Game 64- Da Sweep

The Cubs completed their domination of the Cardinals with another trouncing, this time with a 5-1 win. KB looked sharp, getting several hits (despite playing on a kinda sprained ankle when running from first to second) and CarGo got his first home run as a Cub.

Can we just focus on CarGo for a second? This guy was a 3 time All Star but before the Cubs picked him up he was hitting .210 for the Indians and the Tribe outright released him. Much like the Cubs picking up Hamels, a change of scenery is what CarGo needed. He has been paying dividends in the outfield which is leading to some weird statistical anomalies like this might be only the third time in the last 70+ years the Cubs have fielded an all left handed outfield for an appreciable part of the season.

Aside from the hitting, Hendricks pitched another 1 run gem. The ESPN announcing crew said several times that Hendricks was Maddux-like and I have to agree with them. He is really painting the corners and get strike outs and contact outs in a manner very reminiscent of Greg. Hendricks and Hamels are the H&H team that is getting it done for the Cubs.

After a week of getting healthy at home, the Cubs travel to Colorado at the beginning of this week and then to the Dodgers at the end of the week. These are two very strong NL teams so it will be great to see how the Cubs stack up with potential playoff scenarios.

Cubs Games Watched: 10.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 36
BCB/CI: 17.5

Game 59- Hendricks Delivers

Kyle has started 12 games going 6-4 in those starts. He has already accumulated 1.8 WAR which is tied for first amongst pitchers.

The staff has had a really up and down year but for the most part Hendricks has been a rock throughout. Last night he limited the damage in the innings he pitched to 3 runs, allowing the Cubs breathing space to tie the game on their own terms (meaning home runs) and then going ahead and winning 6-3.

Javy looked excellent now healthy (making great defensive plays and smacking a home run) and while the Cubs are very much a home run team at the moment, they aren't just relying on it exclusively, playing some small ball in the later innings.

The Cubs are looking healthy at home, let it continue (even with a Darvish start looming)!

Cubs Games Watched: 9.5
Cubs Games Listened To: 36
BCB'd: 13.5

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 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 24- What Do You Do About A Problem Like Kyle

Al over at BCB brought up an interesting suggestion. Given that Kyle Hendricks is absolutely terrible in the first inning of games over the last two years, should the Cubs put out an opener (a pitcher who pitches the first few innings making way for the starter to go 5 or so)?

https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/27/18519599/cubs-diamondbacks-recap-kyle-hendricks-javier-baez-mlb-scores

On the one hand, once you go this direction, you may be permanently altering the confidence level of Kyle so if he goes back to starting the first inning as a regular starter it may make things even worse. On the other hand, there clearly is a mental block here and the Cubs need to win games (back to .500 after climbing all the way up from the basement). Complicating this is the Hendricks JUST signed an extension going into 2024.

Given all this, I say, stay the course, don't add in an opener at this point. After all, I don't trust the Pen enough to have a good opener anyway plus Kyle is around for awhile may as well try to make it work if at all possible.

What IS working is another Baez homerun. Selfishly, this continues to justify my recent purchase of a Javy jersey and now I am just on pins and needles wondering whether he and Theo can work out an extension.

I also over the moon that Bryant hit a home run in this game. On game one, I infamously said Bryant and Baez will be the new Bash Brothers and while it hasn't quite worked out that way so far, Bryant has the talent to be better than he and to be one of the best players in the league. I am rooting for him hard in order to get back to that level.

When the Cubs lose a game 8-3 there isn't too much to be said and one hopes the Cubs can come back on Saturday and Sunday and take the meatloaf. With Darvish going on Saturday, anything is possible (in the worst possible way) so we will see!

Cubs Games Watched: 5.0
Cubs Games Listened To: 13.0
BCB'd it: 6.0