffs this year.
Strop’s hamstring is acting up, right? 😉 😉
BVSQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
2b Garcia
C Contreras
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
SS Baez
RF Heyward
CF Happ
LF Schwarber
P Q
berseliusQuote Reply
And Heyward. I can still stomach the Heyward and Darvish deals as they made sense at the time, but the Chatwood deal was fucking stupid when it happened, looked dumber a couple months later and somehow looked considerably more stupid half a year after that.
dmick89Quote Reply
I hate to be that guy, but I’m not opposed to floating one of those names at the deadline either. I’d actually offer Bryant a 5/150 extension, which he’ll decline and then I’d see what I could get for him. I would probably wait until the offseason because there’s only a few days left until the deadline at this point, but he could help rebuild the farm system in a hurry. If you get an MLB ready player in return, which you should, you might not even see much of a loss in 2020, especially since you’d be able to use free agency to address whatever your needs are.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs have 20 blown saves. One behind the most in the MLB (Mets). 3 blown saves just against the Brewers.
JonathanQuote Reply
Schwarber!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Just three more grand slams and this game will be bullpen-proof.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber’s homer just landed.
andcountingQuote Reply
Báez walk alert.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
His first in a month, according to JD.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Schwarber again!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
My adjusted win probability is up to 50%. Could go either way.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
You never know.
berseliusQuote Reply
The Cubs should have Schwarber hit several multi-run HR every game. I bet they’d win a lot of ballgames.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’ll take 47 pitches through 4 for Q as reason for upping the odds to 55/45 in the Cubs’ favor.
andcountingQuote Reply
Perkins,
It doesn’t hurt when they take several walks. I believe they’ve had three BBs come in to score. Crazy what effect baserunners can have.
andcountingQuote Reply
Q is getting squeezed so ridiculously.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I wish he were getting anything close to the Grandal strike zone.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89,
Back down to 16%.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs lose.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brach adjusted to 3%.
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m a lot more confident in Q’s ability to hold a four run lead than I am in the bullpen’s. Especially over 4 1/3 innings. Cubs lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
To be fair though, you can’t really expect the Cubs to hold a 7-run lead. The offense never gave them a chance.
dmick89Quote Reply
It’s okay. Schwarber will hit another HR or two.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Schwarber needs to stop hitting ground balls. This is bullshit.
andcountingQuote Reply
Caratini!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Back to 9%.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ok. All is forgiven.
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing). Cubs are three pitches away from being shutout, but they have 10 runs.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Might at least partly explain why the Cubs are all or nothing.
dmick89Quote Reply
Kyle Ryan has not been awful.
andcountingQuote Reply
Win probability up to 20%.
dmick89Quote Reply
First base umpire is having a rough day.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Are there unwritten rules on challenging plays when you’re up by 6? Because they need to add a written addendum about single-digit leads being tenuous at best.
andcountingQuote Reply
I feel like the Cubs are still in this game. Probably have to pull it out in extras.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’m still not sure they can win this one.
andcountingQuote Reply
Cardinals lose. Tied again. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati need to get superfire hot.
andcountingQuote Reply
Is Bauer going to get suspended for throwing a ball into the stands where nobody was? That would be ridiculously stupid.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
It’s pending review by the league so I have their win probability at 30%. Still not looking good.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
My guess is he will have to make a “donation” to some charity. He’ll also have to promise not to sing Centerfield on karaoke night.
BVSQuote Reply
Stroman –> Mets
So not Brewers or Cardinals. Good.
BVSQuote Reply
big, if true
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
wait what? how the fuck are the mets buyers??? I assume this is a precursor to them dumping a bunch of guys or like a three-team deal? seems very odd…
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Is Brandon Morrow still alive?
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
Maybe he’s gone from throwing from 60 feet to 70 in the past week. We need updates!
berseliusQuote Reply
WaLi,
He is due for a setback.
andcountingQuote Reply
I bet he donates $69,420.
PerkinsQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Said all of baseball yesterday
BVSQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Apparently they want to contend in 2020 and beyond so this is a pretty smart move for them. I still think there’s an outside chance they could go ahead and flip Stroman in the next day or two, but I don’t think they will.
dmick89Quote Reply
berselius,
Last update I can find anywhere for him was that he threw a mound session a month ago with no issues.
Does he have to be on the team some time in August to be eligible for the playoffs?
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
Fine. Looks like if he is on the 40 man or 60 day IL as of August 31 11:59 PM he is eligible.
For what it’s worth, Zobrist is on neither so he’d have to be activated back on the roster by then to be eligible for playoffs.
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
Zobrist is really off the 40? Huh.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Yeah, he isn’t even listed on the Cubs website. Have to do a search for him.
http://m.cubs.mlb.com/chc/roster/40-man/
WaLiQuote Reply
Zobrist hasn’t been removed from the 40-man roster and he’s getting ready to go out on rehab assignment. He’ll probably be back at the end of August or by September 1st. Anyone who is in the Cubs organization by as of August 31st is eligible for the postseason and both of those guys mentioned are. I wouldn’t count on anything from Morrow and the Cubs can just release him as far as I’m concerned.
dmick89Quote Reply
Zobrist is on the restricted list and isn’t listed on the 40-man roster either on Baseball Reference or Cubs page. http://m.cubs.mlb.com/chc/roster/40-man/
There are 44 people listed, 3 of which (Gravemen, Morrow, and Webster) are on 60-day IL so don’t count towards 40-man. I don’t know how the Cubs have 41 on the 40-man roster, but none of them listed is Zobrist.
When Zobrist does get added back to the 40-man I assume Cubs will have to start paying him again and that someone else will have to be dropped (unless Cubs go to a 42-man 40-man roster)
WaLiQuote Reply
Yeah, I’m not entirely sure how the restricted list works. I know it’s unpaid, but I also know that the usual method to remove someone from a 40-man doesn’t apply and he’s not a free agent when he’s ready to return.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t know anyone who really expected Morrow to return, but the implosion that has been the Cub version of him is particularly frustrating in light of his role in shutting them down in the NLCS the year before they got him. I try not to think about it, but on off days I think about depressing Cubs realities. I can’t help it.
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing), Pirates.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m in St Louis for business, and there’s a nontrivial chance I’m staying at the same hotel as the Cubs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Keep an eye out for the bullpen tonight. I’m pretty sure they even walk in their sleep.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
They’re the ones who can’t find their own rooms.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
I’m sorry you are in boring St. Louis, but at least there is some baseball in town this week.
WaLiQuote Reply
Definitely hitting the Wednesday game and considering going tonight as well.
But yeah, I’ve been traveling here for months. There’s… not a lot to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
What about all the gastronomic delights? You could be out sampling different interpretations of St. Louis pizza every night!
berseliusQuote Reply
There are so many varieties of cracker crust and provel cheese to be had! And don’t forget the
friedtoasted ravioli!WaLiQuote Reply
can you pitch?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Still (dying laughing) at this.
berseliusQuote Reply
Toasted ravioli is one of the most hilarious to me. Congratulations, St. Louis, you found a way to make a delicious thing more delicious by deep frying it. You’re truly a culinary visionary.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Not well. I’ll fit right in.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins what did you do
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
God’s work.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Wait…how much do you charge?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
So the Cubs added a gold medalist?
andcountingQuote Reply
David Phelps
Thomas Hatch
WaLiQuote Reply
andcounting,
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
WaLiQuote Reply
Joe: Who says a person with sub .300 OBP can’t leadoff?
Cubs Lineup:
Robel Garcia 2B
Jason Heyward RF
Kris Bryant 3B
Anthony Rizzo 1B
Javy Báez SS
Victor Caratini C
Kyle Schwarber LF
Ian Happ CF
Yu Darvish P
WaLiQuote Reply
That’s just Joe saying “can’t blow the save if we don’t score any runs.”
dmick89Quote Reply
WaLi,
I wish he would just take whoever he plans to bat leadoff and bat them 9th.
andcountingQuote Reply
Javy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Yu walk alert!
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I mean when he was batting. When he’s pitching, no exclamation point would be warranted.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Darvish/Caratini battery is almost as easy to run on as Arrieta/Montero.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m thinking the Cubs should trade for Mike Minor, put him in the bullpen for the rest of the season, since he seems to tiring as a starter, then back to rotation after Hamels leaves.
BVSQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Not quite as easy as Lester/Ross though.
9K through 5 for Yu
WaLiQuote Reply
Stupid hit and run.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs runs, plz.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
This team sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
Can they fire Chili Davis again?
andcountingQuote Reply
You would think the Cubs would win a game where the pitchers have an ∞:1 K:BB ratio (0 walks and 11 strikeouts), but then again Cubs had Robel fucking Garcia leading off and striking out 4 times.
WaLiQuote Reply
Maybe hurling a few vats of Skyline Chili into a volcano or something will suffice.
berseliusQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Putting Robel Garcia at the top is the clearest indication yet that Joe doesn’t use logic or data in creating his lineups.
JKVQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
How is no one talking about that guy the Cubs got for Maldonado?
andcountingQuote Reply
Tony Kemp, you guys!
andcountingQuote Reply
itshappening.gif
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Is he Matt Kemp’s younger, shorter, and blacker brother?
WaLiQuote Reply
WaLi,
I was going to make a joke, but I just looked it up instead. He’s not. But he grew up a Cardinals fan.
andcountingQuote Reply
No Almora in the lineup, so I’m assuming Trout is on his way to meet his new team in St. Louis:
Heyward
Contreras
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Happ
Schwarber
Bote
Cyle
andcountingQuote Reply
Trout would solidify the Cubs bullpen. In a way.
dmick89Quote Reply
Brewers playing 4D chess
WaLiQuote Reply
So the Astros are good at sports. Just got Greinke.
dmick89Quote Reply
Castellanos ————————–> Cubs
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Also:
Carl Edwards Jr. ———————-> No Longer a Cub (Padres)
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Hey guys – what’s up? I’ve been told that this is the most discredited Cubs blog to follow while I’m here. How is that possible when other blogs complain about Wrigley Field’s sandwich policy, and this blog one talks about Pizza Hut MILFs, fantasy football, and – once every year or so – smegma?
Nick CastellanosQuote Reply
Nick Castellanos,
Nick, you’ve got to go the extra mile when you want to become as discredited as we have. That includes resisting the urge to create a new post every time the Cubs make a move. A discredited blog just publishes that kind of update as a comment on the series preview post from the previous series. We’re still one bat short of a good lineup, and that’s how you stay discredited IMAHO.
andcountingQuote Reply
We may be one bat short of a good lineup, but we make up for it by being able to go toe to toe with the Cubs bullpen.
dmick89Quote Reply
See ya later jabronis.
Thanks for the support.
Come see me next winter for chicken and waffles, grits, and collards.
Carl Edwards, JrQuote Reply
I don’t know how Cyle manages to jam hitters on pitches right down the middle, but he does.
andcountingQuote Reply
Cyle!
andcountingQuote Reply
That should have been the fourth straight strikeout.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
If Goldy scores, it should go down as an unearned run.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Not even a difficult call to make.
andcountingQuote Reply
Should be five straight strikeouts. Cyle is on fire. Screw you, ump.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Makeup K.
andcountingQuote Reply
Apparently my work firewall has decided that I can browse but not participate
berseliusQuote Reply
Somehow I missed Strop———> IL amid all the trade rumors
berseliusQuote Reply
Jesus, Willson.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Carl Edwards, Jr,
Sad to see Edwards go, as he was a nontrivial part of a lot of fun cubs teams. But this was definitely the best move for both sides. Hopefully a change of scenery does him good.
berseliusQuote Reply
By Grabthar’s hammer, what a TOOTBLAN.
berseliusQuote Reply
Jesus, Javy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bush league
berseliusQuote Reply
Cyle!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cyle is getting all the outs.
andcountingQuote Reply
Best wishes. And thanks for getting a couple of outs in the 10th in a game in Cleveland not too long ago…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Cubs hitters are doing a great job of spreading their hits out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I do not like this version of Herr Goldschmidt who is suddenly good again. I like the one who mostly hit groundballs and struck out for a good part of the year.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
It doesn’t help that he has the umpire on his side.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryant!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This game has had three challenge-worthy calls, and I think joe challenged the wrong one.
andcountingQuote Reply
Cyle is owning tonight. Jesus.
andcountingQuote Reply
Who throws a first-pitch curveball to the opposing pitcher?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Miles Mikolas
berseliusQuote Reply
Bryant’s offensive strategy of hitting the ball right to Cardinal infielders is working beautifully.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez with some really bad luck tonight. Actually, the last two nights the Cubs have hit the ball well with runners on to no avail.
andcountingQuote Reply
Happ!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Happ!!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
Nice night for The Professor.
berseliusQuote Reply
Fair.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Double
berseliusQuote Reply
Báez!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
If the reverse TOOTBLAN exists, that was it.
berseliusQuote Reply
Nice to see 97 from Kimbrel.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Oy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
:grimacing face:
berseliusQuote Reply
M —————> inverted
berseliusQuote Reply
Never doubted him for a second.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow they actually pulled it off
Another night of 0 BB, double digit K for Cubs pitchers
WaLiQuote Reply
So… we happy with how the Cubs did the trade deadline? I’m too lazy to check whether or not the Cubs passed the Phil Rogers’ +/- test, but I feel confident saying the FO brought in baseball players to replace other baseball players, and that might be a good thing.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Castellanos seems like Daniel Murphy lite. I don’t expect anyone to make a huge difference but I didn’t expect anyone the Cubs gave up to help win anytime soon. Mostly disappointed and frustrated by the rich people who run the team
andcountingQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-2-cardinals-0/
berseliusQuote Reply