Posts Tagged ‘Cubs’

Digital Ticket Is The New Black

Posted: January 7, 2019 by Daniel Kupres in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, NFL picks, sports, Tickets
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On December 28, 2018, an old friend of the show, Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue wrote “Going to all-digital tickets is a bad idea for the Cubs and here’s why”.  This article details why he is in agreement with Kelsey McKinney from Dead Spin (F^*K Digital Tickets).  Neither is in love with major sports eliminating paper tickets and going digital.  Al, a season ticket holder was informed that they, the season ticket holders will no longer receive hard tickets and if they want them, it could cost up to $150.00.  Both view these tickets as a souvenir that is free, essentially because today the only thing I have personally found below $5 are the team reusable bags in the gift shop, which I by at every game I attended because I generally try to go to a bobblehead game for my “free souvenir.”   

Me personally, I have no issue with it all.  I am all for it.  Sure, I have file cabinet with an overstuffed folder full of old tickets, scorecards and programs but since the evolution of smart phones and apps, having the box score on my phone and being able to upload my pictures from the games I have attended into the Ballpark app, I am as content as can be.  While I have yet to let go of those old tickets, but I have done what all are doing today and Pinned some ideas for a project to display all my tickets in a framed sort of way.  Time will tell when or if I ever get around to it.   

Years ago, I started traveling to see the Cubs play at different ballparks across the country but to be honest the last Hard Copy tickets I have received was back in 2006 for a Cubs/Cards game.  But since then it has been all Print-at-Home tickets.  Sitting 1st row in front of the tarp and being able to interact with Andrew McCutchen in his rookie season before the Cubs beat them was a cool experience or when I stuck my hat out to catch his fly ball during batting practice at Wrigley only to have hit smack my wrist and bounce down to Francisco Liriano are memories that I will always have. 

One complaint that both have are about the scanners that the teams use to check your digital tickets and what if they go down.  What I think they have forgotten is that whether it is a digital ticket, print-at-home or a hard copy, they all get scanned at the gates now.  So, no matter what ticket you have, lets hope those scanners do not go down or lose power.   

Al gives us reasons why the Cubs want to go to an all-digital ticket system which pretty much aligns with why the NFL went to an all-digital ticket.  Basically, it allows the Cubs to track every ticket and who the season ticket holders are selling them to and how many and if they are violating any agreements between the team and season ticket holder.  The Cubs of course package it must nicer 

While Al and Kelsey, which I do encourage you to read their articles, may not be excited about digital tickets, I seriously doubt either will stop attending games because of this.  If they do, it sounds just like my Uncle Bob – he stopped attending Cubs games when they started the presale of bleacher tickets but of course, since they won the World Series, he’s back on the wagon.   

When I used to blow my entire tax returns on Cubs tickets while I was living with my parents, it was never about the hard copy tickets, it was about the game and experience.  I embrace the digital ticket and encourage you to download the Ballpark App.  However, I do not understand why the other major sports leagues have not created this type of app.  

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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

An Afternoon W

Posted: May 27, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in sports
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The Cubs are back home after a day off to take on the Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Adam Morgan.  Jon Lester would make it a quick first half but not Morgan.  He’d give up a one out double to Ben Zobrist who would score the first run of the on Jorge Solers’s two out single to left. The Phills would give Lester a little trouble with two singles in the second but not enough to produce any runs.  Morgan would have a 1-2-3 second.  

Lester would give up give up a leadoff single in the third to Peter Bourjos.  He would move to third on Freddy Galvis’s fly ball to Dexter Fowler that is dropped and scored as an error.  Bourjos would tie the game on Maikel Franco’s sac fly to right.  Ben Zobrist would be the only one to reach a base in the bottom half of the third. 

Lester would give up one hit in the fourth to Tyler Goeddel.  Jorge Soler would lead off the fourth with a solo home run to left center.  With one out Addison Russell would walk and Javier Baez would single.  With a 1-0 count David Ross would get one tossed to him launching his 100th career home run.  With two outs, Dexter Fowler would triple but wouldn’t cross the plate.  Cubs are now up 5-1. 

Lester would give up a single and a walk in the top of the 5th but no runs would cross the plate.  With Morgan still in the game, Kris Bryant would lead off with his 11th single.  Andrew Bailey would enter the game getting the next three batters out.  Cubs up 6-1. 

The sixth inning would see Lester giving up a walk but no hits or runs.  Brett Oberholtz would come in for the Phillies, giving up a lead off single to Baez but after Ross’s strikeout, Lester would end the inning with a 1-6-3 double play.  

The seventh inning would be all for Leater after one out and a double to Odubel Hererra.  Trevor Cahill would come in and give up s single to Galvis then to Franco scoring Herrera.  Colton Murray comes into the game giving up a walk to Bryant but no additional runs.  

The eight inning would go by pretty quickly for both pitchers.  Hector Rondon comes into the 9th giving up a single but ending the game with 3-6-1 double play.  

It was a great outing by Lester sand the bullpen to continue thier winning streak.  Go Cubs Go!

@DanZeeeMan
The Pocast

9-0

Posted: May 25, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Wrapping up the series in St Louis, Jake Arrieta up against Carlos Martinez.  Jake seeking his 9th win of the season while Martinez is looking for his 5th.  

Kris Bryant is the only baserunner to reach by getting hit.  Jake the Great gives up a leadoff single to Kolten Wong who would be forced out on Aledymas Diaz’s ground ball to second base but he would reach second on Matt Holiday’s ground out.  With two outs, Jake gives up a single to Stephen Piscotty scoring Diaz for the first run of the game.  Matt Adams ends the inning on a pop out.  Cubs 0, Cards 1.  

The Cubs answer back with a leadoff single by Ben Zobrist.  Tommy La Stella walks.  Miguel Montero grounds into a force out with Ben to third.  Addison Russell with one out lines one to center for a single for the Cubs first run of the game.  Jake would strike out bringing up Fowler, who also lines an RBI single to center.  Jason Heyward would double bringing in two more runs.   Kris Bryant would single and Anthony Rizzo would walk to load the bases.   Ben Zobrist would send a ground ball to right field bringing in two more runs making it a 6-1 ballgame.  The Cardinals would strike back, sort of, with Randal Grichuk’s 7th home run of the year but that would be all.  Cubs are still up 6-2. 

The Cubs bats would be rather quiet in the third and the fourth. Arrieta would start the bottom of the fourth with a walk to Stephen Piscotty who would score on Matt Adams double to right.  Randall Grichuck would strike again but this time with a single to right bringing in another run.   After 4 innings, it’s a 6-4 game.  

Martinez would be the first one to be pulled from the game for Seung Hwan Oh who gives up back to back singles to Russell & Szczur.  Fowler and Heyward would get two outs but it would be Kris Bryant who drives them both in with his 10th home run of the season making it 9-4.  Adam Warren enters the bottom half giving up a single to Ruben Tejada.  He’d get two men out but Aledmys Diaz would reach on an error.  After a visit to the mound, Matt Holiday would send a line drive to center for his 7th home run of the year.  It’s now 9-7 Cubs.  

The Cubs would get two base runners in the 7th but no one score.  Travis Wood takes Warren’s spot giving a leadoff home run to Matt Adams prompting his removal for Justin Grimm who gets the next three batters out.  It’s a 9-8 ball game.   

That would be all the run scoring but not the end of the excitement at Busch Stadium.  At the end of it all the Cubs would take the series and start a new winning streak.  #GoCubsGo

@DanZeeeMan

Cubs get Cain’ed

Posted: May 21, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 in San Fran puts the 4 and 2, Jon Lester against the winless Matt Cain and the best in the west, Giants.  Dexter Fowler would lead off his third game with a single but would be thrown out trying to steal second base.  Kris Bryant would single also but Cain would get out of the inning.  Lester would put Denard Span on with a base on balls, but he would get out of the inning.  Cain would put two men on but neither would cross the plate.  Lester would get the first two batters in the bottom half of the second but would give up a single to Brandon Crawford.  Then he walks Gregor Blanco.  Two men on with the Cain at the plate.  With a 3-2 count, Matt sends a long fly ball just out of reach for Fowler sending both men across the plate giving Cain a double.  Span K’s to end the inning but the Giants are up by 2.  

With one out in the top of 3, Kris Bryant on a 3 and 2 count would send a long fly ball over Span’s head for his ninth homer of the year.  Zobrist would single and Soler would walk but with two outs Javier Baez would fly out.  Joe Panik would lead off the bottom half with a double to left field.  He would move to third on Kelby Tomlinson’s sac bunt that Bryant would pick up and throw to Rizzo.  Buster Posey who at the moment is 1 and 25 takes Lester deep to left center breaking his slump and getting his 5th home run of the year.  Matt Duffy sends a line grounder to Addison Russell that bounces off him to left field.  He would then steal second base.  Trevor Brown would double to left scoring Duffy.  Maddon challenges the tag and it’s overturned giving Brown an RBI single.  Crawford would walk prompting Maddon to visit the mound replacing Lester with Trevor Cahill who gets out of the inning.  Giants up 5 to 1.  Matt Cain would continue to hold the Cubs to 1 run through 6.  

Trevor Cahill would put two runners on in the fourth but would get through the fourth and the fifth.  Clayton Richard would come into the bottom of the sixth for a 1-2-3 inning. Hunter Strickland enters the top of the seventh getting the first two batters out but gives up a single to Fowler and walks Bryant.  Josh Osich would come into the game and strikes out Rizzo to end the inning.  Justin Grimm enters the bottom half and puts Tomlinson and Posey on but after a visit to the mound, gets out of the inning.  

Osich still in gets an out but gives up a double to Soler.  Bruce Bochy decides to go with Cory Gearrin, who gives up an RBI single to Baez.  Russell grounds out.  With two outs Tommy La Stella comes into the game pinch hitting for David Ross and reaches first on a walk.  Bochy makes another change bringing in Javier Lopez to face Tim Federowicz to end the inning. Cubs 2, Giants 5.  

Travis Wood comes into the game giving up a single to Crawford but gets out of the inning unscathed.  Dexter Fowler leads off the top of the ninth against Santiago Casilla sending his 5th home run of the season to right.  Casilla would thrn it around and get Bryant, Rizzo and Zobrist to go down in order to end the game, 5-3 Giants.  

The Podcast
@danzeeemman

A pitchers Brewal

Posted: May 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs would like to redeem themselves after last nights loss.  John Lackey would take on Milwaukees 26 year old right handed Jimmy Nelson.  He would start the game with a perfect 1st inning but would load the bases in the 2cd with two outs.  Zobrist singled, La Stella doubled and they intentionally walked Ross but Lackey would strikeout to end the inning.  Lackey would walk the first batter of the game but would get the next three batters and it would be smooth sailing until the 4th.  With one out Jonathan Lucroy would double to right. Chris Carter would strikeout and with the next batter in the box, David Ross would pick off Lucroy to end the inning. 

Lackey would run into trouble in the bottom of the 5th with a leadoff double to Kirk Nieuwenhuis and then a single to Domingo Santana.  Alex Presley would ground into a force out scoring Kirk. Lackey would get out of the inning.  In the bottom of the sixth he would give up a hit to Scooter Gennett.  With two outs Scooter would take to large of a lead putting him in a rundown to be caught stealing by David Ross.  

Through 7 innings the Cubs would get some baserunners but no one would cross the plate.  After 7 it would be Cubs 0, Brewers 1.  Lackey would come out for the bottom of the seventh, Adam Warren takes his place puts a runner on but gets out of the inning pretty easily.  

Nelson would stay in the game for the 8th getting the first man out but breathes life into the Cubs fans in Miller Park with a double to Jorge Soler. With Fowler at the plate and a wild pitch sends Soler to third.  Fowler would walk and that results in a pitching change.  Tyler Thornburg comes in and shuts down any chance the Cubs had at taking the league.  

Justin Grimm comes into the bottom of the 8th, getting the first two batters to watch strike three.  Jonathan Villar would walk and again with Scooter up at bat David Ross would triple out another runner to end the inning.  Still a 1-0 game.  

Jeremy Jeffress would come into close out the game starting with the man he ended last nights game, hits Anthony Rizzo.  Baez would come into pinch run with Zobrist at the plate.  Zobrist knocks one to right, making this game interesting.   La Stella would ground out to second moving the batters up.  Addison Russell would ground out also to second but scoring Baez.  The Brewers walk Montero to bring up Tim Federowicz to end the inning with a strikeout.  The game is tied at 1!

Pedro Strop comes into the bottom half to get a 1-2-3 inning.  Michael Blazek comes into the 10th striking out Fowler, giving up a single to Heyward and walking Bryant.  Baez would get the force out and Zobrist would ground out to end the inning.  

We go into extra innings.  The Cubs would strike hot in the 10th with two base runners but no runs.  Pedro Strop would make it just as exciting with a walk and single but gets Ramon Flores out on a called third strike.  In the 11th, Russell would double but again no runs.  

Pedro Strop entered in the bottom of the 11th having a solid 1-2-3 inning.  Fowler would lead off the 12th with a single but would be forced out on Heyward’s single to short stop.  He would be caught stealing 2nd base, Maddon would challenge but it’s upheld.  Bryant flies out to end the inning.  Hector Rondon comes into the bottom half putting Chris Carter on first due to an error, then walks the next batter prompting a pitcher change.  Travis Wood loads the bases with another walk but puts it all together to stop anyone from crossing the plate.  

The top of 13, with one out Zobrist grabs a single off Carlos Torres who beans Tommy La Stella.  He strikes out Russell for out number 2.  They intentionally walk Montero to get to pitcher Travis Wood. This completely backfires as he scores an RBI walk. Fowler lines out but Cubs up 2-1. Wood stays in giving up s double to Villar but gets Scooter to ground out. Maddon goes to the pen bringing in Neil Ramirez who makes it exciting.  A wild pitch moves Villar to third then a walk to Lucroy but after the big K to Carter, Maddon relieves him from duty.  Clayton Richard comes in for the save and gets Kirk Nieuwenhuis to ground out to end the game.  

Now the bullpen did make the game exciting at times but held it together when the Cubs bats were silenced.  Whether it’s by 10 or 1 run, a wins a win. 

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

Not much Brewing for the Cubs 

Posted: May 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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The Cubs head to Wrigley Field North or as The Brewers would call it, Miller Park.  It actually is a great park to visit.  Carlos Zambrabo threw his no-hitter there against the Astros. 

The Cubs would be shut down perfectly through 4 by Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson.  Kyle Hendricks on the other hand, would have a perfect 1st, but walks leadoff Jonathan Lucroy to start off the second but gets the next three out.  He gets Braun to ground out to lead off the fourth but gives up a monster home run to Lucroy putting the Brew Crew up by 1.  

The Cubs would continue to be shut down until afte the first batter in the top of the sixth, when  Miguel Montero walks and steals second but that would be all the action. In the bottom half Kyle would set up Ryan Braun with two men on he smacks a single to right field adding another run to the Brewers scoreboard.  He would get Lucroy to pop out to Montero but Chris Carter would send a line drive to right center for a double driving both men in.  This would prompt Maddon to bring in Trevor Cahill to strike out the last two batters to end the inning.  He would come back for a perfect seventh.  

Chase Anderson would give up his first hit of the game a double to leadoff man Ben Zobrist but he’d shut them down again.  Cahill comes back for the bottom half and it’s perfect again.  Anderson would come back out to finish the game he started getting the first two outs.  Jason Heyward on an 0-2 count gets a hold of one sending it to right center for his first home run of the season. On a 1-0 count Kris Bryant would get a hold of one and send it to left field for his 7th homer of the season.  Jeremy Jeffres would come into the game with a save opportunity with two outs Rizzo comes to the plate looking to make it 3 home runs in a row but he goes down swinging. Cubs lose 4-2.  

I know it’s another loss but Anderson was on tonight and there was absolutely nothing to be done about it.  The silver lining of course was Cahill’s performance.  Entering the game in the bottom half of the sixth pitching lights out baseball for 2 2/3 innings could have asked for more.  Let’s get them tomorrow!

@DanZeeeMan
The Podcast

Lucky 7 

Posted: May 14, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game 2 of 3 with The Great One on the mound vs Pirates Jeff Locke. Both men would practically mirror each other for the first three innings.  They would each start with a 1-2-3 inning.  Then put one man on in the second and have another 1-2-3 inning in the third.  The Pirates would strike first in the top half of the fourth.  With Polanco on second and McCutchen on third Francisco Cervelli would rip a double to center scoring both men.  Jake would get out of the inning but the Cuns would be down by 2.  

Jason Heyward would leadoff with a single. Kris Bryant would walk.  Two men on for Rizzo and he sends a fly ball to center for his 11th home run of the season. Just like that the Cubs are up 3-2.  

Arrieta would have a solid top of the fifth but not before walking Locke.  Locke himself would mirror the top half but with giving up another single to Heyward. Jakes top half of the sixth would be perfect.  Ben Zobrist would leadoff the bottom half with a single but Soler would pop out.  Addison Russell would get his first hit of the day with a two run home run putting the Cubs up by 3.  The very next batter Miguel Montero would be hit but this would prompt the home plate umpire Brian Knight to issue warnings to both sides.  Both sides seem confused but it may stem from his earlier ejection of Pitates pitching coach Ray Searage.  This would also bring in a new pitcher Jared Hughes who would walk The Great One.  With two men on, Dexter Fowler would send a soft line drive to left scoring Montero.  Hughes would walk Heyward but would get out of the inning. 

Arrieta would come back out for the seventh with ease.  AJ Schugel would come into the bottom of the seventh give up a walk but get out of the inning.  Jake would come back out for the bottom of the eighth with two K’s and a ground out.  Tommy LaStella would pinch hit for Jake but go down swinging. Fowler, Heyward and Bryant would all single.  Fowler would score on Bryant’s single, Heyward to third but Bryant would be tagged trying to make it a double.  Rizzo would single scoring Heyward and now the Cubs are up 8-2. 

Justin Grimm would come in to finish the game off and he would just that with a 1-2-3 inning.   Arrieta would have another solid quality start with 11 strikeouts in 8 innings.  He would only give up two runs on three hits and walk two batters.   Another one in the books for the Cubs.  They now are a league leading 27 and 8.  Go Cubs Go!   

@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

1st Sweep of the year!

Posted: May 4, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Sorry couldn’t come up with a good pun for sweeps and Pirates.  The second J in the 4 out of 5 Cubs starting pitchers, Jon Lester looking for his third win of the season against Juan Nicasio and the Bucs.  Dexter Fowler would leadoff another game with a hit, a single to right. Kris Bryant would get on with a walk but Juan gets out of the inning.  Lester also only gives up one hit in the bottom half.   Both pictures would see four batters each.  

Fowler would leadoff the third by reaching first again but this time it was by a base on balls.  La Stella would reach with Fowler being forced out.  With two outs Rizzo would reach on a fielding error.  With two on and two out, Zobrist would send a line drive to right field over the fence for his second dinger of the year.  Then Baez and Russell would reach on singles prompting a visit to the mound but that would calm Juan down and get Ross to fly out.  Cubs up 3-0. Both men would get through the fourth but not with out a little trouble.  

Rizzo would leadoff the fifth with his seventh double of the year.  Baez would send a line drive down the left field line that would be ruled a ground rule double but scoring Rizzo. Juan would get through the rest of the inning without any more runs.  Lester would give up two runs in the bottom of the fifth but still no runs for the Bucs.  Cubs up 4-0.  

Ryan Vogelson would come into and make it a quick 1-2-3 inning. Lester would allow two baserunners in the bottom half but get out without any damage.  With Ryan still pitching, Rizzo would lead off the seventh inning with his ninth home run of the season.  Adam Warren would come in for relief of Lester and get the first out but would give up a double to right for Andrew McCutchen.  Matt Joyce would replace pitcher Vogelson and hit a monster 2 run home run to center field.  That would be all for that inning but the Cubs only up by 3.  

Set up man Tony Watson would come into the game walking Ross but gets the next three guys out.  Pedro Strop for the Cubs would have similar results.  Mark Melancon comes into the ninth, trying to avoid adding to the Cubs lead.  He would give up singles to Rizzo and Bryant, who would end up at third on Anthony’s.  Baez would ground into a force out but Bryant scores putting the Cubs up now 6-2.  Hector Rondon would be lights out in the bottom of the ninth, although he didn’t get the save, Cubs get thier first sweep of the season!   

Cubs pitching holding it all together today.  Lester with 5 2/3, would give up a high 8 hits to the Bucs but would strikeout 5 and only walk 2.  The bullpen in 3 1/3 would walk no one, only give up three hits and 2 earned runs.  Great road trip the Cubbies.  But now it’s time for Bryce Harper and the Nationals! 

@DanZeeeMan
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