The Cubs are on track to have a winning West Coast trip, having won five of eight thus far and figuring to beat the Dodgers Sunday behind Jon Lester. The Dodgers just do not do well against even ordinary lefties, so their chances against Lester look slim.
That being said, the Dodgers have played the Cubs tough, which you would expect from a team that leads its division. The Cubs, I thought, should have taken two of three in Denver, blowing a lead in extra innings and then getting stomped in Hammel's start before they righted the ship. They then thoroughly dominated the Padres, which was to be expected.
Friday night they pulled one out in extra innings behind Bryant's heroics. Saturday they lost a game they might have won. Two plays I did not get which ultimately made a difference. Why did Zobrist bunt in the first inning with no outs and men at first and second base? I mean, why give a young pitcher a free out when he is on the ropes right out of the box. The second questionable play was the Heyward steal in the seventh with Fowler up and Bryant on deck. Both plays conceivably had a potential result on the outcome of the game.
These strategic lapses are kind of buried in the news by the controversy between Hammel and Maddon when Maddon pulled his starter in the third inning. Actually, I can see why Maddon did it and I really approve the move. Hammel is a ground ball pitcher who was not throwing grounders even when he got through the first inning unscathed. He was clearly pitching badly and had definitely lost confidence. Also, the Dodgers only beat right-handers these days.
So by pulling Hammel for Zastryzny, Maddon kept the Cubs in the game. And actually, they almost pulled it out. Leaving Hammel in may have soothed his ego, but likely would have led to an insurmountable Dodgers lead. As an aside, Zastryzny and Montgomery have both been pretty impressive. They give the Cubs some real options both later this season and for next year in what is honestly an ageing rotation.
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