OSS: Inconsistent umpiring and inability to execute despite it sinks the Cubs. Three up: 1. I take back anything bad I’ve said about Herrera. He was on third base in the third inning and the Padres had a big shift on for Rizzo, leaving him uncovered at 3b. He took some huge leads, which led to Shields threatening to run …
Series Preview: San Diego Padres (6-4) vs Kris Bryant (5-3)
Happy Kris Bryant day, everyone! Team Leaders Numbers taken from the depth charts/projections from fangraphs Padres: WAR: Shields (3.9), J. Upton (2.8), Tyson Ross (2.7) OBP: J. Upton (.339), Kemp (.335), Norris (.328) SLG: Kemp (.444), J. Upton (.442), Myers (.422) Defense: Alonso (3.1) SP K/9: Ross (9.0) SP BB/9: Shields (2.1) RP K/9: Kimbrel (13.6) RP BB/9: Thayer (2.6) …
Cubs 5, Reds 0 (4/15/15)
OSS: Jason Marquis did Jason Marquis things, Travis Wood looked like 2013 Travis Wood, and the Cubs are back in first place. Three up: 1. Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer of the year, an absolute bomb to right center into the teeth of the wind. The Cubs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, which was …
Reds 3, Cubs 2 (4/14/15)
OSS: Death by a thousand singles (well, five) sinks the Cubs. Three up 1. Jake Arrieta’s stuff looked great tonight, but the Reds got five singles in the fourth inning and that’s all they ended up needing. 2. Beef Castle had a pinch hit homer off of former Cubs closer Kevin Gregg in the eighth inning. I’m hoping the Padres …
Cubs 7, Reds 6 (4/13/15)
OSS: *trademarks Jorge Soler Laser Show* Three up: 1. Jorge Soler was the star of the day, with two absolute bombs, both with Anthony Rizzo on base. Teams are growing to respect his cannon of an arm too, and he got an assist following a Lester throwing error early in the game. 2. Arismendy Alcantara got his first hit of …
Series Preview: Cincinnati Reds (4-2) at Chicago Cubs (3-2)
OSS: Cubs run out Lester and Arrieta and cap it off with a game against Jason Marquis. The two division leaders square off at Wrigley Field. The last-ish time these teams squared off, this happened There’s something about the Reds, I guess. A mini-throwdown between Johnny Cueto and David DeJesus (needlessly escalated by Matt Garza and Dusty Baker in the …
Cubs 9, Rockies 5 (4/11/15)
OSS: Kyle Kendrick turned into Kyle Kendrick and the Cubs bats woke up. Three up: 1. Dexter Fowler had two straight triples to start the game, and the Cubs hit the Rockies pitchers hard all day. 2. Coghlan and o/ MIKE OLT o/ went back-to-back in the 3rd 3. Castro had a nice day at the plate, with three hits …
Rockies 5, Cubs 1 (4/10/15)
OSS: Cubs can’t buy a hit with RISP Three up: 1. Matt Sczcur tied the game with a bases-loaded sac fly in the third. 2. Edwin Jackson looked good coming out of the pen, hitting 94-95 with his fastball. 3. Rizzo got on base four times in four PAs, with two HBP and two singles, one of them a bunt …
Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (1-1) at Colorado Rockies (3-0)
Break up the Rockies, who started the season with a sweep of the Brewers, beating them with a combined score of 20-6. As frustrating as the Cubs opening day game was at times, at least they didn’t lose 10-0 to a team that had Kyle Kendrick as its opening day starter. I’ll be at the last two games of this …
Cubs 2, Cardinals 0 (4/8/15)
OSS: Arrieta settled down, the Cubs finally drove in a runner in scoring position. Three up 1. Jake Arrieta walked two batters in the first inning, then rolled the rest of the way, striking out seven and only walking one additional batter in seven innings, all while sporting a magnificent beard. His final pitch hung clown shoes on opposing pitcher …