Game 58- Pitching Is The Key

Yes the Cubs got hits (11 of them to be precise). Baez and Heyward combined for 5 RBIs on the night. New edition Carlos Gonzalez went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Seemingly everyone contributed (KB laying down a bunt!).

However the real story of this game, to me was Jon Lester's pitching performance. Starting with 9 up and 9 down, Lester cruised through 6 innings and while he got into trouble in the 7th he only gave up 1 run.

Pitching is truly the wind that fills the sails of the Cubs. If the starting pitching doesn't get them too deep in a hole, they are competitive. If the relief pitching doesn't give up moonshots they are competitive. The Cubs have an offense that compete with anyone but too often this season they have been let down by their brothers in arms. Not so last night with the bullpen actually holding the lead and not giving up any additional runs.

A great start to the homestand.

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 35
Gave Up, Read BCB: 13.5

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 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 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 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 23- The Offense Putters Out

It was inevitable that the offense couldn't keep up its sustained (and clutch!) performances over 162 games and last night's game was example 1A of the Cubs struggling uphill to score any runs. The fact that they left so many runners in scoring position and still only lost the game by 1 is a testament to the pitching staff.

Lester looked good and the pen only gave up a run. Almora's homer in the ninth made it close but as they say, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Here is the BCB recap: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/25/18516821/dodgers-2-cubs-1-grrrrrrrrrr

On a blog note, it is TOUGH to watch or listen to all the Cubs games in a season! So far I think I am doing a pretty decent job having watched/listened to a majority of the games but I can't help but notice the tracker has crept up in the "read a summary" category and I am now tied with games watched (the name of this blog). If current percentages keep up, I am projected to miss 32 games this season, hopefully I will keep it under 30.

Also hopefully you are enjoying my attempt to watch every game of the Cubs 2019 season and I am glad I have at least a few of you reading this madness. Onward to the next series!

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

Game 5- Not Enough

Lester gave the Cubs a chance. 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 7ks. Respectable.

The offense gave the team a chance with 4 runs. The current MLB median is 4.25 runs a game by the Twins. BTW, the Braves are currently 10th in the MLB with 4.75 runs a game.

The relief pitching did NOT give the Cubs a chance. Let's revisit the parade of horrors shall we?

Kintzler pitched 1 inning and looked great, a clean sheet. Fine, fine, wait where is he going????

Cishek comes in and can't get anyone out giving up 3 earned runs and taking the L. (ERA 16.50 BTW).

Then Rosario comes in and gives up ANOTHER earned run.

Brach wasn't any better. 1 hit plus 2 walks. Sure why not? At least he didn't give up a run.

Montgomery comes in to close out the side. Yeeeeeeeeeesh.

The Cubs can sign the David Botes of the world to all the extensions they want but if they aren't actively working RIGHT NOW to get this bullpen better, then this will be a lost season. KB and Baez are going to walk in free agency, Lester and Hendricks are going to age out and that is it.

Sure, are we 5 games into the season and I am pushing the panic button? Yes but c'mon what have we seen this season that doesn't lead to this very darkest of timelines?

Watched Cubs Games: 1.5
Listened To Cubs Games: 3.5
Ignored everything and read Bleed Cubbie Blue's recaps: 0

Spring Training Games 2-3

Whew, only 3 days into spring training and already 2 games behind! Life comes at you pretty fast as F. Bueller used to say so let's dig right into this!

Game 2 vs. San Fran

While there are a few minor leaguers in this lineup, this game definitely has more of the major league team seeing action today than game 1. The less said about Russell the better. For me it is all about Happ and Bote, two key role players I think for this season and seasons to come (unless Theo trades em). Do how did it turn out?

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-giants/2019/02/24/566453/final/video

Well, another day another win!  Chatwood improbably picks up the W (pitching 2 innings) which the Cubs have to be happy with. The more arms they can throw at opposing teams this year with good results, the better for the team, they need to take some of the pressure off the offense.

It is tough to read much into any spring training game but it is good to see Almora, Rizzo and Schwaber picking up RBIs.

Game 3 (Split Squad) vs. Dodgers/Padres:

The Cubs got their heads bashed in by the Dodgers (11-2!) and salvaged some dignity with a win over the Padres (6-4).

Bergman and Clarkin got hit hard and often giving up 3 runs each. The fun thing about the box score for the Dodgers game? 3, yes 3 Cubs pitches had a ERA of 13.50 after the game, so good!

Lester looked good in his side of the split with 3 Ks and my boy KB scored a run.

Contreras had 3 RBIs which is awesome. Word on the street from Ivy Envy was that he ran out of gas last season (which seems plausible looking at his All Star game splits) and man, catcher is a tough position to play. Hopefully he has enough gas in the tank come September this year.

 I also can't wait to see what Amaya brings to the table. He is only 20 but could be bringing a lot to the table in a year or 2.

Ok that's it for the night, more soon as the games keep on coming !