Roundup For Your NL Central Division Leading Chicago Cubs

Carl 4/14/2015 3:16 PM

A. At 4-2, we’re in first place so go ahead and let that marinate for a moment. Okay now turn over and get the other side. Good. Really marinate. First place is the best.

 

2. It’s also the first time we’ve been 2 games over .500 this late in the season (yes, all 6 games) since 2009. So cheers to that.

 

D. Last year we went OH FOR SEVENTY FUCKING NINE when trailing in the 8th or something like that. Honestly I don’t even want to know the exact specifics, I just know that 0 for 79 in literally anything you put effort into is incredibly shitty. So with that, I’m happy to report that we’ve won our last two games by way of improbable Yabos while trailing in the 8th/9th or whatever. (Dexter Fowler with a 3 run go ahead in Colorado on an 0-2 count; Jorge Soler with a 2 run tie job against the Reds on an 0-2 count.)

 

4. Just used a semicolon **shoots finger pistols**

 

5. Jon Lester may or may not have the yips on his pick offs.

 

6. Okay he definitely has the yips. But what really needs to be addressed before we even consider the supplementals is his command. Right now it’s pretty shitty. He’s given up 18 hits in 10.1 innings. He’s only walked 2 though. That tells me he’s flat (pitches not breaking as sharp) and his command (control within the strikezone) is off. He’s falling behind then laying in flat cutters. To me, this isn’t really an issue. He’s showing 93-94 consistently. The arm is there. It’s just getting ahead and pitching with confidence.

7. Jorge Soler is the real deal. Like beyond real deal. Again, he and Puig were seen as very similar prospects with scouts pretty much split on the better player. Soler went off last night to the tune of two Yabos and a LASER throw:

 

8. Also, that was DEFINITELY an intentionally bad pick off move and not the yips because… ummmm…  HEY WHAT’S THAT OVER THERE **runs into glass door**

 

9. Almost finally, here’s why Starlin Castro is letting me down yet again: He’ll do the same to you if you let him. I used to be hopeful, but the last two seasons have been too much for me. His career OPS+ of 99 is enough to invalidate whatever offensive argument anyone who backs him cares to make. But he’s only 25 he gets a lot of hits and he’s an all star and he’s still learning and and and just please, please for the love of God shut up already. He’s out of position. A lot. He swings at garbage. He rarely walks. He’s become a below average runner. He makes the same defensive mistakes again, and again, and again. He drags his elbow on routine throws, doesn’t set his feet when he has time, misplays basic cutoffs, plays every ball to his left away from his body, botches basic catch/tag plays at second, is never ever EVER fully camped under any ball hit in the air to him. Always backpeddling and side stepping or skipping into it like we’re judging him for creativity.

There are many reasons you should want a different shortstop. I do not say this because I am trying to be edgy or cute or funny. I am saying it because you need to know it. You need to know that he would be an incredible second baseman, and a pretty good thirdbaseman. But as it stands, he’s a marginally above average shortstop. Marginally. You like the guy who swiped 20 bags and hit .300+ and 10+ triples and blah blah blah. Guess what? Me too. And also guess what? That ship sailed. So do yourself a favor and start reconciling that now.

 

10. Bet the Cubs -1.5 tonight. Jake Arrieta (-150) faces off against presumed spaghetti and meatballs enthusiast, Anthony DeSclafani. That’s good news if you’re into things like winning baseball games and increasing first place division leads. Arrieta’s fresh off a 7 inning, 3 hit, 7 strikeout afternoon start against the Cardinals in front of an underwhelming crowd in horrible weather at Wrigley. I like his chances under the lights against a weaker Reds lineup and far less accomplished opposing pitcher. Expect the young prospect Desclafani to be up in the zone early and thus expect a lot of Yabos.

@barstoolcarl

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