The Cubs have played better in recent days. They took three of four from the Marlins and won the opening game of the Padres series. Lets bear in mind, though, that they were playing the Marlins and the Padres, two of the the worst teams in all of baseball. In the last seven games, in which the Cubs are 5-2, they have scored more than four runs only once, last night, when they scored five.
I saw a stat that basically said the Cubs were the most homer dependent team in baseball so far as scoring runs is concerned. This is saying something given the fact that the team has only two legitimate home run threats in their everyday starting lineup, Rizzo and Soriano, and that Soriano has only one homer so far this season.
It rather points up two things, both of which we have been asserting for years: one is that the team is not built to score runs, the other that there is something fundamentally wrong with their approach to batting.
Pitching is still the brightest spot. The Cubs continue to get solid starting pitching even though Samardzija seems to have taken a step backwards in his last few starts. I didn't think I would ever say this, but the addition of Kevin Gregg looks to have helped solidify the bullpen. Cameron Loe looks like a guy who is auditioning to be DFAed once Fujikawa is ready to come off the DL.
People keep pressuring Sveum to name a closer, but I kind of like the idea of using Marmol, Russell, and Gregg in the finisher role and adding Fujikawa to the mix once he is healthy. For one thing, none of these guys except maybe Fujikawa has the genuine mental mindset of a real closer, so it takes a lot of pressure off. Marmol has pitched noticeably better since he lost the closer designation.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Same Old, Same Old
This is getting a little tiresome. Great starting pitching, no hitting. The Cubs managed to split the remaining two games with the Reds. They almost blew the first one when Sveum brought in Marmol to relieve Villanueva in the ninth. It is hard to completely second guess this move in light of Marmol's prior success against Votto, but you knew deep down that Marmol would blow it. Another strategy would have been to walk Votto and let Villanueva pitch to Phillips.
Anyway they came back to win it in the tenth.
The same thing cannot be said of the Thursday game. The Cubs wasted a gutsy start from Samardzija that was marred only by a Frazier home run in the sixth. Here's the thing, though. Samardzija threw over a hundred pitches in six innings, partly because he tried to strike everyone out, but also because the Reds worked counts and got guys on base. Latos, the Reds starter, got into the eighth inning on roughly the same number of pitches.
Same old, same old. Jeff Hoyer had to fly in to assure Sveum he still had a job, which, in my experience of observing baseball for many seasons, probably means he is on pretty thin ice. Sveum did not do anything today to reassure fans of his strategic genius. The Cubs managed only one scoring chance when they got the first two batters on base to start the eighth inning and chased Latos. I suppose you cannot really question the Ransom sacrifice in that everybody does it even though there is no evidence to suppose the strategy gives you a statistical advantage. But Soriano?
I've written very often of how bad Soriano is with the game on the line. He proved it once again today by striking out swinging on four pitches without ever seeing anything near to being a strike. That was pretty much it for the Cubs. DeJesus battled Broxton before grounding out on a difficult chance. Chapman disposed of the Cubs in short order in the ninth.
Anyway they came back to win it in the tenth.
The same thing cannot be said of the Thursday game. The Cubs wasted a gutsy start from Samardzija that was marred only by a Frazier home run in the sixth. Here's the thing, though. Samardzija threw over a hundred pitches in six innings, partly because he tried to strike everyone out, but also because the Reds worked counts and got guys on base. Latos, the Reds starter, got into the eighth inning on roughly the same number of pitches.
Same old, same old. Jeff Hoyer had to fly in to assure Sveum he still had a job, which, in my experience of observing baseball for many seasons, probably means he is on pretty thin ice. Sveum did not do anything today to reassure fans of his strategic genius. The Cubs managed only one scoring chance when they got the first two batters on base to start the eighth inning and chased Latos. I suppose you cannot really question the Ransom sacrifice in that everybody does it even though there is no evidence to suppose the strategy gives you a statistical advantage. But Soriano?
I've written very often of how bad Soriano is with the game on the line. He proved it once again today by striking out swinging on four pitches without ever seeing anything near to being a strike. That was pretty much it for the Cubs. DeJesus battled Broxton before grounding out on a difficult chance. Chapman disposed of the Cubs in short order in the ninth.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
From Bad to Worse
I didn't think the Cubs could blow last night's game, but they came up with a way to do it in the bottom of the 13th after a Valbuena home run put them up by two runs in the top of the inning. The Reds rally hinged on two keys plays. The first was Sappelt not making a difficult play on a blooper earlier in the inning that resulted in a double. The second was the decision to allow Bowden to pitch to Jay Bruce with first base open.
Which brings one to the question of whether Sveum is watching the same game everyone else is watching. In the post-game interview, Sveum kind of blamed the implosion on bad luck and the Reds superior talent. Kind of like, hey, guys, we don't expect to beat a better team without getting lucky, so just step off, OK.
First Sveum said the Phillips bloop was a fluke hit. OK, maybe so, but Sappelt's approach was very tentative. You either play that ball on the bounce and try to hold Phillips to a single or you go all out to try to make the catch. Sappelt did neither, making a late dive for the ball that failed. Second, Sveum said he thought about intentionally walking Bruce, but that would put the winning run on base and Bruce was not swinging the bat well that night.
Wait a minute, Bruce hit a home run to lead off the seventh against arguably your best starting pitcher and each lefty Bowden had faced had hit the ball really hard. Since the Cubs had already used their only left-handed relief pitcher and no one was warming up, this looks to me to be a no-brain decision.
Another thing Sveum said in the post-mortem that bothered me is that with a little luck, the Cubs might have won the game earlier when Castro lined out to right field with the bases loaded and two out in the eleventh. Sveum thought that Castro had a great at-bat, battling to work the count to 3-2 and fouling off good pitches before he finally hit a screamer to right field that Bruce caught. I saw a guy who got himself in a hole swinging at bad pitches and taking hittable pitches, then took a big swing at a ball that was low and away at least a foot out of the strike zone. It's 3-2, so ball four potentially wins the game here. So it goes.
Actually Sveum got himself in trouble with some critical remarks he made over the weekend. He pretty much said he was fed up with the team's sloppy play and seemed to single out supposed rising stars Castro and Rizzo as being far from untouchable. I didn't see anything especially wrong with his remarks, other than that they are unlikely to result in real action or change.
There is a pretty good article at Cubs Den that focuses on the Cubs defensive woes and attempts to analyze Starlin Castro in particular. The writer actually gives a pretty good account of a couple of innings in Milwaukee that saves me from another diatribe about their performance.
Reading between the lines, you have to conclude that most baseball insiders pretty much know that Castro is not a major league shortstop and probably never will become one. I'd like to pitch in here with the opinion that Castro's offensive process is very much over-hyped as well.
Castro is now riding a 14 game hitting streak. Not that it makes much difference as the Cubs have lost most of those games. Castro is hitting around .300, actually a little below that mark after last night's game. His OBP, however, is .309. That is because he never walks. Until last weekend, he had not taken a single base-on-balls. I think he walked twice in Saturday's game. The league average for OBP, which includes everybody, usually hovers around .330, so, for a #2 hitter, this is pretty bad, downright awful.
If I were an opposing team, the one guy I would want to have up there with the game on the line is Castro. Well, maybe a tie with Soriano. These guys swing at everything all the time.
All this brings one to the conclusion that, as a baseball player, Starlin Castro is very much over-rated and very much under-productive. Castro has a lot of talent. However, to succeed in baseball, to realize one's full potential, you need more than just talent. You need skill and finesse as well, things that can be developed in a player, but things the Cubs seem rarely to be able to cultivate within their organization.
In evaluating the new Cubs regime, you need to consider how much they get out of the talent they have. How much they can develop. So far, I don't see much from the Epsteins and Hoyers and Sveums beyond talk.
Which brings one to the question of whether Sveum is watching the same game everyone else is watching. In the post-game interview, Sveum kind of blamed the implosion on bad luck and the Reds superior talent. Kind of like, hey, guys, we don't expect to beat a better team without getting lucky, so just step off, OK.
First Sveum said the Phillips bloop was a fluke hit. OK, maybe so, but Sappelt's approach was very tentative. You either play that ball on the bounce and try to hold Phillips to a single or you go all out to try to make the catch. Sappelt did neither, making a late dive for the ball that failed. Second, Sveum said he thought about intentionally walking Bruce, but that would put the winning run on base and Bruce was not swinging the bat well that night.
Wait a minute, Bruce hit a home run to lead off the seventh against arguably your best starting pitcher and each lefty Bowden had faced had hit the ball really hard. Since the Cubs had already used their only left-handed relief pitcher and no one was warming up, this looks to me to be a no-brain decision.
Another thing Sveum said in the post-mortem that bothered me is that with a little luck, the Cubs might have won the game earlier when Castro lined out to right field with the bases loaded and two out in the eleventh. Sveum thought that Castro had a great at-bat, battling to work the count to 3-2 and fouling off good pitches before he finally hit a screamer to right field that Bruce caught. I saw a guy who got himself in a hole swinging at bad pitches and taking hittable pitches, then took a big swing at a ball that was low and away at least a foot out of the strike zone. It's 3-2, so ball four potentially wins the game here. So it goes.
Actually Sveum got himself in trouble with some critical remarks he made over the weekend. He pretty much said he was fed up with the team's sloppy play and seemed to single out supposed rising stars Castro and Rizzo as being far from untouchable. I didn't see anything especially wrong with his remarks, other than that they are unlikely to result in real action or change.
There is a pretty good article at Cubs Den that focuses on the Cubs defensive woes and attempts to analyze Starlin Castro in particular. The writer actually gives a pretty good account of a couple of innings in Milwaukee that saves me from another diatribe about their performance.
Reading between the lines, you have to conclude that most baseball insiders pretty much know that Castro is not a major league shortstop and probably never will become one. I'd like to pitch in here with the opinion that Castro's offensive process is very much over-hyped as well.
Castro is now riding a 14 game hitting streak. Not that it makes much difference as the Cubs have lost most of those games. Castro is hitting around .300, actually a little below that mark after last night's game. His OBP, however, is .309. That is because he never walks. Until last weekend, he had not taken a single base-on-balls. I think he walked twice in Saturday's game. The league average for OBP, which includes everybody, usually hovers around .330, so, for a #2 hitter, this is pretty bad, downright awful.
If I were an opposing team, the one guy I would want to have up there with the game on the line is Castro. Well, maybe a tie with Soriano. These guys swing at everything all the time.
All this brings one to the conclusion that, as a baseball player, Starlin Castro is very much over-rated and very much under-productive. Castro has a lot of talent. However, to succeed in baseball, to realize one's full potential, you need more than just talent. You need skill and finesse as well, things that can be developed in a player, but things the Cubs seem rarely to be able to cultivate within their organization.
In evaluating the new Cubs regime, you need to consider how much they get out of the talent they have. How much they can develop. So far, I don't see much from the Epsteins and Hoyers and Sveums beyond talk.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Another Stinker
The Cubs wasted another excellent start from Travis Wood. This time he lasted until the eighth inning of a then 1-0 contest. Of course, master strategist Dale Sveum pulled him after he issued a one-out walk in favor of Sean Camp. Camp was apparently distraught over blowing Sunday's game, so Sveum rather thought it was necessary to get him back on the horse.
Of course, Camp proceeded to self-distruct again, throwing away a pickoff attempt against a runner who didn't even have a lead, etc., etc. So the table was set for another futile comeback attempt once they were down 4-0. With two men out, the Cubs did manage to score two runs and end the game on a spectacular catch by the Texas center-fielder that, had he missed, would have ended the game in the Cubs favor.
But lets not get too optimistic here. The Cubs rallied behind a weekly hit flyball that fell in, a walk, an infield hit that would have ended the game had the Texas third baseman covered third base. This was followed by a double that the Texas left-fielder, our old friend Jeff Baker, really misplayed. Then a hit batsman loaded the bases for Darwin Barney. Barney had the only really intelligent at-bat in the whole inning. He spoiled a bunch of close pitches before he hit a screaming liner that was caught to end the game.
So what the game proves is just that this is not a competitive team, especially against left-handed pitching. The Cubs made a series of strange roster moves this morning. Besides the obvious callup of Barney, we saw Lillibridge DFAed. OK, that makes sense. Lillibridge probably should not have made the team anyway. I think he had one hit all year and the only reason he made the team in the first place was that he was versatile, being equally bad at playing many positions. It should be noted, however, that he was really a pale substitute for the aforementioned Jeff Baker, who at least could hit right-handed pitching. Maybe this is a measure of how bad a team needs to get to improve?
The other callups are deeply puzzling. Cameron Loe - six home runs in six plus innings before Seattle cut him. Kevin Gregg - enough said. Didn't this guy fail hopelessly when he was the closer on the 2009 Cubs? To make room for these guys, the Cubs sent down Dolis and cut Takahashi.
Finally, to replace Lillibridge the Cubs called up 37 year old waiver claim Cody Ransom, who was 0 for 11 with the Padres. Hope is on the way.
Of course, Camp proceeded to self-distruct again, throwing away a pickoff attempt against a runner who didn't even have a lead, etc., etc. So the table was set for another futile comeback attempt once they were down 4-0. With two men out, the Cubs did manage to score two runs and end the game on a spectacular catch by the Texas center-fielder that, had he missed, would have ended the game in the Cubs favor.
But lets not get too optimistic here. The Cubs rallied behind a weekly hit flyball that fell in, a walk, an infield hit that would have ended the game had the Texas third baseman covered third base. This was followed by a double that the Texas left-fielder, our old friend Jeff Baker, really misplayed. Then a hit batsman loaded the bases for Darwin Barney. Barney had the only really intelligent at-bat in the whole inning. He spoiled a bunch of close pitches before he hit a screaming liner that was caught to end the game.
So what the game proves is just that this is not a competitive team, especially against left-handed pitching. The Cubs made a series of strange roster moves this morning. Besides the obvious callup of Barney, we saw Lillibridge DFAed. OK, that makes sense. Lillibridge probably should not have made the team anyway. I think he had one hit all year and the only reason he made the team in the first place was that he was versatile, being equally bad at playing many positions. It should be noted, however, that he was really a pale substitute for the aforementioned Jeff Baker, who at least could hit right-handed pitching. Maybe this is a measure of how bad a team needs to get to improve?
The other callups are deeply puzzling. Cameron Loe - six home runs in six plus innings before Seattle cut him. Kevin Gregg - enough said. Didn't this guy fail hopelessly when he was the closer on the 2009 Cubs? To make room for these guys, the Cubs sent down Dolis and cut Takahashi.
Finally, to replace Lillibridge the Cubs called up 37 year old waiver claim Cody Ransom, who was 0 for 11 with the Padres. Hope is on the way.
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Ricketts Plan?
That title is a little ambitious. My real intention is just to give a kind of impressionistic overview of the team's latest iteration so far, first in relation to the new owners, then, in a subsequent post, in relation to Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer and their strategy in building a baseball team.
As far as Ricketts goes, we seem to have concluded a new campaign to convince everyone that it is necessary to provide some financial incentives to the Cubs franchise so that Ricketts can make needed as well as cosmetic changes to the ballpark environment that most people think he ought to finance on his own or that he doesn't actually need in the first place.
Ricketts's initial plans were based on the notion that the city would kick back all or most of the amusement tax revenues the ballpark generates. When that unfortunate gambit didn't fly, he moved toward a kind of neighborhood reconstruction program modeled on the Fenway Park rehabilitation.
This is still the model, but on a more ambitious scale. Although a good deal more money is involved, it seems to be predicated on putting the screws to the rooftop owners by threatening to build signs and scoreboards that will impede their sight lines.
The existence and relative success of the rooftop enterprises has always rankled a bit with Cubs management. Rightly so from any fair-minded approach. Their development is a fairly recent phenomenon. Although they try to portray themselves as just a bunch of neighborhood guys who provide a valuable service to baseball-starved fans, they are in fact a big business.
This is not Mom and Pop dragging a couple of deck chairs up to their rooftop to catch a game and get some sun. This is a set of cantilevered stadium seating perched on top of a bunch of three flats and six flats that line Waveland and Sheffield across from the park. For years they operated without regulation and sold a product they did not produce.
That is, until Cubs former ownership, the Tribune, finally forced a crisis and entered into an arrangement that required the rooftop owners to kick back a portion of their profits to the Cubs, more or less in exchange for some implicit understandings that the Cubs would take no actions that would impact the rooftop owners fundamental interest. This interest boils down to one thing of paramount importance: that their patrons can actually see something of the game going on in the stadium.
I've actually been to one of the rooftop venues. They are pretty much of a joke as far as watching a ball game. The seats are what would be the fourth or fifth storey of their buildings and 500 to 600 feet from home plate. You cannot really follow the game from this vantage point.
When the Cubs were good, they provided a form of auxiliary seating that gave you the illusion of being at a game. Now that the Cubs stink, you can get cheaper tickets from Stub Hub and other legal scalpers on game day and enjoy the real thing. For the last two seasons, whenever I have gone to the park, I have looked up at the rooftops and found them virtually deserted.
What they really provide is a place to get drunk and stuff yourself with brats while pretending to watch an irrelevant spectacle take place too far away to actually involve you in its process. Plus the seating itself is an architectural eyesore that contributes nothing to the neighborhood ambiance, such as it is, despite protests to the contrary.
So judging from the latest reports, Ricketts has been successful and the rooftop owners were marginalized. I suppose this is, in general, a good thing, especially since it clears the table of at least one controversy and allows the team management to concentrate on maybe building a decent team for a change.
That is, if they are of a mind to do so. So far they seem to be obsessed with maximizing profits and minimizing expenses. This is OK. All businesses do so, but, according to Forbes anyway, the Cubs are the fourth most valuable baseball franchise and were the most profitable one last season. Pretty good for a team that has provided virtually no fan entertainment for four plus seasons.
Gordon Wittenmeyer claims a lot of the Cubs behavior can be explained by the high debt service costs that resulted from their purchase by the Ricketts family. Maybe that is true, but many sports franchises have been able to reconcile their business imperatives with building a successful product.
Their continuing act of crying poor and cutting costs is getting a little old to most fans, at least to this fan. Lets face it, these guys are going to reap another windfall when they renew or renegotiate their media contracts. It is about time they start thinking about fielding a winning team.
About which more in a subsequent post.
As far as Ricketts goes, we seem to have concluded a new campaign to convince everyone that it is necessary to provide some financial incentives to the Cubs franchise so that Ricketts can make needed as well as cosmetic changes to the ballpark environment that most people think he ought to finance on his own or that he doesn't actually need in the first place.
Ricketts's initial plans were based on the notion that the city would kick back all or most of the amusement tax revenues the ballpark generates. When that unfortunate gambit didn't fly, he moved toward a kind of neighborhood reconstruction program modeled on the Fenway Park rehabilitation.
This is still the model, but on a more ambitious scale. Although a good deal more money is involved, it seems to be predicated on putting the screws to the rooftop owners by threatening to build signs and scoreboards that will impede their sight lines.
The existence and relative success of the rooftop enterprises has always rankled a bit with Cubs management. Rightly so from any fair-minded approach. Their development is a fairly recent phenomenon. Although they try to portray themselves as just a bunch of neighborhood guys who provide a valuable service to baseball-starved fans, they are in fact a big business.
This is not Mom and Pop dragging a couple of deck chairs up to their rooftop to catch a game and get some sun. This is a set of cantilevered stadium seating perched on top of a bunch of three flats and six flats that line Waveland and Sheffield across from the park. For years they operated without regulation and sold a product they did not produce.
That is, until Cubs former ownership, the Tribune, finally forced a crisis and entered into an arrangement that required the rooftop owners to kick back a portion of their profits to the Cubs, more or less in exchange for some implicit understandings that the Cubs would take no actions that would impact the rooftop owners fundamental interest. This interest boils down to one thing of paramount importance: that their patrons can actually see something of the game going on in the stadium.
I've actually been to one of the rooftop venues. They are pretty much of a joke as far as watching a ball game. The seats are what would be the fourth or fifth storey of their buildings and 500 to 600 feet from home plate. You cannot really follow the game from this vantage point.
When the Cubs were good, they provided a form of auxiliary seating that gave you the illusion of being at a game. Now that the Cubs stink, you can get cheaper tickets from Stub Hub and other legal scalpers on game day and enjoy the real thing. For the last two seasons, whenever I have gone to the park, I have looked up at the rooftops and found them virtually deserted.
What they really provide is a place to get drunk and stuff yourself with brats while pretending to watch an irrelevant spectacle take place too far away to actually involve you in its process. Plus the seating itself is an architectural eyesore that contributes nothing to the neighborhood ambiance, such as it is, despite protests to the contrary.
So judging from the latest reports, Ricketts has been successful and the rooftop owners were marginalized. I suppose this is, in general, a good thing, especially since it clears the table of at least one controversy and allows the team management to concentrate on maybe building a decent team for a change.
That is, if they are of a mind to do so. So far they seem to be obsessed with maximizing profits and minimizing expenses. This is OK. All businesses do so, but, according to Forbes anyway, the Cubs are the fourth most valuable baseball franchise and were the most profitable one last season. Pretty good for a team that has provided virtually no fan entertainment for four plus seasons.
Gordon Wittenmeyer claims a lot of the Cubs behavior can be explained by the high debt service costs that resulted from their purchase by the Ricketts family. Maybe that is true, but many sports franchises have been able to reconcile their business imperatives with building a successful product.
Their continuing act of crying poor and cutting costs is getting a little old to most fans, at least to this fan. Lets face it, these guys are going to reap another windfall when they renew or renegotiate their media contracts. It is about time they start thinking about fielding a winning team.
About which more in a subsequent post.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Giants Series
The Cubs played the Giants pretty close throughout the series. Their starting pitching has been pretty solid with the exception of Feldman. Feldman gave up a lot of unearned runs in the first game of the series, though, to be honest, he never looked that good and his failure to cover first base adequately twice didn't help his cause. Feldman later reported he has been bothered by a sore back, which he might have told someone about before losing two games.
The first game was a pretty typical Cubs effort. Sloppy fielding, poor clutch hitting. They blew a big early lead. They came back late to make a game of it, but Castro and Rizzo struck out with DeJesus at second to end the game.
In the second game, the Cubs got an excellent starting effort from Villanueva, who has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. They took a 2-0 lead into the ninth, but Fujikawa didn't have it, so the save was blown.
Surprisingly, the Cubs came back in the bottom half to win it on a pinch homer by Navarro and a clutch double from Castro to plate the winning run. Fujikawa later reported he has been pitching with a sore forearm and was placed on the DL.
I was out at the Saturday game. Really cold, though I have to admit I have been colder there in April. Samardzija pitched well, but he seemed to lose his best command the second time through the order and left down 2-0 after six. They had a lot of chances to even things up, but first pitch double plays from Castro and Castillo didn't help much.
Navarro added another pinch hit homer in the eighth, this time from the right side, but the Cubs fell short 3-2. Clevenger ended the game with a furious swing and a miss that looks like it will put him on the DL for a while - sixty days - so it must be that oblique strain again.
On Sunday, Jackson opened up with his usual awful first inning, but Castro put the Cubs on top with a two run shot and Schierholtz added another two run homer later in the inning. Not sure what is wrong with Lincecum, but he sure doesn't look like the guy who won the Cy Young a few years ago.
After the first, things settled down. Jackson was dominant through five. Lincecum good enough to get the Cubs out even when he got himself in trouble. Then Jackson seemed to lose his command, then started getting hit hard, finally letting the Giants get within one on another wild pitch. Everything this inning was down in the dirt with the exception of the pitches the Giants ripped for hits.
Bowden wasn't much better in relief, uncorking two more wild pitches. Honestly, though, Navarro isn't much of a defensive catcher. All these wild pitches and passed balls were hard chances, but he seems to want to play everything one-handed and off to the side. He never uses his throwing hand to try to control the ball.
To make a long story short the Cubs managed to tie the game and actually go ahead in the eighth inning with some timely hits and a lot of patience at the plate, something they need to work on more than once or twice a week. All was lost when they went to Camp to close the game. A homer to Pence in the ninth tied it. Then Camp was left in to pitch the tenth inning. Big mistake. He actually gave up the winning run on a balk created by a futile attempt to execute the famous fake to third, throw to first pick-off move. Or something like that. Give me a break. That endgame was just awful.
After the game, Sveum was encouraged by the team's performance. They might have won all four games. Heck, if it weren't for a couple of bad breaks, they might be 9-3 now instead of 4-8. Come on. The fact is they are 4-8 and there is no denying they deserve to be 4-8. Watching the Cubs play this year is a lot like watching them play last year and in 2011 and 2010 and 2009. Even worse.
And by the way, Sveum was outmanaged throughout the Giants series. This showed up in sharp relief when Botchy was able to keep his closer in reserve until the bottom of the tenth when he needed him and to keep his best player, Buster Posey, ready to pinch hit in a game situation. Now granted that Sveum has less talent to work with, but I think he finished the game with only James Russell left in the bullpen and with one of his better hitters, Castillo, unused. Along with the useless Lillihridge, of course.
The first game was a pretty typical Cubs effort. Sloppy fielding, poor clutch hitting. They blew a big early lead. They came back late to make a game of it, but Castro and Rizzo struck out with DeJesus at second to end the game.
In the second game, the Cubs got an excellent starting effort from Villanueva, who has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. They took a 2-0 lead into the ninth, but Fujikawa didn't have it, so the save was blown.
Surprisingly, the Cubs came back in the bottom half to win it on a pinch homer by Navarro and a clutch double from Castro to plate the winning run. Fujikawa later reported he has been pitching with a sore forearm and was placed on the DL.
I was out at the Saturday game. Really cold, though I have to admit I have been colder there in April. Samardzija pitched well, but he seemed to lose his best command the second time through the order and left down 2-0 after six. They had a lot of chances to even things up, but first pitch double plays from Castro and Castillo didn't help much.
Navarro added another pinch hit homer in the eighth, this time from the right side, but the Cubs fell short 3-2. Clevenger ended the game with a furious swing and a miss that looks like it will put him on the DL for a while - sixty days - so it must be that oblique strain again.
On Sunday, Jackson opened up with his usual awful first inning, but Castro put the Cubs on top with a two run shot and Schierholtz added another two run homer later in the inning. Not sure what is wrong with Lincecum, but he sure doesn't look like the guy who won the Cy Young a few years ago.
After the first, things settled down. Jackson was dominant through five. Lincecum good enough to get the Cubs out even when he got himself in trouble. Then Jackson seemed to lose his command, then started getting hit hard, finally letting the Giants get within one on another wild pitch. Everything this inning was down in the dirt with the exception of the pitches the Giants ripped for hits.
Bowden wasn't much better in relief, uncorking two more wild pitches. Honestly, though, Navarro isn't much of a defensive catcher. All these wild pitches and passed balls were hard chances, but he seems to want to play everything one-handed and off to the side. He never uses his throwing hand to try to control the ball.
To make a long story short the Cubs managed to tie the game and actually go ahead in the eighth inning with some timely hits and a lot of patience at the plate, something they need to work on more than once or twice a week. All was lost when they went to Camp to close the game. A homer to Pence in the ninth tied it. Then Camp was left in to pitch the tenth inning. Big mistake. He actually gave up the winning run on a balk created by a futile attempt to execute the famous fake to third, throw to first pick-off move. Or something like that. Give me a break. That endgame was just awful.
After the game, Sveum was encouraged by the team's performance. They might have won all four games. Heck, if it weren't for a couple of bad breaks, they might be 9-3 now instead of 4-8. Come on. The fact is they are 4-8 and there is no denying they deserve to be 4-8. Watching the Cubs play this year is a lot like watching them play last year and in 2011 and 2010 and 2009. Even worse.
And by the way, Sveum was outmanaged throughout the Giants series. This showed up in sharp relief when Botchy was able to keep his closer in reserve until the bottom of the tenth when he needed him and to keep his best player, Buster Posey, ready to pinch hit in a game situation. Now granted that Sveum has less talent to work with, but I think he finished the game with only James Russell left in the bullpen and with one of his better hitters, Castillo, unused. Along with the useless Lillihridge, of course.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Cubs Rally
Tuesday's game against the Brewers was played in appalling conditions, temperature in the thirties, 25 mph winds blowing in. The Cubs looked awful early in the game despite getting a good outing from Travis Wood. Castro almost threw and bobbled away the game in the third inning, botching up two throws and muffing a chance for a force play after a good stop. He sort or redeemed himself later on by driving in a run with a ground out in the seventh, but when you look at that at-bat, you realize he saw five pitches, all balls, swung at every one of them, and was pretty lucky to pick up the RBI. He did keep the inning going for Rizzo, who finally stayed on the ball against a lefty and delivered a nice double to tie the game.
The thing about the Cubs that is frustrating to watch day in and day out is the seeming lack of progress by a number of their more talented players. Starlin Castro is entering his fourth season in the majors and he still seems to be unaware of who is running the bases, how much time he really has, and what a strike looks like with men on base. You wonder why he continues to play out of control almost every day.
As for the Brewers, they have a real problem with their bullpen. Almost no one out there can get the job done. The Cubs won today because they got into the Milwaukee bullpen late and turned in some good, patient at-bats to turn things around. Still, a win is a win whatever the circumstances.
The thing about the Cubs that is frustrating to watch day in and day out is the seeming lack of progress by a number of their more talented players. Starlin Castro is entering his fourth season in the majors and he still seems to be unaware of who is running the bases, how much time he really has, and what a strike looks like with men on base. You wonder why he continues to play out of control almost every day.
As for the Brewers, they have a real problem with their bullpen. Almost no one out there can get the job done. The Cubs won today because they got into the Milwaukee bullpen late and turned in some good, patient at-bats to turn things around. Still, a win is a win whatever the circumstances.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Live Blog - Ninth Inning
This game cannot end too soon. Michael Bowden on the hill. Brewers go quietly. Aoki finally out on a close play at first.
Too much to hope the Brewers would go to the struggling Axford. Soriano singles. Soriano takes second, scores on a solid single by Scherholtz. Castillo singles. Henderson in to pitch.
Valbuena gets a lucky hit off the third baseman's glove. Can they come back? 7-4. Clevenger bats for Lillibridge, strikes out. Hairston bats for Bowden, gets on base on an error.
Is this bad baseball or what? What a strange game today!
Sappelt gives Henderson a battle, but strikes out. He should have taken a couple of those borderline pitches. Castro up, quite a battle. Castro spoils some good pitches, but Castro eventually flies out deep to right.
Too much to hope the Brewers would go to the struggling Axford. Soriano singles. Soriano takes second, scores on a solid single by Scherholtz. Castillo singles. Henderson in to pitch.
Valbuena gets a lucky hit off the third baseman's glove. Can they come back? 7-4. Clevenger bats for Lillibridge, strikes out. Hairston bats for Bowden, gets on base on an error.
Is this bad baseball or what? What a strange game today!
Sappelt gives Henderson a battle, but strikes out. He should have taken a couple of those borderline pitches. Castro up, quite a battle. Castro spoils some good pitches, but Castro eventually flies out deep to right.
Live Blog - Eighth Inning
Oh, oh! Marmol! One pitch to Braun, double to left. Boos from the fans when he comes out. More boos after the hit. This is a lost game by now, but I wonder what this outing, in the long run, proves.
Weeks strikes out, but he walks Lecroy after throwing a wild pitch. Deshaies is saying Marmol needs to go down to Iowa and reinvent himself. Maybe he's right.
Marmol is hard to watch. He manages to strike out two guys and get a popup to end the inning. Every third or fourth pitch is a good one, but every pitch is an existential struggle for this guy.
Gorzellanny on the mound for the Brewers. Is this an attempt to rub it in or not? Clever to go to a lefty in relief, though. Sappelt bats for DeJesus and flies out on the first pitch. Castro strikes out. Rizzo continues to struggle against lefties. Called third strike. I know everyone thinks Rizzo is a future star, but his numbers against lefties are really bad. This is an aspect of his game that needs to improve.
Weeks strikes out, but he walks Lecroy after throwing a wild pitch. Deshaies is saying Marmol needs to go down to Iowa and reinvent himself. Maybe he's right.
Marmol is hard to watch. He manages to strike out two guys and get a popup to end the inning. Every third or fourth pitch is a good one, but every pitch is an existential struggle for this guy.
Gorzellanny on the mound for the Brewers. Is this an attempt to rub it in or not? Clever to go to a lefty in relief, though. Sappelt bats for DeJesus and flies out on the first pitch. Castro strikes out. Rizzo continues to struggle against lefties. Called third strike. I know everyone thinks Rizzo is a future star, but his numbers against lefties are really bad. This is an aspect of his game that needs to improve.
Live Blog - Bottom of the Seventh
The Brewers have bullpen problems, so they stick with Estrada. Why not? He's at 84 pitches and the bottom of the order is due up.
The announcers are talking about managers and coaches getting lost on the way to the ballpark. Apparently Terry Francona got lost in Cleveland trying to walk two blocks from his apartment to the stadium. Desperate times for the boys in the booth.
Valbuena walks. Lillibridge does his best to end the threat with a double play ball, but, unaccountably, fails. Not to worry, because Navarro comes on to strike out, I mean, pinch hit.
The announcers are talking about managers and coaches getting lost on the way to the ballpark. Apparently Terry Francona got lost in Cleveland trying to walk two blocks from his apartment to the stadium. Desperate times for the boys in the booth.
Valbuena walks. Lillibridge does his best to end the threat with a double play ball, but, unaccountably, fails. Not to worry, because Navarro comes on to strike out, I mean, pinch hit.
Live Blog - Top of the Seventh Inning
Sean Camp pitching. Good thing Ernie Banks is in the booth to distract from Camp's pitching. This is weird, however. Now they are playing a Peggy Lee song, "Is That All There Is?" Ernie seems to think it was popular when he came up, but actually was not recorded until 1969.
Meanwhile the bases are loaded. Maybe that is all there is. Soriano almost botches up a routine fly ball, but he catches it for a sac fly. On that note,Ernie leaves the booth. 6-2.
Another hit. Boy, Sveum is patient with Camp, one of his favorites. These guys don't respect the Cubs. They leave the pitcher in to double in a run. Bases loaded again. Camp gets Gomez. 7-2.
Meanwhile the bases are loaded. Maybe that is all there is. Soriano almost botches up a routine fly ball, but he catches it for a sac fly. On that note,Ernie leaves the booth. 6-2.
Another hit. Boy, Sveum is patient with Camp, one of his favorites. These guys don't respect the Cubs. They leave the pitcher in to double in a run. Bases loaded again. Camp gets Gomez. 7-2.
Live Blog - Sixth Inning
One out. Aoki on base again with a walk. Jackson comes back to get Braun out. Still 5-2.
Castro doubles to right field, just missed a home run. Pathetic inning from the heart of the lineup. Rizzo just looks really uncomfortable lately. Soriano of course swings at anything and pops out. Scherholtz lines out to close out the "threat."
Castro doubles to right field, just missed a home run. Pathetic inning from the heart of the lineup. Rizzo just looks really uncomfortable lately. Soriano of course swings at anything and pops out. Scherholtz lines out to close out the "threat."
Live Blog - Fifth Inning
Big inning for Jackson. Probably his last today as he is up second in the bottom of the inning. Pretty easy inning for him. An interesting call for Sveum. Jackson likely has another inning in him.
Three up and three down for the Cubs.
Three up and three down for the Cubs.
Live Blog - Fourth Inning
Aoki got a bunt single. This guy really kills the Cubs, but he is a good player and a good leadoff hitter. Interesting the Cubs might have gone after him as a free agent instead of David DeJesus. I'm not saying DeJesus is a bad player, but Aoki is clearly better.
Jackson's back to being bad. Bases loaded, but he escapes by inducing a double play from Weeks. Four innings, 73 pitches. He's got maybe one more inning in him. Estrada is at 51 after three. If all the Cubs were a little more patient, they might be able to break through against him.
Scherholtz comes up with a bloop double. Aoki is playing way too deep in right field. What shaped up as an easy inning for Estrada turned into a bit of a grind as he had to throw six pitches to Castillo to get a hard ground out. No runs though.
Jackson's back to being bad. Bases loaded, but he escapes by inducing a double play from Weeks. Four innings, 73 pitches. He's got maybe one more inning in him. Estrada is at 51 after three. If all the Cubs were a little more patient, they might be able to break through against him.
Scherholtz comes up with a bloop double. Aoki is playing way too deep in right field. What shaped up as an easy inning for Estrada turned into a bit of a grind as he had to throw six pitches to Castillo to get a hard ground out. No runs though.
Live Blog - Third Inning
Jackson has settle down. Belatedly. Three ground ball outs.
Some inconsistent pitch calling this inning from the plate umpire. DeJesus thought he had coaxed a walk, but got called out on a pitch way low. Castro tripled with two outs. He took a very awkward turn at second because he was looking at the flight of the ball not his coach. Rizzo to the rescue. Grounds out on the first pitch.
5-2.
Some inconsistent pitch calling this inning from the plate umpire. DeJesus thought he had coaxed a walk, but got called out on a pitch way low. Castro tripled with two outs. He took a very awkward turn at second because he was looking at the flight of the ball not his coach. Rizzo to the rescue. Grounds out on the first pitch.
5-2.
Live Blog - Second Inning
Geez, Jackson is just not pitching very well, wind or no wind. Two more balls off the wall. 5-0. 48 pitches through two innings.
Nice at-bat by Castillo who waited for a pitch to hit and finally hit a two-run homer. I like Castillo as a hitter and his defense seems to be coming along. 5-2.
Nice at-bat by Castillo who waited for a pitch to hit and finally hit a two-run homer. I like Castillo as a hitter and his defense seems to be coming along. 5-2.
Home Opener - Live Blog
Home opener today. The wind is blowing out, which might give us some insight into Jackson's capabilities at Wrigley Field. The Brewers have been hard hit by injuries, notably to Hart and Ramirez. Braun is back in the lineup today, which is not good news for the Cubs.
I see Lillibridge is back in the lineup, showing significant lack of range missing a ground ball in Aoki's first at-bat. Jackson's getting ground balls, but the only one well-played thus far was Valbuena's chance where he caught Aoki trying to score from third base.
Well, Jackson is just pitching so tentatively, two straight walks, then a three run double not his all that hard but carried by the wind. This is shaping up as a really ugly day for the Cubs. I'd say that the wind had gotten into Jackson's head, but it seems to me he pitched rather tentatively in his start against the Pirates as well.
Cubs show nothing in their half-inning. 4-0 Brewers. Don't know how long I will be able to keep the live blog going.
I see Lillibridge is back in the lineup, showing significant lack of range missing a ground ball in Aoki's first at-bat. Jackson's getting ground balls, but the only one well-played thus far was Valbuena's chance where he caught Aoki trying to score from third base.
Well, Jackson is just pitching so tentatively, two straight walks, then a three run double not his all that hard but carried by the wind. This is shaping up as a really ugly day for the Cubs. I'd say that the wind had gotten into Jackson's head, but it seems to me he pitched rather tentatively in his start against the Pirates as well.
Cubs show nothing in their half-inning. 4-0 Brewers. Don't know how long I will be able to keep the live blog going.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Marmol!!!
Actually, the Cubs played pretty well in Pittsburgh. They got good pitching throughout the series, especially from starters Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood. The sole exception was Carlos Marmol, who, despite recording the save in Thursday's game, was just plain awful.
Just a couple of thoughts. As we had advised our followers throughout the off-season, this team cannot hit a lick, strikes out too often, seldom walks, and doesn't score runs. I don't care how cold it was in Pittsburgh, this lineup, both versions, is not designed to score runs ever.
The Cubs took some steps over the winter to remedy the ancient curse of their right-handed hitting lineup. Mainly it was a result of signing Scherholtz and Hairston to platoon in right field. On paper it looks good. And in practice, the platoon has produced a few runs. By my count, five in all, which is a lot since the Cubs have scored only seven runs all year.
Still, especially missing Barney at the bottom of he order, if I were an opposing manager, I would throw every lefty I could find up against that lineup. In fact, that is what the opposing teams are doing. It was no accident that both the Pirates and the Braves brought in their left-handed relievers first in the games they won. They want this lineup out there because they know the Cubs will never score a run.
As far as Marmol goes - and I have been inclined to defend him occasionally in the past - his time is over. I know the Cubs would like to showcase him looking toward the inevitable trade, but as long as he performs as he has performed thus far, you have to ask yourself just how dumb or how desperate you think others teams are because neither you or Marmol are fooling anyone.
As the Cubs are currently constituted, they have a good chance of winning when Samardzija and Wood pitch, a fifty-fifty chance when Jackson and Villanueva pitch, and no chance when Feldman pitches. When Garza returns to the rotation, assuming they drop Feldman, they have yet another winning opportunity.
However, even when Barney returns to the lineup and the weather warms up, they will still be lucky to score three or four runs on any given day, which means lots of close games, which means Marmol closing in tight spots, which means a lot of tough losses unless the Cubs cut their losses and dump him or change his role.
Just a couple of thoughts. As we had advised our followers throughout the off-season, this team cannot hit a lick, strikes out too often, seldom walks, and doesn't score runs. I don't care how cold it was in Pittsburgh, this lineup, both versions, is not designed to score runs ever.
The Cubs took some steps over the winter to remedy the ancient curse of their right-handed hitting lineup. Mainly it was a result of signing Scherholtz and Hairston to platoon in right field. On paper it looks good. And in practice, the platoon has produced a few runs. By my count, five in all, which is a lot since the Cubs have scored only seven runs all year.
Still, especially missing Barney at the bottom of he order, if I were an opposing manager, I would throw every lefty I could find up against that lineup. In fact, that is what the opposing teams are doing. It was no accident that both the Pirates and the Braves brought in their left-handed relievers first in the games they won. They want this lineup out there because they know the Cubs will never score a run.
As far as Marmol goes - and I have been inclined to defend him occasionally in the past - his time is over. I know the Cubs would like to showcase him looking toward the inevitable trade, but as long as he performs as he has performed thus far, you have to ask yourself just how dumb or how desperate you think others teams are because neither you or Marmol are fooling anyone.
As the Cubs are currently constituted, they have a good chance of winning when Samardzija and Wood pitch, a fifty-fifty chance when Jackson and Villanueva pitch, and no chance when Feldman pitches. When Garza returns to the rotation, assuming they drop Feldman, they have yet another winning opportunity.
However, even when Barney returns to the lineup and the weather warms up, they will still be lucky to score three or four runs on any given day, which means lots of close games, which means Marmol closing in tight spots, which means a lot of tough losses unless the Cubs cut their losses and dump him or change his role.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Live Blog - Ninth Inning
Hugs and high-fives for Samardzija. Oh-oh. That means it will be Marmol time.
Lucky break. Scherholtz safe on an error, steals second, but Castillo strikes out. Valbuena flies deep to center, Scherholtz to third. Gonzalez strikes out.
Bottom of the ninth. Not for the squeamish, though the Pirates are swinging at everything. Hope for the best. It would be a shame to waste such a dominant starting performance.
Jones strikes out on a really bad pitch that bounces in. McCutcheon hit by a pitch, steals second, which is weird down three runs, but that is modern baseball, I guess. Alvarez knocks in a run. Glad to see Russell and Fujikawa warming up. Lets get somebody in there before the game gets out of hand.
Another walk. Get this guy out of there now! At least one hitter too many.
Russell pitching. Nice job to get Walker out.
Fujikawa in to hopefully get the final out. Two pitches. Game over.
Nervous ending turned a laugher into a nail-biter, but all's well that ends well.
Last note: I didn't think I would like the new color guy, but he wasn't bad at all.
Lucky break. Scherholtz safe on an error, steals second, but Castillo strikes out. Valbuena flies deep to center, Scherholtz to third. Gonzalez strikes out.
Bottom of the ninth. Not for the squeamish, though the Pirates are swinging at everything. Hope for the best. It would be a shame to waste such a dominant starting performance.
Jones strikes out on a really bad pitch that bounces in. McCutcheon hit by a pitch, steals second, which is weird down three runs, but that is modern baseball, I guess. Alvarez knocks in a run. Glad to see Russell and Fujikawa warming up. Lets get somebody in there before the game gets out of hand.
Another walk. Get this guy out of there now! At least one hitter too many.
Russell pitching. Nice job to get Walker out.
Fujikawa in to hopefully get the final out. Two pitches. Game over.
Nervous ending turned a laugher into a nail-biter, but all's well that ends well.
Last note: I didn't think I would like the new color guy, but he wasn't bad at all.
Live Blog - Eighth Inning
I'd like to see the Cubs add on here to keep Marmol in the bullpen.
New pitcher for the Pirates, Jared Hughes. Soriano gets a good matchup, starts out 2-0, but lets Hughes back in with two over-agressive swings. Strikes out on a 3-2 pitch.
Samardzija back out to start the eighth. I like that. Also like putting in Gonzalez to play second base. Samardzija still in complete command.
New pitcher for the Pirates, Jared Hughes. Soriano gets a good matchup, starts out 2-0, but lets Hughes back in with two over-agressive swings. Strikes out on a 3-2 pitch.
Samardzija back out to start the eighth. I like that. Also like putting in Gonzalez to play second base. Samardzija still in complete command.
Live Post - Seventh Inning
Easy innings for both team's pitchers. Samardzija still strong. Backed up by nice plays from Rizzo and Castro to end the seventh.
Live Blog - Sixth Inning
Soriano takes a home run swing, hits the ball about three feet. One down. I have to say that I expected Scherholtz to be a big swing and a miss guy from his stats, but he has had three good ABs. Hit be pitch this time. Burnett looks as if he is losing steam, close to 100 pitches now.
Castillo comes through with another hit and run double, though he makes a base running error to get caught between second and third. 3-0. I can't say the mental error is likely to cost the Cubs since the likelihood of either Valbuena or Lillibridge making contact is pretty remote. Maybe that's why he took the big turn. Burnett done.
Samardzija still sailing along. I have to admit Lillibridge made a nice play to take a hit away from Jones. McCutcheon gets the only solid hit so far, a double down the left field line, but Samardzija comes back to get Alvarez. Looks like McCutcheon is the only guy opposing teams are going to fear.
Samardzija at 84 pitches, which means he is likely to pitch at least seven today.
Castillo comes through with another hit and run double, though he makes a base running error to get caught between second and third. 3-0. I can't say the mental error is likely to cost the Cubs since the likelihood of either Valbuena or Lillibridge making contact is pretty remote. Maybe that's why he took the big turn. Burnett done.
Samardzija still sailing along. I have to admit Lillibridge made a nice play to take a hit away from Jones. McCutcheon gets the only solid hit so far, a double down the left field line, but Samardzija comes back to get Alvarez. Looks like McCutcheon is the only guy opposing teams are going to fear.
Samardzija at 84 pitches, which means he is likely to pitch at least seven today.
Live Blog - Fifth Innning
Inauspicious start to the inning for Burnett. Resin bag explodes before he throws the first pitch, but he gets an easy out on DeJesus. Castro called out on questionable pitch. Well, I was wrong about getting Burnett on the ropes. Easy inning. I'm guessing now he pitches into the seventh unless the Cubs get men on base next inning.
Samardzija looks like he is in complete control. Hard to think either of these teams will score again in this game.
Samardzija looks like he is in complete control. Hard to think either of these teams will score again in this game.
Live Blog - Fourth Inning
Scherholtz showed unexpected patience in drawing a leadoff walk to start the Fourth. Nice piece of hitting by Castillo to double on the hit and run. The Cubs have a chance for a big inning, although they have the bottom of the order coming up - and I mean the bottom pretty literally with Barney out of the lineup.
Valbuena has a terrible at-bat, strikes out without seeing a hitable strike. Lillibridge completely overmatched again. These guys strike out way to much. Eight of the last nine outs for the Cubs are strikeouts. Maybe they can do some damage next inning when their major league hitters come up.
Samardzija has settled in well. Starting to get a lot of easy grounders. 63 pitches to Burnett's 75. Now or never for Cubs to break out in the fifth.
Valbuena has a terrible at-bat, strikes out without seeing a hitable strike. Lillibridge completely overmatched again. These guys strike out way to much. Eight of the last nine outs for the Cubs are strikeouts. Maybe they can do some damage next inning when their major league hitters come up.
Samardzija has settled in well. Starting to get a lot of easy grounders. 63 pitches to Burnett's 75. Now or never for Cubs to break out in the fifth.
Live blog - Third Inning
DeJesus doesn't look good against Burnett. Castro singles, steal second, but Rizzo strikes out. Soriano looks bad striking out.
The Pirates have started taking aggressive ABs, which is going to help Samardzija a lot. He's been sharp since the first inning
Pitch count after three innings: Burnett 53, Samardzija 50. I'd have to give Samardzija the edge so far, especially with a 2-0 lead. If the Cubs stay reasonably patient, they are likely to get a shot at Burnett as the game progresses.
The Pirates have started taking aggressive ABs, which is going to help Samardzija a lot. He's been sharp since the first inning
Pitch count after three innings: Burnett 53, Samardzija 50. I'd have to give Samardzija the edge so far, especially with a 2-0 lead. If the Cubs stay reasonably patient, they are likely to get a shot at Burnett as the game progresses.
Live blog - Second Inning
Valbuena called out on strikes. Never looked comfortable, but he saw seven pitches. Lillibridge overmatched. Burnett stikes out the side, but he had to throw a lot of pitches, 34 through two innings.
Speaking of throwing a lot of pitches, though, Samardzija needed 22 in the first, should have been a lot less. Samardzija looks good so far, strikes out last two hitters after a leadoff single.
Speaking of throwing a lot of pitches, though, Samardzija needed 22 in the first, should have been a lot less. Samardzija looks good so far, strikes out last two hitters after a leadoff single.
Live Blog - Opening Day - 1st Inning
Cubs lineup: DeJesus, Castro, Rizzo, Soriano, Scherholtz, Castillo, Valbuena, Lillibridge, Samardzija.
DeJesus strikes out. Burnett is throwing a little harder than I remember. Pitched DeJesus inside. Fooled him with a high fastball for called Strike Three.
Castro gets a single on first breaking ball Burnett has thrown.
Rizzo homers on first pitch. Looked like a high change-up, but I could be wrong.
Soriano an easy out. Scherholtz gets a bloop single, but Castillo grounds out to first on hit and run. Burnett doesn't look sharp.
Samardzija throwing hard, but wild. Walks Marte to start the game. First chance for Lillibridge. Botches up routine double play ball. Bad news here. McCutcheon hits a double play ball that Lillibridge fails to convert. Bad luck here. Samardzija comes back to strike out the next two hitters, which si jsut as well given the defense behind him.
DeJesus strikes out. Burnett is throwing a little harder than I remember. Pitched DeJesus inside. Fooled him with a high fastball for called Strike Three.
Castro gets a single on first breaking ball Burnett has thrown.
Rizzo homers on first pitch. Looked like a high change-up, but I could be wrong.
Soriano an easy out. Scherholtz gets a bloop single, but Castillo grounds out to first on hit and run. Burnett doesn't look sharp.
Samardzija throwing hard, but wild. Walks Marte to start the game. First chance for Lillibridge. Botches up routine double play ball. Bad news here. McCutcheon hits a double play ball that Lillibridge fails to convert. Bad luck here. Samardzija comes back to strike out the next two hitters, which si jsut as well given the defense behind him.
Play Ball!
Getting set up for the road opener. I regret to say my expectations for this season are pretty low. The Cubs open the season with their third baseman, second baseman, and two of their three best pitchers on the disabled list. Not good.
As for today's game, who knows? Most of these early season games boil down to pitching. Samardzija has looked good this spring and ordinarily I would give the Cubs the edge here, but Burnett always gives the Cubs fits.
Snowed this morning in Pittsburgh.
As for today's game, who knows? Most of these early season games boil down to pitching. Samardzija has looked good this spring and ordinarily I would give the Cubs the edge here, but Burnett always gives the Cubs fits.
Snowed this morning in Pittsburgh.
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