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 22- JavWard

This was a really weird night.

Hamels looked good but gave up 3 runs and threw a ton of pitches.

For most of the game Kris Bryant, yes that KB, actually was the best hitter by far.

The Dodgers looked like the Dodgers of last year.

All of that changed with a 3 run homerun by Javy and ANOTHER 3 run homerun by Heyward. These two guys are mashing taters and carrying the Cubs on their prodigious backs.

And of COURSE the bullpen gave up more runs making this game uncomfortably close.

First it was the offense carrying the team. Then it was the starting pitching carrying the team. Now it is down to Javy and Jason carrying the team. I can't wait for this Dodgers series to be over with. Tomorrow the Cubs go for the sweep, break out the brooms.

Cubs Games Watched: 5.0
Cubs Games Listened To: 13.0
Gave Up, BCB'd it: 4.0

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Game 11- Where Have Yu Gone, Darvish?

I don't know what of the following things is more depressing at this point:

1) The Cubs going down to an early deficit for the umpteenth time this season (3-0 after 3 this time)?

2) That Yu Darvish again looked, ok-ish? But in this league for his salary ok-ish isn't going to cut it. Oh, he is also 0-2 in 3 starts so far with a 7.50 ERA.

3) Or is it that Hayward is the best hitter on this team at this point? I mean, he should be and all but he is just MASHING it with a .371 average with 13 hits and 9 RBIs (I don't do advanced statistics here at Cubs Watch 19).

At least the bullpen isn't looking too shabby. The offense is looking great and getting contributions from unexpected sources but man the starting pitching, what to do with starting pitching.

Oh BTW, Lester is hurt and Chatwood is starting in his place. I am sure that will go well (what is the eyeroll emoji again)?

I want to be positive and I want every.single.Cubs.player to do well but this season has 500 written all over it unfortunately.

Watched Cubs Games: 2.5
Listened To Cubs Games: 7.5
Bleed Cubbie Blue Recapped it: 1.0

Spring Training Game 1

Well well well, the Chicago Cubs are playing the first game of 2019, who is pumped?!?

The offseason has been, well, a little off-putting. Tons of relief arms added, no major free agent signings, Russell still on the team, etc. However, hope always springs eternal and as is the slogan of my family's team the Brooklyn Dodgers goes, "wait till next year".

Next year is this year and there is a lot to be hopeful for. This team was run ragged by the schedule, had a crazy amount of injuries (especially to Kris Bryant) and the team STILL won 95 games. With everyone rested and some starting pitching coming back healthy, big things could be in store for the Cubs.

The Cubs came out with a mix of the starters and the...not starters. Seriously, Adduci, Field, Tseng? Still, it will be interesting to see how these guys do but I am much more interested to see 1) Does KB look healthy and does Heyward look like a baseball player (not to bag on the guy but he is clearly the reason the Cubs didn't pursue Harper both salary-wise and positionally)?

Cubs 8 - Brewers 4

Well that was a heck of a start! KB went 2-2 with a HR and looked great!

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/kris-bryant-starts-spring-with-homer

Heywood was looking pretty good as well with a 1-2 start with a run. Tseng gave up 2 earned in 2 innings.

A whole bunch of bodies did things but honestly, first game of preseason, I am not going to develop any passion one way or another. Still, a win is a win, especially against the Brew Crew. 2019 is under way!