OSS: The Cubs find a way to beat the White Sox ace and even out the four game series.
Three up:
- John Lackey was really good tonight in his 6 innings. He gave up an RBI double to Melky Cabrera in the 1st and that was it. He gave up 4 hits and that 1 run while walking a batter and striking out 4. Lackey has been in quite a funk lately so it’s nice to see him get back on track. It was his first win since early June.
- Ben Zobrist has also been pretty awful lately, but tonight he was 2-4 and drove in the winning run in the 3rd inning.
- This spot could go to Kris Bryant who led the offense in WPA, but I’m giving it to Aroldis Chapman who was just slightly better in WPA. Chapman came in to relieve Hector Rondon in the 8th with 2 outs and a man on 3rd base. It made a bit nervous with Willson Contreras behind the plate, but all was good. Chapman made quick work of the White Sox in recording the four outs he needed to pick up his first save as a Cub. He struckout 2.
Three down
- Willson Contreras was 0-4 and his groundball double play in the 3rd inning with runners on 1st and 3rd and 1 out was the most costly play of the game for either team. The Cubs were up 2-1 and had a chance to add on with Chris Sale on the mound. They did not. Joe Maddon something said about conversations he’s had with Theo Epstein about when Jorge Soler and Chris Coghlan are ready to be activated. He said that they’re trying to figure out ways to not “lose inventory”, which I took to mean that DFA’ing Matt Szczur was not preferable option. I can understand that, but that really just leaves the option of sending Contreras back to the minors, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. He could catch every day again and would be back in a month.
- Anthony Rizzo was 1-4 with a strikeout. He flied out in that same 3rd inning that Contreras grounded into 2. Rizzo made the first out with runners on 1st and 2nd.
- There’s nothing else to go here so I’ll just link to Phil Rogers recent column. Hard to believe he’s still being paid to write about baseball. This one wasn’t necessarily bad. I only skimmed it, but I did find this: “Sometimes you really can take one step backwards and two steps forward.” So that’s like +1 on the +/- scale. It is nice to see that Rogers has moved past his made up +/- scale in favor of stats like Wins Above Replacement. He’s come a long way.
Next up: Seattle Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma) at Chicago Cubs (Jon Lester) 1:20 pm on Friday.
Comments
I was at the game tonight, and just…wow. There’s something about seeing a guy throw 103 that gets lost in translation on TV. The place was electric.
I have nothing to add on his personal life or history beyond what’s already been said better than I could, but damn, what an athlete.
PerkinsQuote Reply
It’s so nice to feel like any lead is safe as early as the 6th, but especially from the 7th on.
dmick89Quote Reply
I think it is a positive that we don’t have anything invested in him after this year. We can basically run him as hard as possible and not worry about his future. I would bet he pitches almost every post season game since there are so many days off. Dude is electric.
BubblesdachimpQuote Reply
dmick89,
I’m still floored by Robin Ventura’s decision to walk Szczur to force Maddon to pinch-hit for Lackey. He actually wanted Joe to go to the bullpen!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It is impressive seeing someone throw 100+ like that. He’s a very special baseball talent.
EdwinQuote Reply
In the 8th, he brought in a lefty to face the PH LaStella with Chapman on deck. That seemed like a fairly obvious place for the IBB, since Maddon’s not going to remove Chapman with only a 2 run lead.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Tradez
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Marlins going for it. Kind of interesting.
MylesQuote Reply
Cashner, Rea -> Marlins
Josh Naylor, PTBNL -> Padres
MylesQuote Reply
Cashner doesn’t seem to be that good of a pitcher.
EdwinQuote Reply
Correct.
MylesQuote Reply
Remember when AJ Preller decided not to sell at the deadline last year? That was a stupid decision I recently enjoyed.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
JonKneeVQuote Reply
If Edwin Jackson is an under-the-radar trade candidate, then the term has no meaning.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’m of a mind that since it’s already pretty obvious what kind of massive upgrade having a Chapman-type closer talent brings to a bullpen that Theo and Co. will push pretty hard to bring him back, barring any off-the-fields from now to the end of the year. If they don’t bring back Chapman, they better have a someone just as or nearly as good in mind. I don’t think you can go back to Rondon after this.
I think this kind of talent is rare and keeping it on a team poised to make an extended run is pretty important. Especially when factoring in the acquisition cost. There’s a reason Mo Rivera only wore one uniform, and if the Yankees weren’t paying all the compounded interest on their sins right now, I bet Cashman already has Chapman extended.
So unless Chapman acts out between now and then or the price soars into ace SP territory (you never know), I would imagine (and hope) that Theo would bring him back. This isn’t something you let get away when you have the resources and you’re in the midst of your competitive window. It’s like having Randy Johnson pitch the 9th.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I agree. I’ve got a post that’s nearly ready on this subject. I’m busy at the moment, but I’m hoping to get it finished today.
Chris Coghlan is leading off today so who got optioned/DFA’d?
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
TLS
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Another big reason to bring back Chapman: the Cardinals. They whiffed on Heyward and Price. They’ll have the money. Rosenthal has flamed out. They’d love nothing more than to take him away from their chief rival. I would be stunned if they aren’t chasing him this offseason.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
doesn’t make a ton of sense
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
They option him in favor of Coghlan? It’s like they’re trying to blow this once huge lead they had.
dmick89Quote Reply
Maybe. I dunno. I dislike the game of one Thomas F. LaStella.
However, I’m not a big fan of Coghlan’s either.
I doubt he’ll be down long or that Coghlan will be playing all that much. Another trade is coming.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I hope. A platoon of Coghlan and Soler kind of sucks.
dmick89Quote Reply
La Stella has been one of the best bats and one of the only ones on the bench I like seeing in a pinch hit situation. They’d rather keep a struggling Coghlan just so they can keep Bryant at 3rd. Baez can be playing 3rd everyday with an OF of Bryant-Fowler-Heyward.
I don’t get it. Maybe Bryant is sick of playing the OF.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Agreed. That kind of ability is a near-generational talent, and his value is greatest to a team in the Cubs’ current situation.
Watching Chapman pitch live is one of those things I’ll tell my kids about, like seeing Mo at Yankee Stadium and getting to see Greg Maddux, Clayton Kershaw, Barry Bonds, and Mike Trout. It was a lot more awesome than I’d expected it to be.
PerkinsQuote Reply
It would appear so. But Theo already pushed his chips in on 2016. I’d be very, very surprised if he doesn’t address LF. Now’s not the time to keep the faith with Soler. I’m fine with keeping him and not trading him, but it’s clear he can’t be relied on right now.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I had seats down the line in front of the bullpen at a Durham Bulls game years ago and saw a guy warming up that had stuff so startling that I nearly dropped my beer. Only later did I find out it was Chapman. Easily the most unreal stuff I’ve ever seen, and I’ve always found it impossible to tell pitchers apart when watching a game in person.
berseliusQuote Reply
Even if the Cub make a trade, La Stella has to stay down in the minors for 10 days before he’s eligible to be recalled. This is really fucking stupid. They did this just so they could keep Szczur. I do not get it. The Cubs have determined that Szczur > La Stella.
That would be fine if it were even remotely close to being true.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
No, they have determined that losing La Stella for ten days greater than losing Szczur indefinitely. And with the current uncertainty, that may be true.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Neat.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/reds-benefit-from-error-expected-to-sign-undrafted-talent/
EdwinQuote Reply
Losing Szczur indefinitely is a risk I’m very willing to take.
EdwinQuote Reply
I would like to see Szczur traded (as part of something bigger) for a little more than just a bag of balls if it comes to it. Being forced to trade him doesn’t help.
He has far exceeded my expectations this year and does have value—he has been about as good a fourth/fifth outfielder all around as you could want—not a butcher with really good pinch-hitting numbers. He is young and controllable and could be worth a full win over the course of a season. He’s certainly no defensive replacement (are you listening Joe?), but he could help just about any team’s bench.
ceruleanQuote Reply
BTW—at the beginning of the season, I was in favor of dumping Szczur for a spot for Alcantara, if that tells you anything. (dying laughing)
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
I think at his best he’s a 5th OF, and probably more of a AAA depth guy.
EdwinQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/series-preview-seattle-mariners-51-49-chicago-cubs-61-40/
dmick89Quote Reply
Well, this really sucks for La Stella.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply