Category: Uncategorized
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Stepping up, big time.
Last season, newcomer, Marcus Stroman deferred to Kyle Hendricks, but this year Stroman has proven to be the Cubs ace. The 31-year-old righty has started the season 2-0 and hasn’t allowed a run in 12 innings pitched. I just read the last time a Cubs starter got off to a similar start was in 1991-Mike…
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What have we learned?
Even though it’s only been 5-7 games, it’s natural to want to analyze, figure out what is going on with your team. Heck, if you are as goofy as I am, you might be curious about other teams (and not just the ones with high expectations). The sample size is very small, but it’s never…
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MUST SEE TV
The best thing about MLB in Cincinnati is that games air an hour earlier in Chicago. With a 5:35 first pitch, it’s more than reasonable to expect the game will end before 8p.m. More importantly, Hayden Wesneski is starting for the Cubs tonight. The #5 starter has got great stuff and has the poise of…
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It’s only three games..
Not long ago, chief of operations, Jed Hoyer, said the Cubs are on the front end of something big-the next run to greatness or something. He may be right, but right now, they’re on the front end of a three-game losing streak. After winning the season opener, they’ve underperformed on route to a 1-3 record.…
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Comfortable surroundings?
I haven’t done a deep dive into Cody Bellinger’s numbers at Great American Ballpark, but I’m hoping he busts out this week against the Reds. Earlier today I read a silly column where the author said that the Bellinger deal (and others) were bargain-driven and failures (already). I suggested columns like this were being written…
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Is the pressure mounting?
Thank God for Dansby Swanson! If he continues at the rate he started, he’ll end up with 357 hits this year. I know that’s impossible, but 310 is likely, right? In every ML city, there’s a columnist and a half dozen fans extrapolating what the new guy in town will accomplish this season. Conversely, I…
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Mirrors don’t lie
The pitch clock is great and it’s trimming minutes off games. Okay, I got that out of the way. Even though today’s Cubs-Brewers game clocked in at 2:57, it felt like a slog to me. I guess there’s no way to gussy up and poor pitching performance or two. Mark Leiter Jr. escaped the fifth…
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Market corrections
Unless you’re fortunate to have spent some time in either Florida or Arizona, Thursday was probably your first baseball since the Astros defeated the Phillies last year. As such, you’re probably as excited as I am, and are already to draw some pretty crazy conclusions based on one or two games. It’s what we do.…
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More is less, and less is more
Several people have asked me for my opinions on the various rule changes in MLB. I’ve already explained their reasoning for the larger bases isn’t sound, but that doesn’t mean it won’t benefit the game. Ghost runners are an abomination and until they go to pitcher’s hand out, I won’t be happy with the tinkering.…
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Point, counterpoint.
For the next four hours or so, fans from 30 teams will have the unique ability to argue their team is the best in the game. Unless, you’re in an alternate universe, ST wins and losses don’t mean anything. For the moment, all 30 teams are 0-0, thus starting from the same point. Cities that…
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 