Archive for the ‘baseball’ Category

We played 2!

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Sports Time Radio
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Thanks to the Big Jack for recapping game 1 of the double header.  Game 2 pitts easily rattled John Lackey vs Drew Pomeranz.  Now earlier on The Podcast I picked the Cubs to take game 2.  I really haven’t heard much out of Drew for awhile, so to my surprise he pitched a great game as did John Lackey.  

Lackey would start the game off and retire the first 14 batters he faced through 5 innings.  Pomeranz would give up a single in the first to Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant but would get out of the inning with a double play ball.   He would walk Baez in the second but would cruise through 4 and put two base runners on in the top of the fifth. As I said, Lackey would retire his first 14 batters but on an 0-1 count to catcher Christian Betancourt would give up a monster home run to left.  Betancourt’s eye on the ball out of the playing field would rattle Lackey to give up a single to Pirela but would get out of the inning with out anymore damage.  

Lackey would come into the 6th and strike out the first two batters and get Will Meyers to fly out.  The seventh inning would also be a 1-2-3 inning for him.  Now the Cubs did get a couple base runners in these innings but no one crossed the plate.  Lackey would go into the eighth and give up a leadoff single to Betancourt but would get out of the inning.  

Brad Hand would come into the bottom of the eighth and strikeout the first two batters but would walk Heyward.  With two outs, Kris Brysnt would send one high into the sky shortstop, Alexi Ramirez would at the last second drop it.  Anthony Rizzo would walk to load the bases!  Two outs, bases loaded, Jorge Soler has the chance to put the Cubs in the lead but goes down swinging.  

Travis Wood started the 9th getting Jon Jay to fly out but Maddon would seize the opportunity to bring in Hector Rondon.  He would strikeout Meyers and get Matt Kemp to ground out to end the inning.  Former Cub, Fernando Rodney would come in for a possible save and would give up a lead off single to Javier Baez.  With the infield in, LaStella would send a sharp groundball to third with an opportunity to turn two, they only get the force out at second.  Ryan Kalish would pinch hit for Ross and would ground out to second but with Tommy running the double play is broken up.  Zobrist with two outs and Tommy on second, he can tie the game.  Rodney feeling the pressure goes to a full count but gets former Rays teammate to ground out to him.  What a game!  Now I know the Cubbies lost but you’ve got to love a pitchers duel.  

Lackey would go 8 innings with only 3 hits, 1 run, no walks and 7 strikeouts.  Combined for the 9th inning, Wood and Rondon would put no runners on and close out the game.  Again they didn’t win, but still a great game to watch.  Today just wasn’t thier day and it’s the first time they’ve lost consecutive games this season.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve never seen a Cubs team like this! 

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

It’s a day-nighter (Game 1)

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The San Diego Padres used a couple of Javier Baez errors and a 3-run home run by Brett Wallace to end the Cubs 8-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory in Game 1 of a day night doubleheader.

After extended use of their bullpens last night both teams where hoping to get some innings out of there starting pitcher this afternoon. Kyle Hendricks struggled early on for the Cubs, but settled down to pitch 6 2/3rd innings. Hendricks racked up 8 strikeouts with 1 walk while giving up 6 hits. 2 of the 3 runs Hendricks gave up where earned. Colin Rea lasted just 5 innings for San Diego. Rea gave up 7 hits while allowing 4 runs all of which where earned. He struck out 3 while walking 4. Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Former Cub Carlos Villanueva picked up the win in relief for the Padres and another former Cub Fernando Rodney picked up the save. It was Villanueva”s 1st win of the season and for Rodney it was his 9th save this season. Pedro Strop struggled for the Cubs out of the bullpen. He didn’t record an out while giving up 3 hits, 3 runs and walking 2. Strop also took the Game 1 loss.

Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Zobrist and Russell along with Anthony Rizzo and  Tim Federowicz where credited with RBI’s. Russell Federowicz and Jorge Soler each had a double in the game. Derek Norris had 3 hits in the game for San Diego while Will Myers and Adam Rosales each had 2 hits. Since 2 of the Padres runs where unearned Brett Wallace drove in 3 runs with his 2nd home run of the season and Matt Kemp picked up the other 2 RBI’s for the Padres.

The Cubs will look to start a new winning streak behind John Lackey in the night cap. San Diego counters with Drew Pomeranz on the mound. Fist pitch is schedule for 7:10 p.m.

@burketime
The Podcast

Let’s Call it Wednesday

Posted: May 11, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, hockey, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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I have to say I was a little disappointed when the Pittsburgh Penguins series against the Washington Capitals ended last night. I know that sooner or later they all end, but I was really hoping for a Game 7 out of this one. At first there looked as though we’d have no shot at a Game 7. Phil Kessel gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. Kessel also scored the next goal of the game on a power play to put the Penguins up 2-0. After Carl Hagelin added a power play goal to make it 3-0 Pittsburgh it seemed as though the game might be over. When Chris Kunitz took a tripping penalty late in the 2nd period it was pretty much a must score power play for the Capitals. T.J. Oshie was able to capitalize and get Washington on the board with a goal on that power play to make the game 3-1 and give the Capitals a lot of momentum heading into the 3rd period. Now 3 goals is still a lot to make up and Matt Murray has been one of the hottest goaltenders in the playoffs; so Washington had a big hill to climb. After Justin Williams cut the lead to 3-2 with a goal the Capitals where back in the game. The Penguins seemed to lose a little bit of their composure and actually ended up taking 3 straight delay of game penalties for flipping the puck over the glass and out of play. Now this could’ve cost the Penguins the game, but Washington only scored 1 power play goal in this time. It was John Carlson who evened up the game at 3-3 and at the least Washington was even. Believe it or not Pittsburgh actually took one more penalty in the 3rd period, but where able to kill it off and we where headed to overtime.The Penguins had a really good chance to win the when there was a bit of a scrum in front of the Capitals net, but some how Washington’s Jay Beagle was able to keep out a rebound attempt to keep the game going.  The about six and a half minutes intl the overtime period Hagelin had a good look at the goal, but Branden Holtby was able to make the save. Unfortunately Nick Bonino was right there on the door step of the goal and was able to put the puck into the net to win the game for Pittsburgh 4-3 and send the Capitals home. It was a huge loss for the Capitals as they won the President’s trophy with 120 points during the regular season and they appeared to be the favorite coming into the playoffs. The victory sends the Penguins into the Eastern Conference finals against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Now I mentioned wanting a Game 7 and there are two in the Western Conference. First up the St, Louis Blues are at the Dallas Stars tonight in there Game 7 and then tomorrow night the Nashville Predators are at the San Jose Sharks as they face off in a Game 7. While the NHL seems to be 4th on the list of the 4 major sports their playoffs are as exciting if not more than the other 3 major sports.

So who’s been the best fantasy player so far this baseball season. Now we play in two larger category leagues and according to our rankings the best player so far has been the Houston Astros Jose Altuve. Altuve was ranked 14th at the time of our draft; so it’s not a huge jump for him to get to the top. Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs) has moved up from his 13th spot pre-draft to 2nd overall right now. Manny Machado (Baltimore Orioles) has moved up three spots since the draft going from 7th to 3rd. A couple of big draft movers round out the Top 5. Jean Segura (Arizona Diamondbacks) was ranked 205th when our draft came around and he’s moved up to the 4th best fantasy player right now. Rounding out the Top 5 is Daniel Murphy (Washington Nationals) who was ranked 158th as we where drafting and is now 5th.

Pitching wise things haven’t changed t much since we drafted. Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers) was #1 going into the draft and he’s still the top fantasy pitcher. Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox) was ranked #2 as we where headed into our draft and he’s still there. Now as hard as it might’ve been to believe Jake Arrieta (Chicago Cubs) was ranked 3rd heading into our draft and according to our league he’s still at #3. The last two spots are where some guys have moved up since the draft. Johnny Cueto (San Francisco Giants) was ranked 65th overall in our league at the draft, but has moved up to the 4th best fantasy pitcher. The other big mover in our league is Jose Quintana (Chicago White Sox) he was ranked 137th overall and has found his way into the Top 5. Now obviously “It’s just May” and these rankings will change quite a bit; especially the pitching, but it’s always fun to see which players are out performing there pre-season rankings.

The Washington Nationals signed pitcher Steven Strasburg to a 7 year $175 million dollar contract this week. This came as a bit of a surprise as Strasburg is a Scott Boras client and he normally takes his players out onto the free agent market. Strasburg’s contract does have a couple of opt out clauses and some deferred money breaks down something like this.Strasburg gets a $10 million signing bonus payable on July 1, 2019, and salaries of $15 million each in 2017 and 2018, $35 million in 2019, $25 million in 2020, $15 million apiece in 2021 and ’22, and $45 million in 2023. There are salary deferrals of $30 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $30 million in 2023. If he stays for the full seven seasons, Strasburg would get $15 million each year from 2017-23, followed by seven $10 million payments each July 1 from 2024-30. The use of a deferral structure is similar to the $210 million, seven-year deal that the Nationals gave another Boras client, right-hander Max Scherzer, before last season. Strasburg would earn a $1 million performance bonus each year for pitching 180 innings. The new contract has an escape clause: Strasburg can opt out and become a free agent after the 2019 or 2020 seasons. If Strasburg opts out after three seasons, $30 million deferred from his 2019 salary would be paid out in three $10 million installments each July 1 from 2020-22. If he opts out after four seasons, $40 million deferred from 2019 and 2020 would be paid out in four $10 million installments every July 1 from 2021-24.

Listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast and you can find me on Twitter @Burketime

 

Posted: May 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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So the Cubs had yet another rainout giving me the night off but we go with the same two men in the rotation.  John Lester would take on young right hander Ceasar Vargas. Both men would easy 1st innings and Lester would carry that into the 2nd.  Vargas would get Rizzo to ground out to leadoff the inning.  Zobrist would send a line drive to to right landing the first hit of the game.  Javier Baez would lay down a surprise perfect bunt advancing Ben to second.  Addison Russell would send a line drive over the right fielder getting himself a double but on the throw home Russell would try to get to third not realizing that Baez was still on third.  He would slide into third but the throw and questionable tag would make two outs.  David Ross would walk but Lester would end the inning on a fielders choice.  

Lester would start the inning with a pop out but would walk former White Sox, Alexi Ramirez.  Then with two outs, he would hit John Jay but get Will Myers to strike out.  Dexter Fowler would lead off with a smack up the middle for a single.  With the shift on, Heyward would take the pitch and put in play with nobody at third.  With no men out and a slight shift in the outfield, Chris Bryant would pull a double down the line in left, scoring both runners. Rizzo would send one right back at the pitcher but with Ramirez covering second, he stops a possible single and another run scored but Kris would advance to third. Zobrist would squeeze one right in between 1st and 2cd scoring Bryant.  With one out, Baez would send a line drive to left in an inning that looks more like batting practice.  The Padres would intentionally walk Russell. With bases loaded, David Ross would send Matt Kemp through the warning track making the grab but Zobrist would tag and score.  Lester would fly out to end the inning. Cubs after 3, 5-0.  

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Melvin Upton, Jr would not only get the first hit but also the first run with a solo shot to left field.  Fowler would lead off the bottom half with a walk but would be out on Heyward’s fielders choice scored 4-6.  Rizzo would get his first hit of the game pushing Jason the third base.  Zobrist would make it 3-3 for the night knocking in Heyward, Rizzo to third.  Baez woul fly out to Kemp to end the inning.  Cubs, 6-1

Top of 5, Lester goes in with a solid lead, giving up a first pitch single to Jose Pirela.  Ramirez would double to center scoring Jose thier second run of the night.  However, after reaching second, Ramirez would be taken out of the game.  John Jay would double to right scoring pinch runner Adam Rosales.  Lester would get Myers to fly out and get Matt Kemp to watch strike three go by.  Cubs 6, Padres 3.  

Luis Perdomo would come into the fifth and get Addison Russell to strikeout.  Ross would send a bouncer back to the pitcher and Lester would end the inning with a ground out.  In the top of the sixth, Lester would have an easy 1-2-3.  Fowler would lead off with a walk but get caught up in Heyward’s double play and Bryant would strikeout to end the inning.  

Trevor Cahill would come into the 7th and strike out his first batter, walk his next, then get a called third strike.  Clayton Richard would come in for Cahill and give up a single to John Jay, prompting another pitching change for the Cubs.  Pedro Strop would come in and we finally got an update on Alexi who left with an injured leg.  First pitch Will Myers sends a shot screaming to Baez and would reach on an error to load the bases for Matt Kemp who would fly out to end the inning.  Rizzo would leadoff with a walk and Zobrist with his fourth hit of the night. With one out Russell would finally hit that triple to right field scoring two.  Cubs add to thier lead 8-3.  

Top of the eighth coming up.  Justin Grimm would come in and walk Derek Norris and give up a single to Melvin.  No outs two men on, he gets Brett Wallace swinging on strike three.  Pirela would single to load the bases and that would be all for Grimm.  Adam Warren would come in and strikeout Adam Rosales but gives up a monster grand slam to Alex Dickerson, his first home run of the season.  John Jaynwould ground out to end the inning.  Cubs 8, Padres 7.  Bottom of the eighth just one run separates the two.  Mike Quackenbush comes into the bottom of the eighth and has a 1-2-3 inning.  

Padres will get there last chance to tie or take the lead otherwise this game is over and we play two tomorrow.  Hector Rondon comes into the game and gets Will Myers looking.  Then gets Matt Kemp swinging.  Derek Norris steps into the box and grounds out to short to end the game!  Eight in a row!   “Go Cubs Go!”

@danzeeeman

Baez makes it 7!

Posted: May 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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It took 13 innings, but the Chicago Cubs found a way to extend their winning streak to 7 with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. The win also gives the Cubs a sweep of the 4-game series.

After a Kris Bryant double tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th both teams had opportunities to score, but couldn’t get that hit they needed. Finally with 2 outs in the bottom of the 13th inning Blake Treinen hung a 2-2 slider to Javier Baez and Baez sent the ball into the left center field bleachers for a walk off 4-3 win.

Jake Arrieta started for the Cubs while Tanner Roark was the starter for the Nationals. Both of them where long gone by the time this one ended. While it looked as though the Cubs had an advantage on the mound going into the game it didn’t start that way. Arrieta had one of his worst outing in who knows when. He lasted just 5 innings giving up 3 runs with 2 of then being earned. He also walked 4 while striking out 7 and it took him 100 pitches to get through those 5 innings. Roark lasted 1 inning longer than Arrieta and gave up just 1 unearned run while walking 2 and striking out 7. It was in the hands of the bullpens after that. The Cubs bullpen pitched 8 scoreless innings while the Nationals bullpen went 5 1/3rd scoreless innings before the Baez home run ended that streak and the game. Travis Wood picked up his 1st win of the year and Treinen (2-1) took the loss.

Kris Bryant had 3 hits and 2 RBI’s for the Cubs with 1 of his hits being a double. Jason Heyward, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa each had 3 hits for the Nationals and Ramos also drove in a run while 1 of Espinosa’s hits was a double. Daniel Murphy also added 2 hits with 1 being a double for Washington. Bryce Harper tied a major league record by walking 6 times on a game. Harper had no official at bats in the game as he had the 6 walks and in his other plate appearance he was hit by a pitch.

Washington (19-12) gets t head home after a 10-game road trip. They face the Detroit Tigers tomorrow. The Cubs (24-6) get to stay at the friendly confines as the San Diego Padres come to town to start a 3-game series on Monday.

@Burketime
The Podcast

To the Sky and Back

Posted: May 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Both the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs sit atop their respective divisions, one-fifth of the way through the 2016 season, the Cubs’ hot start approaching historic proportions. Their 23-6 record to begin the season, is the best since the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers started off also winning 23 of their first 29 games.
One successful component both of these teams have in common, is a pitching staff that knows its way around the batting cage. Giants pitchers lead all of MLB with eleven RBIs, while the Cubs are right behind with ten. Former Cub Jeff Samardzija leads his staff with five; Jake Arietta and Jason Hammel have three apiece.
Did you see Jeff Samardzija break the bat over his leg, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds last week? It’s not the first time I have witnessed this in an MLB game, but it is the first time I have ever seen a pitcher do it. What it says about Samardzija is threefold: He is a fierce competitor, he will display his emotion in much the same fashion as Jake Peavy and he is one strong individual.

Can you imagine how much that would hurt if the bat did not break?

Speaking of hurt, the Cubs and Giants were among at least twenty teams scouting Tim Lincecum, who spent the off-season rehabbing from a degenerative hip issue. He had arthroscopic surgery last fall and showcased his pitching repertoire Friday in Scottsdale.

Lincecum, who reportedly hit 91 on the radar gun, was 7-4 for San Francisco last season, with a 4.13 ERA and a WHIP of 1.48. He has made it clear that he wants to start, so of course, the Dodgers were also at the showcase. 

From Giants fans’ perspective, could anything possibly be worse than seeing a sneering Timmy, throwing scuds at Giants players, while they flailed helplessly? I think not. It would make Juan Uribe’s defection to LA after the 2010 season pale in comparison, and that one was brutal. 

Interestingly, the Cubs first selected Lincecum in the 48th round of the 2003 draft, but he went on to attend the University of Washington and was subsequently selected in the tenth round by the Giants in 2006. 

Timmy’s credentials include back-to-back Cy Young Awards (2008-09), and he was crucial in two of the three Giants World Championships. With both the Cubs and Giants leading their respective divisions, acquiring Lincecum would be as much about preventing him from going to a rival, as it would be about improving the team.

Though earlier when Lincecum expressed the desire to start, Bochy made it clear that he wanted to give both Jake Peavy and Matt Cain as much time as they needed, to pitch their way back into form. Now, with Peavy’s ERA at nine, right where it was all through spring training, and Cain’s at 7.86, Bochy has to be reevaluating his thought process.
One thing in the Giants’ favor is that when asked where he would most like to end up, Lincecum’s immediate choice was San Francisco. Let’s face it, like Pablo Sandoval, Timmy achieved super hero status regardless of how he performed.

San Francisco’s embracing of Timmy as a Bay Area icon, included a spirited campaign following the 2009 season to “Let Timmy Smoke,” following Lincecum’s citation for indulging in cannabis. It was an indication, prior to any of the three title runs, that Giants fans were willing to follow their diminutive pitcher to the sky and back.

After signing a two-year contract for $35 million prior to the 2014 season, Lincecum failed to live up to heightened expectations, but all would be summarily forgotten, were Timmy to don the Orange and Black again.

All fans have to do is think back to that dominating 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 NLDS, when Lincecum struck out fourteen batters and helped lead San Francisco to a 3-1 series win over the Braves. 
Or if that doesn’t work, then ponder Timmy’s role as a key reliever in the 2012 World Series.

As a starter or as a reliever, Lincecum was able to disregard the bright lights and distractions that post-season play features, and that is a characteristic that is attractive to all contending teams.
Considering both the Cubs and Giants are contenders, this battle to sign Lincecum may just be the most important one of 2016.
Mark O’Neill

Making it 6 in a row.

Posted: May 7, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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It was about 25 degrees cooler than yesterday and the wind was blowing straight in at Wrigley Field, but the Cubs and the Nationals still combines to score 13 runs in the Cubs 8-5 victory. It was the 6th win in a row for the Cubs and there 3rd straight over the nationals. The Cubs will go for the sweep of the 4 game series tomorrow afternoon. Lefty Gio Gonzalez got the start for the Nationals and through 5 innings he was able to keep the Cubs in check and the Nationals had a 4-3 lead. Jason Hammel struggled through 5 innings for the Cubs. It took Hammel 97 pitches to get trough those 5 innings and he walked more batters (4) then he struck out (3). Spencer Patton was the first Cubs reliever out of the bullpen, but he couldn’t get anyone out. It was Patton’s first appearance since being called up from Triple-A Iowa. Patton gave up 1 run while walking a batter and not recording an out before Clayton Richard came in to finish off the top of the 6th inning. With the way Gonzalez was pitching it looked like the 2-run lead might be enough for him. After a line out a single and a sacrifice bunt there where 2 outs and a man on 2nd for the Cubs. Jorge Soler singled to right, but 3rd base coach Gary Jones choose not to test the arm of Bryce Harper and the Cubs had runners on 1st and 3rd. Addison Russell singled to make the score 4-3 and end Gonzalez’s day. Blake Treinen walked the only hitter he faced; pinch hitter Tommy LaStella to load the bases. Lefty Sammy Solis was brought in to face left handed pinch hitter Ryan Kalish. Kalish managed a chip shot into short left field that Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa just missed. How ever you want to describe Kalish’s hit it drove in 2 runs and gave the Cubs a short lived 5-4 lead. Travis Wood started the Top of the 7th on the mound for the Cubs, but after giving up a lead off triple t Ben Revere he was removed for Adam Warren. After a strikeout for the 1st out of the inning Harper was intentionally walked and it looked like when Ryan Zimmerman hit a ground ball that Warren would get the Cubs out of the inning. Zimmerman beat the double play throw to first base as Revere scored and the game was tied at 5. In the Bottom of the 7th with 1 out Anthoy Rizzo hit a ground rule double. After and intentional walk to Ben Zobrist Solis was replaced by Shawn Kelley. It was Russell again who came through big for the Cubs. He hit a fly ball down the right field line that looked like it might go foul. Harper moved over to the foul line to try and catch the ball and it went off his glove barely in fair territory for a double. Two runs scored on the play and the Cubs had a 7-5. “Russell’s hit could be described as a Wrigley Field double as it looked as through Harper pulled up a little to not hit the wall. In any other ballpark he would’ve had the room t make the catch and end the inning.   Now the game was in the hands of bullpen combo Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon. Strop pitched the 8th and struck out all 3 Nationals hitters he faced. A Zobrist RBI single in the bottom of the 8th gave Rondon a 3 run cushion for the 9th inning. A Daniel Murphy fly out to left. a strikeout of Revere looking and an Espinosa ground out 3rd to 1st ended the Nationals 9th inning and gave the Cubs their 6th win in a row.

Warren (3 -0) got the win for the Cubs. Strop picked up a hold (7th) and Rondon recorded his 6th save of the season. Solis (0-1) took the loss for the Nationals. Tomorrow it’s Jake Arrieta against Tanner Roark in the series finale.

@Burketime

The Podcast 

How was your week

Posted: May 7, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in Auto Racing, baseball, golf, NASCAR, sports, Uncategorized
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MLB

The Chicago Cubs have won the first two games in their four game series against the Washington Nationals to improve their record to a Major League best 22-6. When the season was getting under way most if not all of the media expected the Cubs to be good and they haven’t disappointed. At first the Cubs winning was viewed as nothing but positive since it’s the Cubs and everyone knows the story. No World Series win since 1908. Then as odd as it might seem as the Cubs continued to win these early season games the media started to question if the Cubs where that good or if it was there schedule that has been allowing them to put up this type of record; so this four game series against the Nationals was seen as a big test for the Cubs.

The Cubs opened the 2016 season with an odd 2-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Behind the starting pitching of Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester the Angels didn’t score in either game and the Cubs started off the season 2-0. The Angels are currently 13-16 and weren’t the challenge the media thought they’d be for the Cubs. The Cubs stayed out West for a 4-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks looked to have won the off season, but that didn’t translate into this series as the Cubs took 3 of 4. Arizona is currently 13-18 and in last place in the National League West; so they apparently weren’t the match up the experts where looking for the Cubs to face either. After their  trip out West, the Cubs came home for their home opener and a 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, which the Cubs swept. While it’s difficult to sweep a team this wasn’t much of a surprise to anyone. The Reds did get of to a good start to the season, but are now 13-17. After the Reds, the Colorado Rockies came to Chicago for a 3-game series and the Cubs hit their first speed bump of the season as the Rockies took 2 of 3 in this series. Colorado is one game under .500 at 14-15, but the N.L. West is so close that they’re just one game of of 1st place. After losing there first series of the year the Cubs went back on the road to face there rivals the St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-game series. This was looked at as the Cubs first test of the season and they appeared to pass as they took 2 of 3 games in St. Louis. The Cardinals have struggled a little bit and since they’re just .500 at 15-15 this series win wasn’t good enough for the Cubs. The Cubs then went to Cincinnati for a 4-game series against the Reds; which they where expected to win and they took 3 of the 4 games. It was back to Chicago for the Cubs and another N.L. Central match up; this time against the Milwaukee Brewers. Because of rain the series ended up being just 2 games and the Cubs won both. This was another expected outcome as the Brewers are in rebuild mode. Milwaukee is 11-18 and currently in last place in the N.L. Central. The Atlanta Braves where the next team on the schedule as they came to Chicago for a 3-game series, but more rain allowed just 2 games to be played and the teams split the shortened series. Was this the chink in the Cubs armor experts where looking for? The Braves are also rebuilding and have the worst record in baseball right now at 7-21, but look out they won a game in Chicago. The Cubs headed back out on the road and jumped back into N.L. Central play as they faced the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-game series. This was suppose to be another test for the Cubs as the Pirates where and still are in 2nd place in the N.L. Central. This appears to be another test the Cubs passed as they swept the Pirates. Pittsburgh is 16-13 on the season. This brings us to where we are now with the Cubs facing the Nationals.

You’ve seen the schedule the Cubs have played and are they just a creation of the teams they faced or are they a serious contender. I hope you’re leaning towards contender and you’re not looking to make excuses for the tams success. I’ve also been trying to figure out how the schedule is the Cubs fault. I believe the schedule was set by Major League Baseball  and the Cubs or any other team don’t have anything to do with the scheduling of games. Will the Cubs continue to win games at a clip of .786 like they are now; probably not. While the Cubs are on a 5-game winning streak right now and they haven’t lost back to back games there will probably be some times when they lose multiple games in a row. Will that be the test the media needs, to see how they bounce back from a losing streak or is it something else. While it’s still too early in the season to hand the Cubs the World Series trophy they look like a team that might be in the mix for it at the end of the season.

NASCAR

The Sprint Cup series is going racing tonight in the GoBowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. Chris Olmstead usually joins the Sports Time Radio podcast on Sunday mornings to preview the race and give his Top 3 drives he thinks has h the best chance to end up in victory lane. Well with the race being on Saturday night Chris has sent us his picks for tonight’s race. Chris is going with Kevin Harvick; who’s starting 26th, Chase Elliott who’s starting 13th and Kyle Busch who’s starting 6th. Martin Truex Jr. took the pole with an average speed of 190.921 miles per hour. Matt Kenseth starts 2nd with his teammate Denny Hamlin starting 3rd. Kurt Busch will start the race 4th and last weeks winner Brad Keslowski rounds out the Top 5 starting 5th. Hopefully Chris will be able to join The Big Jack and Mr. Fantasy on Sports Time Radio tomorrow (Sunday) to review the race.

PGA

Zac Blair is a professional golfer and yesterday he was disqualified from the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday for using a bent putter. Now how did Blair’s putter get bent? Well Blair missed a putt on the 5th hole of his round on Friday and proceeded to hit himself in the head with his putter and bent it. Everything would’ve been fine if Blair hadn’t use the putter, but Rule 4-3b states that you can’t use a non-conforming club and by bending his club in anger Blair had a non-conforming club. Blair could have tapped in with a wedge and played the rest of the round without a putter. The Rules of Golf allow you to replace a damaged club during a round but not if the damage was done in anger. Blair  approached a rules official on the sixth tee and explained the situation, which resulted in disqualification. Blair was 4 over par at the time and in danger of missing the 36-hole cut. In case you’re wondering Andrew Loupe is leading the tournament at -8 going into Saturday’s round.

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National Beat Down in Chi Town

Posted: May 7, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Nationals seek to redeem themselves with Max Sherzer taking on the third J in the rotation, John Lackey.  He would start the first inning off by striking out Mr Fantasy’s guy Ben Revere but would give up the first run of the game with a solo home run to left center field by Anthony Rendon.  Would this be that kind of day for Lackey?  He wouldn’t let the hype behind Harper scare him because he’d get him to ground out and then end the inning striking out Ryan Zimmerman.  Fowler would not lead off with a swinging strikeout.  Heyward would walk but Max would get through the inning no problem after that.  Nationals 1-0.

Daniel Murphy would start the second with his 11th double of the season.  Wilson Ramos would single to Javier Baez.  Scherzer would add to his lead with a ground ball single to right. Lackey would only give up that run.  Ben Zobrist would show his patience at the plate by leading off with a walk.  The hot hand, Tommy La Stella would send a fly ball to right center for his second home run of the season.  Max would see four more batters to end the inning.  

Lackey would see his first 1-2-3 inning of the day to start the third.  With two outs, Anthony Rizzo would step in the box a knock his 10th homer of the season to right field.  Zobrist couldn’t let Tommy and “Tony” be the only ones because he knocks his 4th dinger of the season to right also.   

Lackey would get into a little trouble in the fourth giving up a leadoff single to Daniel Murphy and then beaning Danny Espinosa who appears to have a target on him for whatever or no reason what so ever.  Sherzer would see his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half of the fourth.  Lackey would have a smooth 5th but not Max.  With one out, Heyward would double to right.  After Brysnt goes down swinging, Antony Rizzo would end up at first with a walk.   2 men on and 2 out, Ben Zobrist steps to the box, he must have been a big believer in #ItsJustApril, because he’s making up for it in May with his second of the day and fifth on the season with a home run to right, he puts the Cubs up by 5.  It would t stop there, Tommy would knock a triple to Harper, working backwards for the cycle.  Cubs 7-2

Besides the single to Murphy, Labkey would have another solid inning, if they keep the lead, he’s acquired himself a quality start.  David Ross would start the bottom half with a double to right. Lackey would get him over to third with a quality sacrifice bunt back to new pitcher Blake Treinen.  Fowler would finally join in the action with a single to center, scoring David Ross but Heyward would end the inning with a double play.  

Lackey would come out for the seventh and instead of hitting Edpinosa, he would go down swinging.  He would also get Stephen Drew to go down on strikes and Revere would end it with a grounder back to Lackey.  Oliver Perez would be the third pitcher of the day for the Nats and get Bryant to ground out.  He would walk Rizzo and before walking Zobrist would throw a wild pitch and a passed ball would get Rizzo to third.  He would get Tommy to ground into a double play to end the inning.  

After 7 solid innings, Clayton Richard would replace Lackey, would get the first out of the inning but walk Bryce Harper.  He’d strike out Zimmerman but give up a single to Murphy prompting a visit to the mound to bring in Justin Grimm.  Grimm would allow Richard’s runs to cross the plate with a Jayson Werth double.  He would acquire two runs himself with a line drive home run to left center.  Espinosa would not get hit, but would go down watching strike three cross the plate.  

New pitcher Shawn Kelly would replace Perez and have a quick inning with Baez, Ross and Soler. The Cubs bullpen would prove this season to be able to close games out.  Hector Rendon would start with pinch hitter for the pitcher, Chris Heisey, by striking him out.  Revere would ground out!  Big hitter, Anthony Rendon looking to keep the Nats in the game swings for the fences, striking out but the dropped ball recovered by Ross is thrown to Rizzo to end the game!  Cubs win! Cubs Win!   

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

One over the Nats!

Posted: May 6, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals come to the friendly confines for a four game series.  This series has playoff implications or possibly a preview of the NLCS?  Kyle Hendricks seeks to get his second win of the season against hot throwing, 3-0 Joe Ross.  Now, the Big Jack had questioned whether or not Maddon would have Kyle throwing or avoiding Harper, well it looked like it would start with the avoidance of the young hot MLB star with a walk in the first but that would be the only base runner of the inning.  Joe Ross would take to the rubber and lead off his half of the inning by striking out Dexter Fowler.  Tommy La Stella would double but that would be all the action in the 1st.  Both men would get through the next two innings pretty easily.  Joe Ross would end the bottom of the 3rd with another strikeout to Dexter Fowler, who would not agree with the last call, while arguing the call he would be ejected from the game!  Jason Heyward would take his place.

Bryce Harper would lead off the fourth and draw another walk from Kyle but would catch Harper and pick him off at 1st base for the first out.  He would essentially make it a 1-2-3 inning.  Bottom of the fourth.  La Stella would lead off with a single. Kris Bryant would double to center.  With two men on, former Cubs manager, Dusty Baker would decide to put Antony Rizzo on first.  Ben Zobrist would single to Harper, grabbing two more RBI’s on the season.  Attempting to challenge Harper’s arm, Rizzo would get gunned down at third for the first out.  Ross would end the inning by getting Ryan Kalish to ground out and striking out Addison Russell.  Cubs up 2-0.

Both pitchers would make it through the fifth inning but not without hitting a batter each.  First Kyle would hit Danny Espinosa, then Ross would return the favor by losing a slider and hitting Kyle.  Hendricks would not pitch around Harper in the top of the sixth and give up a single, but that would be all the action for the Nats in the 6th.  Ross would have a 1-2-3 inning.  Clayton Richard would come into the game in the top of the 7th striking out Daniel Murphy.  Playing the numbers, Joel Maddon would make another move bringing in Justin Grimm to face Jason Werth and Wilson Ramos to end the inning.

Joe Ross would get into a little bit of trouble giving up a lead off walk to Kalish and then two outs later a walk to Jorge Soler.  Sammy Solis would come for relief and get out of the inning.  Pedro Strop would come into to the 8th and hit Danny Espinosa, then walk Clint Robinson.  He would strike out Michael Taylor and then get Anthony Rendon to ground into a double play.

Felipe Rivero would replace Solis for the Nats and immediately give up a single to Tommy La Stella, but would strikeout Bryant and get Rizzo to flyout.  With a man on and two outs, Ben Zobrist would smack his third home run of the season, picking up two more RBI’s for the night.  Kalish would get hit by a pitch prompting yet another pitching change.  Addison Russell would double scoring Kalish and the Cubs are up 5-0 after 8.  Travis Wood comes into pitch the 9th with a leadoff walk to Harper, his third of the day.  Wood would get the next two batters out.  With a man on and two out Jayson Werth would smack a fly ball to left and this would clear the Ivy for his sixth homerun of the season.  Maddon would make the change to bring in Rondon to close out the game and he would getting Wilson Ramos to line out to Rizzo to end the game and my prediction to come true that the Cubs would take the first of four.

@DanZeeeMan

The Podcast

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