What have we learned so far in the two games the Cubs have played? Not a ton, but there are some things about how the games have gone so far that stuck out to me.
1) Scoring runs is going to be an ordeal more often than we’d like.
The Cubs have scored four earned runs in two games and been handed four other unearned runs. The Cubs aren’t always going to face the Pirates and their terrible defense, so the Cubs are going to have to score some runs on their own if they want to win games. They have 19 hits in two days, so getting on base hasn’t been the problem. The top two men in the order have reached base in 10 of 19 plate appearances, so the problem hasn’t been guys not getting on in front of the meat of the order. The problem is that the 3-4-5 hitters have one RBI between them in two games with runners on base all over the place. That can’t continue. For what it is worth, I don’t expect that to be as pronounced an issue as it has been the first two games.
2) It’s good Dempster and Zambrano were flip-flopped in the rotation.
Yes, Dempster’s results weren’t all that good, but he gets a pass because he’s Ryan Dempster. At least, the media hasn’t seemed to jump on him for giving up a booming grand slam after getting himself into a mess via the walk (as he did in a certain playoff game). The narrative seems to be that Dempster pitched OK, but didn’t execute a few key pitches. Last year, Zambrano had to deal with the Lollipop Guild as his middle-infield defense that allowed weak grounder after weak grounder up the middle to get into the outfield, and then didn’t execute a pitch to Jason Heyward on a homerun that has just left the solar system. The media couldn’t wait to blame Zambrano for not being an Opening Day calibre pitcher and things went downhill from there. So I’m glad it was Dempster giving up the bomb this year so we got spared that narrative.
3) Starlin Castro is really, really good at baseball.
This kid just keeps getting better and he is growing up right in front of us. Enjoy it. He’s special.
4) Carlos Pena is pretty good at defense.
He has snagged a number of throws that I’m sure Xavier Nady (or Colvin) would have just waved at as they bounded on by. He may never be the bat we want him to be, but at least he can catch the ball and help out our infielders in preventing runs.
5) I haven’t had to swear at the bullpen yet.
Pretty much every reliever has looked OK, with the exception of Samardzija and that is shocking to nobody. Even Grabow looked effective. Again, it is difficult to extrapolate anything from it, but it certainly is nice to be saying that when they’ve been effective instead of trying to make ourselves feel better after craptastic outings like some of the other NL Central bullpens have had to do already.
6) It took four fewer games to get a win against Pittsburgh this year.
Let’s just breathe a sigh of relief on that one.
That’s what I’ve taken from the first two games, anyway.
Don’t you mean “officially official”?
[quote name=Manni Stats]Don’t you mean “officially official”?[/quote]
Correct.
Excellent contrast of the Dempster/Z treatment. When Dempster fails, it’s the Cubs that suck. When Z fails he’s a head case. Part of that is the way they react, for sure, but Z pitching second definitely took the pressure off.
[quote name=mb21]What should we put up there where the Opening Day image is? Don’t think we need that up there any longer. Thoughts?[/quote]I completely forgot about this until RC mentioned it, but did we ever talk about using the appropriate flag based on the last game?
[quote name=AndCounting]
I completely forgot about this until RC mentioned it, but did we ever talk about using the appropriate flag based on the last game?[/quote]
We mentioned it when we were trying to figure out what to do with that space.
That works for me until we think of something more discreditable.
Forestgif.
[quote name=Rice Cube]Forestgif.[/quote]
Nice snark.
Dewitt —> Dinner
Is Zambrano allowed to eat dinner tonight? He left the game losing after ANOTHER cramping issue, so he has some things to think about, but he also got the Cubs first extra-base hit of the season and the they did win.
Maybe he can have an appetizer or a salad.
[quote name=GBTS]Dewitt —> Dinner[/quote]Z—–> Dinner, as long as he eats with his left hand.
[quote name=AndCounting]Z—–> Dinner, as long as he eats with his left hand.[/quote]
I actually think he has to eat his dinner with chopsticks to work the finer muscles in his right hand.
Marmol ————-> dessert
Nice write up, Tim. It feels good to get that first win out of the way. Gotta take the series tomorrow.
What about us learning that Marmol = Beast.
Dunno why it’s not letting me post with the name Doug like it has been, so I added a dot.
Good point about the different treatment of Zambrano/Dempster. I do think Demp pitched OK yesterday and I’d say the same about Zambrano today. I actually think they had very similar starts. I wouldn’t be surprised if people are all over Z for one thing or another today.
[quote name=Doug .]What about us learning that Marmol = Beast.
Dunno why it’s not letting me post with the name Doug like it has been, so I added a dot.[/quote]Are you registered, Doug? If not, I encourage you to do so. It’s much easier posting. You’re not going to get any emails from us other than the initial one you need in order to activate the account. We’re not going to sell your email unless someone offers us thousands of dollars in which case you’re screwed.
What happened when it wouldn’t let you post? The more info you can give the easier it is to figure out.
[quote name=Eddie]Nice write up, Tim. It feels good to get that first win out of the way. Gotta take the series tomorrow.[/quote]Exactly. You have to win a series agains the Pirates and that’s even more true when that series is at home. Factor in the team’s 3 best starters going and it’s a series they have to win.
[quote name=Aisle424]Is Zambrano allowed to eat dinner tonight? He left the game losing after ANOTHER cramping issue, so he has some things to think about, but he also got the Cubs first extra-base hit of the season and the they did win.
Maybe he can have an appetizer or a salad.[/quote]No food for Z, but it’s ok for him to watch others eat food.
“Who knows why these things happen?” — Mike Quade on Blake DeWitt’s awful spring.
I know why these things happen. Blake DeWitt had 59 plate appearances in spring training. Ryne Sandberg started the season at one point something like 1 for 987. Derek Jeter a couple years ago had a stretch where he was 1-50. These things happen because of the sample size.
love that pitcher usage chart, mb.
Thanks, GW. I put one of those together last year or the year before and I don’t think I ever published it. It’s not that big of a deal right now, but I know come July I’m always wondering which relievers are available so I always look it up. May as well post it here.
I like the look on his face. It’s a Fuck You look.
[quote name=mb21]Are you registered, Doug? If not, I encourage you to do so. It’s much easier posting. You’re not going to get any emails from us other than the initial one you need in order to activate the account. We’re not going to sell your email unless someone offers us thousands of dollars in which case you’re screwed.
What happened when it wouldn’t let you post? The more info you can give the easier it is to figure out.[/quote]Didn’t know I could register, where do I do that, I don’t see a button anywhere right by posts where they usually would be.
As far as selling my email, as long as I get 20%, figuring it goes for thousands, I’m totally cool with it.
Here’s the error I got (assuming it gives me it again):
This name is already in use. Please login or try another name.
[quote name=mb21]I like the look on his face. It’s a Fuck You look.[/quote]And he’s looking right at you.
It could be that someone named Doug signed up since you last commented so that name is no longer available. To register, scroll to the top of the screen. You’ll see a login/password box at the top left. There’s a lost username, password image and a registration image. Click on the registration and you should be good to go. You’ll get an email to activate the account. You should get it immediately. If you don’t, let me know and I’ll activate it myself.
[quote name=Suburban Kid]And he’s looking right at you.[/quote]But I’m not scared. I imagine a lot of people are frightened by that image, but I’m not one of them. I don’t even get scared of the dark. I got over that 9 days ago.
[quote name=mb21]It could be that someone named Doug signed up since you last commented so that name is no longer available. To register, scroll to the top of the screen. You’ll see a login/password box at the top left. There’s a lost username, password image and a registration image. Click on the registration and you should be good to go. You’ll get an email to activate the account. You should get it immediately. If you don’t, let me know and I’ll activate it myself.[/quote]
Sweet, got it. Gracias.
2 minutes and change…
Tampa Bay will not be no-hit tonight.
Test test test.
(dying laughing)
Love the new “thank you” bar.
[quote name=Suburban Kid]
[/quote]I’m so glad you posted that, I’ve been looking for it for weeks.
I asked it before, an I’ll ask it again: Was Blake DeWitt really all we could get for Ted Lilly? (And yes, I’m aware he had the game-winning hit today.)
[quote name=Steve Swisher]I asked it before, an I’ll ask it again: Was Blake DeWitt really all we could get for Ted Lilly? (And yes, I’m aware he had the game-winning hit today.)[/quote]
They had to take Theriot too, so, probably. Seriously though, Lilly was just off of shoulder surgery and the Dodgers took him and didn’t get any cash back in the deal, which was probably huge for the Cubs. Maybe if Lilly had been 100% healthy all year they get more, but as it was, it seemed about right.
I actually misremembered that deal. They did send some cash, but they also got two minor league pitchers in the deal. Brett Wallach and Kyle Smits. Both in AA, I believe.
[quote name=Aisle424]I actually misremembered that deal. They did send some cash, but they also got two minor league pitchers in the deal. Brett Wallach and Kyle Smits. Both in AA, I believe.[/quote]And it was just a Ted Lilly rental. Besides, it opened the door to Ryan Theriot, St. Louis Cardinal, and that’s been pretty entertaining thus far.
[quote name=AndCounting]And it was just a Ted Lilly rental. Besides, it opened the door to Ryan Theriot, St. Louis Cardinal, and that’s been pretty entertaining thus far.[/quote]
That has been, by far, the best off-season move in the NL Central, as far as I’m concerned.
[quote name=mb21]Good point about the different treatment of Zambrano/Dempster. I do think Demp pitched OK yesterday and I’d say the same about Zambrano today. I actually think they had very similar starts. I wouldn’t be surprised if people are all over Z for one thing or another today.[/quote]
The Cubs won, so the treatment of Zambrano will be tamer, but the cramps thing is going to get mentioned more than it needs to be.
[quote name=Aisle424]The Cubs won, so the treatment of Zambrano will be tamer, but the cramps thing is going to get mentioned more than it needs to be.[/quote]
You ain’t kidding about that.
Just finished watching the recorded game. World Series Bound!
Did you have fun at the opener, AC?
Fixed
[quote name=Steve Swisher]I asked it before, an I’ll ask it again: Was Blake DeWitt really all we could get for Ted Lilly? (And yes, I’m aware he had the game-winning hit today.)[/quote]Actually, the Cubs did pretty well in that trade. Ted Lilly didn’t have that much value considering he was a rental and the Cubs sent away a guy who is basically just a bit better than replacement level. They also got two prospects. I actually liked what the Cubs did all things considered. Here’s something I wrote at the time.
http://www.anothercubsblog.net/2010-articles/july/lilly-and-theriot-traded-to-los-angeles-dodgers-of-los-angeles.html
[quote name=Aisle424]The Cubs won, so the treatment of Zambrano will be tamer, but the cramps thing is going to get mentioned more than it needs to be.[/quote]Which is too bad because Zambrano clearly has some deficiency that is causing this. I think we may have even been told what it was, but I can’t remember.
[quote name=GW]Did you have fun at the opener, AC?
How did you fight all the chicks off, AC? That must have been rough.
[quote name=mb21]How did you fight all the chicks off, AC? That must have been rough.[/quote]At some point you just don’t. There’s a lot of me to love.
Converstaion from last night
My wife: wait, why couldn’t Soriano run to 1b?
Me: Brenly isn’t ripping Soriano a new asshole, so there must be some rule that I’m forgetting that says he can’t
I’m just glad that your shirt covered your belly and prevented mass hysteria, well played AC. I just read through the list of don’ts from opening day and I’m pretty sure I didn’t engage in any of the offending acts. I do have some self-control so I waited until 10 a.m. to start drinking.
[quote name=melissa]I’m just glad that your shirt covered your belly and prevented mass hysteria, well played AC. I just read through the list of don’ts from opening day and I’m pretty sure I didn’t engage in any of the offending acts. I do have some self-control so I waited until 10 a.m. to start drinking.[/quote]Civility reigns. And once you get within shouting distance of Wrigley it’s all good. Besides, it’s a long season. People who start drinking before daybreak on Opening Day are setting an unsustainable pace.
We also had to switch the audio over to Pat and Zonk when Len and Bob went on the most boring tangent ever about the “deep” inspirational quite someone posted on the locker room bulletin board yesterday.
[quote name=mb21]Which is too bad because Zambrano clearly has some deficiency that is causing this. I think we may have even been told what it was, but I can’t remember.[/quote]
I don’t think the Cubs have been exactly truthful about it. (Shocking!) First it was because he spends too much time on the internet and then because he drinks too many Red Bulls.
[quote name=Aisle424]I don’t think the Cubs have been exactly truthful about it. (Shocking!) First it was because he spends too much time on the internet and then because he drinks too many Red Bulls.[/quote]
IIRC he’s supposed to be eating a shit ton of bananas
I listened to the game on the radio yesterday and someone needs to tell Moreland how to pronounce Pena. He keeps saying PEEN ya. It was so irritating.
[quote name=melissa]I listened to the game on the radio yesterday and someone needs to tell Moreland how to pronounce Pena. He keeps saying PEEN ya. It was so irritating.[/quote]I don’t think it’s ever going to change. He also does the patented Phil Simms “heem instead of him” pronunciation.
[quote name=AndCounting]I don’t think it’s ever going to change. He also does the patented Phil Simms “heem instead of him” pronunciation.[/quote]
Now, I’ll be noticing that too, thanks. (dying laughing)
I will be interested to see if Quade is going to be slow to pull his starting pitchers. I thought he left Demp and Z in too long. On Friday, since I was at the game I didn’t know Demp’s pitch count was that high but I did think he looked gassed and needed to be pulled. Yesterday, I thought he should have gone with Wood to start the 7th. They were behind but they usually want to get their relievers in the first couple of games so they don’t go too long without any game work. I’m not going to jump to any conclusions and I haven’t heard Quade talk about his “philosophy” in regard to pulling pitchers but I’m interested to see if this trend continues. Guess, I’m taking a wait and see approach. (dying laughing)
New post: http://www.obstructedview.net/articles/major-league-baseball/the-stats-we-use-fip.html