Jake Arrieta no-hitters aside, I always seem to expect disaster when the Cubs make trips to California. The Cubs did manage to take two of three from the Dodgers at Wrigley earlier this year as a part of bouncing back from their disaster start to the season.
Even money whether Joe raises a stink over Jansen’s delivery.
Team Leaders
Cubs
- OBP: Rizzo (.399)
- ISO: Rizzo (.273)
- HR: Rizzo (17)
- R+RBI: Rizzo (99)
- wRC+: Rizzo (150)
- BSR: Bryant (1.8)
- Defense: Baez (6.8)
- SP K/9: Darvish (10.08)
- SP BB/9: Hendricks (1.50)
- SP FIP: Hendricks (3.11)
- RP K/9: Ryan (10.80)
- RP BB/9: Kintzler (1.88)
- RP FIP: Cishek (3.11)
- WAR: Baez (2.7)
Dodgers
- OBP: Bellinger (.445)
- ISO: Pederson (.344)
- HR: Bellinger (20)
- R+RBI: Bellinger (105)
- wRC+: Bellinger (187)
- BSR: Muncy (2.0)
- Defense: Bellinger (5.6)
- SP K/9: Hill (10.40)
- SP BB/9: Ryu (0.52)
- SP FIP: Ryu (2.62)
- RP K/9: Jansen (12.49)
- RP BB/9: Floro (1.57)
- RP FIP: Jansen (3.00)
- WAR: Bellinger (4.5)
Injuries, transactions, etc.
The Dodgers took what would be a big blow to any other team, losing Corey Seager to a hamstring strain in Tuesday’s game. He’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but given the amount of firepower in the rest of the lineup they shouldn’t miss him *too* much.
The Dodgers are also missing AJ Pollock, who was a big offseason acquisition but can’t seem to stay on the field. Pollock hit the DL in early May after an infection seemed to flare up in the site of a nasty arm injury that he’s been fighting since 2010. He had another surgery a month ago to fix stuff from the last surgery and is still slowly working his way back.
On the Cubs side, Steve Cishek suffered a shin injury in warmups before Wednesday’s game and had to be carted off the field. No real news on this, but the Cubs website currently lists him as day-to-day, as are we all.
Pitching matchups
K/9, BB/9, ERA, Projected ERA listed for each. The Dodgers haven’t officially released their probable pitchers so I’m guessing here.
Thursday: Jon Lester, LHP (8.50, 2.19, 3.56, 3.97) vs Clayton Kershaw, LHP (8.05, 1.36, 3.14, 3.07), 9:10 PM CT
Friday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (7.93, 1.50, 3.00, 3.57) vs Rich Hill, LHP (10.40, 2.40, 2.40, 3.91), 9:10 PM CT
Saturday: Yu Darvish, RHP (10.08, 5.47, 4.98, 4.27) vs Walker Buehler, RHP (9.32, 1.55, 3.35, 3.30) 8:10 PM CT
Sunday: Jose Quintana, LHP (7.89, 2.75, 3.89, 3.74) vs Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP (8.06, 0.52, 1.36, 3.34), 6:05 PM CT (Yet another ESPN game)
Comments
I think my favorite part of the season so far is Joe getting pissed off at Doolittle’s delivery a couple weeks after debuting CJ’s ridiculous delivery. I’d like to think it was Joe’s attempt at humor.
dmick89Quote Reply
A lot of guys pitching in this series with really good control. Then there’s Darvish.
dmick89Quote Reply
Fixed?
BVSQuote Reply
I really want to read Arenado’s thoughts on cookware care here at OV. Which of our illustrious OV leaders is lining that up?
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
Our guys are reaching out to his guys.
dmick89Quote Reply
Annoying thing about the Arenado comments is how they’re framed in print to make him out like a meathead, when if you watch video of his answers, he comes off as a guy saying he doesn’t want to make a big deal about anything that happened and anyone watching the two series can figure out what was happening. He even questioned Rizzo getting hit as really surprising since warnings had been issued. He said (poorly, obviously) he didn’t want to talk about it but didn’t want to be a jerk so he finally started answering the questions he was being asked. A guy trying his best to politely downplay the whole situation winds up getting quoted in a way that makes him sound angry. He wasn’t at all after the game. It’s intentionally bad reporting to indicate otherwise.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
But I still want to pursue his cast iron thoughts.
andcountingQuote Reply
No way! Our media would never stoop to such lows. You should be ashamed of yourself.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I’ll withhold my own dinner. I just hope I haven’t ruined everyone’s appetites with my reckless slander.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Tigers and Royals are playing Omaha for some reason tonight
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Maybe both teams have been demoted to AAA.
dmick89Quote Reply
MLB has called up the Omaha Storm Chasers and optioned the Kansas City Royals to the Pacific Coast League.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
dmick89,
Did they reach the College World Series?
andcountingQuote Reply
Carl Edwards Jr. ———————> IL
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
The Royals? They finished the NCAA season ranked 57th.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
So maybe a play-in game?
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
I’m not even sure the Royals are good enough for the NIT.
dmick89Quote Reply
Only lefties in the lineup against Kershaw are Rizzo and Schwarber (well, Lester too). Kyle is officially officially no longer a platoon player.
andcountingQuote Reply
Ohtani just hit for the cycle.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Schwarber!
andcountingQuote Reply
Schwarber!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
https://www.warcraftmounts.com/mounts/amaniwarbear.php
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo is a terrible base runner.
dmick89Quote Reply
I didn’t see the play. Was there any chance Contreras would have been safe?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
2 runs per inning the rest of the game would be nice.
berseliusQuote Reply
Bryant!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
KB
berseliusQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Bad night for Lester.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
It’s crazy what 3 bad pitches can turn into.
andcountingQuote Reply
I looked at the standings for the first time today and half of the divisions are already decided. It’s not even July.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
oh wow you’re right. weren’t most projections thinking that both western conferences would be super tight races? maybe i’m thinking of last year. also hard to believe that the twins are 11 games up.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
this david ortiz story is really fucking mysterious. apparently the assailants were paid like $8k for the hit? they’ve already arrested 9 people.
also, not sure if this already came up on here, but zobrist is apparently not getting paid while he’s gone according to mlbtr.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
EnricoPallazzo,
Kind of interesting they think he might play again this year. With nothing but my gut reaction to how Zo looked this year, I thought he might be retiring even before I’d heard anything about his marriage. I keep going back to legal issues that might be affecting things. I wonder if he might try to come back in August. My reasoning is, he filed in Tennessee, where they live in the offseason, but he may not have established residency there for legal purposes. For his separation/divorce filing to be legit in Tennessee (where he can include fault in the divorce and limit how much money/custody his wife will get), he needs to establish residency for 90 days. If he joins the team earlier than that and spends no actual time in Tennessee, his attorney may worry there will be objections to that residency claim. Come mid-august, he won’t have to worry about that. His 90 days will be up.
Psychologically though? Being apart from the team may be more devastating than not being paid (especially if he winds up saying her infidelity cost him that pay and is awarded compensation /consideration for that in the settlement). The sudden loss of camaraderie has got to hurt. This is not a fun time for the Zobrists.
andcountingQuote Reply
To day’s base ball squadron:
War Bear
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Contreras
Almora
Heyward
Hendricks
Russell
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcounting,
That makes sense though I absolutely hate the idea of Zobrist trying to keep as much money away from her as he can. He has enough money. I don’t know what happened, but in my experience marriage is a 2 player sport. There’s usually blame to be spread around for marriages that crumble. Mostly though, I just hate the idea of a wealthy man trying to keep money away from his wife. Not a good look in my opinion.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I don’t disagree with this, but she has a career too. Doubt she’s grossing $12M/ yr, but I bet she’s doing better than any of us.
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
I’m not even saying she should get half. I have no idea what the fair split is once we consider everything. Maybe it’s half. Maybe it’s not. I don’t know. I’d just much prefer they figure out a way to work it out without resorting to this sort of stuff. This is going to be far worse on the kids than it’s going to be on either of the parents.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. They’re two adults with more money than 99.9% of humans could ever dream of, all the anger and hurt in the world toward each other, and kids who feel their hearts being ripped apart who just want to know life is going to be ok. Obviously I could be wrong (and hope I am) but the two filings in two states just screams pettiness and fighting to me.
And I could be projecting, but what are you gonna do.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Cubs need to make this series more 2016 NLCS and less 2017 NLCS.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Also, less 2008 NLDS.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Tony!
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo’s homer had an xBA of 0.050.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d forgotten all about 2008. Hell of a fun season followed by a wet fart of a division series.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Cubs hitters should stop giving up two-run homers.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I think Bryant is back.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
KB!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
Seems unfair that Hill gets a larger strike zone than Hendricks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
CB is calling a huge strike zone, but Monty still managed to walk three straight batters.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hell of a catch by Almora. It’d be nice if his teammates reward the effort by scoring more runs.
PerkinsQuote Reply
If I were as bad at my job as CB Bucknor is, I would probably get fired.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Brewers lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Perkins,
With the Cubs batting, he used Javy’s strike zone, Schwarber’s for the Dodgers. It was determined before the game by coin flip, it’s hard to get too upset.
andcountingQuote Reply
Kyle Ryan got a large zone, at least. Hendricks got a zone about the size of a baseball.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?month=6&day=14&year=2019&game=gid_2019_06_14_chnmlb_lanmlb_1%2F&prevDate=0614
Ugly zone last night that really benefitted LADoLA.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Seems like he made more horrendous ball calls (5-0) against the Cubs and one more horrendous strike call (3-2) in favor of the Cubs. At some point (it seems inevitable) someone will develop WPA for ball/strike calls. The one against Heyward in the 9th that was a good six inches above the zone and made it 0-2 instead of 1-1 (I think) had to be pretty costly.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Cancel. He reached base thanks to a Buckner play, (dying laughing).
andcountingQuote Reply
Pretty sure it exists already.
dmick89Quote Reply
I have trouble believing Martin is *that* much better a framer than Contreras, especially since Contreras looks a lot better this year. But Bucknor is one of the handful of umps whose names I remember, so I’ll chalk it up to his being worse at his job than a robot.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I think it’s interesting that Jansen intentionally balked Heyward from second to third when there was a two-run lead in the ninth. His run didn’t matter and he can’t steal signs from third. I’ve actually wondered before why pitchers don’t do this in this situation.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Don’t worry, you guys. Tyler Chatwood is still here.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brewers lose.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Cubs too.
andcountingQuote Reply
This feels like a game the Cubs lose 2-0.
PerkinsQuote Reply
andcountingQuote Reply
As the poet said, We stinks.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
andcounting,
False.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I really hope You doesn’t get a loss here.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Darvish was electric tonight. Too bad the bats were not.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
My feelings aren’t false.
andcountingQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
RIZZOMG!!!!!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
Darvish doesn’t lose!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The part where the Cubs get no-hit was, though.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Rizzzzzxxx!!!!’v
andcountingQuote Reply
I didn’t see that coming.
dmick89Quote Reply
Godspeed, Strop. This is one of those games I’d feel really good about having Kimbrel ready.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Strop!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Willson!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Remember that great month of April Heyward had? I miss that guy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Well, that was predictable.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’d bitch about Taylor’s having walked on two borderline calls that appeared to be in the zone, but the Dodgers probably wouldn’t have scored in the 6th if Maddon had a quicker hook with Q.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Come on, Vic.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Damn it, Vic.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was partly on Almora, as the announcers are pointing out.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Disappointing end.
PerkinsQuote Reply
xBA on that Baez liner: .860.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Pretty weird that a groundball hitter hit a groundball there.
Not that there was much choice of who to send up. That’s on Theo. Too many fucking groundball hitters on this team.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning,
It was a really crappy ground ball, though. To be fair, Almora still had time to score if he took an aggressive secondary and ran on contact.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Well, at least there isn’t another city on this west coast trip.
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I thought for sure that was a hit when it came off the bat.
WaLiQuote Reply
That was a rough, rough road trip. Sure doesn’t feel like we went 3-4 against the Dodgers on the year.
I think you can make an argument that the Cubs are the second best team in the NL, but there is no argument here- the Dodgers are the best team in the NL. They may be the best team in the MLB. Great pitching, great hitting, decent bullpen. Hard to see anyone being favored against them in a 5 or 7 game series.
MylesQuote Reply
This feels like that road trip in 2017 when the Cubs got swept by the Dodgers and Padres.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Luckily the Cubs have a pretty favorable schedule in the coming weeks.
Cubs play two against the White Sox, four against the Mets,and four against the Braves all at home before playing three in Cincinnati to finish out the month, with another four against the Pirates in Pittsburgh and two more against the White Sox before All-Star break. Atlanta has won 9 of their last 10, but other than that the others are all sub .500.
Unfortunately though, I doubt the Cubs will be able to pull ahead of the Brewers by the All-Star break since the Brewers play the Padres, Reds for two series, Mariners, and two series against the Pirates, all of which are sub .500 teams.
WaLiQuote Reply
So Kimbrel will make his MiLB debut with the I-Cubs tomorrow, which means he’ll have to be up to big league team by around July 8th. He’ll probably be up before that. It’s moving more quickly than I thought it would be, but I’m guessing June 28th.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I think that was the most optimistic post you have ever wrote.
WaLiQuote Reply
Here’s what I really don’t understand: in seasons past, Joe has shown a preference toward squeeze bunting with a runner on 3rd and less than two outs. Especially in situations in which one run is essential. Even when the other team knows it’s coming, the run scores practically every time. This season? He’s stopped doing it altogether. Last night he could have brought in Lester instead of Caratini and got Almora in to tie the game or at least arrived at the same outcome. Why has he abandoned this tactic?
andcountingQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/series-preview-chicago-white-sox-34-36-at-chicago-cubs-39-32/
berseliusQuote Reply