Game 54- Lights Out

The Cubbies came out swinging again and that made all the difference. Bryant and Schwarber both hit solo shots and Hendricks showed up again and shut down the Astros. Given that this may be a pseudo-World Series preview it was great to see the Cubs battle to shut the Astros down and the pitching limit the damage.

Listening on the radio you never got the sense that Cubs were going to score many runs in this which usually leads to an impending sense of doom but Hendricks was so on (8 innings pitched, 1 run, 1 walk) that it didn't really matter.

Given the travails of Darvish and Lester it great to see the rock of Hendricks living up to his extension and anchoring this rotation.

Cubs have an off day and then a series against the Cardinals, can't wait!

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 34
Gave Up, Read BCB: 10.5

Game 53- Bad Pitching Beats Homers

The Cubs had 5, count em 5!, home runs in the game against the Stros. Bote was a maniac with 2 blasts with 3 RBIs and making some great defensive plays. Game ball to him.

Who should NOT get the game ball is anyone on the Cubs pitching staff. Lester gave up 7 earned runs and only started the 6th inning because Joe desperately needed to give his bullpen yet another rest. Yes, let's keep trotting out a guy who clearly didn't have it because THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS!

Then let's throw Brach out there to give up another two runs.

At the end of the day if the pitching can't stop anyone then it doesn't matter how many homers the Cubs hit. Plus, this could be a World Series preview. Sure the Astros are historically great offensive team but if Lester and Brach had kept the damage to a minimum the Cubs coulda won this. Instead the Cubs own pitching beat the rest of the team for this one.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 33
Gave Up, Read BCB: 10.5

Game 52- Never Had It

Given the travails of the pitching staff over the last 10 games it was great to see the Cubs get out ahead in the first inning with a 2 run homer by Rizzo. With Bryzzo on the shelf due to KB's injury, Rizzo has been kicking butt recently (hitting .500 with 14 hits in 7 games will do that to your stats). What has been great about this 2019 Cubs is that players continue to step up as others cool off (Heyward, I am looking at you).

Of course Hamels goes down in flames in the third inning giving up 5 runs and the Cubs get down 6-2 pretty quickly. With Hamels and Lester on the wrong side of the 30 year old line, Darvish is off in his own universe, it is quickly coming down to how Q and Hendricks pitch to give the Cubs any chance at all to get out of the 5th inning.

Did the Cubs try and come back? Sure. Scoring 3 runs in the last 2 innings will get you healthy against most teams. However, the failures of the starting pitching meant the Cubs couldn't come all the way back and here we are, another loss. Good times.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 32
Gave Up Read BCB: 10.5

Game 51- Wheels Fall Off

I listened to the first 5 innings and things were going rather predictably against the Reds. Meaning... the Reds got up early and the Cubs bats were cold. I am not sure why the Cubs can't play well against the Reds (currently 2-4 against them) but the Reds have the Cubs number and unless the Cubs come out guns blazing it was going to be a long day.

I didn't listen to the remainder of the game and I am glad I didn't. First of all the game last 3 and a half hours and with the Cubs ultimately losing 10-2 I am happy I didn't have to suffer through all of that .

Speaking of suffering KB (playing the outfield, something I have NEVER agreed with) left the game injured and while the Cubs staff is playing coy with his condition, he did fly with the team to Houston so signs are hopefully positive.

Houston is a tip top team, hopefully the Cubs come to play.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 31.5
Gave Up: 10

Game 50- Offense Saves The Day

Yu Darvish didn't pitch great today (as ever pitched WELL this year?). He gave up 5 runs in 7 innings. Then because of Maddon's lack in faith in the bullpen (and who could blame him so far?) Darvish comes out in the 8 and gives up another home run leaving the game tied.

I want to step back for a moment about Yu because both BCB and Cubs Insider echoed Joe Maddon's comments that Yu pitched a gritty game and both websites framed it as he was rounding into form. I am sorry, I just can't buy that narrative.

Even if Yu pitches a good game, he does so infrequently and really you have zero idea on what is going to happen in any given start. It has gotten to the point where I assume the Cubs will lose during a Darvish start and am pleasantly surprised when they win and I haven't seen any indication he is "rounding into form".

Otherwise though the offense again bailed out the pitching having to score 2 runs in the 8th and 8 overall to do so but they did it. Major props go to KB and Almora for timely hitting and also Rizzo for two RBIs.

Until Maddon can figure out the bullpen and Darvish the hitters are going to have to, well, hit but Theo's maximum offense strategy in drafting is paying off here and keeping the Cubs afloat on top of the Central. The Cubs close out the Reds series today, hoping they win!

Cubs Games Watched: 11.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 29
Read The Web: 9.5

Game 49- 50/50

I don't know at this point, I just don't know. Hendricks looked great, until he didn't. 1 run through 5, 2 runs allowed in the 6th alone.

The offense looked great until they stopped hitting. 4 runs through the first 3 innings, only 1 run thereafter.

The bullpen looked good until they gave up a 2 run homer in the ninth. 3 runs total from the 7th inning on.

On the plus side, Bryzzo, Inc. was back in business this game, giving the Cubs all the runs they shoulda needed to win. I think this is a game where the Cubs both won and lost it although in the end it resulted in a L.

All I can hope for is that they have a W and a W results in a W tomorrow.


Cubs Games Watched: 10.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 29
Gave Up: 9.5

Game 48- Eh?

When it rains it pours. Jon Lester is a very good pitcher who typically isn't good in the first inning. He wasn't good in yesterday's first inning (2 runs) or the third inning (another 2 runs) nor the fourth inning (3 runs!).

The fact the Cubs battled back in this game is a testament that with this offense, they are never truly out of it. Rizzo 4 for freaking 5. Schwarber 2 for 4, heck even Chatwood went 1 for 1 with a DOUBLE.

As terrible as Lester was, the bullpen was also terrible giving up an additional 2 runs which ended up being the difference in this game.

Given the start Lester had, the team had no legitimate chance of winning but it is still crazy that they almost had one but for the bullpen. Still and L is a L although this definitely felt like a playoff series. Maybe this will be revisited in October?

Games Watched: 9.5
Games Listened To: 29
Gave Up: 9.5

Game 47- Powerball

The Cubs seemingly had one goal last night. Get as many people on base as possible and then hope someone hits a home run. Down 3-0 Rizzo stepped up and hit a 3 run homer. 2 innings later, the Cubs loaded the bases and as soon as the announcing team stated that Almora has never had a grand slam, he hit one.

Capping everything off was Baez having a solo shot in the 7th meaning every single Cubs run was scored due to a home run.

I think what we have seen is the Cubs finding a way to win in a variety of circumstances. Earlier this year they have shown they can small ball the heck out of a team and now they are showing they can homer to death a team.

They needed all the homers they could get as Hamels basically threw an entire game's worth of pitches in the first 4 innings. Chatwood came in and got the W and looked sharp (except for the homer to McCutchen).

In the end though it is all about the dingers, er offense. The Cubs are averaging 5.38 runs a game which leads the NL (which is even more impressive that early in the season they were averaging 4 runs a game and middle of the pack). Last game against the Phils this morning/early afternoon!

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 28
Gave Up Read BCB: 9.5

Game 46- By Gawd That's Baez Music

This game felt like a repeat of the several games that came before. Starting pitching gave the Cubs a chance to win.

The offense sputtered (with a similar RISP issue) but still the Cubs were leading going into the 7th.

Then of course the wheels came off with the bullpen giving up 2 in the seventh (on a single VERY similar to what happened in Game 45 with Realmuto).

I was sitting at home, listening to the game thinking, welp bullpen you have cost the Cubs yet another game. Joe Maddon looked at the clubhouse and saw hobbled superstar Javy Baez who raised up and defeated the Night King, err came in and got the winning hit!

Let's face it, the Cubs are grinding. So many close 1 run games recently. It sets your teeth on edge. But when you have KB running the base paths and Baez hitting you will win much more than you will lose. Rubber game today!

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 27
Couldn't Do It: 9.5

Game 45 - Different Day Same Story

A few of the trends that I have been seeing from this year's Cubs team is the occasional inability to score when having runners in scoring position and also the bullpen screwing up winnable games.

Well it all came down on Monday night where the Cubs had multiple runners on base throughout the game and couldn't push them across (not completely as the Cubs did score 4 runs in the game but have score much, much more).

Plus the Cubs bullpen gave up 1 run in the ninth to allow the Phils to tie the game and 1 run in the 10th for them to win it.

It is not every game that the Cubs' Achilles heels will all be on display and the Cubs still have a positive won/lost record in 1 run games but the reasons the Cubs lost last night are the reasons they have lost throughout the season. The offense will be fine but Theo/Maddon/et. al need to get it together in the bullpen somehow. Calling up Maples from AAA, trading for arms, whatever it takes but the Cubs won't last in September or the postseason with this current state of affairs.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 26
Couldn't Do It: 9.5

Game 44- Game O Inches

The Cubs must have read yesterday's blog (yes, that's the ticket!) as they came out at the top of the game scoring a run in each of the first 4 innings of the game. Hendricks looked great until the wheels fell off in the 6th.

I guess the upside of this game was that the Nats pitching is much worse than the Cubs.

What is also interesting is how many 1 run games the Cubs have been involved with recently. Since April 1st, the Cubs have had 12 games decided by 1 run and have been 8-4 in those games. Last year  the Cubs couldn't buy a close win and this season is completely different.

The Cubs are looking good (if you exclude pitching). I don't know what is up with the pitching. If the starters look good, the bullpen looks shaky. If the starters can't get to the 5th, the pen often steps up. At this point I think everyone just hopes it all comes together in October.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 25
Gave Up, BCB: 9.5

Game 43- Slow And Steady Lose The Race

Lester typically is not great in the first inning. This game, he wasn't great in the first couple of innings, giving up 4 runs by the end of the third inning. The thing with the early season Cubs is that they were in such early inning holes that it was tough to battle back.

That was the same case with this game where a 4-0 deficit was just too much to come back from. Thankfully neither Edwards nor Chatwood gave up any runs so that is the ultimately small silver lining to just a rather off day for the Cubs.

Some times the hare really beats the tortoise and this was one of those times. I really have nothing much to say about this game, it existed, the Cubs lost, on to the rubber game! 

Cubs Games Watched: 8.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 25
Gave Up, Read BCB: 9.5

Game 42 - The KB Show

This post was going to be about yet another terrible outing from the bullpen. I think was I was overly harsh about Darvish's last start. 11ks is nothing to sneeze at and in reality it was the bullpen that let him down in that game. Sorry Yu.

I was going to have a similar post about last night's game against Washington. How a 5-2 lead isn't safe with this bullpen (and it isn't) but the simple fact of KB hitting 3 homeruns should be the main focus of this recap.

Cubs Insider has the recap of the third one and it is a beaut!

https://www.cubsinsider.com/2019/05/17/watch-kris-bryant-hits-third-home-run-of-the-game/

With 3 home runs last night Bryant jumped up to 19th place in the MLB tied with teammate Javy and is now in 17th place for RBIs. I realize in the Sabre-era these are old school stats but it shows you how hot Bryant has been given the absolute frigid start he had in April.

Oh also he is 10th in OBP, 14th in slugging leading to him being 9th in OPS. The guy is absolutely raking and when he has a game like he had last night, damn right it is all we are going to talk about!


Cubs Games Watched: 8.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 24
Gave Up, Red BCB: 9.5

Games 39-40 Two Sides Of The Coin

What's good for the goose is good for the gander as the saying goes and the Cubs played a tight game against the Reds in game 39 of the season and Hendricks pitched a tight gem.

With Darvish on the mound for game 40, the Cubs also played a tight game but ultimately lost in extra frames.

What do we take from the first two games of the series? First the Central is a tough division and there is going to be no easy outs, no easy wins this year. If the Cubs are above .500 after playing the Central they have done well this year.

Secondly, I feel like sending Darvish out there is worse than a dice roll at this point. Its not that Darvish is pitching poorly but he just doesn't pitch. I feel like every fifth game is basically a loss but I don't know what the Cubs can do to correct this situation at this point.

Still, Cubs go for the rubber game tomorrow, go Cubs!

Cubs Games Watched: 8.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 22
Cubs Games via BCB: 9.5

Game 38- Bryant Business

5 homeruns in 8 games, that is KB's stat-line. Of course, his average has increased, his OBP has remained great and all of his stats have been raised up but ultimately chicks dig the long ball and KB has been hitting them in bunches.

Sure Lester pitched well and sure Baez had a great game but what this team has needed s'more is Kris Bryant playing well.  His defense has been good to very good. His plate discipline is top notch, the only thing that has been missing is the power and that has been coming back in waves.

With Bryant firing on all cylinders I think that sets up the Cubs for a continued run. They can certainly win without him but they are a WS series contender with him.

Cubs Games Watched: 8.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 21
Cubs Games Via BCB/CI: 8.5

Game 37- Con-Trer-As

Pat on the Cubs radio broadcast has a very unique way of pronouncing Willson Contreras' name but as my dad used to say, I don't care what you call me, just don't call me late to diner.

House duties called today so I couldn't watch or listen to the game. Based on Cubs Insider's recap though it was a real pitcher's duel.

https://www.cubsinsider.com/2019/05/11/chicago-cubs-score-and-recap-5-11-19-cubs-2-brewers-1-f-15-willson-contreras-walks-off-marathon-game/

Hamels only let one run score. Chatwood pitched great in relief. Almora and Bryant got some hits but overall it comes down to the Cubs MVP Con-trer-as!

This guy was on fire during Spring Training and is keeping up the tempo during the regular season. There are burnout concerns as his production fell off mightily in the second half of 2018 and the team needs great performances in October, not now. That being said, I think Maddon has been swapping him with Caratini (before he got hurt) and Davis pretty well so far.

What I wouldn't mind seeing is Amaya start to get some big league reps. Of course that would mean rejiggering the 40 man which the Cubs aren't going to do so this remains a 2020 dream at the earliest. In any event Contreras (however you pronounce his name) is the best catcher in the league and will be a certain All-Star if this keeps up!

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 21
Cubs Games Read About: 8.5

Game 36- From Hero To Zero

Didn't catch the game today but based on BCB's recap I am glad I didn't.

https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/10/18566162/cubs-brewers-recap-jose-quintana-javier-baez-mlb-scores

It sounds like the Cubs kept it close for a while but a whole bunch of walks led to a few bad innings and then holy guacamole, the Cubs lost by 7! I've got nothing else on this, go to the videotape!

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 21
Didn't Get A Chance: 7.5

Game 35- Bryzzo Business

Bryzzo is a fun combination of Bryant Rizzo. It is such a prevalent shortening of the two names based on their contributions that there are shirts:

https://www.mlbshop.com/mens-chicago-cubs-fanatics-branded-gray-bryzzo-souvenir-t-shirt/p-13428066559701+z-9566-409849578

Hats

https://www.12up.com/posts/5531028-every-cubs-fan-needs-this-awesome-bryzzo-souvenir-co-hat

Even coffee mugs

https://www.redbubble.com/people/stereotypicalts/works/27330770-bryzzo-for-president-make-america-cub-again?p=travel-mug

The reason for all this schwag is that they DO produce and against the Marlins they produced mightily. KB hit an awesome homer in the first and Rizzo followed with a homer in the fifth (driving in Bryant).

Can we also talk for a moment about how awesome KB is at walking? He has gotten on base in 19 consecutive games and a good part of that is definitely due to his ability to walk and get into scoring position.

In any event, Bryzzo is back in full effect, break out the coffee mugs and bring on the Brewers!

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 21
Gave Up: 6.5

Game 34- Moxie

I caught half the game on MLB Radio and the rest was watching on Youtube/reading on BCB. A few takeways from the game:

Someone has lit a fire under these Marlins, they are playing TOUGH. Every game of this series has been a nail-bitter and it is some intense October-like baseball.

Given that it is so close, it is great to see the Cubs win 2 out of 3 so far of the series.  It is also great to see them get clutch hits including Heyward's extra innings homer. There is just a different feeling about this team this year and perhaps being absolutely stinking awful at the first part will lead them to being a dominant juggernaut going forward.

As always in these types of sitchs, here is the great MLB recap

and BCC's recap:

https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/9/18538037/cubs-marlins-jason-heyward-kyle-hendricks-mlb-scores

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 20
Gave Up, BCB: 6.5

Game 33- Homers Club

Last season the Cubs lived and died on the homer. There were many games that a 1 run homer were all the Cubs could manage. Forget hitting, base running, etc. Were there any runners on when the inevitable homer was hit?

This season the Cubs are getting all types of hits and scoring in all types of ways. Still this game felt similar to last season. The Marlins were hitting here and there and the Cubs, well they were hoping something would click. Sac Fly to score Bryant (who it a doozy of a triple), homer by Almora.

Tonight was a night that I didn't mind the Cubs being a part of the Homers Club after Bryant hit this rocket against the wind (nonetheless!)

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1125963841102327808

Lester looked good although had his classic first inning almost-meltdown. The bullpen did its job holding the score to 2-2 through several innings.

After getting blown out in the first series, the Marlins decided to put up a fight and they are scrapping the hell out of this series. Still with KB at the bat, you can't stop him, you can only try to contain him. Cubs go for another series win tomorrow!

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 19.5
Gave Up: 6

Game 32- Jump Jive and Wail

One of the reasons the Cubs were always in the hole in the first part of the season was that the starting pitching would give up a ton of runs in the first innings. Later, the Cubs had to keep scoring because in no way would the bullpen would hold leads.

The ship has been righted in a lot of great ways and so when the Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning one could think, great offensive output, Hamels on the mound this game is on ice.

Yet the Marlins kept chipping away and the Cubs RISP issue once again raised its head. Cubs hitters got walk after walk in this and barely scored a run.

Then Strop came into the game and the wheels fell off. Walks and hits led to 3 Marlins runs and while the Cubs got one back at the end of the frame the Cubs lots 6-5, thus much wailing.

There isn't much I can say, the Cubs hitting put them in position to win, Cole didn't screw it up too bad with his start but unlike recent games the Cubs just couldn't pull out a close game on this one. Onward to tomorrow!

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 17.5
Gave Up BCB: 6

Game 31- Volleyball Hijinks

I think we are getting to the point where Contreras is getting into Mike Piazza territory. Great bat (home run in the second), very good offense (even throwing out an attempted steal!) and overall one of the true leaders on this team. Wilson is making an early All-Star case for sure.

The Cubs also looked great on defense, Zobrist had two great defensive plays and Baez was doing Baez things on sharply hit ground balls. Bote also had some great plays as well (Addison who?) and the Cubs really had the diamond on lockdown.

Q looked good as usual and Kintzler thankfully got out of a jam.

The Cubs kept dinking and dunking hits coupled with aggressive base running and bim bam boom the Cubs won 13-5. It didn't feel like a wipeout quite like the score indicated until KB stepped up and hit his grand slam but it was a great win nonetheless.

The Cubs have now come all the way back and are top of the division. Crazy times.

Cubs Games Watched: 7.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 17.5
Gave Up, BCB: 6

Game 30- Scappy Doo

Look at those Cubs hitting singles, hustling on the base-paths, grinding on defense to keep the Cardinals from scoring despite having the bases loaded.

Look at those Cardinals stealing bases and getting put outs from their outfielders.

This was a scrappy game, the teams played small ball and long ball. The most thrilling moment had to be Davis (the backup backup catcher) hitting a grand slam to tie the game but I also really enjoyed the Cubs scuffing it around the bases trying to make things happen.

What I didn't enjoy was Yu Darvish.  If Maddon had too quick a hook in the early part of the season with Darvish he clearly left him in too long this game. Only by the skin of the teeth of the bullpen were they able to extract themselves from the mess Yu left them in.

Of course, it didn't matter in the end with Baez (who looked terrible much of the day) came through and hit a looooong homerun to put the Cubs up for good in the eight. 6 runs scored and the Cubs needed every single one two win 2 in a row against the Cards.

I don't know what the answer is regarding Yu but if the Cubs keep hitting and scrapping they are going to sweep this series.

Cubs Games Watched: 6.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 17.5
BCB: 6.0

Game 29 - Quickie Express

Listening to the game, you couldn't help but marvel at how quickly it went. Hendricks would get up to pitch and like 3-5 minutes later the half inning would be over. Pitching a complete game on less than 90 pitches and a shutout nonetheless.

The Cubs offense also worked quickly, quickly jumping out ahead 3-0 in the 4th with a Rizzo homerun. KB keeps scoring runs because he is walking and getting on base but he continues blowing really cold with the hits and RBIs.

Overall the game went 2:28 which was also great because the Cubs have played some glacial games this season.  Most importantly the Cubs have closed the gap with the Cards and a sweep this weekend would change everything in the Central. Let's get it done tomorrow!

Cubs Games Watched: 5.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 17.5
Gave Up, BCB: 6.0

Game 28- Foot Meet Gas Pedal

What can you say when the Cubs scored 6 runs in the second? The game was more than over before it even really began and the Cubs cruised to a 11-0 nothing.

Lester looked good pitching giving up 1 hit over 7 innings. The guy's ERA went to 1.73, not that he needed to be that good when the offense was THAT good.

Right now the Cubs are 8th in the MLB in runs scored 7th in OPS and 2nd in OBP. They are not the best of the best but when their offense shows up (which are more nights than not), they are going to have a really good chance to win.

Baez and Contreras of course lead the way again going a combined 5 for 8 with 4 RBIs. Rizzo and Zobrist also continue recent hot streaks adding in another 4 RBIs and arguably the offensive MVP of the season so far, Heyward, went 3 for 4.

I can recite stats all day long but the fact remains, the Cubs offense is putting their foots down on the gas pedal and everyone hopes they create big enough leads for the bullpen not to blow it. Considering where the Cubs were the first two weeks of the season, this is awesome, keep pouring it on!

Cubs Games Watched: 5.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 16.5
Read BCB Instead: 6.0

Game 27 - Battlin

As the rumors and speculations bubbles in Cubs land regarding the return of Addison Russell, Daniel Descalso is making his case to remain in the lineup and blasts a home run in the first inning. I am not a huge fan of his fielding style but he has been en fuego in the first month of the season offensively.

Cubs added another in the fourth with Almora singling in Bote but Hamels gave it all back in the bottom of the frame giving up 3.

The 2019 version of the Cubs battled back though. They didn't quite have the same type of fight in 2018, losing so many 1 run games. This year though, they battle every inning and Bryant doubles and then in brought in by Rizzo's homerun. Of course Seattle battled back and it was a seesaw battle for the rest of the game with Seattle going up on a homerun in the 7th.

Schwarber gets the Cubs back on top with a 2 run HR making the score 6-5.

That isn't even doing it justice, he MASHED it.

This Cubs team is scrappy and I like it! On to game 2 this afternoon in Seattle!

Cubs Games Watched: 5.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 14.5
Read on BCB Instead: 6.0