Well, here we are in this bizarro baseball season. The Cubs kick off the summer with a three game set against the Beers. I guess there’s nothing else to say other than that it’s gonna be weird, and it’s gonna be baseball. We can distract ourselves from the shitshow around us by the Cubs continued committment to stranding runners in scoring position. For the Brewers, I expect Orlando Arcia to continue his streak of replacement level play against everyone but the Cubs.
Smoke em while you got em.
Team leaders
Based on 2019 numbers, not including anyone who joined the team this year.
Beers
- OBP: Yelich (.429)
- ISO: Yelich (.342)
- HR: Yelich (44)
- R+RBI: Yelich (197)
- wRC+: Yelich (174)
- BSR: Yelich (8.5)
- Defense: Cain (9.0)
- SP K/9: Peralta (11.61)
- SP BB/9: Woodruff (2.22)
- SP FIP: Woodruff (3.01)
- RP K/9: Hader (16.41)
- RP BB/9: Hader (2.38)
- RP FIP: Houser (2.99)
- WAR: Yelich (7.8)
Cubs
- OBP: Rizzo (.405)
- ISO: Happ (.300)
- HR: Schwarber (38)
- R+RBI: Bryant (185)
- wRC+: Bryant (135)
- BSR: Bryant (3.8)
- Defense: Baez (15.7)
- SP K/9: Darvish (11.54)
- SP BB/9: Cyle (1.63)
- SP FIP: Cyle (3.61)
- RP K/9: Wieck (16.20)
- RP BB/9: [picture of dumpster fire]
- RP FIP: Wick (2.82)
- WAR: Bryant (4.8)
Christian Yelich is pretty good
Who isn’t available?
Apparently as a part of a mlb.com website revamp you can’t actually see who is on the IL on the website. Not sure if this is related to their covid stuff.
On the Cubs side, Mark Zagunis has opted out of the season, Quintana is on the 10-day DL recovering from his self-inflicted thumb injury, and Descalso is on the 45-day DL with an ankle sprain.
On the Beers side, oft-injured starter Brett Anderson is on the DL with a finger injury, and IF Luis Urias is in the covid protocol. Ryan Braun is nursing back, neck, and oblique injuries but should be available to DH.
Pitching Matchups, game times
2019 K/9, BB/9, ERA, 2020 Projected ERA listed for all starters
Friday: Bob Minocqua, RHP (10.58, 2.22, 3.62, 3.80) vs Cyle Hendricks, RHP (7.63, 1.63, 3.46, 3.71), 6:10 PM CT
I just love dumb jokes about small north woods towns.
Saturday: Corbin Burnes, RHP (12.86, 3.67, 8.82, 4.11) vs Yu Darvish, RHP (11.54, 2.82, 3.98, 3.63), 12:05 PM CT
Burnes was primarily a reliever last year, and actually had pretty good peripherals. He also gave up 17 HRs in just 49 IP, so hopefully the Cubs go off on him.
Sunday: Freddy Peralta, RHP (12.18, 3.92, 5.29, 4.29) vs Tyler Chatwood, RHP (8.69, 4.34, 3.76, 4.50), 1:20 PM CT
Chatwood was a lot better than I remembered last year, though mostly came out of the pen. Still Chatwood as a nominal number three starter was, uh, not something I expected at this time two years ago.
Much like Chatwood, Peralta mostly worked out of the pen last year but his numbers aren’t nearly as good. He’s got good stuff, the Beers can only hope it finds the plate.
Comments
To day’s opening day base ball squadron:
Bryant
Rizzo
Baez
Schwarber
Contreras
Heyward
Caratini (DH)
Hoerner
Happ
PerkinsQuote Reply
So, I’m curious. If the World Series winds up getting completed this year and the Cubs were to win it, what percentage of a normal World Series victory would it be worth to you on an emotional/enjoyment level? So, not compared to how much you enjoyed it in 2016, but compared to what you may have experienced in 2020 had there been no axis-tilting pandemic (with special guests racial upheaval, constitutional dissolution, and economic collapse) touring the world all year?
Right now, I’m supposing 60% or so. I’m expecting to dismiss anything good as a fluke, but I’m also accepting any good news no questions asked.
andcountingQuote Reply
Pat Hughes in my earballs, so feeling good for once.
berseliusQuote Reply
andcounting,
About 69.420%
berseliusQuote Reply
Jebus, fucking Newsmax is advertising on WSCR
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
(dying laughing)
andcountingQuote Reply
Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air!
berseliusQuote Reply
Nice start to the game for Cyle
berseliusQuote Reply
Man, I really miss hearing boos when Braun comes to the plate
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Rizzo with the hand sanitizer
BVSQuote Reply
This
BVSQuote Reply
Not that sad to see someone other than Grandal behind the plate for the Beers.
berseliusQuote Reply
Happ!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
HAPP
berseliusQuote Reply
Happ!!!
PerkinsQuote Reply
7/10 bologna sandwiches
Wenningtons Gorilla CockQuote Reply
berselius,
God, that has to stop.
andcountingQuote Reply
I wonder if it’s harder to cheat with no fans in the stands. Yelich seems to think so.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
(dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
Cyle is already in midseason form.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Ron was giddy throughout that inning. Fun to listen to.
andcountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing), without the crowd noise you can really hear the fire station
berseliusQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ Arcia. He is the type of guy who probably would have given Maddux fits.
andcountingQuote Reply
Not sure how I feel about still doing the stretch with no one in the stands.
berseliusQuote Reply
andcounting,
Arcia has the only hits by the Beers
berseliusQuote Reply
Hendricks has a chance to throw a Maddux.
PerkinsQuote Reply
TONY!
berseliusQuote Reply
Rizzo!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Glad it’s official.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berseliusQuote Reply
Cyle!!!!
andcountingQuote Reply
No Maddux, but a 3 hit shutout is a great start to the season.
PerkinsQuote Reply
With just 59 games to play in the season, the non-Arcia Brewers are hitless.
andcountingQuote Reply
andcounting,
Back in March, if you’d told me Arcia would be leading the Brewers in hitting on July 24, I’d have said, “Com’on Dude! No f.. n way!”
BVSQuote Reply
http://www.obstructedview.net/cubs-3-brewers-0-2/
berseliusQuote Reply