The Cubs might have won three of four from the Cards but for one really awful pitch. Maddon was pretty positive after the game and there was indeed a lot to like about the Cubs overcoming the loss of their starting pitcher and coming back to take the lead. I thought for a while they might have finally got under the Cardinals skin when Molina just ignored the play when Montero got the bases loaded double and started arguing the previous pitch call. That was really bush league in my opinion and if the league doesn't fine him, his team should do so. The truth is the umpire was squeezing everybody all night long and it did have an effect on the game. So?
As for the Cubs, there was a lot to like about their performance. On the critical side, when are they going to figure out that Castro is a rally killer and stop batting him fourth or fifth in the lineup? Right now, the Cubs have Rizzo, Bryant, and Soler hitting in front of him, so there are always runners on base and he has been an almost certain out in these situations. Castro is 2 for 23 on the home stand. He stranded five base-runners. Enough already.
Also, again on the critical side, some pitchers can handle the ninth inning and some cannot. Strop, I think, cannot. I'm not sure what it is, but he can give you two quick outs as he did last night and then just fall apart and start over-throwing. One thing is his slider is his best out pitch, so he should never throw his fastball in the zone with two strikes as he did last night to lose the game.
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