The Cubs played a pretty sloppy game Thursday afternoon and ended up blowing a 4-1 lead, going down 5-4 after another bullpen meltdown. Hendricks had pitched well through five innings, although it would be hard to say he was dominant. Anyway, he weakened in the sixth, surrendering two doubles to cut the lead to 4-2.
Maybe Maddon has a quick hook or maybe he saw something, but once Hendricks was removed, things went south in a hurry. This time it was Jackson who blew the lead. I suppose that puts an end to the notion that Jackson can be trusted in a significant spot. Schlitter got out of the sixth, but was tagged for a run in the seventh that won the game for the Pirates. Schlitter has been involved in way too many losses this early on for my taste.
Maddon has kind of boasted about how his handling of the bullpen is innovative, but so far it has been pretty standard. Like most other managers, he has his seventh, eighth, and ninth inning guys, his lefty specialists, and several other arms who ordinarily have a limited role when the starters are going deep and doing their job. So, at least up to now, if the starter weakens in the sixth, especially with the injuries and the bullpen fatigue, he has nowhere to go.
I've always thought that modern managers are quick to box themselves in with this fixed approach. I have no real problem with the closer role, though, in all honesty it is somewhat overrated. Often it is the guy who puts out the fire who is the most valuable in a game.
When a starter gets in trouble in the middle innings, there really are alternatives to the rigid approach. In these cases, you can be behind, tied, or ahead. If you are behind, your chances of winning are probably limited. In the other circumstances, though, and especially if you are ahead, you are in a game-changing situation. In that case, you need to shut the door. So the case I am making is you want to think about bringing in one of your late inning guys to do just that. The odds are you can coast home from there.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
You Can't Win Them All
The Cubs put up a good effort last night, but fell a run short, losing to the Pirates 4-3. I'll give Maddon an "A" for moxie and creativity, but, especially with the minor injury that forced Fowler out of the game, the Cubs bench was pretty short. For some reason, the Cubs did not demote Schlitter when they brought up Germen, instead sending down Szczur, who had not played badly. That left them with thirteen pitchers and three catchers again.
After using a bunch of pinch-hitters in the eighth inning to close the gap to one run, they had to run Bryant out to play center field in the bottom of the inning. Then, with two outs in the top of the ninth, Maddon put Travis Wood in to run for Rizzo with Bryant up. You have to wonder who would have played first base had they tied the score or gone ahead.
I assume LaStella will come off the DL Friday and Schlitter will be sent down, though, with these guys, you never know. LaStella is a good move if he is healthy, as the Cubs need a left-handed bat now off the bench.
After using a bunch of pinch-hitters in the eighth inning to close the gap to one run, they had to run Bryant out to play center field in the bottom of the inning. Then, with two outs in the top of the ninth, Maddon put Travis Wood in to run for Rizzo with Bryant up. You have to wonder who would have played first base had they tied the score or gone ahead.
I assume LaStella will come off the DL Friday and Schlitter will be sent down, though, with these guys, you never know. LaStella is a good move if he is healthy, as the Cubs need a left-handed bat now off the bench.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
These Guys Are Good
I have to say that I had more or less packed it in on last night's game when Schlitter and then Motte pretty much opened the floodgates in the sixth and seventh innings. When the Cubs put in Jackson to pitch the eighth, I figured the end was nigh. Jackson, however, pitched very well.
Still, I didn't think it likely the Cubs could come back in the ninth down three runs. At least not the Cubs we have all known for the past five seasons. However, these guys in the middle of the lineup - Rizzo, Soler, Bryant - are good. They combined to load the bases on a single, a double, and a walk. After that, they just kept grinding away to put up four runs and win the game.
Who knows how long the magic will last, but the combination of rookies, young veterans, and some role players like Coughlan and Fowler and Montero is probably going to be enough to keep them in contention for quite a while.
Addison Russell made his debut today, more or less forced up like Bryant because of injuries and just a big hole at second base. I had thought that LaStella might plug this gap to allow a bit more time for Russell and possibly Baez to develop, but his injury and the poor performance of the utility guys forced into the gap necessitated a drastic move. Russell's debut was pretty much a carbon copy of Bryant's, though he hit the ball hard in his last AB. Lets hope his second game duplicates Bryant's as well.
Just a remark on the bullpen and maybe a slight knock on Maddon, but these guys are not the first string anymore with Grimm and Ramirez out, so going to the pen in the sixth inning is not the best idea. I know Wood has been a six inning pitcher most of his time with the Cubs, but he was at 84 pitches when he came out and he might have had another couple of outs in him. Second guessing I know, but Schlitter is just pretty bad right now and that move almost blew the game.
Still, I didn't think it likely the Cubs could come back in the ninth down three runs. At least not the Cubs we have all known for the past five seasons. However, these guys in the middle of the lineup - Rizzo, Soler, Bryant - are good. They combined to load the bases on a single, a double, and a walk. After that, they just kept grinding away to put up four runs and win the game.
Who knows how long the magic will last, but the combination of rookies, young veterans, and some role players like Coughlan and Fowler and Montero is probably going to be enough to keep them in contention for quite a while.
Addison Russell made his debut today, more or less forced up like Bryant because of injuries and just a big hole at second base. I had thought that LaStella might plug this gap to allow a bit more time for Russell and possibly Baez to develop, but his injury and the poor performance of the utility guys forced into the gap necessitated a drastic move. Russell's debut was pretty much a carbon copy of Bryant's, though he hit the ball hard in his last AB. Lets hope his second game duplicates Bryant's as well.
Just a remark on the bullpen and maybe a slight knock on Maddon, but these guys are not the first string anymore with Grimm and Ramirez out, so going to the pen in the sixth inning is not the best idea. I know Wood has been a six inning pitcher most of his time with the Cubs, but he was at 84 pitches when he came out and he might have had another couple of outs in him. Second guessing I know, but Schlitter is just pretty bad right now and that move almost blew the game.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Taking Stock
The Cubs lost their first series of the season to the Padres today. All in all, they were a little unlucky not to have won it. Yesterday, I was all set to write a post congratulating them on having arrived, but I had to pull it back after that awful ninth inning meltdown. Still, they came back then to win it in the 11th.
I have to say the Cubs look like a real competitive team this year. The biggest change is that they are really grinding out at-bats. Even today against Cashner, they were able to run up his pitch count to around 80 in the first four innings. Anyway, they are giving themselves a chance to succeed, which is way more than they have done the past few years.
One of the reasons they had a harder time in the Padres series was their bullpen problems. Starting pitching was supposed to be one of the Cubs strengths, and, I think, still is. However, the Cubs starters, although pretty effective, have not been taking the game past the sixth inning, and this issue has begun to tell on the outcome of games.
So far, only Arrietta and Wood have delivered seven inning starts. Arrietta, in his other start, and Hammel, in one of his starts, have taken the game into the seventh without finishing the inning.
This performance leaves a lot for the bullpen to mop up in what have been, mainly, pretty close games, three or more innings in seven of the eleven games. It is little wonder they are showing some cracks, especially when you consider the injuries to Ramirez and Grimm. It has put a lot of pressure on Strop and Rondon especially, as they are the team's most effective relievers.
I have to say the Cubs look like a real competitive team this year. The biggest change is that they are really grinding out at-bats. Even today against Cashner, they were able to run up his pitch count to around 80 in the first four innings. Anyway, they are giving themselves a chance to succeed, which is way more than they have done the past few years.
One of the reasons they had a harder time in the Padres series was their bullpen problems. Starting pitching was supposed to be one of the Cubs strengths, and, I think, still is. However, the Cubs starters, although pretty effective, have not been taking the game past the sixth inning, and this issue has begun to tell on the outcome of games.
So far, only Arrietta and Wood have delivered seven inning starts. Arrietta, in his other start, and Hammel, in one of his starts, have taken the game into the seventh without finishing the inning.
This performance leaves a lot for the bullpen to mop up in what have been, mainly, pretty close games, three or more innings in seven of the eleven games. It is little wonder they are showing some cracks, especially when you consider the injuries to Ramirez and Grimm. It has put a lot of pressure on Strop and Rondon especially, as they are the team's most effective relievers.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Who Are These Guys?
It has been genuinely refreshing to see the Cubs play real baseball so far this spring. They took two out of three from the Rockies and two out of three from the Reds. More importantly, they played these games with serious attention. They were able to come from behind on several occasions. Also, they have shown a lot more patience at the plate, especially late in the game when it is really necessary to start an inning by getting on base.
It's pretty early going, but the last time I noticed this kind of play was in early 2008.
A lot of the improvement may be due to some maturity and confidence, but I think that it is due to coaching and management as well. Maddon really does know how to win, and, thus far, he seems to be teaching a young team the right habits.
Of some concern, though, is the rash of injuries. The bullpen has been fantastic early on, but already Grimm is on the DL, and it looks like Ramirez is heading there as well. Of the position players, LaStella and Denorfia are on the DL and Olt is hurt. The injuries to the infielders is of particular concern. Without Olt at third base, the Cubs have used Herrera at third for a few games and even used Coughlin there for a couple of innings. Herrera is not very good at 3B and his inexperience may have cost Arrieta a hit or two in his one bad inning. I noticed that Maddon had switched Alcantara and Herrera for Wednesday's game.
All these injuries to infielders may hasten the arrival of Bryant, especially if Ramirez goes to the DL. Odds are against Friday, though. The Cubs almost never bring up a rookie like Bryant at home.
It's pretty early going, but the last time I noticed this kind of play was in early 2008.
A lot of the improvement may be due to some maturity and confidence, but I think that it is due to coaching and management as well. Maddon really does know how to win, and, thus far, he seems to be teaching a young team the right habits.
Of some concern, though, is the rash of injuries. The bullpen has been fantastic early on, but already Grimm is on the DL, and it looks like Ramirez is heading there as well. Of the position players, LaStella and Denorfia are on the DL and Olt is hurt. The injuries to the infielders is of particular concern. Without Olt at third base, the Cubs have used Herrera at third for a few games and even used Coughlin there for a couple of innings. Herrera is not very good at 3B and his inexperience may have cost Arrieta a hit or two in his one bad inning. I noticed that Maddon had switched Alcantara and Herrera for Wednesday's game.
All these injuries to infielders may hasten the arrival of Bryant, especially if Ramirez goes to the DL. Odds are against Friday, though. The Cubs almost never bring up a rookie like Bryant at home.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Cubs Win! Cubs Win!
The Cubs broke through yesterday to beat the Cardinals 2-0. Most of these early season games in abominable cold are decided by breaks and mistakes. This one was not much different. Lynn and Arrieta were dominant. The Cubs broke through late in the game when Lynn hit Rizzo with a pitch and then threw the ball away on a pickup move. The Cubs were able to take advantage when Castro hit a solid single to drive Rizzo home. Matt Holliday made a poor and ill-advised throw toward home, allowing Castro to alertly take second base. The Cubs added the clincher on a Montero sacrifice fly after Coughlan's two-strike sacrifice bunt.
Most of the press seemed to think the season was over Monday night after the team's lackluster performance coupled with all the restroom problems that made national news. On Wednesday, many of those issues were resolved since hardly anyone of the paid crowd was there.
Most of the press seemed to think the season was over Monday night after the team's lackluster performance coupled with all the restroom problems that made national news. On Wednesday, many of those issues were resolved since hardly anyone of the paid crowd was there.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Opening Day
Well, that was one dull game, and a long one as well. Just when we thought games were going to get speedier. Made more so by the unutterably awful coverage by ESPN. I mean, can these guys get any more annoying, and can the camera pan to more excruciating shots of the crowd, the construction, and fatso everyman John Kruk lolling in the press box blabbering inanities non-stop? To top that off, the time delay for TV of upwards of two pitches made it impossible to listen to the radio announcers and follow the game with any continuity.
Anyway, the Cubs looked like they caught the red eye and just got off the plane twenty minutes before game time. They were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position, which the Cardinals, unfortunately, were not. Lester was not sharp. I didn't think Wainwright was all that sharp either, but he managed to get outs when it counted. On the plus side, the bullpen looked good, even Jason Motte.
Anyway, the Cubs looked like they caught the red eye and just got off the plane twenty minutes before game time. They were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position, which the Cardinals, unfortunately, were not. Lester was not sharp. I didn't think Wainwright was all that sharp either, but he managed to get outs when it counted. On the plus side, the bullpen looked good, even Jason Motte.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Getting Closer
The Cubs named Travis Wood the fifth starter and sent Edwin Jackson to the bullpen today. They also managed to outright Britten to Iowa. Personally, I would have preferred seeing Jackson cut. He is pretty much useless in relief and his presence in the bullpen leaves the Cubs with only one left-handed reliever on call, Phil Coke. Personally, their best fifth starter is probably Wada, but he has been hurt.
Chris Coughlan seems to have developed a stiff neck, so his health will determine who among the four players left (Herrera, Szczur, and Sweeney are the others) will make the opening day roster. By my count, three of the four make the team. Herrera is the easiest cut, as he is not on the 40-man roster. Sweeney is the most useless of the four.
A lot of these moves are likely to be temporary. Bryant and Denorfia are almost certain to join the team in two weeks, as will Coughlan should he begin the season on the DL, so the likelihood is that two or three of these guys will be gone by mid-April. Of the guys on the bubble, Szczur looks like a keeper.
Chris Coughlan seems to have developed a stiff neck, so his health will determine who among the four players left (Herrera, Szczur, and Sweeney are the others) will make the opening day roster. By my count, three of the four make the team. Herrera is the easiest cut, as he is not on the 40-man roster. Sweeney is the most useless of the four.
A lot of these moves are likely to be temporary. Bryant and Denorfia are almost certain to join the team in two weeks, as will Coughlan should he begin the season on the DL, so the likelihood is that two or three of these guys will be gone by mid-April. Of the guys on the bubble, Szczur looks like a keeper.
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