Welp, here we are at game 163. As frustrated as some of us are, it’s good to remember that this team was somehow both kind of disappointing/had all sorts of crap/injuries/scheduling thrown at it and still won 95 games. It would be nice if, say, the Cubs didn’t get swept by the Reds earlier this year, but the fact that the division ended in a tie probably has more to do with the Brewers in general and Christian Yelich in particular catching fire in the home stretch.
Team Leaders
Cubs
- OBP: Ben Zobrist (.380)
- ISO: Javier Baez (.266)
- HR: Baez (34)
- R+RBI: Baez (209)
- wRC+: Baez (230)
- BSR: Baez (4.3)
- DRS: Albert Almora (+8)
- SP K/9: Cole Hamels (8.72)
- SP BB/9: Kyle Hendricks (1.99)
- SP FIP: Hamels (3.42)
- RP K/9: Carl Edwards Jr (11.75)
- RP BB/9: Jesse Chavez (1.22)
- RP FIP: Chavez (2.40)
- WAR: Baez (5.3)
Beers
- OBP: Christian Yelich (.400)
- ISO: Yelich (.275)
- HR: Yelich (36)
- R+RBI: Yelich (225)
- wRC+: Yelich (166)
- BSR: Yelich (5.5)
- DRS: Lorenzo Cain (21)
- SP K/9: Freddy Peralta (11.12)
- SP BB/9: Zach Davies (2.86)
- SP FIP: Wade Miley (3.59)
- RP K/9: Josh Hader (15.88)
- RP BB/9: Joakim Soria (2.49)
- RP FIP: Hader (2.86)
- WAR: Yelich (7.4)
Injuries, transactions, vengeance pacts, etc.
Morrow is done for the season, and Strop probably won’t be back until later this week. Bryant had a week where Joe gave him some ‘proactive’ rest for his may or may not be still bum shoulder, and was hit on the wrist by a pitch earlier this week. That didn’t stop him from hitting a 5000 foot home run in his return. There were rumblings that Schwarber was having some back tightness last week and didn’t seem to play as much as you normally see him.
No big news on the Brewers side, injury wise, that I can see. Jeremy Jeffress had some neck spasm issues a week or so ago.
Pitching Probables
ERA, FIP, xFIP, projected ERA listed for each pitcher
Friday: Jhoulys Chacin (?) (3.56, 3.99, 4.43, 4.50) vs Jose Quintana, LHP (4.09, 4.52, 4.23, 3.85), 12:05 PM CT
Chacin and Quintana matched up at Wrigley on Sep 11, a game that the Cubs won 3-0. However in his other two starts against the Cubs this season he had thirteen shutout innings, striking out seventeen and allowing just seven hits.
I don’t expect to see a ton of Chacin in this one – I’m guessing he goes through the lineup once followed by the Brewers leaning on their lights out bullpen the rest of the way. They could even start Hader in this one. Chacin hasn’t pitched more than five innings in a start since August, which kind of surprises me. Chase Anderson is also available for this start, but he hasn’t pitched in nearly two weeks.
Q had six starts against this Brewers lineup this season and five of them were pretty good, combining for four runs and 28 strikeouts over 32.1 innings. They did manage to get to him for five runs in five innings in mid-August, which was part of a stretch of rough starts for Q in general. Since that start he’s been on a roll, only really struggling against his former team. Hopefully Q puts up a fifth great start and the Cubs get two well deserved days off.
Comments
Would obviously appreciate an early shellacking of the Brewers followed by a 4 inning spring training game to rest the regulars.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That four game sweep by the Reds really looms large. Especially the final game, when the Reds put up 7 runs late to win.
Well, also Tyler Chatwood got starts as late as mid-August.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Don’t tell me what to do.
SKQuote Reply
My updated schedule has the game at 12:05 on Monday, but I’m hoping I’m wrong and the Cubs get to rest up for four days.
andcountingQuote Reply
You’re right, I forgot that I’m on Eastern time right now. Not having the sun completely up yet at 7:30 am is pretty lame.
Berselius is no longer on an airplaneQuote Reply
At least the chance of a must win game tomorrow should preclude the Brewers from leaning on Hader too much today.
berseliusQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
The Cardinals have been watching the playoffs from home since this HR.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lEEJ30casM
berseliusQuote Reply
There are club box tickets available, really all sections.
andcountingQuote Reply
still time for a gofundme. we need you behind the dugout man. Joe might do that Bill Veeck thing where he asked the fans behind the dugout to make managerial decisions for one game.
SKQuote Reply
The Brewers have to lose at some point right?
MuckerQuote Reply
Hey, Cubs, you have two chances to change my name. Prove me wrong.
RynoQuote Reply
PerkinsQuote Reply
Len and JD doing this game on tv today?
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Iff you motherfuckers are right (which I seriously doubt), you have until the first pitch of the NLDS to decide on my name.
RynoQuote Reply
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
+1 LSA Green’d & Rec’d RSVP KKK
SKQuote Reply
Ryno,
Iff statement, eh? I don’t think we need to qualify the “only if” because the collective we are always right. #logic
I vote for BartCavanaughBoofs
(no reference to current events or any noted cubs blog)
ceruleanQuote Reply
dmick89,
Nope, ESPN.
Len will join the radio crew.
SKQuote Reply
Perkins,
I admire/pity your confidence.
cerulean,
Was it or did my finger linger on the F key? It could go either way.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
It’s hard to notice in the quote box, but I added a few extra commas in the Alvin statement.
Part of me almost hopes they lose today and tomorrow because I’m not sure I like this team enough to sit through a postseason likely to end in defeat and sure to be filled with anxiety.
The rest of me wants them to see them crush their opponents, see them driven before them, and hear the lamentation of their women.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
I’ll definitely taking winning and going as deep as possible.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Losing in the NLCS last year and in ’15 sucked, but it was sure better than the previous 12 years. Losing in the WC game would be less than ideal also, but it’s way better than planning the off-season in July.
Anxiety, in this sense, stems from lack of perspective and confidence, imo. It’s hard to be confident in any Cubs team (the ’16 team not withstanding), so perspective is your best bet.
RynoQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Win, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Hopefully the Cubs remember that Chacin isn’t all that good.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
And that MIL doesn’t remember that Quintana isn’t.
RynoQuote Reply
THIS IS EXCITING
SKQuote Reply
Runs, please.
dmick89Quote Reply
This crowd sounds more way pro-MIL than I expected…
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
Doesn’t look like everyone is there yet, which is just crazy.
dmick89Quote Reply
Sounds like Quintana is giving up some hard contact.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Wouldn’t mind missing a bat or two
SKQuote Reply
dmick89,
Well they need to get their asses there so the radio broadcast doesn’t continue to fool me.
RynoQuote Reply
Come on, Schwarber.
dmick89Quote Reply
Goddamnit, Schwarber.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Fuck.
andcountingQuote Reply
Seriously, I might just have to think of this as an away game… I heard Arcia hit the ball and the volume of cheers made me think it was an out.
RynoQuote Reply
If I do, it won’t be because you told me to.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
There are a lot of Brewers fans there.
dmick89Quote Reply
You’ve got to walk Yellich.
dmick89Quote Reply
I don’t like intentional walks, but no way I pitch to him.
dmick89Quote Reply
Here’s a hot news flash: don’t pitch to Yelich with a base open.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Fuck
WaLiQuote Reply
Quintana isn’t fooling anyone.
dmick89Quote Reply
So LA or COL tomorrow?
RynoQuote Reply
Again, I might, but it won’t be because you told me to.
RynoQuote Reply
Ryno,
I’d rather play LA because I don’t think Kershaw is available and I’ve always hated playing the Rockies for some reason.
dmick89Quote Reply
Q should not go through the lineup a third time. He’s not doing bad, but he will if he faces the 15th batter or beyond.
andcountingQuote Reply
Some offense would help out.
dmick89Quote Reply
My son informs me Schwarber is the least clutch player in MLB this year — by a long margin too — according to the fancy stats for such like.
SKQuote Reply
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-silliest-thing-about-kyle-schwarber/
He’s not wrong.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Take ball 4 when it’s thrown. Jesus.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I want the cleanup guy to have the green light, but when your team can’t buy a hit…
SKQuote Reply
Javy has to take that walk. Obviously I would think differently if he had clobbered that ball, but they have to be thinking more than one run every inning.
andcountingQuote Reply
Looks like Q is settling in. Here’s hoping the Cubs can put together some offense.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Score some fucking runs!
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Anthony Rizzo abides.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzoooooooo!!!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
i’ll take it
SKQuote Reply
Rizzooooo!!!!
WaLiQuote Reply
Get. The fuck. OUT.
RynoQuote Reply
Asked and answered
SKQuote Reply
andcounting,
Walks clog the bases
WaLiQuote Reply
Why is Rosario up?
dmick89Quote Reply
Shit
dmick89Quote Reply
Damn wind.
andcountingQuote Reply
ESPN must have 300 cameras on this game. They’re showing close ups of every fan in between pitches.
andcountingQuote Reply
Chavez? At this point, I hope it’s a double switch.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Chavez!
dmick89Quote Reply
So glad the DP opportunities are coming with slow runners at the plate.
SKQuote Reply
Goddamnit, Willson.
PerkinsQuote Reply
goddamnit
SKQuote Reply
I’d have pinch run for Happ and tried to steal a base.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Do they still have the expanded roster for this game?
SKQuote Reply
SK,
Yes
dmick89Quote Reply
Javy is either going to hit a HR or strike out.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Come on, Javy.
dmick89Quote Reply
Perkins,
Probably a decent bet.
dmick89Quote Reply
Goddamnit again.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Baez has swung at two ball fours in this game.
dmick89Quote Reply
Big blown opportunity right there
WaLiQuote Reply
They’re going to lose 2-1 after 16 innings aren’t they.
SKQuote Reply
I hope Baez’s off season includes seeing a lot of balls while in the box, but without a bat in his hand–just ID balls and strikes. Like Schwarber did prior to coming back before the playoffs in ’16.
Baez at the plate with runners on and less than one out: feelings of excitement.
….with 2 out: Feelings of dread.
BVSQuote Reply
Score some more runs.
dmick89Quote Reply
SK,
With three rain delays.
dmick89Quote Reply
I never knew he did that. Great idea. Yes, Javy should do that drill 365 days a year just to be sure.
SKQuote Reply
Now would be a great time to score, because the Cubs are out of pitchers I trust.
PerkinsQuote Reply
dmick89,
And Cubs hitters with 22 strikeouts.
SKQuote Reply
This fucking game.
andcountingQuote Reply
Hopefully the Cubs can figure out how to get this to the 10th when they may have a chance to score.
dmick89Quote Reply
2nd guessing–perhaps should have pinch run Gore for Murphy in 6th???
BVSQuote Reply
Wilson, shit. Willson, fuck.
andcountingQuote Reply
Throw strikes!
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
They’ll probably walk Cain to get to Yelich.
andcountingQuote Reply
Justin Wilson you
SKQuote Reply
Hader warming. Cubs hitters get the blame in this one.
RynoQuote Reply
Wilson shits the bed. Color me surprised.
PerkinsQuote Reply
What a shitty fucking pitch.
andcountingQuote Reply
Would have been nice to have Strop healthy. Thanks Joe.
dmick89Quote Reply
So let’s talk about LA or COL tomorrow.
RynoQuote Reply
This will either be a monstrously annoying loss (99.9%) or a David Bote win.
andcountingQuote Reply
RynoQuote Reply
Not a huge fan of the zone in this one, but much less a fan of the Cubs’ shitty offense.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Whatever happens the rest of the season, I really hope both of Chili Davis and Jim Hickey are fired.
PerkinsQuote Reply
So that’s how a hit and run works?
BVSQuote Reply
Perkins,
Seems that only Baez and Heyward moved forward as hitters this year. That’s not good.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Schwarber is better. Rizzo was a mess for a month so I think his numbers are artificially lower than they should be. Bryant was hurt all year. Zobrist is much, much better.
I think the idea of this offense being worse this year is more due to their stretches where everyone went cold at one time (along with what seems like an eternity of poor clutch hitting spanning decades).
JKVQuote Reply
Pat said Hendricks is throwing in the bullpen. Not sure why that would be the case.
PerkinsQuote Reply
For a chance to play……MIL (dying laughing)
SKQuote Reply
Score runs now!
dmick89Quote Reply
I’d probably hope to see LA tomorrow. The Cubs probably have a better chance of winning one game against LA than a series, especially if Buehler and Kershaw are unavailable.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Well that game was a wet fart.
PerkinsQuote Reply
That kind of sucks. I know Milwaukee is really good, but I’m pretty disappointed that they didn’t win this division.
dmick89Quote Reply
It’s obviously not a thing they can make too much noise about right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some chatter in the offseason about how MLB handles makeup games.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Ryno,
What was all that five out of 90 talk?
andcountingQuote Reply
Perkins,
I would hope so, but the only solution I can think of is to add some days off at the end of the season to avoid having teams getting one day off in 6 weeks.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m sure the lack of rest didn’t help, but there are a number of things this team itself could have done to even avoid this game. The Strop injury looks even dumber than it did when it happened and it looked bad enough that I probably wouldn’t haven’t complained if Joe was fired as a result of it. It should not have happened under any circumstances.
dmick89Quote Reply
Not giving Tyler Chatwood any starts after about mid-June probably would have helped.
I’m honestly impressed this team won 95 games with all its flaws and all the key injuries. If someone said at the start of the season that they’d win 95 while getting basically nothing from Darvish, about a half-season’s productivity from both Bryant and Rizzo, and losing Morrow for an extended period of time, I’d have been pretty happy with that. Too bad the Brewers got shit hot at the end of the year.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t think it’ll happen until revenue starts declining, but they need to go to a 120 game season. Playing baseball in March and November is stupid. The only reason baseball’s revenue has been increasing is due to technology advances (TV, streaming) and the fact there isn’t a major competing sport during the season. Literally, all baseball has to compete against is golf. It would get destroyed if the NBA, College Football, or NFL seasons aligned with it. There’s some real talk about the NBA shortening their season when their CBA runs out (though that may just be the players’ bargaining chip).
With a shorter season, you’d eliminate some of your lowest revenue producing games (early season games, weekday games). You increase tickets 5% to account for some of the loss, plus the increased scarcity of games would (in theory) produce higher demand.
JKVQuote Reply
JKV,
I can’t get behind a 120 game season. I love baseball. I’d be okay with 154 games if it meant more off days so that this sort of thing could be avoided, but no way do I want only 120 games.
dmick89Quote Reply
I look forward to whoever can get this team to hit for power again.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Go Dodgers.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The Dodgers are so much better than the Rockies, it’s comical that they have the same record.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
There were way too many Brewers fans in there today, especially in the upper deck. Win tomorrow, then return the favor in the NLDS.
North Side PatQuote Reply
Colorado to LA and then LA to Chicago on consecutive nights is no easy assignment. The Cubs may have gone a long time without an off day, but they haven’t traveled in a while either. They should have a distinct advantage when it comes to rest come tomorrow night.
andcountingQuote Reply
Oh crap. It’s the Pedro Báez portion of the game.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/wild-card-preview-colorado-rockies-91-72-at-chicago-cubs-95-68/
berseliusQuote Reply