Posts Tagged ‘MLB’

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

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

Angel Pagan puts the fizz in Giants’ pop!

Posted: May 1, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, post season, sports, Sports Time Radio
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As April fades into May, we see that both the Chicago Cubs (17-5) and San Francisco Giants (11-12) sit atop the standings in their respective divisions, despite the different routes they have traveled to get there.

Even though they are currently tied for first place in the National League West, courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ six game losing streak, the outlook has not been brilliant for the San Francisco Giants in April. They were crushed Friday night in New York by the Mets, 13-1, and they dropped a 6-5 decision on Saturday evening, as the Mets extended their winning streak to eight.The Cubs are 8-2 in their last ten games and missed the opportunity to break their franchise record for wins in April because of Saturday’s rainout with the Atlanta Braves (5-18). 

The Giants, on the other hand, were swept in their first four games of the most recent homestead by the Arizona Diamondbacks, before rallying to take five of the final six between the San Diego Padres, who they swept, and the Miami Marlins, who dropped two of three.

Between Jake Peavy (1-2, 8.61 ERA, 2.00 WHIP) walking guys on Friday night, and Matt Cain (0-3, 7.00 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) hitting batters with pitches on Saturday, the Giants were giving runs away like they were going out of style. Granted it would have made no difference on Friday, but those two hit batsmen in Saturday’s game cost Cain his first victory this season. 

Of course, prior to doubling their run production for Cain on Saturday by scoring three runs, the Giants had managed to score only three runs total in Cain’s first four starts, shades of deja vu from early on in his career, when the longest tenured Giants gained sympathy for his lack of run support.

Still, there is no getting around his 7.00 earned run average and his 1.59 WHIP in the opening month of the season. As much as he has looked good on the mound, especially early on in games, Cain needs a shakeup, or maybe a shakedown, to stir things up and activate his confidence. 

Otherwise, the Dodgers are going to get their act together, and leave San Francisco behind while it continues to allow Cain to try and pitch his way back into some semblance his former self.

Peavy is actually worse statistically than Cain, despite going seven innings against the Marlins eight days ago, while giving up just two runs. That’s the frustrating part with both Cain and Peavy, the fact that both have looked sharp at times, and clueless at others.

Despite the sagging back end of the rotation, there are some incredibly bright spots for the Giants, including the fact that they have struck out the fewest of any teams in the National League (155); only the Los Angeles Angels (123) have whiffed fewer times in all of MLB. 

Angel Pagan is batting .315 with 17 RBIs in the early going, but it is his positive attitude that has been the most noteworthy component of the team’s new left fielder. Pagan’s willingness to put the team first when Denard Span came on board, by shifting from center field to left, paved the way for the smooth transition in the outfield.

Bruce Bochy’s strategy of batting Pagan ninth, giving the team two consecutive speedsters in the batting order after the first inning, has proven to be an effective tool in light of Pagan’s quick start. The former Met has epitomized the role that chemistry plays within the Giants organization, and it is showing up in more tangible ways as far as batting average and production as the season wears on.

Johnny Cueto’s 4-1 win/loss record and his 2.65 ERA are examples of his contributions on the field, but it is his charismatic presence that cannot be underestimated, as far as providing leadership and motivation to the team. His ability to stay on an even keel no matter what is going on around him, contributes to the team’s ability to respond accordingly.

The Giants seem to be more relaxed when Cueto is on the mound, a reflection of the Dominican native’s ability to keep the team loose. The season is still early but it is obvious that the one-two punch of Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto will be an effective combo against any other two starters in the league.

Of course, when it comes to pitching, the Cubs with a team ERA of 2.39, have almost half the earned run average of the Giants, 4.70. 

The season may be only one month old, but this has got to change if the Giants are going to be able to establish the confidence needed to make a serious run at a fourth title in seven years.
That being said, confidence does not seem to be lacking on the Cubs these days.
@BelllSpringsMark  

You can find more of Mark’s writing on China Basin Chatter

WCUB in Cincinnati!

Posted: April 21, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Jake Arreita comes into this game trying to preserve his lossless record and the boys “Trying not to Suck” would help him tremendously against left hander Brandon Finnegan.  Dexter Fowler would lead off the game continuing his hot streak with a double. Heyward would would strikeout but Kris Bryant would send a line drive to left knocking in his third home run of the season.  Finnegan would get through the first but would give up a lead off home run to Ben Zobrist. David Ross and Jake Arrieta would single but Ross would score on a force out by Fowler. The second inning would end with the Cubs up 4-0.

In the fourth, David Ross would walk and reach third on an Arrieta single up the middle.  The throw to third would be backed up by Finnegan but his wild throw to first trying to catch Arrieta would score Ross putting the Cubs up 5-0.

David Ross would lead off the top of the sixth with a line drive to right field for his first homer of the season.  Fowler would reach on a walk and move over to second on a single by Kris Bryant.  Anthony Rizzo would step to the plate belting his fifth home run of the season!  Reds pitcher Tim Melville would end up making it through the sixth but not with out giving up four runs, putting the Cubs up 9-0.

Drew Hayes would come into the seventh getting Ross to ground out but he’d end walking Arrieta.  Fowler would single, then Heyward would walk ,setting up Kris Bryant with the bases loaded.  He would do exactly what every Cubs fan wanted… Grand Slam to right field or as the MLB would refer to it this season, “Papa Slam!” Tyler Holt would come into the eighth getting the only 1-2-3 inning for the Reds.  Blake Wood started off the ninth with two groundouts to Jake & Dexter but would give up singles to Heyward & Bryant.  Rizzo would reach first on a pass ball, dropped third strike.  Matt Szczur would come into the ninth and send a line drive to right scoring Jason Heyward.  Zobrist would smack his fourth double of the season, scoring both Bryant and Rizzo!  Russell would end the inning and be the only one to go hitless.

Saving the best for last, Jake Arrieta would walk Jay Bruce in the second, Eugenio Suarez in the fourth, Scott Schebler in the sixth and to lead off the ninth.  On his 119 pitch he would get Suarez to pop up to second base, throwing his second no hitter in 11 months!

According to Jake it was “Business as usual!”

@DanZeeeMan

 

 

 

 

Rivalry tied @1

Posted: April 19, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio
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Game two features 1-0 Jason Hammel vs Jamie Garcia who is also 1-0.   Jamie would open the game with a walk to Dexter Fowler who would be forced out on a ground ball to Ruben Tejada.  He would the. Give up a single to Kris Bryant but would get out of the inning.  Hammel would start with a 1-2-3 inning but would give up a lead off single to Matt Adams to start the second and one to Randal Grichuk.  Adams would be caught stealing third with Yadier Molina at bat.  He would end up launching what would appear to be a home run to Soler, who would run into the wall missing the catch, giving Molina a triple, scoring Grichuk.  Both men would have easy third innings.

Top of the fourth, Garcia would load the bases, walking Soler and giving singles to Ben Zobrist and Miguel Montero.  With two outs and bases loaded, Hammel would get to the plate, smacking a ground ball in between short and third, scoring two runs but he’d get Jason Heyward out on a called third strike.  Seung Hwan Oh would come into the sixth getting a 1-2-3 inning.  Hammel would have a perfect bottom half of the sixth.

Kevin Siegrist would come into the seventh hitting Javier Baez but would be overturned after managers review. He would then strike out. Dexter Fowler would double but both Heyward and Kris Bryant would fly out.  Adam Warren would come into the botaztom half of the seventh

Former Red, Jonathan Broxton would get into a littl trouble but would get out of the inning.  Travis Wood would give up a lead off single in the bottom of the eighth and that would be all she wrote and Pedro Strop would face Jeremy Hazelbaker and the next two batters to get out of the eighth.

#67 Matt Bowman would come into the top of the ninth and get the Cubbies out 1-2-3.  Hector Rondon would come into the bottom of the ninth for his possible to third save of the season. He would give up a lead off single to Yadier Molina and would get th next two batters to fly out and then get a huge strikeout to close out the series and make this a 1-1 series.

@danzeeeman

John 2.21; Not enough!

Posted: April 17, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio
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PIn the series finale between the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies, John Lester would take on Tyler Chatwood, a strikeout pitcher.  Lester would start off the game, striking out former Cub, DJ LeMahieu but would give up an early single tomTrevor Story.  He would get caught stealing and Carlos Gonzalez would ground out to Rizzo.  Chatwood would retire the top three hitters for the Cubs, 1-2-3. Both pictures would make it through three innings, including Chatwood being able to strikeout the side in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the side.   Lester would answer that by striking out the first two batters in the top of the fourth but would give up a two out home run to Nolan Arenado.  He would make it through 7 1/3 innings before getting pulled after giving up a walk to Tony Wolters.  Adam Warren would replace Lester and would close out the eighth.  Justin Grimm would come into the ninth striking out Story and Cargo but just like Lester in the fourth, he’d give up a solo home run to Nolan Arenado, except he would strikeout Gerardo Parra to close the ninth.  For the Rockies, former Tampa Bay Ray, Jake McGee would come into the game, for a save.  Dexter Fowler would ground out but Jason Heyward would knock a double to right.  With two outs, McGee would hit Anthony Rizzo, putting two man on and Kris Bryant up to the plate.  Of course, everyone at Wrigleyville is thinking walk off Home Run!  The first pitch sends a rocket foul to left.  With a 1-2 count, pitchers count, McGee would get Bryant to go down swinging and the Rockies would take the series 2 – 1.

Today, was a pitchers duel, from the starters to the bullpens.  The Rockies would strikeout fourteen times, where the Cubs only nine times.  Between both teams there were only eight hits.  This duel in front of 41,678 only lasted two hours and thirty eight minutes.  Of course not that great as a Cubs fan but a baseball enthusiasts dream game.  Tomorrow the Cubs head to St Louis for a three game series, for the season opener of one of the top three biggest rivalries in the MLB.

@danzeeeman

The Podcast

Scoring not Lackey-ing in Wrigleyville

Posted: April 13, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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What can I say, other than I haven’t seen the Cubs this good in April since ever in my life??? 

John Lackey gets off to a rough start with a leadoff double to Billy  Hamilton, he would move over to third and then score on a sac fly by Jay Bruce to put the Reds up 1-0.  He would settle down and hold the Reds through six but would be broken up by a leadoff triple to center that Fowler completely miss judged to be a homer run by Scott Schebler who would score on a ground out by Ivan De Jesus. 

Dexter Fowler would lead off the Cubs hitting with his 3rd double of the season, Zobrist would walk.  While Rizzo stood at the plate, both men would advance with stolen bases.  Rizzo would reach on a base on balls as well as Bryant, getting the Cubs first run of the night.  Montero would single to left, bringing in Zobrist.  Rizzo would score on a sac fly by Soler to left.  Addison Russell would bring in Bryant on a soft hit to right.  Lackey would help himself with a RBI single. Alfredo Simon would be pulled after a 49 pitch first inning with 2 outs.  Dan Straily would come in and load the bases by hiting Fowler but would get out of the first with Heyward’s second strikeout of the night.  Straily would have a 1-2-3 second but would start the third by walking Montero.  Soler would single and the bases would get loaded with a walk to Russell.  Lackey & Fowler would strikeout but Heyward would get his first hit with two RBI’s. 7-1 at the end of three.  Chris Brysnt would get his first home run of the season in the eighth by the third pitcher of the night, Keyvius Sampson, who would walk Montero and allow him to score on a wild pitch.  At the end of four, the Cubs up 9-1. 

After 6 2/3 innings he would be replaced Trevor Cahill, who would end the inning. Clayton Richard would step into the eighth give up one hit but with no runs, maintains a 0 ERA. Neil Ramirez would come into the ninth to close out the Reds with two outs, he walks De Jesus, making this interesting but with a fly out to Fowler by catcher Tucker Barnhart,  would be all she wrote for Cincinatti and the Cubs win 9-2. 

The series will wrap up tommorow evening and then the Rockies will be in town for the weekend before the Cubs head to St Louis to start a seven games road series ending in Cincinatti.  

#AnyoneAnytime

#ItsOnlyApril

@danzeeeman
@sportstimeradio

Cubs heat up the desert!

Posted: April 8, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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The Cubs open a four game series in the valley of the sun with John Lackey getting the nod in game 3 of 162.  He doesn’t get off to the best start of the season or donning the Cubbie Blue with a first pitch leadoff home run to former Milwaukee Brewer Jean Segura.  He’s able to strikeout Nick Ahmed but walked Paul Goldschmidt and gave up a double to David Peralta.  It was Jake Lamb’s single to center that put them up 3-0.  In the bottom of the second, the Cubs would suffer their first injury with Kyle Schwarber and Dexter Fowler colliding in center allowing Segura his second home run of the night but this one scored as inside the park.  In the third, he would find himself in trouble again, giving up a triple to Peralta that scores Goldschmidt.  Peralta would then score on a sac fly to left by Lamb.  Lackey would make it through the 4th, 5th & 6th with out anymore damage. He would end up with a W but also a 9.00.  My two biggest questions coming into this season were Lackey and the bullpen.  The seven-eight-nine, Pedro Strop, Travis Wood & Hector Rondon would combine for six strikeouts giving up no runs.  I think the biggest question mark will remain with Lackey, but maybe he just needs time to catch s groove.  

He did get his first win of the season but had huge help from his offense. Ruby De La Rosa would get out of the first but wouldn’t make it passed  4 innings giving up 6 hits and 6 earned runs.  First he hit Rizzo, gave up a double to Bryant, walked Kyle and with one out gives up a 2 RBI single to Addison Russell.  After the collision in center, Bryant would move to left and Tommy La Stella would take over at third.  

In the third Heyward would reach on a single to right and would end scoring due to Rizzo’s sharp ground ball to center putting Zobrist at third.  He would end up scoring after Bryant popped out to Wellington Castillo and a bad throw to second allowing Rizzo to move to third.  Russell would start off the fourth with a double to right and scored on a triple by Fowler to right.  Ruby would walk Heyward and that would be all she wrote.  Jake Barrett would replace him with no more luck.  Fowler would score on a wild pitch.  After walking Zobrist, Rizzo would triple bringing in two more runs.  Bryant would single to third and then try to advance on a throwing error by Yasmani Thomas.  He was called out at second but it was overturned with a challenge by Maddon.  Rizzo would score.  After 4 it was 9-6 Cubs!

Kyle Drabek would come into the game for Arizona in the 5th would get into a little trouble but was able to make it through 6 only to be pulled in the seventh after walking Russell and giving up a single to pinch hitter Matt Szczur. Fowler would lay down a bunt to score Matt but Andrew Chafin would make it through the 7th.  

Strop would replace Lackey in the seventh, putting Bryant back at third and benching La Stella, with Szczur staying in left.  Randall Delgado would make it through the eighth unscathed for the Diamondbacks but wouldn’t get so lucky in the ninth.  He would walk Fowler, give up a single to Heyward, Zobrist would smack an rbi double to set up Rizzo for a three-run homer to right field.  He was able to close out the ninth but not before giving up a single to Bryant.  The Cubs continue thier domination at the plate and go 3-0 on the season. 

Schwarber’s x-Ray’s would come back with a sprained ankle.  Just waiting to hear back on his MRI.  

@DanZeeeMan

Cubs, Angels game 2

Posted: April 5, 2016 by Sports Time Radio in baseball, fantasy, Minor League Baseball, sports, Sports Time Radio, Uncategorized
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U It’s game 2 of 162 and Jon Lester gets the nod.  There’s big expectations for this team, especially the top 3 in this rotation.  If you were listening to the Big Jack & I on the podcast, he asked me what I’d like to see out of Lester.  Being that #ItsOnlyApril, I’d be happy with him completing 6 innings with a max of 6 hits possibly 2 runs.  You’d hope he’d not go passed 100 pitches and get at minimum 5 K’s. Now he ended going a full 7 innings giving up only one run on four hits.  He only had four strike outs but walked no one.  He ended up only throwing 93 pitches.  Very solid outing. At first it appeared, that he might night come out but he was relieved in the eighth by Trevor Cahill, who struck out one in 2/3. Daniel Nava was announced as the pinch hitter, which prompted Maddon to call Travis Wood to the rubber who closed out the eighth inning.  Pedro Strop would come into the 9th, striking out Mike Trout, getting Pujols and CJ Cron to ground out to sweep the Angels in this two game series.

As for the lineup, Maddon switched it up for game 2, was he listening to us today?  The Big Jacks biggest question was Ben Zobrist in the three hole.  He stayed with Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward in the one, two but put Chris Bryant in at three, followed by Zobrist, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, Matt Szczur and catching David Ross.  

Pitching for the Angels, Andrew Heaney held was able to hold the Cubs to nothing in two innings despite an injury delay due to a bloody nose.  But in the top of the third it was Szczur who got things going with a lead off home run. Ross would go on to double and move over to third on a Fowler single to short stop.  Heyward would ground into a force out at second but scoring Ross.  Bryant’s fly ball to left would advance Heyward but it was Anthony Rizzo’s brute strength that would score Heyward on 400 foot home run to dead center.  

In the 7th inning Mike Scioscia, would bring in 24 year old, right handed Mike Morin to face Matt Szczur who reached on a soft liner to Mike Trout.  David Ross would like out to Trout but it was Dexter Fowlers line drive home run to right that would bring Szczur home and secure the Cubs lead at 6-1.  After that, the Angels bullpen would hold the Cubs from creating anymore damage. 

The Cubs were able to stop the Angels biggest stars combined Albert Pujols & Mike Trout went 0 for 15 with 5 strike outs.  I think someone needs to remind the Angels that spring training is over…sorry had to steal that line!  Overall I think we will start to see the Cubs settle into a groove over the next month.  Last night we saw three less strikeouts but Schwarber wasn’t in the line up, which may have given them one or two more but with I’m sure with one bomb, but Szczur filled that spot.  I still think down the line pitching may be an issue which is why I’d love to see Soler perform better than 1-8.  I believe that if he’s able to get going he would be the guy to bring back some value by the trade deadline.  Hence why Maddon is going to do what he has to, to get him the lineup. Just hoping he doesn’t lose his value like Javier Baez has done. 

Game 2 and the Cuns and Pirates are tied for 1st but like I said earlier #ItsOnlyApril

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