Cubs 7, Cardinals 2

In Postgame by berselius226 Comments

OSS: Three out of five ain’t bad.

Three up:

  1. Jose Quintana gutted out seven innings and allowed just two runs, which was just what the bullpen needed after a couple of early hooks and a doubleheader in this series.
  2. Kyle Schwarber had the biggest hit in this game, a solo shot in the sixth inning that gave the Cubs the lead. This was after the Cubs had chased Mikolas, who the Cardinals pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth.
  3. Anthony Rizzo as a leadoff hitter in this series: 23 PA, 9H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 6 BB. Not too shabby.

Three down:

  1. Jason Heyward had the most negative play of the game by WPA, a double play in the fifth with the score tied and runners on first and second.
  2. This fangraphs article on the Cubs rotation that I just saw.
  3. Luke Farrell is starting tomorrow due to the schedule crunch.

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  3. Ryno

    ChicagoCubsOnline @TheCCO
    On this day in 2003, Cubs acquired Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and cash from Pirates for Matt Bruback, Jose Hernandez and PTBNL (Bobby Hill)

    Pretty important.

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  5. dmick89

    Myles,

    I was kind of thinking the same thing last night. I’d probably be okay with dealing Caratini, but they’d have to acquire a backup catcher if they did that.

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  6. Myles

    Dylan Bundy is a former top prospect that plays for the worst organization for pitchers in baseball. I just assume he’ll become a #3 starter as soon as he leaves.

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  16. BVS

    Ryno,

    I’m still riding high from 2016.

    Prior to that, all the Cubs losing helped provide perspective on the rest of my life, like listening to sad songs.

    Minor setbacks don’t seem so bad when you are humming “One is the loneliest number,” “Please come to Boston,” and the Cubs are on their way to their 90th loss.

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  17. Ryno

    Ryno,

    “You think you worked hard?” Tony Sr. would ask.
    “I think I put in some good work,” Jimmy replied.
    “There’s always someone working harder than you,” his father would tell 18-year-old Jimmy, then walk away.
    The words still leave Jimmy shaking his head.
    “He’d just sneak it in,” Jimmy says now. “I would just be like, ‘What the fuck, man?’”

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  18. Ryno

    BVS,

    I still have a different outlook on Texas football thanks to the Rose Bowl win over USC…12.5 years ago. I used to think it was like a buffer or safety net that took the sting out of disappointment, but it might’ve changed my fandom forever.

    What ever happens in my Cubs fandom, I can always go back and relive the best moments from that season.

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  20. Ryno

    Ryno,

    I want my QB to be confident enough to think he's better than Tom Brady and smart enough to not voice that opinion.

    — Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) July 23, 2018

    I want mine to be confident enough to think he’s better than Brady and say it.

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  22. Mucker

    Ryno, how’s Texas going to look this year? I’m probably going to watch some more college football this year and trying to get a gauge on what’s going on.

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  23. Ryno

    Mucker,

    Conventional wisdom says they’ll take a step forward after a second year in a new offensive system. That and the fact that they totally blew three winnable games. Take Mayfield and Rudolph away from the Oklahoma teams, also, and I think they have a shot at the conference title.

    That said, I’m not overly impressed by what Herman did with the offense last season. Grier and WV will give them trouble and TCU flat out owns them.

    If I had to set the O/U on wins, I’d go with 8.5.

    You’ll have to ask Alvin to set the O/U on whether they’ll go to a decent bowl game, though.

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  24. Ryno

    Mucker,

    As much as I hate it, you should watch OU as much as you can. Their head coach is bananas and they’ll throw out some crazy shit with Kyler Murray at QB.

    Let me see if I can find the vid of their zone read –> option with the QB as the trailer…

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  33. Myles Handley

    Ryno:
    Myles,

    I didn’t get many chances to see them, but Purdue did seem like one of the more fun teams to watch in CFB last year.

    Today is B1G media day. Someone asked how many trick plays he would like to get in this year, to which he replied “50.”

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  35. Myles

    dmick89:
    Suter is done for the year (likely TJS).

    Milwaukee is going to trade the farm for some pitching and still miss the playoffs this year. It’s going to be great.

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  36. dmick89

    Myles,

    I don’t know that Suter was going to be in the rotation much longer anyway, but I do think they’re going to make the mistake of going all in, which is fine with me. I even read something about Pittsburgh becoming buyers, which is hilarious. There’s no way I’d even consider buying if I was Huntington unless the Bucs playoff odds were 50% or higher.

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  50. Author
    berselius

    I am in NYC and spent 0 minutes watching/tracking this game, proving that I can do life right every once in a while.

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  54. Ryno

    What’s the worst possible machine for this man to try to use? I’m going with stairmaster

    — David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) July 24, 2018

    Everyone says hip abductor, so I’ll throw out leg press machine.

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  58. Ryno

    The offers will likely drive the decisionmaking from the Orioles’ perspective, though, even if the preference is to make a near-term call. Multiple teams evidently remain involved in talks, so trade packages could yet change. Bowden characterizes the Astros and Yankees as being “in the lead” to get Britton. Of course, it only takes one call for a rival to leap across the track and cross the line first, and the O’s could always decide to extend the race.
    –mlbtraderumors

    r teems runing a rase 2 win briton it seems ezyer 2 tri 2 trayd plaurs insted im confyuzd

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  59. Ryno

    Today, #Bears coach Matt Nagy named rookie OLB Kylie Fitts as a player who has stood to him on defense. He has been very noticeable in all drills. Coverage responsibilities might take time, but he can get low and get around the edge.

    — Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 24, 2018

    I don’t think I knew the Bears ended up with one of my underrated EDGE gems.

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  61. Ryno

    Mucker,

    They’d be nice to have, but I feel like teams are emphasizing interior pressure so much these days that EDGE players are more about contain than disruption.

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  62. Mucker

    Ryno,

    Yeah no question. I feel like you need both. Unfortunately with salary caps, it’s hard to build a defense like that unless you are really good at drafting and player development. Something the Bears aren’t known for. Bears have a decent Interior D so we’ll see what happens.

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  64. Myles

    Marlins are probably looking to offload salary, the Brewers haven’t had any production from 2B all year, I imagine if the Brewers just took Castro’s salary they wouldn’t have to send any notable prospects.

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  65. Perkins

    To day’s base ball squadron:
    Rizzo
    Almora
    Heyward
    Baez
    Happ (3B)
    Schwarber
    Russell
    Hendricks
    Caratini

    Kind of curious what spurred hitting the pitcher 8th. I don’t think Joe has done that in awhile.

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  67. Perkins

    Myles,

    Makes sense. I think The Book showed that consistently batting the pitcher 8th in an otherwise optimized lineup would net an additional 5-10 runs per year. so it’s something I wouldn’t mind seeing more often. Joe did it pretty regularly in 2015, but not so much since.

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  79. Rizzo the Rat

    Not only has Rizzo not homered in a month, I don’t even remember the last time he flied to the warning track.

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  80. andcounting

    See, this is where the whole being a fan thing takes its toll on you. They could take the lead here or just blow your hopes to smithereens and head to the 8th.

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  88. Perkins

    To day’s base ball squadron:
    Rizzo
    Almora
    Zobrist
    Contreras
    Russell
    Schwarber
    Happ
    Lester
    LaStella

    Get well soon, Javy and KB.

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  96. dmick89

    Ryno,

    Yeah, if lefties want to stop the shift then it’s on them in my opinion. What’s next? Banning the shift in the outfield? Can’t use 5 infielders? Rizzo has to hug the bag on bunt plays?

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  97. Perkins

    Ryno,

    It’s basically marketing on the military’s part. One of the consequences of an all-volunteer force. I also generally find it distasteful for a number of reasons, even recognizing the hard economic reality of it. There’s something profoundly unsettling about seeing one’s decision to serve reduced to a means to sell shitty beer or by association imbue football teams with some sense of greater purpose than providing entertainment.

    I hadn’t known that about Francona’s son. And it’s not that surprising that a garbage organization like the Mets would do that. Not sure if they still do, but they had a practice of honoring a veteran in attendance at each home game (giving better seats, etc). I assume it’s something people write to them in advance about. At a game in 2014, they honored a guy who was an obvious case of stolen valor (confirmed by research after the fact). I got no response after writing them to let them know they’d honored a fraud.

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  100. Ryno

    Perkins,

    I never thought about that aspect of all this. It always seemed artificial, but I never considered how it might make those being “honored” feel even more like pawns.

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  102. Ryno

    Jerry Jones said @terrellowens is "making a mistake" by not going to Canton to participate in the @ProFootballHOF ceremony. Said he should at least do it for the fans but knows T.O. "has a mind of his own."

    — Brandon George (@DMN_George) July 25, 2018

    If it wasn’t obvious that owners dislike that quality in players…

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  104. Perkins

    Ryno,

    There was a Budweiser commercial from a few years ago wherein they had organized a big homecoming parade for a Lieutenant in his hometown, and then filmed his arrival at the airport all the way through the parade, during which he and his wife were sitting on a carriage being drawn by the Clydesdale horses. Maybe he enjoyed it, but I kind of doubt it. Apparently to pull off the stunt, they even worked with his chain of command to cook up a reason for him to return home early, so he didn’t even get to come home with all the people he’d just shared 9-12 months with downrange.

    In the context of paid patriotism, I think about that commercial quite a bit. Obviously I can’t speak for all veterans, but when I got home from Afghanistan, the most important things were being there for the redeployment ceremony (which is just your unit and sister units from the home station and our families) and finally getting to be with my wife (and my cats). Pretty much everyone I was there with had similar priorities, especially the folks with kids. You’re happy to be home, and you just want to spend time with the people you care about. I can’t even imagine having to take part in a literal dog and pony show instead of that, especially considering that we haven’t won anything in Afghanistan (or Iraq), and coming home is just the acknowledgement that you finished your rotation and handed the mission to another unit about to do the same thing for the next year, and there’s a good chance you’ll go back eventually, after you’ve had enough time stateside.

    So while the parade looks cool, they basically ripped that guy away from all the important stuff to make a neat video to tug at people’s heartstrings and sell beer. And he almost certainly got a ton of shit from everyone else in his unit. Unless he made the effort to orchestrate all that (in which case he’s a tool), I feel bad for the guy.

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  105. Perkins

    Washington is up 7-0 on Milwaukee. I’d say that lead looks safe, but the Nats are kind of a dumpster fire this year.

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  106. Rizzo the Rat

    Really weird how people are still going on about how bad Addison Russell is. I understood it in May when his numbers were bad, but now?

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  107. Rizzo the Rat

    Don’t you just hate getting slightly below-average offense from a premium defensive position?

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  109. dmick89

    Rizzo the Rat,

    And he’s very good defensively and has been on the bases last I checked.

    The insults at him about his play, I think, are about his off field issues (or issue). It’s dumb to go after him that way. Just be honest about it.

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  112. Berselius is too lazy to login

    Apparently Ray pitches kinda shitty against everyone but the cubs.

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  114. Berselius is too lazy to login

    dmick89:
    Rizzo the Rat,

    And he’s very good defensively and has been on the bases last I checked.

    The insults at him about his play, I think, are about his off field issues (or issue). It’s dumb to go after him that way. Just be honest about it.

    Probably some uncounsious reaction to the fact that he’s merely very good instead of becoming Francisco Lindor.

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  116. Rizzo the Rat

    I was skeptical about the idea of pinch-hitting Baez for Schwarber, even against a lefty, but whatever.

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  127. Ryno

    Perkins,

    I can’t imagine living the life you guys do. In general, I appreciate all the people who do the things I don’t want to do but are vital to society. It’s a shame other people look at the same people as lesser.

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  128. Ryno

    Jimmy: Do you know if Eric has caught Cole Roederer live in AZ? Realize it’s a small sample but he’s putting up some pretty silly numbers. He’s currently got an OPS over 1.000 which in of itself is great but he also seems to be a legit CF. I’m curious if the scouting matches the results.

    Kiley McDaniel: Saw him some as an amateur. Chance for above hit/power/speed in CF but was banged up some in the spring. Scouts that love him (CHC was probably the highest on him) think there’s some Benintendi in there, others think he’s more of a 4th OF or low end starter. Definite wait and see candidate

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  129. Ryno

    Notable minor league performances:

    Dylan Cease – 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 12 K, 1 BB, 7-2 GO-AO

    Oh wait…

    I guess Zach Mort is it? In 3 IP yesterday, he struck out 7 and gave up 1 ER. In 10 pro innings since being drafted, he’s struck out 15 against just 1 BB. He’s also getting a ton of ground balls.

    He’s also give up 10 hits and is 21 years old in short season A ball.

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  131. Ryno

    Two days ago…

    Dear @juliojones_11,

    My 10 year old son is a huge fan. The pic below has been his long time screen saver.

    Tonight, he told me he is changing it to a solo shot of @M_Ryan02 or @devontafreeman.

    Just thought you should know.

    Sincerely,
    BL@AtlantaFalcons @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/ocjmPAPYIp

    — Buck Lanford (@BuckFOX5) July 25, 2018

    Just now…

    Just in case anyone needs a new phone wallpaper or desktop screensaver… pic.twitter.com/Mj2EeoLhBQ

    — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 26, 2018

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  135. Perkins

    Ryno:
    Perkins,

    I can’t imagine living the life you guys do. In general, I appreciate all the people who do the things I don’t want to do but are vital to society. It’s a shame other people look at the same people as lesser.

    On the plus side, I’m out of the Army now and have a pretty ordinary career in consulting. Still a lot of travel, but it’s generally to other cities and I get to stay at a Westin or something instead of a tent.

    On the subject of doing a job others don’t want to, it’s also interesting that a nontrivial portion of the mil/vet community looks down on civilians who haven’t served as lesser. And by interesting, I mean deeply concerning. One of the other negative externalities of the all-volunteer force (combined with an effectively endless state of war) has been the creation of a warrior caste in danger of buying into its own mythology. And that’s reinforced with every public display or speech that makes sure to affirm that we’re somehow more special than any other group that serves the national interest (e.g., journalists, teachers, diplomats).

    Again, it’s not true of all of the mil/vet community, but there are a lot of loud voices out there saying things that are probably not healthy for the republic in the long term. Bridging the civilian/military divide may seem like small potatoes compared to the numerous metaphorical fires we’re facing as a nation, but I think it fits in with the overall need to reduce polarization and the “us vs. them” mentality that seems so common among Americans today.

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  137. Rizzo the Rat

    I’m not crazy about starting Bote against an RHP, but I suppose Zo’s workload has been a little heavy lately.

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  138. myles

    If Bryant is out for a meaningful amount of time, the Cubs may well not be able to spin a major league asset for pitching comfortably. Guess I’m glad it’s happening now and not 2 weeks from now.

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  139. Rizzo the Rat

    Also, while Bote might be a better player than La Stella, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take advantage of the fact that they hit from opposite sides (i.e., platooning them on days when one of them plays).

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  140. Ryno

    Perkins,

    While I’m hesitant to say anything is more or less anything now than it used to be (since it’s possible just my perception is different), it sure feels like that. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve moved from trying to feel more “evolved” than others to just understanding that the world is better if people work together. I appreciate when others do things I can’t/don’t want to do just as I hope others appreciate me doing things they can’t/don’t want to do.

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  141. Ryno

    Seen on the twitters and it made me think… Should the Cubs become sellers at the deadline if Bryant is expected to miss the rest of the season? I know they won’t, but would you?

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  142. Ryno

    Ryno,

    I know the fans would have a fit, but that’s not the only bonus to becoming sellers. They might pick up enough pieces to reload rather than rebuild at the end of the current window of contention.

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  147. Ryno

    In honor of football season starting up, watch highlights of Jadeveon Clowney in high school. He’s easy to spot. Just look for the alien.

    This on in particular makes me laugh (more than the other 11.5 minutes): https://youtu.be/LTkmiBdoBDc?t=2m57s Offense running the veer and Clowney hits the RB after the fake and the QB before he can pitch. Oh, and brilliant job running a play that BY DESIGN leaves the alien unblocked, coach.

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  152. Mucker

    Ryno:
    In honor of football season starting up, watch highlights of Jadeveon Clowney in high school. He’s easy to spot. Just look for the alien.

    This on in particular makes me laugh (more than the other 11.5 minutes): https://youtu.be/LTkmiBdoBDc?t=2m57sOffense running the veer and Clowney hits the RB after the fake and the QB before he can pitch. Oh, and brilliant job running a play that BY DESIGN leaves the alien unblocked, coach.

    That’s not even fair.

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  154. myles

    Ryno:

    Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney to Blue Jays. Not confident either can be a league-average starting position player, but both can hang around the bigs for awhile.

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  155. myles

    I was so ready to make a breaking news post with Chatwood not having walked a batter in the first two innings but he just couldn’t get through it.

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  169. Ryno

    Between rest of salary this yr plus buyout on 2019 option, Hamels owed roughly $14.2M. Hear that if deal with #Cubs goes thru they will pick up about $4M and give up secondary prospects. But NO deal is in place yet, Cubs just more involved than other suitors.

    — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 26, 2018

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  171. dmick89

    Ryno:
    Seen on the twitters and it made me think… Should the Cubs become sellers at the deadline if Bryant is expected to miss the rest of the season? I know they won’t, but would you?

    I wouldn’t sell, but I wouldn’t buy either. I also wouldn’t buy even if KB was healthy.

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  179. Perkins

    Myles Handley:
    Chatwood is quickly burning through what’s left of the honeymoon phase from the WS win. At some point you can’t just keep trotting him out there.

    If Darvish were healthy, I assume Chatwood would have been given a phantom DL stint to figure things out. It’s not like they can use him in short relief, either. At this point he’s probably only useful as a mop-up reliever.

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  181. Myles Handley

    There are 110 pitchers with at least 80 innings this year, and besides Lucas Giolito chatwood has a worse FIP than all of them.

    The experiment is over. It just is.

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  183. Myles Handley

    Perkins: If Darvish were healthy, I assume Chatwood would have been given a phantom DL stint to figure things out. It’s not like they can use him in short relief, either. At this point he’s probably only useful as a mop-up reliever.

    I’d rather see what Underwood has to offer, and stick Chatwood in the pen right now. If not that, just trade for a innings eater that actually throws strikes. I’m at the point where I’d take Fatt Harvey over this.

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  184. Myles Handley

    And I’m not under the illusion that Underwood is anything besides a #5. Cost-controlled guys that can be mediocre for 30 starts are still very valuable.

    Cubs have three pitchers that I dont hate in a playoff scenario, though all three have had years that aren’t inspiring. You hope Darvish shows something, but I assume he doesn’t throw another pitch until 2019. NLDS seems to be the cap for this team.

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  185. dmick89

    Myles Handley,

    I’d take just about anything over Chatwood. He’s fucking horrible. If you told me it’s either Caratini or Chatwood, I’d have to take Caratini because at least when he inevitably sucks, there’s a good excuse for it.

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  198. Perkins

    Duensing has been worth about half a win below replacement in just 31 innings. That’s pretty remarkable.

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  213. Berselius is too lazy to login

    I only tuned in for the last two PAs of this game (dying laughing).

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  216. dmick89

    Joel Sherman
    @Joelsherman1
    Just got it in an even stronger way that Hamels to #Cubs has a real chance to be concluded, possibly even today. Chi does not have deep system, but #Rangers just looking to get out of any $, get some prospects. Chi would take on about $4M of $14.2M owed.
    4:52 PM · Jul 26, 2018

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  220. Perkins

    I feel bad for Chatwood. He knows he’s pitching poorly, and I’m sure he wants to turn it around. It’d just be nice if he showed the ability to do that.

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  225. Rizzo the Rat

    Hamels’ numbers are ugly, but he’s pitched in an extreme hitters’ park and his numbers are much better on the road. It’s like acquiring a pitcher from the Rockies who… um… never mind.

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