I had been planning to take a long weekend and catch this series in Phoenix. Instead, I ended up shelling out hundreds of dollars to repair rodent damage to my car, and will be watching from home. I feel like I should present the repair bill to the cat.
Team Leaders
Cubs
- OBP: Kris Bryant (.390)
- ISO: Anthony Rizzo (.246)
- HR: Rizzo (26)
- R+RBI: Rizzo (137)
- wRC+: Bryant (134)
- BSR: Javier Baez (1.7)
- Defense: Willson Contreras (11.5)
- SP K/9: Jose Quintana (9.58)
- SP BB/9: Jon Lester (2.75)
- SP FIP: Lester (3.80)
- RP K/9: Carl Edwards Jr (12.81)
- RP BB/9: Brian Duensing (1.89)
- RP FIP: Duensing (2.99)
- WAR: Bryant (3.4)
Dbacks
- OBP: Paul Goldschmidt (.435)
- ISO: Goldschmidt (.274)
- HR: Goldschmidt (26)
- R+RBI: Goldschmidt (177)
- wRC+: Goldschmidt (159)
- BSR: Goldschmidt (4.7)
- Defense: Zack Grienke?! (6.5)
- SP K/9: Robbie Ray (11.45)
- SP BB/9: Grienke (1.87)
- SP FIP: Zach Godley (3.18)
- RP K/9: J. J. Hoover (12.86)
- RP BB/9: Archie Bradley (1.74)
- RP FIP: Bradley (2.32)
- WAR: Goldschmidt (5.3)
I think this Paul Goldschmidt guy might be pretty good.
Injuries, transactions. vengeance pacts, etc.
The Dbacks are down several good pieces, but are still going strong. Robbie Ray is on the concussion DL after being hit in the head by a batted ball a week or so ago. Shelby Miller, object of a trade heist I recently enjoyed, got off to a solid start in his first few weeks before going under the knife for TJS. Shortstops Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings are on the 60-day DL with hand injuries, but replacement Ketel Marte is somehow slugging .500 in place of them anyway.
Theree's one injury in particular that matters for the Cubs, and that is Willson Contreras. There's no official news as I write this but it sounds like he will be out for about a month. At least it's not Victor Caratini getting everyday starts, I guess. Kris Bryant still seems to be bothered by the hand injury he suffered a few weeks ago, and Koji Uehara somehow ended up on the DL without my noticing. Russell is still on the shelf, and the rumblings seem to be that he will take longer than the minumum ten days to make it back.
Pitching matchups
Friday: John Lackey, RHP vs Taijuan Walker, RHP, 8:40 PM CT
Saturday: Jon Lester, LHP vs Patrick Corbin, LHP, 7:10 PM CT
Sunday: Jake Arrieta, RHP vs Zack Godley, RHP, 3:10 PM CT
After this the Cubs have something like three straight weeks against teams with losing records.
Comments
On the plus side, the high temperatures at my house this week have been lower than the overnight lows in Phoenix over the same time period, so at least I get to avoid that shit.
berseliusQuote Reply
So Mike Glennon’s thing is throwing way behind his receivers all the time?
And what was up with that announcer blaming the receivers for “not separating” and “not boxing out”?
RynoQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/895880960708714496
On throws alone, Glennon looks like the third best QB on the Bears roster. If I’m Fox, I’d start Sanchez until Trubisky’s ready to lead the offense.
RynoQuote Reply
What kind of rodent eats cars?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Mice chewing on wires.
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to log in,
That happened to a friend of mine back in college and it cost him more than a thousand dollars to get it fixed.
dmick89Quote Reply
Our podcast studio!!!
MylesQuote Reply
Myles,
(dying laughing)
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
dmick89,
It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but still frustrating. The more annoying part was that I had found and cleared out a mouse nest up by the engine a few weeks previously and though that I had nipped it in the bud. It turned out that there was an even larger one in the undercarriage below the back seat.
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Bills waiting for that Zeke announcement news dump…
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
(dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
I think the problem with Glennon is that he just doesn’t have the football smarts to play QB, and he lacks the desire to win. He gets lazy at times, and spends too much time worrying about the name on the back of the jersey instead of the name on the fro-
Oh wait I just saw his picture. Yeah, the problem is the recievers weren’t running good routes.
EdwinQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron vs Taijuan Walker
CF Jay
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
2B Zobrist
LF Warm Beer
C Avila
RF Heyward
SS Baez
P Leoclos
berseliusQuote Reply
Ben Zobrist batting cleanup is some Dusty Baker shit. I’d rather see LaStella get the burn at this point.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Is there any place that Trump isn’t going to get us into a war with? Jesus fucking Christ.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Who is he threatening today?
BerseliusQuote Reply
Berselius,
I saw some shit about Venezuela. I think he starts the day by picking a country out of a hat.
dmick89Quote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to log in,
Gross
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Can’t anyone throw a strike today?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nevermind. Lackey’s walking two batters ahead of Goldschmidt and them falling behind him 3-0 was a brilliant strategy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Brewers are getting blown out, but the Cardinals have a one run lead in the 6th.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Brewers are no longer getting blown out. Get it together, Reds.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
That would be quite the comeback and they might do it this inning. Crazy.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Reds got a run back. I generally don’t ascribe much weight to narrative, but it would be pretty demoralizing for the Brewers to get that close and still lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I haven’t been paying much attention lately, but is Lackey good now—for five or six innings—or is he just lucky?
ceruleanQuote Reply
Lucky.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
Most likely, he’s not as bad as his first-half numbers, but not as good as his second-half numbers.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Good to see the catchers carrying the load in Contreras’ absence.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Lackey is hitting for some reason.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
So he can give up another home run before he gets taken out!
2 outs no one on and Lackey is only at 85 pitches, fine, maybe you leave him in. middle of the order 3rd time through, though?? maybe with Jake, not Lackey
sharpchicityQuote Reply
CJ just walked a guy. Imagine that.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wilson has been really wild.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Javy!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t know why Baez got the stop sign there, honestly. You have to take that chance with two outs, in my opinion.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Inverted M
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Good news, I suppose, but the real issue is: are they finally back?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
Ask again tomorrow
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
I’m watching you.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ooh, Albert is leading off.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This rotating leadoff spot is getting comical.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sounds like Neil Walker ——–> MIL
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
The Cubs keep trying to hit into double plays.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Apparently the Cardinals have decided to never lose again.
dmick89Quote Reply
For a leadoff hitter, Albert sure loves to swing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I don’t know if they can overturn this.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow, that was fast.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugly day for Schwarber.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Walking Goldschmidt to get to Martinez makes no sense.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I hope you manage to find someone, cerulean http://www.avclub.com/article/wont-someone-help-craigslist-sun-worshiper-conceiv-259387
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to log in,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
I now find myself rooting for a three way clusterfuck at the top of the NL Central by the end of the day. Maybe by the middle of the week those three teams will find a way to welcome the Pirates. What happens if four teams tie for first in the division?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Games 163, 164, and possibly 165! It might break the postseason schedule.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I know the playoffs are a crapshoot, but it’s getting difficult to imagine anyone but the Dodgers winning the pennant at this point.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(Unless, of course, it’s the Cardinals… with 83 wins.)
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball squadron
CF Jay
2B La Stella
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
C Caratini
LF Warm Beer
RF Heyward
SS Baez
P Arrieta
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Perkins,
That would be awesome. Too bad the Reds suck more than the rest of the teams in this shitty division.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
It’s looked that way for a long time.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I thought the Nats looked as though they had a fighting chance until yesterday.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s a different cerulean. I have already spread my seed. My super-demon-babies have turned out to be pretty normal. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Astounding, I know. After all the precautions I took. Children, they’ll let you down.
(dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
Dear Cubs,
You are doing a piss-poor job of helping me be distracted from the coming nuclear holocaust and subsequent white-supremacist take over.
Sincerely,
Cerulean
ceruleanQuote Reply
The 2001 Mariners agree.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Bryant is a great base runner.
dmick89Quote Reply
I love Bryant’s baserunning.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’ll take it.
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Jay!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stupid Cardinals are stupid coming back again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
All the baserunning today from KB
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rally averted in STL
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Are the Cubs the worst team in baseball at getting a runner in from third with less than two outs?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber is striking out on a lot of bad pitches.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
We’re I the “Jake loses the strike zone” portion of the game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jake’s throws to first are almost as bad as Lester’s.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A fly ball with a runner on third and less than two outs? Is that legal?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
FWIW, Gameday said he was getting squeezed against Blanco.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Schwarber is useless.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
It’s not a good situation to nibble at the edges of the zone, in any case.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
I wouldn’t be shocked to see another trip to Iowa before their season ends.
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Sucks the Cubs have a 0% chance of winning this one.
dmick89Quote Reply
Berselius is too lazy to log in,
I’m surprised the Cubs didn’t go after an outfielder at the deadline. Their outfield sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
A pretty nice outing by Arrieta
*knocks on all the wood*
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Edwards in with a one run lead. Hold onto your butts.
Or don’t. I can’t tell you what to do.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Shut me right up.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Good CJ is nasty.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Almora pinch hitting for Schwarber, just like we drew it up in the offseason.
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Don’t slide there, Albert.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Javy!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
in play, run(s)
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
Happ!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damn. That was crushed.
edit: Baez home run (I’m behind you guys)
dmick89Quote Reply
Happ!
Berselius is too lazy to loginQuote Reply
dmick89,
Javy’s swing is beautiful when he hits the ball squarely and hideous when he doesn’t.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Poor Ben Zobrist. That was a good take.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryant!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That zero isn’t fat enough.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Davis comes in to get the final two outs of a blowout.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
For God’s sake, Wade.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’m honestly starting to wonder if Joe should take Davis out of the closing role until he remembers how to throw a strike.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Inverted Meh.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s not a game if he can’t lose it.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Hey, the Cubs won a series. It’s been awhile since they did that.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Who do you give the closer’s job to? Edwards, when he’s on, is the best pitcher in the bullpen, but he can go long stretches looking like he’s never even heard of what a strike zone is. Strop is probably the guy with the best command that you’d want in that role, but he can lose the zone too. I’m more concerned about all the home runs that Davis is giving up.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m far more concerned about his control. His home run rate is still better than average, but his walk rate is terrible.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
And, yes, Strop can be wild, but Davis’ walk rate is around 5 per 9 now.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I’d be fine with Strop taking over for awhile. That would still free up CJ for some of the more important work in the 6th, 7th or 8th innings.
dmick89Quote Reply
No time for a full Reds series preview, but here is a short one:
The Reds are bad.
The Cubs probably lose 3 out of 4 anyway.
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
It’s a rivalry like deer and men with guns are a rivalry?
MylesQuote Reply
If they win game 1, we’ll get to hear about how they’re back.
dmick89Quote Reply
Myles,
Oh no, man is in the forest!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m looking forward to watching the Cubs get no-hit by Homer Bailey.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Sounds like something a complete idiot would say.
MylesQuote Reply
http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/know-your-audience
BerseliusQuote Reply
so fucking true.
in other news, i’m not so sure why you all are so concerned about the bullpen when dillon maples is just a short bus ride away in iowa.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
https://www.brewbound.com/news/bells-brewery-adds-distribution-new-mexico-fall
berseliusQuote Reply
Congratulations. Bell’s is one of the best.
MylesQuote Reply
To day’s base ball squadron:
Jay
Bryant
Rizzo
Zobrist
Schwarber
Avila
Heyward
Baez
Quintana
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Zobrist batting cleanup is a joke. May as well bat Quintana cleanup.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Or at least Schwarber. There’s at least the chance of an XBH then.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Quintana is getting squeezed a bit.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Holy shit, Kris.
uncle daveQuote Reply
This defense is driving me crazy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This defense fucking blows.
dmick89Quote Reply
Schwarber!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Good thing Schwarber plays his position well, because he can’t hit worth a damn.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Quintana has to be nearing 100 pitches.
dmick89Quote Reply
Oh, for God’s sake, Jose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stop putting runners on base. Especially with no outs.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
#JavyTag
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
And all this time, we were worried about Schwarber’s glove.
ceruleanQuote Reply
1st and 3rd with nobody out and the two good hitters on the team due up and nothing.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
It’s understandable against an ace like Wojiecowevciwhatever.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
cerulean,
That was the joke.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was an infuriating and predictable inning.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Leaving a man at third with nobody out.
That’s Cub™
ceruleanQuote Reply
Leadoff man reaches once again. It’s extra frustrating because this one only came in as an injury replacement.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
True. That was the joke.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Jesus, Javy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Baez mostly just guesses which pitches to swing at.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) that was bad for even Baez.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
He decided swing before the pitcher knew what pitch he’d throw.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jay!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jay just needs a home run for the cycle.
*Looks at Jay’s home run rate*
Never mind. Nothing to see here.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
La Stella!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bryant!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I remember Dunston swinging at some truly awful pitches, but he’d at least make an effort to swing as close to the location of the pitch as possible. Baez doesn’t. He’s swinging middle in regardless of which pitch is thrown or where it’s thrown. He should be the worst hitter who ever put on an MLB uniform, but for slime reason pitchers throw pitches in the zone to him.
Bryant!
dmick89Quote Reply
Bryant!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
KB
Berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!
Pour it on ’em, Cubs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!
ceruleanQuote Reply
Magic 8-ball. That should be his nickname.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Terrible at-bat by Avila.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I guess Avila took that literally.
ceruleanQuote Reply
That was a swing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Quintana is on deck???????????
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Quintana is hitting??????????????
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The zone is 60 inches wide for Baez.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
At least they’re up 5. He’d be hitting here in a tie game.
dmick89Quote Reply
JD suggested it was due to the combination of big lead, short bench, and two outs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Is zobrist hurt? He was scratched from the initial lineup.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Sore/stiff neck is what they said.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Monty!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Cubs are back.
dmick89Quote Reply
Oh come on. Walking Jay?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Montgomery!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
The Cubs should just play the Reds for the rest of the season.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Let’s see how you feel after they drop the next three.
dmick89Quote Reply
I guess Monty doesn’t want the save.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Grimm can’t throw a strike with a 10-run lead.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey guys are the Cubs back
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Cincinatti Reds just changed their slogan:
The Cure for the Common Cubs™
ceruleanQuote Reply
https://mobile.twitter.com/MarkHarrisNYC/status/896938030916874240
dmick89Quote Reply
WE ARE BACK
EdwinQuote Reply
http://obstructedview.net/cubs-15-reds-5/
berseliusQuote Reply