Posts Tagged ‘Hector Rondon’

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

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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

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 

Vs. Series (Bullpens)

Posted: March 22, 2015 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports
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We wrap up the Vs. Series by taking a look into the bullpens of are shared city teams. With starters pitching less and less innings the bullpens become more important to a teams success; so let’s see who’s relieving starting in New York.

The New York Yankees let David Robertson and his 39 saves go in free agency; so someone else will be closing games for them and the leading candidate looks to be Dellin Betances. Betances set up for Robertson last season appearing in 70 games with a 5-0 record a 1.40 ERA finishing 8 games and picking up 1 save in 90 innings. Betances struckout 135 batters in those 90 innings while walking 24 and his WHIP was .0778. WHIP is Walks, Hits to Innings Pitched. While Betances looks like a closer the Yankees did go out and sign left-hander Andrew Miller to a 4 year $36 million dollar deal in the off season in case Betances struggles. Miller split his 2014 season setting up for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Miller appeared in 73 games total between both teams. He posted an ERA of 2.02; striking out 103 while walking 17 with a WHIP of 0.802 over 62 1/3rd innings. Miller doesn’t have a lot of closing experience as he has just 1 career save which he got last season, but he did finish 15 games last season. The Yankees sent minor leaguer Manny Banuelos to the Atlanta Braves for Chasen Shreve and David Carpenter. Carpenter will fill a bullpen role. He appeared in 65 games for Atlanta posting a 3.54 ERA and also picked up 3 saves. The Yankees also dealt catcher Francisco Cervelli to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. Wilson should help fill out the bullpen along with Esmil Rogers and Adam Warren if he doesn’t end up in the starting rotation for the Yankees in 2015.

The New York Mets bullpen situation is interesting going into 2015. The Mets actually have 2 closers. Going into the 2014 season it looked like Bobby Parnell had the Mets closer job all wrapped up. Parnell had 22 saves in 2013, but an injury forced him to pitch in just 1 game; actually just 1 inning in 2014. With Parnell back you have to wonder if the Mets will try to split up the closing duties between him and last season closer Jenrry Mejia. Mejia saved 28 games last season, but had a high ERA for a closer at 3.65. It has to be a good problem to have to guy who can close games; so we’ll have to see how the Mets manage this situation. Josh Edgin and his 1.32 ERA have been lost for the season and he will have Tommy John surgery. Jeurys Familia pitched in 76 games last season and posted a 2.21 ERA and should be the main set up guy. Carlos Torres appeared in 73 games last season and will be back in that same set up role this season. Vic Black and Scott Rice should help round out the Mets bullpen. 36 year old Buddy Carlyle has had a very solid spring for the Mets and it will be interesting to see if they find a bullpen spot for him.

With the numbers Betances put up last season this was an easy choice to go with the Yankees here. You have to wonder of having 2 closers is one to many for the Mets.

The White Sox bullpen really struggled last season; so they went into free agency and signed closer David Robertson to a 4 year $46 million dollar deal to finish games and then they signed Zach Duke to a 3 year $15 million dollar deal to set up in front of Robertson. Jake Petricka saved 14 games last season to lead the White Sox. Petricka appeared in 67 games and had an ERA of 2.96 last season and the experience will help him as a set up guy this season. Zach Putnam also picked up 6 saves last season in the White Sox pieced together bullpen. Putnam had an ERA of 1.98 in 54 2/3rd innings while appearing in 49 games and will be counted on to set up this season. The White Sox sent Andre Rienzo to the Miami Marlins for Dan Jennings who should be the lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Javy Guerra should help round out the White Sox bullpen.

The Cubs have a bullpen set up that became very popular during the playoffs last season. The starting pitcher goes 6 innings and then there’s a 7th inning guy, a 8th inning guy and then you turn it over to the closer. Neil Ramirez was the 7th inning guy last season appearing in 50 games with an ERA of 1.44 and even picked up 3 saves filling in at closer. Pedro Strop would be the 8th inning guy and he appeared in 65 games posting an ERA of 2.21 and picking up 2 saves last season. Then it’s turned over to closer Hector Rondon who saved 29 games with an ERA of 2.42 and a WHIP of 1.058 last season. The Cubs brought in Jason Motte to help in the bullpen, but he has had some struggles this spring and you wonder what his role will be. The Cubs will also have starters like Felix Doubront, Jacob Turner, Tsuyoshi Wada, Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood trying to win the 5th starter spot. Only one of them will get it’ so the others will have to find roles in the bullpen. The Cubs also have Justin Grimm and Brian Schlitter returning from last season and looking for spots in the bullpen.

While the White Sox went out and spent some money to fix their bullpen issues I like the set up the Cubs have. Robertson is a proven closer though while Rondon is still kind of learning on the job. Considering everything I think I’m going to go with the Cubs on this one.

Thanks for reading the Vs. Series I hope you enjoyed it and feel free to leave your comments.

You can follow me on Twitter @Burketime and listen to Sports Time Radio on BlogTalkradio.com