A 14-1 Box Score Review Blog

I don’t want to do this regularly for a number of reasons – mostly there’s already a box score series from Bleacher Nation that rocks. So go check that out nightly. But for now I’m compelled to dig into last night’s because it’s simply that special.

I don’t think people realize that’s just about the most balanced attack you’re ever going to witness from a professional baseball team:

• Every starter scored at least 1 run
• Every starter registered at least 1 hit
• 8 of 9 starters registered at least 1 RBI
• 7 of 9 starters registered at least 2 hits
• 5 players registered at least 1 extra base hit
• 8 RBI’s registered with 2 outs
• 9 for 15 with runners in scoring position including Matt Shaw’s 0-3
• 49 total hits/runs/RBIs is by far the biggest total of the season
• Pinch hitters went 2-3 with 1 double and 1 run and 2 RBI’s

Narrative observations

• Ian Happ’s first game back and people want him down in the order and PCA up, which is wrong because Happ is the best table setter. PCA needs to hit with runners on base. Don’t let a good weekend against a very bad White Sox team impact the way you’d want to play the Dodgers in a playoff series. That’s my best advice.
• I have committed myself to not saying anything nice this year about Matt Shaw because I think everyone is slurping his D very hard. So I’ll blog that specifically before the first pitch today just so we’re on the same page.
• Don’t look now but Justin Turner is .280/.360/.367 in May after an atrocious April where most wanted to see him DFA’d or executed. Furthermore he’s got a .421 OBP in 19 pinch hit plate appearances and everybody on the team loves him. He’s a genius baseball player and one of the most respected active players in any clubhouse. I’m compelled to remind you guys that I will be cheering very hard for Justin Turner because I have so much respect for him. Not to beat a dead horse but the complete opposite goes for Matt Shaw. That’s how it works in this game whether you like it or not.
• I’m waiting for Carson Kelly to cool off and the fact he keeps hitting 4/5 is why I don’t think it’s coming. My baseball instinct says he just doesn’t become the best hitting catcher over night but that’s how the Cubs are treating him this year. They certainly don’t think it’s a fluke so that means I need to come around and train my brain to see him in a better light. Some of you may think that’s crazy that I’m still not convinced but the same people probably weren’t around for a guy named Bryan LaHair.
• Dansby Swanson in May = .375/.438/.641 in 18 games and 73 plate appearances. The 162 per game average over this stretch has him at 45 homers and 100 RBIs with 30 stolen bases and 75 walks. So maybe consider this stretch next time you want to cry about Dansby Swanson being overpaid or not good enough or whatever it is you psychopaths complain about.
• Suzuki + Tucker are giving the NL the best at-bat combination in the 2-3 spot I can think of right now and just seeing them go a combined 6-9 with 5 runs and 5 RBI’s following a heartbreaking loss is why I think we’re a special roster that can make a huge run in the playoffs. It’s so perfectly balanced that I have a hard time explaining myself

Rubber match today at 12:10pm and I think it’s worth mentioning that I think another 14-1 game is very much on the table.

Lineup preview should be out shortly + Matt Shaw blog explaining why I don’t want to be nice to him.

Go Cubs.