OSS: The spirit of Ron Santo moves through Vic Caratini.
Three up:
- The Mets saved the best starter for last in this series, only to see him get crushed by (checks notes) Vic Caratini? Caratini went deep twice against the reigning NL CYA winner. It’s not like deGrom has fallen off this year either – he’s right there with Scherzer in both bWAR and fWAR as the top pitcher in the NL again. Seeing the Cubs beat him on the road was just the cherry on top of this bizarre road trip.
- Lester scuffled a bit early, but got the nominal quality start by allowing just a solo shot in six innings. Oddly enough, until the sixth inning all of his baserunners only got on base after there were two outs.
- Ron Santo’s ghost, or at least the ghost of his singed toupee, has worked its magic in NY for the Cubs. As was pointed out by BVS, the Cubs are 19-11 at Citi Field in the regular season since Ronnie passed away, including three sweeps. Let’s pretend the 2015 NLCS didn’t happen though.
Three down:
- I somehow find myself wishing that Ben Zobrist would hurry back, since Joe seems to really love replacement level utility guy Tony Kemp for some unknown reason. He started in LF today.
- The non-Caratini part of the offense didn’t do much today, but hard to complain about it when deGrom was the guy on the mound.
- No Rizzo again today, but I don’t think the Cubs are complaining about the performance of the fill-in starter today.
Next up: The (hopefully) fading Beers head down to Wrigley South for a three game set. Q takes on Chase Anderson in the opener at 1:20 PM CT.
Comments
I really hope Cardinals fans spend the next week or so complaining how useless the Brewers are.
Also, I can’t figure out how Caratini hit that second home run. The pitch looked like it should have broken his bat. It really was a great swing by Victor.
andcountingQuote Reply
I think the Tony Kemp rationale is that he puts the ball in play, rather than striking out.
Or so says his reputation.
BVSQuote Reply
By the way, the postgame interview with Vic was great. He answered in Spanish without waiting for the questions to be translated. His accent is Boricua all the way, including filling the space between words with a buzz.
I’m sure with most folks, his English would be just fine. But in today’s Twitter world, lots of a-holes would have something stupid to say about it.
BVSQuote Reply
Theo Epstein: (disguising voice) Hello, Chicago media? Yeah, this is…a rival executive. We’re goi– I hear the Cubs are going to listen to offers for Kris Bryant this offseason. G’bye.
Epstein exhales and wipes sweat from forehead. He dials Scott Boras.
Epstein: Hi, Scott. You wanna discuss a contract for Kris or nah?
RynoQuote Reply
Really interesting weekend in the wild card race. The 2nd and 4th spots play each other while the 3rd and 6th spots face off. The Cubs could effectively end Milwaukee’s season, and the Phillies could do the same to the Mets.
Sweeping the Mets was a really good strategy by the Cubs.
andcountingQuote Reply
Joe Maddon rocks
BVS at lunchQuote Reply
BVS at lunch,
(dying laughing) or the Washington Nationals are great hitting instructors.
andcountingQuote Reply
To-day’s base ball . . . um, WTF?
Happ CF
Castellanos RF
Caratini 1B
Baez SS
Schwarber LF
Russell 2B
Lucroy C
Bote 3B
Q P
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Thought they were listening for offers for KB in the off-season??
BVSQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing) sometimes I wonder if Joe is even paying attention to what’s going on.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ryno,
Entirely possible that rival executive rumor was planted by Epstein.
dmick89Quote Reply
andcounting,
This really is bad. Anderson is pretty good against lefties .175 baa vs .296 for righties. KB has the best numbers against Anderson while Schwarber, Rizzo, and Baez are bad against him.
So many better lineup options based on numbers. Hope there’s a good but not worrisome personnel reason for this.
BVSQuote Reply
dmick89,
His Ipad had its sync disabled.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I’m guessing it’s a “day game after a night game + travel” thing. But still. Woof.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
In that case, rest Baez instead of Bryant, put Bote at 2b and Russell at SS. Baez is 2/17 against Anderson with no power.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
17 AB isn’t a very large sample so I’m sure Baez is fine against Anderson or at least I’m far from convinced he isn’t. KB should be in the lineup though, but Joe does this shit. It’s frustrating, but he does it. I’m surprised he hasn’t done it during the playoffs to be honest.
dmick89Quote Reply
Joe Maddon *does* understand the Cubs need to win ballgames, right?
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
Joe told KB and Heyward that they would have this game off back on Nov 17, this is just why his players love him.
Kevin MillarQuote Reply
dmick89,
Sure. The numbers say KB should play instead of someone else in the lineup. Schwarber is 1/15 and Anderson is much better against lefties. He really should be the odd man out, but if it’s a rest day then Joe is resting his regular with the best production against Anderson. Baez has been hitting well the last few days, KB less so. That’s a good reason to sit KB even if the numbers contradict it.
This line up in Maddoning, but I can imagine good reasons for it, just no statistical justification.
BVSQuote Reply
It’s August 30th and you’re 2 games out. You’ve got to play the best players possible. If KB is healthy, he’s got to play. Same for Baez.
dmick89Quote Reply
Castellanos!
berseliusQuote Reply
Maddon is looking pretty brilliant so far.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Shut me right up. (dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
CastellanDOS!
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
Now that the Cubs are leading by a lot, I’ll go ahead and disagree with this. (dying laughing)
I do think the upcoming 18-game stretch without a scheduled off day warrants some extra rest for key players, especially if they have any nagging issues we don’t know about. I’m guessing we should expect more weird lineups through the weekend.
andcountingQuote Reply
Pat: [whatever]
Ron Coomer: Oh, there’s no doubt about it
SKQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Like I said, great lineup! (dying laughing)
BVSQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
It’s not exactly the same role, but Malkovich comes about as close as possible to portraying that same character again in Billions.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cards get to play back to back doubleheaders this weekend.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
When was the last time that happened?
dmick89Quote Reply
I think it’s the 16th anniversary of that 5 game series against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
In honor of that, I’ll repost this clip from around 8 years ago, since that is also a long time ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg3zJYny5vE
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Oh gee whiz!
berseliusQuote Reply
SK,
What WAS wrong with that man?
andcountingQuote Reply
I once played “take a shot whenever Coomer says ‘no doubt’” and I was blacked out by the 4th inning.
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
dmick89,
It looks like the Nats played in consecutive doubleheaders last September. They won all four games. I hope the Reds can do that.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
“It’s a ‘stealer’s lead’…” (dying laughing)
SKQuote Reply
Schwarber really got screwed there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus fucking Christ. I’m so tired of incompetent umps.
andcountingQuote Reply
I remember when Rob Drake was a shitty AAA ump brought up as a temp/sub. Don’t know how he got promoted.
SKQuote Reply
Over 99% of people following any MLB game know exactly where every pitch crosses the place, but the people in charge of this sport think the 1% who have to guess should make the calls.
andcountingQuote Reply
Reds suck.
andcountingQuote Reply
Holy crap, that strike call to Grandal.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
On one hand, it balances out the previous missed strike call in the at bat or maybe the missed strike call that allowed Grandal to walk to first earlier in the game. On the other hand, it was literally the pitch furthest from the strike zone after a 3-2 count.
andcountingQuote Reply
Votto!
andcountingQuote Reply
At least the Cubs aren’t the only team that’s infuriating to watch.
andcountingQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Fuck the Reds and the Cardinals
WaLiQuote Reply
Breaks pencil.
andcountingQuote Reply
WaLi,
Don’t tell me who to do.
andcountingQuote Reply
Darvish ————> forearm tightness
😬
berseliusQuote Reply
To-day’s line up summarized: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
berseliusQuote Reply
David Bote got sent down to Iowa on the eve of roster expansion. I don’t know of a more insulting way to get demoted.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Sending him down makes no sense whatsoever. You’ve got to wait 10 days to recall him unless someone gets injured, but you usually don’t use the IL during September because of the extra space. I’ll bet almost anything the Cubs didn’t realize what the date was when they made the move.
dmick89Quote Reply
Brilliant strategy by Chatwood pitching around the first two hitters there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Of course they did. The Cubs are far more calculating with their toaster moves than you give them credit for. According to BN, they had to have Zobrist on the roster in order to be eligible for the playoffs. https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/08/31/cubs-roster-moves-zobrist-officially-reinstated-bote-optioned-zagunis-dfad/
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Apropos of nothing, I love the phrase “toaster moves.”
mambochicken23Quote Reply
Ugh, I hate phone typing.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Len confirmed that Zobrist has to be activated to be playoffs eligible.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I didn’t realize Zobrist wasn’t on their 40-man roster.
dmick89Quote Reply
Gonzales has thrown 34 pitches. 20 have been called balls. Only 2 have been called strikes. Yet for some reason only two Cubs have let the count reach two strikes. The only two players to
Great approach, dumbfucks.
andcountingQuote Reply
See, I’m old. I hate stereotyping.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
My stereo deleted part of this. (dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Quite a 3-0 auto-strike to Caratini.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Verlander!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hey, the Reds blew the lead again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stupid goddamn Reds.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I saw Weick show up in the box score and just assumed that Rowan Wick had changed his name for some reason.
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo got screwed.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Kimbrel can shake off the rust and start dominating any time now.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Kimbrel has not been at any point this season a good pitcher. He just isn’t where he needs to be, which is fine because the Cubs don’t really need to worry about their postseason bullpen.
andcountingQuote Reply
This season can’t get over with fast enough.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Or yeah, pretty much what you said.
andcountingQuote Reply
Hopefully the Cubs don’t score here to protect Kimbrel’s feelings.
andcountingQuote Reply
So the Cubs are 4 out now and the first place team has decided on a late season strategy of never losing. The outlook does not look particularly good for the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
I wouldn’t go that far. It’s possible the Cubs could still lose the play-in game.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
I’m also really tired of pseudoscientific explanations about how closers need “adrenaline” to pitch their best.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
But doesn’t placebo-effect logic dictate that for closers who believe that to be true it almost certainly has some effect?
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I mean, I am sick of it too and I get what you’re saying. Kimbrel hasn’t just been bad in non-save situations, and using him in the 9th, if you believe he’s your best reliever, was the right move. But if HE thinks he needs save-situation adrenaline, that’s gonna hurt.
andcountingQuote Reply
Yeah, but that’s regular season regardless of what nonsense MLB tries to sell us. The Cubs are not going to the real playoffs for the second year in a row, which is pretty fucking pathetic.
dmick89Quote Reply
Guess which team just blew another multi-run lead?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
*snaps pencil*
berseliusQuote Reply
Cardinals lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Wow, the Reds are only 75% worthless.
andcountingQuote Reply
Wow.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I wouldn’t be too torn up if the Cubs decide to relieve us of the burden of watching them play an extra regular season game.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Nuh uh.
andcountingQuote Reply
I assumed “one of the dumbest things ever stated by a baseball analyst” was surely hyperbole but nope.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
I like how AL teams are unaware of Kyle’s pickoff move.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Those games against the Cardinals are going to be super important. I still don’t get how the Cubs are soon to be four games behind them, but here we are.
PerkinsQuote Reply
The Cubs offense is fucking terrible.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Almora comes in as a pinch-hitter, is intentionally walked.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Intentionally walking Almora to get to . . . someone else?
andcountingQuote Reply
Schwarber!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Cubs elimination number is down to 23 with 25 games left. Realistically, if they lose so much as a series, they won’t win the division.
andcountingQuote Reply
Word round the campfire is that Willson and Zobrist will start tonight.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Indeed, to-day’s base ball squadron is
2B Zobrist
RF Castellanos
1B Rizzo
3B Bryant
LF War Bear
C Contreras
CF Heyward
SS Russell
P Lester
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
False. Bryant is a late scratch.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Welcome back, Willy
berseliusQuote Reply
What’s the point of having this odd lead? If it’s not an even lead, you’re just a solo shot or grand slam away from disaster.
andcountingQuote Reply
Even lead!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh, Nick. Now it’s back to being an odd lead.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Die in a fire, Giants.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cards averaging less than 3 runs a game over their last 5 and are 4-1.
JKVQuote Reply
Perkins,
How do we know they haven’t already?
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing) that the final preseason DVOA rankings at FO have the DETROIT LIONS winning the NFC North.
berseliusQuote Reply
Crawford!
andcountingQuote Reply
The Giants sure love blowing leads.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Pillar!!
andcountingQuote Reply
Pillar!
berseliusQuote Reply
I am listening to the Giants radio broadcast, and they have the most obvious promotion that somehow every team does not have. Some local security company gets a shout out every time the Giants catch someone stealing (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
Cardinals lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
And the elimination number stays at 22.
andcountingQuote Reply
Any predictions on Bears/Packers, b?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting
I’m excited to see how the Packers offense looks now that McCarthy is finally gone. The fact that he finally got fired last season is huge. Too bad the Bears defense is their first test though (dying laughing). I’m feeling good about the packers defense too. I’m guessing a slog of a game that ends something like 13-10.
berseliusQuote Reply
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/mike-mayock-wants-raiders-follow-patriots-mind-boggling-model-success
Why would you say that publicly, Mike?! Now everyone’s going to do that!
RynoQuote Reply
berselius,
GB’s offense should be much improved just by having an innovative mind leading it. And I really like what they’ve done on defense. I think they’re the favorite in a tough division.
As far as the Bears go, I like everything about that team but the QB and kicking situation.
RynoQuote Reply
berselius,
Yeah, the new offense should be interesting to watch. I’m not super confident the Bears defense can be as tough as they typically would, given this is essentially their first preseason game (I’d argue this is the case for most teams most seasons; nobody plays a true full-strength full game until the regular season begins). If you’re going to have to play the Bears, week one is probably the best timing.
I usually say the advantage goes to the offense when everything is new (especially when the QB is good). But I love being wrong.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Advantage goes to the offense when concepts are new, imo, but it goes to the defense when teams haven’t had real game reps.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Makes sense. So Bears lead at the half, Packers explode in the 2nd half.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Sounds familiar…
RynoQuote Reply
Incidentally, has anyone else noticed what Jorge Soler has done with the bat this year? Whew…
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’ll take it
berseliusQuote Reply
Ryno,
Who do you have winning tonight, Ryno?
I still think the biggest surprise of the offseason is that no dumb GM hired McCarthy to be their HC. He seemed like a shoe-in for the Browns.
berseliusQuote Reply
The Giants join the Reds among the 75% worthless.
andcountingQuote Reply
21.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Unless the Cardinals just fall apart, they’re winning this division. The Cubs have too many road games coming up so it would take the Cubs performing better than expected on the road and probably going 5-2 against the Cardinals to somehow win the division. That’s not happening. Only question is whether they lose the wild card game at home or on the road.
dmick89Quote Reply
Kimbrel ——> IL (elbow)
dmick89Quote Reply
😐
berseliusQuote Reply
Javy ——> late scratch
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Willson!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
With Javy in the lineup I thought it was the best the Cubs had all year. It’s still good, but 1-8 it looked great.
andcountingQuote Reply
Willson again!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Is Willson back?
andcountingQuote Reply
Heyward’s wRC+ is worse than it was last year.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’ve been a little frustrated at how Rizzo’s been hitting nothing but grounders lately, but I’ll take it.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
War Bear!
/belated
berseliusQuote Reply
It would be cool beans if this were to be the long-awaited Schwarbear breakout.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Almora got screwed.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Amos!
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Boourns!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
dmick89,
I pretty much agree. The Cubs have to pretty much win all their remaining series, and I mean no splits. 3 of 4 from the Brewers, 3 of 4 from the Padres, 3 of 4 and 2 of 3 from the Cardinals. It won’t happen, but it’s something to watch unravel for a bit.
andcountingQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-10-brewers-5/
berseliusQuote Reply