OSS: Twin Towers Topple Tons of Tiny Traducer Taters
Three Five Up
1. Junior Lake wanted more playing time. After a conservatively-estimated 800-foot blast onto whatever street comes after Waveland, he just might get it. Sure, he didn’t have the most totally productive day, but if you hit a ball as far as Lake did, it’s easy to be wooed.
2. Anthony Rizzo dumped 2 doubles and 2 singles on the Pirates’ staff. He’s up to .375 on the year, and also has been his usual stout self defensively.
3. Olt had a HR that went higher than it went far – if the wind wasn’t howling out, he’s not close to a home run – but that doesn’t matter in the score sheet. He also had a single, his first non-HR hit of the season. Olt also had a few nifty plays with the glove.
4. Jason Hammel only gave up 3 hits – all solo home runs. He was really on, inducing tons of weak contact, and only walked one. He fanned 6. When he missed, he was rocked, but he only missed 5 or 6 times all game. It was a very solid performance.
5. Welington Castillo went 2-3 with a walk. Castillo needs to turn it on offensively, if his framing is as bad as believed.
Three Down
1. Pedro Strop gave up back-to-back jacks to Alvarez and Martin. He’s look awfully shaky the past 2 games. Something to watch.
2. Justin Ruggiano did have a double for the first run of the game. Unfortunately, he struck out his other 3 at bats. Not a terrible game, but he’s still shown very little to earn a roster spot so far in the early season.
3. Just nitpicking, but Castro went 1-5. That’s not that bad, but EVERYONE was a contributor yesterday (even Ruggiano’s game wasn’t truly bad).
This was the best game the Cubs have played all year. They walked 4 times, had 14 hits (6 for extra bases), and Hammel kept the Pirates guessing all night. Also, Rondon has quietly become a lights-out reliever. Believe it!
Next Game
Going on right now (Wood v. Cole).