Cubs 6, Jays 5 (10 innings)

In Postgame by berselius220 Comments

OSS: Cubs out-weird the Jays in extras while blowing and retaking the lead.

Three up:

  1. The tenth inning of this game had, between both teams,
    – An error on a routine throw back to the pitcher by Alex Avila
    – Three walks, one with the bases loaded
    – A run scored on a wild pitch
    – Not one but two batters reaching on dropped third strikes by Jays catcher Raffy Lopez
    Maybe not great baseball, but certainly fun baseball.
  2. Alex Avila was the clear leader in WPA, thanks to his walkoff bases loaded single to end the game in the tenth. Lucky for him that everything else overshadowed that bizarre throwing error.
  3. Albert Almora also had a pretty good game at the plate, driving in the Cubs first three runs and going 2-4.
    3b. Almora came up short on a nearly spectacular play against the wall in center early in the game, showing respect for the ridiculous brick wall in the OF. Jays CF Kevin Pilar had no such fear and made a spectacular and probably painful catch of a KB blast to dead center.

Three down:

  1. I wasn't too worried by the early poor performance by Justin Wilson after the Cubs picked him up. After all, Mike Montgomery had several shitty outings after he was picked up too, before he turned into the resonably reliable swingman we now know. Wilson though, sheesh. Today he issued two walks, one with the bases loaded. In six of his eight outings as a Cub, he has had a run charged to him. In the other two, he allowed two inherited baserunners to score and in the other he put two men on before Duensing and Strop bailed him out of further damage. He was pretty good with the Tigers but it's safe to say his debut here has been pretty awful.
  2. Koji Uehara also did not have a great day, but at least he had the excuse of just having come off the DL.
  3. The Cubs had a chance to win it in the ninth after getting two men on with nobody out, but did not manage to get a run across the plate.

Next up: The Cubs have an off day, then head to GABP for a three game set against the Reds. John Lackey takes on Homer Bailey in the opener, so it should be a good day for fans in the bleachers.

Share this Post

Comments

  1. Rice Cube

    So I understood the bunt in the 9th. I just thought it was super shitty execution. Also, WTF with the at-bats after that?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  2. Rizzo the Rat

    Rice Cube,

    I was annoyed at the time, but it may not have been a bad call. A good bunt is almost break-even, and there’s always a possibility of a misplay or a bunt hit (as we saw with Hendricks).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  3. Rice Cube

    Rizzo the Rat,

    I think the fact they only needed 1 run made the bunt defensible. Jay just bunted in the wrong spot and then nobody could put the ball in play. It was stupid and thankfully the Jays out-stupided the Cubs.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  4. Perkins

    Cubs have the second best record since the ASB, trailing only the Dodgers (who need to find a higher difficulty setting).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  5. Edwin

    I don’t care about the eclipse. I guess I care enough to voice my lack of caring, so I could probably care less than I do right now. Either way, my care of it is quite low.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  6. Berselius is too lazy to login

    I was too lazy to remember to buy glasses, and I am vindicated by the fact that it’s too cloudy to see anything anyway.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  7. Berselius is too lazy to login

    dmick89,

    I was able to take a look at our 80% here thanks to a coworker’s glasses – it could see right through the clouds.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  8. BVS

    Rizzo the Rat,

    I think the bunt was pretty dumb. Over the years I’ve begun to hate the bunt more and more. Jay hasbeen a good hitter. Why do you sacrifice him? Especially with no outs.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  9. dmick89

    BVS,

    I didn’t hate the bunt there, but I’m generally in favor of swinging away unless it’s a pitcher. I’d actually prefer most pitchers swing away. I understand the bunt has to be used enough by players to keep the defense honest. I think it’s something more players should do, especially with these extreme shifts, but as a means to move a player over, I’m not a big fan.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  10. BVS

    Winning run on 2nd, no outs, I thi k you take as many shots as possible, not give them an out and potentially set up double play. Except, as you say, with a pitcher, Rene Rivera, or Ian Stewart.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  11. BVS

    So the umps are wearing white armbands to protest Ian Kinsler saying Angel Hernandez should get a new job after a game last week. They say that the abuse of umps from olayers has been escalating. I read that both teams were upset with the strike zone all day.

    Not sure if there really has been an escalation of rhetoric, but a union drawing the line in the sand to protect one of their worst members is not helping itself. Could be worse I guess, if it were Joe West or CB Bucknor.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  12. Rizzo the Rat

    “Don’t give away an out” is not a good argument against bunts. Even on straight sacrifice attempts, the bunter reaches occasionally (it happened earlier with Hendricks).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  13. Rizzo the Rat

    MGL is fond of pointing out that if the defense is playing optimally, i.e., they come in to defend against the bunt possibility, but not too far in, the batter should not be able to gain an advantage by either swinging away or bunting. In other words, it doesn’t matter whether he swings away or bunts. This doesn’t apply to hitters/situations where bunting is always wrong and the defense ought to play all the way back, but I suspect that most bunt attempts are at least defensible. If sac bunts were wrong, the best defensive strategy would be to play back to defend against the swing and be happy if your opponent bunts.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  14. dmick89

    I think most defenses are plenty happy when the other team bunts. “If they’re going to give you the out, just take it” doesn’t come from years of despising the other team bunting.

    I get what you’re saying and I agree to some extent, but there’s no way I’m bunting there. As I said, I don’t think it was a bad decision, but it’s not what I’d have done. About the only time I like the bunt is when it’s a surprise.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  15. Rizzo the Rat

    dmick89: I think most defenses are plenty happy when the other team bunts.

    They should play back further, then. Their opponents would bunt more!

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  16. Rizzo the Rat

    dmick89,

    It’s the main reason they play in as far as they do in bunt situations. If they weren’t worried at all about the bunt they would play farther back, no?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  17. dmick89

    Rizzo the Rat: If they weren’t worried at all about the bunt they would play farther back, no?

    Who said they weren’t worried about the bunt? I think I said that most defenses are happy for teams to bunt, but part of that happiness is that they can more easily defend the bunt than they can a line drive double down the line or a 475 foot home run. The bunt is easier to defend than the walk or a triple. Defenses are thrilled when teams lay down sac bunts because even if the player reaches, it’s still not as bad as the many other things that could have happened. Defenses play in so that they can convert the bunt into an out because why be happy if the team is bunting if you’re not ready for it? Ask any defense in that situation yesterday if they’d take a bunt or Jay swinging away. Every single one of them will agree they’d prefer the bunt. I know I’d sure as hell prefer a team the Cubs are playing to bunt in that situation. You can defend the bunt. You can’t defend the line drive up the middle.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  18. BVS

    Myles:
    In the ump’s defense, Ian Kinsler has always seemed like a weapons-grade asshole.

    That was my initial thought too. Kinsler said something in the at bat that got him ejected immediately, but the umps cited his after-game comments instead. I heard those, they were pretty meh.

    Even so, drawing your line to defend one of your 3 worst union members makes your org look bad. It’s like the musicians union defending Milli Vanilli or the Screen Actors Guild defending Nicholas Cage.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  19. Rizzo the Rat

    dmick89,

    You’re treating the decision to defend against the bunt as an either/or thing. Let me try again:

    1. Defenses play in more in a bunt situation than they normally would. This only makes sense if their opponents’ Win Expectancy for bunting is higher than their Win Expectancy for swinging (otherwise, the defense would play normally and take a bunt as a gift).

    2. The further in the defense plays, the higher the WE for swinging is and the lower the WE for bunting is.

    3. The optimal defensive strategy is one where the offense cannot gain an advantage by either bunting or swinging, i.e., not too far in or too far back.

    4. If the defense is happy the opposing team is swinging away, they should back off a bit, simultaneously lowering the WE of swinging and increasing the chances of a bunt.

    Do you disagree with any of these points?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  20. Rizzo the Rat

    (Incidentally, Cleveland faced the identical situation in the bottom of the ninth as the Cubs did today. The bunt got the winning run in from second thanks to a throwing error by the pitcher. That’s just as bad as the worst case scenario from a swing.)

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  21. dmick89

    Rizzo the Rat,

    No, I knew we were in agreement because more often than not you and I agree in whether or not a specific bunt was a good decision (like in he case we’ve been talking about). I think the only disagreement we may have is that while I don’t think that bunt was a bad decision and may even have been a good one, I’d have let Jay swing away. I probably felt differently with the team last year. They always seemed to come through, but this team seems to find ways to fuck up.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  22. Berselius is too lazy to login

    To-day’s base ball squadron

    CF Jay
    LF Schwarber
    3B Bryant
    1B Rizzo
    2B Zobrist
    C Avila
    RF Heyward
    SS Baez
    P Lackey

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  23. SK

    Seager is hitting just .143/.200/.143 with zero home runs and zero RBI against Dickey in his career, and is posting a .600 OPS over the last seven days.

    Sucks too be stuck with an autodraft roster.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  24. SK

    6:23 AM
    Anthony Rizzo played third base (!) and Kris Bryant had a thing or two to say about it”

    (dying laughing) there’s an article on Cubs.com that lured me in to explain it, but nope.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  25. Rizzo the Rat

    Thom Brennaman complained about Rizzo playing third base as the Cubs showing up the Reds and it was glorious.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  26. TheVan

    I tuned into the game on the radio right as they were talking about the pitcher looking injured and having a checkered health past. I was disappointed when I found out they were talking about Bailey and not Lackey.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  27. Berselius is too lazy to login

    Rizzo the Rat:
    Thom Brennaman complained about Rizzo playing third base as the Cubs showing up the Reds and it was glorious.

    If we still had a shop, I would totally buy a Brennaman’s Tears coffee mug.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  28. cerulean

    The difference between a total eclipse and a partial eclipse (especially where totality is possible) is the difference between being projected to win the World Series and actually winning it.

    The velocity by which you go from strange light to twilight defies natural experience and expectation—it is not the image of the eclipse itself. That’s what people mean when they say it’s unbelievable and magical. (When they say it’s ineffable, they just aren’t very good at words.)

    April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse is going through a place that suffered two partial eclipses in the last year: Cleveland, OH. I suggest making it to totality for that one the same way I suggest having your childhood team win the WS for the first time in your memory. The former is actually going to happen.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  29. Edwin

    dmick89,

    Did he really do anything out of character for him, though? Take away the dates, it’s basically the same as every other campaign rally he’s done.

    He loves a crowd. He loves to say crazy shit for reactions, to get the spotlight on him. He’s an attention merchant.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  30. Perkins

    Edwin:
    I think it’s strange he wants credit for remembering to tick off the boxes of which hate groups to condemn.

    And he conveniently omitted his own statement that there was blame “on many sides.” I’m pretty sure the wealth he inherited has allowed him to live in his own reality for an extended period of time, and he gets angry whenever reality asserts itself (e.g., you don’t get credit for doing the bare minimum your job requires, and you especially don’t get credit when you fall short of that).

    I really wish reality had asserted itself more forcefully in 2016, but maybe reality is that a lot of Americans are almost as big of pieces of shit as he is. They just don’t have money or fame.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  31. dmick89

    It’s ridiculous, but I find myself rooting for a coup and about the last people I want running this country is the fucking military. At the bottom of the list of people/groups that I want running this country is the following: the intelligence community, the military, Donald Trump, Mike Pence. That is it. The only person or group that I’d rather not be president is the motherfucking vice president.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  32. cerulean

    Edwin:
    dmick89,

    Theo would be an interesting President, but I’m a little worried about his rebuilding strategy.

    Imagine the number of assets we could get for New York and Silicon Valley alone. Los Angeles is way passed its prime, but there are some desperate countries that may give up a lot for just that part. I am opposed to sending the Grand Canyon off, but Yellowstone might blow up at any second, and it would be a relief to know that it wouldn’t happen here.

    I am worried, however, about fielding too many scrappy white people, though. Most of the world has cottoned on to the fact that marginal grit really doesn’t move the needle much, and the makework grit and pass-the-buck culture that comes out of many of these places is itself a national cancer.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  33. cerulean

    Myles,

    Heh. The ignorance is strong with that one.

    That guy’s accent screams millrat, and his sentiment is one I am unfortunately very familiar with. I remember when my uncle would talk about “niggers” being all the lazy people at the mill—black had nothing to do with it. Funny thing, though, only the black people were “niggers”, maybe some Mexicans too. My Fox-News-Trump-voting brother also shares this view—though “nigger” includes “sand-nigger”, which applies to Arabs and people from the Indian subcontinent because they are obviously not ignorant of the fact that these are very different places.

    Fuck those ignorant assholes. I wish they were irrelevant so I could just ignore them. My own willful ignorance, therefore, has been part of the problem. Now I look to demean them and make them uncomfortable at every possible turn.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  34. dmick89

    cerulean: My Fox-News-Trump-voting brother also shares this view—though “nigger” includes “sand-nigger”, which applies to Arabs and people from the Indian subcontinent because they are obviously not ignorant of the fact that these are very different places.

    How do you deal with this considering he’s your brother? I’ve had a great relationship with my brother in my life and there’s no way I’d be willing to throw that away over politics (fortunately he thinks Trump is a dumbass).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  35. Author
    berselius

    To-day’s base ball squadron

    CF Jay
    LF Schwarber
    2B Zobrist
    1B Rizzo
    C Avila
    3B La Stella
    RF Heyward
    SS Baez
    P Montgomery

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  36. dmick89

    I wish the zone portion of the Pitchcast for Cubs games was larger. Of all the broadcasts that have something similar, the Cubs is the worst in my opinion. I don’t need to see the front of the batter’s box.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  37. Rizzo the Rat

    dmick89,

    I probably shouldn’t let his inexplicable success against the Cubs bother me, since the Reds usually lose by six runs anyway. But still, ugh.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  38. Berselius is too lazy to log in

    Seven strikeouts in four innings smh. This offense will never put things together at this rate.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  39. Rizzo the Rat

    Hill should have intentionally walked the first batter of the inning and then balked him home. Who cares if the Dodgers lose at this point?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  40. cerulean

    dmick89,

    He was always a selfish asshole. Basically, I came to see him for what he is. I can be cordial as fuck and get along with anyone, but in this case, I think it is better to make a scene than to allow him to think there are no consequences for all the rot he ejaculates from the back of his neck. I used to try reasoning with him. Used to.

    It’s not a big loss because I have other brothers that aren’t complete assholes. I mean, this is the guy how used to hold his hand over my face, sit on my head, and fart—holding me there until I was forced to breathe through my nose. In other words, he is Donald Trump without all the gaudy charisma.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  41. cerulean

    By the way, I can argue with bad politics. That’s simple. It’s the blatant racism and misogyny I cannot tolerate.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  42. cerulean

    BVS:
    dmick89,

    I was wondering that too. Even scrolled back to see if “in-law” was there.

    Sympathies to you Cerulean.

    I get along better with my in-laws than my wife does. They genuinely try to be good people, even if they are part of an evangelical cult. At least they believe in evolution and enjoy science fiction and fantasy. It could be so much worse.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  43. Berselius is too lazy to log in

    cerulean,

    Parents in law here. We almost canceled going home for Xmas last year, but ended up just taking a much shorter trip because we had ailing grandparents to see.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  44. SK

    cerulean: I get along better with my in-laws than my wife does. They genuinely try to be good people, even if they are part of an evangelical cult. At least they believe in evolution and enjoy science fiction and fantasy. It could be so much worse.

    This confuses me. I have never enjoyed science fiction and fantasy, but I’m secular af.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  45. JonKneeV

    Would anyone be against trading Addison Russell and giving Javy SS next season? I’d imagine Javy at SS would produce 4+ fWAR with better offense and just as good defense. Then you can put Happ/Zobrist/La Stella at 2B

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  46. Edwin

    JonKneeV,

    I’d be against it. I think Russell has better offensive upside, and plays better defense. I’m not convinced Baez has the bat to stick as a starter.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  47. dmick89

    JonKneeV, I would be assuming it's a fair deal for the Cubs. My only concern is that while Baez is having a pretty good season so far, he would seem a pretty good candidate to take a big step back. He also offers more upside than Russell.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  48. cerulean

    BVS,

    Three kids, and they are completely unlike him. All the Trump boosting he does will backfire as soon as they are old enough to understand what a douchebag Trump is.

    And it’s 6022 years. Anything beyond that is blasphemy.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  49. Edwin

    For some reason I thought Russell has been better on offense than he’s actually shown so far. I still like Russell’s defense over Baez, but now that I look at it, maybe Baez actually does have more potential.

    I officially flip flop my answer. Keep Baez, trade Russell.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  50. Myles

    The big problem is that I think Russell has been injured for a long time this year. I think he was probably better offensively and defensively than Baez, but losing essentially this entire season (as he has played hurt) gives me pause as to if he will be healthy going forward. Pair that with the fact that he is (allegedly) a wife beater and I just don’t want him figuring into the Cubs’ long-term plans. I’m not sure it’s coincidence that the Cubs started kicking ass as soon as he left the team.

    That probably means getting 50 cents on the dollar for him, though.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  51. dmick89

    Myles: I’m not sure it’s coincidence that the Cubs started kicking ass as soon as he left the team.

    I’m not sure of a lot, but this seems unlikely. In 2015 people credited Russell’s emergence (and Castro’s move to 2nd) as the reason the Cubs became so dominant. Hard to believe that two years later he’s the reason they were mediocre.

    If Russell’s presence was the reason the entire pitching staff sucked ass even though Russell is an elite defender then I’d say the Cubs need new pitchers.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  52. EnricoPallazzo

    SK: This confuses me. I have never enjoyed science fiction and fantasy, but I’m secular af.

    Edwin:
    I’m religious and I enjoy both Science Fiction and Fantasy.

    wait what? is there a correlation between people that are religious and people that like scifi? i would not think there would be any correlation here whatsoever.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  53. Perkins

    Myles,

    Especially considering how dinged up he’s been over the course of the season. Dude probably could use an ice bath and a long nap.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  54. Edwin

    EnricoPallazzo: is there a correlation between people that are religious and people that like scifi

    Not that I know of. Although religion or religious themes are normally a popular topic in Science Fiction and fantasy writing.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  55. SK

    EnricoPallazzo,

    Cerulean hints that certain very religious types are against that sort of malarkey. I don’t keep up with that kind of religion — all my relatives have no religion or are lapsed Catholics, Jews or Episcopalians.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  56. Myles

    SK:
    EnricoPallazzo,

    Cerulean hints that certain very religious types are against that sort of malarkey.I don’t keep up with that kind of religion — all my relatives are lapsed Catholics, Jews or Episcopalians.

    I’m a devout believer in our corner infielders, and that’s about it.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  57. Edwin

    SK,

    I can see some religous people feeling that fantasy or science fiction novels might promote a belief in false idols, but that’s probably more on a personal basis than actual religious instruction. Similar to how churches didn’t like rock music or dancing until Kevin Bacon changed the world by dancing and it was cool. I belong to one of the more conservative church’s in the nation, (which makes being a liberal feel pretty lonely at get togethers), and I know plenty of people who love science fiction and fantasy works.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  58. dmick89

    Myles,

    I haven’t looked at his numbers lately, but I don’t think that’s true. He has definitely had a better approach at the plate and seems to be walking more. I wouldn’t be surprised if the strikeouts are down. The power (at least the home runs anyway) is down and I don’t think his fielding has been nearly as good as last year. I think he’s still been great and the plate approach thing is what gives me the most hope going forward. If he can hit for the kind of power he did last year with this approach, he’s going to win at least one or two more MVP awards.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  59. Berselius is too lazy to log in

    To-day’s base ball squadron

    Zobrist
    Schwarber
    Bryant
    Rizzo
    Happ
    Baez
    Heyward
    Rivera
    Arrieta

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  60. Myles

    dmick89:
    Myles,

    I haven’t looked at his numbers lately, but I don’t think that’s true. He has definitely had a better approach at the plate and seems to be walking more. I wouldn’t be surprised if the strikeouts are down. The power (at least the home runs anyway) is down and I don’t think his fielding has been nearly as good as last year. I think he’s still been great and the plate approach thing is what gives me the most hope going forward. If he can hit for the kind of power he did last year with this approach, he’s going to win at least one or two more MVP awards.

    His walk rate is up 3.5% and his strikeout rate is down 3.5%. His BABIP is down 13 points which is basically the difference between his SLG from last year and this. More importantly, he is no longer an extreme pull hitter.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  61. SK

    Someone retweeted Hillary Clinton into my timeline saying “Correct”. about a quoted post and I was like damn, what’s next? “False”? “(dying laughing)”?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  62. Myles

    SK:
    Someone retweeted Hillary Clinton into my timeline saying “Correct”. about a quoted post and I was like damn, what’s next?“False”? “(dying laughing)”?

    Correct!

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  63. Perkins

    dmick89,

    Even Yellon would make a better president than Trump. I’d gladly eat baloney sandwiches every day if it meant not having this ass clown representing us to the world.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  64. cerulean

    On sci-fi and fantasy—I don’t know if there is a correlation between their enjoyment and religious belief—I just know that it makes my social gatherings easier.

    HAPP!!!

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  65. Perkins

    dmick89: You should tell him that.

    I would, but I was banned during the blog wars of 06-08. I can browse, but I can’t participate. (dying laughing)

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  66. dmick89

    What happened to all the Cubs fans in Cincinnati? I was there in September of 2007 and 2008 against the Cubs. The ballpark was packed with Cubs fans at all six games I attended.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  67. Wenningtons Gorilla Cock

    dmick89:
    What happened to all the Cubs fans in Cincinnati? I was there in September of 2007 and 2008 against the Cubs. The ballpark was packed with Cubs fans at all six games I attended.

    They ate skyline chili and died.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  68. Rizzo the Rat

    I don’t know if Almora gets that, but there’s no excuse not to have the best outfield defense out there.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0

Leave a Comment