An Embarrassing Loss

OK, getting shut out by Kershaw is understandable, but getting shut out and completely eviscerated by Rich Hill is not.  Not that Hill has not made himself a solid starting pitcher in his mid-thirties, but he is no Clayton Kershaw.  Hill actually came up with the Cubs and was a promising starter and productive part of the team's rotation in 2007.  After that, as I remember, he kind of fell apart, couldn't throw strikes if his life depended on it.  Then he bounced around as an undistinguished reliever for years and years and he even wound up in an independent league before he resurfaced at the end of 2015 with the Red Sox in four good starts down the stretch.  This year he has been the pitcher people thought he might become ten years ago, splitting time with the A's and the Dodgers.  He has been good, and he is a good story, but really, I mean, he is no Cy Young.

Anyway, the Cubs were hopeless against him and a succession of relievers including Kenley Jensen Tuesday night.  No life at all.  I thought Maddon's lineup shifts were justified even though Montero against a lefty is an automatic out these days.  Another lefty tomorrow and my guess is the same lineup goes with the exception of Contreras catching.  Actually, the only additions to the lineup were Soler and Montero.  Soler had one good at-bat that resulted in a walk.  Not exactly spectacular, but better than Heyward has been doing.  I was rather surprised Roberts left Jensen in to pitch the ninth inning when the Dodgers went up 6-0.  Maybe he'll get tired.

The Cubs bats need to wake up or this series is over and out, much as the Mets series last season even though this team is a far better team than last year's.  A win Wednesday evens things up and probably gives the Cubs an advantage as the Dodgers are unlikely to solve Lester Thursday night.  This brings up an interesting question in the form of Jake Arrieta, who once again turned in a disappointing playoff performance.  Actually, Arrieta has been pretty unreliable and inconsistent since the beginning of July.  The question is if it goes to Game 7, do you bring out Arrieta again or do you shuffle around with some left-handed combination that would put LA at a distinct disadvantage.  It would be a brave man to make that call.