OSS: To quote RtR from this game’s comment thread, I can’t decide what’s sadder: The Cubs’ lineup without Rizzo or the Marlins’ lineup without Stanton.
Three up:
1. Kyle Hendricks was dealing today, striking out six and pitching into the eighth inning. He only had one stretch of trouble when the Marlins got two men on with no outs in the seventh, but he managed to put away the murderers’ row of Justin Bour, Cole Gillespie, and Derek Dietrich to end the threat. Hendricks seems to have righted the ship in his last two starts following his two worst outings of the year against the Dodgers and Twins. He’s still not walking anyone, and his strikeout rate has jumped up by nearly two batters per nine compared to last year. His main problem has been home runs, which is what happens when a guy with his stuff has trouble locating the ball at times.
2. The Cubs biggest WPA play of the game was a wild pitch, which pretty much sums up the offense. The Cubs had only three hits on the day, the two biggest ones being a Chris Denorfia double and a Coghlan RBI single. The Curse of Chris Coghlan strikes again, Marlins fans!
3. Jason Motte had nearly closed the door before I even realized he had thrown a pitch. That has certainly turned out into a nice gamble by this FO that is paying off.
Three down:
1. This offense couldn’t organize an orgy in a brothel right now. At least Soler is back.
2. Miguel Montero stood out among this offensive crapfest with three strikeouts in four PAs.
3. No Cubs were elected to the All-Star team, and no one probably deserved it. Rizzo more than deserves a spot on the squad, but Goldschmidt is hitting out of his goddamn mind.
Next game: John Lackey vs John Lester, 7:05 PM CT. Hopefully there will be plenty of fried chicken and beer in both clubhouses.