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Cubs @ Brewers: Game 160
The Cubs enter the final series of the season half a game out of the final NL Wild Card spot. A devastating sweep in Atlanta puts them in a difficult position. And the fact that they played each game closely against the best team in the majors comes as little consolation--particularly as defensive miscues and a depleted bullpen can be blamed for each loss rather than the petty baseball fates. The Cubs have an uphill climb as they take on the NL Central leaders. Mere weeks ago, fans could hope that the Cubs would come into this series with a chance to knock the Brewers off of that hilltop.
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Giant Pen Stifles Cub Bats at Papago
Jairo Pomares singled, doubled, stole a base, and scored a run, Estanlin Cassiani singled twice and scored a run, and SP Cale Lansville and five relievers combined to toss a five-hitter (with the bullpen retiring the last ten men in a row including seven on strikeouts), as the Giants defeated the Cubs 7-1 in Arizona Instructional League game action Thursday morning at the Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.
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Hope Leads the Way at Instructs
Zyhir Hope doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs, and five pitchers combined to hurl a two-hitter (both hits by Geuri Lubo) with nine strikeouts, as the Cubs "Red Squad" defeated the Cubs "Blue Squad" 5-1 in Arizona Instructional League intrasquad game action Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
The game was pre-planned as a seven inning affair, and the DH was not used (each team played with an eight-man batting order).
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Bowser and Preciado Go Deep at Sloan
Drew Bowser (solo blast) and Reggie Preciado (two-run bomb) launched home runs onto the LF berm with two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning to give the Cubs an early 3-0 lead, and SP Alfredo Romero and four relievers combined to hurl a two-hitter, as the Cubs edged the Diamondbacks 3-2 in Arizona Instructional League game action Monday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
The game was called after seven innings of play.
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Cubs @ Atlanta: Series Thread (Games 157-159)
The Cubs swept their final home series of the season and they hold the final NL Wild Card spot and trail Arizona by half a game going into the day off on Monday. These final six games will see the Cubs on the road against two division leaders, Atlanta and Milwaukee. The bullpen has struggled without key arms. There's a chance that Alzolay could return on this road trip, and Mark Leiter may be ready to appear again sometime soon. The Cubs are also looking to activate Jeimer Candelario as soon as his lower back allows it. Stroman has already returned to reinforce the rotation.
Four Cubs Pitchers Make Pro Game Debut at Instructs
Geuri Lubo belted a game-tying solo HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, as the Cubs and Rockies played to a 3-3 tie in Arizona Instructional League game action Friday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.
SP Luis Devers and five relievers combined to hurl a two-hitter (both hits were singles), but four errors, five walks, and three WP helped the Rockies score three runs that erased an early 2-0 Cub lead.
Cubs vs. Rockies: Series Thread (Games 154-156)
The Cubs' recent run of failure proceeded from frustrating to demoralizing against the Pirates. Solid pitching and defensive performers fell through and two attempted comebacks fell short as the Cubs managed only one win. Chicago is in a virtual tie for the final NL Wild Card spot with nine games remaining. They have three games against the Rockies at Wrigley to leave home on a positive note. See below for matchups.
Game 154, Friday, September 22, 1:20 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-10, 5.27 ERA)
COL: RHP Noah Davis (0-2, 9.58 ERA)
Cubs Give Giants the Long Ball Treatment at Papago Park
SP Juan Bello tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, Zyhir Hope singled leading off the game and scored on a bases-loaded 4-6-3 DP, Drew Bowser crushed a towering solo HR in the 2nd, Adan Sanchez and Carter Trice belted back-to-back home runs with two outs in the 4th, and Sanchez, Trice, Bowser (RBI), and Reggie Preciado stroked consecutive singles, Jose Escobar drew a walk with the bases loaded to force-in a run, a third run scored on a 6-4-3 DP, and Zyhir Hope roped a two-out single to right to plate the fourth and final run of the
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Rockies Edge Cubs at Talking Stick
Skyler Messinger laced a double and an RBI single and scored a run, Bryant Betancourt and Jesus Bugarin each drilled a two-run single, and Andy Perez singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, helping the Rockies edge the Cubs 5-4 in Arizona Instructional League game action Tuesday morning on Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.
Geuri Lubo belted a solo HR and Zyhir Hope reached base four times (two singles, an E-4, and an HBP), stole a base, and scored two runs for the Cubs.
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Cubs vs. Pirates: Series Thread (Games 151-153)
Following a day off on Monday, the Cubs begin their final homestand of the season. They need to put a devastating road trip behind them, as they have only twelve games left to scratch their way to a Wild Card position. They begin the homestand in a virtual tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the last NL Wild Card spot. Mathematically, the division is still in play as they are six games back of the Brewers and finish with a three game set in Milwaukee. They'll begin six at home with three games against the Pirates.
Recent comments
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Indeed they do TJW!
For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.
That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.
Childersb3 (view)
The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18. We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.
My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.
If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.
Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.
Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.
Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.
When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?
But I digress…
Sonicwind75 (view)
Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.
At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.
Childersb3 (view)
AZ Phil:
Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
crunch (view)
masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around. i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.
TarzanJoeWallis (view)
I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.
That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.
Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.
Childersb3 (view)
Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa
Taillon and Wisdom up
Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.