Archive for the ‘post season’ Category

Wrigleyville Father’s Day

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs/Pirates series would see another main event this time on the mothership AKA ESPN.  James Taillon would be taking on Kyle Hendricks who would have a quick first inning.   Chris Coughlan would be replacing Dexter Fowler leading off with a walk and moved to third on Heyward’s single.  Bryant would strike out but Rizzo would send a soft liner to short scoring Chris.  But Taillon would get out of the inning.  Cubs up by 1.  

In the top of the second, Kyle would give two singles but would get out of the inning. In the bottom half with one out, Javier Baez would send a fly ball to left for his sixth home run of the season.  The inning would end but the Cubs would put themselves up by 2.  The Pirates would get a hit in the top of the third by Kyle would strike out 2.  

Taillon would start the bottom of the third with back to back home runs to Bryant and Rizzo to put the Cubs up by 4.  Zobrist would flyout.  Miguel Montero would reach on a soft grounder to second and then steals second but gets thrown out trying to score on Baez’s single to right.  

After striking out the first two batters, Josh Harrison would send a long fly ball to center for his third home run of the season but Kyle would get out of the inning but he’d strike out to start the bottom half of the inning and the Cubs wouldn’t add to the board.  The Cubs 4, Pirates 1.  

Kyle would give up a two out single and gives up a two out double to Gregory Polanco but strikes out McCutchen to end the inning.  A.J. Schugel enters the fifth to get the Pirates second 1-2-3 inning.  Kyle would start off the top of the 6th getting the first out but would give up a single to Jung Ho Kang and Jody Mercer would reach on an error but Kyle would get out of the inning without putting the Pirates closer in range.  A.J. would stay in the bottom of the sixth getting the first two outs but Javier Baez would single to third and would score on new comer Wilson Contreras’s pinch hit two run home run.  Cubs are up 6-1.  

Justin Grimm enters the seventh to get the first out to be replaced by Clayton Richard putting Matt Joyce with a single and walks Palonco.  Adam Warren would come in to get McCutchen to force out Polanco at second.  With two outs, Starling Marte would triple to left scoring Joyce and McCutchen.  Jung Ho Park would send a soft grounder to Baez who bare hands it but pulls Rizzo off first scoring Marte but Harrison would ground out to end the inning.  Curtis Partch enters the game for the Bucs giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant.  Rizzo would single to center scoring Heyward.  Jorge Rendon would enter the game putting Zobrist on by fielders choice scoring Bryant.  Montero would get two outs by grounding into a double play.  Russel would blast his sixth home run to left center.  After 7 it’s Cubs  10 Pirates 4.  

The 8th inning would only see Heyward grabbing a single in the bottom half but neither team would score.  Adam Warren stays in the game for the top of the ninth giving up a leadoff double to David Freese who makes it to third on Polanco’s ground out to Rizzo and then scores on McCutchen’s soft ground ball to short stop.  Marte hits one in the hole reaching first and that would bring Maddon to the mound for the swap.  Pedro Strop enters the game to get a force out and strikes out Harrison to end the game. 

Kyle Hendricks would go 6 innings giving up 7 hits and 1 earned run with 12 strikeouts.  Great putting for Kyle and Cubs would sweep the Pirates on this home stand.  

@DanZeeeMan

Take Your Pick

Posted: June 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports
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The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs are each on a course which will most likely see them oppose one another in the playoffs this coming October. If we are to believe MLB’s power polls, then the Cubs will be winning their first World Series in more than one hundred years.
That is a pretty big “if.”

For the most part power polls reflect the current standings and little more. Yes, the Cubs (45-20) have the better record than the Giants (42-26), but how about if we go back a month or so, and see how each team has done during that span?

In the last 33 games, the Cubs are 20-13 while the Giants have posted a 25-8 record. You can take those power polls and plaster them all over the Cubs’ locker room for all the difference they make in the individual locker rooms.
There are seven reasons why I do not see the Cubs beating the Giants in a head-to-head confrontation in October, despite the overwhelming feeling in baseball that, well, you know, it’s the Cubs’ turn. Giants fans would respond, “It’s an even year.”
Take your pick.

Let’s begin with defense because-on the big stage-defense is what separates the very good from the excellent. The Cubs are nineteenth, overall, in Major League Baseball; that is very good. In 65 games the Cubs have had 2,484 total chances and 1,761 put-outs. They have accrued 683 assists and committed 40 errors, for a fielding percentage of .984
The Giants are second in all of MLB; that is excellent. In three more games (68) than the Cubs, they have had 2,599 total chances with 1,848 put-outs. San Francisco has racked up 722 assists and been charged with 29 errors, for a fielding percentage of .989.

The Giants have proven under the brightest lights, that they can produce the big play. I have seen Joe Panik try that back-handed flip of the ball to second base, while falling away with his back to the play, twice since Game Seven of the 2014 World Series. Once it worked to perfection-once the ball went askew. It’s all about timing.
The second reason the Giants have the advantage is speed. The Giants have out-stolen the Cubs, 41 bases to 28, despite being caught only twice more than Chicago, 18 to 16. Additionally, though both clubs have identical team batting averages (.285), the Giants have 22 triples to the Cubs’ nine.
Speed is deadly because it throws off the timing of the defense. Aside from the in-the-park home run, the triple is the most exciting offensive play in baseball. It electrifies the offense and causes conniption fits on the part of the defense.

Yes, the Cubs have clubbed 78 home runs to the Giants’ 56, but we have already seen San Francisco win a world series with the fewest number of home runs in all of MLB. The year was 2012 when the Giants finished dead last and it wasn’t even close. The Los Angeles Dodgers were second-to-last with 116. 

San Francisco went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. How many homers did Detroit hammer out in 2012? 163, which is sixty more than the Giants. A lot of good it did them in the World Series.
Thirdly, the Giants have a pitching staff that has more savvy when it comes to preventing stolen bases. San Francisco has allowed 24 stolen bases to Chicago’s 51. That would be the influence of one Buster Posey, Esq. I might imagine. 

Together, Posey (14) and Trevor Brown (4) have caught eighteen base-stealers. The Cubs’ Miguel Montego (9) and David Ross (2) have nabbed eleven. I am more interested in the number of stolen bases allowed (51) by the Cubs, compared to the 24 allowed by the Giants. That’s huge.

Fourth, whereas the Giants and Cubs may be on a par as far as front office leadership is concerned, with Theo Epstein and Brian Sabean working behind GM’s Jed Hoyer and Bobby Evans, San Francisco has the best manager in baseball.

I have heard of the wonderful rapport Joe Madden has with his players, and how comfy all the rookies are. How nice for them. How many rings has the man earned? Zero. 

How many rings has Bruce Bochy won? With essentially the same crew as he has this year? Three. 

‘Nuf said.
Fifth, the Giants have experience as a team. They have earned at least 31 world series rings amongst them, with Javier Lopez leading the parade with four. I don’t know how many rings the Cubs have earned, but it does not approach 31.

Sixth, the Giants have that chemistry thing going for them. It doesn’t matter what is happening inside the Cubs’ locker room, or how loosey-goosey Joe Madden has his rookies, the Giants have taken the concept and brought it to a new level. After all, San francisco still has Hunter Pence, even if he is on the disabled list, the best motivator in the game.

Finally, the Giants, as I pointed out above, are the underdogs to the Cubs. It just so happens that San Francisco embraces this concept. They work it to their advantage, as they have done EVERY step of their way to their three recent titles. Madison Bumgarner has helped make this happen, as has Buster Posey.
I am not going to put it all on these two foundation pieces, but if the cap fits, flaunt it, Baby. Not to dis on Jake Arieta and his ongoing streak of quality starts, but Jake’s playoff repertoire is nothing like his regular-season record. 
So I’m fine with MLB and the latest power polls. In fact it works to the Giants’ advantage. Just don’t try to convince me that they mean anything.

Mark O’Neill

Pirates ship sinking

Posted: June 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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 Cubs fans will say every time the Cubs have an off day, they lose the the next game but with the Cubs have The Great One, Jake Arrieta on the mound taking on Pirates ace, Francisco Liriano.  The Great starts the game off with striking out two out of the three batters.  Liriano wouldn’t be so lucky giving up a lead off single to Dexter Fowler.  Then Matt Szczur would launch his third home run of the season putting the Cubs up by two.  With two runs and two outs Albert Almora, would single and move to second on a wild pitch before Baez would walk.  Cubs up 2-0. 

Jake would get another two K’s in the second as Liriano would only strike out Jake.  Jake would give up two singles but strikes out the next three batters to get out of a trouble.  Liriano would mirror the three K’s but would hit Rizzo in between.  Jake would have 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth.  Liriano would load the bases in both the fourth and the fifth but the Cubs would not add any more runs to the board.  

In the sixth, with one out Jake would load the bases with walks but strikes out the last two batters to end the inning.  Chris Coghlan leads off the bottom half with a double who scores on a two out single by Ben Zobrist.  Cory Lurbke comes in and  would walk Rizzo, who moves to third on Almora’s double as Zobrist scores.  Baez would be put on intentionally  and Addison Russell would walk scoring Rizzo.  This would bring in Sean Rodriguez to get Montero to ground out.  Cubs up 5-0. 

Trevor Cahill replaces The Great One in the seventh making it a 1-2-3 inning.  Arquimedes Caminero enters the bottom of the seventh for the Pirates with one out walks Fowler and gives up a single to Szczur but gets Zobrist to ground out.  Rizzo walks to load the bases. Almora would single scoring Fowler everybody’s safe!  The Pirates would challenge the call at third being overturned ending the owning.  Cubs up 6-0.  

Travis Cahill stays in for the eighth, getting Rodriguez to ground out but hits John Jaso.  Travis Wood would replace Cahill, getting Polanco to ground into an inning ending double play.  

Justin Grimm would enter the top of the ninth as well as Cubs #1 catching prospect Wilson Contreras.  Andrew McCutchen would start the inning with a single but Freese and Jung Ho Kang pinch hits to strikeout for the second out.  Josh Harrison would reach in a walk.  Grimm would throw a wild pitch a dancing both runners.  Jody Mercer would be the Pirates last hope but would be called out on strikes.  Cubs Win!  

Jake would only go 6 innings striking 11, walking 3 and only gave up 2 hits.  The bullpen combined would strike out 2, walk 1 and give up only one hit.  Great day for the Cubs!

@DanZeeeMan

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Friday

Posted: June 10, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs are entering game 4 of their 9 game road trip taking on the NL East in Atlanta.  Jason Hammel is looking for his 8th win of the season while the Braves starter Bud Norris is looking to not get his 8th loss of the season.  He starts the game off by striking out the first two batters of the game and a flyout ends the top half of the 1st.  Hammel follows in suit but only getting one strikeout.  Ben Zobrist leads off the 2cd with a single followed by Miguel Montero’s single.  Javier Baez sends a ground ball to short to second to first for a double play.  Russell ends the inning by striking out.  Hammel would get the first out of the bottom half of the second with Nick Markakis’s fly ball into foul territory.  However, he gives up back to back solo home runs to Adonis Garcia and Tyler Flowers.  He does give up singles to Bud Norris and Mallex Smith but gets out of the inning.  Braves up 2-0.

Albert Almora, Jr leads off the top of third with his first double of his career and a wild pitch would push him to third.  Dexter Fowler would ground out to second that scores Almora.  Heyward ends the inning with a ground out.  Chase d’Arnaud reaches on a fielding error by Russell and steals second base.  Hammel would give up one more hit to Adonis Garcia but gets out of the inning striking out Tyler Flowers.  Cubs 1 – Braves 2.

Bud Norris makes the top of the 4ht a 1-2-3 inning.  Jason Hammel hits Jace Peterson who moves to 2cd on Norris’s sac bunt.  Mallex Smith singles pushing Jace to third who then scores on Ender Inciarte’s sac fly to left.  Mallex Smith gets caught trying to advance to second to end the inning.  Cubs 1, Braves 3.  Both men would have easy 1-2-3 innings.  Norris would give up a double to Fowler in the 6th but that would be all the action for the Cubs.  Jason Hamel would give up two singles in the bottom half but after two outs, Maddon would have seen enough and bring Travis Wood into the game to end the inning.  Bud Norris continues with another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.  Wood would get into to enough trouble putting two men on but with two outs, Maddon  brings in Adam Warren who loads the bases but gets out of the inning.  Jim Johnson replaces Norris for yet another 1-2-3 inning on the Cubs.

Justin Grimm enters the bottom of the 8th loading the bases with two singles and a walk.  Clayton Richard enters the game gives up a single to Inciarte adding to the Braves lead.  Richard old strikeout d’Arnaud but gives up a sac fly to Freddie Freeman but Nick Markakis ends the inning with a ground out.  Cubs 1, Braves 5.  Former Cub, Aroydis Vizcaino comes to close the game and get a win for the Braves and he does so, getting Fowler to ground out and then striking out both Heyward and Bryant to end the game.  This was not the pretties of the Cubs losses this season but that’s why there’s 162 games plus Rizzo is out with some back issues.  The Cubs may have a rough trip East but I wouldn’t worry until after the All Star break.  Go Cubs Go!

@DanZeeeMan

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8 great by Lester

Posted: June 6, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 of the 9 game road trip for out East started in Philly with Jon Lester going up against Adam Morgan.  Dexter Fowler is the first one to see Morgan and sends a line drive to left field for a lead off double, making that his 16th of the year.  Heyward would pop out for the firs.  Up next is Kris Bryant sends a 3-1 pitch deep to right field what appears to be a Home Run but is in the field of play making it a triple.  The play would be looked at and overturned due to fan interference scoring it as a double but would still get the RBI.  Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler would hit back to back singles to load the bases but Morgan would strike out Baez and Russell.  Lester would come out in the bottom half and Ceasar Hernandez would challenge Lester with a bunt but David Ross would pick it up and throw him out.  Freddy Galvis would strike out and Tommy Joseph would fly out to end the inning.

Morgan would have somewhat of a better second inning but he’d give up a single to Fowler and hit Heyward but get out of the inning with out adding any runs.  Lester would give up a lead off single to Maikel Franco but would double him up with Cameron Rupp at the plate for the old strike’em out, throw’em out double play.  Lester would then give up back to back singles to Goeddel and Bourjos but get Jimmy Paredes to fly out to left to end the inning.  Jorge Soler would get the only hit of the top half of the third but would suffer the old hamstring issue and be replaced by Matt Szczur.  Morgan gets Baez and Russell to fly out to end the top half of the third.  Lester comes in and gets a ground out and two strikeouts to end the inning.

In the top of the 4th with one out, Lester steps in the box and sends a line drive to right field for his second double of the season and would remain there until with two outs , Jason Heyward cranks his third home run of the season to right field.  Bryant flies out to end the inning but the Cubs are up 3-0.  Jon would continue the fourth with a strike out, fly out and groundout.  Morgan eases down a bit and throws his first perfect inning.  Lester would almost exactly mirror the 1-2-3 inning that Morgan had. The top of the sixth is another 1-2-3 inning for Morgan and would be his last as he is pulled for a pinch hitter, Cody Asche, who would strikeout to start the inning.  Lester would get a line out and another strikeout to end the sixth.

Elvis Araujo enters the game for the Phills givin up a lead off single to Fowler but gets Heyward to line out.  Kris Bryant gets a single sending Fowler to third.  Rizzo would send one to the opposite field for a single that would score Fowler adding to the Cubs lead.  Matt Szczur would step into the box and lay down a bunt, which was scored as a sac bunt, but what still confuses me, is that he reached first base with out being tagged out; hence he did not sacrifice an out for a run.  Baez and Russell would continue their in game streak of ending the inning with the last two outs.  Lester would give up a single to start the inning but gets Franco to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.  Rupp flys out to end the inning.

Andrew Bailey enters the 8th getting the first two batters out, hits Fowler, but gets Heyward to ground out to the first baseman.  Lester remains in the game just dominating the Phillies getting another 1-2-3inning.  We go into the ninth with the Cubs looking to add to their lead.

Brett Oberholtzer comes into the top of the ninth to hold the Cubs to 5 but gives up a lead off double left-center that just misses being a home run.  Rizzo sends a line drive single just out of the reach for the shortstop scoring Bryant.  Szczur would fly out to right for the first out.  Baez really trying to get his first hit of the game strikes out losing his bat just into right field.  Russell would fly out to right to end the ninth.  Justin Grimm comes into the bottom half of the ninth to finish the game for Lester giving up a lead off single to Andres Blanco, pinch hitting for Brett.  Hernandez sends a slow bouncer to Rizzo which should have been the first out but with his speed, he turns it into a single.  Two on, no outs Freddy Galvis swings on the first pitch sending high and deep to right field for his sixth home run of the season, prompting Maddon (the look on his face) regretting pulling Lester but forcing him to bring in Hector Rondon for the now save situation.  Tommy Joseph would send one deep to center field just over Fowler’s head his 5th home run of the season.  Rondon strikes out Rupp for the second out of the inning.  Odubel Herrera would swing on the first pitch sending a bloop single just into left field for a single.  Ryan Howard would enter the game pinch hitting for Bourjos.  Howard swings on the first pitch pulling a line ground ball straight to Rizzo, he would tag first base to end the game.  Cubs bullpen almost blows the game but they win 6-5 putting them 10 games ahead of the Pirates in the standings.

@DanZeeeMan

The Podcast

Diamondbacks rattle the Great One

Posted: June 5, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The Diamondbacks/Cubs series wraps up with Patrick Corbin taking on Jake Arrieta looking for his 10th win of the season.  He starts off the first inning with a K followed up by a walk and then two more strike outs to end the inning.  Corbin would get the first two outs of the bottom half but then gives up a single passed shortstop to Kris Bryant who would advance to second when Jorge Soler gets hit by a pitch.  Javier Baez would ground out to end the inning.

The second inning, The Great One off his game gives up two singles to Chris Herrman and Chris Owings.  Yasmany Thomas would see the first pitch as a ball but then takes the next one to right center scoring both Chris’s making it a two RBI double.  Jake would settle down by striking out the next three batters to end the top half of the second.  Arizona 2-0.  With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Matt Szczur would send a line drive to left for a single but would be forced out when Miguel Montero sends a ground ball to Goldschmidt who throws it to short for the force.  With two outs, The Great One steps in the box and sends a double to center scoring Montero.  Fowler would end the inning with a ground out to third.  Cubs 1, Arizona 2.  The top of the third and Jake only strikes out two batters and gets the other to ground out.  Corbin would only have one K in the bottom half but it would be a 1-2-3 inning for him also.

Arreita would again strike out three batters to end the inning but not before giving up another single to Chris Owings.  Corbin repeats his third inning with one K and 1-2-3 inning.  The top of the fifth would see Jake giving up lead off single to his counter part Corbin, and then three straight singles to Michael Bourn, Phil Gosselin and Goldschmidt, which his would score an RBI.  He would get Jake Lamb to strike out for the second out of the inning.  Chris Herrmann would get his second single of the game but Phil would get caught in a run down for the third out.  Arizona 3, Cubs 1.  The bottom half, Montero would lead off with a single and then advance on Jake’s sac bunt but he wouldn’t cross home as Fowler and Zobrist would both ground out.

Trevor Cahill would enter the game in the top of the sixth and get the first two batters out, gives up a walk to Brandon Drury but ends the inning striking out Corbin.  Corbin stays in the game get the first two batters to ground out.  With two outs, Javier Baez would send one just over the right field basket for his fourth home run of the season.  Russell would ground out to end the inning.

Cahill still in the game strikes out the first two batters and then appears to strike out Goldscmidt on a check swing, but it turns out to be ball 4.  Joel Maddon walks out of the dug out and questions the call no before even making it to the field is ejected.  He “gets his money’s worth” making his case for a short delay.  Justin Grimm comes into the game getting Jake Lamb would ground out to end the inning.  Corbin still in the game, strikes out two and gets one batter to ground out.

Travis Wood comes into the 8th giving a lead off single to Hermann who advances on Ahmed’s sac bunt.  Wood gets Tomas to strike out then intentionally walks Drury.  Rickie Weeks, Jr, pinch hits for Corbin to pop out to end the inning.  Tyler Clippard enters the bottom half of the 8th getting Fowler to fly out to left.  Zobrist walks, but Bryant strikes out and Soler grounds out to end the inning.

Wood stays in for the ninth, striking out Michael Bourn to be replaced by Adam Warren.  Adam gets Gosselin to ground out but walks Goldshmidt.  He does end the inning by getting Jake Lamb to line out.  Brad Ziegler enters the game for the Dbacks getting the first two batters out.  Anthony Rizzo walks to breath some life into Wrigley.  With two outs and Rizzo on first Miguel Montero steps into the box and sends a soft grounder to Goldscmidt to end the inning.

Although the Cubs lost 3 to 2, Arreita strikes out 12 in 5 innings walking 1 but giving up an unusual 9 hits that would score the 3 runs.  The bullpen really kept things together with four innings giving up only 1 hit on 6 strike outs.  The Cubs embark on a 9 game road trip headed east, #LetsGoCubs.

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

Cubs round the Diamondbacks

Posted: June 4, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 of the the series with the Cubs taking on the Diamondbacks who would send Edwin Escobar to the rubber against Jason Hammel.  Hammel would start the game off getting the first two men out.  He would give up a two out walk to Paul Goldschmidt.  With Paul on first Jake Lamb with a 1-0 count, Jason tosses one up and Lamb sends one to right center for his 10th home run of the year.  Dbacks up 2-0.

Bottom of the first, Dexter Fowler takes Edwin to a full count and sends one deep to left field for his 7th home run of the season but that would be all for the Cubs after 1, it’s a 2-1 ball game.  Both men would calm down in the second not putting a base runner on.  In the top of the third, Hammel would give up a two out walk to Brandon Drury but that would be all the action.  Fowler would get a 2 out single but that would be all the action for the Cubs.  Jason continued to keep the Dbacks at bay.

Anthony Rizzo would get a 1 out single to left field, then Ben Zobrist would walk.  Jorge Soler sends a deep fly ball to left-center that bounces off the warning track and gets stuck in the ivy for a ground rule double giving him an RBI scoring Rizzo.  Arizona decides to intentionally walk David Ross to get to Jason Hammel.  Hammel would turn it against them by sending one right up the middle adding two more runs to the board.   After 3 and 2/3, Edwin would be pulled from the game for Randall Delgado who would end the inning striking out Fowler.  Hammel would continue to hold the Dbacks with out a base runner.  Delgado copies Hammel in the bottom half of the inning.  Hammel continues the same in the top of the 6th.  In the bottom half of the 6th, Delgado gets the first two batters out but gives up a single to Addison Russell but would get Ross to line out to center to end the inning.  Cubs up 4-2

Jason Hammel would continues into the 7th mowing down 12 consecutive batters.  Josh Collmenter enters the game for the Diamondbacks and would get all three batters out in a row.  Pedro Strop enters the game in the 8th inning for Jason Hammel and gives up a lead off home run to Yasmany Tomas but would get the next two batters out.  However, he would give up singles to Jean Segura and Brandon Drury.  This would prompt Maddon to bring in Trevor Cahill who would walk Goldscmidt only to get himself pulled from the game for Travis Wood who would get Rickie Weeks to line out to end the inning.  Cubs are still up 4-3.

The bottom half of the 8th inning would see Daniel Hudson enter the game for Arizona striking out Kris Bryant but would give up a solo home run to Anthony Rizzo, his 13th of the year.  Zobrist would walk and Javier Baez would reach first on a fielding error by shortstop Nick Ahmed but would get Russell and Ross to strike out to end the inning.

Hector Rondon enters the 9th with the save opportunity on the line.  He gets Wellington Castillo to fly out to right for the first out, then gets Chris Herrmann to fly out to left.  Yasmany would be the Dbacks last hope but would line out to Zobrist to end the game.

@DanZeeeMan

The Podcast

Cubs took the series!

Posted: June 2, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 4 of the Dodgers/Cubs series puts Dodger prospect Julio Urias versus Kyle Hendricks.  Kyle starts it off with a 1-2-3 inning but gave up a leadoff single to Chase Utley who was forced out on Corey Seagers double play.  Julio copies almost identically but lured Kris Bryant into the inning ended double play.  Top of the second would be perfect for Kyle. 

Rizzo would lead off the second with a base on balls and would move over to second on Jorge Soler’s single to second.  Russell strikes out but Javier Baez sends a soft line drive to center scoring Rizzo.  Soler would end up at third on a fielding error.  Miguel Montero would ground out to second but would get credited with an RBI scoring Soler. That would be all for the Cubs, 2-0. 

Hendricks would lead off the third by hitting Carl Crawford but would get the next three batters out.  Jason Heyward would get a single in the bottom half but that would be all the Cubs action.  Kyle gets a ground out on Seager, walks Justin Turner but ends the inning getting Adrian Gonzalez to ground into a double play.  

Jorge Soler leads off with a single in the bottom of the fourth, Russell lines out but Baez drives him in with a home run to left field.  Cubs up 4-0. 

Kyle starts the 5th with a strike out but gives up a 1 out solo home run to Trace Thompson.  But he does get out of the inning.  Julio gets the first out in the bottom half but gives up back to back solo home runs to Heyward and Bryant.  Cubs up 6-1.  

Enrique Hernandez leads off with single and advances on Utley’s ground out.  Seager sends a fly ball to Soler scoring Hernandez as a sac fly.  Chris Hatcher comes into replace Urias and walks Russell but gets the next three batters out.  Cubs up 6-2.  

Hendricks and Hatcher both have perfect seventh innings but Hatcher strikes out all three batters.  Hendricks continues his perfect inning streak into the eighth.  J.P. Howell enters the bottom half giving up a leadoff home run to Anthony Rizzo for his 12th of the year.  Louis Coleman replaces J.P. giving up a single to Matt Szczur but gets both Russell and Baez out.  Montero walks.  With two men on and two outs, Maddon pinch hits for Kyle with Tommy La Stella who K’s to end the inning.  Cubs up 7-2.  

Travis Wood comes into the ninth for Hendricks getting Utley to ground out but walks Corey Seager.  However, Justin Turner ends the game with a double play Baez to Rizzo.  Cubs win 7-2 and takes the series!  

Kyle went 8 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits with 1 walk.  He did strike out 6 batters.  

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

Cubs can’t Dodge this loss

Posted: May 31, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Jake Arrieta’s 11th start of the season and he is looking for his 10h win of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Scott Kazmir, who is looking for his 5th win of the season.  Jake would start the game off getting the first two batters in the first but would give up a line drive single to center field by Adrian Gonzalez.  That would be all the action after Joc Pederson strikes out to end the top half.  Dexter Fowler would lead off with a walk but he forced out at second on Jason Heyward’s ground ball to second base.  Bryant would strike out but with Anthony Rizzo at the plate, Heyward would steal second base. Then Rizzo would reach after being hit by the pitch.  Ben Zobrist would strike out to end the inning.  Jake would almost have a 1-2-3 second inning but Miguel Montero’s fielding error would allow Yasmini Grandal to reach first and then Montero’s throwing error would advance him to second base.  It would be Kazmir who would score the perfect inning.  In the top of the third, Jake would get the first two batters out but give up a single to Corey Seager but get Gonzalez o end the inning.  Fowler would get the only hit in the bottom half of the third but get picked off trying to snag second to make it a 1-2-3 inning.  

Jake would get his first perfect inning in the top half of the fourth but not before Joel Maddon had to challenge the tag at first on Trace Thompson.  Scott would record the same in the bottom half.  Jake would lead off the fifth by walking Grandal who would be forced out on Carl Crawford’s ground ball to short stop but he would be forced out on Kazmir’s inning ending double play.  Kazmir would continue to silence the Cub’s bats with his third consecutive perfect inning.  Both men would only see three batters each in the sixth inning.  

Jake would start the seventh inning off by getting the first two batters out but would walk the next three batters to load the bases for pitcher Scott Kazmir.  Dave Roberts would not hesitate to pinch hit for him with Justin Turner who would strike out to end the inning and bring us to the stretch.  The Cubs continuing the tradition of baseball would use the video board to show Vin Skully singing the seventh inning stretch, in honor of Harry Carrey, which was a pretty cool moment.  Sorry, I cannot give an other word for it.  They also congratulated him on 67 years in the business.  Joe Blanton would enter the game in the bottom half of the seventh and continue the silencing of the Cubs bats.  

The top of the eighth would bring in Clayton Richard for the Cubs who would make the game interesting by giving up three straight singles to Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Gonzalez who drives in Utley for the first run of the ballgame prompting Maddon to go to the pen and bring in Adam Warren.  He would get Joc to fly out for the first out of the inning but walk Trace to load the bases.  With Howie Kendrick up to bat, Warren would bring it to a full count getting him to fly out to Heyward but it would be scored as a sacrifice fly as Seager would score run number two of the the evening.  Yasmani would pop out to shortstop Addison Russel to end the inning.  Blanton would continue what Kazmir started with his second consecutive perfect inning.  Dodgers 2-0.

Maddon would bring Warren back out for the top of the ninth and give up two singles Crawford and pinch hitting Enrique Hernandez.  Man now on first and third and Maddon goes back to the pen for Trevor Cahill.  He would get Utley to strike out but gives up a three run homer to Seager.  Cahill would get Gonzalez to ground out and Pederson to fly out to end the inning.  The Cubs only have one more shot to win this game with Tommy La Stella leading off agains Adam Liberatore.  Adam gets La Stella and Fowler to fly out and Heywrd would go down swinging to end the game, 5-0 Dodgers.

Jake would go seven innings striking out 8 walking 4 and only giving up 2 hits.  Richard and Warren wouldn’t be so lucky giving up four rounds on five hits but they didn’t give up a walk.  Two more games to go.  Let’s Go Cubs! 

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

A W for the Boys 

Posted: May 30, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Dodgers are in town coming off a pretty hot streak winning 6 of 7, starting today with Memorial Day.  Alex Wood challenges Jason Hammel.  Hammel starts off getting the first two batters out but Justin Turner reaches on an error, Heyward drops the shallow fly ball.  He would walk Adrian Gonzalez but gets Joc Pederson to pop out in fowl territory.  Ben Zobrist leading off with Fowler getting the day off, walks but that would be all for the first inning.  It would be a quick top of the second for Hammel.  Wood catches Jorger Soler looking at strike 3.  Addison Russell would single to right and then advance on Javier Baez’s quick bunt to 1st.  David Ross would single to left to load the bases for Jason Hammel who would go down on a called 3rd strike.  Up for his second at bat but this time with bases loaded, Zobrist strikes out.  

We’d have a short delay at that start of the second with what appeared to be an issue with Hammel’s hamstring after throwing one warm up pitch ending his day.  After commercial break the Cubs have Travis Wood entering the game to pitch to Alex Wood getting him to strike out then getting the next two batters out.  Heyward would leadoff the third with a K but Bryant would single despite the shift to the left side of the infield.  Rizzo would line one at Adrian Gonzalez who tags first.  Jorge Soler would reach first on a base on balls. Addison lines out to short to end the inning.  

Travis Wood has a 1-2-3 4th inning. Alex Wood gets the first two batters out then walks David Ross.  Ross would make the last out being caught trying to snag second base.  Wood has another 1-2-3 inning.   We need some runs in the bottom half.  Zobrist woul leadoff with what should have been a single turns into a three bagger on an error by Puig giving Ben a single and continuing his hitting streak to 16 games.  Heyward would hit a slow roller to Gonzalez getting an infield hit scoring Ben.  Anthony Rizzo sends a breaking ball to Puig, Heyward challenges the arm, on the relay to Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal appears to close his glove too soon and drops the ball allowing Jason to score.  Russell K’s to end the inning but the Cubs are up 2-0. 

Travis Wood starts the top of the sixth as Alex Wood is removed for a pinch hitter but it would be yet another 1-2-3 inning.  Louis Coleman comes in and gets the first two batters out.  Matt Szczur pinch hits for Wood but strikes out to end the inning.  

Justin Grimm enters the game to continue to hold the Dodgers to one hit.  Casey Fein enters the game in relief to also make it a 1-2-3 inning.  Pedro Strop prevents the Dodgers from scoring and getting a hit in the eighth.  J.P. Howell starts the bottom half of the eighth by hitting Rizzo.  Tim Federowicz makes it two outs with a 6-4-3 double play.  Russell belts a single to center to keep the inning alive.  Manager Dave Roberts enters the game getting Baez to pop out.  Hector Rondon Comes in to get his 9th save of the season!  Cubs Win! 

There hasn’t been an update on Hammel yet but I’m hoping it will be minor but the other way to look at it, is this what we can expect for the second half of the season which has been his pattern.   Travis Wood took four innings striking out four but gave up no hits or walks.  Grimm, Strop and Rondon all took three innings giving up no hits or walks also combining for four strike outs.  

I personally can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a Cubs team play this well and continuously.  One down three to go!  

@danzeeeman
The Podcast

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